Queens Lawmakers on the Move September 29, 2020

Queens County City Council News

Meng Received Racist Voicemails 

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng’s (D-Bayside, Flushing, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows, Glendale, Kew Gardens, Maspeth, Middle Village, Rego Park) received several racist and obscene voicemails after her resolution to denounce anti-Asian sentiment related to the coronavirus passed. 

Meng has shared some of these voicemails on her Twitter page which can be viewed here.

Details on Meng’s measure passing the House can be viewed here.

Sanders on Yom Kippur

State Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) sent out a message about Yom Kippur:

“Yom Kippur is a time of atonement and repentance, prayer and fasting, peace and purity. I would like to extend my warmest wishes to my Jewish brothers and sisters during this holiest of times, and I hope your Yom Kippur opens the door for everything that is good and pleasant for you and your loved ones. As you pray and atone, may you be blessed with all the best things in life.

G’mar Hatima Tova.

Sincerely,

James Sanders Jr.”

Constantinides Celebrates Climate Week at Astoria Houses

Councilmember Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Woodside) and Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, CEO of Urban Upbound, joined with members of the Astoria Houses community to celebrate Climate Week, distribute food to those in need, and announce recent improvements on the Hallets Point Peninsula on Friday.

“I am so happy to have finished Climate Week with my friends, Bishop Taylor, Claudia Coger, and the Astoria Houses community,” said Constantinides. “While there is so much to celebrate this week, COVID-19 and its economic fallout remind us there’s still so much work ahead. We’re committed to this fight for clean air, good jobs, and vital services on the Hallets Point Peninsula.” 

They were joined by Claudia Coger, President of the Astoria Houses Residents Association, and Anju Rupchandani and Andre Stith of Zone 126. 

De Blasio Signs Protection Bills for Workers, Consumers and Commercial Tenants

Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law a package of bills that will expand protections for workers, consumers, and commercial tenants on Tuesday. 

The bills extend and expand the city’s paid safe and sick leave law to reach more workers, reinforce and extend protections for commercial tenants, and protect the jobs of hotel workers.

“Today is about justice for hard working New Yorkers,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “From expanding paid sick leave, to protecting our commercial tenants and hotel workers, these bills are crucial to standing by New Yorkers who have worked through the worst of this pandemic and are now helping our City get back on our feet.”