{"id":319506,"date":"2026-08-12T14:38:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T14:38:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/319506\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T14:38:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T14:38:08","slug":"i-on-politics-queens-gazette-39","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/319506\/","title":{"rendered":"I On Politics – Queens Gazette"},"content":{"rendered":"

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CEC 26 CALENDAR MEETING AU\u00adGUST 13:<\/p>\n

Community District Education Council 26 Cal\u00adendar Meeting followed by Working Business Meeting on Thursday, August 13 at 7:00 pm. Meet\u00ading is in-person with virtual option for community members. Meeting venue: M.S. 67Q, 51-60 Marathon Pkwy, Douglaston. Please email CEC26@schools.nyc.gov to reserve seats and bring photo ID to school safety office.<\/p>\n

INTERESTED IN FOSTERING OR ADOPTING?<\/p>\n

The Paul A. Vallone Queens Animal Care Cen\u00adter, 19-06 Flushing Avenue in Ridgewood, is facing severe overcrowding issues. The Center is over ca\u00adpacity and is looking to the public for help. If you were ever thinking of fostering an animal for a tem\u00adporary period of time, or adopting for a lifetime of love, visit the center. For hours of operation and di\u00adrections, www.nycacc.org\/locations-and-hours\/<\/p>\n

BP ANNOUNCES BACKPACK DISTRI\u00adBUTION EVENTS:<\/p>\n

Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. an\u00adnounces the following Back to School Backpack Distribution Events:<\/p>\n

Thursday, August 13, 11 am-1 pm. Corona Plaza (intersection of Roosevelt Ave. and National Street in Corona).<\/p>\n

Friday, August 14, 5-7 pm. Phil Scooter Rizzuto Smokey Park (intersection of 95th Ave and 126th Street in South Richmond Hill).<\/p>\n

Friday, August 21, 12-4 pm. 82nd Street Aca\u00addemics, 81-10 35th Avenue, Jackson Heights.<\/p>\n

Monday, August 24, 1-4 pm. Woodside Houses (intersection of Broadway and 51st Street, Wood\u00adside).<\/p>\n

Saturday, August 29, 12-3 pm. Pomonok Houses (Jewel Ave. between Kissena Blvd and Par\u00adsons Blvd, Flushing).<\/p>\n

Monday, August 31, 4-6 pm. Hammel Houses (intersection of Rockaway Beach Blvd and Beach 81st Street, Arverne).<\/p>\n

Friday, September 11, 3-5 pm. MS 358, 88-08 164th Street, Jamaica.<\/p>\n

Students must be present with a parent or guardian to receive a backpack. Backpacks will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last. One backpack per student.<\/p>\n

GONZ\u00c1LEZ-ROJAS BACK-TO- SCHOOL BACKPACK GIVEAWAYS DIS\u00adTRICT 34:<\/p>\n

Assembly Member Jessica Gonz\u00e1lez-Rojas will host a series of Back-to-School Backpack Give\u00adaways for students this week, in partnership with the Hispanic Federation, Metro Plus Health, Sun\u00adnyside Community Services, Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network, Laborers\u2019 Local 1010, District Council of Carpenters, MetroPlus Health, Korean American Family Service Center, Charles B. Wang Community Health center, and the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.<\/p>\n

Teams from the offices of Congresswomen Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Council Members Shekar Krishnan, Shanel Thomas-Henry and Tiffany Cab\u00e1n, Assembly Member Catalina Cruz, and Queens Borough Pres\u00adident Donovan Richards Jr. will also be present throughout the week, sharing critical resources and supplies. As students and their families prepare for the new school year, the Assembly Member is ex\u00adcited to give away backpacks, school supplies, and other resources for families for free. The Assembly Member and her team expect to give away over 1,000 backpacks this week.<\/p>\n

One backpack per child while supplies last.<\/p>\n

Thursday, August 13 | 11:00 AM\u20131:00 PM | Co\u00adrona Plaza, 40-04 National St. Corona<\/p>\n

Friday, August 14 | 12:00\u20131:30 PM | SCS Cor\u00adnerstone Program, NYCHA Woodside Houses, 50-19 Broadway, Woodside<\/p>\n

WON ANNOUNCES FREE BACKPACK GIVEAWAYS:<\/p>\n

Council Member Julie Won announced the fol\u00adlowing backpack giveaway events. These events will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, while sup\u00adplies last.<\/p>\n

August 13, Hunters Point Library, 47-40 Center Blvd., 4:00 pm \u2013 5:00 pm.<\/p>\n

August 17, Sunnyside Library, 43-06 Green\u00adpoint Avenue, 4:00 pm \u2013 5:00 pm.<\/p>\n

August 18, Woodside on the Move, Windmuller Playground, 5:00 pm \u2013 7:00 pm.<\/p>\n

August 24, Woodside Houses, Cherry Park, 2:00 pm \u2013 4:00 pm.<\/p>\n

August 28, Queensbridge Houses, 10-25 41st Avenue, 3:00 pm \u2013 5:00 pm.<\/p>\n

August 29, Sunnyside Greenmarket, 43rd St. and Skillman Ave, 8:00 am \u2013 10:00 am.<\/p>\n

August 29, La Jornada, 29th Street Plaza, 11:00 am \u2013 3:00 pm.<\/p>\n

MAMDANI ISSUES CEASE-AND-DE\u00adSIST ORDERS:<\/p>\n

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today an\u00adnounced legal action against online retailers illegally selling dangerous motorized devices \u2014 including high-speed e-bikes, stand-up e-scooters and other products that cannot legally be operated on New York City streets.<\/p>\n

The City has issued cease-and-desist orders to 42 online retailers demanding they immediately stop selling these illegal devices to customers in New York City\u2019s 175 ZIP codes. The products being marketed and shipped into the city exceed legal lim\u00adits for speed, weight or other safety requirements and cannot lawfully be sold or operated on City streets. Just last week, one such illegal device was involved in a tragic crash that claimed the life of a 17-year-old New Yorker.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery family deserves to know that when their loved ones leave home, they will make it back safely. That promise becomes harder to keep when companies profit from knowingly selling illegal, high-speed vehicles that have no place in our city. Since 2017, more than 45 people have been killed while riding illegal e-bikes, including the young New Yorker whose life was cut short last week, and more than 14 people have died while riding illegal stand-up scooters, including the horrific incident at the Queensboro Bridge earlier this year. These are not unavoidable tragedies, they are preventable losses,\u201d said Mayor Mamdani. \u201cToday, we\u2019re put\u00adting online retailers on notice: if you continue selling dangerous, illegal devices into New York City, you will be held accountable. We will use every tool available to make our streets safer for everyone who walks, bikes, drives or rides.\u201d<\/p>\n

CITY COUNCIL TO REVIEW E-BIKE AND E-SCOOTER SAFETY:<\/p>\n

The New York City Council announced it will hold a comprehensive hearing on September 30 to examine e-bike and e-scooter safety, hear a broad range of potential legislative solutions, and conduct oversight of the City\u2019s enforcement of existing laws. The hearing comes as concerns continue to grow over the rise of illegal, high-speed e-bikes and e-scooters and a series of recent crashes that have in\u00adjured and killed pedestrians, riders, and other New Yorkers. The Council will hear testimony from city agencies, transportation and public safety experts, advocates, workers, and members of the public as it evaluates a wide range of approaches to improv\u00adSee ing safety on New York City\u2019s streets.<\/p>\n

The hearing will be led by City Council Speaker Julie Menin, alongside Majority Leader Shaun Abreu (chair of the Com\u00admittee on Transportation and Infrastructure), Coun\u00adcil Member Harvey Epstein (chair of the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection), and Council Member Oswald Feliz (chair of the Committee on Public Safety).<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery New Yorker deserves to move around our city freely and safely, regardless of how they get around. But too many people have been seriously injured or killed in crashes involving illegal, high-speed e-bikes, e-motos, and e-scooters. We already have laws on the books, yet they are not being ade\u00adquately enforced \u2014 and we must also examine what additional legislative solutions are needed to keep New Yorkers safe,\u201d said Speaker Julie Menin. \u201cThe City Council will bring together pedestrians, cyclists, deliveristas, transportation experts, advo\u00adcates, and enforcement agencies to conduct a com\u00adprehensive review of every available option to make our streets safer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the past decade, the number of e-bike re\u00adlated incidents have skyrocketed, with data showing that e-bike collisions are up 31.7% this year in com\u00adparison to last. In May of this year, an incident in\u00advolving an illegal high-speed e-scooter on the Queensboro Bridge resulted in the deaths of two New Yorkers. Last month, an accident in Central Park left a jogger in a days-long coma after being struck by an e-bike driver traveling the wrong way. There have been over 500 collisions involving e-bikes in 2026 alone.<\/p>\n

The upcoming hearing is a part of a broad effort by the Council to conduct a comprehensive inves\u00adtigative process, engage affected stakeholders and advocacy groups, and identify effective legislative solutions that will keep New Yorkers safe and im\u00adprove transportation across the city.<\/p>\n

The initial list of bills under consideration in\u00adcludes, but is not limited to, the following:<\/p>\n

Introduction 950, sponsored by Council Mem\u00adber Lynn Schulman: Require delivery services that facilitate or arrange for the delivery of goods in the City to obtain a business license from the Depart\u00adment of Consumer and Worker Protection. By bringing delivery platforms under a licensing frame\u00adwork, the bill would provide the City with stronger oversight and enforcement tools to hold companies accountable for complying with applicable laws.<\/p>\n

Introduction 78, sponsored by Council Member Gale Brewer: Require 3rd-party apps to submit data on their drivers\u2019 ID numbers, delivery time, loca\u00adtion, etc.<\/p>\n

\u201cNew Yorkers deserve to know that companies operating delivery platforms in our city are follow\u00ading clear rules and can be held accountable when they don\u2019t,\u201d said Council Member Lynn Schulman. \u201cAs delivery services have expanded far beyond restaurants, our laws need to keep pace. My legis\u00adlation would require delivery services to be licensed by the Department of Consumer and Worker Pro\u00adtection, giving the City stronger oversight of this rapidly growing industry. I want to thank Speaker Julie Menin for making this issue a priority and look forward to advancing this bill as part of the Coun\u00adcil\u2019s broader effort to improve e-bike and e-scooter safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery day, delivery workers make roughly 400,000 bike deliveries across New York City. The delivery apps know how every trip is assigned, routed, and timed, but the City does not,\u201d said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. \u201cIntro. 78 closes that gap by giving us the tools to better understand how algorithmic deadlines, routing, and platform expectations impact worker and street safety. Better data leads to better policy, greater accountability for the companies that profit from this work, and safer streets for delivery workers and all New Yorkers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe recent death of a 17-year-old New Yorker is a tragic reminder that the rapid growth of e-bikes has outpaced the laws designed to keep New York\u00aders safe. As crashes and fatalities continue to rise, we have a responsibility to make sure our laws re\u00adflect the realities on our streets today,\u201d said Council Member Virginia Maloney. \u201cI\u2019ve championed a 15 mph speed limit because clear, enforceable stan\u00addards are the foundation of public safety. Combined with registration requirements, stronger accounta\u00adbility for repeat dangerous operators, and a review of safer street design, this package gives the City the tools to prevent future tragedies and better pro\u00adtect everyone who uses our streets.\u201d<\/p>\n

BP TOURS ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OF VAN WYCK:<\/p>\n

The final countdown to the Van Wyck Express\u00adway\u2019s full completion is officially on. On August 6, Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. and his team joined the New York State Department of Transportation for a tour of the ongoing construc\u00adtion and the newly completed sections of the ex\u00adpressway, including the section of southbound lanes that lead into JFK Airport. That portion of the proj\u00adect has finally been finished, allowing traffic to flow seamlessly, with some work remaining on the north\u00adern end near Kew Gardens. Meanwhile, massive sewer lines have been installed underneath the Van Wyck to help alleviate flooding in South Queens, which will pay dividends for decades to come as climate change continues to worsen. The Borough President said, \u201cThe Van Wyck has been under some sort of construction my entire lifetime, but we are going to be running through the tape this fall. And trust me, the reduction of traffic, the ease we can get to the airport and the mitigation of chronic flooding in South Queens will have been worth the wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

ADDABBO TO HOST ARTIST SHOW\u00adCASE:<\/p>\n

Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. is inviting artists from across his district to take part in an upcoming Artist Showcase he is hosting on October 25, 2026, offering them a chance to display their creativity and talent. \u201cArt has the ability to inspire, bring people together, and elevate our spirits,\u201d Senator Addabbo said. \u201cThrough this showcase, we are celebrating local artists while also helping build a stronger com\u00admunity and recognizing the many ways they enrich our daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

To apply to participate in the showcase, call Senator Addabbo\u2019s Office at 718-738-1111 to reg\u00adister and send samples of your work to AnnMarie Costella, Press Secretary & Special Events Coordi\u00adnator at costella@nysenate.gov<\/p>\n

Please review the guidelines below before ap\u00adplying to participate.<\/p>\n

Eligibility: Constituents Only: Participation is limited to residents and constituents of Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.\u2019s district. Senate District 15. If you are not sure whether Senator Addabbo is your representative, you can check by searching your home address at www.nysenate.gov\/find-my-sena\u00adtor<\/p>\n

General Guidelines: Showcase, Not Compe\u00adtition: This event is a showcase, not a competition or talent show. The purpose is to highlight and pro\u00admote the body of work of local artists.<\/p>\n

Space: Each participant will have approxi\u00adSee mately 4 feet of space to display or work within.<\/p>\n

Artist Require\u00adments:<\/p>\n

\u2022Visual Artists: Must bring their own stands, displays, and tables to exhibit their work. Artists must transport their own artwork for display.<\/p>\n

\u2022Musicians: Performances should be limited to 10 minutes, including setup time. Bring your own instruments. No instruments will be provided on-site.<\/p>\n

Senator Addabbo\u2019s Office\u2019s Role: Printed Materials: The office will print name tags, artist pro\u00adfiles, art piece descriptions, and a program for the event.<\/p>\n

HEALTH CENTER CELEBRATES NATL. HEALTH CENTER WEEK:<\/p>\n

The Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center (JPAFHC) celebrated National Health Center Week with five days of programming across its health center locations in Southeast Queens and Red Hook, Brooklyn, recognizing the staff, patients and community partners who advance its mission of ac\u00adcessible, comprehensive and community-centered care.<\/p>\n

Held under the 2026 theme, \u201cBuilding Innova\u00adtive Care Where It Matters Most,\u201d the August 3\u20137 celebration brought together patients, employees, elected officials and community organizations at JPAFHC locations in Southeast Queens and Red Hook, Brooklyn. Each day reflected a distinct theme, including Staff Appreciation Day, Patient Appreciation Day, Care You Can Count On, Rooted in Community and The Future of Primary Care.<\/p>\n

\u201cNATIONAL COLORING BOOK DAY\u201d FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES:<\/p>\n

In recognition of \u201cNational Coloring Book Day,\u201d the NYC Administration for Children\u2019s Serv\u00adices (ACS), the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), and the Elmhurst Community Part\u00adnership (ECP), along with city agencies and local community-based organizations, hosted an event for children and families in Queens. Summer safety coloring books, fire safety coloring books and other resources were provided to families. The FDNY\u2019s Fire Safety Education Unit (FSEU) and interactive \u201cSmoke House\u201d was also on-site, which teaches families how to safely escape a house filled with smoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing more important than keeping children safe and giving families the tools and knowledge they need to succeed. Our annual Na\u00adtional Coloring Book Day event helps us do just that through the use of coloring books,\u201d said ACS Com\u00admissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston. \u201cColoring books are a special part of childhood because they spark the imagination, develop fine motor skills, help build confidence and more. This event brings the community together, connects families to key re\u00adsources, and empowers them with life-saving infor\u00admation, all in a fun environment! ACS is grateful to the FDNY, the Elmhurst Community Partnership and all of our community partners for helping us \u2018paint the town\u2019 in honor of National Coloring Book Day!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe FDNY is proud to work alongside ACS and our community partners to help families enjoy a safe and healthy summer. Teaching about fire pre\u00advention, smoke alarms and how to safely escape an emergency, communities learn the simple steps that can save lives. Community engagement is key to the FDNY\u2019s lifesaving mission, and our Firefight\u00aders, EMTs and Paramedics are excited to connect with families and share important safety informa\u00adtion in a fun and engaging way,\u201d said Fire Commis\u00adsioner Lillian Bonsignore.<\/p>\n

\u2014With contributions by Augusta Luger<\/p>\n

This column was originated by John A. Toscano.<\/p>\n

For more I on Pols, visit this week\u2019s QGazette.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u00a0 CEC 26 CALENDAR MEETING AU\u00adGUST 13: Community District Education Council 26 Cal\u00adendar Meeting followed by Working Business…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":319507,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[9,24,63,122,124,123],"class_list":["post-319506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-queens","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-queens","tag-queens-headlines","tag-queens-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319506","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=319506"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319506\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/319507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=319506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=319506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=319506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}