#Queens Councilman Eric Ulrich battling alcoholism, blames COVID pandemic

Queens Councilman Eric Ulrich admitted he is suffering from alcoholism in a Facebook message he posted Friday, writing that the COVID-19 pandemic had turned what used to be a social activity into something “self-destructive.”

“The COVID pandemic has affected people in different ways,” Ulrich (R-Queens) acknowledged.

“What used to be mainly a social activity, and a way to cope with stress, has now become far too frequent and self-destructive,” he wrote. “After talking about this with my family and friends, I have decided to finally quit and get sober.”

UIrich was elected to the City Council in 2013 and will leave office at the end of the year under the city’s term limits law.

In the posting, Ulrich added that he was quitting booze because he is “ready to move on” from the struggle of the adition and hopes to “be a better father, friend and public servant.”