Peralta honored for his ‘selfl ess devotion to the
people of Queens’ in Jackson Heights ceremony
BY BILL PARRY
Supporters and former
colleague jammed a Jackson
Heights street Sunday to
honor the late state Senator
José R. Peralta with a street
co-naming at 79th Street and
37th Avenue where he lived
with his family.
A beloved civic leader,
Peralta made history by becoming
the first Dominican-
American elected to the New
York State Senate where he
served from 2010 until his
death from cancer complications
in 2018.
“Today we honor the life
of an extraordinary man who
dedicated his professional
life to serving the neighborhoods
that comprise Northwest
Queens,” City Councilman
Daniel Dromm said.
“Senator Prealta and I were
friends for close to 20 years.
As we were both fond of saying,
‘he was my brother from
another mother.’ Senator Peralta’s
work in the local community
and his dedication
to immigrant New Yorkers
makes him truly deserving of
this commemoration. May his
selfless devotion to the people
of Queens inspire a new generation
of leadership.”
Peralta introduced the
New York State Dream Act in
2013 and increased its support
over the following years. The
Act, renamed the José Peralta
New York State Dream
Act in his honor after his untimely
death, passed the state
legislature and was signed
into law by Governor Andrew
Cuomo earlier this year.
“No one is more deserving
of this incredible honor than
my late husband Senator José
R. Peralta,” Evelyn Peralta,
a long-time civic leader and
Jackson Heights resident,
said. “From DREAMers, to
low wage workers, to seniors,
José fought every day to protect
their rights and dignity.
My late husband paved the
way for so many, and this
sign will be a reminder of his
Evelyn Peralta and her two sons join Councilman Daniel Dromm at
a street co-naming for the late state Senator Jose Peralta.
unwavering dedication and
unconditioned love for his
community.”
Prior to his election to the
Senate, Peralta served in the
Assembly from 2002 to 2010.
Peralta advocated for working
families, he fought to ensure
quality public education
for all, he was a champion of
Courtesy of Dromm’s offi ce
economic development and
job creation and he was a
fighter for immigrant rights.
Peralta became a polarizing
figure in Western Queens
when he joined the renegade
Independent Democratic Conference
“to have a seat at the
table” and “pursue progressive
ideals” in a legislation
that was under Republican
control for years. The blowback
was intense, especially
in Jackson Heights where the
NO IDC movement spawned
a progressive movement giving
rise to Jessica Ramos, a
former Peralta supporter who
left City Hall to depose him
in the Democratic primary in
Sept. 2018.
None of that mattered at
the ceremony, as Peralta was
remembered as a legislator of
principled advocacy and genuine
kindness.
“We memorialize Senator
José Peralta with a street conaming
today, a recognition
he deserved but one that came
too soon,” City Councilman
Francisco Moya said. “He
was a fighter, a leader and a
tireless advocate. I thank him
for the work he did and the
lives he made better.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry
by e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at
(718) 260–4538.
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