Page 1 - QT Edition #5 01-29-26

TI MES

QUEENS

Published for the Borough of Queens

VOLUME 31, NO. 5 THURSDAY JANUARY 29, 2026 25 CENTS

Governor Hochul Unveils Highlights of The
Uber Needs To Explain What It
Is Doing To Protect Riders From Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget:
Sexual Assault A Stronger, Safer, More Affordable New York

Rideshare Company Faces Wave of Sexual
Assault Allegations and Lawsuits
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli has
filed a shareholder proposal, on behalf of The New York
State Common Retirement Fund*, that calls on Uber to
publish a report explaining how it is addressing incidents
of riders being sexually harassed and assaulted.
“For Uber to succeed, its users need to feel safe and not
have a shred of doubt about using the service,” DiNapoli
said. “The company should increase transparency about
what it’s doing to protect riders from these horrifying
incidents. Being open about the steps it’s taking is key to
restoring customers’ trust and protecting the company’s
reputation and value.”
As DiNapoli’s shareholder proposal details, published
reports have revealed that Uber received a report of sexual
assault or misconduct in the U.S. nearly every eight minutes
from 2017 to 2022, or more than 400,000 reported incidents.
The unprecedented wave of reported incidents has led
to thousands of individual cases in state and federal courts
alleging Uber did not have safety measures to protect riders
against sexual misconduct. It has also spurred investigations
by the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information
Technology and Government Innovation and the Attorney Governor Kathy Hochul has laid nomic growth, while preparing and infrastructure without asking
General of New Jersey. out her plans for a stronger, safer, for uncertainty from Washington, New Yorkers to pay more. The
(Continued on page 2) * The state’s pension fund holds shares in Uber with an more affordable New York as she the Governor’s budget funds a Governor’s fiscally responsible
approximate value of $240 million. unveiled the Executive Budget for path to universal child care and budget includes $14.6 billion in
Fiscal Year 2027. Built to protect makes historic investments in
taxpayers and New York’s eco- health care, affordable housing (Continued on page 2)
NYS Comptroller DiNapoli Meets With
Members of IAAC, IAM & I AM PAC

For Gov. Hochul’s State of the State Pheffer Amato Enacts Mandatory Tax
Exemption For 100% Disabled Veterans

New York State Assemblywom-
an Stacey Pheffer Amato secured
the passage of an amendment to
her pro-Veterans legislation to en-
sure certain Veterans got a 100%
property tax deduction. Pheffer
Amato, who has a record of being
one of the strongest supporters of
Veterans in the State Legislature,
had her original bill (A.74, 2025)
signed into law at the end of 2025
which created a new property tax
exemption for 100% disabled Vet-
erans. The legislation, which has
been considered the top priority of
nearly every NYS-based Veterans
group for years, was noted as a
NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli meets with members major success for the Assembly-
of the Italian American Action Committee (IAAC); the woman. During the final weeks
Italian American PAC (I AM PAC); and the Italian American of the 2025, the Assemblywoman
Museum (IAM), (IAAC and I AM PAC are Queens based and Governor Hochul spoke about
organizations and IAM in located in Little Italy NYC). With the potential to amend the bill, A.9448, instead of allowing locali- Pheffer Amato agreed to remove
Comptroller DiNapoli, behind the IAAC Banner, (l to r) is also known as a Chapter Amend- ties to choose to opt-into enacting the “red tape” and mandate the
IAM Pres. and founder Dr. Joseph Scelsa; IAAC President ment, in order to ease the process property tax exemptions for 100% exemption in all localities. This
Robert (Bob) Fonti; NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli; Laura for those who will benefit. disabled Veterans, Governor
and Anthony Maretta, I AM PAC members; and Marc Talluto. According to the new bill, Hochul and Assemblywoman (Continued on page 3)
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