WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MAY 20, 2021 23
NYC’s #1 Source for Political & Election News
Meng endorses Richards for BP
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
CMOHAMED@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
Congresswoman Grace Meng on Friday, May 14,
endorsed Queens Borough President Donovan
Richards’ bid for reelection.
Meng called Richards as an “extraordinary leader”
who fi ghts every day to make life better for Queens
residents.
“In just his fi rst few months in offi ce, he has traveled
throughout our great borough, meeting with residents
from across many diff erent communities, and doing all
he can to make Queens the best that it can be,” Meng
said. “He has worked tirelessly to help hardworking
families, assist small businesses, expand aff ordable
housing, and has strongly stood in solidarity with the
Asian American community in our fi ght against the
rise in hate and violence.”
As they work to move past the COVID-19 pandemic,
according to Meng, it is critical to have Richards leading
the borough to ensure recovery and to get Queens back
on its feet again.
“I look forward to continuing working with him for
many years to come,” Meng said.
In response to Meng’s endorsement, Richards hailed
the congresswoman as a “dedicated, trailblazing public
servant,” for Queens, and said he is incredibly grateful
for her “leadership, partnership and support” for his
campaign.
“Over the past year, Congresswoman Meng has
fought for the stimulus payments, PPP loans, vaccine
and testing sites, and federal funding that have helped
so many Queens residents through the crisis,” Richards
said. “She sponsored the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to
Congresswoman Grace Meng endorses Queens
Borough President Donovan Richards for
reelection. File photo by Gabriele Holtermann
combat anti-Asian hate, and here in Queens, she’s helped
victims, raised awareness, and marched in support
of our Asian communities. She is a great asset to our
borough, and I’m excited to keep working with her.”
Richards was fi rst elected as Queens borough president
in November 2020, and took offi ce in December.
In just a few months on the job, Richards has expanded
access to the COVID-19 vaccine, including opening
the Citi Field vaccination site and securing $17.5 million
to help struggling small businesses. He has also hosted
food and PPE distribution events serving thousands of
Queens residents.
Under Richards, the modernization of the community
board process with online applications resulted in a 56
percent increase in responses and a more diverse applicant
pool. Additionally, Richards has broken ground
on thousands of new units of aff ordable housing and
recognized the Queens Solid Waste Advisory Board to
work on environmental justice initiatives.
Who do they like?
City Council passes
Holden’s bill to
shore up city’s
storm response
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
When Tropical Storm Isaias tore through
the borough last August, it left tens of
thousands of Queens residents in the
dark and uprooted trees across the borough.
Many found that seeking assistance from the
city clearing storm damage and restoring utilities
was no easy task, and property owners and
businesses across Queens phoned in nearly 10,000
reports of fallen trees to 311 and complained of the
city’s slow response.
But during its stated meeting on Tuesday, May
12, the City Council passed legislation authored by
Councilman Robert Holden, known as Intro 1755,
that requires the New York City Department of
Information Technology & Telecommunications
to conduct an assessment of the interactive 311
map that is used for service requests and complaints,
in order to determine how the 311 map
can be improved.
A logistical hurdle many callers to 311 encounter
is explaining the location of the problem that
needs addressing. Oft en, an address is not enough
or the addresses given are not defi nable — and
Tropical Storm Isaias revealed many shortcomings
of the 311 system, especially when it came to
reporting downed trees.
“I have spent the better part of 40 years working
as a community activist and I know that aside from
calling a council member’s offi ce, 311 is the most
direct way New Yorkers can interact with city government
and get results,” Holden said. “Technology
should be leveraged to address shortcomings, and
the city must embrace modernization whenever
possible. Intro 1755 will improve the accuracy of
the 311 system and make it even better.”
@QNS
NOLAN ENDORSES
GARCIA FOR MAYOR
Assemblywoman Catherine
Nolan, the deputy speaker of
the New York State Assembly,
announced her endorsement of
Kathryn Garcia for mayor of
New York City.
Nolan — who represents the
neighborhoods of Sunnyside,
Ridgewood, Long Island City,
Queensbridge, Ravenswood,
Astoria, Woodside, Maspeth,
Dutch Kills and Blissville — said
Garcia is “the only candidate
with the vision and experience
to lead our city to recovery.”
“New Yorkers are still reeling
from COVID and it will take
a well-practiced manager with
the government success that
Kathryn has to ensure we get
back on track — and to ensure
our government actually works
and delivers for all of us,” Nolan
said.
AVELLA, YIN CROSSENDORSE
EACH
OTHER
Tony Avella, a candidate for
the 19th City Council District,
and Dao Yin, a candidate for
the 20th District, have crossendorsed
each other.
“My friend Dao Yin, I have
known for some time now
and he is very involved in our
community. I have worked with
him to ensure we preserve the
SHSAT which exemplifi es the
outstanding work of those students
who apply and with the
demand not to build prisons in
our communities,” Avella said.
“Dao has been at the forefront of
many battles, and it honors me
to endorse Dao Yin as the next
City Council representative of
the 20th District. I look forward
to continue working with Dao
as the next City Council representatives
of the 19th and 20th
districts.”
Yin said Avella “has served
our community well” in the
past, as a councilman and later
as a state senator.
The City Council passed legislation to improve
the city’s response following tropical storms
like Isaias last summer. QNS fi le photo
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