By A street vendor who helped thwart a car bombing attack in Times Square in May 2010 has announced he is running for Congress.. Duane Jackson, a disabled Vietnam veteran, was working at his handbag stall on May 1, 2010, when he noticed smoke curling out of an unattended sport utility vehicle and alerted the police.. Police evacuated the square, and a bomb squad diffused a crude device inside the vehicle made out of firecrackers and propane gas tanks.. Jackson, 59, became a celebrity after the incident. President Barack Obama and Mayor Michael Bloomberg celebrated his heroism.. "It was kind of an epiphany for me," he said. "I had a call from President Obama. I had people from all over the world come and thank me for, you know, seeing something and saying something. I can tell people, especially young people and people in the minority communities, it's OK to get involved in the running of this country.". Jackson seeks the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Nan Hayworth in New York's 19th congressional district, just north of New York City, according to his campaign website.. He lists education reform, national security and energy independence as some of the issues that he champions, but his website does not give further details.. A Navy veteran, Jackson said he had 15 years of experience in city planning and housing, including posts with the city's education and housing departments. He calls his years as a vendor "small-business experience.". Just days after Jackson and fellow street vendors helped police avert disaster in Times Square, authorities arrested a Pakistani-born U.S. citizen, Faisal Shahzad, for the failed car bomb plot. Shahzad later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.. Jackson, married with two children, lives in Buchanan, home of the Indian Point nuclear plants. He said he favored 20-year license renewals for the plants to give the region time to transition to new power sources.. Jackson said he would probably make a formal announcement of his candidacy this week in Buchanan. At least three other Democrats are in the race.. "I'm not going to have $200,000 for the primary," Jackson said. "But I'm an ordinary guy, and I think I can get out the Democratic base."
Pancreas transplant center ... Wyandanch industrial park ... 50 years since Bruce brought Santa to LI
Credit: Newsday
Updated 45 minutes ago Blakeman's bid and Dem races ... Pancreas transplant center ... Wyandanch industrial park ... 50 years since Bruce brought Santa to LI
Pancreas transplant center ... Wyandanch industrial park ... 50 years since Bruce brought Santa to LI
Credit: Newsday
Updated 45 minutes ago Blakeman's bid and Dem races ... Pancreas transplant center ... Wyandanch industrial park ... 50 years since Bruce brought Santa to LI
