36 The QUEE NS Courier • june 23, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com College honors Investors Bank exec Investors Bank Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Domenick A. Cama was recently honored during the St. Francis College Charter Award Dinner in Manhattan. Cama’s two children — Victoria and Michael, both graduates of St. Francis College — introduced him to guests at the event. He told the audience that he knows from first-hand experience that “a St. Francis College education prepares its students to meet their future challenges,” adding that “St. Francis alumni and students are some of the most hardworking, ambitious and caring individuals I have ever met.” Cama expressed how grateful he was to be able to provide a quality education for his children and said Investors Bank would like to do the same. He announced the Investors Bank Community Service Scholarship, a $100,000 endowed scholarship fund which will support four students annually who excel in the classroom and in serving those in the community who are less fortunate. Tuesday’s primary colors Candidates for Congress spent the week barnstorming across the borough ahead of next Tuesday’s Democratic primaries. In the east, there’s a five-way Democratic Primary for retiring Congressman Steve Israel’s seat. And although only 20 percent of the tri-county district includes Queens, most candidates have been in a frenzy to pick up last-minute votes in an area that doesn’t claim a favorite son or daughter. Former Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, who has picked up most of the endorsements of Queens elected officials, including Borough President Melinda Katz, state Senator Tonty Avella, and Councilman Paul Vallone, has by far the strongest name recognition going into judgment day. Many political pundits believe that it’s smart for the crop of Long Island candidates Queens Politics & More BY MIKE FRICCHIONE vying for Congressman Israel’s seat to court Queens’ Democratic voters, as they typically are more accustomed to voting in primary elections every year, especially on the local level where city and state seats are typically won and lost. By contrast, most Long Island seats on the local level never see a Democratic primary. In fact, just trying to recruit Democrats to run in many areas in Long Island is tough enough, given the strong Republican tilt in many districts. And on the western front, local Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who represents Long Island City and Astoria, has a challenge from firsttime candidate Peter Lindner, who works as a computer programmer in Manhattan. Maloney, not taking anything for granted, spent Monday rallying support with dozens of New York firefighters outside of a local firehouse. Maloney, who did not mention her opponent once, galvanized support from rank and file union members to hit the streets for her. Lindner, who has yet to issue a single news release, did not respond after multiple attempts to talk about his campaign. Finally, Democrats in southern Queens will have a chance to renominate Congressman Gregory Meeks, who is seeking a 10th term in Congress. Meeks will go head-to-head against Ali Mirza, a businessman who is widely known in Nassau for working with multiple county executives, including Republican Ed Mangano as well as Democrat Suozzi. Meeks has spent upwards of $800,000 so far on his campaign to Mirza’s $50,000. Polls are open next Tuesday, June 28, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Big bucks for CUNY upgrades in Queens By Anthony Giudice agiudice@qns.com @A_GiudiceReport City colleges throughout Queens are getting some “A-plus” improvements over the next few years. Queens Borough President Melinda Katz announced that she has allocated $3.64 million of her fiscal year 2017 discretionary capital funds to help four CUNY colleges in Queens grow. The students at Queens College in Flushing, York College in Jamaica, Q u e e n s b o r o u g h Community College in Bayside and LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC) in Long Island City will all be benefiting from the projects that will come from these funds. “As the third-largest university system in the United States, CUNY offers a high-quality and remarkably affordable and competitive higher education that enables the pursuit of the American Dream,” Katz said. “CUNY has been a critical door to opportunities for millions of New Yorkers and their families, and here in Queens we’re proud to be home to some of the best of CUNY schools. This multimilliondollar allocation of public funding is a direct investment into the public colleges of our borough so that CUNY remains able to meet the educational needs of its hard-working students.” Queens College will get $1 million to fully fund the construction of recording studios for their new music and production certificate program. The program will provide multi-use facilities for classrooms, rehearsal and performance spaces as well as laboratories. The project will provide the proper acoustical components, sound absorbers, diffusers and ceiling elements, creating spaces conducive to live musical performances and high-quality audio recordings. The studios will be perfect for distance learning applications and webcasting for music students and the college community as a whole. The anticipated completion date is January 2019. LaGuardia will also get $1 million toward the construction of the Center for Career and Employment Training at LAGCC. The center will serve all of the students and allow them to connect to a wide network of employers and have access to real-time labor market data. The total projected cost of the project is $6 million, with a possible $2 million from the New York City Council and $3 million from New York State. Design is set to begin in July 2017, with construction beginning in January 2018 with the anticipated completion date of August 2018. Another million dollars will go toward creating a modern kitchen and dining hall at Queensborough Community College that will replace the school’s undersized basement dining hall. The allocation is toward the balance of city funding needed for Phase 2 based on current estimates, with a possible $1 million from New York State. Anticipated completion date is March 2019. Finally, $640,000 is earmarked for renovating the greenhouse at York College. “Queens Borough President Katz had provided critical and generous funding for CUNY projects that will enhance program quality, student experience and college value at Queens, York, LaGuardia and Queensborough Community Colleges,” said CUNY Chancellor James B. Milliken. “I deeply appreciate her commitment to CUNY, which has such a positive impact on the borough and city.” THE COURIER/File photo Four city colleges throughout Queens are getting major improvements thanks to $3.64M from Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.
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