Addabbo, Pheffer-Amato Ask MTA To Let Rockaway Park Businesses To Remain
State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth, parts of South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Woodside, The Rockaways) and Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Broad Channel, Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach, Lindenwood, Ozone Park, the Rockaway Peninsula) have sent a letter to Pat Foye, the Chairman and CEO of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in an effort to help a group of businesses within their districts, .
Last year, several businesses along Beach 116th Street in Rockaway Park reached out to the Assemblywoman’s office, telling her that they were notified that their leases with the MTA would be coming to an end, and the buildings would be opened up to a public bidding process according to the Public Authorities Law of 2008.
Recently, the businesses — which are Last Stop Gourmet Shop, Joseph A. Otton Tax & Accounting, Beach Cleaners and Tailors, and A & J Jewelry — received a letter from the MTA stating that their leases would be terminated on May 31, 2019.
In the letter to Foye, Addabbo and Pheffer Amato have asked that the MTA allow the businesses to remain open in their buildings as the agency opens up their Request for Proposal process to find new tenants.
Katz, Williams Announce Queens Town Hall On Gun Violence
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz (D) and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams (D) announced an upcoming Town Hall on Gun Violence at the end of this month.
The town hall, in conjunction with 696 Build Queensbridge, Fathers Alive in the Hood (F.A.I.T.H.), King of Kings Foundation, LIFE Camp, Inc., Rock Safe Streets – A Sheltering Arms Program and Transitional Services for New York, Inc., is slated for two days before the start of Gun Violence Awareness Month in June.
The boroughwide open public forum for community groups, city agencies and law enforcement will discuss how to disarm violence in our communities, and to address gun violence as the public health crisis that it is — one that continues to impact youth, families and communities with devastating consequences.
“We cannot cure the epidemic of gun violence solely through policing and locking up those who run afoul of the law,” said Katz. “If we’re serious about ridding our society of the scourge of gun violence everywhere, we must deconstruct the normalization of gun violence. It is imperative that as a city, we direct our collective focus toward prevention through the promotion of peace and intervention, as well as increasing resources to investigate and prosecute those who traffic guns into our communities. At this borough-wide public forum, we will hear from leaders in government, law enforcement and dedicated community-based organizations throughout Queens on strategies that successfully steer our young people away from gun violence and toward paths of empowerment.”
“We see the realities of horrific gun violence every day, on our screens and in our streets. Combating this pandemic means implementing strategies at all levels of government and in partnership with community groups doing the hard work of violence prevention and intervention on the ground,” said Williams.
The Town Hall is slated for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 30 at Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd, in Kew Gardens. Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to RSVP at www.queensbp.org/rsvp or call 718-286-2661.
Queens Lawmakers Support Mayor’s Clampdown On Trump Properties
Queens lawmakers including U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Assemblymembers David Weprin and Aravella Simotas, and City Council Member Costa Constantinides this week lauded Mayor de Blasio for putting President Trump on notice for the millions of dollars his properties will owe under new climate change legislation that requires large buildings in New York City to dramatically cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
The law, a world-first, takes effect on May 17 and is a central component of New York City’s Green New Deal. The legislation is expected to create new jobs and build a fairer and healthier city for all New Yorkers, making the city carbon-neutral by 2050.
Across New York City, Trump owns at least 8 large buildings that do not meet 2030 emissions levels under the law. These dirty, inefficient buildings pump approximately 27,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases into our air each year, the equivalent of 5,800 cars. If Trump does not clean up these buildings, he will owe approximately $2.1 million in fines every year starting in 2030.
“Solving our current climate crisis will require leadership and bold ideas. New York City is providing both with its Green New Deal,” said Ocasio-Cortez, who co-authored a federal Green New Deal roadmap.
“There’s no debate, climate change is happening and large buildings are major polluters. Intro 1253 makes it clear that our city will lead the nation in climate change mitigation by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from our largest buildings, undeniably having a positive impact on the health of all New Yorkers,” said Weprin. “I applaud the City Council and the Mayor for passing Intro 1253 and taking initiative to reduce carbon emissions which is essential for our planets survival and our city’s economic survival.”
“Climate change is a crisis with consequences affecting all New Yorkers, and it is critical that we act now to reduce carbon emissions and preserve our environment for future generations,” said Simotas. “The nationwide increase in extreme weather events is alarming and undeniably a call to action. We must act in accordance with our findings regarding the environmental impact of large buildings, which are responsible for nearly 70 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, to reduce our continued reliance on harmful pollutants. All buildings have to meet the standard we set and no one should be exempt from this provision because we all have a responsibility to our environment. I am proud to support NYC Green New Deal to safeguard our city’s natural resources. On a state level, I will continue to fight for legislation that expands the use of sustainable alternatives.
“New York City must fill the leadership void left by the Trump administration in the fight against climate change,” said Constantinides, chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection. “That’s why the City Council enacted the Climate Mobilization Act, which is a down payment on a brighter, greener, safer future. We must ensure the small share of buildings, such as Trump Tower, are held accountable to shrink their disproportionately large carbon footprint before it’s too late.”
