Stavisky Holds Queens Senate Delegation Discussion on COVID-19 Vaccine
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Central Queens), the Senate’s Queens Delegation Chair, held a roundtable discussion with the rest of the delegation, community stakeholders, and city and state officials to examine the issues surrounding the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Stavisky was joined by Senator John Liu, Senator Jessica Ramos, Senator Joseph Addabbo, Senator Leroy Comrie, Senator James Sanders Jr., and a representative from Senator Michael Gianaris’ office as well as representatives from the governor’s office, NYC Health & Hospitals and various not-for-profit organizations throughout the community. The purpose of the discussion was to shed light on the challenges our health care providers are experiencing in trying to obtain and administer the COVID-19 vaccination.
“We are at the beginning of a very complex logistical and process,” said Stavisky. “Right now, our hospitals and not-for-profit organizations are telling us they have more questions than answers as it relates to administering the COVID-19 vaccination. Our sign-up process can be too confusing for many of our older, high risk constituents. We do not know how many doses of the vaccine our community is going to have access to, or when they’ll have that access. And, we do not have enough safe sites open for people to get their shots. Quite simply, we need to be answering three basic questions: how, when and where?”
Moya Holds Hearing on Rezonings
City Councilmember Francisco P. Moya (D-East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Corona in Queens, including Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Lefrak City and LaGuardia Airport), Chair of the Committee on Zoning and Franchises, and the rest of the committee are holding a hearing on Tuesday.
The hearing will be about multiple items including a few rezonings in Queens. For more details, see the agenda.
The virtual hearing will take place on Tuesday, January 26 at 10 a.m. in Virtual Room 1.
Constantinides Holds Environmental Protection Hearing
City Councilmember Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Woodside), Chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection, and the rest of the committee are holding an oversight hearing on Tuesday.
The hearing will be about air quality monitoring, phasing out fuel grade oil No. 4, the performance of power plants and more. For more information, see the agenda.
The virtual hearing will be on Tuesday, January 26 at 11 a.m. in Virtual Room 4.
Addabbo Hosts Valentine’s Day Food Drive
State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth and parts of South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Woodside and The Rockaways) wants to spread the love to some local food pantries through a food drive for Valentine’s Day.
“Our local shelters typically experience an influx of donations during the holiday season, with Thanksgiving and Christmas being traditional times when people donate,” Addabbo said. “But the shelters need food all year round. My hopes are that this food drive can provide supplies to the food shelters during a time when they are usually low on stock.”
From now until Valentine’s Day, two of Addabbo’s district offices — in Middle Village and Howard Beach — will be safe drop-off locations for the food drive. After the drive is complete, Addabbo will bring the donated food to two local food pantries, practicing all safety measures, the one with Our Lady of Grace in Howard Beach and the Sacred Heart pantry in Glendale.
“On a holiday that preaches love, I ask that you look in your hearts and bring some food to be donated to those less fortunate,” Addabbo added. “Together we can make a real impact in people’s lives.”
Non-perishable items that are needed include:
- Canned vegetables and fruit;
- Cereals;
- Crackers and snacks;
- Pasta and rice;
- Soups, stews and chili;
- Cooking oil;
- Dried herbs and spices; and
- Additional non-perishable foods.
Addabbo’s Middle Village office is located at 66-85 73rd Place in Middle Village, and the Howard Beach office is located at 159-53 102nd Street in Howard Beach. Both offices will be collecting food through Friday, February 12, in order to be delivered to the food pantries after the Valentine’s Day holiday. Safety measures and protocols, such as the wearing of masks, will be followed.
For more information on the food drive, contact Addabbo’s office at 718-738-1111.
BP Richards Accepts Applications for Solid Waste Advisory Board
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards is accepting applications from civic-minded individuals and organizations across Queens to serve on the Queens Solid Waste Advisory Board (QSWAB) — a diverse group of residents and industry representatives tasked with advising the Queens Borough President on a wide array of issues including, but not limited to waste, recycling, resiliency and environmental equity.
“We will leave no stone unturned when it comes to ensuring environmental justice for all Queens communities, especially for our long-underserved neighborhoods and those areas most endangered by the perils of climate change,” said Richards. “Comprised of community advocates representing all cross-sections of our borough, the Queens Solid Waste Advisory Board will be an invaluable source of expertise as we work tirelessly toward a zero waste future. I encourage all who are interested in helping build a brighter, greener Queens to apply today.”
The digitized QSWAB application is available online at www.queensbp.org/swab. The deadline for prospective applicants to submit an application is Friday, February 26, 2021. Applicants can apply either as an individual or as a representative of an organization or business entity.
Appointments to the QSWAB, which will meet monthly and must consist of no fewer than 20 unsalaried members, are made by the Queens Borough President pursuant to New York City Administrative Code.
Members representing community boards, recycling industries, carting industries, environmental organizations, government agencies, labor organizations, business organizations, property owners, tenant organizations and members of the general public are appointed to terms of two years and are eligible for reappointment at the conclusion of their term.
Weprin Celebrates One Year Anniversary of Adoptee Rights Bill
State Assemblymember David Weprin (D-Richmond Hill, Fresh Meadows) celebrated the one year anniversary of the Adoptee Rights Bill.
This historic bill was sponsored by Weprin and former Senator Velmanette Montgomery. For more than eighty years, adoptees were denied the right to receive their own birth certificate. Now, adult adoptees and their lineal descendants can access their vital records. January marks the one year anniversary of this life changing legislation.
“I am proud to have sponsored this equal rights legislation. It proves that through hard work and dedication, change is possible,” said Weprin. “For far too long, adoptees were denied access to documents that every other person born in New York State has the right to obtain. Family history is important. The one year anniversary of this bill honors the right for each person in New York to know his or her heritage.”
