Page 8 - QT Eedition #24 June 12, 2025

PAGE 8 THE QUEENS TIMES THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025

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 (Continued from page 7) New York agencies, sponsoring

(Continued from page 7) District 25. to create pathways to employment New York City Public Schools’
In efforts to include appli- in natural resource management Centerbridge Partners, the private “Innovation Zone,” the FDNY
Foundation’s “Ready Room 24/7
expanding the urban tree canopy, cants from various educational while improving the health and investment firm he co-found-
ed, along with its Centerbridge Project,” and the NYC Taxi and
fighting against the urban heat backgrounds and work histories, resiliency of forested parkland. Foundation. The foundation has Limousine Commission’s “Taxi
island effect, and protecting our the workforce grant funding is Announced in September 2023 invested more than $2.8 million of the Future” initiative. Meyer
communities from the effects of using a tiered system of intern- and secured by Senators Kirsten to prepare CUNY students for has also served on the board of the
climate change. And, as federal ships, apprenticeships, and early- Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, careers in the finance industry, Macaulay Honors College Founda-
agencies are being gutted, we’re career positions. Multiple train- this federal grant supplements including through the conception tion for 20 years, including as its
creating jobs and securing the fu- ing tracks are available for new critical natural areas funding of CUNY Futures in Finance. Ad- chair since 2019.
ture of NYC families. I’m proud hires including forest restoration, from the Adams administration ditionally, Shari Aronson serves on At Macaulay Honors College,
to be a part of this program that monitoring, and community in recent years, including $100 the Chancellor’s Advisory Council he has made generous contribu-
provides workforce development stewardship. The five-year length million in wetland restoration on Jewish Life, which advises tions to the college’s Opportuni-
and ensures Jackson Heights of the program improves potential projects, $136 million in public the Chancellor on ways to uplift ties Fund, a scholarship fund that
and Elmhurst will get the tree for job security and advancement greenspace funding, and $80 Jewish life and foster better com- supports study away or abroad,
cover that will let our children opportunities for all participants. million in open space acquisition munication between all religions internship service and research
play safely outside,” said Coun- Parks has also received a to increase greenspace access for on campus. programs for students. A $1 mil-
cil Member Shekar Krishnan, separate $10 million IRA grant New Yorkers. “When you have difficult times, lion gift to the fund from Meyer
Meng Introduces Legislation Providing Back Pay To you turn to family and loved ones and his wife, Miraldina, in 2015
for support,” Chancellor Matos enabled the creation of the Meyers
Unjustly Fired VA Employees Rodríguez said to the John Jay Col- Scholar Program, which focuses
lege Class of 2025 as he conferred on international study abroad op-
(Continued from page 7) dedicated public servants, many to reinstate probationary workers the degrees. “I can tell you, that on portunities for the college’s highest
of whom are veterans themselves, who were fired. Fortunately, Gra- some of those days in which the job achieving students.
gress in March to stand against the should never have been fired from ziani was reinstated with back pay, gets complicated, I think about the “As a mentor, Anthony Meyer
ongoing mass firings of federal their jobs. The RESTORE Act but many VA employees haven’t incredible personal support that has devoted countless hours to
employees and veterans. He was guarantees back pay for thousands had the same experience, and cur- I received from Jeff and Shari, advising and guiding Macaulay
among the tens of thousands of of these illegally fired VA employ- rent federal law doesn’t mandate and there is nobody who believes students, sharing his expertise and
federal workers that the Admin- ees who have devoted their careers the Administration provide it in more in each one of you — in each opening doors to professional op-
istration has unfairly terminated to serving our communities. They this circumstance. CUNY graduate — than Jeff and portunities,” said the Chancellor.
across the federal government are not government waste, nor are Across the country there are Shari Aronson.” “His unwavering commitment to
since January. the salaries they rely on.” about 2.3 million federal workers Ronay Menschel educational advancement and so-
“VA employees, like Luke Graziani was abruptly laid off who serve their communities each Distinguished civic leader Ronay cial impact that truly distinguishes
Graziani, take an oath to serve in February as the Administration day. Approximately 6,000 federal Menschel received her honorary him as a worthy recipient of this
our veterans, regardless of who is began its attempts at sweeping workers live in Meng’s Congres- degree at Hunter College’s Com- honor.”
in the Oval Office. Without them, cuts to the federal workforce. sional District alone. mencement on May 30. A Celebratory Commencement
veterans would be left without Meng had intervened with the VA Now introduced in the House, Menschel is vice chair of the Season
the care and benefits they were on his behalf, urging the agency to the RESTORE Act must be passed board of the Museum of the City of In addition to the four honorees,
promised when they made the reinstate him. He was rehired in by the House Committee on Veter- New York, a board member of the CUNY is celebrating nearly 50,000
commitment to serve and protect April after a federal judge ordered an Affairs before it can be brought not-for-profit affordable housing graduates from more than 2,800
our nation,” said Meng. “These the VA and other federal agencies to the floor for a vote. manager Phipps House and trustee academic programs across its col-
emerita of Cornell University. leges in all five New York City bor-
Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and Senator Toby Ann Stavisky Her more than four decades of oughs this commencement season.
public service include her tenure Among the celebrants are more
Announce Passage of Landmark Legislation to Establish as deputy mayor for intergovern- than 5,000 students who attended
Title VI Coordinators on New York College Campuses mental relations under Mayor Ed classes while raising children,
Koch and as a board member of more than 5,000 students who are
(Continued from page 6) ish Committee. Jewish and pro-Israel students on the Metropolitan Transportation graduating from teaching and nurs-
“All students deserve safe, college campuses. We have seen Authority, the Federal Reserve ing programs and nine standout
urge the Governor to sign the leg- equitable learning environments. the horrific number of antisemitic Bank of New York and the Trust community college students who
islation and send a strong message This imperative is not only moral, incidents on college campuses for Governors Island. received the prestigious Jack Kent
that hate, in all its ugly forms, has but legal. Through the crucial grow and this legislation will help As president of the Charina Cooke Foundation Undergraduate
no place on college campuses- or protections of Title VI of the Civil ensure that antisemitism is prop- Endowment Fund, which she runs Transfer Scholarship.
anywhere,” said Senator Toby Ann Rights Act, discrimination on the erly identified and addressed.” with her husband Richard, Men- The City University of New York
Stavisky. basis of national origin is strictly “This legislation is a basic, schel has been a staunch thought is the nation’s largest urban public
“UJA-Federation of New York prohibited. Thus, at this critical common sense step to ensure partner and supporter of the Uni- university, a transformative engine
thanks Assemblymember Rozic time, Jewish on Campus applauds that colleges are proactive and versity’s efforts to boost the ca- of social mobility that is a critical
and Senator Stavisky for their this important bill that reaffirms responsive to issues of discrimi- reer outcomes of graduates. The component of the lifeblood of New
leadership and efforts in getting Title VI protections are being taken nation and harassment. I thank fund has provided $1.5 million York City. Founded in 1847 as the
this timely and critical bill passed. seriously by requiring coordinators Assemblymember Rozic and Sena- to the CUNY Office of Careers nation’s first free public institution
With a surge in antisemitism, at every college and university in tor Stavisky for their leadership on and Industry Partnerships and of higher education, CUNY today
Jewish students have faced unac- New York State,” said Julia Jassey, behalf of New York’s students,” Hunter College since 2022, which has seven community colleges, 11
ceptable discrimination and hate CEO, Jewish on Campus. said Assemblymember Micah helped launch the CUNY Inclusive senior colleges and seven graduate
at school. This bill creates a safer, “Too often, students on cam- Lasher. Economy Initiative. The fund also or professional institutions spread
more inclusive learning environ- puses feel the need to hide parts “Too many students experienc- contributed to the Chancellor’s across New York City’s five bor-
ment for all students,” said Eric S. of their identity to avoid intimi- ing discrimination on campus don’t Emergency Relief Fund and the oughs, serving nearly 240,000 un-
Goldstein, CEO, UJA-Federation dation and harassment. This bill know where to go for help or what CUNY Graduate Center’s Teach- dergraduate and graduate students
of New York. offers a crucial solution to ensure their rights are under federal law. ing and Learning Center. and awarding 50,000 degrees each
“Across New York, Jewish that colleges and universities are Given the rise in antisemitism and “Ronay Menschel has been a year. CUNY’s mix of quality and
students are facing harassment, properly resourced to address and other forms of hate on campus, crucial supporter of our univer- affordability propels almost six
intimidation, and silence. Too combat discrimination and hate on requiring every college to have a sity over the past decade,” said the times as many low-income students
often, their concerns about anti- campus. We extend our thanks to clearly identified Title VI coor- Chancellor. “She has been a valued into the middle class and beyond as
semitism are dismissed or lost in Assemblywoman Rozic and Sena- dinator and regular outreach on thought partner to our college all the Ivy League colleges com-
bureaucratic red tape. The pas- tor Stavisky for their leadership on policies and reporting procedures presidents and University leaders, bined. More than 80 percent of the
sage of Senator Toby Stavisky and this issue and their commitment to will create accountability where and in supporting and advancing University’s graduates stay in New
Assemblymember Nily Rozic’s ensuring every college is a place it’s often lacking. our efforts to promote student York, contributing to all aspects
Title VI Coordinator bill by the where students are safe, respected, Giving students and staff the career success, she has embraced of the city’s economic, civic and
New York State Legislature is included, and free to learn without tools they need to address seri- CUNY’s highest ideals.” cultural life and diversifying the
a critical step toward changing fear,” said Scott Richman, Region- ous issues is how we move from Anthony E. Meyer city’s workforce in every sector.
that reality. By establishing clear al Director for New York and New passive compliance to proactive Entrepreneur and investor CUNY’s graduates and faculty
institutional responsibility, this Jersey, Anti-Defamation League. protection of civil rights,” said As- Anthony E. Meyer received his have received many prestigious
legislation ensures that schools will Avi Posnick, Executive Direc- semblyman Ed Ra. honorary degree at Macaulay honors, including 13 Nobel Prizes
take meaningful, timely action. tor of StandWithUs Northeast and “Protecting our students— Honors College’s Commencement and 26 MacArthur “genius” grants.
AJC thanks Senator Stavisky and New England said, “StandWithUs especially in the face of rising on June 4. The University’s historic mission
Assemblymember Rozic for their thanks Assemblywoman Rozic antisemitism—is not negotiable. Meyer is chairman of merchant continues to this day: provide a
unwavering leadership in protect- and Senator Stavisky for their This legislation is a necessary step banking company Meyer and Co. first-rate public education to all
ing Jewish students and advancing sponsorship of S04559B/S04559 to ensure every student can learn as well as the president of invest- students, regardless of means or
accountability and respect in edu- requiring a Title VI Coordinator for in an environment free from fear, ment management company Ocean background. To learn more about
cation,” said Josh Kramer, Director all college campuses in New York hate, and discrimination,” said As- Road Advisors, both of which he CUNY, visit https://www.cuny.
of AJC New York, American Jew- State. This bill will better protect semblyman Ari Brown. founded. His influence spans many edu/.