Addabbo Sets New Office Hours & Place
State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) will be holding office hours for his constituents in Kew Gardens Hills, apart from his normal Mobile Office Hours.
Addabbo normally holds his Mobile Office Hours at Queens Public Library branches throughout his 15th Senate District, but decided to change things up this time to reach some of his Jewish constituents on a day and in a location that is convenient for them.
“I have been holding my Mobile Office Hours in communities across my district ever since I was elected to the Senate,” Addabbo said. “These events give people the chance to come and speak with me one-on-one and bring up any personal or community-related topic that they wish to talk about. They give people the opportunity to meet with me outside of normal business hours.”
“I understand that many constituents find it difficult to make it into one of my district offices between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., so I try to make myself more available to them with these Mobile Office Hours,” Addabbo added.
The new office hours are slated for from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday, July 14, at the Kehilat Sephardim 150-62 78th Road, in Kew Gardens Hills.
Fed Lawmakers Rename 9/11 Victim Compensation Legislation To Be Renamed
U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), U.S. Reps Carolyn B. Maloney (D-Q@ueens, Manhattan, Brooklyn) Jerrold Nadler (D-Brooklyn, Manhattan), and Peter King (D-Long Island) yesterday announced their bipartisan legislation to make the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) permanent will be renamed.
Sept. 11 first responders Luis Alvarez and Ray Pfeifer will join NYPD detective James Zadrog as honorees of the bill, titled, “Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act.”
“Heroes like James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez exemplify the best of us. Naming this bill after them is just a small way to honor their service and that of the whole 9/11 community, knowing they all deserve so much more,” said Maloney.
The original 9/11 Health and Compensation Act and its reauthorization were named after James Zadroga, an NYPD detective who passed away from cancer and other health problems linked to his time at Ground Zero.
The legislation is designed to ensure that the VCF is fully funded and will remain open for those that will become ill in the future from toxic exposures at Ground Zero. A filibuster-proof bipartisan majority of the United States Senate has cosponsored this legislation. This legislation has 332 bipartisan cosponsors in the House and passed out of the House Judiciary Committee unanimously last month.
Cuomo Announces First Full-Time LIRR Station in Nearly 50 Years
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced yesterday the $1.26 billion Belmont Park Redevelopment Project will benefit from a full-time Long Island Rail Road train station to help mitigate traffic concerns and providing a new amenity to the Elmont community as the new hockey arena on the Queens/Long Island border is being built.
The new train station will be located between the Queens Village and Bellerose stations on the LIRR’s Main Line, just east of the Cross Island Parkway. Electric shuttle buses – which are already planned to run from parking lots within Belmont Park to the arena site – will also serve LIRR riders traveling to the grandstand and planned arena, hotel and retail village.
“With the addition [to the Belmont Project] of the first full-time LIRR train station in almost 50 years, we will provide millions of visitors and fans a fast and affordable way to get there and continue New York’s nation-leading investments in 21st century transportation infrastructure,” Cuomo said.
The station will also provide direct service to Belmont Park from both the east and west, as opposed to the LIRR spur, which can only provide westbound service. This will reduce travel times and is expected to increase the number of event attendees who use public transportation rather than driving, reducing congestion, Cuomo said.
“The Belmont Redevelopment Project will turn unused state land into an economic engine for Long Island and Queens – creating jobs both in the construction of a new LIRR station, and the hotel and retail village that can service Belmont’s visitors. Today’s announcement shows New York’s commitment to investing in public transit, and I would like to thank Governor Cuomo for working together in making this project a success,” said U.S. Rep Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica, Laurelton, Rosedale, Cambria Heights, Saint Albans, Springfield Gardens, Far Rockaway, JFK Airport).
Ramos, Rozic Urge Cuomo Signature To Legalize E-Bikes and E-Scooters
State Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and parts of Astoria and Woodside) and Assembly Member Nily Rozic (D-Flushing, Queensboro Hill, Hillcrest, Fresh Meadows, Oakland Gardens, Bayside, and Douglaston) on Thursday will push for Gov. Cuomo to sign their legislation, S5294/A7431, legalizing e-bikes and e-scooters.
The lawmakers will head a rally on the issue that will include advocate members from the Deliver Justice Coalition, Make the Road NY, The Legal Aid Society, Transportation Alternatives, and Biking Public Project, and delivery workers.
The rally is slated for 10 a.m., Thursday, July 11 at the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Corona.
