{"id":366886,"date":"2026-10-07T14:57:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T14:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/366886\/"},"modified":"2026-10-07T14:57:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T14:57:08","slug":"i-on-politics-queens-gazette-47","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/366886\/","title":{"rendered":"I On Politics – Queens Gazette"},"content":{"rendered":"

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ITALIAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION:<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

For more information and to RSVP: www.queensbp.nyc.gov\/<\/p>\n

COMMUNITY BOARD 6 MEETING NO\u00adTICE:<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

OZPKRBA PUBLIC CANDIDATE FORUM:<\/p>\n

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 Av\u00adenue in Ozone Park. Come meet the candidates, hear what they have to say, and speak with them before Election Day.<\/p>\n

GONZ\u00c1LEZ-ROJAS HOSTS EVENTS IN OCTOBER:<\/p>\n

Assembly Member Gonz\u00e1lez-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\u2019s district office, lo\u00adcated at 75-35 31st Ave, suite 206-B, East Elmhurst. Residents will be able to safely and se\u00adcurely dispose of unwanted documents. Please remember to not bring any batteries for disposal. Maximum of five boxes\/bags of paper per constituent.<\/p>\n

Assembly Member Gonz\u00e1lez-Rojas will also host a free Legal Services Clinic with NYLAG and NYS Courts Access to Justice on Thursday, Octo\u00adber 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\u2019 rights, family law, and more. Appoint\u00adments are required. To make an appointment, call 718-457-0384.<\/p>\n

LEE\u2019S HEALTH FAIR NEW DATE:<\/p>\n

Council Member Linda Lee\u2019s 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 Repre\u00adsentative Grace Meng, BP Donovan Richards, DA Melinda Katz, Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, and As\u00adsembly Member David Weprin.<\/p>\n

ADDABBO ANNOUNCES NEW DATE FOR VETERANS BBQ:<\/p>\n

Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. will host his an\u00adnual free Veterans BBQ in Howard Beach to cele\u00adbrate 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.<\/p>\n

As a member of the Senate Committee on Vet\u00aderans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, Addabbo has made this gathering a tradition since joining the Senate in 2008. Veterans who live in Senator Addabbo\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe honoring our veterans is a responsi\u00adbility we uphold every day, not just on a single oc\u00adcasion,\u201d Addabbo said. \u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

FRIENDS OF MAPLE GROVE: THE AMERICAS<\/p>\n

On Saturday, October 10, 3:00 pm \u2013 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 sto\u00adryteller Sergio de Martinez. Explore the cultures, conflicts, discoveries, and achievements that shaped the continents and transformed the course of history \u2013 from the arrival of the Spanish in 1492 through the events of World War II, with WWII his\u00adtorian Sean Miller. Through engaging storytelling and historical artifacts, Sergio will bring the past to life and invite us to look at history from new per\u00adspectives. Reception to follow in the Gallery.<\/p>\n

Free Parking on Cemetery grounds \u2013 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 \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

For more information and to register: www.friendsofmaplegrove.org\/upcomingevents<\/p>\n

WON AND WONG ON BORDEN AVE VETERANS\u2019 RESIDENCE:<\/p>\n

Joint statement from Council Members Julie Won and Phil Wong on Borden Avenue Veterans\u2019 Residence: \u201cEarlier today, we conducted an unan\u00adnounced oversight visit to the Borden Avenue Veter\u00adans\u2019 Residence in Long Island City, a City-contracted shelter operated by the Institute for Community Liv\u00ading under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeless Services. As duly elected Council Mem\u00adbers, 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 ob\u00adserved 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 condi\u00adtions, and accountability from their government. The City and its contracted providers should not be put\u00adting 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

RESTORE ROOSEVELT AVE CALLS FOR FEDERAL INVESTIGATION:<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

District Leader Hiram Monserrate and former State Senator stated, \u201cCounterfeit passports, green cards, and Social Security cards are being sold on Roosevelt Avenue every day. Because these docu\u00adments 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 Fed\u00aderal and State agencies to re-engage on the issue of organized crime on Roosevelt Avenue. It\u2019s just not safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rosa Sanchez, spokesperson for the coalition, stated, \u201cSo 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\u2019s not working.\u201d<\/p>\n

The coalition released a video of an attempted sale of fraudulent green cards on 76th Street and Roo\u00adsevelt Avenue and asserts there are multiple locations on Roosevelt Avenue with a central hub near Roo\u00adsevelt Avenue that is producing the counterfeit gov\u00adernment items.<\/p>\n

Hiram Monserrate closed by stating, \u201cThis cor\u00adner, 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 fraud\u00adulent documents, traffic women, and dump tons of drugs on our local streets. That\u2019s why we keep raising our voices.\u201d<\/p>\n

ADDABBO BRINGS OMNY VAN TO MID\u00adDLE VILLAGE:<\/p>\n

Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. welcomed the OMNY Card Van\u2014also known as the Mobile Sales Vehicle\u2014to 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.<\/p>\n

Residents turned out in large numbers to take ad\u00advantage of the services, particularly as the MetroCard is no longer available and is being phased out. About 75 people attended, and 27 submitted new applica\u00adtions during the visit. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to expand access to OMNY for my constituents right here in our com\u00admunity,\u201d Addabbo said. \u201cWith this faster, simpler sys\u00adtem, riders can tap and go\u2014cutting down on time and making everyday commutes easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

MetroCard sales wrapped up after more than three decades on December 31, 2025. It has been per\u00admanently replaced by OMNY (One Metro New York), which is already in place at all subway stations and on buses. Unlike the older MetroCard, which re\u00adlied 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.<\/p>\n

Services available from the OMNY Card Van in\u00adcluded help with Reduced-Fare applications, infor\u00admation 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.<\/p>\n

Senator Addabbo looks forward to scheduling more of these events next year and would like to ex\u00adtend his thanks to the MTA for its support.<\/p>\n

WONG CALLS ON DOT TO IMPROVE PLANNING DURING STREET REPAVING:<\/p>\n

Council Member Phil Wong is calling on the New York City Department of Transportation to im\u00adprove its planning and communication surrounding street repaving projects after paving work outside PS\/IS 49 caused significant disruption during Wednesday morning\u2019s school arrival and rush hour.<\/p>\n

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 pres\u00adsure on the school crossing guard. Wong\u2019s office said the school and community had not received adequate advance notice.<\/p>\n

While Wong was at City Hall for a Council hear\u00ading, 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\u2019s office also spoke with Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia, who apologized for the experience.<\/p>\n

Before a hearing with DOT at City Hall, Wong personally raised the situation with DOT Commis\u00adsioner Mike Flynn. Flynn apologized and pledged to address the issue. Wong\u2019s office also informed DOT that similar concerns have arisen around paving work near St. Margaret Catholic Academy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want more streets repaved, and my office has been working with DOT for weeks to identify streets throughout the district that need attention,\u201d said Wong. \u201cBut these jobs have to be planned better. Closing streets outside schools during morning drop-off without proper communication creates unneces\u00adsary chaos for students, parents, school staff and drivers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wong is asking DOT to improve advance coor\u00addination with schools, residents and elected officials before resurfacing work begins. He also called on the agency to examine scheduling major paving opera\u00adtions on heavily traveled streets outside of peak com\u00admuting hours, including nighttime work where appropriate, similar to practices commonly used in European cities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can repave our streets without creating a mess during the busiest part of the morning,\u201d added Wong. \u201cBetter communication and smarter schedul\u00ading 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 prop\u00aderly.\u201d<\/p>\n

LIU STATEMENT ON SCHOOL VOUCH\u00adERS:<\/p>\n

Senator John Liu, Chairperson of the Committee on NYC Education, stated the following about today\u2019s proposed regulations by the U.S. Department of the Treasury outlining proposed rules states must follow to be eligible for private school vouchers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe proposed regulations put forth by the Trump administration today are yet another attempt to harm public schools by funding private school ed\u00aducation 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 re\u00adtaining 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 back\u00adground, which is why we must reject this Faustian bargain.\u201d<\/p>\n

RAJKUMAR STATEMENT ON FATAL STABBING:<\/p>\n

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar: \u201cTonight 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\u2019s fam\u00adily and loved ones. Our community stands ready to support them in any way we can. I thank the first re\u00adsponders and the NYPD officers who acted quickly and made an arrest.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

PHEFFER AMATO BILL SIGNED:<\/p>\n

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 serv\u00adice 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 Gov\u00adernor Kathy Hochul on the same day.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Chairwoman of the New York State Com\u00admittee 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 dis\u00adparity between NYPD pension members by clarify\u00ading that all members of the Tier 1 and Tier 2 fund will be subjected to the same calculation. These law-en\u00adforcement 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,\u201d said Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato.<\/p>\n

MAMDANI PUTS NEIGHBORHOODS ON FAST TRACK FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING:<\/p>\n

New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mam\u00addani and Department of City Planning (DCP) Direc\u00adtor Sideya Sherman announced the 12 community districts where the voter-approved Affordable Hous\u00ading Fast Track will take effect in January 2027, bring\u00ading the City one step closer to a housing system where every neighborhood does its part to meet the needs of New Yorkers.<\/p>\n

The Affordable Housing Fast Track districts in Queens with the lowest rate of affordable housing production are:<\/p>\n

\u2022 CD 4: Corona, Elmhurst
\u2022 CD 5: Ridgewood, Maspeth, Middle Village
\u2022 CD 10: South Ozone Park, Howard Beach
\u2022 CD 11: Auburndale, Bayside, Douglaston
\u2022 CD 13: Queens Village, Bellerose, Rosedale<\/p>\n

\u201cNew York\u2019s housing crisis is not going to be solved by asking the same neighborhoods to do all the building,\u201d said Mayor Mamdani. \u201cEvery New Yorker deserves a home they can afford, and every neighborhood must be part of delivering it. The Af\u00adfordable 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 \u2013 block by block, neighbor\u00adhood by neighborhood \u2014 at the scale this crisis de\u00admands.\u201d<\/p>\n

In November 2025, New York City voters ap\u00adproved changes to the City Charter to address the un\u00adeven distribution of affordable housing. Beginning January 1, 2027, eligible rezoning proposals that cre\u00adate affordable housing in the 12 designated districts will use a streamlined 90-day public review process, cutting roughly four months from the traditional Uni\u00adform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). The Fast Track preserves Community Board and Bor\u00adough President review and opportunities for public input. It does not change environmental review re\u00adquirements or landmark protections.<\/p>\n

MENG INTRODUCES PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT ACT:<\/p>\n

Congresswoman Grace Meng and Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n introduced the Early Childhood Educator Professional Improvement Act of 2026 to create fed\u00aderal grants for states to invest in the childcare work\u00adforce by helping educators earn credentials, access professional development programs, and get paid fairly for their work.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery child deserves a strong start, and that be\u00adgins with the people teaching them,\u201d said Rep. Meng. \u201cI\u2019m proud to lead the House companion to Sen. Luj\u00e1n\u2019s Early Childhood Educator Professional Im\u00adprovement Act to strengthen our nation\u2019s early child\u00adhood workforce by creating a federal grant program for states to prepare, develop, and support early child\u00adhood educators.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur students deserve the best, but ambition alone doesn\u2019t staff classrooms,\u201d said Rep. Meng. \u201cAs Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani work to ex\u00adpand 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 prov\u00ading can work.<\/p>\n

NYS TROOPERS PBA ENDORSES OSINA FOR ASSEMBLY:<\/p>\n

Pesach Osina announced today that he has re\u00adceived the endorsement of the Police Benevolent As\u00adsociation of the New York State Troopers in his campaign for State Assembly District 23.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am incredibly proud to have the support of the men and women of the New York State Troopers PBA,\u201d said Pesach Osina. \u201cOur law enforcement of\u00adficers put themselves in harm\u2019s way every day to pro\u00adtect 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The New York State Troopers PBA endorsement comes just one week after Osina received the en\u00addorsement of the New York City Police Benevolent Association, adding to the growing law enforcement support for his campaign for State Assembly District 23<\/p>\n

AOC UNVEILS BAN FLOCK ACT:<\/p>\n

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) released the Ban Flock Act, legis\u00adlation to put an end to the rise in AI-powered surveil\u00adlance 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cAcross the country, Big Tech companies like Flock Safety have built a mass surveillance system to harvest Americans\u2019 private and personal data with\u00adout 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 Amer\u00adican society is unconscionable,\u201d Ocasio-Cortez said. \u201cI am proud to introduce the Ban Flock Act with Sen\u00adator Sanders to enforce our constitutional right to pri\u00advacy and protect Americans from both corporate and government surveillance.\u201d<\/p>\n

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 \u2014 they record people. Flock\u2019s AI system can combine images of you and your vehicle with databases of phone num\u00adbers, relatives and court records to find out who you are, where you\u2019re going and why. The company also operates a national lookup tool, so agencies that con\u00adtract with Flock can access data generated by cameras in another city or state. The national lookup tool searches can turn up massive amounts of informa\u00adtion, including physical descriptions, records of an individual\u2019s online accounts and lists of their rela\u00adtives.<\/p>\n

HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NY HAD THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY:<\/p>\n

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 Com\u00admerce\u2019s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). New York\u2019s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annual rate of 4.0% from the first quarter to the sec\u00adond, which was the highest of any state and nearly double the national growth rate of 2.2%.<\/p>\n

\u201cNew York\u2019s economy is growing faster than any other state in the nation \u2014 and we made it hap\u00adpen by driving innovation, creating good jobs and in\u00advesting in our communities,\u201d Governor Hochul said. \u201cI\u2019ll continue building on this progress every day, as my administration moves forward with nation-lead\u00ading policies and investments to keep sparking even more economic growth and put more money in the pockets of New York families.\u201d<\/p>\n

New York\u2019s growth was led by industries that align with the State\u2019s priority sectors. According to BEA, finance and insurance was the leading contrib\u00adutor to New York\u2019s GDP growth, followed by infor\u00admation, real estate and rental leasing and professional, scientific and technical services.<\/p>\n

MAMDANI \u2018CLICK TO CANCEL\u2019 IN EF\u00adFECT:<\/p>\n

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine and Chief Technol\u00adogy Officer (CTO) and Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) Commissioner Lisa Gelobter an\u00adnounced that New York City\u2019s \u201cClick-to-Cancel\u201d rule is now in effect, giving the City new authority to crack down on businesses that make it difficult for consumers to cancel subscriptions.<\/p>\n

The administration also launched a new online complaint portal, built in just 10 weeks by OTI\u2019s Pub\u00adlic Interest Technology (PIT) Crew, making it easier for New Yorkers to report subscription traps and seek help from the City.<\/p>\n

The rule follows Mayor Mamdani\u2019s Jan. 5 sign\u00ading of Executive Order 10, which directed DCWP to prioritize enforcement against deceptive subscription practices and consider new rules to stop them. Start\u00ading today, businesses that make it difficult for con\u00adsumers to cancel a subscription can face restitution and civil penalties, with fines starting at $525 per vi\u00adolation. The Roosevelt Institute estimates the rule could save New Yorkers up to $162.5 million per year.<\/p>\n

New Yorkers can file complaints at nyc.gov\/click-to-cancel.<\/p>\n

AOC AND SCHUMER INTRODUCE LEG\u00adISLATION TO RESTORE HEALTH COVER\u00adAGE:<\/p>\n

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led the entire New York Democratic delega\u00adtion 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\u2019 One Big Beautiful Bill Act.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongressional Republicans\u2019 One Big Beautiful Bill Act represents the largest loss of healthcare in American history. Apart from cutting nearly $1 tril\u00adlion from Medicaid, this bill specifically targeted New York by gutting the Essential Plan and stripping almost half a million New Yorkers of their health in\u00adsurance. We must take immediate steps to repeal the harmful impacts of H.R. 1 on New York\u201d said Rep\u00adresentative Ocasio-Cortez. \u201cToday, I am introducing the Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act alongside Senator Schumer and the entire New York Demo\u00adcratic Delegation to reinstate federal funding for the New York Essential Plan and ensure that New York\u00aders can once again access this critical health pro\u00adgram.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMake no mistake, the \u2018Big, Ugly Bill\u2019 has been a disaster that has left American families sicker, poorer, and less safe,\u201d said Leader Schumer. \u201cRepub\u00adlicans promised lower health care costs, but they de\u00adlivered soaring premiums, sky-high deductibles, and coverage ripped away from millions \u2013 all to give bil\u00adlionaires 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 af\u00adfordable alternatives isn\u2019t policy; it\u2019s 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 York\u00aders.\u201d<\/p>\n

The legislation would repeal the One Big Beau\u00adtiful Bill Act\u2019s premium tax credit eligibility restric\u00adtions, 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\u2019s Basic Health Plan.<\/p>\n

NYS CONSERVATIVE PARTY ON DE\u00adMOCRATS:<\/p>\n

Chairman of the NYS Conservative Party Jerry Kassar, \u201cThe Democrats aren\u2019t shy about their radical agenda. In a matter of two days, Democrats in the U.S. House first refused to support a resolution de\u00adnouncing socialism, then voted against a constitu\u00adtional 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 minor\u00adity 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\u2019re 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 \u2026 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014With contributions by Augusta Luger This column was originated by John A. Toscano. For more I on Pols, visit this week\u2019s QGazette.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u00a0 ITALIAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION: On Thursday, October 8, 6-8:00 pm, Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. will host an…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":366887,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[75,84,83,9,24,63],"class_list":["post-366886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-manhattan","tag-manhattan","tag-manhattan-headlines","tag-manhattan-news","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/366886","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=366886"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/366886\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/366887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=366886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=366886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=366886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}