Vanel to run against Comrie for council seat
By Ivan Pereira
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| Clyde Vanel. Photo courtesy of Clyde Vanel |
As a business attorney who has worked for years, Clyde Vanel said he has heard too many stories from southeast Queens entrepreneurs who get the short end of the stick from the city.
The 34−year−old lawyer, who also owns a restaurant in Manhattan, said the government has not given many mom−and−pop business owners aid during the recession, and as a result, the entire community suffers.
“When a small restaurant is closed down ... 10 people lose their job,” he said.
Vanel said he is running for the Democratic seat for the City Council’s 27th District in southeast Queens to make sure the community does not dip into a black hole as the city and nation face economic uncertainty.
The district, currently represented by City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D−St. Albans), includes the neighborhoods of St. Albans, Hollis, Cambria Heights, Jamaica, Baisley Park and Addisleigh Park. Comrie will be running for a third term this election year.
Vanel said one way he could improve business in the area is to have the city offer entrepreneurs training and education on the rules and regulations for small businesses. Too many shops are closed by the city for violations or lack of licenses because the shop owners are not familiar with city rules, according to the candidate.
“These policies are important to enforce, but it’s more important to train them on good maintenance,” he said.
Born on June 19, 1974, Vanel is one of 10 children of Haitian immigrants. The longtime Cambria Heights resident attended SUNY Farmingdale, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace technology and aviation administration in 1997 and earned his law degree from Boston University in 2001.
After working at a property law firm in Manhattan for a few years following his graduation from BU, Vanel started his own law firm in 2003 that focused on providing legal services for small businesses around the city. Vanel said his years of work with his clients has given him a sense of what the city’s small business community needs to improve.
“It’s important to bring that perspective into [the] City Council,” he said.
Vanel said he thinks Comrie has done a good job during his eight−year tenure at City Hall, but it was time for change. Vanel said Comrie angered the community when he voted in favor of extending term limits, but voted against a public referendum on the measure to allow city officeholders a third term in October.
“For him to take away the vote to not allow New Yorkers to vote on term limits is a shame,” Vanel said.
Shortly after the term limits vote, Comrie said he made his decision to extend term limits after two days of long testimony from New Yorkers.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e−mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 146.
The 34−year−old lawyer, who also owns a restaurant in Manhattan, said the government has not given many mom−and−pop business owners aid during the recession, and as a result, the entire community suffers.
“When a small restaurant is closed down ... 10 people lose their job,” he said.
Vanel said he is running for the Democratic seat for the City Council’s 27th District in southeast Queens to make sure the community does not dip into a black hole as the city and nation face economic uncertainty.
The district, currently represented by City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D−St. Albans), includes the neighborhoods of St. Albans, Hollis, Cambria Heights, Jamaica, Baisley Park and Addisleigh Park. Comrie will be running for a third term this election year.
Vanel said one way he could improve business in the area is to have the city offer entrepreneurs training and education on the rules and regulations for small businesses. Too many shops are closed by the city for violations or lack of licenses because the shop owners are not familiar with city rules, according to the candidate.
“These policies are important to enforce, but it’s more important to train them on good maintenance,” he said.
Born on June 19, 1974, Vanel is one of 10 children of Haitian immigrants. The longtime Cambria Heights resident attended SUNY Farmingdale, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace technology and aviation administration in 1997 and earned his law degree from Boston University in 2001.
After working at a property law firm in Manhattan for a few years following his graduation from BU, Vanel started his own law firm in 2003 that focused on providing legal services for small businesses around the city. Vanel said his years of work with his clients has given him a sense of what the city’s small business community needs to improve.
“It’s important to bring that perspective into [the] City Council,” he said.
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“For him to take away the vote to not allow New Yorkers to vote on term limits is a shame,” Vanel said.
Shortly after the term limits vote, Comrie said he made his decision to extend term limits after two days of long testimony from New Yorkers.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e−mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 146.
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