FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM OCTOBER 10, 2019 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
Richards joins race for borough president
BY MAX PARROTT
mparrott@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Donovan Richards marched up to the
most prominent symbol of Queens on
Wednesday to announce his intention to
run the borough.
Richards threw in his bid for the
offi ce of borough president on Oct. 2
at the Unisphere along with arranging
an endorsement from former Borough
President Claire Shulman.
Richards touted his record as a councilman
of encouraging economic recovery
among low-income communities and farther
eastern reaches of the borough.
“Th ere’s been incredible growth in our
borough. But as we watch the skyline
transform in front of our eyes each and
everyday, there are too many of us who
are being left behind. We can and we must
do better for every part of this borough,”
Richards said.
Richards joins Astoria Councilman
Costa Constantinides and Long Island City
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer in pursuing
the offi ce, as well as Assemblywoman
Alicia Hyndman, whose southeastern district
overlaps with his own in Laurelton
and Rosedale.
Richards’ vision included property tax
reforms that would address racial bias,
investment in the “nonexistent” transportation
infrastructure of eastern Queens, a
more community-driven zoning process,
an immigration unit at borough hall and
reforms to the community board structure.
His speech made the argument for his
know-how based on his City Council
committee appointments. As a councilman,
Former Borough President Claire Shulman joins Richards during his announcement.
Richards fi rst became chair of the
City Council’s Environmental Protection
Committee during the 2014-2017 session,
and later became the Zoning Committee
chair and chair of the Public Safety
Committee.
“Th ere’s no one in this race who can talk
about bringing a community back from
destruction aft er a storm like the historic
Hurricane Sandy, nor the historic investments
for what I call the forgotten communities
in Queens,” Richards said.
In addition to securing a $2.2 billion
investment in Queens infrastructure
improvements following Sandy, Richards
took credit for ushering in Mandatory
Inclusionary Housing, the rules requiring
aff ordable housing in rezoned areas, under
his watch as Zoning Committee Chair.
“He has the ability. He has the experience.
He has the energy. And look at what
his record says. His record is nothing short
of a miracle,” Shulman said.
Max Parrott/QNS
Shulman, who served from 1986 until
2002 as the fi rst woman to be elected borough
president, rose in municipal government
through her involvement on
community boards. Richards said that he
thinks the community board system is an
important structure to ensure that there’s
equity in terms of where the city invests
its resources.
Richards added that he believes the
city can engage a more diverse cross section
of the borough through live broadcasts
of meetings online. Likewise he criticized
what he perceived to be a top-down
approach to the Amazon LIC development
by city and state offi cials as a mistake.
Th e other progressive sticking point that
Richard dismissed was real estate donations.
He declined to disavow campaign
from developers, saying that he doesn’t
believe that his integrity would ever be
compromised.
QNS/File
The FBI is asking for help identifying who
is responsible for pointing laser at inbound
fl ights to JFK International Airport.
FBI seeks assistance
in identifying
laser threat to JFK
International Airport
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e Federal Bureau of Investigation’s
New York Field Offi ce is requesting
the public’s assistance in identifying
the individual — or individuals
— responsible for pointing lasers at
inbound aircraft to JFK International
Airport.
A blue laser appears to be emanating
from the area of Roslyn on Long
Island’s North Shore and pilots have
reported eye injuries as a result of the
laser, according to the FBI.
Th e investigation in being led by
the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force,
which consists of more than 50 local,
state, and federal agencies.
Overall, the FBI has seen a recent
increase in laser incidents across all
New York City-area airports.
According to the Federal Aviation
Administration there have been 31
laser strikes on inbound fl ights to
JFK International Airport in 2019
through Sept. 7. Inbound fl ights to
LaGuardia Airport have experienced
33 laser strikes in that same time
period.
Th e FAA warns that aiming a laser
at an aircraft is a serious safety risk
and many high-powered lasers can
completely incapacitate pilots who
are trying to fl y safely to their destinations
and may be carrying hundreds
of passengers.
Pointing a laser at an aircraft presents
danger to pilots, passengers, and
those on the ground. Th is crime is a
felony punishable by up to fi ve years
in prison, up to a $250,000 fi ne, or
both.
Anyone with information is urged
to call the FBI’s New York Field
Offi ce at 1-800-CALL-FBI or dial
911. Tipsters remain anonymous.
College Point business off ers job training and skills to individuals with autism
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
A new business in College Point is
off ering individuals with autism a chance
to make high quality lavender products
while receiving valuable training and
earning a paycheck.
The new venture, Chances
Environmentally Friendly Products,
opened at 15-08 College Point Blvd., on
Sept 23 and, like any other business,
the workers at Chances are busy making
products — primarily lavender-based
soaps, sprays and sachets, that they intend
to bring to market.
Lavender body scrub (Photo via
Chances EFP)
Chances EFP was founded by Marina
Horan whose son, Joseph, is a 28-year-old
man with autism.
“I was growing concerned that Joseph
was reaching his late twenties with no
real prospects for work, and I was already
doing these kinds of craft y activities with
Joseph at home with lavender from our
garden,” Horan said. “So, I thought maybe
this could help Joseph and some other
individuals with autism.”
Horan formed Chances EFP has a nonprofi
t and embarked on her mission to
Chances EFP was founded by Marina Horan (second from right) whose son, Joseph, is a 28-year-old
man with autism (r.).
develop products, create easy to follow
recipes, design the work process, and
most importantly, develop a market for
her products, which range in price from
$5 to $15.
“It’s been a lot of work, but incredibly
rewarding,” Horan said. “I have gotten so
much support from family and friends.”
So far, Horan has received orders from the
Queens County Farm, Montauk Lighthouse
and Fowler’s Garden Center. She also frequently
donates her time to sell her products
at street fairs, house parties, social
clubs, and pop-up markets organized by
Made in Queens, a program of the Queens
Courtesy of Marina Horan
Economic Development Corporation.
Chances EFP considers itself part of the
social enterprise movement where businesses
attempt to fi nd innovative ways
to address social needs. Th e outlook for
employment for people with disabilities
is not promising, and Chances is going
a step further by focusing on individuals
with autism who also exhibit some challenging
behaviors.
“Sure, these guys have some unusual
behaviors, but they really are sweet, and
they always do their best. Seeing them be
successful is the highlight of my week!”
Horan said.
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
link
link
link
link
link
