www.qns.com APRIL 22, 2022 8RIDGEWOOD TIMES
Holden introduces a series of bills concerning quality-of-life issues
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Councilman Robert Holden introduced 16 bills at
a New York City Council meeting on Thursday,
April 14, that would improve the everyday quality
of life for his constituents and residents throughout
the city.
The series of bills concerns noise, sidewalk obstruction,
film shooting disruptions and more.
“With the trend of legalizing or ignoring, and
thereby normalizing, behaviors that diminish our
city’s quality of life and lead to the bigger crime we are
seeing on the rise every day, it’s time to take measures
to bring balance to living in New York City,” Holden
said.
One bill would require the city to inform the public
about the locations of moviemaking activities in the
form of an online database and interactive map.
“Bills in today’s package address film crews taking
up commercial parking and hurting small businesses
without advance notice, sidewalk obstructions, illegal
towing of vehicles and making the 311 system more
efficient. These bills can be just a small start at making
New York City more livable again,” Holden said.
Another bill Holden proposed deals with noise,
which is a common complaint among residents in his
district. The bill would prohibit cars with affixed
speakers to the exterior of the vehicle and would
impose a civil penalty of between $100 to $225 for a
first violation, $150 to $400 for a second violation and
$200 to $575 for a third and any subsequent violation.
“We know that unreasonable noise late at night is not
only a nuisance, but a threat to New Yorkers’ health,”
Holden said. “I am introducing bills to stop motorists
from affixing large speakers to their vehicles, which
have only the purpose of blaring music across a great
distance and disturbing residents, as well as deter
excessive noise from personal devices.”
Holden is also looking to change the 311 system to
make it easier for mobile application or website users
by submitting a request or complaint with no more
than four steps.
“All New Yorkers are entitled to the quiet enjoyment
of their homes,” Holden said.
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Maspeth native and community activist
Juan Ardila added another
key progressive endorsement in
the race to replace longtime Assemblywoman
Cathy Nolan, who is retiring at
the end of the year after a 38-year career
representing western Queens in Albany.
Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán on April
7 threw her support behind Ardila, joining
a growing coalition including State
Senator Jessica Ramos, Assemblywoman
Catalina Cruz and the Working Families
Party.
“I’m excited to support Juan Ardila for
the New York State Assembly,” Cabán
said. “Western Queens needs a fighter up
in Albany — someone who will expand
protections for tenants, deliver investments
in resilient, green infrastructure,
support gig workers and low-wage laborers
and better our public schools. I have no
doubt that Juan has the experience, vision
and passion to make Queens a safer, more
equitable, more just borough for all of our
neighbors.”
Ardila said the endorsement from such
a strong progressive voice in government
could help shape the dynamics of his race
to represent Assembly District 37, which
includes Long Island City, Maspeth, Ridgewood,
Sunnyside and Woodside.
Ardila will face Sunnyside attorney Johanna
Carmona — who was endorsed by
Nolan — as well as Sunnyside community
leader Brent O’Leary, LIC businessman
Vlad Pavyluk and Sunnyside lawyer Jim
Magee in the June 28 Democratic primary.
In 2021, Ardila mounted a strong
challenge to Councilman Robert Holden,
receiving 45% of the vote.
Cabán became a progressive star in
western Queens when she nearly upset
then-Queens Borough President Melinda
Katz in the 2019 race for Queens district
attorney.
“It is an honor to have Council member
Tiffany Cabán’s endorsement for this campaign.
She is a bold leader who represents
a new approach to public safety and public
health that will help lift our communities
up,” Ardila said. “I am running for Assembly
because it’s time for a change. I know
how hard it is today for New Yorkers to
make ends meet. I’m going to fight tooth
and nail on behalf of tenants, seniors,
working families and our immigrant
neighbors.”
Ardila is a lifelong Queens resident
and first-generation American, the son of
a Colombian father and Honduran-Cuban
mother. He said he understands the hardships
of working-class families and he’s
running to improve the public schools,
the criminal justice system and housing
policies.
“Having Council member Cabán’s support
is a tremendous vote of confidence in
our campaign’s vision of a more equitable
New York,” Ardila said. “I know that working
together we will help bring about the
progressive change our communities need
and deserve.”
Assembly candidate Juan Ardila picked up the endorsement of Councilwoman
Tiffany Cabán in the June 28 Democratic primary. Photo courtesy of Ardila’s campaign
Councilman Robert Holden
Cabán endorses Ardila in race to replace western Queens assemblywoman
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