Page 3 - QT Edition #5 01-29-26

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2026 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 3

Governor Hochul Unveils Highlights of The Senator John Liu To Kick Off Lunar
Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget: New Year In Flushing With Year Of

A Stronger, Safer, More Affordable New York The Horse Celebration
State Senator John C. Liu takes an important step forward
(Continued from page 2) funding to directly support our SUNY Stony Brook has announced his annual Lunar to survey how Asian American
farmers • $60 million to establish four New Year Celebration will com- history is being taught in our
• $35 million for Securing Com- Let Them Build. . .Better additional Quantum Technology memorate the Year of the Horse schools, celebrations like this are
munities Against Hate Crimes Transportation Commercialization Hubs across at Flushing High School on Feb- an important reminder of why
(SCAHC) program to protect The FY 2027 Budget includes the state, which will be regional ruary 8. The Year of the Horse is sharing our culture and passing on
houses of worship and other vul- investments to safeguard our anchors for quantum innovation an auspicious time in the Lunar our stories is so important. All are
nerable locations streets, improve commutes, and and high-tech start-ups New Year calendar, symbolizing invited to join us and kick off the
• $77 million to continue the strengthen New York’s communi- • $65 million for the Bolstering energy, strength, and passion. new year with a celebration that
partnership with New York Police ties by investing in infrastructure. Biotech Initiative to make New Hundreds are expected to attend honors one of our community’s
Department (NYPD) to increase The Governor’s budget includes: York the epicenter of life sciences this event at the historic Flushing most important holidays.”
police presence on subway plat- • $8.6 billion in total operating innovation High School auditorium for free WHEN: Sunday, February 8, 2026
forms and trains aid for the Metropolitan Transpor- • $10 million for the Saving food from local restaurants, live from 3 to 5 p.m.
• $25 million to increase support tation Authority (MTA) Performing Arts and Cultural Ex- music, dances, and cultural per- WHERE: Flushing High School
for Subway Co-Response Out- • $50 million in funding to de- periences (NY SPACE) program formances. Incidentally, John was auditorium, 35-01 Union Street,
reach Teams (SCOUT) to engage sign a reimagined Jamaica Station which will provide grants to help born in the year of the horse and Flushing, NY 11354
individuals in crisis and connect for subway, LIRR, and AirTrain nonprofit performing arts organi- therefore will be celebrating his WHO: State Senator John Liu,
them to care, treatment, or shelter riders zations acquire venues “36th” birthday later in the year. NYC Public Schools Chancellor
• $150 million in additional • $25 million to begin prelimi- • $100 million for grants ad- The celebration is co-hosted by Kamar H. Samuels, REACH Co-
capital funding to complete the nary engineering and design to ministered by the New York State the REACH Coalition: Represent- alition, Queens District Attorney
construction of a Statewide Emer- extend the Second Avenue subway Council on the Arts ing and Empowering AANHPI Melinda Katz, Congress Member
gency Operations Center tunnel westward across 125th St • $300 million in funding to Community History. This year’s Grace Meng, State Assembly
• $6.7 million to support up- to Broadway support economic development Lunar New Year celebration Member Ron Kim, State As-
grades to forensic laboratories • $1 billion in operating aid for and revitalization projects in the comes as New York State recently sembly Member Grace Lee, City
across the state to solve crimes Non-MTA Public Transit Systems City of Rochester and Monroe took an important step forward Council Member Sandra Ung
more efficiently • $6 billion for the fifth year and County, including $75 million for in recognizing Asian American, W I T H PER FOR M A NCES
• $2 million to investigate and final year of a record $34.4 billion the creation of a new High Falls Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander FROM:
build criminal cases against auto DOT Capital Plan which includes: State Park in Rochester (AANHPI) history in public edu- PS 203 Lion Dance Troupe, Ko-
insurance scammers and fraud- • $1.4 billion for local roads and • $6 million for NY Kicks which cation through the passage of the rean Fever, Inc., Kinding Sindaw
sters bridges aims to continue the momentum AANHPI Equity Act, which will Melayu Heritage of the Philip-
• $5.3 million in funding to es- • $648 million for the Consoli- from the FIFA World Cup 2026 survey how this history is being pines, Ashley Dance Center &
tablish a new Urban Search and dated Local Street and Highway soccer tournament by building taught throughout NY classrooms, Ashley Liang Dance Company,
Rescue capability Improvement Program (CHIPS) lasting infrastructure for outdoor and how it is not. Inc., Youth Orchestra, CYCNY,
A Cleaner, Greener Future New • $140 million for the State Tour- youth recreation and funding State Senator John Liu stated, Earlssu (Korean traditional instru-
Yorkers Can Afford ing Routes Program programming, equipment, and “Lunar New Year is a joyous ment group)
Since taking office, Governor • $100 million for the Pave Our training to maximize use of these time of year when we gather with WITH FOOD PROVIDED BY:
Hochul has invested almost $10 Potholes Program new facilities family, friends, and neighbors to Shanghai You Garden, aT Ameri-
billion in energy affordability Investing in Transformative Feeding New York celebrate and share our culture, ca, Korean Cuisine Globalization
initiatives and to fight climate Economic Development When Washington Republicans traditions, and history. The Year Committee, Kyuramen, Coco
change. The Governor’s budget Under Governor Kathy Ho- slashed health and food ben- of the Horse is an exciting sym- Bubble Tea, Bell Garden, Qing
builds on those efforts by invest- chul’s leadership, New York is efits last year, Governor Hochul bol in the calendar, signifying Dao Restaurant, Ruo Ruo Yang,
ing: not just recovering, it’s rising. stepped up to ensure no New energy, strength, and forward additional restaurants to be con-
• $3.75 billion five-year com- The Governor’s Budget will make Yorker would go hungry. In ad- momentum. As New York State firmed
mitment to enhancing clean water investments in key industries dition to the $65 million in emer-
infrastructure to support New York’s workers, gency food assistance provided in Pheffer Amato Enacts Mandatory Tax
• $425 million for the Environ- bolster businesses and build on November 2025, the Governor’s
mental Protection Fund this economic growth including: budget aims to bolster food access Exemption For 100% Disabled Veterans
• $200 million for on-going parks • $400 million for the NY Works by including:
capital projects Economic Development Fund • $66 million for the Hunger Pre- (Continued from page 1) we are easing the financial burden
• $50 million for EmPower+ • $100million for a second round vention and Nutrition Assistance on our heroes by removing all
Program which helps homeowners of the Promote Opportunity with Program (HPNAP) to expand change clarifies that a Veteran property taxes and making it clear
save money on energy efficiency Electric Readiness for Underde- funding to the State’s network of who is declared 100% disabled that in New York we take care of
upgrades to their homes veloped Properties (POWER UP) regional food banks and emer- (via criteria and standards imple- our Veterans - because they took
• $33 million for the new Excel- Fund to create power-ready sites gency food providers mented by the U.S. Department of care of us!”
sior Power Program for advanced manufacturing • $55 million for the Nourish Veteran Affairs) must be provided “For Veterans living with the
• $20 million for upgrades to • $200 million for the Downtown NY Program a full property tax exemption by most serious service-connected
Denny Farrell Riverbank State Revitalization Initiative and NY • $10 million to combat food the locality. It further states that disabilities, their home is where
Park Forward insecurity through NY PLATES, a this property tax exemption shall stability begins,” said New York
• $75 million for the Building • $150 million for another round new capital grant program for food not discontinue any other benefits City Department of Veterans’ Ser-
Recreational Infrastructure for of the Regional Economic Devel- pantries, food banks, and other a Veteran is already receiving. vices Commissioner James Hen-
Communities, Kids and Seniors opment Council (REDC) program hunger prevention organizations “I applaud the Governor for don. “This bill ensures that once a
(NY BRICKS) capital grant pro- • $25 million to establish a • Upgrading New York’s EBT being proactive and giving our Veteran qualifies for this property
gram to support municipalities new Semiconductor Chip Design cards to secure chip-based tech- Veterans this benefit now by cut- tax exemption, it is applied fully
and nonprofit organizations in Center that links the downstate nology that makes cards virtually ting the red tape,” said Assembly- and without disruption—so Vet-
developing community centers knowledge economy to upstate impervious to mass skimming of woman Pheffer Amato. “Our goal erans can count on it, and their
that promote physical health, manufacturing Supplemental Nutrition Assis- was to openly thank the men and homes remain protected.”
mental well-being, and commu- • $10 million to launch the tance Program (SNAP) benefits, women who served our nation, and The bill is set to go into effect
nity connections for youth and Governor’s Manufacturing Mod- which will protect New Yorkers in the course of their duty obtained October 2026. It was carried in
older adults. ernization Program to support from this predatory behavior a 100% service-connected dis- the State Senate by Senator Joe
• $7 million for projects celebrat- the state’s small and mid-sized while the federal administration ability. Through this amendment Addabbo.
ing the 250th anniversary of the manufacturers tries to strip SNAP benefits from
American Revolution • $50 million for the County as many New Yorkers as possible Statement From Governor Hochul
• $15 million for dairy industry Infrastructure Grant Program and turns a blind eye to criminals
modernization grants • $100 million for the Quantum taking food from vulnerable “When Amtrak proposed to cannot suffer disproportionately
• $30 million for tariff relief Research and Innovation Hub at families significantly reduce Empire Ser- for regional construction projects
vice trips for several years to ac- and am glad Amtrak has heeded
QEDC + AT&T Provide Computers to Local Students With commodate the East River Tunnel my call and committed to running
Support From Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. + project, I demanded better. That’s full service for the duration of
why today, I’m proud to announce the project and beyond. We will
Queens Public Library that Amtrak will be restoring all soon be able to offer more Empire
suspended or combined Empire Service capacity than existed even
One hundred Queens youths Public Library representatives Ozone Park, and South Richmond Service trains between New York before the tunnel work began last
will each receive a free laptop will be on hand to provide tutorials Hill. Penn Station and Albany-Rens- spring and run full service far
computer at the New York Hall of on how to use these laptops. The giveaway will take place selaer beginning in early March. earlier than anticipated, which are
Science on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 10 The students who will get the during the fourth annual Queens Nearly three million New York- big wins for riders.
am, thanks to a collaboration be- computers attend schools in Com- Tech & Career Expo 2026 at the ers rely on this state-supported At the same time, I have felt
tween the Queens Economic De- munity School District 28, which Corona science museum. More train to travel between New York the enthusiasm that met our an-
velopment Corporation, Borough encompasses Briarwood, Forest than 50 career and technology City, the Hudson Valley, and the nouncement to run Metro-North’s
President Donovan Richards Jr.’s Hills, Jamaica, Kew Gardens, Capital Region each year. I have
Office, and AT&T. Plus, Queens Rego Park, Richmond Hill, South (Continued on page 10) been clear that our commuters (Continued on page 9)