Juliet Payabyab journeys down NYC district politics, learns what ails her neighborhood

With Queens Borough President Melinda Katz during the celebration of Philippine American Friendship Day in June 2016.

With Queens Borough President Melinda Katz during the celebration of Philippine American Friendship Day in June 2016.

By Cristina DC Pastor

All politics is local.

This political aphorism, believed to have originated from former Speaker Tip O’Neill, is making Juliet Payabyab very involved and very busy. Juliet, a long-time leader in the Filipino American community, has been immersing herself in her local district in Astoria, Queens bringing good old-fashioned beating-down-the-pavement attitude.

“I’m trying to get involved, learn the ropes and also learn the problems in my city,” said Juliet when interviewed by The FilAm.

For some time now, she has been attending meetings of Community Board 1 in Queens which covers the neighborhoods of Astoria, Long Island City, and parts of Elmhurst, Sunnyside and Woodside. Juliet has lived in Astoria for 42 years and knows the business establishments that have come and gone and replaced them. There’s a lot of Greek, Irish and Italian communities in Astoria, and as she hastened to add, “a lot of old money.”

Her involvement began out of a sense of curiosity: She has always wondered what politics is like down at the district level, and what, if any, are resources open to FilAms. She is now seriously looking to become a member of the community board.

“I applied for the community board, but I have to learn how to go about it,” she said, setting off on a journey that is exhausting as it is exciting to her.

At first she began attending town hall meetings at Queens Borough Hall. There, she became connected with other members of the FilAm community who are town hall regulars, such as Aida Bartolome, as well as Steven Raga and Aries Dela Cruz of the Filipino American Democratic Club of New York. “Steve and Aries encouraged me to run,” she said.

Juliet applied in December 2016; a final decision will be known in April.

To set her mission in motion, she met with her councilman, Costa Constantinides.

Meeting Councilman Costa Constantinides, Juliet Payabyab raised her concerns about uncollected garbage, rising rent, and lack of access to public housing for senior citizens.

Meeting Councilman Costa Constantinides, Juliet Payabyab raised her concerns about uncollected garbage, rising rent, and lack of access to public housing for senior citizens.

“I called his office. I said I’ve been with Astoria for 42 years. I’m interested in becoming a member of community board. Can I meet with councilman in person?” she said. A meeting was scheduled but cancelled three times. Finally they met on January 26.

The councilman asked Juliet, “What are your concerns?” Juliet began a litany of issues that has been bugging her: uncollected garbage, rising rent, and access to public housing for seniors. She did not stop there. She asked why there are few Asian Americans in community boards. Constantinides signed Juliet’s application and asked to send it to Borough President Melinda Katz, who is the appointing power.

Within days, she got a call from the office of Melinda Katz. An office interview was scheduled within a week. A senior staffer noted how Juliet appeared to be “very interested” in the position. She was asked some questions and told to meet with District Manager Florence Koulouris, the head of all 14 NYC community boards.

CB1 has up to 50 members – all unsalaried and with no fixed terms. From time to time there would be vacancies, but such information is considered deep secret and known only to district insiders.

Juliet met with Koulouris the following day. They spoke for more than an hour, finding her a warm and very gregarious woman. She has sat down with numerous other local officials for interviews and attended meet-and-greet sessions. Katz she has met a number of times, but that was before she made a decision to run for the position for CB 1 board member. The most recent was during the Lunar New Year celebration at Queens Borough Hall during which time they had a selfie together.

Juliet said she would love to see more FilAms involved locally.

“Marami kami dito,” she said, counting Consul Arman Talbo as one of Astoria’s residents. “We have our own Kapihan, we share insights about the progress of our town, the 10 new hotels being built and businesses where Filipinos may find employment.”

There are three Catholic churches where Filipinos typically congregate. Lamented Juliet, “Filipinos here are active in church, but not seen in town halls.”

Flanked by Filipino American Democratic Club of New York officers Aries Dela Cruz (left) and Steven Raga

Flanked by Filipino American Democratic Club of New York officers Aries Dela Cruz (left) and Steven Raga



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