Tag: claire-valdez

Queens lawmakers condemn Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ as dangerous and unjust

Big Beautiful Bill

Jul. 7, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Elected officials across Queens have criticized the Trump Administration and Republican lawmakers for passing the “One Big Beautiful Bill” last week, stating that the federal budget bill will have “dangerous and rippling effects” across New York City and State. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on…

LaGuardia students celebrate graduation at college’s 53rd Commencement Ceremony

LaGuardia Community College students celebrate graduation on Friday. Photo courtesy of LaGuardia Community College.

Jun. 23, 2025 By sobrien June 23, 2025 By Shane O’Brien More than 2,000 LaGuardia Community College students celebrated their graduation at the college’s 53rd Commencement Ceremony Friday morning, which toasted the resiliency of LaGuardia’s student body. Kenneth Adams, president of LaGuardia Community College, also celebrated increased enrollment, improved grades and increased participation in…

Advocates push for speed limiter law as Queens drivers rack up hundreds of school zone tickets

Jun. 5, 2025 By sobrien June 4, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The five most persistent “super speeders” in Queens racked up a combined 643 school zone speed camera tickets in 2024—an average of one every 14 hours—according to new research from street safety groups Transportation Alternatives (TA) and Families for Safe Streets. One driver…

NYC’s largest housing voucher program faces legal challenge, budget strain

CityFHEPS

Jun. 3, 2025 By Shane O’Brien As New York City grapples with the ongoing housing crisis, CityFHEPS, a city-funded voucher program for low-income households, has played an increasingly prominent role in securing housing for some of the poorest residents in the city. But the program, which has grown astronomically since its inception in 2018,…

Assembly Member González-Rojas, advocates push for gender equity funding in New York budget

Mar. 13, 2025 By sobrien March 13, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas joined fellow elected officials and representatives from a number of non-profits advocating for gender equality at the State Capitol in Albany last week to call on Gov. Kathy Hochul to center gender equity in the FY26 Budget. González-Rojas, the…

‘This is another attack on New York’ — Queens democrats rally against Trump’s effort to kill congestion pricing

Congestion pricing will introduce tolls for motorists traveling south of 60th Street in Manhattan.

Feb. 19, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Elected officials across Queens have condemned President Donald Trump after the Trump Administration moved to end federal approval for congestion pricing Wednesday. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy informed Gov. Kathy Hochul in a letter that he would rescind the federal approval of the congestion pricing program, describing the…

Queens lawmakers rally against Con Edison’s 14% rate hike proposal

con edison

Feb. 13, 2025 By Colum Motherway Several Queens elected officials are voicing their opposition to Con Edison’s proposed rate hikes for electricity and gas, urging the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) to reject the increases and address ongoing concerns about utility affordability. The proposal, which could raise rates by up to 14%,…

Queens officials slam Mayor Adams over ICE memo, call it violation of sanctuary laws

Mayor Eric Adams speaking to the media at City Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Feb. 10, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Elected officials, unions and community organizations across Queens have slammed Mayor Eric Adams in response to reports that the Mayor’s office distributed a memo to city agencies suggesting that they should let ICE agents enter municipal facilities without a warrant if staff “reasonably feel threatened” or fear for…

Three key Queens State Assembly primary races that could shake up Albany representation

assembly

Jun. 18, 2024 By Iryna Shkurhan While many seats in New York’s primary election this June are uncontested, three State Assembly races in Queens could alter the borough’s representation in Albany.  Both one-term and long-term incumbents are facing fresh challengers who are hoping to snag the seat and address issues such as housing, public safety,…
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