In the coming weeks and months, freshman Assemblyman Ed Braunstein, D-Bayside, will likely be a busy man.
As the State Legislature convenes during a time of fiscal crisis, the former Community Board 11 member will help draft legislation as a member of several influential committees, including aging, transportation and small business, Braunstein's office announced yesterday.
Perhaps owing to the relatively high number of senior citizens in his district, Braunstein touted two of his recently named committee posts in particular.
"I will utilize my Aging and Insurance committee assignments to fight Medicaid fraud and to advocate for seniors by working with my colleagues to reduce prescription drug costs and preserve programs such as Meals on Wheels," Braunstein said in a statement.
Judging from the Little Neck-Douglaston portion of his district, Braunstein is likely to find a slightly more favorable audience for legislative initiatives on issues of importance to older residents than even his immediate predecessor, Ann-Margaret Carrozza, who was first elected to the Assembly in 1996.
Based on compiled by researchers at Queens College, the number of residents at a key benchmark — age 25 and older — rose almost 4 percent over the last decade, easily outstripping Little Neck-Douglaston's population growth over the same period, which was largely flat.
Braunstein also vowed to assist in an issue of importance to area residents of all ages: namely, to restore lost MTA service and to limit what has seemingly become an annual ritual of fare increases.
And judging from the guest list at his , this freshman legislator is likely to have at least a modicum of legislative backing from some of the city's most well-connected politicians.
Among the political luminaries to speak at the American Legion Post 123 event was Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-Queens, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and state Sen. — and Assembly District 26 resident — Toby Stavisky.
"I’m not just a colleague, I’m also a constituent,” Stavisky said.
