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TI MES




                                                              QUEENS














                                           Published for the Borough of Queens




          VOLUME 29, NO. 13                                     THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024                                                   25 CENTS

                                                                            The Italian Community Thanks
                 Community Op-Ed: Yes to
                                                                     Congresswoman Meng For The private
                Housing in God’s Backyard
                   When we came into office, we had a clear mission: protect           Screening of Cabrini
            public safety, rebuild our economy as quickly as possible, and
            make our city more livable for everyday New Yorkers. The
            key to livability is affordable housing. It is the bedrock on
            which New Yorkers can build a family, build a life, or simply
            continue to live in the city they love. But there is currently not
            enough affordable housing to meet our city’s needs.
                 The New York City Department of Housing Preservation
            and Development’s 2023 Housing and Vacancy Survey showed
            that our city has a vacancy rate of 1.4 percent, the lowest this
            measurement has been since 1968. The only way to create
            more rental availability and lower prices is to build more
            housing.  To build more affordable housing, we must think
            creatively and bring every partner to the table. No partner
            has been more willing to answer the call than our faith-based
            organizations. They have been on the frontline of every crisis
                            (Continued on page 2)

          Pheffer Amato Passes Bill To Get Bad
          Lithium-Ion Batteries Off The Street





                                                                   Congresswoman Grace Meng was joined by some of those who attended the private screening
                                                                   (l to r) Scott Murphy and Joseph Natalle, representing the Italian Mass at St Leo RC Church;
                                                                   Congresswoman Grace Meng; James C Lisa, President of the Italian American PAC, the
                                                                   Congresswoman’s husband Wayne, and Maria Becce and her husband. See story on page 2.

                                                                    Meng And Malliotakis Introduce Legislation

                                                                               Expanding Housing Benefits For

                                                                                         Queens-NYC Veterans
                                                                       Bill Expands the
                                                                     Veterans Home Loan
                                                                    Guarantee Program to
                                                                        Include Co-Ops

                                                                        U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-
             New York State Assemblywom-  setting a standard and mandat-  NY) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-
        an Stacey Pheffer Amato voted  ing only safety-proven batteries  NY) announced the introduction
        yes and passed a groundbreaking  can be sold and operated, we can  of the Fair Access to Co-Ops for
        piece of legislation to target the  prevent fires, but also tragic in-  Veterans Act (H.R.7703), a bi-
        ongoing crisis of fires caused  juries and deaths. This bill holds  partisan bill  to make it easier for
        by lithium-ion batteries. Pheffer  retailers and sellers accountable.  veterans in Queens and across the
        Amato serves as the prime co-  I believe we have more work to  nation to purchase co-ops.
        sponsor of A.4938 which makes it  do in addressing issues caused by       The legislation would expand
        illegal to sell lithium-ion batteries  e-bikes and my sleeves are rolled  the Veterans Home Loan Guar-
        for devices, like e-bikes, unless  up,” said Assemblywoman Pheffer  antee program to include co-ops,
        the battery is certified by a nation-  Amato. Those who violate this  allowing the U.S. Department of   Affairs Subcommittee on Eco-  City about two in three apartment
        ally accredited testing laboratory.  new law will be charged with a  Veteran Affairs (VA) to guarantee   nomic Opportunity.  buildings are co-ops…Co-ops on
        Illegally made or second-hand  penalty between $500-$1,000.  co-op loans taken out by veterans.        “The VA home loan program  average are more affordable in
        batteries have been traced back       Assemblywoman Pheffer  The bill would also direct the VA   has been a transformative ben-  New York than condos or homes.
        to 200 fires in NYC throughout  Amato is also working to set a new  to advertise this co-op program   efit for servicemembers for 80  They offer a realistic way for New
        2022, which resulted in 6 deaths  standard and require e-bikes and  to eligible veterans, participating   years,” Meng said during the  Yorkers to own their place and
        and over 100 injuries.        e-scooters to have license plates,  lenders, and interested realtors.   hearing on Capitol Hill. “But this  build  equity.  Currently,  a  vet-
             “This is a bold step forward in  and force all operators of e-bikes       The legislation comes as Meng   program cannot be fully enjoyed  eran or service member can use
        addressing the problems we face  and e-scooters to have liability  last week testified in support of   by New Yorkers who served in
        with lithium-ion batteries. By  insurance.                 the bill before the House Veteran   our armed forces. In New York   (Continued on page 3)

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