EDITORIAL
READERS WRITE
Be thankful for what you have
As our nation prepares to
celebrate Thanksgiving
Day, all Americans should
be grateful for the blessings
that they have.
While many people are experiencing
hardships in their
lives, it is important to know
that we should never lose faith
or hope. Life is not always so
perfect, and everyone faces situations
that may be difficult at
one time or another.
As we gather with family
and friends for the Thanksgiving
holiday, let us remember to
give thanks to God for the many
blessings that he has bestowed
upon us during this past year,
and pray for continued blessings
for all of us.
We also should remember
all of our servicemen and women
who are serving our nation
both at home and abroad — they
are risking their lives each and
every day to protect us and
our nation. Also remember all
of our first responders and
medical personnel across this
wonderful country of ours who
serve to protect us and keep us
safe each and every day.
We should also remember
those who are less fortunate
than us, and keep them in our
thoughts and prayers.
May God Bless America on
this Thanksgiving Day, and
may all of us share in the joys
of spending this holiday with
family and friends.
John Amato,
Fresh Meadows
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THE BOROUGH IS
BOOMING
A report from the State Labor Department showing
that the unemployment rate in Queens moved up by
0.2 points to 3.7 percent was overshadowed by a study
released by the New York Building Congress that detailed
how strongly the construction sector is performing
in the borough. The statistics are astonishing.
From 2019 to 2021, the NYBC forecasts $35.5 billion
in Queens construction spending, which would
represent a 16 percent increase from the previous
three-year period. The borough is leading the way in
construction employment — the nearly 5,800 Queensbased
construction businesses make up 40 percent of
New York City’s total and employ 54,000 workers.
Since 2010, the population of Queens has increased
by over 140,000 people, exceeding 2.3 million residents.
By 2025, there may be several hundred thousand more
Queens residents than in 2010.
To meet this demand for housing, the Building
Congress anticipates nearly 6,200 permits will be issued
for new units in 2019 and 6,900 permits in both
2020 and 2021, with a total construction value of $2.7
billion over three years.
“It’s great to see another confirmation of all the
construction spending going on in Queens County,”
Queens Chamber of Commerce President and CEO
Thomas J. Grech said. “Our friends at the New York
Building Congress have done a fantastic job detailing
all that is going on here, showing all the activity
across the board including residential growth representing
nearly half of all projects, followed by government
related projects, and non-residential construction
spending.”
Other eye-popping statistics featured in the NYBC’s
“Queens Snapshot” note that since 2016, the public sector
has invested $15.4 billion in Queens, accounting for
half of all construction in the borough. Between 2019
and 2021, the Building Congress forecasts spending to
reach $16.2 billion, a fourth of all government spending
in the city.
Based on the analysis, there are roughly 31,400
workers on Queens construction sites. To sustain the
borough’s anticipated growth, the Building Congress
forecasts the number of onsite jobs will increase by
2,300, totaling 33,700 construction jobs.
“All in all, a very rosy picture for employment opportunities
and overall growth in New York City’s
largest geographic and most diverse borough.”
Clearly, the borough is booming and a 0.2 point
uptick to a 3.7 percent unemployment rate appears to
be a speed bump when the construction sector performance
is so robust.
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TIMESLEDGER,16 NOV. 29-DEC. 5, 2019 QNS.COM
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