Podcast: We Talk To Jimmy Van Bramer About 2020; The Candidates Looking to Replace Him; and His Potential Run for Queens BP

Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer outside Little Chef Little Café, located at 5-43 48th Ave. in Long Island City, speaking in support of small businesses on Nov. 13 (Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)

Jan. 6, 2021 By Christian Murray

Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer released his 2020 annual report Tuesday.

We talk to Van Bramer in a podcast about the report, as well as his potential run for Queens Borough President.

The council member discusses the challenges his constituents have faced following the outbreak of COVID-19 and what he has done to help the unemployed, struggling business owners, those facing food insecurity and people in need of healthcare.

Van Bramer said that his office served nearly 5,700 constituents in 2020, more than any other year.

We also discuss his opposition to the 2021 city budget; his condemnation of the NYPD; high-profile rezonings—including the Flushing and Long Island City waterfront proposals–as well as Phipps Houses in Sunnyside; and his thoughts on the long list of city council candidates looking to replace him.

Van Bramer also discusses the status of the park upgrades in the district, such as the completion of the $6.3 million Queensbridge Park House in 2020; the $3.2 million revamp of Hart Playground in Woodside that was recently completed; and the 2020 groundbreaking on the $1.8 million overhaul of Doughboy Plaza in Woodside.

Van Bramer discusses the success of the Open Restaurant program and why he believes it should be permanent as well his thoughts on the DOT’s Open Streets program.

He also talks about legislation he sponsored that will allow cultural institutions to have ticketed events on designated Open Streets.

Podcast Highlights

1) Overview of his 2020 Annual Report

2) Discussion about the 2021 budget and why Van Bramer voted against it (15:15)

3) Van Bramer’s views on the NYPD and his relationship with the local police precincts (18:20)

4) A discussion about rezonings, as well as the Long Island City waterfront (24:00)

5) Amazon and jobs (37:00)

6) His views on the Phipps Houses rezoning proposal in Sunnyside (42:00)

7) Status of park construction projects in the 26th Council District—including Hart Playground, Lt. Michael Davidson Park , Queensbridge Park, L/CPL Thomas P. Noonan Jr. Playground in Sunnyside (47:30)

8) DOT’s Open Streets program (54:00)

9) The protected bicycle lane network and the Queensboro Bridge outer roadway—(59:00)

10) The candidates running to replace Van Bramer (1:05:40)

11) Van Bramer and his likely run for Queens Borough President (1:12:45)

For Van Bramer’s 2020 report click here.