FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM APRIL 29, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 21
Council candidates demand
senior center reopening plan
BY STEPHEN WITT
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Yankee games? You bet. But
bingo games? Out of the question.
While Mayor Bill de Blasio
has been moving full steam
ahead with reopening the city
to government workers, tourists
and New Yorkers alike with
social distancing and health
measures in place, there are no
plans on the table to reopen the
city’s senior centers even with
proof of vaccination.
“We as seniors need to get
out, especially to talk, to laugh
— that means so much to our
bodies. Laughter is the spirit
of our life,” said senior Peggy
Wiley during a rally outside
Alpha Phi Alpha Senior Center
in Cambria Heights, Queens
last month about a plan for
reopening the facility.
Now, three weeks aft er that
rally, the city still has no plan
in place to reopen senior centers,
despite having vaccinated
more than 64 percent
of the city’s seniors to date.
Vaccination of more seniors,
including the homebound, is
ongoing.
“While there are older New
Yorkers who have been vaccinated,
there are many who
are not. We continue to consider
everyone’s safety and
will continue to follow the science
and the city’s health guidance
on congregate gatherings
and activities. It is also important
to note that the Mayor’s
Executive Order 100, which
called for the closure of adult
centers, remains in eff ect,” said
a Department for the Aging
(DFTA) spokesperson.
Th e continued lack of a plan
for reopening senior centers is
gaining traction as an issue in
local City Council races.
“I’ve spoken to all the executive
directors of the senior center
facilities in our area, and
they say they are ready to be
open,” said James Johnson,
who is running to succeed
term-limited Councilman I.
Daneek Miller in southeast
Queens.
Johnson noted the mayor’s
recent announcement that city
workers will be going back to
work in May, a signal that New
York City will be returning to
business as usual, but he is yet
to announce a plan to open
senior centers.
“Where is the plan to get our
seniors back to their routine?”
Johnson said.
The DFTA spokesperson
countered that about
170 senior centers are off ering
workshops and classes
virtually.
Th ere have been nearly
37,000 attendees to virtual programs,
the spokesperson said.
“We will continue working
with the City Department
of Health and senior center
providers on the planning
of in-person programs and
look forward to fully reopening
centers once it is safe
for older New Yorkers,” the
spokesperson said.
Who do they like?
Rosenthal endorses
Sandra Ung
State Assemblyman Daniel
Rosenthal endorsed Sandra
Ung for City Council in the 20th
Council District.
Rosenthal said he was proud to
endorse Ung.
“Sandra has the experience,
ideas, and conviction to be
the leader we need in the City
Council,” Rosenthal said. “With
our city in crisis, we need more
leaders like Sandra who truly
put community service before
anything else.”
Ung said she was humbled to
receive his endorsement.
“Th e assemblyman has been a
steadfast advocate for funding vital
community institutions like libraries,
and I look forward to working
with him to continue this work for
our community,” Ung said.
Weprin, Richards
announce cross
endorsement
Assemblymember David
Weprin, a city comptroller candidate,
and Queens Borough
President Donovan Richards
announced that they cross
endorsed each other in their bids
for offi ce.
Weprin said he was proud to
accept Richards’ endorsement
and to off er him his.
“Th is endorsement not only
means a great deal to me as a son
of Queens, but because I know the
level of respect to which Donovan
is held throughout the entire borough
by the more than 2 million
residents who have chosen to make
Queens their homes,” he said.
Richards called Weprin a dedicated
public servant who will
serve well as comptroller.
“His background in the private
sector, as the City Council
fi nance chair, and as a member
of the Assembly, has uniquely
prepared him for the challenges
of managing a complicated
fi nancial system, protecting
the pensions of millions of New
Yorkers and serving as a watchdog
over the city’s agencies and
departments,” he said.
Seniors in Cambria Heights do a line dance at a rally to open their
beloved senior center.
(From l. to r.) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Senate Majority
Leader Chuck Schumer speak at a press conference on Tuesday, April 13, urging Congress to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act.
President Biden praises Meng
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
persistent and courageous leadership
for Asian American, Native
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
on this issue — and I
Hawaiian and Pacifi c Islander
@QNS
look forward to swift consideration
communities. I was happy to see
and passage in the House
the Senate add the bipartisan
President Joe Biden
of Representatives, and signing
Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act as
commended Queens
this important legislation into
an amendment, which will further
Congresswoman Grace Meng
law,” Biden said in a statement.
our national eff orts to stand
and her colleagues for their
Th e president lauded the
strongly against acts of hate and
leadership in the fi ght against
Senate and the leadership of
violence,” Biden said.
anti-Asian violence as the
the Congressional Asian Pacifi c
For more than a year, according
Senate passed the COVID-
American Caucus (CAPAC) for
to Biden, far too many Asian
19 Hate Crimes Act to protect
passing the COVID-19 Hate
Americans have woken up each
Asian Americans last week.
Crimes Act on Th ursday, April
morning increasingly fearful for
“I am grateful to Senator
22, by an overwhelming margin,
their safety and the safety of their
Hirono, Senator Duckworth,
receiving a vote of 94-1.
loved ones having been scapegoated,
Congresswoman Meng
“Th is critical legislation will
harassed and assaulted
and CAPAC’s chair,
bring our nation one step closer
— some have even been killed.
Congresswoman Chu, for their
to achieving justice and equality
Read more on PoliticsNY.com.
/PoliticsNY.com
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
link
link
