Queens Lawmakers On The Move Oct. 26, 2018

Queens County City Council News

Sanders Jr. Condemns Bomb Mailers Sent to Democrats

State Sen. James Sanders Jr.

State Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) yesterday expressed his condemnation of bomb mailers that were recently sent to Democratic leaders and supporters by a yet unknown perpetrator.

The packages were sent to former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Rep. Maxine Waters, former Attorney General Eric Holder, Democratic donor George Soros, actor Robert De Niro, who has been openly critical of President Trump, and to former CIA director John Brennan via CNN’s Manhattan office.

“These acts, which I believe, aimed to terrorize and intimidate leaders of the Democratic Party and its supporters, are unconscionable, inexcusable and dangerous. This type of criminality has no place in our country. We can have differences of opinion, especially when it comes to politics, but sending mail bombs is not the way to express those differences or make one’s voice heard. We need open discussions and the productive exchange of ideas. The perpetrator who sent these mail bombs must be brought to justice and punished to the full extent of the law,” said Sanders.


De Blasio, Koo and Katz to Unveil New Memorial Design at Olde Towne of Flushing Burial Ground

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz
City Council Member Peter Koo

Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), Queens Borough President Melinda Katz (D) and City Councilman Peter Koo (D-Downtown Flushing, Murray Hill, Queensboro Hill) today will unveil a new Memorial Design at the Olde Towne of Flushing Burial Ground.

The design proposal is from New York City Parks Department, who also maintains the Burial Ground, and has received unanimous approval from Community Board 7, with an anticipated 2020 date of completion.

The new design features a memorial wall for the 399 known names and will highlight four individuals whose families had purchased marble headstones in the 19th Century. Works Progress Administration workers destroyed these headstones during the 1930s when they turned the surface of the burial ground into a recreational site under orders of Robert Moses.

Community activist Mandingo Tshaka has had a personal interest in the burial ground since the mid-1980s when he discovered that some of the members of his church, the Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal Church of Flushing, were buried there.

The unveiling is slated for 11 a.m., today, Oct 26 at 46th Avenue and 164th Street in Flushing.


Constantinides to Officially Rename 27th Street and 23rd Avenue As “AKTINA FM Way”

City Council Member Costa Constantinides

City Council Member Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Woodside) today along with other elected officials, and leaders in the Greek and Greek-Cypriot communities will honor AKTINA FM by renaming the intersection of 27th Street and 23rd Avenue after the longtime English-language Greek-American public radio station.

Among the other Queens elected officials representing Astoria slated to attend include State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D) and Assembly Member Aravella Simotas (D).

Also slated to attend are Consul General of Greece Konstantinos Koutras, Consul General of Cyprus Alexis Phedonos-Vadet, President of the Hellenic Federation Cleanthis Meimaroglou, President of the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations Kyriakos Papastylianou and Elena Maroulleti, founder and host of AKTINA FM.

The street co-naming event is slated for 11 a.m., Today, Oct. 26 at 27th Street and 23rd Avenue in Astoria.


Weprin Mourns Passing of Robert Taylor

Assembly Member David Weprin

Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Richmond Hill, Fresh Meadows) yesterday mourned the recent death of community activist and Democratic stalwart Robert Taylor.

“It is with great sadness that I join the Queens community to mourn the passing of Robert Taylor, a devoted community member, friend, and neighbor who served as Treasurer of the Saul Weprin Democratic Club for many years and as an employee at the Board of Elections,” said Weprin.

“Robert Taylor was not only an asset to our neighborhood but also a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather who went out of his way to help others in their time of need.  I was fortunate to personally know Bob and his family for over 50 years and send my condolences to his wife, Martha Taylor, Queens Community Board 8 Chair, my Co-Democratic District Leader, and Co-executive member of the Saul Weprin Democratic Club for the 24th Assembly District as well as their four children and spouses, grandchildren, and all who are mourning his loss.”