Qns. ma taking on lefty
Bid vs. ‘defunder’ pol
Left-wing “Defund the Police” Democratic Councilwoman Tiffany Caban is about to get a challenge for her Astoria, Queens, seat, the turf of fellow socialist ally Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Republican mother-oftwo Kelly Klingman told The Post she will seek Caban’s ouster at the ballot box on a crime-fighting agenda that would seek to increase NYPD funding and empower first responders while promoting education choices for parents, including more charter schools.
“I’m not a politician. I’m not doing this as a step- ping stone. But I’m tired of sitting on the sidelines,” Klingman, 44, who has 9-yearold twins, told The Post on Monday.
“Public safety is my No. 1 issue. Education is No. 2.”
Klingman, who has lived in Astoria since before her twins were born in 2012, said she also wants to help small businesses in District 22 as well as solve New York’s vexing housing problems.
She claims that Caban, who ran for Queens district attorney before landing in the council, is too far to the left of Astoria constituents, particularly noting the councilwoman’s support of defunding the police and shifting taxpayer dollars elsewhere.
“I have a lot of people in my community who are not happy with Caban’s viewpoints, such as ‘defund the police,’ ” Klingman said. “I support funding the police. I support working with police to come up with solutions.”
She said she supports Gov. Hochul’s plan to lift the cap to open more charter schools in the city, a plan that is facing stiff resistance from state lawmakers allied with the anti-charter United Federation of Teachers.
“I’m for school choices,” said Klingman.
Klingman initially enrolled her kids in Public School 122, but then switched to Immaculate Conception, a Catholic school, after the peak of the pandemic.
That was in large part because Immaculate Conception went to a full-day of in-person classes sooner than city public schools, which made it easier for her to work because her kids were in school.
Klingman will kick off her campaign during a Ronald Reagan Republican club meeting Tuesday at the Rocco Moretto VFW Post in Astoria.
Caban had no comment.