WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES DECEMBER 10, 2020 3
Richards promises better day for renters during
swearing-in ceremony
BY MARK HALLUM
MHALLUM@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Having been offi cially sworn in
on Dec. 2, new Queens Borough
President Donovan Richards got
to enjoy some pomp and circumstance
with an inauguration ceremony on
Sunday, Dec. 6, outside Queens Borough
Hall.
State Attorney General Letitia James
did the honors this time as Richards, the
fi rst Black man ever elected to the offi ce,
said that more aff ordable housing would
be created in Queens and under more
acceptable standards of aff ordability.
But Richards, a former southeast
Queens councilman, said he would not
have been there if it was not for those
who had gone before him, namely the
late Claire Schulman who gave him guidance
and the late Helen Marshall, who
was the fi rst African-American elected
to the offi ce, which is in its 122nd year of
existence.
“Kids in my neighborhood, oft en grow
up thinking that they can’t make it, and
can’t do great things,” Richards said.
“Being able to see someone like Helen
Marshall in this seat means something
and meant something to a young person
of color like me. It’s why I’m standing
here today and I will never ever forget
your legacy.”
According to Richards, Superstorm
Sandy off ered a unique opportunity to
redevelop Queens with more housing
and infrastructure to give New Yorkers
in the “World’s Borough” better lives
following the disaster. Now, a fi nancial
crisis spawned of COVID-19 presents
another opportunity to make improvements,
Richards said, starting with
tenant legal services and ensuring the
developers build for an area median
income refl ective people already in the
community.
“Aft er Superstorm Sandy, I saw communities
decimated. But we overcame
we rebuilt infrastructure, stronger,
we built new aff ordable and sustainable
housing. We’re going to continue
that work,” Richards said. “I know so
many people are struggling to pay
their rent or fi nd an aff ordable place
to live. There’s been incredible growth
in our borough. But as we watch the
skyline transform and grow in front
of our eyes each and every day, there
are too many people who feel as if
they’re being left behind. We’re gonna
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards is sworn in by state
Attorney General Letitia James at Queens Borough Hall on Dec. 6.
Photo by Mark Hallum
build aff ordable housing in Queens.
We’re gonna identify sites and ensure
unit requirements are part of these
projects, in the proper area median
income in the borough president’s
offi ce.”
In the Nov. 3 general election, Richards
beat Queens County Republican
Party Chair Joann Ariola. Now, a special
election will be held for his former
council seat on Feb. 23.
Members of the Queens County
Democratic Party attended the chilly,
socially distanced outdoor ceremony,
including party Chairman Congressman
Gregory Meeks, Queens District
Attorney (and former borough president)
Melinda Katz, as well as Congresswoman
Carolyn Maloney and
others in city and state government.
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