30 THE QUEENS COURIER • DECEMBER 5, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Queens congresswoman introduces bill to
help the next generation of entrepreneurs
Cuomo vetoes study to explore expanding
Long Island Motor Parkway in Queens
BY MAX PARROTT
mparrott@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill
that would commission a study aimed
at expanding the the Long Island Motor
Parkway eastward to the Little Neck
Parkway on Monday, Nov. 25.
Th e path, currently used by city parkgoers
and bicyclists, currently runs from
210th Street to Winchester Boulevard in
the Oakland Garden section of Bayside.
Th e extension would connect the Queens
portion of the trail to a portion of
the Motor Parkway in Nassau County,
which is in the process of being redeveloped.
Th e project is the result of an eff ort to
connect the surviving portions of the
parkway with new trails and form a trail
that would extend to western Long Island.
Th e bill proposed by state Senator
John Liu, which passed both the Senate
and Assembly, would authorize the New
York State Department of Transportation
(NYSDOT) commissioner to conduct a
study on the Queens portion of the trail
expansion.
According to a letter on the veto, which
was fi rst obtained by Patch, Gov. Cuomo
claimed that there was not funding for
such a project.
“In eff ect, the bill would call for an environmental
impact statement for a project
that is not currently contemplated by the
Offi ce of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation and for which there are no
funds,” he wrote.
Cuomo added that he supports the
“laudable intent” of the bill and will urge
its sponsors to push for the project in state
budget negotiations.
“To be quite frank, I’m disappointed. At
the same time, I’m hopeful because what
Cuomo wrote was that he thought it was
a good idea. But it is a setback,” said Joby
Jacob, co-founder of the Motor Parkway
East coalition, which had advocated for
the trail. Jacob added that he will continue
to advocate for the project by generating
community support.
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Following Global Entrepreneurship
Week, Congresswoman Grace Meng is
enacting a new measure to help the youth
become the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Meng’s new bill, the 21st Century Youth
Entrepreneurship Act, seeks to expand
entrepreneurship programs in public
schools (grades K-12), community colleges,
libraries and other community
spaces to equip young people with the
tools necessary to become the next generation
of entrepreneurs and innovators.
“Entrepreneurship kindles the spark of
creativity and ingenuity that has been
such a cornerstone of our economy,”
Meng said. “Entrepreneurs are the backbone
of Queens and the nation — they
drive innovation, job creation and economic
growth. Th roughout my time in
Congress, I have fought to help small
businesses and entrepreneurs fl ourish. I
am proud to introduce this legislation to
help create a pathway for aspiring entrepreneurs
to grow and thrive.”
The 21st Century Youth
Entrepreneurship Act would amend the
Elementary and Secondary Education
(ESEA) to allow local and state educational
agencies (grades K-12) to use federal
funds for entrepreneurship programs,
fi nancial literacy programs and leadership
programs.
It will also amend the Perkins Career
and Technical Education Act to allow the
use of federal funds for entrepreneurship
programs in career technical education
and initiatives at high schools, community
colleges and public community spaces
such as libraries.
Meng’s legislation is endorsed by
the Queens Economic Development
Corporation, National Foundation
for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Junior
Achievement of New York, Association
of Women’s Business Centers and the
State University of New York (SUNY)
Student Assembly, among other supporters.
“Entrepreneurs drive the economy
here in Queens and helping local students
obtain the skills they need to be the
future generation of business leaders is
critical to the borough fl ourishing in the
years ahead,” said Seth Bornstein, executive
director of the Queens Economic
Development Corporation. “We are
extremely grateful to Congresswoman
Meng for introducing this critical legislation
and commend her for all she has
done to assist entrepreneurs and small
Photo credit: Congresswoman Grace Meng business owners in Queens.”
Photo via Google Maps/Motor Parkway
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