Lancman to Debate Queens District Attorney’s Office on #CloseRikers
City Council Member Rory I. Lancman (D-Kew Gardens Hills, Pomonok, Electchester, Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest, Jamaica Estates, Briarwood, Parkway Village, Jamaica Hills, Jamaica) and Senior Executive Assistant District Attorney Jim Quinn next week will debate the facts and the merits of closing Rikers Island.
Lancman is a leading advocate of closing Rikers Island, while Quinn is against the move to close the city jail.
The Kew Gardens Hills Civic Association is sponsoring the verbal joust.
The event is slated for 7:45 p.m., next Wednesday, Sept. 5 at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, 70-11 150th Street in Kew Gardens.
Van Bramer Puts Out Last Call For School Supplies Drive
City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside, Woodside, Long Island City, Astoria, Dutch Kills) is putting out a last call for his 9th Annual Back to School Supplies Drive.
Every year van Bramer’s office collects and donate supplies to children in need at schools throughout the 26th district.
“You can help out by donating pens, pencils, backpacks, lunchboxes, binders, paper, rulers, calculators, markers, protractors, highlighters, crayons, or any other items that will be useful to children as they go back to school,” said van Bramer.
All supplies will go directly to students in need. Any donation, big or small, is appreciated.
Supplies can be dropped between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Van Bramer’s district office, 47-01 Queens Boulevard, Suite 205 in Sunnyside or at the following Queens Library Locations.
- Sunnyside Library, 43-06 Greenpoint Avenue, Sunnyside
- Woodside Library, 54-22 Skillman Avenue, Woodside
- Long Island City Library, 37-44 21st Street, Long Island City
- Court Square Library, 25-01 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City
- Broadway Library, 40-20 Broadway, Long Island City
There is also a donation box located at The Lowery Bar & Kitchen on the corner of 43rd Avenue & 43rd Street in Sunnyside.
Avella Opposes Parking Meter Increase
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) yesterday announced his opposition to the city’s Department of Transportation’s (DOT) plan to raise parking meter rates on November 1.
While the initial increases will only affect part of Avella’s District, the parts it does affect will be hit hard. Jamaica and downtown Flushing will see rates increase from $1 per hour to $2.
“Here we go again, just another reason it is getting more and more expensive to live in the City of New York,” said
“Even though this initial increase only hits parts of my district, this is where it starts. After these increases, there is nothing stopping DOT from increasing parking rates across the city. Not only does this affect drivers but it can harm small businesses as well, as fewer people may decide to drive and park because of these increases,” he added.
