Queens Lawmakers On The Move March 7, 2019

Meng Applauds House Rules Committee For Including Her 16-year-old Voting Amendment

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Bayside, Flushing, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows, Glendale, Kew Gardens, Maspeth, Middle Village, Rego Park) testified this week before the U.S. House Committee on Rules to argue the merits of attaching her amendments to the For The People Act to lower the voting age to 16.

The For The People Act is the Democrats’ signature campaign and voter reform bill that would ensure access to the ballot box, end the reign of dark money in the political system, and demand accountability from public officials.

“Last night, America took a bold step forward toward lowering the voting age to 16 that gives our young people the power to vote in elections,” said Meng. “I’m thrilled that the Rules Committee voted favorably to include my amendment. Congress has the power the shape our nation, including the lives of our young people. 16- and 17-year-olds can get jobs and pay taxes. If they can do these things, they can also make decisions on who should represent them. I urge my colleagues to support our amendment.”

Van Bramer Says MTA Must Repair Crumbling Subway

City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside,  Woodside) yesterday slammed the MTA for not doing enough to repair the crumbling subway following a second incident in two weeks of 7 train debris crashing down on a car.

Van Bramer’s remarks followed the incident, in which a car driving on Roosevelt Avenue near 62nd Street in Woodside Wednesday was struck by debris that fell from the elevated 7 train tracks above.

A portion of steel apparently broke loose and shattered the windshield of a passing motorist driving a SUV. About two weeks ago, a piece of wood fell from the 7 train subway platform and pierced a driver’s windshield, just blocks away from the most recent incident. 

“This morning, a piece of rusted metal debris from the 7 train crashed down upon a driving car on Roosevelt Avenue by 61st Street in Woodside,” said Van Bramer. “This is the second incident in this neighborhood in less than two weeks. Once again, thankfully no one was injured. But it should not take a tragedy for there to be action. We must hold the MTA accountable and fix our crumbling infrastructure before someone is killed.”

Richards Lauds Launch Of “CAPstat” To Hold Cops More Accountable

City Council Member Donovan Richards (D-Arverne, Brookville, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens), chair of the City Council’s Committee on Public Safety, yesterday lauded the Legal Aid Society’s launch of “CAPstat,” a database containing publically available information culled from federal civil rights lawsuits brought against the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for misconduct.

CAPstat was created to show how transparency can improve the public’s collective ability to identify trends in misconduct and to advocate for reform. The database highlights the amount of taxpayer money spent towards settling repeated incidents of police misconduct that the City has failed to properly track and remedy.

The database can and should be used by policymakers and by the NYPD to better identify and prevent systemic patterns of police misconduct and to discipline the officers who repeat this misconduct. The database can also be used as a resource for people who have witnessed or who have been harmed by police misconduct, so as to help them decide whether to take legal action.

“Transparency and accountability around police misconduct are two of the most important issues we face in the fight for criminal justice reform today,” said Richards.“While the toll police misconduct takes on our families and communities weighs the heaviest, it also hits our city’s wallet hard as well and the more information available, the better we all can be at addressing patterns of abuse and neglect. I’d like to thank the Legal Aid Society for all of the hard work that went into the creation of CAPstat and for their dedication to sensible reforms that will benefit the people of New York City.”

Sanders To Host Free Tax Prep Services

State Sen. James Sanders, Jr. (D-Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Jamaica, Rochdale Village, Rosedale, parts of Far Rockaway) announced yesterday his office will offer free tax preparation and filing for individuals and families earning less than $50,000.

The Dates and Times are as follows:

Friday, March 15th – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Friday, March 29th – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Saturday, March 30th – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Friday, April 12th – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 13th – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sanders will offer the service at his district office, 142-01 Rockaway Boulevard in South Ozone Park. Residents interested in the service must make an appointment and have all required documents ready before they come in. To sign up and get more information call Sanders’ office at 718-327-7017 or 718-523-3069.

Constantinides and Nepali Leaders to Co-Name Intersection as ‘Mount Everest Way’

City Council Member Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Woodside) this Saturday will join Nepali dignitaries and community leaders to co-name the intersection at 75th Street and 31st Avenue as “Mount Everest Way.”

The City Council in December approved the co-naming in recognition of Nepali community’s many contributions to Jackson Heights. At least 10,000 Nepalis live in New York City, though the number might be higher. Mount Everest, or Sagarmatha, has been a symbol for cultural strength amid the Nepali diaspora.

The co-naming is slated for 1 p.m., this Saturday, March 9 at the intersection of 75th Street and 31st Avenue, behind the Jackson Heights Shopping Center.