Tag: Donovan Richards

Queens honors African American heritage with annual Kwanzaa celebration at Borough Hall

kwanzaa

Jan. 3, 2025 By Athena Dawson Hundreds of Queens residents gathered at Queens Borough Hall on Monday, Dec. 30, to celebrate Kwanzaa. Attendees donned ankara-print clothing, daishikis and other traditional West African-inspired attire as they dined on Black American and Caribbean soul food at the event, held at the Helen Marshall Cultural Center at…

Sunnyside fire victims receive six-month housing extension after one year

Dec. 30, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Queens Borough President Donovan Richards has announced a plan to provide 13 Sunnyside households displaced by a devastating fire in December 2023 with an additional round of six-month temporary housing agreements. Richards announced the new round of temporary housing agreements on Dec. 20 to mark the one-year anniversary of… Read more »

Governor Hochul visits Queens Center Mall, talks cost of living and public safety

Gov. Kathy Hochul meets shoppers in Queens Center mall Thursday. Photo: Kathy Hochul Flickr

Dec. 20, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Governor Kathy Hochul visited Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst on Thursday, engaging with local residents amid their holiday shopping to discuss the rising cost of living in New York and to promote her proposal to deliver Inflation Reduction checks aimed at easing financial burdens for New Yorkers. Hochul,…

Queens BP Donovan Richards recommends conditional approval of $8 billion Metropolitan Park proposal

metropolitan park

Dec. 16, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Queens Borough President Donovan Richards has recommended conditional approval of the planned $8 billion Metropolitan Park development adjacent to Citi Field, citing the proposal’s potential positive impact on the local community. Richards announced his conditional approval of the Metropolitan Park proposal Monday, stating that casinos do not often…

Cleaners and security staff protest wage cuts and benefit losses at Gertz Plaza Mall in Jamaica

32BJ union members at Gertz Plaza Mall Tuesday protesting against a decision to slash wages and cut benefits for cleaners. Photo: BJ32

Dec. 2, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Dozens of Queens-based commercial cleaners and security staff held a protest at Gertz Plaza Mall in Jamaica on Tuesday, Nov. 26, decrying contractor L&J Commercial and Residential Services for slashing wages and cutting benefits earlier this month. Organized by 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the…

A $1 million effort: Gov. Hochul and Queens officials work to curb crime and boost safety on Roosevelt Avenue

From left to right: AM-elect Larinda Hooks, Korean American Family Service Center executive director Jeehae Fischer, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Gov. Kathy Hochul, AM Catalina Cruz, AM Jessica González-Rojas, CM Shekar Krishnan and AM Steven Raga at the launch of the Roosevelt Avenue fund Tuesday. Photo: Office of Jessica González-Rojas

Nov. 27, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Gov. Kathy Hochul, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and several Queens elected officials gathered at Queens Borough Hall Tuesday to announce $1 million in funding to address illegal activities on Roosevelt Avenue. Hochul and Richards were joined by Assembly Members Jessica González-Rojas, Catalina Cruz and Steven Raga, Assembly Member-elect… Read more »

DOT announces completion of Queens Boulevard Redesign, celebrated as ‘Boulevard of Life’ transformation

DOT officials, elected officials and transportation advocates cut the ribbon for the Queens Boulevard Redesign. Photo: Shane O'Brien

Nov. 12, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Department of Transportation representatives and elected officials gathered in Sunnyside Tuesday afternoon to announce the completion of the sixth and final phase of the Queens Boulevard Redesign, which has resulted in a 68% decline in fatalities along the boulevard since work began in 2015. NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez,… Read more »

Queens leaders vow resistance, brace for ‘daunting battles’ after Trump election win

trump

Nov. 7, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Queens Borough President Donovan Richards believes that a second Trump presidency will bring “daunting battles” and said Queens will “never back down” from fights for immigrant rights and a woman’s bodily autonomy. In a statement issued after Donald Trump’s comprehensive victory over Kamala Harris on Tuesday, Richards vowed…