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LOCAL
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PA GE 19
OCTOBER 13, 2019
Peralta honored for his ‘selfl ess devotion to the
people of Queens’ in Jackson Heights ceremony
BY BILL PARRY
Supporters and former colleague
jammed a Jackson
Heights street Sunday to honor
the late state Senator José R.
Peralta with a street co-naming
at 79th Street and 37th Avenue
where he lived with his family.
A beloved civic leader, Peralta
made history by becoming the
first Dominican-American elected
to the New York State Senate
where he served from 2010 until
his death from cancer complications
in 2018.
“Today we honor the life
of an extraordinary man who
dedicated his professional life to
serving the neighborhoods that
comprise Northwest Queens,”
City Councilman Daniel Dromm
said. “Senator Prealta and I were
friends for close to 20 years. As
we were both fond of saying, ‘he
was my brother from another
mother.’ Senator Peralta’s work
in the local community and his
dedication to immigrant New
Yorkers makes him truly deserving
of this commemoration.
May his selfless devotion to the
people of Queens inspire a new
generation of leadership.”
Peralta introduced the New
York State Dream Act in 2013 and
increased its support over the following
years. The Act, renamed
VAo Cl.N 8G. PNuob. l4ic1ation
the José Peralta New York State
Dream Act in his honor after his
untimely death, passed the state
legislature and was signed into
law by Governor Andrew Cuomo
earlier this year.
“No one is more deserving of
this incredible honor than my
late husband Senator José R.
Peralta,” Evelyn Peralta, a longtime
civic leader and Jackson
Heights resident, said. “From
DREAMers, to low wage workers,
to seniors, José fought every
day to protect their rights
and dignity. My late husband
paved the way for so many, and
this sign will be a reminder of
his unwavering dedication and
unconditioned love for his community.”
Prior to his election to the
Senate, Peralta served in the Assembly
from 2002 to 2010. Peralta
advocated for working families,
he fought to ensure quality public
education for all, he was a
champion of economic development
and job creation and he was
a fighter for immigrant rights.
Peralta became a polarizing
figure in Western Queens when
he joined the renegade Independent
Democratic Conference
“to have a seat at the table” and
“pursue progressive ideals” in
a legislation that was under Republican
control for years. The
Evelyn Peralta and her two sons join Councilman Daniel Dromm at a street co-naming for the late state Senator
Jose Peralta. Courtesy of Dromm’s office
blowback was intense, especially
in Jackson Heights where
the NO IDC movement spawned
a progressive movement giving
rise to Jessica Ramos, a former
Peralta supporter who left City
Hall to depose him in the Democratic
primary in Sept. 2018.
None of that mattered at the
ceremony, as Peralta was remembered
as a legislator of principled
advocacy and genuine
kindness.
“We memorialize Senator
José Peralta with a street conaming
today, a recognition he
deserved but one that came too
soon,” City Councilman Francisco
Moya said. “He was a fighter,
a leader and a tireless advocate.
I thank him for the work he did
and the lives he made better.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718) 260–
4538.
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