Queens DA co-hosts Hispanic Heritage Month celebration
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | OCT. 16-OCT. 22, 2020 9
BY BILL PARRY
Queens District Attorney
Melinda Katz, joined by Acting
Queens Borough President
Sharon Lee, hosted a celebration
of Hispanic Heritage
Wednesday, Oct. 7, during a
virtual event that honored notable
people of Hispanic and
Latin descent and included
songs and musical performances.
The event included a special
accolade to Assistant District
Attorney Gabriel Mendoza,
who has been a prosecutor
in Queens for nearly a decade.
The Fordham University
School of Law and Texas State
University graduate’s field of
expertise is investigating and
prosecuting homicides, violent
felonies and complex conspiracy
cases. Mendoza is dedicated
to righting the wrongs and
providing victims of crime
justice in the legal system, according
to Katz.
“ADA Mendoza most recently
worked on investigations
involving violent street
gangs, including MS-13, Latin
Kings, and Trinitarios,” Katz
said. “His work is making a
real difference and helping to
keep our community safe for
all. I am delighted to acknowledge
his hard work and dedicated
service to this office.”
Also honored was Aridia
“Ari” Espinal, the Governmental
Relations Representative
for the Mason Tenders
District Council was born and
raised in Corona, which she
briefly represented in the New
York State Assembly. Espinal
is a devoted public servant
fighting to improve the lives
of those who live and work in
Corona, Jackson Heights and
Elmhurst having organized
soup kitchens, coat drives and
more, according to Katz.
The NYPD Hispanic Society,
which was first incorporated
in 1957, was also honored.
The society was established to
promote and develop a friend
and fraternal spirit among
members of Hispanic descent
within the New York City Police
Department.
The group works to enhance
opportunities for members
and has been involved in
challenging and promotional
exams and assessing the status
of Hispanic officers. The
group played a significant role
in aiding the island of Puerto
Rico following recent hurricanes
with members volunteering
and traveling to the
U.S. Territory to help with aid,
translators and accompanying
Red Cross staff to remote
regions to distribute food and
emergency equipment.
“Our borough of Queens
is the most diverse county in
the world and our Hispanic
community makes up 28 percent
of those who call Queens
home,” Katz said. “We are a
family enriched by the beautiful
culture and traditions
of people whose background
hail from Spanish-speaking
countries all over the world.
It was my pleasure to partner
with Borough President Lee to
pay tribute to the generations
of Hispanic Americans that
have positively impacted all
of us.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4538.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz honors prosecutor Gabriel Mendoza as part of Hispanic
Heritage Month celebrations. Courtesy of Queens DA’s offi ce
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