Page 9 - qt edition #49

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2025 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 9

AM Colton, CM Zhuang Demand City Closely Review Velázquez Leads New York Delegation
Demo Permit For Homeless Shelter Site Members in Urging Albany to Pass

(Continued from page 6) the surrounding neighborhood, enforced; [and] provide clarity Parole Reform Bills
and residents and business-owners to the community regarding the
control, notifications to neighbors have lost trust in the fairness of the city’s position on this project.” Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D- they have ever done,” concluded
and Community Board 11, photos city’s actions. Opposition to the shelter plan NY) led seven members of New the lawmakers.
and safety documentation, and “I am extremely dismayed that has been strong and sustained York’s congressional delegation Jose Saldana, Director of the
pre-demolition inspection, all of the city is allowing this demolition since the city announced in late in a letter urging Governor Kathy Release Aging People in Prison
which are normally mandatory. to proceed,” said Assemblyman 2023 that it planned to open a Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Campaign (RAPP), a survivor
Assemblyman Colton and Colton, “given the numerous fail- homeless shelter for 150 single Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and of 38 years in prison and a crime
Councilmember Zhuang also ures on the part of the developer men at the location, which is on a Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie survivor himself, said, “We are
allege that the asbestos inspec- to ensure the safety of nearby busy shopping strip, near homes, to enact the Fair & Timely Parole grateful for the support of these
tion, which the city Department residents and businesses. This is religious institutions, day care (S159/A127) and Elder Parole elected officials. People in New
of Buildings did require, was a huge failure on the part of our centers and senior centers. Nu- (S454/A514) bills this session. York State prisons have suffered
fraudulent, and that the inspector Buildings Department, and it must merous protests over the course “We applaud your historic a crisis of racist brutality, sexual
who said he had done the inspec- stay or revoke the permit at once, of several months drew thousands leadership in taking several criti- violence, and even murder by
tion, and who has prior criminal to protect those who live and work of protesters, both at the site and cal steps to improve safety and guards and their supervisors for
convictions for filing fraudulent nearby, as well as the numerous at City Hall, and in the summer help ensure justice for all,” wrote decades without relief. The only
asbestos reports in New York children and seniors who attend of 2024, daily protests at the site the lawmakers. “Respectfully, effective solution to this crisis
City, actually never went to the programs in the immediate vicin- commenced. we believe that parole release is providing meaningful oppor-
property at the time he said he ity of the site.” In addition, more than 53,000 reform should be next on the tunities for release. The racist
was there. Based on all of the red flags people have signed a petition in agenda. These bills will promote policies that promoted harsher
In addition, a critical Stormwa- that they have identified with opposition to the plan, which rehabilitation in prison, improve sentences for Black and Brown
ter Construction Permit from the respect to the project, the two of- the elected officials say would safety, and reunite families in our people have been acknowledged
city’s Department of Environmen- ficials demanded in the letter that devastate the community without districts.” but never corrected. People are
tal Protection is missing without the city, “Review the demolition actually benefiting the homeless The letter underscores the still languishing in our prisons
the alternative Determination of and construction approvals issued people it is ostensibly being built progress New York has made as a result of these racist policies.
Non-Jurisdiction having been for 2501 86th Street, especially to serve, just to enrich greedy in improving safety and justice We have to correct the egregious
filed, as are records that the devel- the most recent one approved on developers and shelter operators; outcomes, while stressing that injustices that have devastated
oper, who allowed permits on the 11/14/2025; investigate the fraudu- a better solution, they insist, is meaningful parole release reform tens of thousands of families in
site to lapse, has paid required re- lent ACP-5 asbestos filing; direct using the billions of taxpayer is urgently needed. The delegation our communities and resulted in
instatement fees and gone through DOB and DEP to re-evaluate dollars now funneled into the highlights how both bills would intergenerational incarceration
mandatory refiling procedures. the permits and waivers issued; shelter system to build permanent promote rehabilitation, reduce and poverty. Fair & Timely Parole
All of this, they contend, threat- ensure all city environmental and affordable housing with support- racial bias in parole decisions, and would address the racial bias in
ens the safety and well-being of safety regulations are properly ive services. ensure that older adults in prison the state’s broken parole process.
have individualized opportunities Elder Parole would address racist
Mayor Adams, Borough President Richards Announce for consideration of release. disparities in sentencing. Neither
The members also note that would guarantee anyone’s release,
“Queens Holocaust Memorial” passing these bills could save the but both would provide a realistic
state an estimated $522 million an- hope that they will one day return
Memorial Will Honor Memory we need it, and create a city where New York City is home to more nually, allowing New York to re- to their families and communities,
of Holocaust Victims and Survi- everyone can live side by side in Holocaust survivors than any direct resources toward evidence- and that is priceless. The Legisla-
vors, Provide Space for Remem- harmony.” other city in the world. Following based programs that support crime ture and Governor must act now.”
brance and Education “No matter how much time the liberation of the concentration survivors, reduce recidivism, and In addition to Velázquez, the
passes since the evils of the Ho- camps, thousands of survivors strengthen re-entry. letter was signed by Reps. Jerrold
New York City Mayor Eric locaust, New York City’s com- came to New York, many settling “Ultimately, we support these Nadler (NY-12), Yvette Clarke
Adams and Queens Borough mitment to the pledge of ‘Never in Queens, where they rebuilt their bills because we value safety (NY-9), Grace Meng (NY-6),
President Donovan Richards an- Again’ must never waver. That is lives, raised families, established above endless punishment – and Dan Goldman (NY-10), Adriano
nounced the “Queens Holocaust why, in the face of rising tides of businesses, enriched the city’s we believe that no one should be Espaillat (NY-13), and George
Memorial,” a new public site heinous anti-Semitism and Holo- cultural institutions, and helped forever judged by the worst thing Latimer (NY-16).
to honor the memory of the six caust denial across our society, I make New York a global center
million Jewish people murdered could not be prouder to lead this of Jewish life.
in the Holocaust as well as the effort alongside the administration The memorial was originally
survivors who rebuilt their lives and the Queens’ Jewish commu- proposed by the Queens Jewish Visit Our Website: www.queenstimes.com
in New York City. The memorial nity in creating this critically im- Community Council in partner-
will be located on the grounds of portant memorial here at Queens ship with local civic and faith
Queens Borough Hall and serve as Borough Hall,” said Queens Bor- leaders. The City of New York will
a permanent site of remembrance, ough President Donovan Richards formally designate and dedicate
education, and unity. The city and Jr. “The Queens Holocaust Memo- the site for the purpose of a Holo-
the Office of the Queens Borough rial will not only pay a touching caust Memorial through a DCAS
President have allocated a total of tribute to the six million innocent assignment letter. The Queens
$3 million to support the project’s Jews murdered by the Nazis and Jewish Community Council will
development; the New York City the survivors who settled in our lead additional fundraising ef-
Department of Citywide Admin- borough afterward, but it will forts to support the design and
istrative Services (DCAS) will also serve as daily inspiration for construction of the commemora-
oversee the site designation and our fight to forge a future free of tive artwork. When complete,
coordination with community anti-Semitism. I thank all our city the Queens Holocaust Memorial
stakeholders and civic leaders. and community partners for their will be the first major Holocaust
The City will advance a formal commitment to see this memorial memorial in Queens, joining other
design process to build a com- through.” sites of remembrance throughout
memorative garden and public art- “When hate crimes, vandalism, New York City. The memorial site
work. The artist selection process and extremist rhetoric targeting will host Holocaust remembrance
will be led by the New York City Jewish communities are happen- ceremonies, educational programs
Department of Cultural Affairs’ ing both nationally and globally, for students, and community gath-
“Percent for Art” program in con- this memorial will stand not only erings that promote understanding
sultation with artists, historians, as a powerful testament to those and solidarity across generations
and Holocaust survivors. lost and to those who rebuilt, but and communities.
“It is not enough to say ‘never also as a rebuke to intolerance and “I have seen how education
again’ — we have to live it with a reminder of our imperative to helps young people understand the
our actions too. By preserving confront hatred with moral clar- world around them and recognize
the stories of both victims and ity,” said Moshe Davis, executive the dangers of prejudice and intol-
survivors, by creating a perma- director, Mayor’s Office to Com- erance. This memorial garden will
nent space for remembrance and bat Antisemitism. give students and families a place
reflection, by promoting under- “This Holocaust Memorial to learn, reflect, and confront the
standing and solidarity across Garden we begin to build today, realities of antisemitism and other
generations, this memorial will is a reminder of what can happen forms of hate crimes,” said Toby
live out the meaning of ‘never if we forget the past. It will also Stavisky, New York State senator.
again,’” said Mayor Adams. “As serve to keep our focus on the “Michael Nussbaum and I both
our city and our country confront present, while we hope for our began our careers as social studies
the rising tide of antisemitism, our future,” said Michael Nussbaum, teachers, and we know how im-
administration will not remain chairman, Holocaust Memorial portant it is to reach children early.
silent. We will use our office to Garden. “The Memorial Garden That’s why I committed $1 million
call out hate wherever we find it, will be a place where anyone can
encourage compassion wherever come to reflect and seek peace.” (Continued on page 10)