FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 20, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 25
Meng endorses Richards for BP
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Congresswoman Grace Meng on
Friday, May 14, endorsed Queens
Borough President Donovan
Richards’ bid for reelection.
Meng called Richards as an “extraordinary
leader” who fi ghts every day to
make life better for Queens residents.
“In just his fi rst few months in offi ce,
he has traveled throughout our great
borough, meeting with residents from
across many diff erent communities,
and doing all he can to make Queens
the best that it can be,” Meng said. “He
has worked tirelessly to help hardworking
families, assist small businesses,
expand aff ordable housing, and has
strongly stood in solidarity with the
Asian American community in our
fi ght against the rise in hate and violence.”
As they work to move past the
COVID-19 pandemic, according to
Meng, it is critical to have Richards
leading the borough to ensure recovery
and to get Queens back on its feet
again.
“I look forward to continuing working
with him for many years to come,”
Meng said.
In response to Meng’s endorsement,
Richards hailed the congresswoman
as a “dedicated, trailblazing public
servant,” for Queens, and said he
is incredibly grateful for her “leadership,
partnership and support” for his
campaign.
“Over the past year, Congresswoman
Meng has fought for the stimulus payments,
PPP loans, vaccine and testing
sites, and federal funding that have
helped so many Queens residents
through the crisis,” Richards said.
“She sponsored the COVID-19 Hate
Crimes Act to combat anti-Asian hate,
and here in Queens, she’s helped victims,
raised awareness, and marched
in support of our Asian communities.
She is a great asset to our borough, and
I’m excited to keep working with her.”
Richards was fi rst elected as Queens
borough president in November 2020,
and took offi ce in December.
In just a few months on the job,
Richards has expanded access to the
COVID-19 vaccine, including opening
the Citi Field vaccination site and
securing $17.5 million to help struggling
small businesses. He has also
hosted food and PPE distribution
events serving thousands of Queens
residents.
Under Richards, the modernization
of the community board process
with online applications resulted
in a 56 percent increase in responses
and a more diverse applicant pool.
Additionally, Richards has broken
ground on thousands of new units
of aff ordable housing and recognized
the Queens Solid Waste Advisory
Board to work on environmental justice
initiatives.
Richards has been endorsed by
Congressman Gregory Meeks, Council
members Costa Constantinides,
Daniel Dromm and Helen Rosenthal;
Assembly member Catalina Cruz; the
Queens Democrats; 1199 SEIU and
New York State Nurses Association;
UFT and CSA; CWA District 1
and Local 1180; Central Labor
Council; Hotel Trades Council; NY
Immigration Coalition action; Planned
Parenthood of Greater New York Votes
PAC; 504 Democratic Club; Stonewall
Democratic Club of NYC; Lesbian &
Gay Democratic Club of Queens; and
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club.
City Council passes
Holden’s bill that is
designed to shore up
city’s storm response
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
When Tropical Storm Isaias tore through the borough
last August, it left tens of thousands of Queens
residents in the dark and uprooted trees across the
borough.
Many found that seeking assistance from the city
clearing storm damage and restoring utilities was
no easy task, and property owners and businesses
across Queens phoned in nearly 10,000 reports of
fallen trees to 311 and complained of the city’s slow
response.
But during its stated meeting on Tuesday, May
12, the City Council passed legislation authored
by Councilman Robert Holden, known as Intro
1755, that requires the New York City Department
of Information Technology & Telecommunications
to conduct an assessment of the interactive 311 map
that is used for service requests and complaints,
in order to determine how the 311 map can be
improved.
A logistical hurdle many callers to 311 encounter
is explaining the location of the problem that needs
addressing. Oft en, an address is not enough or the
addresses given are not defi nable — and Tropical
Storm Isaias revealed many shortcomings of the 311
system, especially when it came to reporting downed
trees.
“I have spent the better part of 40 years working as
a community activist and I know that aside from calling
a council member’s offi ce, 311 is the most direct
way New Yorkers can interact with city government
and get results,” Holden said. “Technology should be
leveraged to address shortcomings, and the city must
embrace modernization whenever possible. Intro
1755 will improve the accuracy of the 311 system and
make it even better.”
Who do they like?
Nolan endorses
Garcia for mayor
Assemblywoman Catherine
Nolan, the deputy speaker of
the New York State Assembly,
announced her endorsement of
Kathryn Garcia for mayor of New
York City.
Nolan — who represents the neighborhoods
of Sunnyside, Ridgewood,
Long Island City, Queensbridge,
Ravenswood, Astoria, Woodside,
Maspeth, Dutch Kills and Blissville
— said Garcia is “the only candidate
with the vision and experience to
lead our city to recovery.”
“New Yorkers are still reeling from
COVID and it will take a well-practiced
manager with the government
success that Kathryn has to ensure
we get back on track — and to ensure
our government actually works and
delivers for all of us,” Nolan said.
Avella, Yin crossendorse
each other
Tony Avella, a candidate for the
19th City Council District, and
Dao Yin, a candidate for the 20th
District, have cross-endorsed each
other.
“My friend Dao Yin, I have known
for some time now and he is very
involved in our community. I have
worked with him to ensure we preserve
the SHSAT which exemplifi
es the outstanding work of those
students who apply and with the
demand not to build prisons in our
communities,” Avella said. “Dao has
been at the forefront of many battles,
and it honors me to endorse
Dao Yin as the next City Council
representative of the 20th District.”
Yin said Avella “has served our
community well” in the past, as
a councilman and later as a state
senator.
QNS fi le photo
Councilman Robert Holden passed legislation to improve
the city’s response following tropical storms like Isaias last
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann summer.
Congresswoman Grace Meng endorses Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for
reelection.
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