Page 7 - QT Eedition #24 June 12, 2025
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THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025                                    THE QUEENS TIMES                                                            PAGE 7


            NYC Parks Celebrates The First 450 Trees Planted in                                    CUNY Awards Honorary Degrees to
            Central Queens Through Funding From The Federal                                       Four Longtime University Supporters

                                 Inflation Reduction Act
        Marking the beginning of a five-
        year program to plant over 2,000
        trees in Central Queens through
        new green jobs, stewardship, and
        community participation
             NYC Parks Commissioner Iris
        Rodriguez-Rosa has joined United
        States Senator Chuck Schumer,
        New York City Councilmember
        Shekar Krishnan, and members
        of the community to celebrate the
        first 450 trees planted in Central                                                      Pictured clockwise from left: CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos
        Queens as part of new five-year                                                         Rodríguez presents honorary degrees to  Jeffrey H. and
        program expanding tree cover                                                            Shari L. Aronson, Anthony E. Meyer and Ronay Menschel.
        in neighborhoods in Queens that
        need it most. The ambitious pro-                                                        Jeffrey H. and Shari L. Aronson,   remarkable Class of 2025.”
        gram is funded by $5 million from                                                       Ronay Menschel and Anthony        Distinct from honorary degrees
        the Federal Inflation Reduction                                                         E. Meyer Conferred Honors by   awarded by individual CUNY col-
        Act (IRA) and the USDA Forest  in growing fields.               “I am proud to see the record   Chancellor Matos Rodríguez   leges, University honorary degrees
        Service, secured in 2023.         “Trees are a critical resource  investment for urban trees I se-  Recognizing Service to New York   are conferred by the Chancellor
             This joint project between City  for daily life for all New York-  cured in the Inflation Reduction   and Student Career Success  after his direct recommenda-
        Parks Foundation, NYC Parks  ers, and this exciting new plant-  Act at work in the neighborhoods                     tion. Chancellor Matos Rodríguez
        Tree Time, and Trees NY targets  ing program in Central Queens  of New York City. Planting trees        The City University of New   conferred the honorary Doctor of
        communities in Central Queens  underscores our commitment  in our communities provides criti-  York Chancellor Félix V. Matos   Humane Letters degrees on behalf
        neighborhoods with lower tree  to increasing greenspace access  cal jobs, protects from extreme   Rodríguez awarded honorary   of the University at three CUNY
        canopy coverage, increasing tree  and ensuring equitable canopy  weather impacts, and improves   degrees to Jeffrey H. and Shari   commencement ceremonies over
        planting to mitigate the harsh  coverage for all,” said NYC Parks  basic quality of life for residents,’   L. Aronson, Ronay Menschel and   the past two weeks.
        effects of extreme heat. The  Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-  said United States Senator Chuck   Anthony E. Meyer, four civic and        Jeffrey H. and Shari L. Aronson
        program will plant 2,000 trees  Rosa. “Trees are truly essential  Schumer. “I am honored to stand   philanthropic leaders who each        Philanthropists Jeffrey H. Aron-
        by 2029, focusing on both NYC  infrastructure, providing impor-  today in Jackson Heights as we   have made myriad contributions to   son and Shari L. Aronson received
        Parks property and areas outside  tant benefits to our communities.  plant the 450th tree and look for-  New York City. Each honoree has   their honorary degrees at John Jay
        of Parks jurisdiction—like com-  By cleaning our air, cooling our  ward to seeing many more.”   distinguished themselves as a ma-  College of Criminal Justice’s Com-
        munity centers and schools—and  city, and collecting stormwater,       “Today we celebrate over 2,000   jor supporter of CUNY, providing   mencement on May 28.
        will encourage community groups  they keep New Yorkers safe and  trees being planted in Central   their support and expertise to en-       As founders of the Jeffrey H.
        to join the pursuit of 30% city-  healthy every day. We are so proud  Queens, thanks to the funding se-  sure that students are able to focus   and Shari L. Aronson Family Foun-
        wide canopy coverage citywide.  to partner with the City Parks  cured by Senate Minority Leader   on their education and prepare for   dation, the Aronsons have been
        In addition to the new plantings,  Foundation and Trees NY to make  Schumer and Senator Gillibrand.   successful post-graduation careers.   key funders of the expansion of
        funding will also be used for  this vital progress in ecological  As we battle against climate        “We have long benefitted from   the CUNY Census Corps and the
        green workforce development  restoration. Work like this ensures  change deniers nationally, in New   the leadership and generosity of   launch of the Chancellor’s Emer-
        programs,  offering  the  central  that future generations of Queens  York, we’re sending a message   Jeffrey and Shari Aronson, Ronay   gency Relief Fund, which provided
        Queens communities of Jackson  residents will have access to the  loud and clear: we’re committed to   Menschel and Anthony Meyer, all   urgent aid to students at the onset
        Heights, Elmhurst, and Corona  critical environmental resources                         of whom have long contributed to   of the COVID-19 pandemic. The
        opportunities to gain critical skills  they deserve.”          (Continued on page 8)    the growth and success of New   Aronsons’ foundation has also
                                                                                                York,” said CUNY Chancellor   been a critical partner in providing
                              Frauds Awareness Workshop                                         Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “They   constructive dialogue training and
                                                                                                each have played a key role in   workshops to CUNY leadership,
            Queens District Attorney                                                            ensuring the success of our stu-  faculty and students during the
                                                                                                                             2024-25 academic year.
        Melinda Katz hosted a frauds                                                            dents throughout their time at the        Jeffrey Aronson has also built
        awareness workshop at the                                                               University and after they graduate,   a partnership between CUNY and
                                                                                                so we are privileged to be able
        Peter Cardella Senior Center                                                            to recognize them in this way as
        in Ridgewood.                                                                           we simultaneously celebrate our   (Continued on page 8)
             By providing clear, acces-
        sible education on common
        fraud tactics — such as phish-
        ing, fake charities and tech
        support scams — we empower
        seniors to recognize red flags,
        make informed decisions and
        report suspicious activity.

         Meng Introduces Legislation Providing Back Pay To
                            Unjustly Fired VA Employees


                                     later reinstated. The Reinstating  have been in their positions for
                                     Employee Salaries to Original  less than two years or recently
                                     Rates and Entitlements (RE-   received a promotion. As a result,
                                     STORE) Act (H.R.3192) would  thousands of veterans and federal
                                     apply to all VA employees who  workers have been terminated
                                     were terminated and later rehired  across multiple federal agencies,
                                     on or after January 20, 2025.  including the VA. These employ-
                                          In January, the President is-  ees were responsible for providing
                                     sued an Executive Order calling  core VA services, including health
                                     for significant reductions in the  care, benefits services, housing
                                     federal workforce in conjunction  loans, and burial and memorial
                                     with the so-called “Department of  services, among others.
                                     Government Efficiency (DOGE).”       This year, Meng invited Luke
                                     Department  communications  Graziani, a constituent from
                                     show that as of March, VA offi-  Woodside, Queens and a 20-year
                                     cials had already fired 6,000 em-  U.S. Army veteran who was un-
                                     ployees, and were planning to cut  justly fired from his job as a public
             U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06)  another 80,000 jobs, which would  affairs officer at a New York City
        introduced legislation to require  return staffing to 2019 levels. In  veterans’ hospital, as her guest to
        full back pay for employees at the  addition to career civil servants,  President Trump’s address to Con-
        Department of Veterans Affairs  these actions have mainly targeted
        (VA) who were unjustly fired and  probationary employees, who   (Continued on page 8)
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