Page 7 - QT-11-26 03-12-26

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2026 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 7

DA Melinda Katz Celebrates Women’s Leadership at Council Member Linda Lee Marching
Queens Museum Event in The St. Pat’s For All Parade

Queens District Attorney
Melinda Katz joined community
leaders, advocates, and residents
this week at the Queens Museum
for an International Women’s Day
celebration hosted by Queens
Borough President Donovan
Richards’ office.
Katz, the first woman to
serve as Queens County District
Attorney, addressed the gather-
ing and reflected on the women
who shaped her career and the
responsibility that comes with
leadership.
“As Queens County’s first fe-
male district attorney, I spoke to The St. Pat’s for All Parade signifies love, acceptance, and unity
the gathering about experiences - honoring Irish heritage and uplifting our LGBTQIA+ community
with the extraordinary women across the city! It is always a privilege to march in this parade, as we
I’ve worked with over the years,” reaffirm our commitment to allyship and advancing equality in NYC!
Katz said. “As women in power,
we have a deep sense of respon-
sibility to uplift those around us,
but also an obligation to push
forward the next generation of
great women leaders.”
The event highlighted the
achievements of women across
the borough and underscored community organizations com- recognizes the social, economic,
the ongoing work to expand op- mitted to advancing women’s cultural, and political contribu-
portunity, representation, and rights and visibility. tions of women while calling (Continued on page 8)
equity. Attendees included local International Women’s Day, attention to the challenges that
officials, cultural leaders, and celebrated globally each March, remain.

NYC School Construction Authority Begins
Construction on New John Bowne High School
Annex in Flushing Queens

Project Will Deliver 630 New
Seats to Help Alleviate Over-
crowding and Expand Career-
Focused Learning Opportunities

The $48.4 Million Annex will be
Ready for the 2027-2028 School
Year

The New York City School Con-
struction Authority (SCA) today
celebrated the start of construction
on the John Bowne High School
Annex, a new 630-seat, four-story
facility located at 146-50 Reeves
Avenue in Flushing. The high
school’s current enrollment of
2,782 has the existing building’s
capacity at 122 percent. The new Rendering of Future John Bowne HS Annex
annex will relieve this overcrowd-
ing and expand educational op- overcrowding, but will also pro- their educational experience.
portunities for students in one of vide modern, specialized learning Those days, however, are coming
Queens’ growing communities. environments — including health- to an end. This state-of-the-art,
The new annex will fea- care and culinary arts labs — that 630-seat annex at the historically
ture twenty standard education prepare students for college and overcrowded John Bowne High
classrooms, two special educa- careers. With sustainable features School represents yet another
tion classrooms, and specialized like a green roof and thought- tremendous step forward in our
instructional spaces including a fully designed instructional and efforts to create more school
state-of-the-art Healthcare/Nurs- support spaces, we are creating a seats and better meet the needs
ing Laboratory and a Culinary high-quality, 21st century learning of our students. Thank you to the
Arts Laboratory. The building will environment that will serve this School Construction Authority for
also include administrative of- community for decades to come.” its continued partnership, as we
fices, student and staff restrooms, The annex has been carefully build more seats in Queens than
custodial and storage spaces, and designed to meet the needs of any other borough.”
other essential student support today’s students and educators, U.S. Representative Grace
areas. providing flexible instructional Meng said: “This new annex will
In keeping with the SCA’s spaces and dedicated areas that greatly benefit students at John
commitment to environmentally support both academic and ca- Bowne High School by reducing
responsible design, the annex will reer-focused programming. The overcrowding and enhancing the
include a sustainable green roof to inclusion of specialized labs will school’s learning environment.
improve stormwater management expand hands-on learning oppor- The building’s new classrooms,
and enhance energy efficiency. tunities and strengthen pathways labs and other additional spaces
“The start of construction on the to high-demand industries. will go a long way towards helping
John Bowne High School Annex Queens Borough President students excel in their education
marks an important investment Donovan Richards Jr. said: “Every and receive more opportunities
in the future of Queens students Queens student deserves to learn and support. Our young people
and families,” said Nina Kubota, in a comfortable environment that are our future. We must make the
President and CEO of the New sets them up for success. But for investments they require to ensure
York City School Construction generations, our kids have been their success.”
Authority. “This new 630-seat made to learn in cramped, over-
facility will not only help alleviate crowded schools that degrades (Continued on page 8)