By: Ronald J. Edelstein

In an age of political turbulence and moral equivocation, where slogans often replace substance and ideology masquerades as compassion, Councilwoman Vickie Paladino stands as a rare and unflinching truth-teller in New York City’s political landscape. Representing District 19 — encompassing Whitestone, College Point, Bayside, Little Neck, Douglaston, and parts of North Flushing — Paladino has, since her election in 2021, distinguished herself as one of the few leaders who refuses to bow to the pressures of radical orthodoxy or to the intimidation of New York’s increasingly polarized political machine. Her record, her principles, and her sheer fortitude make her re-election not only desirable but absolutely essential to the future of this city.

At a moment when New York teeters on the edge of ideological capture — facing the very real possibility of Zohran Mamdani, an avowed socialist and anti-Israel agitator, becoming the city’s next mayor — Paladino’s continued service is nothing less than a civic necessity. She is, in every sense, the indispensable counterweight to the encroaching tide of extremism that threatens to upend public safety, free expression, economic stability, and the moral backbone of New York.

Born and raised in Whitestone to a working-class family, Paladino embodies the character of the community she serves. The death of her father — a World War II veteran — when she was only six years old forced her mother to raise five children alone. From those early struggles emerged the toughness, empathy, and self-reliance that would define Paladino’s life. For nearly four decades before entering politics, she ran two small businesses and raised her family in the same neighborhoods she now represents — experiences that endowed her with a deep understanding of both the aspirations and anxieties of ordinary New Yorkers.

Her journey from small-business owner to City Council member was neither orchestrated by party machinery nor propelled by ideology. It was the natural evolution of a woman compelled to act when she saw her community endangered — by spiraling crime, overreach from City Hall, and policies that punished productivity while rewarding disorder. Her neighbors and supporters saw in her what many politicians lack: common sense, moral clarity, and genuine courage.

Since taking office, Paladino has worked tirelessly to deliver on her promises of accountability and transparency. In 2025, she was appointed Minority Whip for the Council’s Minority Delegation — recognition of her growing influence as a voice for sanity in an increasingly unmoored political environment. She has championed public safety, standing firmly behind the NYPD when so many others sought to defund or demoralize it. She understands what so many career politicians have forgotten: that safety is the foundation of freedom, and without it, every other right and privilege collapses.

Her advocacy for education reform, small-business support, and quality-of-life preservation has resonated deeply across party lines. Whether confronting bureaucratic waste, opposing burdensome mandates, or defending parents’ rights in local schools, Paladino approaches each issue with a fierce practicality. For her, these are not abstract debates — they are questions of survival for a city she loves and refuses to abandon.

Among her most defining qualities is her unwavering support for New York’s Jewish community, both within her district and across the five boroughs. In an era when antisemitism has metastasized from the fringes to the mainstream, Paladino has stood as a stalwart defender of Jewish safety, dignity, and identity. She has spoken out — often alone — against the “Red-Green Alliance” that has fueled campus and street violence since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023.

Unlike so many politicians who equivocate when confronted with hatred masquerading as activism, Paladino’s moral compass does not waver. She has unequivocally condemned Hamas and the atrocities they committed.  She has defended Israel’s right — and moral obligation — to defend itself in what she recognizes as an existential war for survival. And she has done so not as a matter of political convenience but of conviction.

Her call for mandatory Holocaust education in every New York school is more than symbolic — it is a vital act of civic protection. “If we fail to teach history,” she has said, “we invite its darkest chapters to return.” In a city where Jewish students are harassed on college campuses and synagogues now require armed guards, her insistence on remembrance and vigilance could not be more necessary.

It is impossible to view Paladino’s candidacy in isolation from the broader political climate. The looming mayoral contest between Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa, and Zohran Mamdani has laid bare the competing visions for New York’s future. Should Mamdani — whose open hostility toward Israel and embrace of socialist dogma have been well documented — capture City Hall, the consequences for this city would be profound.

Mamdani has publicly aligned himself with anti-Israel organizations such as Students for Justice in Palestine and has championed efforts to repeal state laws that prohibit New York from contracting with companies that boycott Israel. He has adamantly refused to condemn the use of the inflammatory phrase “globalize the Intifada” and has also promised to disrupt traditional policing, and to pursue economic policies aimed at “seizing the means of production.” These are not fringe ideas; they are his stated goals.

In such a scenario, the importance of voices such as Paladino’s cannot be overstated. She is among the few elected officials with both the moral clarity and political courage to stand against the normalization of antisemitism and socialism in New York’s civic life. Her re-election would ensure that the City Council retains at least one representative unwilling to capitulate to ideological bullying or to the creeping influence of those who see capitalism, democracy, and faith as obstacles rather than achievements.

Beyond ideology, what sets Vickie Paladino apart is her integrity. She does not make promises she cannot keep, and she does not hide behind pollsters or consultants. Her office maintains one of the most active constituent-service operations in Queens, assisting residents with housing disputes, sanitation concerns, and local zoning issues — the everyday battles that define civic life.

Her growing national profile reflects the respect she commands well beyond her district. Paladino is a frequent guest on Fox News broadcasts, where she is sought after for her incisive commentary and deep understanding of the challenges facing both her constituents and everyday New Yorkers. Her authenticity and command of the issues have also made her a popular guest on Newsmax and other major media outlets, where her voice is recognized as a principled, unapologetic defense of common sense in an era of political chaos.

Her constituents describe her not in the language of politics, but of trust. One Whitestone resident recently told a local reporter, “Vickie is a fearless lioness who speaks the truth no matter the consequences. We are indeed fortunate to have her in the City Council advocating for our needs.” Such testimony reflects more than admiration — it reflects gratitude for authenticity in an age of posturing.

Elections are not only about policy; they are about preservation — of values, institutions, and identity. In this critical moment, Vickie Paladino represents New York’s moral center. She is not driven by partisanship but by principle. Her politics are rooted in realism, her leadership in conscience, and her loyalty in love for the city that raised her.

As New Yorkers confront a crossroads between renewal and regression, Paladino’s re-election offers the surest path toward balance and accountability. She understands that the prosperity and safety of this city depend on defending the rule of law, protecting small businesses, honoring first responders, and rejecting ideological extremism.

If Mamdani’s ascent represents the politics of division and disdain for American exceptionalism, then Paladino’s re-election symbolizes the resistance to that descent — a defense of common sense, community, and courage.

In District 19, voters will soon face a choice that transcends geography. It is a choice between surrendering to the forces of radicalism or reaffirming the values that made New York the beating heart of the free world. A vote for Vickie Paladino is a vote for sanity, security, and strength.

Her re-election is not simply about one council district in Queens — it is about preserving the integrity of an entire city at a time when integrity itself feels endangered. In these perilous and tumultuous times, when New York’s future hangs precariously between freedom and folly, we need Vickie Paladino’s voice — strong, steady, and unafraid — more than ever.

Ronald J. Edelstein is the son of Holocaust survivors and a lifelong Jewish activist, writer and speaker