FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 6, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 25
Councilman Koo introduces resolution
supporting COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Councilman Peter Koo introduced
a resolution to the City
Council on Th ursday, April 29, in
support of the COVID-19 Hate
Crimes Act to address the surge of
anti-Asian hate crimes during the
pandemic.
Koo’s resolution calls upon
Congress to pass, and the president
to sign, the legislation that
would facilitate the expedited
review of COVID-19 hate crimes,
provide support for state and
local law enforcement agencies to
respond to hate crimes and coordinate
with local and federal partners
to mitigate racially discriminatory
language used to describe
the pandemic.
Th e relentless attacks on Asians
throughout the country needs to be
acknowledged and fought by every
state in the union, Koo said.
“Th is requires federal action to
make sweeping changes in the way
we deal with hate crimes, especially
in areas where there may not be
large Asian populations, and law
enforcement may not have the linguistic
or cultural competence to
address hate crimes and bias incidents
as they occur,” Koo said.
“Th ey cannot simply explain discriminatory
language, like ‘China
virus,’ or ‘Kung Flu.’ Th ese are
not partisan words, and this is
not a partisan issue. Th is aff ects
all of us.”
Koo thanked Congresswoman
Grace Meng and Senator Mazie
Hirono (D-HI) for taking action
on the issue by reintroducing the
COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act that
was unanimously passed with a
vote of 94-1 in the Senate last
week.
In response, Meng commended
Koo and his colleague,
Councilwoman Margaret Chin
(D-Manhattan) for their leadership
in bringing attention to the passage
of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act
to the City Council.
“I have been so heartened and
grateful by the tremendous support,
solidarity and allyship that I
have received since I reintroduced
the bill last month, and it would be
an honor to have the City Council
endorse the measure as well,” Meng
said.Th
e House is expected to vote
on the legislation next month, and
President Biden has expressed his
support for the bill, Meng said.
“Th e ongoing discrimination
and racist attacks against Asian
Americans in New York and across
the country has been horrifying,
and we must act,” Meng said. “I
look forward to this resolution
being voted on by the City Council,
and I encourage all its members to
support it and stand with us in calling
for an end to anti-Asian hate.”
Lt. Governor Hochul
surprises Queens students
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
aacevedo@schnepsmedia.
com
@QNS
In celebration of Autism
Awareness and Acceptance
month, students at three
Birch Family Services
schools in Queens were
surprised by special guest
Lieutenant Governor of
New York Kathy Hochul
last week.
Hochul read the bestselling
book “My Brother
Charlie” to the children
enrolled in the organization,
which is dedicated
to empowering individuals
with autism and developmental
disabilities to
lead fulfi lling lives. Birch
Family Services hosted several
events throughout April
that focused on spreading
love, kindness, respect and
understanding.
Hundreds of students at
nine Birch Family Services
schools in New York City
— including Long Island
City Early Childhood
Center, Springfi eld Gardens
Education Center and Th e
Phyllis L. Susser School for
Exceptional Children in
Queens — participated in
the events, which welcomed
several “real-life superheroes”
for special readings,
including employees of
Pfi zer, alumni of their program
and Lt. Gov. Hochul.
In a video for students,
Hochul read “My Brother
Charlie” by actress Holly
Robinson Peete, a heartwarming
story based on
Peete’s son, who has autism.
“What a beautiful story
about Callie talking about
her brother, Charlie, who
has autism,” Hochul said in
the video. “Everybody we
know knows someone and
loves someone with autism,
and this book will help you
understand why they may
be diff erent, but they’re really
special and they’ve got a
lot of love to give.”
Participants in the organization’s
New Frontier
employment and social skills
program, who are on the
autism spectrum, read children’s
books about autism
acceptance to pre-school
students and answered their
questions.
Students also participated
in art contests and took the
“Kindness Pledge,” which
reminds them to treat others
and themselves with respect.
“I promise to be kind on
this very day. To show all
acts of kindness, in a special
way. To friends I know both
big and small, I will catch
them if they fall. To those
that need a helping hand,
I will guide them when I
can,” the pledge states. “I
promise to say ‘thank you,’
‘excuse me now’ and ‘please.’
Th ese three words will show
my kindness, even when
I sneeze! If I love myself,
then I can show to others,
that love begins with kindness,
for all of my sisters and
brothers.”
Who do they like?
Holden recieves multiple
endorsements
Councilman Robert F. Holden
racked up a lot of endorsements
in the past week. Councilman I.
Daneek Miller, Assemblywoman
Catherine Nolan, state Senators
Leroy Comrie and Joe Addabbo,
former Assemblyman Mike
Miller and Maspeth community
activist Diane Ballek endorsed
him in his bid for re-election in
City Council District 30. Th ey
join more than 38 labor unions
and elected offi cials, and counting,
who have endorsed Holden.
“I am proud to endorse Bob
Holden for a second term in the
City Council,” Comrie said. “Bob
and I have known each other for
many years and he is a proven
leader who serves his constituents
with honor. I look forward to
working with him to improve the
lives of Queens residents.”
Ulrich endorses
Republican Felicia Kalan
Republican City Council candidate
Felicia Kalan in District
22 received the endorsement
of Councilman Eric Ulrich
who represents District 32 in
Queens and is the borough’s only
Republican lawmaker.
“Felicia Kalan is the commonsense
candidate in this race. She
will stand against the radicals who
have allowed New York City to
spiral into disarray. As a mom of
two, Felicia knows how important
it is to protect our quality of
life and improve our public education,”
Ulrich said. “Felicia has
extensive knowledge of and experience
in government and business.
She will help us rebuild our
city and borough. We need more
working moms in the City Council
representing children and families,
and she has my full support.”
Photo courtesy of Birch Family Services
Students of Birch Family Services schools celebrate Autism Awareness
and Acceptance month.
File photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Sunnyside residents hold a rally against anti-Asian hate crimes on March 6, 2021.
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
link
