Pictured here with District leader Bart Haggerty, Rusat Ramgopal and Joe Casper Jr.
It’s been a half-decade since the last time a local republican club was formed in Queens. Curtis Sliwa and friends opened the Ronald Reagan Republican Club of Astoria, Queens. When asked why he would open such a club in Western Queens, which is ground-zero for the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America), he said to us, “ Ya have to go to the heart to feel its beat.”
Just a few weeks ago a group of ‘political enthuiasts’ launched a Republican Club in Kew Gardens and Forest Hills. Nearly a hundred veterans and newbies to politics met to form the Kew Forest Republican Club at Aged Steakhouse, 107-02 70th Road, which locals call ‘Restaurant Row’ in Forest Hills.
At this inaugural meeting the energy in the room was obvious and there were barely enough seats for all who attended. What excited some about having a Republican presence in this community is that the numbers for the mayoral election stuck out. Mamdani only won this area by ONE percentage point. This group was founded by a group of business professionals who intend to provide a home for voters with conservative values and moderate ideologies. They claim as Democrats drift further and further left in their ideology, many feel abandoned. There are many traditional Democrats who the say, feel that way as well. There are two Republicans who represent areas of Queens. Both are council people. While Queens still has significant pockets of more conservative voting trends only Howard Beach, with Joanne Ariola and College Point, with Vicki Paladino hold political offices. “The time appears ripe for another Republican to win in Queens County,” said Ryan Walsh – one of the club’s organizers. The Club’s philosophy is simple: support the rule of law, local police and first responders, fiscal responsibility and small businesses. They feel that too many City residents are leaving New York for ‘Red’ states where they can finally afford a home and live the American dream. “It is time to elect candidates who propose more than tax hikes and spending cuts while diverting funds to murky NGOs and nebulous nonprofits,” said Kathryn Donnelly. “The Club’s goal is to find those candidates, encourage voter engagement in the community and to support the candidates who espouse the Club’s principles.” The first general Club meeting is set for March 4th at White Radish on Ascan Avenue in Forest Hills.
There were more than a hundred interested in the Kew Forest GOP Club.
