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4 The Courier sun • MARCH 17, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com Vandals who make hate-filled graffiti in Queens could soon face serious jail time BY ROBERT POZARYCKI rpozarycki@qns.com/@robbpoz Often in Queens, graffiti is more than an eyesore — it’s a symbol of violence and hate. Several state lawmakers now want the vandals responsible to pay a heavy price for such dirty deeds, including lengthy jail terms. The state Senate recently approved legislation (S.849) increasing penalties against convicted graffiti vandals who defaced houses of worship or left gang signs or hateful statements on places of worship. Should the legislation become law, such crimes would be reclassified as Class E felonies punishable by up to four years in prison. State Senator Joseph Addabbo, who voted for the legislation, said many places of worship in his district have been marred with hateful or offensive graffiti in the recent past, citing the Rockwood Park Jewish Center in Howard Beach as one example. “I don’t think there’s any religious site that’s immune to it,” he said, adding that “this kind of graffiti is unacceptable” at any location. The state Senate bill specifically mandates that penalties would be increased against those found guilty of committing graffiti that was “intentionally motivated by bias against a person’s race, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice and other factors,” as noted in a statement from Addabbo’s office. Vandals who make graffiti that promotes gangrelated activities and/or defaces places of worship or items of religious faith, such as scrolls, garments and religious vessels, would face the most serious penalties, including jail time. “This legislation also permits judges to require those convicted of bias-related graffiti to complete diversity training programs and to personally clean up and remove the ugly fruits of their vandalism,” Addabbo added. “Spending all that time and effort trying to remove their graffiti — while getting necessary instruction in humanity and respect for others — may make perpetrators think twice before they spew their hatred.” Addabbo urged the Assembly to consider and pass the bill this session. Laurelton residents hope that small improvements will lead to safer streets BY ROBERT POZARYCKI rpozarycki@qns.com/@robbpoz Work crews have been busy around Queens neighborhood in Laurelton in recent weeks making a number of street improvements that the city hopes will make local streets much safer. The city Department of Transportation (DOT) recently improved the concrete median at the corner of 228th Street and Mentone Avenue. The agency also installed a new pedestrian crossing at Brookville Boulevard and 137th Road, adjacent to St. Clare’s Catholic Academy. This enables students to safely cross the boulevard to Laurelton Playground across the street. The DOT is also in the process of installing new parking meters along Merrick Boulevard designed to prevent all-day parking along the shopping strip. This aims to provide additional parking options for residents visiting local stores. City Councilman Donovan Richards praised the changes in a recent tour with DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia. “These essential improvements will help to drastically City Councilman Donovan Richards with Department of Transportation workers in Laurelton. improve the safety and quality of life for all Laurelton residents,” Richards said. “The addition of parking meters has also been something residents and business owners have been asking about for years, and now … the DOT is delivering for Laurelton.” Photo via Flickr/NYC Department of Transportation “From the new crosswalk and signal in front of St. Clare’s Catholic Academy to new curbs and meters, I look forward to continuing our partnership to bring more improvements to beautify and make the community safer,” Garcia added. Queens native and rapper Q-Tip named Kennedy Center’s artistic director for hip-hop culture BY ANGELA MATUA amatua@qns.com/@AngelaMatua The St. Albans-bred rapper and co-founder of iconic rap group A Tribe Called Quest has a new title. Q-Tip, born Jonathan Davis, was named the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ first-ever artistic director for hip-hop on Tuesday. The center, which is located in Washington, D.C., also announced its hip-hop culture series, a roster of programming meant to highlight the genre’s contribution to culture and society. Q-Tip has said that the Q in his name stands for Queens and he references Linden Boulevard in A Tribe Called Quest’s song “Check the Rhime.” The rapper and record producer attended Murry Bergtraum High School in Manhattan. New York-based arts and theater group Hi-ARTS collaborated with Q-Tip to curate the programs, which will take place at the Kennedy Center during their 2016-2017 season. The series will begin in June and will feature a break dance competition; a teach-in focusing on developing curriculum, programs and work to promote social change; and an interactive show featuring Q-Tip, a rapper from St. Albans, was named the first artistic director for hip-hop culture at the Kennedy Center. hip-hop artists remixing “everything from folk tales to classical art,” according to the Kennedy Center website. On May 23, DJ Spooky will showcase his Rebirth of a Nation project, which is a response to D.W. Griffith’s film “Birth of a Nation.”


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