Tag: city-council-member-joann-ariola

Council Member Ariola champions arts education with student performances in District 32

Ariola

May. 22, 2025 By Colum Motherway Council Member Joann Ariola continues to expand access to arts education across her district, with recent funding supporting live theatrical performances for students at schools in Howard Beach and Glendale. As part of her ongoing commitment to cultural enrichment, Ariola’s office funded two school-based productions this May through…

Seniors take the stage: Inside Broadway brings arts programs to Queens older adults

inside broadway

May. 5, 2025 By Colum Motherway Queens senior citizens have been taking center stage this spring, thanks to Inside Broadway’s vibrant and engaging arts programs made possible through a partnership with the NYC Council’s SU-CASA initiative.  The nonprofit, long celebrated for its work with public school students across New York City, is once again…

Holden introduces bills targeting fire hydrant obstruction and rodeo animal abuse

holden

Apr. 25, 2025 By Colum Motherway Council Member Robert Holden has introduced two new pieces of legislation that target fire hydrant misuse and abusive rodeo practices.  The two bills—Intro 1255 and Intro 1256—seek to bolster public safety and protect animals from inhumane treatment. The first bill, Intro 1255, known as the Rodeo Animal Protection…

Diocese of Brooklyn to honor Pope Francis with Friday Vigil Mass in Elmhurst

Pope Francis

Apr. 24, 2025 By Colum Motherway The Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens will honor the life and legacy of Pope Francis with a Vigil Mass of Repose on Friday, April 25, at Saint Bartholomew Church in Elmhurst. Bishop Robert Brennan will preside over the bilingual English and Spanish liturgy at 43-22 Ithaca St. at…

Common Sense Caucus backs NYC retirees in Medicare Advantage legal fight

common sense caucus medicare

Apr. 17, 2025 By Colum Motherway The City Council’s bipartisan Common Sense Caucus has filed an amicus brief with the New York State Court of Appeals in support of municipal retirees fighting to maintain their traditional Medicare supplemental health insurance. The brief, submitted in a closely watched class action lawsuit, marks the third time…

Common Sense Caucus pushes back on NYC’s mandatory composting law, call for voluntary participation

Common sense caucus on composting regulations

Apr. 8, 2025 By Colum Motherway A group of City Council Members known as the “Common Sense Caucus” is gearing up to introduce legislation next week aimed at making New York City’s recently implemented mandatory household composting program voluntary.  The caucus, which includes Council Members Robert Holden, Kristy Marmorato, Vickie Paladino, Joann Ariola, Susan…

Community rallies to stop proposed lithium-ion battery storage site in Middle Village

Lithium-ion battery

Apr. 3, 2025 By Colum Motherway Council Member Robert Holden spearheaded a rally on Wednesday, April 2, to oppose the proposed construction of a large-scale lithium-ion battery storage facility at 64-30 69th Place in Middle Village, directly across from PS/IS 128.  The rally, which brought together local residents, political leaders, and concerned parents, demonstrated…

Rockaway Beach celebrates 50th annual Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Parade

Mar. 4, 2025 By Colum Motherway Rockaway Beach celebrated Irish heritage and community spirit on Saturday, March 1, when the 50th annual Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicked off. The milestone event honored local leaders and kicked off a month of St. Patrick’s Day festivities in the city. The day’s celebrations began at…

Op-Ed: Together We Can Save Our City

city

Aug. 23, 2024 By Council Member Joann Ariola Have you ever heard of the Doomsday Clock? The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic representation of how close humanity is to its own destruction, maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. New York City has its own Doomsday Clock, but ours is not quite as…

Queens middle school student’s essay honoring a veteran takes her on a trip to city hall

essay

Aug. 20, 2024 By Anthony Medina An essay written by Amanda Jaggernath, a prospective 7th grader at M.S. 137 America’s School of Heroes in Ozone Park, earned her more than just the admiration of City Councilwoman Joann Ariola last week. Jaggernath traveled to City Hall on Thursday, Aug. 15, not only as a Ozone…