ITALIAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION:
On Thursday, October 8, 6-8:00 pm, Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. will host an Italian Heritage Celebration at the Helen Marshall Cultural Center at Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd.
For more information and to RSVP: www.queensbp.nyc.gov/
COMMUNITY BOARD 6 MEETING NOTICE:
Community Board 6 will meet on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 7:00 pm, at Queens Borough Hall, Room 200, 120-55 Queens Boulevard, Kew Gardens.
OZPKRBA PUBLIC CANDIDATE FORUM:
The Ozone Park Residents Block Association (OZPKRBA) will hold a public candidate forum and monthly meeting on Thursday, October 15 at the MUNA Community Center, 80-60 Pitkin Avenue in Ozone Park. Come meet the candidates, hear what they have to say, and speak with them before Election Day.
GONZÁLEZ-ROJAS HOSTS EVENTS IN OCTOBER:
Assembly Member González-Rojas will host a free Paper Shredding Event sponsored by Elmhurst Hospital on Saturday, October 17, from 10:00 AM to 1:45 PM. The event will take place in the parking lot of the Assembly Member’s district office, located at 75-35 31st Ave, suite 206-B, East Elmhurst. Residents will be able to safely and securely dispose of unwanted documents. Please remember to not bring any batteries for disposal. Maximum of five boxes/bags of paper per constituent.
Assembly Member González-Rojas will also host a free Legal Services Clinic with NYLAG and NYS Courts Access to Justice on Thursday, October 22, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at 75-35 31st Avenue, Suite 206-B, East Elmhurst. Residents can receive assistance with tenant and homeowner services, immigration assistance, public benefits, workers’ rights, family law, and more. Appointments are required. To make an appointment, call 718-457-0384.
LEE’S HEALTH FAIR NEW DATE:
Council Member Linda Lee’s Fall Health Fair is now scheduled for Sunday, October 25, from 12 pm to 3 pm at Cunningham Park, 196-00 Union Turnpike. Activities include foot testing, diabetes testing, blood pressure check-ups, compost and containers giveaway. In collaboration with Representative Grace Meng, BP Donovan Richards, DA Melinda Katz, Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, and Assembly Member David Weprin.
ADDABBO ANNOUNCES NEW DATE FOR VETERANS BBQ:
Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. will host his annual free Veterans BBQ in Howard Beach to celebrate the military service of veterans. The new event date is November 7, 2026. It was previously postponed due to weather conditions. The BBQ will take place at the Howard Beach Motor Club, located at 59 Russel Street, in Howard Beach, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Attendees are invited to enjoy food, music, and drinks donated by several local businesses and organizations.
As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, Addabbo has made this gathering a tradition since joining the Senate in 2008. Veterans who live in Senator Addabbo’s District will be given priority as space is limited. They must call his office at 718-738-1111 to make a reservation and are allowed to bring one guest.
“I believe honoring our veterans is a responsibility we uphold every day, not just on a single occasion,” Addabbo said. “This gathering offers a meaningful way to say thank you in person and to celebrate the courage and dedication of those who have served our country.”
FRIENDS OF MAPLE GROVE: THE AMERICAS
On Saturday, October 10, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm, Maple Grove presents: The Americas: 1492 to D-Day at the Brownson Center at Maple Grove, a journey through time with living historian and storyteller Sergio de Martinez. Explore the cultures, conflicts, discoveries, and achievements that shaped the continents and transformed the course of history – from the arrival of the Spanish in 1492 through the events of World War II, with WWII historian Sean Miller. Through engaging storytelling and historical artifacts, Sergio will bring the past to life and invite us to look at history from new perspectives. Reception to follow in the Gallery.
Free Parking on Cemetery grounds – enter the gate at 129th St. & Kew Gardens Rd. If the small parking area is full, turn right and park on the right side of the road within the cemetery (disregard the sign for staff parking only – you may park there). Cemetery gates are open until 5 PM. Cars can exit the cemetery after 5 PM only at the gate next to the Center.
For more information and to register: www.friendsofmaplegrove.org/upcomingevents
WON AND WONG ON BORDEN AVE VETERANS’ RESIDENCE:
Joint statement from Council Members Julie Won and Phil Wong on Borden Avenue Veterans’ Residence: “Earlier today, we conducted an unannounced oversight visit to the Borden Avenue Veterans’ Residence in Long Island City, a City-contracted shelter operated by the Institute for Community Living under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeless Services. As duly elected Council Members, we have a mandate under the City Charter to perform oversight and investigative duties over City agencies and City operations. We were denied entry, never granted approval, and ultimately entered on our own to carry out that oversight visit and fulfill those responsibilities. While we were being kept outside, numerous veterans came to us with deeply troubling accounts of conditions inside. Once inside, we observed serious leaks, tarps throughout portions of the facility, including near veterans sleeping on cots, and heard repeated complaints about poor food, violence, alleged drug activity, and other conditions residents say have gone inadequately addressed. Our veterans served this country and deserve dignity, safe conditions, and accountability from their government. The City and its contracted providers should not be putting up roadblocks when elected officials are carrying out legitimate oversight and investigation. We will continue doing our jobs and demanding answers about what is happening at Borden Avenue.”
RESTORE ROOSEVELT AVE CALLS FOR FEDERAL INVESTIGATION:
The Restore Roosevelt Avenue coalition, which has been raising awareness and reporting blatant criminality on the Roosevelt Avenue corridor, called for a federal investigation and enforcement regarding the sale of fraudulent/counterfeit passports, green cards, and social security cards on Roosevelt Avenue. They released their letter to the USCIS Department of Homeland Security.
District Leader Hiram Monserrate and former State Senator stated, “Counterfeit passports, green cards, and Social Security cards are being sold on Roosevelt Avenue every day. Because these documents appear identical to official identification, they may facilitate additional crimes, help individuals evade law enforcement, and pose a threat to national security. In light of NYC cuts to the NYPD and much less arrests on Roosevelt Avenue, we need our Federal and State agencies to re-engage on the issue of organized crime on Roosevelt Avenue. It’s just not safe.”
Rosa Sanchez, spokesperson for the coalition, stated, “So many people in our community feel like prisoners in their own neighborhoods. There are not enough police on Roosevelt Avenue. People have changed their route to the 7 train. Some residents stay away from shopping on Roosevelt Avenue altogether out of fear. I do not know what the Mayor is doing, but it’s not working.”
The coalition released a video of an attempted sale of fraudulent green cards on 76th Street and Roosevelt Avenue and asserts there are multiple locations on Roosevelt Avenue with a central hub near Roosevelt Avenue that is producing the counterfeit government items.
Hiram Monserrate closed by stating, “This corner, 76th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, has had two stabbings in two weeks. The one last Friday resulted in a murder. Gangs and cartels continue to sell fraudulent documents, traffic women, and dump tons of drugs on our local streets. That’s why we keep raising our voices.”
ADDABBO BRINGS OMNY VAN TO MIDDLE VILLAGE:
Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. welcomed the OMNY Card Van—also known as the Mobile Sales Vehicle—to his Middle Village District Office on September 29, 2026. The van was set up outside his office to help residents sign up for OMNY and get assistance on-site. Earlier this year, Addabbo also brought the OMNY van to his Woodhaven District Office.
Residents turned out in large numbers to take advantage of the services, particularly as the MetroCard is no longer available and is being phased out. About 75 people attended, and 27 submitted new applications during the visit. “I’m pleased to expand access to OMNY for my constituents right here in our community,” Addabbo said. “With this faster, simpler system, riders can tap and go—cutting down on time and making everyday commutes easier.”
MetroCard sales wrapped up after more than three decades on December 31, 2025. It has been permanently replaced by OMNY (One Metro New York), which is already in place at all subway stations and on buses. Unlike the older MetroCard, which relied on a magnetic strip, OMNY uses a contactless setup. Riders can pay by tapping with a credit card, a smartphone, or a dedicated OMNY card.
Services available from the OMNY Card Van included help with Reduced-Fare applications, information and sign-ups for OMNY, transferring funds from a MetroCard to an OMNY card, answering questions about the system, and adding money to an OMNY card.
Senator Addabbo looks forward to scheduling more of these events next year and would like to extend his thanks to the MTA for its support.
WONG CALLS ON DOT TO IMPROVE PLANNING DURING STREET REPAVING:
Council Member Phil Wong is calling on the New York City Department of Transportation to improve its planning and communication surrounding street repaving projects after paving work outside PS/IS 49 caused significant disruption during Wednesday morning’s school arrival and rush hour.
DOT closed 80th Street outside PS/IS 49 around 7:20 a.m., resulting in school buses dropping students off blocks away, traffic confusion and additional pressure on the school crossing guard. Wong’s office said the school and community had not received adequate advance notice.
While Wong was at City Hall for a Council hearing, his Chief of Staff went directly to PS/IS 49, where he spoke with the DOT supervisor on site, Principal Jessica Snell and school staff. Wong’s office also spoke with Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia, who apologized for the experience.
Before a hearing with DOT at City Hall, Wong personally raised the situation with DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. Flynn apologized and pledged to address the issue. Wong’s office also informed DOT that similar concerns have arisen around paving work near St. Margaret Catholic Academy.
“We want more streets repaved, and my office has been working with DOT for weeks to identify streets throughout the district that need attention,” said Wong. “But these jobs have to be planned better. Closing streets outside schools during morning drop-off without proper communication creates unnecessary chaos for students, parents, school staff and drivers.”
Wong is asking DOT to improve advance coordination with schools, residents and elected officials before resurfacing work begins. He also called on the agency to examine scheduling major paving operations on heavily traveled streets outside of peak commuting hours, including nighttime work where appropriate, similar to practices commonly used in European cities.
“We can repave our streets without creating a mess during the busiest part of the morning,” added Wong. “Better communication and smarter scheduling are basic common sense, and my office is ready to keep working with DOT to get more streets paved while making sure these projects are handled properly.”
LIU STATEMENT ON SCHOOL VOUCHERS:
Senator John Liu, Chairperson of the Committee on NYC Education, stated the following about today’s proposed regulations by the U.S. Department of the Treasury outlining proposed rules states must follow to be eligible for private school vouchers.
“The proposed regulations put forth by the Trump administration today are yet another attempt to harm public schools by funding private school education with public school dollars. The proposed rules set the stage for the federal government to siphon needed taxpayer money out of public school coffers and redirect it to private schools without retaining oversight over how those schools operate and whether or not they discriminate. Opting New York State in would compromise our standards for a sound, basic public education system that serves every student regardless of ability, income, or background, which is why we must reject this Faustian bargain.”
RAJKUMAR STATEMENT ON FATAL STABBING:
Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar: “Tonight our community mourns a life lost aboard the J train at Jamaica Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard. A verbal dispute escalated into a deadly knife attack on a train that thousands of our neighbors ride every day. I extend my deepest condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones. Our community stands ready to support them in any way we can. I thank the first responders and the NYPD officers who acted quickly and made an arrest.
“This tragedy is another reminder that subway safety cannot wait. I am calling on the MTA and NYPD to immediately increase patrols on the J line and at elevated stations in my district, and I will push for dedicated state funding to put more officers and station staff on elevated lines like the J, so that no rider is left alone and unprotected. Our community deserves nothing less.”
PHEFFER AMATO BILL SIGNED:
New York State Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato had her bill, A. 8322A/S.7808A (Scarcella- Spanton), signed into law on September 28, 2026. The bill provides parity to Tier 2 members of the New York City police pension fund who commence service after July 1, 2000 to have the final average salary calculation based on the most recent 12 month of service or a 3-year average from their highest earning years, whichever is higher. In addition, bill S.5053B (Scarcella-Spanton)/A.8178B (Fall) which raises the mandatory retirement age from 63 to 65 for certain Tier 2 and 3 uniform members of the New York City Police Department, was also signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul on the same day.
“As Chairwoman of the New York State Committee on Governmental Employees, I commend Governor Hochul on signing these two important bills. Both pieces of legislation seek to improve the lives of law-enforcement members and their families. My bill, A.8322A, specifically seeks to correct a disparity between NYPD pension members by clarifying that all members of the Tier 1 and Tier 2 fund will be subjected to the same calculation. These law-enforcement officers put in long and demanding hours to save and protect lives and this bill is the least we can do to ensure they receive their fair share,” said Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato.
MAMDANI PUTS NEIGHBORHOODS ON FAST TRACK FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING:
New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Sideya Sherman announced the 12 community districts where the voter-approved Affordable Housing Fast Track will take effect in January 2027, bringing the City one step closer to a housing system where every neighborhood does its part to meet the needs of New Yorkers.
The Affordable Housing Fast Track districts in Queens with the lowest rate of affordable housing production are:
• CD 4: Corona, Elmhurst
• CD 5: Ridgewood, Maspeth, Middle Village
• CD 10: South Ozone Park, Howard Beach
• CD 11: Auburndale, Bayside, Douglaston
• CD 13: Queens Village, Bellerose, Rosedale
“New York’s housing crisis is not going to be solved by asking the same neighborhoods to do all the building,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Every New Yorker deserves a home they can afford, and every neighborhood must be part of delivering it. The Affordable Housing Fast Track gives us a new tool to cut through red tape and make sure our housing growth is shared more fairly across all five boroughs. We are going to build – block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood — at the scale this crisis demands.”
In November 2025, New York City voters approved changes to the City Charter to address the uneven distribution of affordable housing. Beginning January 1, 2027, eligible rezoning proposals that create affordable housing in the 12 designated districts will use a streamlined 90-day public review process, cutting roughly four months from the traditional Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). The Fast Track preserves Community Board and Borough President review and opportunities for public input. It does not change environmental review requirements or landmark protections.
MENG INTRODUCES PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT ACT:
Congresswoman Grace Meng and Senator Ben Ray Luján introduced the Early Childhood Educator Professional Improvement Act of 2026 to create federal grants for states to invest in the childcare workforce by helping educators earn credentials, access professional development programs, and get paid fairly for their work.
“Every child deserves a strong start, and that begins with the people teaching them,” said Rep. Meng. “I’m proud to lead the House companion to Sen. Luján’s Early Childhood Educator Professional Improvement Act to strengthen our nation’s early childhood workforce by creating a federal grant program for states to prepare, develop, and support early childhood educators.”
“Our students deserve the best, but ambition alone doesn’t staff classrooms,” said Rep. Meng. “As Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani work to expand 2-K, this bill puts the educators in place to staff those new seats, and gives other states the tools to build the same kinds of programs New York is proving can work.
NYS TROOPERS PBA ENDORSES OSINA FOR ASSEMBLY:
Pesach Osina announced today that he has received the endorsement of the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers in his campaign for State Assembly District 23.
“I am incredibly proud to have the support of the men and women of the New York State Troopers PBA,” said Pesach Osina. “Our law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect our families and our communities. They deserve representatives in Albany who will stand with them, listen to them and make sure they have the tools and support they need to keep New Yorkers safe.”
Osina has made public safety a major focus of his campaign, including calling for stronger bail laws, tougher consequences for repeat offenders and stronger protections for law enforcement officers.
The New York State Troopers PBA endorsement comes just one week after Osina received the endorsement of the New York City Police Benevolent Association, adding to the growing law enforcement support for his campaign for State Assembly District 23
AOC UNVEILS BAN FLOCK ACT:
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) released the Ban Flock Act, legislation to put an end to the rise in AI-powered surveillance cameras that track Americans across the country. The Ban Flock Act would prohibit federal agencies from using automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) and block federal funding from state and local governments that use this technology.
“Across the country, Big Tech companies like Flock Safety have built a mass surveillance system to harvest Americans’ private and personal data without their consent. AI-powered cameras are keeping track of our every move and weaponizing this data against working people to make record profits. The widespread integration of this technology into American society is unconscionable,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “I am proud to introduce the Ban Flock Act with Senator Sanders to enforce our constitutional right to privacy and protect Americans from both corporate and government surveillance.”
Flock is the largest vendor of automatic license plate readers in the United States, with more than 120,000 cameras across the country that scan and record 20 billion vehicles every month. Newer Flock cameras do not just record vehicles — they record people. Flock’s AI system can combine images of you and your vehicle with databases of phone numbers, relatives and court records to find out who you are, where you’re going and why. The company also operates a national lookup tool, so agencies that contract with Flock can access data generated by cameras in another city or state. The national lookup tool searches can turn up massive amounts of information, including physical descriptions, records of an individual’s online accounts and lists of their relatives.
HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NY HAD THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY:
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State had the fastest growing economy in the nation in the second quarter of 2026, according to new data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). New York’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annual rate of 4.0% from the first quarter to the second, which was the highest of any state and nearly double the national growth rate of 2.2%.
“New York’s economy is growing faster than any other state in the nation — and we made it happen by driving innovation, creating good jobs and investing in our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “I’ll continue building on this progress every day, as my administration moves forward with nation-leading policies and investments to keep sparking even more economic growth and put more money in the pockets of New York families.”
New York’s growth was led by industries that align with the State’s priority sectors. According to BEA, finance and insurance was the leading contributor to New York’s GDP growth, followed by information, real estate and rental leasing and professional, scientific and technical services.
MAMDANI ‘CLICK TO CANCEL’ IN EFFECT:
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) Commissioner Lisa Gelobter announced that New York City’s “Click-to-Cancel” rule is now in effect, giving the City new authority to crack down on businesses that make it difficult for consumers to cancel subscriptions.
The administration also launched a new online complaint portal, built in just 10 weeks by OTI’s Public Interest Technology (PIT) Crew, making it easier for New Yorkers to report subscription traps and seek help from the City.
The rule follows Mayor Mamdani’s Jan. 5 signing of Executive Order 10, which directed DCWP to prioritize enforcement against deceptive subscription practices and consider new rules to stop them. Starting today, businesses that make it difficult for consumers to cancel a subscription can face restitution and civil penalties, with fines starting at $525 per violation. The Roosevelt Institute estimates the rule could save New Yorkers up to $162.5 million per year.
New Yorkers can file complaints at nyc.gov/click-to-cancel.
AOC AND SCHUMER INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO RESTORE HEALTH COVERAGE:
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led the entire New York Democratic delegation in the introduction of the Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act. The Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act would restore health coverage to the nearly 450,000 New Yorkers who were kicked off of the Essential Plan under the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“Congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act represents the largest loss of healthcare in American history. Apart from cutting nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid, this bill specifically targeted New York by gutting the Essential Plan and stripping almost half a million New Yorkers of their health insurance. We must take immediate steps to repeal the harmful impacts of H.R. 1 on New York” said Representative Ocasio-Cortez. “Today, I am introducing the Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act alongside Senator Schumer and the entire New York Democratic Delegation to reinstate federal funding for the New York Essential Plan and ensure that New Yorkers can once again access this critical health program.”
“Make no mistake, the ‘Big, Ugly Bill’ has been a disaster that has left American families sicker, poorer, and less safe,” said Leader Schumer. “Republicans promised lower health care costs, but they delivered soaring premiums, sky-high deductibles, and coverage ripped away from millions – all to give billionaires and big corporations a tax cut. In an act of political retribution, Republicans specifically targeted New Yorkers, kicking nearly half a million people off their coverage. Leaving working families with no affordable alternatives isn’t policy; it’s punishment. And it undermines public health and the health of our vital hospitals and community health centers. We must work to pass this legislation, reverse this cruel policy, and restore health insurance to all New Yorkers.”
The legislation would repeal the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s premium tax credit eligibility restrictions, fully restoring funding for the Essential Plan. In addition to restoring the program, the legislation would provide all states with the option to expand health coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s Basic Health Plan.
NYS CONSERVATIVE PARTY ON DEMOCRATS:
Chairman of the NYS Conservative Party Jerry Kassar, “The Democrats aren’t shy about their radical agenda. In a matter of two days, Democrats in the U.S. House first refused to support a resolution denouncing socialism, then voted against a constitutional amendment protecting a nine-member Supreme Court. That exposed their plan to pack the court and reshape it to fit their own extreme priorities. With Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries as minority leaders, New York Democrats run the show in Congress. That makes our work as the Conservative Party of New York State all the more critical. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson put it best: the question Americans have to answer this fall is whether we’re going to turn the greatest nation in the history of the world over to big government socialism, as radical Democrats insist. The spread of socialism should come as no surprise to New Yorkers, who already bear the burden of proud socialist mayors in both New York City and Buffalo … I am proud to report we have locked in our highest average vote counts in Party history, more than 300,000 annually, and we are at our highest enrollment in over fifty years. 2026 is the year we take back New York State.”
—With contributions by Augusta Luger This column was originated by John A. Toscano. For more I on Pols, visit this week’s QGazette.com.