Dilip Nath

On Sept. 13 this year, two South Asians will contest the Democratic primary from the 24th District in Queens for the New York City Council. Dilip Nath, 31, a health care administrator and Renee Lobo, a broadcast journalist, will be competing against two-time winner James F. Gennaro.

Nath thinks Gennaro hasn’t done anything for the district. ‘‘I wanted to run last year, the leadership within the district told me give him another chance and try to work with him,’’ Nath told News India-Times. ‘‘He has failed to understand the issue and take a stand on it.’’

Renee Lobo

Nath claims that Gennaro didn’t fight to prevent the closure of St. Joseph’s Hospital on 152 Street and Union Turnpike in Queens. Nath feels the hospital benefits many seniors who would be hit hard by the closure. ‘‘Most seniors citizens go there; nurses and doctors know the people in the community and can give first-hand care, we need a facility like that,’’ he said. Also, he thinks Gennaro didn’t care about the 600 employees who have been working there for several years and would lose their jobs. ‘‘It was Gennaro’s job to fight for this, he didn’t.’’

Zoning is another issue that Nath differs with Gennaro on. He said that people move into Queens because of affordable housing and its diversity. ‘‘Zoning was done 50-60 years ago. We need to evaluate neighborhoods and upgrade zoning and in some places downgrade it to keep the characteristic of the neighborhoods alive,’’ said Nath.

Nath said Gennaro forgets he is a representative of community’s interest and not special interest groups. For example, he said, Queens General Hospital, which was rebuilt some time back, gave its vacant land to the city. The Board of Education wants to build an 800-seat high school there.

‘‘The community didn’t know about this. The area where the school will be built was a morgue. We need to know if it is safe for kids. He has no clear stand on it,’’ said Nath.

Nath claimed Gennaro did not know that PS 168 is closing down its high school as enrolment isn’t enough. ‘‘Because of lack of leadership people are suffering,’’ he said. Lobo too, it is reported, has been asking for better quality of life in the neighborhood, affordable housing and protection of environment. She contested twice from the 29th District as an independent and on a Republican Party ticket.

The 24th district — which includes Jamaica, Fresh Meadows, Kew Gardens, Briar Park and Rego Park — has 51 percent people belonging to the minority community. Of this 20 percent are South Asians. Of a total of 70,000 voters, 45,000 are registered Democrats.

Nath immigrated to the U.S. when he was 16 after his family was forced to leave Bangladesh. His parents now live in India. He did his undergrad studies in IT and management from SUNY and an M.B.A. from California Coast University.

He works as a health administrator and is an adjunct professor at Devry Collge in Long Island City. Lobo has been a community activist for over 15 years. Since 1997, she has been a member of the Queens District Attorney’s Asian Advisory Council. She has been a member of the community board since 2003. She graduated from the New York City Citizen Police Academy.