"Gary Ackerman (D - Jamaica) sold out Northeast Queens on the floor of the House of Representatives as he voted to turn Ft. Totten into a haven for the homeless," stated Grant Lally, in response to Ackerman's naming a "Blue Ribbon" panel on the future of Ft. Totten. "I am stunned Gary Ackerman has the audacity to come into Northeast Queens and pretend to be a champion for our community, while back in Washington he advocates turning Ft. Totten into a huge homeless shelter," Lally continued.

Lally was referring to Congressman Ackerman's support and vote for H.R. 558, The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, which gives homeless shelters first priority to military bases closed down by the federal government. Ackerman boasted of his "strong support" for giving homeless shelters a priority and lamented "the lack of other" homeless shelters in our district. In fact, Ackerman voted against a Joint Resolution before Congress this year that overturned The Homeless Assistance Act. (H. J. Res 102) Over one thousand (1,000) homeless men could be permanently housed at Ft. Totten in Bayside, according to area experts.

"It is pathetic that Gary Ackerman is trying to dump hundreds of homeless men in our neighborhood," Lally stated. "On the floor of the United States House of Representatives, he voted to make Ft. Totten a massive homeless shelter. Now Ackerman thinks he can deceive us with this sham committee on Ft. Totten. Maybe if Ackerman actually lived in our district, he would not be so eager to put a homeless shelter in our backyard. Actions in Congress speak louder than hollow words back home."

"Gary Ackerman has spent eighteen years on the public payroll forcefeeding his brand of extreme politics on us," Lally concluded. "Trying to turn Ft. Totten into a homeless shelter is another reason why in November, the good people of Northeast Queens should fire Gary Ackerman."