NYC Council District 29 Election: Sheryl Ann Fetik Seeks Seat

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — Democratic voters in New York City's 29th Council district, which includes Forest Hills, Forest Park, Kew Gardens, Rego Park, and Richmond Hill, will see nine names on their ballots when they vote in the June 22 primary election.

One of those names will be Sheryl Ann Fetik.

Patch reached out to all candidates in the election to create these profiles. Fetik's responses are below.

Sheryl Ann Fetik

<b>Age (as of Election Day)</b>

66

<b>Position Sought</b>

Member of the NYC Council, 29th CD

<b>Party Affiliation</b>

Democratic Party

<b>Neighborhood of residence (i.e., East Village, Astoria, etc.)</b>

Rego Park

<b>Family</b>

I am the eldest of five siblings. I currently have a niece and 6 nephews, as well as a grand niece and two grand nephews. I was blessed to have had wonderful parents, Jerome C. Fetik, and Libby (Blechman) Fetik. My father died while I was still in college, and I took care of my family. I fought for and took care of my mother, until she died at age 96. I helped to raise my niece, who is now a doctor, and a mother of three children.

<b>Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?</b>

I was raised, influenced and inspired by my family of labor organizers and activists. My great grandparents, grandparents and my father, were involved in the development of the labor movement in the U.S. I am descended from Jewish immigrants from Europe, who came to this country to escape persecution. My great grandparents, Jon and Katie Fetik, worked to establish the American Federation of Labor, with Samuel Gompers. My grandfather, Sidney Blechman, organized the United Cap and Millinery Workers Union and the Liberal Party in NYS, with Alex Rose. My father worked to organize tool and die makers, and skilled craftsmen. My grandfather, Sidney Blechman, was honored by President Franklin Roosevelt, for his role in the Post Office Department, in collecting and safeguarding funds for the Statue of Liberty. My father, Jerome C. Fetik, was honored by President Truman, and was awarded the Presidential Unit Commendation, for his service in the Navy during WWII. My father was assigned to accompany President Truman, on his trip to sign the peace accords in Europe. Several of my cousins have been elected to office. Many members of my family have been active in politics. I grew up in a family that is deeply patriotic, and that deeply loves our country.

<b>Education</b>

I attended PS 139, Russell Sage, Forest Hills High School, and Queens College. I graduated from Queens College with a Major in Accounting, and Minors in Mathematics and Economics, and became a licensed C.P.A. (Certified Public Accountant).
I also attended law school, and am currently working on meeting the requirements to become a licensed attorney.

<b>Occupation</b>

Licensed C.P.A., since 1989
Successful Consultant and Advocate, for people, businesses and issues,
for many years, and still going
Teacher, Math and Accounting, to Asian adults, in a business college, and to public middle school students, as a part of the SMART (Science and Math Alternate Route to Teaching) Program, 2002-2006
Aide to NYC Councilman Arthur Katzman, 1980-1983

<b>Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office</b>

Elected Democratic Judicial Delegate, 28 AD, 2019-Present
Elected Member of the Queens Democratic County Committee, 2016-Present, 1970s
Elected Assistant Treasurer, NYS New Democratic Coalition, the former reform wing of the Democratic Party, 1978-1979
Former Aide to NYC Councilman Arthur Katzman, 1980-1983

<b>Campaign website</b>

https://sherylfetik.com
Please check for updates.

<b>Why are you seeking elective office?</b>

I have the background, ability and deep concern, to represent our community.
I have been interested in politics and community affairs, all of my life. I have been an activist, for most of my life, since age twelve. I care deeply about people, our society and our world. I was raised to know that each of us must act, to improve the world around us. As I have gained experience and knowledge, I have become well prepared, to take on the responsibilities of a Member of the NYC Council.
Sometimes, we the voters feel that our elected officials aren't listening to us, that they may be controlled by powerful interests. I am not beholden to anyone, other than my constituents. I will listen to you, and will fight for you.

<b>The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.</b>

There are a number of pressing issues, before us: Health Care Reform, Response to the Pandemic, Crime and Hate Crimes, Education, Housing, and others.
Health Care: We must listen to patients and their families, and permit patients to remain in their homes, if possible. We must reduce the authority of health care providers to assert authority over patients, and reduce the risk of contagion.
Response to the Pandemic: See response below.
Crime: We must take hate crimes seriously. I will appoint a liaison, to address and keep track of incidents of hate crimes, and will work with the NYPD and the District Attorney, to prosecute these crimes. We should reform police, not defund police.
Education: We must increase educational opportunities and resources for all school children, and support training and lifelong learning for adults.

<b>What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?</b>

I differ with my opponents on health care, seniors, response to the pandemic, crime and hate crimes, education, the placement of the bicycle lanes, and the building of the jail in Kew Gardens.
Health Care: My opponents stress the "number of beds", while I believe that the quality of patient care is what matters most. I support improving health care facilities, but we should be allocating resources to how patients are best cared for. For example, hospitals often favor performing surgical procedures, over those medical treatments where less profit is involved. For example, although treatments with hyperbaric oxygen are powerful aids to healing, there are only one or two facilities in all of Queens that provide for this. For example, although good nutrition is crucial for healing, choice of food is a way for health care facilities to save money.
Education: Some of my opponents would stop the use of the SHSAT for entrance to the specialized high schools, or at least water down the requirements. I believe that we should support those programs that are achieving excellence for our students, including the SHSAT and the specialized high schools, and also increase educational opportunities for other students. We should also support training and lifelong learning, for adults.
Bicycle Lanes and the Jail in Kew Gardens: We should be including the needs of residents and small businesses, before government policies are implemented. Several of my opponents have been supportive of the plans for the bicycle lanes, and two of them voted for the plans, including Lynn Schulman, without raising any questions. I attended various meetings in which I raised questions about the placement of the bike lanes, which have hurt some small businesses. Several of the candidates were silent, while the proposal for the jail was being pushed through. I testified against the plan, at Queensborough Hall and at City Hall. At least one candidate, Lynn Schulman, has explained that the proposal for the jail was basically a done deal. I disagreed, and disagree with this assessment. Our elected officials can take action, to prevent funding, to stop authorization of contracts, and to make changes in the proposals. As your Councilwoman, I will advocate, and I will stop the jail.

<b>If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)</b>

The 29th CD is an open seat in the NYC Council.

<b>How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?</b>

Although our elected officials didn't cause the Pandemic, there was an inadequate response, at all levels of government. Small businesses and people, were put out of work, without consideration of their needs. The risk of contagion was not understood or addressed. Education suffered for more than a year. Access to food and vaccines was very disorganized.
We should be considering the needs of local residents and small businesses, when policies are implemented. Small businesses need grants, loans, and reductions in fines and fees. We should help homeowners, and reduce and defer amounts owed for taxes, and other fees. We must do a much better job, in countering the risk of contagions, from COVID, and also from various other pathogens. We should provide training and retraining, so that people can get back to work, and resources to help people find jobs. We must increase educational opportunities in schools, and for adults, for lifelong learning.

<b>Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.</b>

The most important issues to me personally, are health care, improving the quality of care, and education, increasing educational opportunities for all, including lifelong learning.
We must also provide truly affordable housing, support better nutrition, and improve our environment.

<b>What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?</b>

I am well prepared and ready to take on the responsibilities of representing our community, in the NYC Council. I am a CPA and have been a successful advocate and problem solver, for people, small businesses and issues. For example, I represented a NYC employee who was being mistreated and discriminated against on the basis of age and disability. We were in State and Federal court, before the EEOC, and several employment hearings. After three years of battles, the employee is still working at her job.
For example, my mother developed serious infections in her heels, after breaking her hip. Thirteen doctors said that her wounds would not heal, that they could not control the infection, and that amputation of her foot was necessary. She was given six months to live. We found other therapies; her wounds healed, and my mother lived and walked for another 10 1/2 years. It was a great deal of work. Hospitals are set up to provide profitable surgical procedures, rather than the long term therapies that will benefit the patients.

<b>The best advice ever shared with me was:</b>

My father taught me to work and study hard, to think independently, to rise above fear, and that, "vigilance is the eternal cost of liberty." (His version of the famous quote)

<b>What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?</b>

I approach and solve problems analytically, independently and critically, pulling together all of the information that may be relevant, and then considering how people and circumstances will be affected. In politics, this means that I do not follow a particular agenda or set of rhetoric, but think about how people will be affected by particular policy decisions. For example, we must include the needs of local residents and small businesses, before government policies are implemented.
In contrast, other candidates will follow along with rhetoric, or are guided by powerful interests, in forming their policy choices.
A local example of this difference, involved the placement of the bicycle lanes on Queens Blvd. I attended meetings, listened to people's concerns, and questioned the placement of the bike lanes, and their impact on small businesses and access to the sidewalk, for the elderly. Two of my opponents voted for the bike lanes, and have been silent about any possible problems. For another candidate who supports the bike lanes, this is a part of the agenda of certain groups.
Another example is health care. Some of my opponents stress "the number of beds". I agree that we should improve our medical facilities, but the quality of care is what matters for the patients, including all that is required for good care.
I am not beholden to any powerful interests. I can and will listen, and will fight to represent the interests of my constituents.