FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM APRIL 9, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
сoronavirus
Police unions deliver food
to Jamaica Hospital Medical
Center during COVID-19 crisis
BY TODD MAISEL
Dozens of New York City police offi -
cers from the police unions on Friday
delivered food and moral support to the
medical staff of Jamaica Hospital Medical
Center who are putting themselves at risk
and working round the clock to save lives
in the coronavirus pandemic.
Members of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent
Association (PBA) and Lieutenants
Benevolent Association (LBA), brought
food to the medical professionals who
have been overwhelmed by the large
number of COVID-19 positive cases who
are at the brink of a health disaster in the
hospital.
Th e PBA and LBA worked with Panico’s
Community Market in Smithtown, LI –
longtime supporters of veterans and fi rst
responders – to prepare and deliver more
than 300 freshly-made sandwiches and
other food items to Jamaica Hospital’s
nursing department, for distribution to
on-duty hospital staff .
Cops saluted the medical staff and
wished them well in their war on the
coronavirus that has killed thousands of
New Yorkers.
PBA President Patrick J. Lynch and LBA
president Lou Turco personally distributed
bags of food to the doctors and nurses
on the front lines of the COVID-19 fi ght.
“We are all family on the front lines,”
Lynch said. “Cops, nurses, doctors and
hospital staff have a long-standing bond
– we know each other and work together
365 days a year. Th at bond has only grown
stronger over the past several weeks. Th is
is our small way of showing our Jamaica
Hospital sisters and brothers that we haven’t
forgotten the professionalism and
support they show us every time we walk
through their doors. It also shows regular
New Yorkers that their emergency personnel
are united in responding to this
crisis. Our uniforms may be diff erent, but
our mission is the same.”
Turco echoed Lynch and saluted the
medical staff at the hospital that has
saved many police offi cers who have been
injured in the line of duty.
“Jamaica Hospital’s staff have always
been there for New York City police offi -
cers, from working heroically to save the
life of an injured cop, to off ering a kind
word and a cup of coff ee,” Turco said.
“Now that they’re at the epicenter of this
pandemic, working long hours with little
rest, it’s our turn to show them the same
support.”
Police union leaders take no chances
and wear masks at Jamaica Hospital
Medical Center.
St. Francis Prep’s science department
donates goggles, masks and gloves
Healthcare worker Lauren Scibilia, a
1998 graduate of St. Francis Prep, pictured
here outside the Francis Lewis
Boulevard entrance of the school in
Queens on April 1, loads a large bundle
of protective goggles, face masks
and gloves donated by St. Francis
Prep’s science department.
The items are destined for
Cold Spring Hills Nursing and
Rehabilitation in Woodbury, Long
Island, where Scibilia works and where
she says the need for these items has
become extraordinary in the face of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information, please contact
Lauren Scibilia at 516-510-8928 or
St. Francis Prep’s Science Department
Chair Kim Istrico at 516-302-5362.
Cuomo sets date for Queens
borough president special election
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
Th e special election for Queens borough
president will be held on June
23, according to an executive order
signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo on
Monday, March 30.
Th e special election will be held on
the same day that Cuomo set for the
Democratic presidential primary.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who postponed
the original date of March 24 due to the
coronavirus pandemic, was going to set
a new date for the special election, but
the governor’s emergency powers superseded
City Hall’s in this instance.
“We thank Governor Cuomo for
endorsing the mayor’s recommendation
to consolidate the presidential primary
to June 23 to protect the health of voters
and poll workers,” de Blasio spokesman
Jose Bayona said. “We look forward to
working together with the governor
and the Legislature to expand absentee
voting to ensure the essential
functions of our democratic process
continue to operate amid a public
health crisis.”
Early voting will begin on June
13. Candidates on the ballot include
Councilmen Donovan Richards
and Costa Constantinides, former
Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley,
retired NYPD sergeant Anthony
Miranda, Yao Din, Councilman Jimmy
Van Bramer, who suspended his campaign
in January, and former Jim
Quinn.
“I am pleased the governor
signed an executive order to
reschedule the special election
for Queens borough president
for June 23,” Quinn said. “Th is
is an incredibly trying time for
our nation, our city, and in particular,
our home borough of Queens, which
continues to be a hot spot for the coronavirus
outbreak.”
“More than 10,000 of our friends,
family and neighbors have contracted
COVID-19 and more than 200 Queens
residents have lost their lives,” he added.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with
everyone aff ected by this virus. As we
navigate this ‘new normal,’ we will continue
to make the health and safety of
New Yorkers our top priority and do our
part to stop the spread. I have no doubt
we will emerge from this stronger than
ever and more united in support of a
strong, safe and healthy New York.”
QNS fi le photo
Photos courtesy of Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association
Cops from the PBA and LBA applaud medical professionals on the front lines of the coronavirus at
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
Police union leaders take no chances and wear
masks at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
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