Page 3 - QT Edition #2 01-08-26

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 3

Meeks Condemns Unauthorized Military Action in Venezuela Queens Democratic Party nominates
Diana Moreno For Mamdani’s Seat
Representative Gregory W. the U.S. military to attempt regime entire region. This action is also
Meeks, Ranking Member of the change in a sovereign foreign a violation of international law (Continued from page 1) tion reflects the strength and depth
House Foreign Affairs Commit- nation, without approval from and further undermines America’s of leadership in the 36th Assembly
tee, issued a statement following Congress, without a defined objec- global standing. “Thank you to our local district, By working alongside
the Trump administration’s mili- tive or plan for the day after, and “Congress must reassert its Democratic District Leaders Mayor Mamdani in nominating
tary action in Venezuela: without support from our allies, constitutional role before this es- and Congressmember Gregory Diana Moreno, we are putting
risks entangling the United States calation leads to greater instabil- Meeks for entrusting me with the forward a leader who understands
“Let’s be clear. Nicolas Maduro in an open-ended conflict in Ven- ity, chaos, and unnecessary risk to immense responsibility of suc- the urgency of making New York
is an illegitimate leader. But using ezuela that could destabilize the American lives.” ceeding Mayor Zohran Mamdani more affordable for working fami-
and representing Astoria and Long lies and is ready to deliver results”.
On The 5th Anniversary Of The Jan 6 Insurrection, Liu And Island City in the state legisla- The Feb. 3 special election
Lavine Call For Passage Of Their Legislation Requiring NY ture,” Moreno said in a statement winner will earn the right to hold
welcoming the nomination.
Mamdani’s old Assembly seat
Public Schools To Teach The True History Of The Attack Congress member Meeks said through the rest of the 2026 cal-
On The U.S. Capitol the Queens Democratic Party was endar year. The June Democratic
“putting forward a leader” who primary will decide who will
On the 5th anniversary of the would require schools to include and without prejudice, in order to understands the affordability cri- have the party’s backing for the
January 6, 2021 Capitol Insur- the instruction of the January 6, protect our democracy.” sis facing New York City. Meeks Assembly seat in the 2026 general
rection, State Senator John Liu 2021 insurrection and its after- Assembly Member Charles went on to say, “Today’s nomina- election.
and Assembly Member Charles math alongside existing required Lavine stated, “This bill is
Lavine are calling for the passage coursework in civic education and only necessary due to President Red Cross Supporting Residents
of their legislation to require New other historical events such as Trump’s all-out effort to erase the
York public schools teach students slavery and the Holocaust. January 6th insurrection, which he Impacted By Madison Street Fire
about the true history of that fate- State Senator John Liu stated, personally led, along with many
ful day. “Five years after the Donald other inglorious moments in our Reception center is open for saster care services, such as help
President Trump has character- Trump-led Capitol insurrection, history, from the memory of time. impacted residents at PS239 on replacing medications or medical
ized the insurrection that resulted his administration continues I sincerely hope that Americans Weirfield Street devices, mental health support, re-
in the deaths of multiple people to spin revisionist narratives to of good faith will challenge the covery planning and other needs.
and injuries to multiple Capitol gaslight the American people administration’s attempts to move As fire operations continue ABOUT THE AMERICAN
Police officers as a “day of love” into believing the events of that our nation towards an autocracy on Madison Street in Queens, the RED CROSS IN GREATER
and labeled the rioters as “patri- fateful day were somehow not a by attempting to whitewash parts American Red Cross has opened NEW YORK - The American Red
ots” and “hostages.” On his first violent assault on our democracy. of our history and instead fulfill a reception center at PS 239 in Cross in Greater New York serves
day of office, Trump pardoned In an age when conspiracy theo- our nation’s solemn obligation to coordination with New York City more than 12 million people in
insurrectionists who were charged ries are able to inspire and incite teach our children the truth. With- Emergency Management. Any New York City, on Long Island, in
or convicted for their role in the at- such wanton political violence, it out it, our struggle to establish a residents impacted by this fire Rockland and Westchester coun-
tacks, even those convicted of vio- is more important than ever that more perfect union and ability to who need a safe, warm place to ties, at the U.S. Military Academy
lently assaulting police officers. our schools equip the next genera- remain, as Lincoln put it, ‘earth’s wait for further information about at West Point and in Greenwich,
The legislation, S6123/ A3966, tion with the truth, free from bias, last best hope,’ is in mortal peril.” their home or to receive help start- Conn. We respond to an average
QBP Richards Launches 2026 Queens Community ing their recovery should come to of seven emergencies and disasters
this reception center located at:
a day across the region — home
Board Application Process PS 239Q, 17-15 Weirfield Street, fires, floods, building collapses
Queens, NY 11385.
and more — providing shelter,
Deadline to apply: office’s social media platforms — largest number of new members As of Jan. 6, 9:30am, the Ameri- food, clothing and emotional sup-
Friday, February 13 detailing the work of a community appointed during the Richards can Red Cross has registered 15 port at no cost to those in need. We
board and how one’s membership Administration thus far. households for emergency assis- also collect lifesaving blood; teach
tance, including 6 children and important skills that save lives;
Following a first term defined can bring positive change to a Over the five application cycles
by success in amplifying his- neighborhood. overseen by Borough President 26 adults. and support veterans, military
At the reception center, resi-
torically marginalized voices and “I couldn’t be prouder of the Richards, the significantly larger members and their families. All of
fostering a stronger sense of civic tremendous progress we’ve made and more diverse applicant pools dents have been offered breakfast this work is made possible thanks
and lunch will be provided later to our dedicated volunteers and
engagement across communi- in diversifying our community have led to community board
ties, Queens Borough President boards and giving our neighbors classes that are younger, more today. Additionally, the Red Cross the generosity of the American
is available to ensure that all public. For more information, visit
Donovan Richards Jr. is kicking seats at the table during my first female and have greater percent-
off his second term in office with term. But there is so much more ages of members who identify as residents have a safe place to stay www.redcross.org/gny or follow
while they begin their recovery us (@redcrossny) on Facebook,
the launch of his 2026 Queens work to do to create a local gov- Latinx/Hispanic, African Ameri-
community board membership ernment that is truly by, for and can, South Asian, East Asian/ as well as provide individual di- Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
application process. of the people,” said Borough Pacific Islander, LGBTQIA+,
Beginning today, civic-minded President RICHARDS. “If this immigrants and beyond. Mamdani Administration Announces
individuals who are interested in challenging political climate has Borough President Richards’ City Will Restart 31st Street Redesign
serving on their local community inspired you to get involved in community board appointments
board can submit an application your community and make your are a product of the Queens Bor- In Astoria
to the Borough President’s Office. neighborhood a better place to ough President’s Office’s modern-
The online form — available at bit. call home, I strongly encourage ization of the application process NYC DOT will immediately re- other,” said Mayor Zohran Mam-
ly/communityboard2026 and at you to do so by applying for a in 2021 and sustained outreach start the redesign process through dani. “But when I can, I avoid
www.queensbp.nyc.gov — takes seat on your community board. to potential applicants, particu- fastest path to deliver the critical doing so on 31st Street because it
just a few minutes to complete, Together, we can and will make a larly those from underrepresented safety upgrades isn’t safe for pedestrians, cyclists
making the process easier for difference.” constituencies, every year since. or drivers. Enough is enough. My
prospective applicants while also Over the course of Borough Efforts to simplify the process City’s law department will also Administration is restarting the
allowing for a more diverse ap- President Richards’ first term, his included digitizing the application file a notice of appeal of court 31st Street Redesign because New
plicant pool. administration has worked tire- into an easily-fillable online form ruling barring completion of the Yorkers shouldn’t be forced to go
The application deadline is lessly to generate higher interest that no longer required notariza- project out of their way because our roads
Friday, February 13. This deadline in community board member- tion. are too dangerous.”
applies to both new applicants ship and reverse historic demo- The heightened interest also The Mamdani Administration “31st Street is one of the most
and existing community board graphic inequities around age, stems from Borough President today announced the city will re- dangerous corridors in Queens,
members seeking an additional gender, background and more that Richards’ 2021 announcement start the process to redesign 31st and we must act with urgency to
term. For the upcoming round of have existed for decades across of a series of good-government Street in Astoria, Queens, a criti- make it safer,” said NYC DOT
appointments, the two-year term Queens’ 14 community boards. reforms aimed at establishing a cal street safety project on one of Commissioner Mike Flynn. “We
of service will begin on Wednes- As detailed in the Borough centralized code of conduct for all the borough’s most dangerous cor- have a proven safety-focused
day, April 1. President’s 2025 Community 14 community boards, as well as ridors. Following a court decision design solution, and it will be
Also launching later today, in Board Demographic Report, more a call for a holistic review of each that halted the project on Friday, implemented as quickly as pos-
conjunction with the application, 4,500 applications have been board’s bylaws, making boards December 5, the New York City sible. Since 2020, there have been
is a digital campaign curated by submitted since 2021 — the vast more welcoming places for new Department of Transportation two traffic deaths and 190 injuries
the Borough President’s Office majority of which came from in- members. (NYC DOT) will begin the rede- along this corridor—and that is
highlighting the importance of dividuals who had not previously There are 59 community boards sign process to comply with the unacceptable. We are beginning
community board service and en- served on a community board citywide, including 14 in Queens, court’s decision —the fastest path the mandatory consultations and
couraging Queens residents of all — while last year’s process alone and each hold monthly full mem- to delivering the critical safety will issue the notices needed to
ages, genders, ethnicities, orienta- saw 916 Queens residents submit bership meetings. The boards upgrades in the corridor. The New restart the project, while also fil-
tions and backgrounds to apply. applications. play an important advisory role in York City Law Department will ing a notice of appeal of the court’s
The campaign will include video Of those 916 applicants last considering land use and zoning also file a notice of appeal of the decision.”
interviews with Borough President year, 361 were appointed to a com- matters in their respective dis- court’s ruling. Under city law, there is a le-
Richards and a diverse array of munity board. That includes 119 tricts under the City’s Uniformed “I love being in Astoria. Walk- gally required Major Transporta-
current Queens community board new members who were not pre- ing through it, biking across it,
members — posted weekly on the viously serving on a board — the (Continued on page 4) and driving from one end to the (Continued on page 8)