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Lt. Gov. surprises
Queens students
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
In celebration of Autism Awareness and
Acceptance month, students at three Birch
Family Services schools in Queens were surprised
by special guest Lieutenant Governor
of New York Kathy Hochul last week.
Hochul read the best-selling book “My
Brother Charlie” to the children enrolled
in the organization, which is dedicated to
empowering individuals with autism and
developmental disabilities to lead fulfilling
lives. Birch Family Services hosted several
events throughout April that focused
on spreading love, kindness, respect and
understanding.
Hundreds of students at nine Birch Family
Services schools in New York City — including
Long Island City Early Childhood Center,
Springfield Gardens Education Center and
The Phyllis L. Susser School for Exceptional
Children in Queens — participated in the
events, which welcomed several “real-life
superheroes” for special readings, including
employees of Pfizer, alumni of their program
and Hochul.
In a video for students, Hochul read “My
Brother Charlie” by actress Holly Robinson
Peete, a heartwarming story based on Peete’s
son, who has autism.
“What a beautiful story about Callie talking
about her brother, Charlie, who has autism,”
Hochul said in the video. “Everybody
we know knows someone and loves someone
with autism, and this book will help you
understand why they may be different, but
they’re really special and they’ve got a lot of
love to give.”
Participants in the organization’s New
Frontier employment and social skills program,
who are on the autism spectrum, read
children’s books about autism acceptance to
pre-school students and answered their questions.
Students also participated in art contests
andtook the “Kindness Pledge,” which reminds
them to treat others and themselves
with respect.
“I promise to be kind on this very day. To
show all acts of kindness, in a special way. To
friends I know both big and small, I will catch
them if they fall. To those that need a helping
hand, I will guide them when I can,” the
pledge states. “I promise to say ‘thank you,’
‘excuse me now’ and ‘please.’ These three
words will show my kindness, even when I
sneeze! If I love myself, then I can show to others,
that love begins with kindness, for all of
my sisters and brothers.”
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | MAY 7-MAY 13, 2021 13
Koo introduces City Council resolution
supporting COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act
Holden recieves multiple
endorsements
Councilman Robert F. Holden racked up
a lot of endorsements in the past week. Councilman
I. Daneek Miller, Assemblywoman
Catherine Nolan, state Senators Leroy
Comrie and Joe Addabbo, former Assemblyman
Mike Miller and Maspeth community activist
Diane Ballek endorsed him in his bid for
re-election in City Council District 30.
They join more than 38 labor unions and
elected officials, and counting, who have endorsed
Holden.
“I am proud to endorse Bob Holden for a
second term in the City Council,” Comrie said.
“Bob and I have known each other for many
years and he is a proven leader who serves
his constituents with honor. I look forward
to working with him to improve the lives of
Queens residents.”
Sunnyside residents hold a rally against anti-Asian
hate crimes on March 6, 2021.
File photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Ulrich endorses Republican Felicia
Kalan
Republican City Council candidate Felicia
Kalan in District 22 received the endorsement
of Councilman Eric Ulrich who represents
District 32 in Queens and is the borough’s only
Republican lawmaker.
“Felicia Kalan is the commonsense candidate
in this race. She will stand against the
radicals who have allowed New York City to
spiral into disarray. As a mom of two, Felicia
knows how important it is to protect our quality
of life and improve our public education,”
Ulrich said. “Felicia has extensive knowledge
of and experience in government and business.
She will help us rebuild our city and borough.
We need more working moms in the City Council
representing children and families, and she
has my full support.”
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Councilman Peter Koo introduced a resolution to
the City Council on Thursday, April 29, in support of
the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to address the surge of
anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic.
Koo’s resolution calls upon Congress to pass, and
the president to sign, the legislation that would facilitate
the expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes,
provide support for state and local law enforcement
agencies to respond to hate crimes and coordinate
with local and federal partners to mitigate racially discriminatory
language used to describe the pandemic.
The relentless attacks on Asians throughout the
country needs to be acknowledged and fought by every
state in the union, Koo said.
“This requires federal action to make sweeping
changes in the way we deal with hate crimes, especially
in areas where there may not be large Asian populations,
and law enforcement may not have the linguistic
or cultural competence to address hate crimes and
bias incidents as they occur,” Koo said. “They cannot
simply explain discriminatory language, like ‘China
virus,’ or ‘Kung Flu.’ These are not partisan words,
and this is not a partisan issue. This affects all of us.”
Koo thanked Congresswoman Grace Meng and
Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) for taking action on
the issue by reintroducing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes
Act that was unanimously passed with a vote of 94-1 in
the Senate last week.
In response, Meng commended Koo and his colleague,
Councilwoman Margaret Chin (D-Manhattan)
for their leadership in bringing attention to the
passage of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to the City
Council.
“I have been so heartened and grateful by the tremendous
support, solidarity and allyship that I have
received since I reintroduced the bill last month, and
it would be an honor to have the City Council endorse
the measure as well,” Meng said.
The House is expected to vote on the legislation
next month, and President Biden has expressed his
support for the bill, Meng said.
“The ongoing discrimination and racist attacks
against Asian Americans in New York and across the
country has been horrifying, and we must act,” Meng
said. “I look forward to this resolution being voted on
by the City Council, and I encourage all its members
to support it and stand with us in calling for an end to
anti-Asian hate.”
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