Page 1 - QT Edition #2 01-08-26

TI MES

QUEENS

Published for the Borough of Queens

VOLUME 31, NO. 2 THURSDAY JANUARY 8, 2026 25 CENTS

Meng Joins Queens Author at Flushing Library
State Health Department
Oversight Of Lead Service Line For Read Aloud With Local Children
Replacement Program Needs
Improvement

An audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P.
DiNapoli found a lack of sufficient controls and guidance
from the Department of Health (DOH) for a state program
intended to help municipalities replace lead drinking water
service lines. The audit found millions of dollars in state
funds left unused or spent on administrative costs rather than
replacing lead lines and found that some communities with
children with higher blood lead levels were not prioritized.
“Lead in drinking water poses a serious threat to public
health, and can especially harm children, who are at greatest
risk because their bodies and brains are still developing,”
DiNapoli said. “New York state has worked to address this
hazard by targeting funding towards finding and replacing
lead water service lines, but my auditors found the Depart-
ment of Health could improve its oversight. Although the
cost to replace lead service lines in the state far exceeds
available funding, better guidance could help ensure any
additional funds allocated for this purpose will be more ef-
fectively deployed.”
Residential service pipes that contain lead can corrode,
causing lead to leach into drinking water. According to
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s most recently
published Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and
Assessment, New York has the sixth highest number of lead
Rep. Grace Meng recently joined Queens author Crystal Velasquez in reading to children
(Continued on page 2) during a public read aloud at the Queens Public Library in Flushing. See story on page 2.

Governor Kathy Hochul Announces
Nation-Leading Proposals To Protect Queens Democratic Party nominates
Kids Online, Restrict Ai Chatbots And Diana Moreno For Mamdani’s Seat AD36
Combat The Youth Mental Health Crisis
The Queens Democratic Party
kind, statewide expansion of Teen has formally nominated Diana
Mental Health First Aid training, Moreno as the Democratic party’s
designed to give young people the nominee in a special election to
tools to identify, understand, and succeed Mayor Zohran Mamdani
effectively respond to signs of in the 36th Assembly District next
mental health and substance abuse February’s special election.
challenges among their friends Diana Moreno, will now appear
and peers. These proposals build on the Democratic Party line for
on Governor Hochul’s nation- the special election, which Gov.
leading work to ban smartphones Kathy Hochul has set for Feb. 3.
in schools, enact social media She will be one of four candidates
warning labels, restrict addic- running to replace Mamdani in
tive feeds, and create safeguards AD36.
against harmful AI companions. Moreno, the clear frontrunner,
Governor Kathy Hochul un- Governor Hochul’s focus on youth is an Ecuadorian-born organizer
veiled her first State of the State mental health also led to the cre- and a member of the New York
proposals, which will continue to ation of more school-based mental City chapter of the Democratic Diana Moreno secured the Queens Democratic Party’s
build on her progress to keep New health clinics, community-based Socialists of America (DSA). She nomination in the February 3 special election for Mamdani’s
York’s kids safe online and com- treatment options, and peer-based is one of three DSA members seat. Photo via Kara McCurdy/Moreno Campaign.
bat the youth mental health crisis supports for youth and adults. running for Mamdani’s seat to
statewide. The new legislation will “As New York’s first mom succeed the mayor in New York’s Party. the party’s nominee for Febru-
help protect children from online Governor, the well-being and 36th Assembly District. Since Monday morning the Demo- ary’s special election. Moreno
predators, scammers and harmful safety of our children has always launching her campaign in Oc- cratic District Leaders for AD 36 said, “this is an honor of a lifetime
AI chatbots integrated on online been one of my top priorities, and tober, she has also been endorsed met with Queens County Demo- for me.”
platforms. Additionally, the Gov- by the DSA, Mamdani himself cratic Party Chair Gregory Meeks
ernor is proposing a first-of-its- (Continued on page 4) and now the Queens Democratic to officially designate Mereno as (Continued on page 3)

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