Page 10 - Queens Times Edition #12

PAGE 10 THE QUEENS TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023

Senator Gillibrand, Representative Meng & NYC School Construction

Advocates Lead Call For Action to Address Authority Breaks Ground . . .

The Underreporting of Hate Crimes (Continued from page 6) worth the wait.”

(Continued from page 3) God willing, we will achieve that on their faith. Hate crimes are a Assembly Member Nily Rozic
dream together.” serious issue plaguing our com- struction Authority. “As a result of said: “The much needed ex-
Reporting System. In alignment “As the leader of an organiza- munities and must be prevented our strong partnerships with the pansions of our existing public
with WHIAANHPI, TAAF urges tion dedicated to supporting im- from the micro to the macro levels. Mayor, City Council and our other schools is vital to the lasting
DOJ to condition federal funding migrant survivors of gender-based While we are grateful for all the local elected leaders, we’re set- success of our students. The ad-
grants on law enforcement par- violence, we wholeheartedly en- resources that have been allocated ting the bar for a strong academic dition of 399 seats, the creation of
ticipation in the collections and dorse and applaud Senator Kirsten towards fighting hate crimes, we foundation and nurturing learning specialty classrooms, a fully ac-
reporting program.” Gillibrand and Representative kindly ask the DOJ to honor this environments for our kids.” cessible building (inside and out)
“We applaud Senator Gillibrand Grace Meng’s efforts to call on the request and provide information Other amenities at the school and improvements to the existing
and Representative Meng for writ- Department of Justice to provide on local LEAs compliance with will include: building will allow students and
ing this letter and bringing light a comprehensive overview of hate NIBRS including agencies that • Art classroom faculty at Rufus King P.S. 26 to
to this critical issue,” said Gideon crime compliance through the remain in noncompliance and • Full kitchen complex continue reaching new heights and
Taylor, Executive Vice President National Incident-Based Report- potential impact of noncompliance • Student dining area ease the existing pressures that the
and CEO of the Jewish Com- ing System,” said Jeehae Fischer, in future Hate Crimes,” said AjiF- • Guidance suite building and school community
munity Relations Council of New Executive Director of the Korean anta Marenah, Advocacy Program • Staff work room were experiencing.”
York. “It is monumentally impor- American Family Service Center. Manager, Muslim Community • Parent/community room Council Member Linda Lee
tant to the Jewish community and “It is crucial that law enforcement Network (MCN). • Bicycle storage said: “Investing in a brighter fu-
all New Yorkers that hate crimes agencies nationwide adopt a uni- Senator Gillibrand’s and • Exercise room ture for our City’s next generation
are reported fairly and correctly fied and transparent approach to Representative Meng’s call for • Outdoor Playground means providing our children with
by the Department of Justice. addressing hate crimes to ensure compliance of law enforcement U.S. Rep. Grace Meng said: all the possible tools for educa-
JCRC-NY stands ready to work the safety and well-being of all agencies with the national sys- “This addition will go a long way tional success inside and outside
with Senator Gillibrand and Rep- communities, including the most tem to report hate crimes is also towards reducing overcrowding by of the classroom. The new addi-
resentative Meng in calling for vulnerable among us. Noncom- supported by Asian American providing much needed new seats tion will provide a much-needed
the Department of Justice to look pliance with reporting standards Federation, Chinese-American for current and future students 399-seat expansion and specialty
into their compliance in reporting undermines the integrity of data Planning Council, CACF - Coali- of P.S. 26. Its new and modern rooms to uplift the experiences
hate crimes.” collection and obscures the true tion for Asian American Chil- classrooms and many amenities of students attending both P.S.
“Drag Out The Vote is encour- extent of hate crimes in our nation. dren and Families, The Korean will provide an improved learning 26 and P 224Q. In addition, this
aged that Senator Gillibrand, Con- Accurate and consistent reporting American Family Service Center, environment for children, and I’m project also provides the com-
gresswoman Meng, and members is vital in informing policy deci- OCA Asian Pacific American thrilled to congratulate the entire munity with a new playground
of Congress are speaking out in sions, allocating resources, and Advocates New York Chapter, P.S. 26 community. Our students for our students to enjoy between
light of increasingly violent anti- fostering a culture of account- The Asian American Foundation, are our future. We must make the hitting the books. Thank you to
LGBTQIA+ rhetoric,” said Chris ability. Only then can we work Garden of Hope, Hispanic Federa- investments they need to ensure the School Construction Author-
Diaz, Executive Director of Drag collectively towards eradicating tion, Rainbow Access Initiative, success and a bright future. I look ity for prioritizing the well-being
Out The Vote. “The culture wars hate, prejudice, and violence in Inc., Equality New York, Drag forward to the project’s comple- of our children, as we continue
have never ended even though the all its forms.” Out The Vote, Muslim Commu- tion.” to fulfill the vision of advancing
majority of Americans are pro- “MCN thanks Senator Kirsten nity Network, UJA-Federation of Borough President Donovan the educational infrastructure of
LGBTQIA+, are supportive of our Gillibrand, Congresswoman New York, New York Immigration Richards said: “There should be our schools and communities in
trans siblings, and believe in tack- Grace Meng and all MOC that Coalition, Translatinx Network, no higher priority for us as a city Eastern Queens.”
ling social inequality. We need have drafted and signed this let- Albany Damien Center, Asian than ensuring our children receive The SCA’s 2020-2024 Capital
our elected officials to continue ter. In July 2022, MCN published American Business Development the highest-quality education pos- Program includes more than $2
to speak out like this and further- a hate crime report that surveyed Center, Jewish Federations of sible right in their own communi- billion in funding for 32 buildings
more we need Attorney General Muslim New Yorkers on their North America, Muslim Ameri- ties. This expansion and improve- adding 18,735 seats in Queens.
Garland and Attorneys General experience with hate crimes. We can Society of New York, The ment project at P.S. 26 will help In District 26, the SCA is adding
across the country to combat the found that 76% of Muslim New Ali Forney Center, The Sikh us realize that mission, while also more than 2,300 seats including
rising tide of hate crimes and Yorkers we surveyed witnessed a Coalition, and Jewish Community adding 399 much-needed seats to a 435-seat addition at P.S. 46 that
violence aimed at the LGBTQIA+ hate crime and 46% were victims Relations Council of New York. our borough’s school system. I am will open later this year and a
and other minority and underrep- of a hate crime. It was equally Senator Gillibrand has been a excited for what the future holds 473-seat addition at P.S. 41 that
resented communities.” devastating to hear from com- longtime advocate of legislation for the students who will benefit is slated for completion in 2024.
“The Muslim American So- munity members that majority that addresses hate-crimes, hav- from this project, and I look for- A $59.9 million contract was
ciety of NY is honored to stand of times their experiences have ing been an original co-sponsor ward to the ribbon cutting.” awarded to Navillus Tile Inc.
shoulder-to-shoulder with the been minimized by LEAs and not of the Matthew Shepard and James State Senator John Liu said: for the new addition, which was
diverse array of community lead- reported. Hate crimes are a serious Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Preven- “This expansion at the Rufus King designed through a collaboration
ers to support the impactful efforts threat to faith based and minor- tion Act and the COVID-19 Hate School will finally bring the build- with the SCA and DiDomenico &
of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and ity communities and must be Crimes Act. Senator Gillibrand ing into ADA compliance, add Partners, LLP.
US Representative Grace Meng adequately reported by LEAs for also proudly cosponsored the 399 seats of desperately needed As part of the SCA’s Public
to combat hate crimes across the the right preventative measures to Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, instructional space, and improve Art for Public Schools program,
U.S.,” said Taher Abdelhadi, Ex- be taken. Since 9/11 Muslims have which created grants for state and the existing playground. As with artist Daru Jung Hyang Kim has
ecutive Director, Muslim Ameri- been wrongfully associated with local governments to implement all construction, there have been been commissioned to create site-
can Society of New York. “We terrorism and targeted with verbal the NIBRS. Senator Gillibrand temporary inconveniences for specific artwork inside the lobby
must remain resolute until people abuse, harassment, threats, physi- has also successfully pushed to the community, but the enhanced of the new addition. For additional
of all ethnicities and faiths can cal assault, and vandalism. More include funding for the Nonprofit school facility and forthcoming information on the New York City
live amongst each other in safety alarming, both MCN and other Security Grant Program, which improved amenities for the be- School Authority, please visit
and tranquility, forming inclusive national surveys, found that half supports religious and commu- loved Farm Playground will be www.nycsca.org
communities for the millions of of school age Muslim youth have nity-based organizations most at
families that call this land home. been bullied and harassed based risk of terror and hate attacks. Assemblywoman Nily Rozic Appointed
to The New York State Assembly’s
CM Linda Lee Hosts Neighborhood Forum ... Budget Committee For Education

(Continued from page 9) Beyond Barriers, a nonprofit dedi- Wiesenthal Center is an accredited (Continued from page 9) total of $14.3 million, an increase
of $5 million over last year.
cated to countering violent extrem- Non-Governmental Organization $280 million in funding to make Rozic added, “A budget is a
across law enforcement agencies ism and helping others change (NGO) by the United Nations, school meals free for all students statement of values that shows
throughout the nation. The infor- their lives. UNESCO, the OSCE, the Orga- in the state, as well as $2 million support for students by investing
mation was sorted by demographic The forum was then nization of American States, the to expand the Specialized High in their education and expand-
according to data collected by the concluded with a Q&A between Latin American Parliament, and School Test Preparation program ing access to test preparation
Federal Bureau of Investigation. the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Council of Europe. Headquar- to sixth graders in New York City. and resources. I look forward to
Following the directors, Jeff the community in attendance. The tered in Los Angeles it has offices Also included in the plan is an continuing the work ahead as we
Schoep, a consultant for the Simon Simon Wiesenthal Center recently in New York, Chicago, Miami, increase of $6.5 million in funding approach the April 1st state budget
Wiesenthal Center, shared his story released their 2023 Digital Terror- Toronto, Paris, Jerusalem, and for Adult Literacy Education for a deadline.”
about his entry and exit from the ism and Hate Report Card<https:// Buenos Aires. Moriah Films is
life of extremism, and the ways www.digitalhate.net/index.php> the two-time Academy Award®-
he is working to combat bigotry The Simon Wiesenthal Center winning film division of the Simon
and hate across the country. Jeff (SWC) is a leading international Wiesenthal Center. The Museum of
Schoep was the former leader of Jewish human rights organization Tolerance Los Angeles, founded in
the National Socialist Movement founded in 1977 by Rabbi Mar- 1993, is the educational arm of the
which was once the largest and vin Hier. With 400,000 member Simon Wiesenthal Center and the
most active Neo-Nazi group in families, the SWC confronts anti- Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem is
the United States. He now leads Semitism, hate, and terrorism. The scheduled to open in 2023.