WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES JANUARY 3, 2019 11
$15 per hour
minimum wage
becomes reality
for Queens
workers
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
Photo via Getty Images
New York State’s minimum
wage went up on the last
day of 2018, rising to $15
for large employers in New York
City and continuing to rise across
the state. The increases are part
of a scheduled phase-in that was
passed as part of the 2016-17 state
budget.
“With the historic increase in
the minimum wage, New York
continues to set a national example
in the fi ght for economic justice,”
Governor Andrew Cuomo
Cuomo said in a statement on Dec.
26. “In New York, we believe in a
fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work
and we are proud to be stepping
up for hardworking families and
making a real diff erence in the
lives of New Yorkers.” We won’t
stop until every New Yorker is
paid a fair wage they deserve.”
Cuomo also launched a Wage
Theft Hotline, at 888-4-NYSDOL
(888-469-7365), for workers to report
employers for not complying
with the increase. In coordination
with the increase, the state
Department of Labor released
a multimedia public education
campaign to raise awareness
about the new minimum wage.
The launch included TV, digital,
radio and subway ads reminding
New Yorkers that all minimum
wage workers across the state
would receive a raise as of Dec. 31.
City employers with 11 or more
worker must pay $15 per hour, a
jump from the current minimum
of $13 an hour. The city’s smaller
businesses with fewer than 11
employees will have to increase
their minimum wage from $12
an hour to $13.50 an hour by the
end of the year, and will have
until Dec. 31, 2019 to reach a $15
minimum wage.
“We won’t stop until every New
Yorker is paid a fair wage they
deserve,” Cuomo said.
New commander installed to lead
bureau overseeing north Queens pcts.
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
There’s been a changing of the
guard at NYPD Patrol Borough
Queens North.
Assistant Chief Martin Morales took
over the Flushing-based command,
which oversees operations of police
precincts located in the northern half
of Queens, replacing Assistant Chief
Juanita Holmes aft er her 32-year career
in the NYPD.
Holmes, one of the highest ranking
African American women in the NYPD,
announced her retirement earlier this
month to move into the private sector.
Holmes announced the command
transition on Twitter Saturday, Dec. 22,
off ering her congratulations to Morales
saying “passing of the torch is a bittersweet
moment for me” but she could rest
assured that both the command and the
community were in good hands.
Morales was the commanding offi -
cer of the NYPD’s Domestic Violence
Unit which works with each of the
five borough district attorneys to
build stronger evidence-based cases
to hold off enders accountable while
collaborating with numerous victim’s
advocacy groups “working together
for victims rights, to give them hope,
and most importantly provide them
with safety,” he tweeted.
Morales could not be reached for
comment but he thanked the police
commissioner for entrusting him with
the command.
Retiring Assistant Chief Juanita Holmes places the commanders pin on
Assistant Chief Martin Morales, the new commander of Patrol Borough
Queens North
“To all offi cers and residents of all
neighborhoods of Queens North,
I’m looking forward to meeting and
working with all of you,” Morales said
on Twitter.
Holmes was the commander of the
Domestic Violence Unit before she
was put in charge of Queens Borough
North in 2016, becoming the NYPD’s
fi rst female African-American borough
commander.
Upon hearing of her retirement,
Police Commissioner James O’Neill
said Holmes had served the people
Photo via Twitter/@NYPDQueensNorth
of New York City with a confi dent
professionalism earned through
experience.
“Her efforts have strengthened
trust and relationships between
police and communities around the
fi ve boroughs,” O’Neill said. “She has
inspired many of our members with
her achievements, and I commend her
unwavering dedication to our mission
of fi ghting crime and keeping people
safe. We wish her the very best, and
know she will excel in all that lies
ahead.”
Holiday songs at M.V. store
Photo courtesy of Gary Dellacerra
Valentino’s of Metropolitan Avenue in Middle Village celebrated the Christmas season on Dec. 22 with a “Home
for the Holidays” Christmas showcase starring Pamela Nardi Gonzalez.
Gary Dellacerra, the owner of Valentino’s Italian specialties imports, thought it was important to give a little
back to the community by providing a festive atmosphere while people were shopping for their Christmas dinner.
Dellacerra, a former corporate Vice President Of NYU hospital, recently retired to follow his dream of owning and
operating a Italian specialty imports store.
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