Progressive NY Senate hopeful missed nearly half of community board meetings

A progressive Queens community board member with running for a New York state Senate seat missed 46% of board meetings in her prior role, according to a report.

Kristen Gonzalez served as a member of Community Board 4 from 2018 to 2022, yet she attended meetings so rarely it constituted “substantial nonattendance,” according to the board’s code of conduct. The New York Post reported Saturday that Gonzalez was absent on the job, missing mandatory training meetings and even pandemic relief discussions while she was supposed to be serving her Corona, Elmhurst, Newtown, and LeFrak City-based constituents.

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Members of the 50-member board are chosen by the borough president in consultation with the council members of the district. The members are not paid a salary, and those in the public interested in applying are invited to fill out applications to be considered.

Gonzalez worked as a product manager for American Express during her tenure and is now vying for New York’s 59th State Senate district which covers Astoria, Long Island City, Greenpoint, North Williamsburg, and a slice of eastern Manhattan. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has endorsed Gonzalez in her Senate race.

Former city councilwoman Liz Crowley is running against Gonzalez. One-time candidate for Public Advocate Nomiki Konst, who identifies as a Socialist, dropped out of the race Saturday and endorsed Gonzalez.

The state's primary elections fall on August 23.