21 THE QUEENS COURIER • MARCH 25, 2022 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Queens electeds call for Hurricane Ida relief fund to be included in state budget
Councilman unveils blueprint for greater investment in city parks system
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Standing beneath the iconic Unisphere in
Flushing Meadows Corona Park on March 14,
Councilman Shekar Krishnan unveiled his “5
Point Plan” to build, upgrade and expand parks
across New York City.
Th e new chair of the Parks and Recreation
Committee called for increased investment
in green spaces; the rapid expansion of public
parks, playgrounds and trees across the fi ve
boroughs; as well as the transformation of the
Parks capital construction process.
“During this pandemic, we’ve seen the way in
which parks and green spaces are as much an issue
of public health as an issue of racial justice and
equity,” Krishnan said. “We need to immediately
invest more in our existing parks, and create new
public, green, restorative spaces for all New Yorkers.”
Krishnan’s plan calls on the city to invest $1
billion for New York City parks, plant 1 million
trees by 2030, create a Parks Construction
Authority to build more effi ciently, provide waterfront
access for all New Yorkers and commit
to new or upgraded playgrounds in every ZIP
code in fi ve years.
“While there is much to love about our parks
system, there is also plenty of room for improvement,”
Queens Borough President Donovan
Richards said. “Th e ambitious proposals laid
out in this plan, from the equitable construction
of playgrounds to expanded waterfront
access for all, would represent tremendous
investments in our families and our shared
future. I look forward to working with Council
member Krishnan on implementing his plan
and on all eff orts to deliver more and better
parks and playgrounds to our families.”
Th e mayor’s preliminary budget, announced
last month, allocated $495 million for the maintenance
and operation of NYC Parks, or about
0.5% of the total budget and a $63 million cut
from the prior year. Krishnan’s blueprint calls
for an increase in resources dedicated toward
lifesaving parks space to $1 billion, as advocated
by organizations including New Yorkers for
Parks, the New York League of Conservation
Voters, the Trust for Public Land and District
Council 37 as part of their longstanding “1% for
Parks” campaign.
“When the pandemic fi rst hit and gathering
indoors was considered a danger to public
health, New Yorkers fl ocked to parks and open
spaces to experience just a bit of normalcy,”
Jackson Heights Councilman Shekar Krishnan lays out his plan for greater investment in the city’s park system
alongside Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.
Councilwoman Sandra Ung said. “Unfortunately,
keeping those parks in a state of good
repair is a constant challenge because the Parks
Department is woefully underfunded. We need
to make an investment in our parks that refl ects
the important role they play in the health of our
communities.”
Krishnan and his Council colleagues also
called for the planting of 1 million trees to
help increase the city’s tree canopy to 30% by
2035. Councilman Robert Holden, who served
Photo by Emil Cohen/City Council
as president of the Juniper Park Civic Association
for 25 years before seeking elected offi ce,
endorsed Krishnan’s proposal.
“Our parks are critical infrastructure that
serve an important role in our neighborhoods,”
Holden said. “For far too long city
parks have been neglected, and are in need of
repairs and maintenance. I commend Chair
Krishnan on his 5 Point Plan for NYC Parks,
and will work with him on achieving these
ambitious goals.”
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
CMOHAMED@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Th e New York State Assembly will include
$50 million in funding in its budget resolution
for homeowners impacted by the remnants of
Hurricane Ida in September 2021, Queens Assemblywoman
Nily Rozic announced.
Rozic, along with Assembly members Gina
Sillitti and Jessica González-Rojas, are calling
for the funding to be allocated in the New York
state budget set to pass in April.
“Th e damage caused by Hurricane Ida to
Queens homeowners has been devastating,”
Rozic said. “Families lost thousands of dollars’
worth in appliances, furniture and damage to
their property. We must provide critical relief
for homeowners and immediate support for our
small businesses as they rebuild and recover
from this season’s devastating fl ooding.”
Th e new funding in the Assembly One-
House Budget Resolution follows a letter from
lawmakers requesting the inclusion of a fund
to provide fi nancial relief in the state budget
for those impacted by Hurricane Ida. Th e Assembly
is expected to vote on the resolution this
week, but the measure will have to be passed in
the state’s fi nal budget in April.
Shortly aft er Hurricane Ida, Hochul and the
mayor announced funding for undocumented
community members who were impacted by
the storm but not eligible for FEMA assistance,
the lawmakers said.
Th ese grants, distributed by eight community
based organizations including the
Chinese-American Planning Council and the
MinKwon Center, are still available. Families
are encouraged to apply by April 29.
“Th e devastation left by Hurricane Ida is
immeasurable. Th e loss of lives and damage to
homes has left community members without
answers, especially in immigrant communities
who are most likely to be living in basements,”
said Wayne Ho, president and CEO
of the Chinese-American Planning Council.
“We want to acknowledge that the majority of
community members who lost their lives are
from the AAPI community. We stand with AM
Rozic to advocate for funding for our neighbors
hardest hit by Hurricane Ida.”
González-Rojas urged Governor Kathy
Hochul and her colleagues in the Assembly
and Senate to include Ida relief funding in this
year’s budget to fi ll the resource gap left by other
recovery eff orts.
“Th e aft ermath of Hurricane Ida caused
severe damage to our city including parts of
my district. Many of our most vulnerable communities
were disproportionately impacted and
continue to suff er as a result,” González-Rojas
said. “New Yorkers want to rebuild what they’ve
lost due to the storm and have exhausted whatever
help was available to them. Th is aid will
allow families to do just that.”
Read more on PoliticsNY.com.
QNS fi le photo
Assemblywoman Nily Rozic is among the Queens lawmakers calling for Hurricane Ida relief funding to be
allocated in the New York state budget.
/PoliticsNY.com
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
link
link
