Pubdate: Fri, 12 Oct 2012
Source: Staten Island Advance (NY)
Copyright: 2012 Advance Publication Inc.
Contact:  http://www.silive.com/advance/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/646
Author: Tom Wrobleski

IN SHOWDOWN, STATEN ISLAND'S STATE SENATE CANDIDATES FIND MUCH TO 
DISAGREE ABOUT

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Democratic state Sen. Diane Savino and her GOP
challenger, Lisa, Grey, battled over immigration policy and medical
marijuana during an appearance before the Advance Editorial Board.

Ms. Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) is seeking another two-year term
in Albany after first being elected in 2004.

She said she supports an Assembly bill that would have given college
tuition aide to the children of illegal immigrants.

She also backs giving illegals a way to gain U.S. citizenship.

"They're here, and they're not going home," Ms. Savino said. "We need
to open up the process, find some process where they can become legal."

But Ms. Grey, making her first bid for public office, said she opposes
giving tuition to children of illegals.

Taxpayer money "should go to American students," she said, "not
illegal immigrants."

She also said businesses that hire illegals should be held
accountable, and that the U.S. needs to do more to secure its borders.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

The two candidates also differed over Ms. Savino's bill to legalize
medical marijuana in New York state.

Ms. Savino, whose parents each died of lung cancer, said that New
Yorkers should be allowed to use medical marijuana to ease the pain of
chronic illnesses.

She said that medical marijuana, taken in vaporized form or eaten, is
safer than prescription drugs like Oxycontin and Vicodin.

Under the bill, doctors would decide on the usage of medical
marijuana, and patients would have to register with the state.

Ms. Savino also said medical marijuana would generate "a tremendous
amount of revenue" for the state.

But Ms. Grey, a defense attorney and former prosecutor, said, "I see
what marijuana does to children," and said she believes that marijuana
is a "gateway drug" that leads to abuse of other substances.

She said she believes that some medical marijuana supporters want to
see marijuana made "legal across the board," including for
recreational use.

"There's so many downsides to it," she said.

THE NEW YORK WHEEL

Ms. Savino and Ms. Grey found common ground in their support of the
New York Wheel project proposed for the St. George waterfront.

Ms. Savino called the Wheel "the biggest, most exciting" project she
has seen in years, one that will bring jobs and hundreds of millions
of development dollars into the district.

"It's going to be the best thing to happen to the North Shore in
decades," she said.

She said that supporters of the Wheel shouldn't back down in the face
of community opposition.

"In the end, we have to reject the naysayers," she said. "If they run
me out of office for saying it, so be it."

That goes in particular for those who would complain that the Wheel
would block views from their hillside homes on the North Shore, she
said.

"You are not entitled to an unobstructed view of Manhattan," she
said.

Ms. Grey said the Wheel and shopping complex would give tourists an
incentive to get off the Staten Island Ferry and explore the North
Shore, which she called the "jewel of Staten Island."

They agreed that the city would have to make infrastructure
improvements to Bay Street and Richmond Terrace so the project doesn't
spawn traffic problems.

Ms. Grey slammed Ms. Savino, a former union official, for taking
campaign contributions from "special interests" and labor.

She said Ms. Savino tends to vote "with that in mind," including her
support of prevailing wage legislation, which Ms. Grey called a "job
killer."

Ms. Savino said she would "never apologize" for her support of labor,
but that she objects when people call her a "shill" for unions.

She pointed out that she has also gotten support from those in the
business and real estate communities, among others.

She said insisting that prevailing wages be paid on projects where
public dollars were involved was "the right thing to do."

Ms. Grey said that the recent lease agreement between the Port
Authority and the New York Container Terminal, while good for the
terminal, "did nothing" for mom-and-pop trucking firms hit by higher
tolls. She said more oversight of the Port Authority is needed.

Ms. Savino said the state needs to give more aid to mass transit,
which would help keep a lid on MTA toll and fare hikes.

She said the federal government should pony up more aid for the Port
Authority, especially on the World Trade Center rebuilding project.

Ms. Savino said that the elimination of member items for lawmakers had
cost Island culturals $2 million in funding. Ms. Grey said member
items should be restored.
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