Congressional summit: We had a sit-down this week with Congressmember Carolyn Maloney, who isn’t facing a Democratic primary challenger. But there is a Republican aiming to run against her, Nicholas S. Di Iorio, under the catchy slogan, “Nick for New York.” Anyway, Maloney brought us up to speed on everything she’s been up to. Of course, we had to ask her about House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s stunning primary loss to Tea Party candidate David Brat. “You could hear the ground shake,” Maloney said. “His loss, I think, is a tremendous one. I would say that [a deal on] immigration is now completely dead. It was shocking — and that none of the polls saw it.” Maloney just got back from Normandy, where she was commemorating the D-Day anniversary with President Barack Obama. She also participated in last weekend’s moms’ anti-gun march across the Brooklyn Bridge. “I was the only politician invited to speak at that, I was very honored,” she told us. Gun reform must happen, she stressed. “I thought it would come after Gabby Giffords was shot in Arizona — it didn’t,” she said. “There have been 74 school shootings since Sandy Hook. What more do you need?” We pumped her for her thoughts on the 2016 presidential election and Hillary Clinton’s potential candidacy. “I think the nomination is hers, if she wants it,” Maloney said. “I do not think she’ll make a decision before the midterm elections.” In fact, she was going to a Clinton fundraiser that evening. What about Governor Andrew Cuomo? “Cuomo got us gay marriage,” she said. “He passed the toughest gun laws in the country. He’s got this women’s agenda. And the economy is improving in New York. You can get a decision out of the governor. And I think getting on-time budgets is great. Do I think he’ll run against Hillary? No. Will he run? Possibly.” The veteran congressmember also tipped us off that the Navy SEAL who fired the shot that killed Osama bin Laden may be giving his military shirt, complete with its American flag patch, to the 9/11 Museum in July. Maloney said she met with the super-SEAL, who told her how it went down. Basically, as Maloney related it to us, as the SEAL and a comrade entered bin Laden’s room, three of his wives jumped in front of the terrorist mastermind. Like a linebacker, the other SEAL charged the trio, threw them down to the side and out of the way and jumped on top of them — all the while, not knowing if they had been rigged up with suicide bomb belts. Then bin Laden took his youngest wife and used her as a human shield, but — oops! — too bad for him, he was so tall that he still presented a good target, and the heroic SEAL blasted the lethal shot right into his head.
In fine trim: We stopped by the other day to see how Astor Place newsstand vendor Jerry Delakas, above, is doing. He’s feeling better, he said, and is still waiting on the results of a recent medical test. “Nice haircut!” a passing woman called out. In fact, he had just gotten his once-yearly cut, Delakas said. Surprisingly, he didn’t go to Speedy at Astor Hairstylists, but another place between Third and Second Aves. “The camera like me,” he quipped as we took his photo. With that sharp new do — definitely! What a stud!
In with Chin: Sam Spokony, who did two stints as a reporter with The Villager and NYC Community Media, has moved on to a new position as communications director for City Councilmember Margaret Chin. Meanwhile, Spokony’s predecessor in Chin’s office, Amy Varghese, has gone to work for City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, as has another former Chin staffer, Matt Viggiano, who was the councilmember’s land use advisor. Best of luck, Sam!
Correction: Stained-glass artist Patti Kelly, who was profiled in last week’s Villager, called to say that some things in the article she never said, nor would ever say. Kelly, who was a member of the fighting Committee to Save St. Brigid’s, said she personally would never use the word “payback” to describe why she believes she will never see any more work on churches. She also said she would never say she was “putting out an appeal” for work — such as commissions or restorations. (These words were not in the original article, written by Heather Dubin, but were added during the editing.) Kelly is facing a rent increase, and fears she might not be able to stay in her beloved East Village. While she herself is not putting out an appeal, we will! Kelly’s work is simply amazing, and anyone who loves stained-glass artistry should check out her work and also her classes, which she teaches at her studio.
