Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. on June 25 hosted a town hall at the Edward Byrne PAL Center in South Jamaica.
Photo by Alice Moreno
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. on June 25 hosted a town hall in South Jamaica.
The town hall — held at the Edward Byrne PAL Center, located at 116-25 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. — served as a way for members of the community to to ask questions regarding quality-of-life concerns. Richards updated guests on the myriad of investments done by his office across the community, and discussed summer safety plans with the NYPD.
The town hall — held at the Edward Byrne PAL Center, located at 116-25 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. — served as a way for members of the community to to ask questions regarding quality-of-life concerns.Photo by Alice Moreno
The town hall is co-sponsored by the Police Athletic League, LIFE Camp, Inc., and Fathers Alive in the Hood. Alongside QBP Richards, representatives from city agencies such as NYCHA, Department of Parks, Department of Transportation, Department of Buildings, Department of Design and Construction, Department of Sanitation, Con Edison, LIRR, FDNY, and NYPD officials from the area have joined him in discussing various updates around South Jamaica.
An NYPD official speaks during the town hall.Photo by Alice Moreno
Updates from the office of QBP Richards include:
Securing $2.4 billion in funding to address the infrastructure issues that southeast Queens has had for over 40 years;
The passage of the largest rezoning in the city’s history, mapping out the “Mandatory Inclusionary Housing.”
A $70 million plan to give Jamaica Avenue a facelift
The addition of cameras in the South Jamaica Houses
Putting a million dollars into the senior center at South Jamaica Houses
A million dollar maintenance upgrade at Allen A.M.E. Senior Housing;
Two million dollars on 50 units of supporter and senior housing, run by the organization India Home
A million dollars tucked into a 193-unit affordable housing development right off of Sutphin Boulevard
A $100-130 million dollar budget allocated to building community centers around Queens, with a plethora of upgrades.
Cutting the ribbon with Commonpoint on a new Enrichment Center on 94th Avenue.
Allocated between $130-140 million dollars on education in the budget.
Building a pizzeria at MS 72 for children to learn about running a business, and the addition of a new, state of the art Aviation wing at August Martin High School
The investment of over 50 Hydroponic labs (a lab where plants are cultivated without soil) in every school, for students to learn how to farm and to help beat food insecurity.
The opening of a new high school on Hillside Avenue in September.
Half a million dollars allocated to HBCU High School, where students are automatically granted entrance at Delaware State University.
168th street bus terminal will return to its original location as a state of the art, enclosed and electric busroom.
In partnership with Gov. Hochul, $180 million is secured to build a new state of the art cancer center at Jamaica Hospital.
The Van Wyck Expressway will complete construction in September.
The town hall was met with a wide variety of questions from the community, ranging from illegal dumping, to double parking issues, to NYPD presence in the parks this month. Some came holding signs in protest, hoping for long-awaited answers regarding quality of life issues.