Page 8 - QT Eedition #24 June 12, 2025
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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/.
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