Page 9 - QT Edition #3 01-15-26

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 9

Governor Kathy Hochul Unveils Plan To Reimagine Attorney General James Stops Violence,

(Continued from page 3) Jamaica Station And Advance Second Avenue Subway Harassment, And Intimidation From
Westward Expansion New York Extremist Group
State Would Commit $50 Million Reimagining Jamaica Station it is not only possible to extend (Continued from page 8) despite their visible distress. In
To Advance Design Phase To Rei- for the Millions of Commuters the Second Avenue Subway line another incident, a Betar member
magine Jamaica Station; Critical Who Depend On It construction west to Broadway, Betar publicly circulated content followed a Jewish academic on a
Transit Hub Is Fourth Busiest Jamaica Station is integral to serving hundreds of thousands of celebrating violence against Pal- public street, forcibly shoved a
Rail Station in North America, the commutes of millions of New Yorkers, but that performing estinians, including social media beeper into his pocket against his
Serving 200,000 Daily Riders New Yorkers, enabling workers the tunneling work as a follow-on posts mocking civilian deaths, will, and verbally abused him.
and students in Queens to get to to the current East Harlem exten- declaring hatred toward Gazans, The OAG found that Betar mem-
MTA Would Begin Preliminary school and jobs, allowing travelers sion would save substantial time and calling for further bloodshed. bers repeatedly threatened aca-
Engineering and Design To to get to and from Long Island, and money. In one instance, the group posted demics with ongoing harassment
Extend Second Avenue Subway ensuring travelers from around Governor Hochul will sup- that the number of babies who had and explicitly warned at least one
Tunnel Westward Across 125 the world can efficiently and af- port the next phase of this project died in Gaza was “not enough,” individual that Betar followers
St to Broadway, Saving Project fordably get to JFK Airport, and with funding for design and pre- writing, “we demand blood in would come to their home.
Costs and Time connecting New Yorkers to world- liminary engineering to advance Gaza.” The OAG investigation also
class sporting and entertainment tunneling across 125th Street. The The investigation also deter- found that Betar promoted and
Governor Kathy Hochul an- events. More than 1,000 trains extension along 125th Street will mined that Betar targeted Jewish encouraged violence, even urging
nounced her plan to advance two and 200,000 passengers transit improve commutes for millions individuals who expressed views its members to bring weapons to
significant transit projects to Jamaica Station every week- of New Yorkers, save significant that the group opposed. Betar protests, including knives, pepper
improve New Yorkers’ commutes day, making it the fourth busiest time for commuters benefiting threatened to place Jewish ac- spray, and attack dogs. Ahead of
as part of her 2026 State of the commuter rail station in North from intersections with seven tivists on lists to be shared with a February 18, 2025 protest in
State. As part of the Governor’s America — surpassed only by north-south subway lines across foreign authorities in an effort to Brooklyn, Betar called on sup-
FY27 Executive Budget, she will Grand Central Station, Penn Sta- Manhattan, and connect under- bar them from travel and intimi- porters to “fight back” against
propose $50 million to fund the tion and Toronto’s Union Station. served communities to jobs. date them into silence. In private what it labeled “terrorists” and
design of a reimagined Jamaica Yet Jamaica Station has been left This announcement builds communications, Betar leadership urged followers to bring pit bulls.
Station, better integrating Sub- far behind in terms of customer on Governor Hochul’s record of wrote, “of course we place Jews Violence erupted at that protest,
way, Long Island Rail Road and experience and investment; it was investing in New York’s infra- on lists,” and confirmed that the during which at least one person
AirTrain service for the 200,000 last upgraded 23 years ago, when structure and improving its transit group targeted Jewish New York- was stabbed. Betar subsequently
daily riders who pass through this the AirTrain JFK began operation system over the last year, which ers they deemed insufficiently boasted online that protesters
transit hub every day. The Metro- in 2003. include: aligned with Betar’s extremist had been beaten, and privately
politan Transportation Authority To modernize Jamaica Station • Awarding major construction ideology. celebrated injuries inflicted dur-
(MTA) and the Port Authority of into the world-class station experi- contracts to dig the tunnels for Betar also used its public ing the event. After a member of
New York and New Jersey have ence it deserves to be, Governor Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 platform to threaten individuals Betar’s national leadership physi-
already begun a joint effort to co- Hochul is taking the next step to to East Harlem with deportation and attempt to cally struck a woman wearing
ordinate this project. In addition, design a reimagined Jamaica Sta- • Breaking ground on the New suppress protected speech. The a keffiyeh, the group celebrated
Governor Hochul will propose tion. The reimagined Jamaica Sta- Midtown Bus Terminal Project organization repeatedly threat- the incident online, sharing video
building on her investment in the tion will help create better traffic after decades of failed attempts ened to report protesters to immi- footage on its social media.
FY25 Enacted Budget funding flow, reduce crowding, and build to advance redevelopment gration enforcement officials and Attorney General James asserts
a feasibility study for westward out a world class station complex • Beginning the engineering and publicly claimed that it used facial that Betar’s conduct has consis-
expansion of the Second Avenue providing seamless connection design phase of the Interborough recognition software to compile tently violated New York’s civil
Subway by advancing the prelimi- between the LIRR Main Line, Express (IBX) deportation lists for the federal rights laws, including statutes that
nary engineering and design pro- NYC Transit, and AirTrain JFK • Fully funding the MTA’s government. Even though Betar prohibit bias-motivated violence,
cess to continue tunneling across for the millions of commuters who historic 2025-2029 Capital Plan, later disavowed these claims, harassment, and intimidation, as
125 Street to Broadway. Accord- depend on it. which commits $68 billion to OAG found that this conduct was well as discrimination against
ing to the MTA’s 20 Year Needs Advancing the Second Avenue modernize, improve and expand designed to intimidate protesters individuals exercising their rights
Assessment, this proposed expan- Subway Crosstown Expansion transit across the New York City and unlawfully chill the exercise to protest and engage in peaceful
sion would have a daily ridership Project To Improve Commutes for region of First Amendment rights. assembly. Under the agreement
of nearly 240,000 and would save New Yorkers • Successfully launching New The OAG uncovered evidence announced today, Betar is perma-
riders over 30 minutes of travel In her 2024 State of the State ad- York City’s first-in-the-nation showing multiple incidents of nently barred from instigating or
time each week on average. dress, the Governor proposed a congestion pricing program, physical intimidation and assault. encouraging violence, physically
“New Yorkers deserve a bold and innovative solution to which in one year has reduced In early 2025, Betar-affiliated in- assaulting or threatening indi-
world-class transit system,” Gov- enhance the potential of one of traffic, cut pollution, made streets dividuals repeatedly approached viduals, harassing protesters, or
ernor Hochul said. “By advancing the most promising expansion safer, and generated revenues for people perceived to be Muslim or damaging others’ property based
projects like the Second Avenue projects in the MTA’s service area critical transit upgrades supportive of Palestinian causes on protected characteristics. Betar
Subway and reimagining Jamaica – extending the Q line west along • Completing several milestones and attempted to force “beepers” agreed to a suspended $50,000
Station, we’re building on past 125th Street, with three new stops in the transformative I-81 Viaduct onto them, an act intended to monetary penalty, which will
investments to deliver more reli- at Lenox Avenue, St. Nicholas Av- project in Syracuse threaten and terrorize, referenc- be enforced if the organization
able, efficient, and modern transit enue, and culminating at Broad- • Advanced the project to rei- ing a recent overseas operation violates the agreement, and must
options for riders today and for way. Governor Hochul funded a magine I-787 in Albany into the involving explosive pagers. At submit annual compliance reports
generations to come.” feasibility study which found that Environmental Review phase one New York City university, to OAG for three years. If Betar
a Betar member repeatedly ha- fails to comply, Attorney General
QEDC to Offer Free Home Improvement Contractor rassed students wearing hijabs James may immediately pursue
Training Course in English, Spanish, And Chinese or keffiyehs, following them and enforcement, additional penalties,
demanding they accept a beeper and further legal action.
The Queens Economic Devel- HICT is made possible by be ready to take the exam as soon as Gillibrand Statement On Passage Of
opment Corporation (QEDC) is funding from the Consortium for they finish the course.
excited to offer its highly success- Worker Education. Here are some “Home improvement contractors The Whole Milk For Healthy Kids Act
ful Home Improvement Contractor main aspects: don’t just build kitchens and bath-
Training (HICT) course for free in • A comprehensive study guide rooms, they are building their own U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand dairy farmers,” said Senator
English, Spanish, and Chinese over and three practice quizzes to pre- businesses,” stated QEDC Execu- made the following statement on Gillibrand. “By allowing schools
the next few months. pare for the exam; tive Director Ben Guttmann. “We’re the passage of the Whole Milk for to offer whole milk and milk
Consisting of two five-hour ses- • An instructor with 20+ years proud to give Queens contractors a Healthy Kids Act. The bill chang- substitutes that are equivalent in
sions offered online on two separate of construction experience who is leg up in getting the licenses they es the United States Department nutrition, we’re making school
days, HICT covers all aspects of ready for all questions; need to create their own entrepre- of Agriculture’s (USDA) current meals healthier and ensuring
running a small construction busi- • Step-by-step assistance on how neurial future.” meal program guidelines to per- that locally produced dairy con-
ness in New York City. A main goal to submit an application; and QEDC offered the first HICT mit schools to serve whole milk tinues to play a role in feeding
is to help attendees pass the NYC • Networking with landlords and in January 2012, and all the par- in addition to reduced-fat and fat- the next generation. It’s a win for
Department of Consumer Affairs li- property managers who are hiring ticipants went on to pass the NYC free milk, as well as nutritionally students, schools, and New York
censing exam, so they can get NYC for all types of jobs. DCA exam and obtain licenses to equivalent milk substitutes at the agriculture.”
Home Improvement Contractor Li- Here are HICT’s main themes: work legally as home-improvement request of a parent or guardian. New York State is the fifth-
censes and launch their businesses. • Home improvement business law contractors. Senator Gillibrand is an original largest producer of dairy in the
All classes run from 9 am to 2 and insurance; Established in 1977, QEDC has cosponsor of the bill in the Senate. country, and the dairy industry
pm with Chinese HICT on Jan. 17 • A contractor’s duties and respon- assisted thousands of entrepreneurs “Kids need nutritious meals to is New York’s largest agricultural
and Jan. 18, English HICT on Feb. sibilities; in preparing business plans and learn and thrive, and whole milk sector. New York’s nearly 2,800
7 and Feb. 8, and Spanish HICT on • Norms on the content and cancel- filing for business registrations, provides those critical nutrients. dairy farms produce 16.1 billion
March 7 and March 8. lation of contracts; permits, licenses and loan packag- The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids pounds of milk annually, repre-
To register visit queensny.org • Advertising and selling practices; ing. QEDC has also helped scores of Act invests in children’s health senting over 7% of total U.S. milk
and look for the Home Improvement How to give a quote and/or neighborhoods revitalize their com- and supports New York State’s production.
Contractor Training section. Class estimation; mercial districts by creating busi-
materials and a Zoom link will be • General industry knowledge; and ness organizations and establishing VISIT OUR WEBSITE: QUEENSTIMES.COM
provided upon registration. The promise that participants will business improvement districts. READ OUR PAPER ONLINE