W. Queens NYCHA leaders eye state funding in proposed budget
Constantinides resigning as city councilman
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | APRIL 2-APRIL 8, 2021 19
BY BILL PARRY
Western Queens NYCHA
community leaders are hailing
the inclusion of hundreds of
millions of dollars in funding
for much-needed repairs in the
state budget.
State Senator Michael Gianaris
announced the proposal
that contains a $750 million
commitment would include
capital expenses to repair aging
facilities, representing a
first step toward increasing
New York’s financial commitment
to public housing residents.
“For too long, deferred investment
in public housing
have had dire consequences.
The state Senate will not leave
NYCHA tenants behind and
will fight for necessary resources,”
Gianaris said. “While
we still need to convince our
governing partners to support
this financial commitment, our
$750 million proposal is a major
step towards the state taking
the needs of NYCHA residents
seriously. This is a down
payment on the future of public
housing and I am committed
to working with residents and
community leaders to ensure
our public housing receives the
investments it needs to be some
of the best housing available in
New York.”
The executive budget,
proposed by the governor in
January, included $250 million
in state aid for residents
of NYCHA houses. The Senate’s
budget proposal raised
that by $500 million, to $750
million. The Senate, Assembly
and governor must come to an
agreement on the final budget
by April 1.
“Serving NYCHA residents
throughout the western
Queens community, I know
firsthand the high needs our
families and neighbors have.
$750 million would be a serious
downpayment on a better future
for the residents of public
housing,” Urban Upbound Co-
Founder Bishop Mitchell Taylor
said. “I thank Senator Gianaris
and the Senate majority
for including this funding in
their budget proposal and am
hopeful the Assembly and executive
will follow suit.”
Gianaris represents three
major NYCHA developments
in western Queens, including
Queensbridge Houses, the
largest public housing development
in North America, and
the Ravenswood and Astoria
Houses.
“Senator Gianaris has always
been an ally of our neighbors
in Astoria Houses and I
am pleased to learn he’s been
fighting for more funding for
our neighbors,” Astoria Houses
Tenants Association President
Claudia Coger said. “I
hope everyone in Albany is listening
to the Senate right now
and include s that $750 million
for our community members.”
The budget proposal was
well received at the Ravenswood
Houses.
“Ravenswood residents live
in homes that are in need of
serious repairs,” Ravenswood
Residents Association President
Carol Wilkins said. “This
$750 million is critical funding
we can use to put towards making
our homes more liveable
for another generation. This
funding could be used towards
bringing back the Centralized
Call Center hotline for repairs,
a resource our seniors especially
depend on. I am hopeful other
leaders in government will join
Senator Gianaris in fighting
for this money so we can ensure
more resources are made
available to our residents.”
NYCHA leaders in western Queens applaud the $750 million in
funding for repairs that is part of the proposed state budget.
QNS fi le photo
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
Astoria City Councilman Costa Constantinides
is leaving office to lead the
Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens
next week, he announced on Wednesday,
March 31.
“For the past seven-plus years, I have
woken up every day to make our community
a better place. I gave my all each day
and did my best to honor the confidence
you had shown in me in making me your
representative,” Constantinides said.
“Today I announce a profoundly difficult
and personal decision. I must resign
from the New York City Council on April
9. I have been asked by the Variety Boys
and Girls Club of Queens to become their
new chief executive officer and have accepted
this role.”
Constantinides, who is term limited,
will be leaving office before his term officially
ends in December. His announcement
comes two months after City &
State reported his imminent departure.
It is unclear whether a special election
will be called for his seat. QNS has
reached out to the city’s Board of Elections
and the mayor’s office — which ultimately
makes the call — and is waiting
for a response.
There are currently seven candidates
vying to represent District 22.
Last week, Constantinides made his
ranked-choice endorsement in the race,
with former public defender Tiffany
Cabán as his first choice and community
leader Evie Hantzopoulos as his second
choice.
Constantinides, who currently represents
District 22, which encompasses
Astoria, East Elmhurst, parts of Long
Island City, Rikers Island and Woodside,
passed 44 bills during his time in
the Council. Many of the legislation
centered on climate and environmental
justice, such as the Climate Mobilization
Act and the recently passed Renewable
Rikers Act.
He also counts millions of investments
in Mount Sinai Queens, parks,
schools and Hallets Cove Peninsula as
achievements while in office.
Constantinides said the decision to
leave his post prematurely isn’t one he
took “lightly or without a heavy heart.”
But, he sees his new role as CEO of the
Variety Boys and Girls Club as a continuation
of his service to the community.
“There are many ways to be a public
servant that are not in elected office,” he
said. “Many times that truth is forgotten
by too many.”
The Variety Boys and Girls Club of
Queens, located at 21-12 30th Road in Astoria,
has served western Queens’ youth
for more than 65 years.
The establishment provides various
programs for children and the community
as a whole, including tutoring,
summer camp and career development
opportunities.
The youth club is also working to
expand even further with a new state-ofthe
art facility in western Queens.
Constantinides has a long history
with the Variety Boys and Girls Club of
Queens, saying his mother worked there
briefly 30 years ago as she re-entered the
workforce.
He said he always understood their
“mission and their important place in
our neighborhood’s heart.”
“Their deep commitment to investing
in our young people and providing
them with critical services is a mission
of unbelievable importance. As CEO of
the VBGCQ, I will seek to continue this
long tradition of excellence to benefit all
of our youth, but especially those young
people west of 21st Street,” Constantinides
said. “I asked at my inauguration
to have my time as a Council member
judged on what happened west of 21st
Street and today I am recommitting to
that request even further. The VBGCQ
will continue to be a beacon of hope for
the youth of western Queens and our
new building will be a lighthouse burning
bright signaling to our young people
that this is home.”
Constantinides noted that the past
year has been a trying time for him and
his family, as he and his wife contracted
COVID-19 last year and are still recovering.
He has been candid about the toll the
virus has taken on his own family and
the long-term effects it will have on many
more survivors (or COVID long-haulers)
and community members.
COSTA CONSTANTINIDES
/QNS.COM
