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THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 3

Meng Encourages Local High School Students To Enter Democrats’ Investments in Their

Congressional Art Contest Multiracial Coalition Are

Winning student to have artwork and maybe even the President. In be two-dimensional and no larger Already Paying Off
displayed in U.S. Capitol addition, all of the winners will than 26 inches high, 26 inches (Continued from page 2) and make history by electing Rep.
be invited to a special reception wide and 4 inches deep. Accept- Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) as the
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D- on Capitol Hill that highlights the ed mediums include paintings, they need to thrive and live safely, first Black Speaker of the House
Queens) today encouraged local work of these young artists. drawings, collages, prints, mixed and Republicans who vote to rip of Representatives so we can get
high school students to enter her The winner of Meng’s com- media, computer-generated art away women’s reproductive free- back to work delivering for all
annual congressional district art petition, as well as second and and photographs. They must not dom, cut services for veterans, Americans.
contest, a competition where teens third place runners-up, will be violate U.S. copyright laws. defund law enforcement and gut Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y)
compete to have their artwork dis- announced this spring during Submissions should be dropped manufacturing jobs. is chair of ASPIRE PAC. Rep.
played in the U.S. Capitol. a reception in Queens that the off at Meng’s Northeast Queens Our efforts in New York’s spe- Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) is chair
Meng’s contest, which consists Congresswoman will host for office at 40-13 159th Street in cial election show us that through of the Congressional Black Cau-
of entries from students in her students and their families, art Flushing. The deadline to submit our historic outreach to com- cus PAC. Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-
congressional district in Queens, teachers, principals and school entries is Monday, May 6. Those munities of color, we can restore Calif.), is chair of the Congressio-
is part of “An Artistic Discovery,” administrators. with questions can contact Meng’s normalcy to the People’s House nal Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC.
the national art contest held each “Every year, I get so excited office at 718-358-MENG. The
year by the House of Representa- for my annual art contest,” said contest is open to all high school Hochul Declares Victory With
tives showcasing the artwork of all Meng. “I love seeing the wonder- students residing or attending
congressional district art contest ful artwork entered by students school in New York’s Sixth Con- $237B New York Spending Plan
winners from across the nation. and having the winning piece in gressional District.
The winning artwork from the national spotlight when it’s The Artistic Discovery contest (Continued from page 1) measures that would have allowed
Meng’s competition – along with displayed in the U.S. Capitol. I was launched in 1982 for Mem- the state to override local zoning
the winning pieces from art con- can’t wait to see this year’s sub- bers of Congress to showcase And despite Hochul’s declara- in order to expand housing. Subur-
tests in Congressional districts missions and to congratulate all the artistic work of high school tion that she had the “parameters ban lawmakers in pivotal counties
throughout the United States – our great young artists. I wish the students from around the nation. of a conceptual agreement” with around New York City, including
will be displayed for one year in best of luck to everybody entering Since it began, hundreds of thou- lawmakers on the budget, there those on Long Island, objected to
the halls of the U.S. Capitol for all the competition.” sands of high school students from was still work to be done. the proposal.
to see, including visitors to Capitol The judges will consist of throughout the United States have Democratic lawmakers were This year, Hochul resolved to
Hill, House Members, Senators outside individuals. Entries must participated in the competition. still discussing the final details include “more carrots” — namely
of the budget, including a conten- hundreds of millions of dollars
Senator Liu Announces Agreement To Extend Mayoral tious last-minute push to extend for local governments that affir-
Control Includes Commitment To Reduce Class Sizes, Mayor Eric Adams’ control of matively opt in for more housing
public schools.
construction.
Maintain School Funding The last-minute inclusion of the Hochul secured a housing pack-
issue could prolong final passage age that includes $650 million for
NYS Senator John Liu, Chair- education and reduce class sizes. mayor may choose. of the budget, which is now more local governments to construct
person of the Senate Committee “To avoid more unnecessary “Principles of good gover- than two weeks past its April 1 more homes and new tax incen-
on NYC Education, stated the school budget reductions as we’ve nance dictate that control of NYC due date. tives for developers to build in
following about today’s agreement seen in recent years, this exten- schools not be based on the actions “It’s an important and com- New York City. The agreement
to extend mayoral control of NYC sion also enshrines the principle of any one particular mayor, which plicated issue,” state Sen. Mike came over the objections of left-
public schools by two years with of maintenance of effort, which is why we will revisit the issue of Gianaris said. “The members cor- leaning tenant advocates as well
accountability measures for reduc- states that the city must use state mayoral control in another two rectly want to know what’s being as some Democratic lawmakers
ing class sizes, maintaining school funding to supplement, not sup- years. Moving forward, we will proposed.” who wanted stronger protections
funding and adding more voices plant its own education funding. continue dissecting the recent New York will boost funding by for renters.
to the Panel for Education Policy. Of note, this year’s budget builds State Education Department re- $500 million to provide housing, “We could have settled for a
State Senator John Liu stated, on last year’s historic fully funded port on mayoral control and en- health care, legal and job place- watered-down plan and a hollow
“For the next two years, New Foundation Aid investment, in- gage with all stakeholders on how ment services for migrants, bring- victory,” she said. “But I refused
Yorkers can expect mayoral ac- creasing school funding by an ad- to best achieve long-term success ing total spending to $2.4 billion. to accept anything that didn’t
countability to include a funded ditional $934 million, the highest for NYC public schools. The money is less than the $6 meaningfully address the housing
and actionable plan to reduce class in state history. “Thank you to my colleagues in billion being sought by Adams, supply.”
sizes. This two year extension “Finally, to add more voices the legislature, the Adams admin- whose city has seen 184,000 Still, Republicans and some
grants the mayor the accountabil- to the Panel for Education Policy, istration, the Governor, and all the migrants arrive over the last two Democrats were not enamored
ity he’s been asking for, and we this agreement adds an indepen- students, parents, educators, and years. with the details of the pending
are pleased to note our agreement dent chair, increasing the number advocates who have weighed in on Still, Adams embraced the ten- housing agreement.
includes a significant commitment of members from 23 to 24. The the state of our school governance tative budget plan as “a win for New York GOP Chair Ed Cox
to expanding the NYC capital plan Senate, Assembly and Board of system, and offered insights as to New Yorkers” — pointing to the said the tenant regulations “will
by $2 billion in order to provide Regents will submit three nomina- how to ensure it works for the best additional migrant aid, the hous- only make the situation worse”
our school kids a sound, basic tions for the chair from which the interests of our school kids.” ing package and the potential of for housing choices. Democratic
mayoral control being extended state Sen. Julia Salazar added the
Legislators Announce Language Defining Squatter In State for up to two years as part of the housing plan is “really a missed
spending plan.
opportunity to provide very basic
Housing Law Included In FY25 State Budget “We’ve been clear that we protections against no-fault evic-
need additional support from our tions and unreasonably high rent
State Senator John Liu, As- those who unlawfully intrude or unlawfully resides in a property partners in Albany to fully realize increases for tenants even in New
sembly Member Ron Kim and take over property. It establishes owner’s home will be more easily those goals and today we celebrate York City.”
Queens legislators today an- that squatters are not tenants and removed. I want to thank col- as most of our key asks were Hochul was also willing to buck
nounced that the final FY2025 therefore not subject to tenant leagues in the legislature for mov- granted by our state partners,” her party to win an agreement for
state budget includes language rights or protections after 30 days. ing expeditiously on this new law.” Adams said in a statement. stronger public safety measures
that defines squatter in state State Senator John Liu stated, State Assembly Member Ed The final details for the state’s as public polling has shown per-
housing law. The language “It was important that we acted Braunstein stated, “New York costly Medicaid program, too, sistent voter anxiety over crime,
was derived from legislation with urgency to send a strong State homeowners have been put were yet to be fully ironed out. and the issue has loomed large in
introduced by Senator Liu and message to squatters who take on edge by the recent reports of And Hochul did not get every- recent elections.
Assembly Member Ron Kim, over private homes that they are people returning to their proper- thing laid out earlier this year. A New York is set to add more
S8996/ A9772, following recent not welcome in our community. ties and finding squatters, only to proposal to regulate social media than 20 additional criminal charg-
reports of squatters who take Scam artists who intrude on oth- discover that the squatters cannot firms by blocking children from es that can be considered hate
over private property. ers’ homes should not have rights be removed without a lengthy being exposed to algorithmic- crimes.
The definition updates New as tenants in state housing law, and costly eviction proceeding. based feeds was rejected. And the state is poised to crack
York State real property law and this inclusion in the budget Trespassing individuals in these Nevertheless, the broad strokes down on retail theft: Hochul suc-
to read that “a tenant shall not codifies that in simple, straightfor- situations are abusing a law meant deals announced by Hochul on cessfully pushed for increasing
include a squatter,” and further ward language. Defining squatter to protect lawful tenants and they Monday was not an easy one to criminal charges for people who
define squatter as “a person is an important step forward, absolutely should not be afforded achieve. assault retail workers by classify-
who enters or intrudes upon real and we will continue examining the same rights and protections. It took Hochul two years to get ing it as a felony. An additional
property without the permission even stronger measures to protect I was proud to co-sponsor this a housing package in place — a agreement will allow prosecutors
of the person entitled to posses- homeowners without inadver- bill, which sought to close this concern she said was part of a to combine the value of stolen
sion, and continues to occupy tently putting renters at risk.” loophole and protect New York broader “affordability crisis” that goods across multiple retailers
the property without title, right State Assembly Member Ron homeowners from these unlawful has led to a spike in out-migration and increase charges — a process
or permission of the owner or Kim stated, “Our state needed opportunists. I am pleased that from the state. known as aggregation.
owner’s agent or a person en- stronger protections for law abid- this clarifying language was in- A prior housing package fell The budget will include $40
titled to possession.” ing property owners who are cluded in this year’s state budget.” apart following acrimonious nego- million for law enforcement agen-
Including this definition being victimized by squatters. State Assembly Member Nily tiations between the governor and cies to crackdown on retail theft
in real property law will help Our new law defines these terms Legislature last year. as well as enable the hiring of 100
distinguish legal renters from more precisely. Any occupant who (Continued on page 4) At the time, Hochul had sought state troopers.