Dromm Mourns Loss of Life in Elmhurst Fire
City Councilmember Daniel Dromm (D-Elmhurst, Jackson Heights) released a statement on Sunday about Saturday’s fire at 90-31 48th Avenue in Elmhurst which killed three residents:
“My heart goes out to the residents of 90-31 48th Avenue whose lives have been ravaged by this fire,” said Dromm (D-Elmhurst, Jackson Heights). “Tragically, three residents died in the inferno. The other tenants barely escaped with their lives. It is outrageous that the property owner raked up $217,000 in fines for illegally subdividing most of the property, and reportedly ignored a partial vacate order. Elmhurst has been plagued by unscrupulous landlords who habitually flout the law to fatten their wallets. Their greed is killing my constituents. In the coming weeks I will meet with city agencies and my colleagues in government to address this issue that has plagued the district for too long. I will do all that is in my power to ensure that the property owner is held accountable for his malfeasance. Slumlords, you have been put on notice.”
AG James Vows to Continue Fighting to Protect Census
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Friday released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court vacated a lower court order blocking the Trump Administration’s plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from the apportionment base following the 2020 Decennial Census, citing the need to wait to see what actions the Trump Administration will take:
“President Trump’s efforts to pick and choose who to include in the apportionment base of the census is as illegal today as it was when he made this announcement. All today’s decision does is kick the can down the road until this lame-duck president knows whether he will receive the data he needs to violate the Constitution and the Census Act with the few weeks he has left in office. The law is clear — every person residing in the U.S. during the census, regardless of legal status, must be counted — and any further efforts by the president or his administration to violate the law will be met with fierce opposition, and we are confident we will win. We will continue to do whatever is necessary to stop the president from putting politics above the law.”
In July, James led a coalition of states, cities, and counties in filing a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, and others after they announced that they would leave millions of undocumented immigrants out of the apportionment base that follows the decennial census count. The lawsuit sought to stop the Trump Administration from violating the longstanding constitutional and statutory requirements to count the “whole number of persons” residing in each state for apportionment, without regard to immigration status. In August, James filed a motion for summary judgment in the case, which was granted in September by a three-judge court that stated that the president’s plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from the apportionment base was unlawful. The Trump Administration appealed that decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the case was argued at the end of November.
Miller Holds Holiday Toy Giveaway
City Councilmember I. Daneek Miller (D-Cambria Heights, Hollis, Jamaica, St. Albans, Queens Village, and Springfield Gardens) is hosting his annual toy giveaway on Monday in partnership with local organizations.
The event will be an outdoor, socially distanced grab-and-go style toy giveaway. Santa himself may be in attendance!
The toy giveaway will take place on Monday, December 21 at 3 p.m. at the I.S. 192 playground.
BP Richards Announces Testing at Queens Borough Hall
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards is hosting a week of COVID-19 testing at Queens Borough Hall starting on Monday.
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the city, it is imperative that Queens residents get tested regularly. The testing at Queens Borough Hall is being made available through a partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals Test and Trace Corps.
Queens Borough Hall is located at 120-55 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens.
No appointments are needed and there is no cost to get tested.
Testing will be available on Monday, December 21 through Wednesday, December 23 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday, December 24 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will be no testing on Friday, December 25.
