Queens Lawmakers On The Move July 16, 2018

Dromm Honors Elmhurst Hospital Coronary Care Unit Leadership for Saving Lives

City Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Elmhurst, Jackson Heights), chair of the council’s Finance Committee, on Friday Elmhurst Hospital’s renowned Coronary Care Unit (part of the NYC Health + Hospitals system) for providing life-saving services to Queens residents.

Dromm helped establish the Coronary Care Unit by securing $4 million in funding for its creation during his first term as a NYC Council Member.

Recently, Dana Cotton, a Queens human rights activist notified Dromm that on January 10, 2018, her husband Byron Cotton collapsed in the shower in sudden cardiac arrest brought on by a clogged artery.  After receiving CPR and other life-sustaining care from Ms. Cotton and FDNY emergency medical technicians, Mr. Cotton was rushed to the Coronary Care Unit’s cardiac catheterization lab to clear his arteries.  His life was saved thanks to the expert care he received.  He was discharged from the hospital three days later.

“It is a pleasure to stand with the Cotton family to recognize the Elmhurst Hospital Coronary Care Unit for the life-sustaining medical services they provide in Queens,” said Dromm.  “Each year, hundreds of lives are saved–including Byron Cotton’s–thanks to the excellent care patients receive from the unit.  Throughout my tenure as a council member, I have fought for and allocated millions of dollars to expand coronary care and other services at Elmhurst Hospital.  I remain committed to securing additional funding so that the hospital remains on the forefront of quality care in our borough.”

SANDERS SENDS CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY OF FAR ROCKAWAY WOMAN KILLED BY SUV

State Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-South Jamaica, Rochdale Village, Rosedale, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Springfield Gardens and most of the Rockaways) on Friday sent his condolences to the family of Valerie Razack, 63, who lost her life after being struck by an SUV, and dragged several feet near the intersection of Beach 73 Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard.

“I was saddened to hear of the loss of Valerie Razack and I want to express my sincere condolences to her family for their loss,” said Sanders. “No loss of life is ever easy to bear, but I know it can be especially difficult when a life is suddenly taken in this manner.”

According to news and police reports, the Wednesday accident happened when Peter Lopez, 40, was operating a 2009 Dodge Durango, trying to turn left onto Beach 73 Street when he hit Razack in the crosswalk. A preliminary investigation found that Razack had entered the crosswalk with the pedestrian signal green light in her favor.

Medics rushed Razack to St. John’s Hospital where she could not be saved. Lopez was arrested and charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care, according to reports.

Sanders reminds motorists and pedestrians to be cautious on City streets, and to be mindful of one another at all times.

Avella Rallies To Get Abandoned Property Cleaned Up

State Sen. Tony Avella (D-College Point, Whitestone, Bayside, Flushing, Jamaica Estates, Fresh Meadows, Bellerose, Floral Park, Jamaica, Douglaston, Little Neck, Auburndale, Kissena Park, Briarwood) today will rally with local residents to get action on an abandoned property that has been left in unsanitary, unsightly, and unsafe conditions for over a decade.

Since first learning of this site in December, Avella has involved numerous city agencies and has met with the owner of the property, but the owner has taken no action to fully repair the home/clean the property.

Due to the property owner’s inaction, Avella will march with neighbors at the homeowners present address.

The rally is slated for 11 a.m., today, July 16 at  35-20 167^th Street in Flushing.

Crowley Declines To Endorse Pelosi For Speaker

U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Sunnyside, Astoria, College Point, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona, Woodside, parts of the Bronx), the No. 4 Democrat in the House, who lost in the recent Democratic primary to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, yesterday declined to endorse Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for speaker, should Democrats take back the chamber from Republicans in this year’s midterm Before his upset loss, elections.

“Well, look, you know, I do think that that’ll be up to the new Congress to decide who the next leader or speaker … be,” Crowley told CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

“If we win the House back, Nancy will have a very strong case for holding on to the speakership,” he said. “If not, there may be other issues that come to the fore at that point. But it’s up to the next Congress, Democratic Caucus to decide that fate.”

Before his upset loss to Ocasio-Cortez, Crowley was widely viewed within the party as a potential successor to Pelosi.