Drag racing has been reported across Fresh Meadows, specifically at the Fresh Meadows Shopping
Center parking lot located at 64th Ave. and 188th St. Courtesy of Rozic’s offi ce
TIMESLEDGER | 2 QNS.COM | OCT. 2-OCT. 8, 2020
BY BILL PARRY
Paralegal and community
advocate Shaeleigh Severino
officially launched her Democratic
candidacy for New
York City Council District
32 as incumbent Eric Ulrich
completes his final term.
The district, which includes
the neighborhoods of
Belle Harbor, Breezy Point,
Broad Channel, Hamilton
Beach, Howard Beach, Lindenwood,
Neponsit, Ozone
Park, Rockaway Beach,
Rockaway Park, South Ozone
Park and Woodhaven, is one
of three Republican districts
out of 51 seats in the City
Council.
If elected, Severino — who
grew up in Woodhaven and
now resides in Ozone Park
— will become the district’s
first female, Afro-Latina,
and LGBTQIA+ individual
to hold office and, on a larger
scale, she would become the
youngest individual in New
York City Council history at
age 21.
“District 32 has changed
since 2009,” Severino said.
“People are ready for a new
Council member with a track
record of overcoming adversity,
especially in a time
when New York City faces
unprecedented challenges.
Some see barriers where I
see pathways to connection.”
A daughter of immigrants
from the Dominican Republic,
Severino’s experience as
a first-generation American
in a changing district inspired
her passion and advocacy
and law. She worked
her way into a five-year baccalaureate/
master’s dual
degree program at St. John’s
University. There, she will
receive a bachelor of arts in
government and politics, a
bachelor of science in legal
studies with a minor in sociology
this spring, and a master’s
degree in government
and politics in 2022.
“I have a unique ability
to relate to and understand
people on so many levels.
In just one month since my
campaign announcement,
I’ve gained immense support
in my community from individuals
on both sides of the
aisle, small business owners,
immigrants and essential
workers. I understand
the challenges our district,
borough and city face,” Severino
said. “I look forward to
the opportunity to share my
platform, listen to the needs
of the community, and earn
your vote.”
Severino has worked with
law firms across the city as
a paralegal, dealing extensively
with litigation, senior
and immigrant law. These
experiences have shown her
the power of legal action and
further motivated her to run
for office to make a meaningful
systemic and legislative
change in her community.
Reach reporter Bill Parry
by e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at
(718) 260–4538.
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Assemblywoman Nily Rozic
is trying to slow down illegal
street racing in eastern
Queens and citywide by announcing
a new legislation
that would hold reckless drivers
accountable for violating
the law, regardless of whether
they pre-planned a race
course.
Rozic and Senator Brad
Hoylman (D-Manhattan) on
Tuesday, Sept. 22, announced
the legislation, Fighting Underground
Racing In Our
Streets (FURIOUS) Act, in
response to numerous complaints
about dangerous speed
racing across the city.
“The status quo is simply
unacceptable,” Rozic said. “We
need to hold reckless drivers
accountable and make it clear
that this dangerous behavior
will not be tolerated on our
streets, particularly during a
raging pandemic.”
The legislation comes after
Rozic sent a letter to the
107th NYPD Precinct in Fresh
Meadows and NYPD Highway
Patrol about the ongoing issue
that has kept locals awake
at all hours of the night complaining
about “revving engines,
screeching tires and
squealing brakes.”
Prevalent drag racing has
been reported across Fresh
Meadows, specifically at the
Fresh Meadows Shopping Center
parking lot located at 64th
Avenue and 188th Street and
surrounding streets, as well as
Cunningham Park, Rozic said.
“With most people forced to
stay at home during the coronavirus
pandemic, some of
the ones who are still driving
around are taking the opportunity
to get reckless on the
road,” Rozic said in the letter.
“The risk and disturbance is
even greater for residents in
Fresh Meadows who are staying
at home as much as possible.”
According to Rozic, neighbors
have said the drag racing
begins as early as 5 p.m. and
extends late into the night.
Though residents have contacted
the precinct about the
issue, they believe there has
been minimal action taken on
their behalf.
To curb the practice of drag
racing in the community, Rozic
had requested increased
patrols from Neighborhood
Coordination Officers (NCOs)
during evening hours.
“Drag racers have consistently
returned to Fresh
Meadows to take advantage of
our quiet, open streets,” Rozic
said. “Increasing patrols in the
area would allow law enforcement
to witness the drag racing
firsthand and take action
while reassuring the safety of
local residents.
Across the city, residents
have been filing complaints
about the surge of illegal racing,
which puts motorists, pedestrians
and cyclists in peril
and keeps locals awake at all
hours of the night.
City data shows 1,057 complaints
were made to 311 about
drag racing between March 20
and Sept. 10 – nearly five times
the 239 calls made during the
same period in 2019. In August
alone, 214 complaints were
made — compared to just 73 in
August 2019.
The new legislation would
authorize the city to operate
existing speed cameras in areas
generating specific complaints
about drag racing or
other reckless driving from
10 p.m. to 6 a.m., pending approval
from a local community
board.
It also amends state law to
further restrict illegal street
racing. Legal precedent makes
it difficult to hold dangerous
racers accountable due to the
limited scope of a law that has
been interpreted to mean that
the drivers must have agreed
on a course beforehand.
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com or
by phone at (718) 260–4526.
Democrat Shaeliegh Severino eyes Republican Councilman Eric
Ulrich’s seat. Courtesy of Severino campaign
Ozone Park woman
enters race to replace
Ulrich on City Council
Rozic announces bill to combat
speed racing on local roads
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