Queens Lawmakers On The Move April 17, 2019

Katz Issues Open Call For Next Queens Poet Laureate

Borough President Melinda Katz, in partnership with Queens Public Library and Queens College, yesterday announced the launch of an open call for applications for the next Queens Poet Laureate.

The borough’s poet laureate is a prestigious position charged with promoting a love of poetry and literacy throughout the borough. The announcement comes in time for National Poetry Month, a celebration of poetry that takes place each April.

“As the most diverse county in America, Queens seeks a Poet Laureate whose work strikes a universal chord,” said Katz. “The Poet Laureate will also demonstrate an abiding affection for Queens and an ability to convey that affection through inspiring, thought-provoking poetry.”

Applicants for the unpaid position of Queens Poet Laureate must be published poets and residents of Queens. The winning candidate will be a talented writer who can also demonstrate that she or he has a compelling vision for the role.

Applications for the Queens Poet Laureate position will be available at www.queensbp.org/poet and may be submitted beginning April 29, 2019. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM EDT on May 31, 2019 to be eligible for consideration.

Lancman Calls Out Protesters As Being Anti-Semitic

Council Member Rory I. Lancman (D-Kew Gardens Hills, Pomonok, Electchester, Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest, Jamaica Estates, Briarwood, Parkway Village, Jamaica Hills, Jamaica) issued the following statement after the so-called “Glendale Middle Village Coalition” protested outside the Long Island synagogue of Michael Wilner.

Wilner, the synagogue’s president, owns property in Glendale and the Coalition is demanding that he allows it to be developed for a school.

“Protesting outside a person’s synagogue on the Sabbath because they might not develop their private property the way you want is a grotesque act of antisemitism and fully deserves our unqualified condemnation. The so-called ‘Glendale Middle Village Coalition’ members should be ashamed of themselves, and should apologize for their repugnant conduct,” said Lancman.

DenDekker Lauds Cuomo For Data Privacy Consumer Survey

Assembly Member Michael DenDekker (D-Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, part of Woodside) yesterday lauded Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s announcement that the New York State Division of Consumer Protection has launched a data privacy consumer survey to give New Yorkers the opportunity to weigh in on data privacy issues and inform policymaking.

This initiative follows and is in conjunction with the Governor’s call in February for the New York Department of State, in partnership with the New York State Department of Financial Services and other state agencies, to investigate reports that Facebook is secretly accessing personal information of users.

“In the Digital Age nearly every New Yorker has an online presence and consumers are an important resource for identifying ways to make the internet safer,” Governor Cuomo said. “This survey will provide policymakers with important insight into data privacy issues that will inform our efforts to create effective policy that prevents online companies from misusing or abusing personal data.”

As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection, I invite all New Yorkers to participate in the data privacy survey. With the omnipresent threat of security breaches, it is critical that we craft legislation that would safely guard the private information of all New Yorkers; this survey will help us achieve that end,” said DenDekker.