Paul Pogozelski

Wishing Brad Lander the best of Luck in his congressional campaign

On the solemn occasion of the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, our neighbors gathered at juniper park to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost, including the brave first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice. These vigils are sacred moments of unity and reflection, where we put aside politics to remember the victims and the enduring impact on their families and our community. It is deeply disappointing that Phil Wong chose to exploit this somber event for political gain by distributing campaign palm cards at a 9/11 vigil in Queens. This behavior demonstrates a profound lack of judgment and respect for the sanctity of the occasion. Instead of joining hands with mourners to honor the fallen, Phil Wong prioritized self-promotion over compassion, reducing a hallowed moment of remembrance to a campaign opportunity. Such actions are not only inappropriate but also reveal a pattern of disregard for the values we hold dear as New Yorkers. For instance, other public officials have been criticized for failing to adequately acknowledge the sacrifices of first responders in their 9/11 commemorations, and Phil Wong’s conduct aligns with this troubling trend. While others stood in silence, read names of victims, or participated in acts of service, Phil Wong engaged in political solicitation, which is both tone-deaf and offensive. We call on Phil Wong to apologize to the families of 9/11 victims, first responders, and all New Yorkers who expect their leaders to act with integrity and reverence. The people of Queens deserve a representative who understands that some moments should remain above politics—a leader who prioritizes honor over ambition. Let us never forget the true meaning of 9/11: a day to mourn, to reflect, and to come together as one community. We deserve leaders who embody that spirit year- round

While the unofficial ranked choice voting results aren’t what we hoped for, I couldn’t be more proud of this campaign for the city council. We ran an honest, grassroots-powered campaign with great people, people from this district, and people with the best intentions. I want to congratulate Phil Wong on his success and wish him the best of luck. This race was never about ego or ambition. It was about raising our voices and proving that regular people can stand up and demand better. That work doesn’t end here, and neither do I. Whether in or out of office, I’ll keep stepping up for my neighbors, our families, and the people who want to build a better neighborhood. Thank you.

As of today, the results for the Democratic primary are still too early to call, but the early numbers and energy we’ve seen so far give us every reason to be optimistic about the path ahead. What we accomplished together is remarkable. This campaign was built by neighbors across District 30 who came together for a better future, and I’m proud of what we built together. We’re going to see this through. Thank you, and God Bless.

That’s 100% the case. They do this all the time at this voting site.

Here we are! Primary Election Day is TOMORROW! We've done a ton of work to get to this point, and we don't plan on stopping now. This campaign is much more than politics. It's a movement for the people on the ground who want their local government to work for them. This is a chance for everyone in District 30 to be represented equally and have their voices heard on a platform that isn't quick to judge. Voting is our chance to practice the very rights that come from democracy. We can change the status quo and build a better neighborhood together. Thank you.

He should know better, but he still tests to see if anyone else will find out. Unfortunately, I must continue to call out Phil Wong's illegal tactics to spread his propaganda sheets across the district. I went to pick up the Ridgewood Times at one of their news racks today and noticed a Phil Wong Advertisement, which conveniently resembles a newspaper, inside. He can't get any legitimate news coverage, so he has to force his way into it. That's kinda sad. We've seen the same Penny Press-style misinformation campaign before. If they were as confident as they say, they wouldn't be so desperate as to create a whole fake newspaper to scribble more nonsense about me and blow smoke where the sun doesn't shine about the WRONG choice. I know the go-to is to say "it doesn't matter now" or "he's just trying to get back at him for the video," but realize that this has been going on since the beginning of this race. I've spent a lot of time sharing my policies and my goals for working for the district. How much can be said about the other side? Not much.

At an Elmhurst early voting site, Phil Wong posters were ripped down by a poll site manager for being placed within 100ft — breaking election laws. Don't worry. This time, thankfully, a Poll Site Manager took care of the situation and was able to take swift action. There's no telling how long those posters have been there.

Kind of interesting… queenscrap.blogspot.com/2017…

We're in the middle of Early Voting Week for the Primary Election, and I want to share a few last-minute things to keep in mind as you head to the polls. The best place to learn more about early voting is nycvotes.org, but in case you want to save this for later, feel free to do so. My goal is always to help educate people in the best way possible to help them better learn how to navigate the information highway. There's a lot of information out there to can easily throw people off from the facts. Remember to visit nycvotes.org to learn more.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! At the end of the day, being a father is both a privilege and a blessing. I think we all strive to be the best example for our children and the next generation. We do what we can to make sure we’re there in the good and bad times. Whether I’m being a hockey dad, a civic leader dad, funny dad, stern dad, happy dad, or chill dad, I know I’m doing my best and I’m appreciated at home. I hope you all can feel the same way.

We recognize another important day today that honors a vital part of American history. Today marks the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. This is a moment to reflect on centuries of service, sacrifice, and resilience that come from our brave service members defending the United States. The U.S. Army embodies the strength and unity necessary to protect the freedoms we hold dear. Today is more than a celebration of history. It's a reminder that the call to service takes many forms from many different people who are willing to fight and die for this country. Whether through military service, public service, or community work, the idea of showing up for your country matters, and there’s a place for everyone in that effort. I'm still here, stronger, smarter, and focused on the real issues that matter.

Today, we celebrate Flag Day. A day filled with pride and remembrance for the symbol of our nation's spirit. The American Flag, this vibrant banner, adorned in red, white, and blue, represents the freedoms we hold dear and the ideals that bind us together. It's a tribute to the courageous people who came together to shape the very foundations of our democracy, working hand in hand to create this powerful emblem of unity and strength. Our democracy has been tested in recent years, and its very meaning has been the cause of much conflict. It's important to remember that our nation was built on conflict. Those impactful few who persevered, stood up to injustice, and spread the message of freedom helped pave the way for our future. While Phil Wong insists on continuing his slander campaign against me, spreading misinformation, causing mass hysteria through his buddies, and lying about being a democrat, I stand to remember what today means for Americans.

I've already spoken about the Parks budget being too low and how becoming a Park Steward can help fill in the gaps. The biggest question I encounter when I tell people this is normally along the lines of "who's going to pay for this?" Well, that's where discretionary funding comes in to help. Beautification efforts, including some park programs, clean-up organizations, tree planting initiatives, and graffiti removal groups, altogether already receive over a million dollars in discretionary funding from the city council member's office. That's a lot of money spread out in smaller intervals across about a dozen different groups. I will use discretionary funding in the city council to fund groups that have made a positive impact on the community while encouraging more groups to assist in the management, cleaning, and upkeep of our parks. This is budgeting at its best, that will prove to build a better neighborhood for all of us.

Now that we're facing the early summer weather, our parks are going to be busier than ever. We have celebrations, parties, BBQs, sports games, and much more that take place in our parks. It's important that everyone looking to use our parks has the right permits beforehand. That being said, the process to obtain a permit for our park must be improved and streamlined for everyone to enjoy. I know firsthand how daunting it is to acquire the right permits. When I founded the Middle Village Players Roller Hockey League, I had to jump through a number of hoops, before we finally received our permits. I know that the complications of the permit process has acted as a barrier to entry for numerous good ideas, good programs, and good people that could contribute to the beautification of our parks. As a council member, I plan to implement new initiatives that will streamline and simplify the permit process for prospective applicants. As part of my new initiative, I plan to work with NYC Parks and hold semiannual workshops where potential permit applicants can come in and receive guidance on everything they need to know about the permitting process. This will help us better utilize all our parks by encouraging others to participate and create similar extracurricular programs, like what I did with the Hockey League , that help create a sense of community and belonging in our public spaces.

Did somebody say Bacon, Cheese, and Egg on an English Muffin here? I sure know I didn't! However, I do keep it real in this Reel Talk video series, where I share more about my campaign and more about my background. My priorities are here, in District 30, and that's where they will stay. Same message since I started. Make sure to visit your polling sites. Early voting begins THIS SATURDAY. politicsny.com/2025/06/11/me…

We're only halfway into this year, and Preliminary Budget talks for 2026 have already taken place in the City Council. Coincidentally, what I've already said about the importance of Parks has been reflected by the council as a whole. The quality of our parks across the city and in our district varies drastically, yet there are still the same major issues across the board. I remember a few months back, I was alerted about a hate symbol being spray-painted by the Hockey Rink at Juniper Park. I was told Grover Cleveland Park had issues with littering and Dry Harbor Playground with loud music and late-night games... The list goes on. I believe we need someone in the city council who will be able to identify the issues and come up with reasonable solutions to address these problems. I've been on the ground, rolled up my sleeves, and taken on these issues first-hand. Legislators are asking for $32.5M in the city council for more staffing positions in NYC Parks. That's a lot more resources at our disposal to tackle these issues across the board, but without the skills to build the right bridges, it'll be more money thrown at a bigger problem. Our parks are our green spaces, and it'll take a collective effort to see improvements. More on the city council budget for FY 2026: council.nyc.gov/press/2025/0…