Spanish and Punjabi may linguistically be poles apart, but speakers of the two different languages came politically closer together during a luncheon meeting at the Millan Restaurant in Bellerose, Queens last week. The occasion was the announcement of a joint unification campaign for the Sept. 11 primary by Jairam D. Thakral, the first South Asian candidate for City Council from District 23 of eastern Queens, and Haydee Zambrana, the first Hispanic woman candidate for Queens borough president. By joining together, we can change the complexion of the electoral process in Queens. District 23, which is represented by incumbent Shelton S. Leffer, Democrat, has a population of close to 150,000. The district has one of the highest median incomes out of 51 districts in Queens.
Health care is in shambles and education is in a crisis.
For Zambrana, the two most important issues in the election relate to immigration and education. This is the first time that the word immigrant is coming into the campaign lexicon. It is time immigrants take the front line in any political debate in Queens. Thakral seeks to enhance the city's senior care services by introducing subsidized financial and retirement planning programs and to create reserved seating for seniors on city buses and subways. Zambrana wants to lobby before the president, Congress and all other government agencies for support for a general amnesty for all immigrants, irrespective of their status.