Page 7 - QT Edition #5 01-29-26

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2026 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 7

Charles B. Wang Community Health Center Hosts A Will You Be Their Valentine?
Free Community Baby Shower for Expecting Parents Assemblyman Braunstein Sponsors
And Announces Funding “Valentines For Vets” Gift Drive

The Charles B. Wang Com-
munity Health Center (CBWCHC)
is hosting a free baby shower for
all pregnant community members
and their families. The event will
be held on Saturday, January 31,
2026 10:00am–4:00pm at their
newest Flushing location 131-72
40th Road, 5th Floor (at the corner
of College Point Blvd. and 40th
Road). This event was made pos-
sible with a grant awarded by NYS
Assemblymember Nily Rozic
which is being used to empower
and equip mothers and other
caregivers with the information Braunstein Veterans Cardozo Students at State facility
and skills they need to promote Assemblyman Edward C. puzzles. I thank you in advance for
the health and well-being of their Braunstein (D-Bayside) is happy to your generosity.”
children. The Community Baby maternal health and family well- get your breastfeeding questions announce his office’s “Valentines Those who would like to drop
Shower event is free, open to the being.” The funding will also be answered, and celebrate with ex- for Vets” gift drive, where Queens off donations should bring them to
public, and will be hosted in Eng- supporting other bilingual health citing free activities, giveaways, residents are invited to donate new Assemblyman Braunstein’s office,
lish and Mandarin. Walk-ins are education events and media cam- and prizes. clothing, candy, cards, and other which is located at 213-33 39th
welcome or call (212) 966-0461 paign, and the facilitation of a If you’re looking to receive items to be given to local veterans. Avenue, Suite 238, in Bayside, no
for more information. caregivers skills training program prenatal care, prepare for breast- The deadline to make donations is later than February 6th. Items will
“I am proud to once again for caregivers to develop skills feeding, or choose the right pedia- Friday, February 6, 2026. then be donated to hospitalized and
partner with the Charles B. Wang for managing challenging child trician for your child, the Charles “The ‘Valentines for Vets’ Gift disabled veterans at the St. Albans
Community Health Center for a behaviors. B. Wang Community Health Drive is a long-standing Northeast VA Community Living Center
second year of this maternal health Expecting a new baby is an ex- Center offers compassionate and Queens tradition that shows local and the New York State Veterans’
education program, building on citing and busy time. To celebrate comprehensive services for pa- veterans our gratitude in the spirit Home at St. Albans.
the success of its initial pilot serv- this important moment in the lives tients of all ages. Our obstetric of Valentine’s Day,” said Assem- Those interested in participating
ing expectant and new mothers of expecting parents and their and gynecological care team is blyman Braunstein. “My office who would like to receive further
and caregivers,” said Assembly- loved ones, the Health Center will here to support you through your will be collecting Valentine’s cards, information should contact As-
woman Nily Rozic. “Charles B. be creating a community space for reproductive health journey while new clothing items, toiletries, can- semblyman Braunstein’s office at
Wang Community Health Center families to receive encouraging our pediatricians provide care dy, playing cards, and large-piece 718-357-3588.
has long been a trusted pillar for support and build connections. from birth to young adulthood.
immigrant families in Queens, During this event, expect to learn CBWCHC’s Health Education
and I am pleased to support their helpful tips and information on Read Our Paper Online and Play
continued efforts to advance preparing for labor and delivery, (Continued on page 8) Sudoku and crossword puzzles

AM Colton, CM Zhuang Throw Support Behind New online Visit queenstimes.com

Community Effort to Thwart Homeless Shelter
A new milestone has been
reached in the fight to prevent a
homeless shelter from being built
at 86th Street and 25th Avenue, as
area residents have filed an appeal,
supported by Assemblyman Wil-
liam Colton (D—Gravesend, Ben-
sonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker
Heights) and City Councilmember
Susan Zhuang (D—Bensonhurst,
Bath Beach, Gravesend, Dyker
Heights, Boro Park and Sunset
Park), with the city’s Board of
Standards & Appeals (BSA),
contending that the city skirted
zoning requirements in giving
permits to the project’s developer.
According to the appeal, which
was accepted by BSA, the city
is only permitted to skip certain
mandated requirements if there is
already a contract for the facility; Assemblyman William Colton addressing the crowd attending
no such contract has been signed, the committee meeting on the homeless shelter held by
meaning that many of the steps Community Board 11’s Planning and Zoning Committee.
that the city Department of Build- not only disrespected the com- ceptable.”
ings (DOB) allowed the developer munity, but has disregarded its Opposition to the shelter plan
at 2501 86th Street to skip should own regulations. We have a new has been strong and sustained
not have been skipped. Among the mayor, and it’s long past time that since the city announced in late
requirements that were bypassed the city listen to area residents and 2023 that it planned to open a
when DOB issued a demolition businesspeople who understand homeless shelter for 150 single
permit to the developer several the devastating effect that such a men at the location, which is on a
months ago were gas shutoff, wa- facility would have, both on the busy shopping strip, near homes,
ter shutoff, electrical discon- surrounding community and on religious institutions, day care
nection, sewer capping, rodent the homeless people who would centers and senior centers. Nu-
control, notifications to neighbors be housed there, and who gener- merous protests over the course
and Community Board 11, photos ally object to being warehoused of several months drew thousands
and safety documentation, and in facilities that are often unsafe. of protesters, both at the site and
pre-demolition inspection, as well By skirting its own requirements, at City Hall, and in the summer
as the mandatory DEP stormwater the city is setting up a situation of 2024, daily protests at the site
permit, all of which are normally where, if the developer goes ahead commenced.
mandatory. The BSA appeal was and builds the facility, but a con- In addition, tens of thousands
filed on December 24, 2025 and tract is not eventually issued, the of people have signed a petition
accepted by BSA on December 30. neighborhood will be left with an in opposition to the plan, which
“The city has deliberately bent unwanted eyesore that was built the elected officials say would
over backwards to accommodate without the appropriate precau- devastate the community without
the developer,” said Assembly- tions having been taken, which
man Colton, “and in so doing has is, quite frankly, completely unac- (Continued on page 8)