Avella Off the Ground on Heels of Padavan Concession

After a tense race that no one knew how to call, and a non-concession from the 38-year incumbent, Democratic Bayside Senator-elect Tony Avella sat in his campaign office before a bowl of candy he'd been picking at, and read all of State Sen. Frank Padavan's, R-Bellerose, concession statement, issued this week.

"Earlier today [Monday], I officially ended my pursuit for another term in the State Senate," it read in part. "The voters of the 11th Senate District have spoken and now our community heads in a new direction."

"I personally think it's sad that he took so long," said Avella.

His office was already up and running with a small but occupied waiting area for visitors and well-wishers. 

Avella said he hopes his budget will allow him to keep his 38-50 Bell Boulevard Office. There would be one logistical problem with the place though: parking. "My meter runs out at 2:26," Avella had to tell a member of his staff before entering his conference room.

An from one to two hours was approved by Community Board 11, but awaits consideration by the Department of Transportation. 

Avella said he would lobby the DOT for change.

"If the DOT doesn't do something, I'm...going to have a press conference about it," said Avella.

In addressing what he believes is , Avella said Bay Terrace has a need for greater police coverage. The problem, he said, is Bay Terrace is situated at the edge of the 109th Precinct's jurisdiction.

Rather than have Bay Terrace assigned to the 111th precinct, Avella's solution is to split the 109th into two precincts. The move would sidestep complications created by a law requiring precincts have the same boundries as Community Board designations.

Councilman Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone, instead supports Bay Terrace moving into the 111th precinct.

Halloran, who is so close with Padavan that his facebook profile photo is one of the two of them together on a ball field, will now be playing political ball with Avella to find solutions to neighborhood issues.

"Obviously the senator [Padavan] is someone who is very important to Halloran," said Halloran's spokesman Steven Stites, adding, "Election day has passed, he's disappointed, but it's time to move on." 

To help communicate with his constituents, Avella says his office will be hiring people who speak Korean, Mandarin and Punjabi  — which he said Padavan never did.