8 THE COURIER SUN • FEBRUARY 12, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com Queens BP Melinda Katz names Melva Miller as her new deputy BP BY ERIC JANKIEWICZ ejankiewicz@queenscourier.com @EricJankiewicz Melva Miller, a top economic development offi cial in the Queens borough president’s offi ce for the past eight years, was promoted on Feb. 10 to deputy borough president. Borough President Melinda Katz announced the appointment during a speech before a breakfast meeting of the Queens Chamber of Commerce at St. John’s University. Miller will fi ll the vacancy left after Leroy Comrie departed to take his seat in the New York State Senate last month. “Economic development is a key priority of my agenda for Queens, and Melva’s multidimensional expertise to this end is second to none,” Katz said. “Her understanding of Queens’ neighborhoods is extensive and comprehensive, from both the holistic, macro-policy level to a blockby block community basis. Melva’s ideas, professionalism and experience in government have been tremendous assets to my administration. For the communities, her focus is relentless, her passion is unwavering. Melva has also been a trusted member of my senior leadership team since day one. Her ascension as my deputy is a natural one, and I thank her for accepting this responsibility.” Katz made the announcement in front of an audience made up of community board members and dozens of Queens residents. Many in the audience were graduates of St. John’s, a point that the school’s new president Conrado Gempesaw stressed. Gempesaw spoke before Katz and talked about the intertwined fates between the school and the borough. “What’s good for Queens is good for St. John’s,” Gempesaw said, referencing Katz’s State of the Borough speech when she stressed the importance of families. “And what’s good for St. John’s is good for Queens.” Gempesaw than invited Katz to speak. She praised the service of community board members, whom she called “the fi rst line of defense when issues come up. It’s because of them that government runs so well.” Katz’s announcement of Miller’s appointment elicited applause from the audience. Miller has served as the director of economic development for the Queens Borough President’s Offi ce since 2007. Previously, she was the founding executive director of the Sutphin Boulevard Business Improvement District and of KECDE!, a nonprofi t dedicated to bringing the arts to community youth through dance. Miller was also previously the project director for the Downtown Jamaica Cultural District and a community organizer for the Laurelton Local Development Corporation. A lifelong resident of southeast Queens, Miller has dedicated her life to community advocacy through creative organizing and citizen participation. “It’s an honor to be tapped by Borough President Katz to help execute her vision for the World’s Borough,” Miller said. “Government makes the biggest impact when it is continually engaged with our communities. I am grateful that Borough President Katz chose to promote from within and is allowing me the opportunity to continue building the economic viability of the borough and expand to other service areas of the borough. Across all issues — from education to housing to quality of life to tourism and culture — economic development and community development are one and the same.” Speaking at the the D’Angelo center on the school’s campus, Katz made several other announcements about her economic development strategy for the borough. She mentioned that $6 million has been collected to restore the New York State Pavilion, a site from the 1964 World’s Fair that Katz called a “treasure” that could become a tourist attraction. She expressed a desire to create jobs on the western Flushing waterfront, an area that Mayor de Blasio singled out for affordable housing during last week’s State of the City speech. Katz also talked about the “Jamaica initiative” to stimulate the business district’s economic activity. “We want to invest heavily in Jamaica’s infrastructure and local businesses,” she said, without elaborating on any specifi c projects. As former head of the borough’s economic development team and now as deputy borough president, Miller will play a key role in helping Katz to push forward Queens projects. “This is an exciting time for Queens, and in this chapter of growth, development and opportunities for our borough, it’s an absolute privilege to work with a dynamic leader of such passion and vision,” Miller said. Miller received her master’s degree in social work from CUNY Hunter College School of Social Work and her Bachelor of Science from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is an active doctoral candidate in social welfare at the CUNY Graduate School and University Center. Miller currently resides in Laurelton, Queens. KKNNOOCCKKDDOOWNN CCEENNTTEERR PPRREESSEENNTTSS FRIDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2015 11AM 2PM FREE MUSIC VIDEO WORKSHOP BOUNCY CASTLE GAMES TREATS CRAFT CORNER AND MORE! LOCATED AT 5219 FLUSHING AVE, MASPETH, NY 11378 NEAR THE JEFFERSON L STOP OR THE B38, B57, Q54 OR Q59 BUSES FOR QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL 347.915.5615 OR EMAIL MAILKNOCKDOWNCENTER.COM Photo courtesy of Offi ce of Queens BP Melinda Katz Deputy BP Melva Miller Queens Courier acquires Ridgewood Times and Times Newsweekly BY THE QUEENS COURIER STAFF editorial@queenscourier.com @QueensCourier Schneps Communications, publisher of The Queens Courier group, Brooklyn Spectator, Home Reporter, El Correo and 16 other newspapers and magazines, has acquired the 107-yearold Ridgewood Times and Times Newsweekly. “We are thrilled to be able to carry on and grow the legacy of the most valued, trusted and respected news organization serving Ridgewood, Bushwick, Middle Village, Glendale and Maspeth,” said Victoria Schneps- Yunis and Joshua Schneps, co-publishers of Schneps Communications. “This acquisition helps us grow our stable of award-winning publications, digital platforms and offers clients the most effective way of reaching residents in one of the fastest growing parts of Queens and Brooklyn.” Schneps Communications expressed its commitment to not only continue the papers’ mission to readers, but also introduce an updated print format and an enhanced digital presence. “From one family to another, I am happy to pass the torch onto Victoria and Joshua, as I know they are best positioned to grow the papers,” added Maureen Walthers, publisher, editor and owner of the Ridgewood Times and Times Newsweekly since 1986. “I am confi dent they will continue to provide our loyal and dedicated readers and advertisers with the great local coverage they’ve come to expect for more than a century.” Maureen Walthers will be staying on through a transition period at the company. Sold on newsstands and mailed to subscribers, the newspapers are published every Thursday. The Times Newsweekly and Ridgewood Times are the papers of record for the Greater Ridgewood area, covering civic meetings, community issues, school functions, policing and other events around town. Additionally, the paper profi les notable persons and groups in the neighborhood and showcases community history in its “Old Timer” column. The papers’ offi ces are located at 60-71 Woodbine St. in Ridgewood and have an online presence on their website at www.timesnewsweekly.com.
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