NY-3 Candidates Defend Moderate Stances at Bay Terrace Forum

U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi and Republican challenger Mike LiPetri addressed voters in Queens on Oct. 21 to present their case for New York’s 3rd Congressional District. The two candidates met at a forum hosted by the Bay Terrace Community Alliance at Bay Terrace Shopping Center. Both emphasized their willingness to work with moderate members of the opposing party rather than relying on party loyalty alone.

Suozzi, who reclaimed the seat in 2024 after leaving to run for governor in 2022, framed himself as a centrist. He stated that he rejects extremism on both the far left and the far right. “I’ve always tried to use common sense,” Suozzi told the crowd, adding that he wants people to collaborate to get things done.

LiPetri, a former one-term assembly member for New York’s 9th district, highlighted his experience working with a Democratic-majority state legislature in Albany. He pledged to prioritize the specific needs of NY-3 voters over the general interests of the Republican Party. “If it helps us, I’m for it,” LiPetri said regarding potential legislation, noting that party labels should not dictate his voting record.

LiPetri accused Suozzi of consistently following the Democratic party line, citing recent votes on a resolution to condemn socialism and the Stop Insider Trading Act. Suozzi and other Democrats opposed the socialism resolution because it included support for the SAVE America Act, a bill requiring in-person documentary proof of citizenship. They argued this measure could disenfranchise millions of voters. The Democrats also rejected the Stop Insider Trading Act because Republicans linked it to voter identification legislation and because they believed the bill contained loopholes allowing lawmakers and the vice president to continue trading stocks.

The forum also covered the Propel NY Energy project, a $3.26 billion initiative designed to upgrade the energy grid across New York City, Westchester County, and Long Island. The route enters Queens along Northern Boulevard and passes through Douglaston and Bayside before turning onto Bell Boulevard near the shopping center. Both congressional candidates expressed opposition to the project. Suozzi cited a lack of communication with local residents and said he has instructed the Army Corps of Engineers to hold a public hearing. LiPetri stated he has heard local opposition for years and vowed to work to stop the project if elected.

Immigration policy emerged as a key point of divergence. Suozzi proposed a plan to grant temporary work visas to undocumented immigrants who have resided in the United States for at least 10 years without a criminal record. He said these visas would cost up to $9,000 and would not lead to citizenship. “We have got to have balance,” Suozzi said, advocating for a secure border and the deportation of violent criminals while treating long-term residents humanely.

LiPetri opposed amnesty, calling for an Americans-first approach that prioritizes citizens and veterans. He argued that undocumented immigrants should return home to follow the legal process. He stated that funding allocated for amnesty should instead be used to support American citizens. “We have to focus on American citizens first and our veterans first,” LiPetri told the audience.

The event also featured candidates for state legislature. State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky and her opponent Pamela Michos debated Local Law 97, which mandates that most buildings over 25,000 square feet reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. Both expressed concern that the law imposes heavy financial penalties on co-op shareholders without providing sufficient aid for upgrades. Michos described residents as being stretched too thin by rising prices and maintenance costs. In the Assembly District 26 race, Ed Braunstein and Robert Speranza also criticized the law, with Braunstein noting the state recently delayed similar climate deadlines to avoid burdening taxpayers.