MSNBC: 'We need this infrastructure bill passed'
NY1: Donovan Richards outlines relief efforts after Hurricane Ida
‘Global warming is upon us’: Local leaders call for more infrastructure funding in wake of deadly, historic storm
September 2 | PIX11
Schumer, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards joined together in Jamaica, Queens to address the deadly storm that took the lives of at least nine New Yorkers, most of whom were Queens residents who drowned in their own homes.
Climate change will make catastrophic storms more frequent, Queens president says
September 2 | CNN
The President of New York City's Queens Borough Donovan Richards blamed climate change for the intensity of the excessive rainfall on Wednesday.
"These catastrophic storms are going to be more frequent as we move forward based on what we know all too well that climate change is going to continue to [rear] its ugly head," he told CNN.
The state of emergency issued overnight is not enough and the federal government needs to step up on its action against climate change, he added.
'We Need It Today:' Queens Leaders Demand Help After Major Storm
September 2 | Patch
"There are many parts of this borough that historically have flooded and it's only going to get worse, and unfortunately if we do not address climate change we will continue to lose lives," said Borough President Donovan Richards at a news conference Thursday morning on 183 Street in Jamaica, where a mother and son died Wednesday night after their home flooded, reports show.
Borough President Richards fights for Queens to have world-class hospitals
August 27 | Queens Chronicle
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, a Level-1 Trauma Center, received $589,000 in new equipment on Aug. 27, two years after Borough President Donovan Richards, who was born at the facility 38 years ago, pledged to make an investment while campaigning for his current position.
JetBlue staying in LIC; plans 1,800 new jobs
August 3 | Queens Chronicle
“By remaining here in Queens, our borough is connected to one of the world’s largest airlines and entrusted with thousands of jobs that will surely revitalize our economy,” Richards said in the statement. “It was a privilege to work with Robin Hayes and the entire JetBlue team these past few months as I advocated for the airline to stay. Queens is flying high today and open for business.”
Meet the Queens Borough President (& Candidate)
July 28 | WNYC
After winning the close-fought Democratic primary, Donovan Richards, incumbent Queens Borough President seeking reelection in November, joins to discuss the future he envisions for Queens.
Queens borough president launches College Point Task Force to address quality-of-life issues in the community
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards has announced a new inter-agency task force to address quality-of-life issues in College Point as an ongoing sewer construction project has caused disruptions in the community.
The College Point Task Force, Richards announced on Thursday, June 17, includes elected officials, agency officials and community leaders, who will collectively develop and implement solutions in the community.
The current issues are related to the sewer construction project, which is taking about five years to complete and causing excessive noise; the loss of parking space; and hazardous road conditions, according to Richards.
“Our new College Point Task Force will meet regularly to address the issues facing the community, ensuring a reliable channel of communication between city officials and the neighborhood’s residents and homeowners,” Richards said. “We will work together to fix the quality-of-life issues in the area and to bring this sewer project to an environmentally conscious, speedy and successful conclusion.”
Street vendors call on Queens lawmakers to help halt aggressive fines for unlicensed workers
A large crowd of mostly Spanish-speaking street vendors, gathered in Corona Plaza on Wednesday, June 16, to call upon lawmakers to stop heavily enforced fines from being issued to street vendors struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said that as New York City reopens we shouldn’t forget who kept the city running during the pandemic.
“These were the essential workers,” Richards said. “There are those who had the luxury of staying home and working on a computer. These folks were the ones that ran into the burning building. They are the reason this city is reopening today, may we not forget.”
Instead of penalizing hardworking street vendors, Richards said the city should be ensuring they get credit lines and grants.
Queens College breaks ground on $9.3M soccer field renovation project
Elected officials on June 16 joined Queens College staff and students for a groundbreaking ceremony for the college’s soccer field and track renovation project. The $9.3 million modernization of the outdoor sports facility began in January 2021 and is projected to be completed in early 2022.
The project is funded with support from New York state and New York City through the efforts of Queens College Director of Athletics Robert Twible, Queens College Student Association President Zaire Couloute, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Queens College President Frank H. Wu, CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, and Queens College student-athlete Shannon Gibbons.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said that the ribbon-cutting ceremony was not only about the new soccer field or track, but also about providing students with first-class sports amenities.
“We don’t play second fiddle to any other boroughs. In Queens County, we want every CUNY campus to have state-of-the-art everything,” Richards said. “And it’s one of the reasons we announced $4.5 million for CUNY institutions across the borough a few weeks ago, and that’s just the beginning of what we’re gonna do.”
Fully leased Rockaway Beach medical arts complex expected to provide health care services for about 5,000 community members
A medical arts complex in Rockaway Beach is fully leased, and plans to bring top-quality health care to the medically-underserved areas of the Rockaway peninsula.
CHA Partners, a vertically-integrated real estate developer, announced that the 60,000-square-foot medical arts complex at 105-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd. is 100 percent leased.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said the COVID-19 pandemic not only “stole the lives of nearly 700 Rockaway residents” it also “laid bare the grave and deadly inequities peninsula families have faced for years” in relation to healthcare accessibility.
“With just one hospital on the peninsula, access to comprehensive, quality healthcare has been nothing more than a myth for too many people. But the Rockaway Beach Medical Arts Complex, now fully leased, will go a long way toward righting this historical wrong,” Richards said. “We are beyond grateful to our many partners for bringing this complex to life and look forward to the healthier Rockaway it will create.”
Richards celebrates opening of new Immigrant Welcome Center at Queens Borough Hall
As the city celebrates the contributions of immigrants during Immigrant Heritage Month, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., alongside elected officials, advocates and leading immigration service providers, officially launched the soft opening of Queens Borough Hall’s new Immigrant Welcome Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, June 15.
The Immigrant Welcome Center is a first-of-its-kind service hub at Queens Borough Hall — located at 120-55 Queens Blvd. — representing an unprecedented investment in immigration-related resources available for more than 1 million immigrants who call Queens home.
“There’s a reason why we’re called the ‘World’s Borough.’ Every day, families from all corners of the globe come here to Queens to start businesses in our neighborhoods, send their children to our schools and be integral parts of our thriving communities,” Richards said. “We could not be prouder to open the first-ever Immigrant Welcome Center at Queens Borough Hall to better serve our immigrant families and provide a vast array of critical services.”
PIX11: Queens Comeback Story
Flushing Food Pantry Gets New Industrial Fridge
June 15 | Queens Daily Eagle
A Flushing food pantry that has worked to feed thousands of Queens residents throughout the pandemic became the proud owner of a new fridge earlier this week.
La Jordana, a cultural food pantry based at the New York City Housing Authority’s Bland Houses, was gifted the industrial size refrigerator by U.S. Grace Meng on Monday, June 14.
“La Jornada has worked tirelessly to feed people in Queens, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Meng said. “I thank them for all they do to make sure that families don’t go hungry, and this new refrigerator will help the organization do an even better job in assisting borough residents who experience food insecurity, especially our children.”
The fridge is expected to mainly store milk for around 2,000 children per week, according to Meng.
“La Jornada in Flushing has been a lifeline for so many families facing food insecurity,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said on Twitter. “This is what community looks like.”
Rainbow Flag Goes Up at Queens Borough Hall
June 15 | Gay City News
In collaboration with Queens Pride, the office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards raised the Progress Pride Flag in front of Queens Borough Hall on June 15 to commemorate of Pride Month.
“The Progress #Pride Flag represents true inclusion and visibility, values we hold dear in #Queens,” Richards tweeted. “That’s why we’re proud to fly this flag for the first time in front of Queens Borough Hall for all to see. To our trans and LGBTQIA+” communities of color, we see you.”
Queens borough president’s office allocates $5 million in funding for Astoria’s Variety Boys & Girls Club
June 14 | QNS
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards joined Costa Constantinides, CEO of the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens, for the Junior Home Run Derby at Elmjack Little League baseball field to announce the allocation of $5 million for the club’s redevelopment project on Sunday, June 13.
Constantinides, who served as Astoria’s City Councilman for more than seven years and left the office in April to become the club’s CEO, was excited that the redevelopment will include the first planetarium in Queens, an Olympic size swimming pool, science and art labs, a 1,000-seat arena and a brand-new theater.
Richards supports a green Rikers - BP wants to bring back thousands of jobs via small businesses
June 11 | Queens Chronicle
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards sat down virtually with the Queens Chronicle on Monday to go over his first 160 days in office as he seeks re-election. Jobs, jobs and more jobs for residents of the World’s Borough are the cornerstone of his campaign.
Queens leading the state with one million vaccinations; securing $17.5 million of grants through the New York Mets for small businesses and street vendors; and digitizing community boards were just a few of the initiatives Richards managed to accomplish through his brief tenure in this tumultuous year.
Library finds positive way to bury 2021 - Time capsule for its 125th anniversary
June 11 | Queens Chronicle
Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott joined Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside), library staff, fellow salutatorian Tasniha Islam and PS 171 Principal Lisa Stone for the celebration at the Astoria Library.
Inside the capsule were handwritten wishes for the year 2046 as well as Queens Library pins, bookmarks, a QPL mask, an invitation to the 125th gala celebration, which was on Tuesday, and blueprints of current construction projects.
Queens pols fight for maternity ward funds
June 11 | Queens Chronicle
Elected officials throughout Queens were championing a $3 million maternity unit upgrade at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst last week at a press conference to combat maternal mortality, especially among women of color.
Representatives U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Queens, Bronx) and Grace Meng (D-Flushing) submitted a joint community funding request for the ward for fiscal year 2022 to the House appropriators.
If the request is fulfilled, Elmhurst Hospital would be able to provide a more modern, safe and comfortable family-centered environment that meets current privacy standards with single rooms, according to U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), who also supports the measure.
The lone male official at the event was Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.
Richards believes “there is not enough investment going into our public institutions like Elmhurst Hospital ... it deserves a first rate-facility.”
NYCEDC grant program helped keep hundreds of Queens businesses afloat during pandemic
June 10 | QNS
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic the NYC Economic Development Corporation disbursed more than $13 million to 746 small businesses and street vendors. The Queens Small Business Grant program was instrumental in keeping many afloat during the economic downturn with 90 percent of the grants going to minority and women-owned businesses.
“With more than 1,000 applications submitted and almost $14 million distributed across nearly 750 entities in need of critical funding during this turbulent time, we couldn’t be prouder of what the Queens Small Business Grant program has achieved this year,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. “We’re talking about keeping hundreds of Queens residents employed and ensuring their families can still put food on the table. We’re talking about protecting our small businesses, of which 90 percent of those approved are minority and/or women-owned, in their times of greatest need.”
BP reaches out to JetBlue - Richards looking to keep the airline in World’s Borough
June 10 | Queens Chronicle
Borough President Donovan Richards heard the same news as everyone else back in March.
A leaked internal memo stated that JetBlue, which has 1,300 jobs in Queens and its corporate headquarters in Long Island City, is weighing the option of transferring at least some jobs to its existing offices in Florida.
The memo came in the midst of the city and state governments talking about massive tax increases.
Even U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was prompted to call JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes to press the airline to stay at 27-01 Queens Plaza North.
Richards, speaking with the Chronicle on Monday, said he also has been reaching out to Hayes in recent days.
“I just met with [Hayes] on Wednesday,” Richards said. “I’m doing everything to keep them in Queens. I’ve talked to the mayor, and I’m feeling relatively good about where the meeting ended. But there are some concerns they have.”
Fox5: Anti-Violence Rally And Vigil Honors Slain Queens Boy
Queens Public Library marks 125th anniversary with time capsule burial
June 9 | QNS
In celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Queens Public Library (QPL), Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer joined QPL President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott, staff and P.S. 171 students for the burial of a time capsule at the Astoria branch on June 7.
The time capsule, which will be unearthed and opened in 2046, contains a laminated letter from Dennis M. Walcott along with handwritten messages from Richards and Van Bramer, letters from P.S. 171 students, a QPL mask as a reminder of the COVID-19 pandemic, a QPL lapel pin, a historic photo of the Astoria library signed by its staff, blueprints of the construction project and a laminated invitation to the 125th anniversary gala.
Borough president teams up with Queens Farm to bring new farm stand to Queens Borough Hall
June 9 | QNS
A new weekly farm stand is set to open in front of Queens Borough Hall next month.
On Monday, Borough President Donovan Richards announced the new joint venture with Queens County Farm Museum. From July 1 through Nov. 4, residents can head to 120-55 Queens Blvd. to pick up hyper locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers and other farm products.
The farm stand is Queens Farm’s third in the borough, joining an onsite stand in Floral Park and a stand at with Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s “Axel” Building.
“We saw food insecurity hit record highs during the COVID-19 pandemic, exposing a true need for access throughout our borough. Thanks to this effort with the Queens County Farm Museum, we are providing access in front of Queens Borough Hall to locally grown, nutritious food. As we bounce back from the fallout of this pandemic, we must continue to ensure we do all we can to put fruits and vegetables on Queens families’ tables,” Richards said.
New York electeds push for federal funding of Elmhurst Hospital’s maternity ward
June 8 | QNS
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Queens Congresswomen Grace Meng and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were joined by several elected officials and healthcare advocates at Elmhurst Hospital on June 4 to advocate for the “much-needed” renovation of Elmhurst Hospital’s obstetrical inpatient facilities.
Ocasio-Cortez and Meng, who’s a member of the House Appropriations Committee, recently submitted a joint community funding request of $3 million for Elmhurst Hospital in the House’s next fiscal year budget. If the funding request is fulfilled and renovation is completed, the obstetrical facility at Elmhurst Hospital will provide a more modern and safer maternal health care experience for Elmhurst’s mostly working-class and immigrant community.
The representatives were joined by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, President and Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals Mitchell Katz, Elmhurst Hospital CEO Helen Arteaga Landaverde and state Senator Jessica Ramos, as well as Assemblywomen Jessica González-Rojas and Catalina Cruz.
BEEP BEEP! StreetsPAC Makes its Picks in Three Borough President Race - The coveted endorsements may provide a crucial edge in tight races
June 4 | Streetsblog
In the city’s most diverse borough, StreetsPAC endorsed incumbent Borough President Donovan Richards, who represented Southeast Queens in the City Council before winning the borough-wide post last year. For StreetsPAC, Richards “frequently played against type” for an eastern Queens pol, too many of whom kowtow to car owners in those car-sewer districts.
The PAC cited Richards’s support for congestion pricing and speed cameras, the Downtown Far Rockaway rezoning, improved transit service, new bike lanes, and reduced parking requirements.
And, lest we forget, Richards has come out strongly in favor of converting his borough’s premier open street — on 34th Avenue — into a linear park.
According to StreetsPAC, Richards’s “ambitious agenda” includes:
a network of protected bike lanes across Queen
expanded access to bike share
bike parking at subway stations
busways around Jamaica to speed up commutes
expanded open streets across the borough
$3 million to build the security fencing enabling the opening of the Queensboro Bridge south outer roadway to bikes.
Queens committee provides pathway to a zero-waste future for borough
June 1 | QNS
Following a year of community outreach, the Queens Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) compiled an analysis of the borough’s waste landscape.
Written by more than 20 Queens residents with support from DSNY, DOE, GrowNYC, and an array of the borough’s environmental nonprofits, the groundbreaking report provides a baseline against which a now formally recognized Queens SWAB under Queens Borough President Donovan Richards can evaluate progress in helping the city address climate change.
“The State of Waste in Queens report provides a detailed overview of how waste is currently managed in Queens and shows the borough can do much better in terms of diverting recyclable and compostable waste,” Richards said. “I thank the QSWAB Organizing Committee for its hard work and dedication in preparing the report. My office looks forward to using it as a resource as we work with QSWAB to develop innovative strategies to help our borough achieve a zero-waste future.”
Queens ‘Unity Rally’ brings diverse spectrum of leaders together in light of unwavering hate
May 28 | QNS
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, elected officials and community leaders from across the spectrum of religion, race and ethnicity gathered at Queens Borough Hall on May 26 for a Unity Rally to denounce the continuing rise in hate crimes toward the Asian, Jewish and Muslim American communities.
Deputy Borough President Rhonda Binda opened the rally, pointing out that Queens, the “World’s Borough,” is home to immigrants from over 190 countries and that this diversity is the borough’s “greatest asset.”
Rockaway Beach opens this weekend for summer swim season
May 28 | QNS
The weather may not be ideal this Memorial Day weekend but Rockaway Beach opens for swimming Saturday, May 29, with lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Beach capacity at all eight of the city’s public beaches will not be limited for the upcoming season and face masks will be required in all Parks comfort stations and social distancing precautions should still be followed.
“Summer in New York City is back as we all know it,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. “Reopening our city’s beaches is the excellent news we needed after the tumultuous year we’ve had. Here in Queens, we are proud of our famous Rockaway Beach. I welcome all New Yorkers and visitors.”
Borough President to Allocate $4.5 Million to Upgrade Four Queens CUNY Campuses
May 28 | Long Island City Post
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced Monday that he will be allocating $4.5 million toward campus upgrades at four public colleges in the borough.
The funds will be split among Queens College, York College, Queensborough Community College and LaGuardia Community College—all in need of upgrades.
“There are a lot of big needs across this borough but we want to make sure the CUNY institutions know we are committed,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who announced the funding at a press conference at Queens College.
Dromm Kicks Off Pride Month With Celebration at Queens Center Mall
May 28 | Forest Hills Post
City Council member Daniel Dromm kicked off Pride Month on Monday with his annual LGBT Pride celebration at Queens Center Mall.
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson was honored at the event, which was also attended by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Council Member Karen Koslowitz and former State Senator Tom Duane.
Rise in attacks on religious centers - NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force and QDA Hate Crimes Bureau ready
May 28| Queens Chronicle
To address the rise in hate crimes, Borough President Donovan Richards held an interactive hate crimes forum with District Attorney Melinda Katz, the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, the NYC Commission on Human Rights and the NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes on May 25.
“Today marks one year since the murder of George Floyd,” said Richards. “As a Black man, I know all too well that race is an ever- present reality.”
There has been an uptick on attacks on mosques, synagogues, Hindu and Sikh temples and Catholic churches, according to Richards.
There have been 191 reported hate crimes across the five boroughs in 2021, according to NYPD statistics. That is a 70.5 percent increase compared to the same point in 2020.
“I’m committed working hand-in-hand with our diverse communities to build one Queens,” said Richards. “We all have a role in fighting hate.”
Queens borough president allocates $4.5 million to four Queens CUNY campuses
May 25 | QNS
Four City University of New York (CUNY) colleges in Queens received a significant financial boost from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards’ office on Monday, May 25.
At a press conference at the Queens College Student Union Diner, Richards announced his commitment to allocate $4.5 million, which are included in the city’s fiscal year 2022, to a series of projects for Queens College, LaGuardia Community College, Queensborough Community College (QCC) and York College.
“We will allow CUNY to continue to be a beacon of educational excellence and a transformative engine of social mobility that enriches every part of the fabric of our city,” Richards said.
Queens waste committee lays out plan for zero waste future
May 25 | Queens Eagle
After a year of conducting interviews and collecting data, a group of volunteers from across Queens have released a report examining the shortcomings and successes of the borough’s trash habits.
The State of Waste in Queens, issued by the Queens Solid Waste Advisory Board Organizing Committee, made over a dozen recommendations to help the borough meet city goals of sending zero waste to landfills by 2030 and support the foundations for the next generation’s ability to reduce, reuse and recycle.
"The State of Waste in Queens report provides a detailed overview of how waste is currently managed in Queens and shows the borough can do much better in terms of diverting recyclable and compostable waste," Borough President Donovan Richards said in a statement to the Eagle. "My office looks forward to using [the report] as a resource as we work with QSWAB to develop innovative strategies to help our borough achieve a zero-waste future."
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney Endorses Donovan Richards
May 24 | QNS
With the Astoria Ferry Landing and NYCHA Astoria Houses serving as a backdrop, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney cross-endorsed for reelection on Friday, May 21. They also laid out a plan for the future of the “World’s Borough.”
Richards, who is seeking reelection for Queens Borough President after winning the seat vacated by now Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, pointed to the Astoria Houses behind him and underlined how the COVID-19 exacerbated the issues ailing underserved communities. He said that it was time to not only rebuild, but to reimagine, a better Queens.
“You see the Astoria Houses, a development that has sorely needed investment, a development made up of some of the greatest and best people in this city, but who live in squalor, who live in conditions, unworthy of who they are,” Richards said.
He noted that a ZIP code should not determine the level of education nor access to health care, public transportation and quality housing.
Queens BP Donovan Richards to Allocate $5.5 Million to Help Build Pediatric ICU at Elmhurst Hospital
May 24 | Forest Hills Post
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards has pledged $5.5 million in capital funds to Elmhurst Hospital to help build a pediatric intensive care unit and upgrade two main operating rooms.
The funds come more than a year after the hospital became known as the epicenter of the epicenter of the pandemic, when videos of body bags being loaded into refrigerated trucks outside the facility made national news.
Now the public hospital — no longer overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients — has plans to upgrade its infrastructure with help from Richards’ office.
The $5.5 million will be split into two allocations, Richards said. The first will support, in part, the construction of an $12 million pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for children in the area.
City Planning Commission launches review to bring green grocery stores to underserved Queens neighborhoods
May 24 | QNS
The City Planning Commission (CPC) has launched the start of a public review for an update and expansion of the Food Retail Expansion to Support Health (FRESH) program to bring convenient, accessible grocery stores to underserved New York neighborhoods — a vital step towards reducing health inequities that were further highlighted by the pandemic.
In partnership with the City Council, the CPC will expand the FRESH zoning incentive to 11 additional lower-income community districts throughout the city, including Queens. The program currently applies to Queens Community District 12 in southeast Queens; and will expand to Community Districts 1, 3, and 4 in western Queens and Community District 14 in Far Rockaway.
According to Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, food insecurity was a grave threat even before the pandemic, and far too many Queens families live in food deserts without adequate access to fresh produce, fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods they need.
“My office will continue to work in close partnership with the Department of City Planning to ensure the expansion of the FRESH program into historically underserved communities in northwestern Queens and Far Rockaway will, in fact, lead to the construction of new, sorely needed supermarkets in these communities,” Richards said.
Richards Announces Healthcare Investments at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
May 21 | Forum
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. this week announced his commitment to fund two significant healthcare investments at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst.
The first of two multimillion dollar allocations made by the Borough President’s Office will support the creation of a new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst — the first such investment at either of the two NYC Health + Hospitals campuses in Queens. Currently, Queens children in need of intensive medical care are transferred out of the NYC Health + Hospitals system to systems such as Northwell Health, which operates a PICU at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park.
Elmhurst Hospital receives $5.5 million in funding from Queens borough president Donovan Richards
May 21 | QNS
Fourteen months after Elmhurst Hospital was overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients during the initial wave of the pandemic, elected officials joined Queens Borough President Donovan Richards as he pledged his commitment to fund two significant healthcare investments at the public hospital.
“Today, we are announcing a truly historic investment in both the heath of our borough and the healthcare heroes at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, who have shown indescribable bravery throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Richards said. “This major investment will fund a number of projects at Elmhurst, which will expand access to critical care for thousands of families. By allocating this funding, we are thanking our healthcare heroes not just with our words but also with our actions.”
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney Endorses Donovan richards for queens borough president
May 21 | Astoria/LIC Patch
ASTORIA-LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) co-endorsed each other on Friday, as they both run campaigns for re-election against progressive challengers in The World's Borough.
"I used to be a City Council member and I loved it, but in that job I learned that you need a federal partner. I am his federal partner," Maloney said of Richards, noting the money that she's secured on the federal level to support repair projects and pop-up vaccine clinics in the Astoria Houses and bike improvements across the borough, in partnership with Richards.
Maloney described Richards as someone who makes "helping people his top priority" adding "when there is a need, Donovan is always there with the resources, with the heart, with the direction."
PoliticsNY Interview
Rep. Meng Endorses Queens Borough President Richards for Re-election
May 17 | LIC Post
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards scored an endorsement last week from Congressmember Grace Meng in his bid for reelection.
In a statement, Meng praised Richards as “an extraordinary leader who is fighting every day to make life better for the people of Queens.”
“In just his first few months in office, he has traveled throughout our great borough, meeting with residents from across many different communities, and doing all he can to make Queens the best that it can be,” the congressmember said.
Meng’s district covers a large swath of central and eastern Queens – including Bayside, Elmhurst, Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Forest Hills, Glendale, Maspeth, Kew Gardens, Middle Village and Rego Park.
The congressmember said that Richards “has worked tirelessly to help hard-working families, assist small businesses, expand affordable housing, and has strongly stood in solidarity with the Asian-American community in our fight against the rise in hate and violence.”
Meng endorses Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for reelection
Congresswoman Grace Meng on Friday, May 14, endorsed Queens Borough President Donovan Richards’ bid for reelection.
Meng called Richards as an “extraordinary leader” who fights every day to make life better for Queens residents.
“In just his first few months in office, he has traveled throughout our great borough, meeting with residents from across many different communities, and doing all he can to make Queens the best that it can be,” Meng said. “He has worked tirelessly to help hardworking families, assist small businesses, expand affordable housing, and has strongly stood in solidarity with the Asian American community in our fight against the rise in hate and violence.”
As they work to move past the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Meng, it is critical to have Richards leading the borough to ensure recovery and to get Queens back on its feet again.
“I look forward to continuing working with him for many years to come,” Meng said.
In response to Meng’s endorsement, Richards hailed the congresswoman as a “dedicated, trailblazing public servant,” for Queens, and said he is incredibly grateful for her “leadership, partnership and support” for his campaign.
“Over the past year, Congresswoman Meng has fought for the stimulus payments, PPP loans, vaccine and testing sites, and federal funding that have helped so many Queens residents through the crisis,” Richards said. “She sponsored the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to combat anti-Asian hate, and here in Queens, she’s helped victims, raised awareness, and marched in support of our Asian communities. She is a great asset to our borough, and I’m excited to keep working with her.”
Richards was first elected as Queens Borough President in November 2020, and took office in December.
In just a few months on the job, Richards has expanded access to the COVID-19 vaccine, including opening the CitiField vaccination site and securing $17.5 million to help struggling small businesses. He has also hosted food and PPE distribution events serving thousands of Queens residents.
Under Richards, the modernization of the community board process with online applications resulted in a 56 percent increase in responses and a more diverse applicant pool. Additionally, Richards has broken ground on thousands of new units of affordable housing and recognized the Queens Solid Waste Advisory Board to work on environmental justice initiatives.
Richards has been endorsed by Congressman Gregory Meeks, Council members Costa Constantinides, Daniel Dromm, and Helen Rosenthal; Assembly Member Catalina Cruz; the Queens Democrats; 1199 SEIU and New York State Nurses Association; UFT and CSA; CWA District 1 and Local 1180; Central Labor Council; Hotel Trades Council; NY Immigration Coalition action; Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Votes PAC; 504 Democratic Club; Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC; Lesbian & Gay Democratic Club of Queens; and Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club.
Rockaway playground opens after $8 million extreme makeover by NYC Parks
May 13 | QNS
Elected officials and Arverne community leaders cut the ribbon on an $8.1 million total reconstruction of Almeda Playground at Beach 66th Street on Tuesday, May 12.
As part of the Community Parks Initiative, the public space has been completely renovated with upgraded features and amenities funded by Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The playground now features a more inclusive play area, an outdoor classroom, spray showers, an adult fitness area, basketball and handball courts, shaded seating areas and more. As requested by the community, the project also enhanced the playground’s greenery with a robust planting palette.
“Almeda Playground is a treasured community resource in Arverne, so I’m pleased that this extensive and much-needed reconstruction of the playground has been completed,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who grew up in the nearby Ocean Village apartments. “All children deserve access to first-class play space, and the Community Parks Initiative has succeeded in creating such a space here at Almeda Playground and at so many other parks throughout the borough and the city. I thank Mayor de Blasio and NYC Parks, led by Commissioner Silver, for putting high-quality open space where they can safely play, gather and enjoy the outdoors.”
City to Create “Bike Boulevard” Along 39th Avenue in Sunnyside
May 11 | Sunnyside Post
The city will create a “bike boulevard” along 39th Avenue in Sunnyside by the end of the year, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today.
The avenue is one of five streets across the city that will be transformed into bike boulevards by either November or December this year. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will be creating one “bike boulevard” per borough.
“Street safety is a paramount concern for all us in New York City—and here in Queens, that is especially true,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said in a statement. “Our cyclists should not feel unsafe when out commuting, and installing more bike lanes will give them the protection they need.
A Linear Park on 34th Avenue Can Lead the Reimagining of Our Streets
May 11 | Streetsblog
Righting these historical wrongs will not happen overnight. Creating a city truly rooted in equity across the spectrum is going to take bold leadership and a true grassroots approach. On 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights, we already have the blueprint on how to do just that — and 34th Avenue should serve as a model for the rest of New York City and beyond.
Every time I visit, I am amazed. From tai chi classes to hopscotch to English as a Second Language programming, the Jackson Heights community was creative in utilizing their streets, and every member of that community deserves applause.
It is no secret that our more densely populated communities like Jackson Heights, Jamaica, and Far Rockaway are home to just a fraction of our borough’s expansive greenspace. It’s also no secret that such a glaring lack of urban space is itself a threat to public safety, significantly increasing the grave health risks pedestrians face in the form of reckless driving and air pollution.
That’s why I called for a significant expansion of the Open Streets program during my State of the Borough address in March. It’s why I rallied last month with the 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition and other neighbors to demand the Jackson Heights space be made permanent. It’s why I believe there can be no compromise when it comes to radically redefining open space in each of our communities.
On 34th Avenue, I am calling on the Mayor’s Office and the Department of Transportation to act immediately to turn what they have called the “gold standard” into a golden opportunity for good.
Queens Beep Pledges Big Cash for Queensboro Bridge Pedestrian Project
May 10 | Streetsblog
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards will announce on Tuesday that he will allocate $3 million to underwrite a security fence on the Queensboro Bridge to reduce yet another hurdle for the city in its stated plan to create dedicated space for pedestrians and cyclists on the dangerously packed span.
“The Queensboro Bridge serves as a gateway to Manhattan and the western side of the World’s Borough, and it is about time we ensure the bridge is safe for all who utilize it — and not just drivers,” Richards told Streetsblog. “Traffic safety is a critical issue at this moment in our city’s history, and we need to protect our cyclists and pedestrians as well.”
Nearly 10,000 Queens Residents Have Succumbed to COVID-19
May 5 | Astoria Post
The total number of Queens residents killed by COVID-19 is approaching 10,000, although the daily death count is now in the single digits.
The borough has had a daily death toll in the single digits for nearly a week — a far cry from the height of the pandemic when 201 residents died in a single day on April 6, 2020.
Queens has experienced the second greatest loss of life among the boroughs at 9,760 deaths, just behind Brooklyn.
The number of deaths includes both 8,424 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 1,336 probable COVID-19 deaths — in which a person’s cause of death is listed as COVID-19, but a positive test is not on record.
Local legislators like Queens Borough President Donovan Richards — who was the council member representing the neighborhood last year — said that many lives in Far Rockaway could have been spared from the devastating virus if the area had gotten COVID-19 testing from the city sooner.
Flushing ranks No. 2 in anti-Asian attacks - Hundreds stood in solidarity against increasing AAPI bias and violence
May 5 | Queens Chronicle
A 15-year-old boy minding his own business in Forest Hills became another victim of anti-Asian violence last Saturday.
Police said he was alone near 99th Street and 62nd Drive when three teenagers approached him and began calling him slurs. The harassment turned violent after the 14-, 15- and 18-year-old perpetrators began whaling on the boy, who sustained minor injuries and was sent to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens.
The incident is just one of the 42 reported attacks against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in New York City this year. Crimes targeting the AAPI community made up about 44 percent of all hate attacks in the city as of May 5, according to rolling NYPD hate crime data.
To condemn the increasing prejudice, leaders across the city marched in Flushing May 2, the second day of Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and one day after the young man was attacked by his own peers. The “We Belong Here: Queens Rises Against Hate” rally drew hundreds of Queens residents, as well as elected officials from across the city and throughout the state to march a 1.5-mile lap through the streets, beginning and ending outside Flushing Town Hall.
“There is no magic vaccine that will suddenly bring this pandemic of prejudice against our Asian-American community to an end. Instead, it is on every one of us to be that vaccine and to stand up as one, united community to end hate in all its hideous forms,” Borough President Donovan Richards, who organized the rally, said. “Here in The World’s Borough, an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. This is why we march: to show those who would spew bigotry that they will never succeed, and that Queens will never be a place of hate.”
Make way for the greenway
May 5 | Queens Chronicle
The Vanderbilt Motor Parkway may be closed for the summer, but users can expect to hit the trail once again in September.
Construction began last September, but community leaders gathered April 28 to ceremoniously break ground on the $1.5 million project to revitalize the 113-year-old roadway from Winchester and Springfield boulevards.
The Alley Pond Striders running group joined elected officials to celebrate the ground breaking. Lee Dunworth, left, Rosalie Hatch, Max Fishon, Lynn Henry, Mike Weisbord, Larry Lutzak, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Joe Gambino, city Parks Queens Borough Commissioner Michael Dockett, City Councilmember Barry Grodenchik, Northeast Parks Administrator Matt Symons, Ray Lascot and Dorothy Chusid each shoveled some ceremonial dirt.
Caribbean fusion cafe in Jamaica - Electeds celebrate grand opening of vegan, soul food restaurant
May 5 | Queens Chronicle
Elected officials and the Jamaica community came out in full force last weekend for the grand opening of the Caribbean soul food and pizzeria fusion restaurant Real Veggie Café, led by Jamaican-American Chef Hulando Shaw.
“The turnout from the local elected officials and the community was amazing,” said Shaw. “We gave out samples of our food that day and everybody was happy.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) and Councilwomen Selvena Brooks- Powers (D-Rockaway) and Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica) were all at the grand opening.
City expands violence interrupter program to southeast Queens
May 5 | QNS
Southeast Queens elected officials and community leaders are welcoming the city’s plan for an expansion of its violence interrupter network into the 105th Precinct in Queens Village.
The expansion of the program aims to address the public safety concerns in the Laurelton, Rosedale and Springfield Gardens neighborhoods by utilizing messengers to mediate conflict on the street and connect high-risk individuals to services that can reduce the long-term risk of violence.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards represented the district on the City Council and celebrated the program coming to the precinct.
“The 105th Precinct has one of the largest geographic areas to cover, with nearly 13 square miles and 354 miles of roadway,” Richards said. “It is extremely difficult to maintain the peace in our communities, and many are overwhelmed. Cure Violence expansion into the 105th Precinct is a welcome resource eastern Queens needs, and we need to do everything we can to stop gun violence and invest in our neighborhoods while keeping them safe.”
Leaving a seat for those lost to Covid - Forest Park memorial pays tribute to Queens residents who passed
May 5 | Queens Chronicle
John Walter was 80 when he died last May, one of Queens’ many victims of Covid-19. And he was among hundreds from the borough who were remembered last Saturday during a day-long tribute and memorial at the bandshell at Forest Park.
The event was organized by more than a dozen Queens residents who are members of the national organization Covid Survivors for Change.
The seven-hour proceding which was live-streamed and carried on Queens Public Television, featured a dedication ceremony and a sunset vigil. In between was a memorial to the more than 3,000 Queens residents lost, a tribute to essential workers and a remembrance of those from around the world who passed away.
“My prayers and condolences go out to all those who we acknowledged today, along with their family, friends and loved ones,” Addabbo said on his Twitter page. Paying their own respects, Borough President Donovan Richards and Lynwood Wichard, administrative vice president of Transit Workers Union Local 100, pointed to a heart with the name of Queens resident Peter Petrassi, the first transit worker to succumb to the illness, in a photo posted on Richards’ page.
NBC News: Rise Against Hate [ video ]
‘We Belong Here’: Thousands Turn Out in Flushing to Condemn Hate-Crimes Against Asians in NYC
May 3 | Long Island City Post
slew of elected officials were joined by thousands of supporters in downtown Flushing Sunday afternoon – in a show of solidarity against hatred and bias directed at Asian Americans.
The event, called “We Belong Here: Queens Rises Against Hate March,” began with remarks from politicians and community leaders at Flushing Town Hall, and then attendees processed through the streets of Flushing.
Officials estimated that about 2,000 people took part in the march, which was organized by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. with special guests U.S. Rep. Grace Meng and state Attorney General Letitia James.
‘Rise Against Hate': Rally Condemns Spike in Violence Against Asians in NYC
May 2 | NBC News
Hundreds of New Yorkers gathered to take part in the rally and a march from Flushing Town Hall to a bakery where organizers said an Asian woman was shoved to the ground earlier this year.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards kicked off the event, flanked by dozens of other elected officials and community activists on the front steps of the building.
"Today, we send a strong message from the world's borough that we will not be bystanders to hate," Richards. "An attack on you is an attack on each and everyone of us."
Free movie nights at the Queens Drive-In is coming back on May 4!
May 1 | Time Out New York
If you had any doubts, it’s looking like we’re in for another summer full of plenty of fun options for catching a flick at a drive-in theater.
The Queens Drive-In—located on the grounds of the New York Hall of Science—will also be coming back for another consecutive year. Also returning? "Free Movie Nights at the Queens Drive-In" sponsored by the Queens Borough President’s Office.
“We’re not out of the woods when it comes to COVID-19 just yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t safely enjoy evenings in Flushing Meadows Corona Park with our family, friends and neighbors. To that end, it is our honor to bring ‘Free Movie Nights at the Queens Drive-In’ back for a second year,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “From kids flicks to cinematic classics, there is something for every family to enjoy on the big screen this spring.”
City Announces Return of Curbside Composting
May 1 | The Forum
The City will resume its Curbside Composting Program, which had been put on hold due to the budgetary impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday.
This new iteration of the program will be available to the 3.5 million New Yorkers who previously had curbside collection service, with buildings and residents able to voluntarily opt-in to receive free weekly curbside composting service. Enrollment will launch in August, with collection services set to begin in October and expand as more buildings opt in. Significant expansions of community composting, reuse, and hazardous waste disposal programs are included in the announcement as well.
“With climate change already taking a toll on our city in terms of severe storms like Sandy, it is imperative that we leave no stone unturned in our fight to make New York City the greenest city in America—ensuring the long-term sustainability of our communities in the process,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. “The restoration and expansion of these programs are part of a greater puzzle we must solve to secure the safety of our families, and Queens is grateful to all involved for their commitment.”
City Council Passes Bill to Ensure Open Streets Are Permanent
Photo Caption: @qnsbike
April 30 | Astoria Post
The City Council passed a bill Thursday to ensure that the Open Streets program is a permanent fixture in New York City for years to come.
The bill, sponsored by Manhattan Council Member Carlina Rivera, codifies and expands upon the initial program that closes streets to through traffic for pedestrian and cyclist use.
The program was introduced about a year ago as a temporary measure to provide New Yorkers with adequate outdoor space amid the pandemic. It proved popular in many neighborhoods, garnering particular success on 34th Avenue, an area short of park space.
Assembly Member Jessica Gonzáles-Rojas, State Sen. Jessica Ramos, Council Member Daniel Dromm and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards all came out to the rally on 34th Avenue Thursday.
Richards called the bill’s passage — and the expansion of the program to communities underserved by it — monumental.
“What we’re saying to communities around the city is that you matter,” he said. “That although Robert Moses might have overbuilt your community and didn’t think about park space, we can take back our streets and that’s what we’re doing today.”
Workers’ Memorial Day commemorated at Elmhurst Hospital by labor, elected officials
April 30 | QNS
Elected officials joined labor leaders at Elmhurst Hospital Wednesday for their annual Workers’ Memorial Event to honor those who have died or suffered injuries or illnesses, including COVID-19, while on the job, to recognize the sacrifices made by all essential workers on the frontlines, and to renew the fight for strong safety and health protections.
Elmhurst Hospital became known nationally as the “epicenter of the epicenter” when it became overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients at the height of the pandemic just over a year ago.
“Why did we see particular neighborhoods hit harder than others across Queens County?” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. “The answer is simple. There were those who could stay home and there were those who were essential workers and we know that many of our essential workers from this neighborhood down to the Rockaways and throughout southeast Queens who drive the city could not stay home. These are the workers that drive our economy.”
Donovan’s Plan to Support Immigrants
Get vaxxed? You’re one in a million - Queens is top county in state for jabs by raw numbers
April 28 | Queens Chronicle
Queens reached a milestone in the fight against Covid-19 last Thursday when its one millionth resident got the first dose of the vaccine, making the World’s Borough the first county in the state to reach that mark.
“One year ago today, Queens was the epicenter of the epicenter of the world’s worst public health crisis in more than a century,” Borough President Donovan Richards said in a prepared statement announcing the milestone. “To go from those dark days to this afternoon, as Queens becomes the first county in the State to have 1 million residents receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, is a testament to the unrivaled strength and resilience of our borough.
Pro soccer coming to York College in ’22 - CUNY, Queensboro FC announce a 7,500-seat stadium in Jamaica
April 28 | Queens Chronicle
Professional soccer is coming to Queens — and York College in Jamaica — next spring.
City officials on Tuesday joined the owner of Queensboro FC to announce plans to build a 7,500-seat stadium on a plot of land just south of York’s Health and Physical Education building.
The stadium will be bounded by 160th Street to the west, Tuskegee Airmen Way to the south and Guy R. Brewer Boulevard to the east.
Queensboro FC is an expansion team in the United Soccer League and will begin play in 2022. In addition to QBFC games and practices, the facility will host York’s commencement ceremonies, CUNY Athletic Conference tournament play, and other events both free and ticketed.
Borough President Donovan Richards said Queens is the home for sports.
“From baseball to tennis, and now we are proud to add soccer to the mix. I am thrilled Queensboro FC will have York College to call home, and can’t wait for Queens families to enjoy soccer games once the stadium is completed.”
New professional soccer team Queensboro FC to call York College home
April 28 | QNS
Queensboro FC (QBFC), an expansion club of the United Soccer League, announced that York College will serve as the site of its home games at a press conference at York College in Jamaica on April 27.
The 7,500-seat modular soccer stadium will be built on the field behind the Health & Physical Education complex. It will be the first and only professional soccer-specific stadium in New York City. The kickoff date on the turf pitch is set for March 2022.
“This stadium will create good-paying jobs and will generate economic growth in Jamaica and all of Queens. And this is not a short-term benefit; this is a multi-generational benefit. There have been people who said we need to go back to normal. Well, I don’t want to go back to normal. We want a new normal for communities like this to make the point and today is an example,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards emphasized.
Queens: From Epicenter To Most Vaxxed In StatE
April 28 | Queens Gazette
Queens is the first county statewide with one million residents that have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. “With each resident who gets their shots, we get one step closer to building our borough back better than ever. It’s never been easier to get vaccinated,” said Borough President Donovan Richards.
Marking the milestone in an April 23 press release, Richards said, “One year ago today, Queens was the epicenter of the world’s worst public health crisis in more than a century. To go from those dark days to this afternoon is a testament to the unrivaled strength and resilience of our borough.”
Let’s Get to Work [ Video ]
Queens leaders celebrate completion of Redwood Playground renovation project in Fresh Meadows
April 27 | QNS
City Councilman Barry Grodenchik, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Queens Parks Commissioner Michael Dockett joined community leaders for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the newly renovated Redwood Playground in Cunningham Park on Friday, April 23.
The $2 million project, on which construction began in the fall of 2018, upgraded the park’s landscaping and playground equipment. Other additions include spray showers, safety areas for younger children, and an accessible ramp. Redwood Playground, which is by 193rd Street at Aberdeen Road, is an area primarily for younger children.
Queensboro FC To Build New Home Stadium at York College in Jamaica
April 27 | Astoria Post
Queens’ first-ever professional soccer franchise has a new home.
Queensboro FC announced Tuesday that it will build a new 7,500 seat stadium at York College in Jamaica, where the first team will play its home games in its inaugural 2022 season and beyond.
The club said it was entering into a partnership with the university to construct the new stadium on the Jamaica campus. York College is part of the City University of New York system.
The stadium will be built near the corner of 160th Street and Tuskegee Airmen Way with construction expected to begin over the summer. Queensboro FC released a rendering of the new stadium today.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said that the new stadium will be a place for all residents to come and support the borough’s new soccer team.
“Queens is the home for sports from baseball to tennis, and now we are proud to add soccer to the mix,” Richards said.
“I am thrilled Queensboro FC will have York College to call home, and can’t wait for Queens families to enjoy soccer games once the stadium is completed.”
April 27 | Queens Eagle
For 16 years, Claire Shulman’s name hung on the door of the corner office at Queens Borough Hall, her headquarters as borough president. Now, thanks to a new ceremonial address, her name will appear above the front door for decades to come.
More than two dozen local leaders and loved ones gathered in front of Borough Hall in Kew Gardens Monday morning to honor Shulman by changing the nameplate that reads “One Claire Shulman Way.” The former nurse-turned-politician died in August 2020 at age 94.
A new sign with the ceremonial address commemorates the “larger-than-life figure who consistently defied expectations,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who was close with Shulman.
Queens Borough Hall unveils tribute to Claire Shulman
April 27 | QNS
Family, friends and former staffers of Claire Shulman, the late former Queens borough president, gathered alongside elected officials and community representatives outside Queens Borough Hall on April 26 for the unveiling of “One Claire Shulman Way” as its vanity address.
Shulman, the first female Queens borough president, served the “World’s Borough” for 16 years from 1986 to 2002. She became deputy president in 1980 and interim borough president in 1986 after Borough President Donald Manes resigned. Despite all doomsday prophecies from the political elite, she went on to win four re-elections before vacating the seat due to term limits.
Queens Borough President Donavan Richards described how the political establishment underestimated her when she took over the borough president’s office.
“Boy, did she prove them wrong. Every step of the way,” Richards said before listing some of her many accomplishments during her tenure as borough president.
Clare Schulman Tribute at Borough Hall
City’s commitment to electric school bus fleet has Queens leaders charged up
April 26 | QNS
As part of his Earth Day green initiatives, Mayor Bill de Blasio addressed a quality of life issue that has vexed Queens residents for generations.
New York City’s public school buses will be electric by 2035 with 75 electric school buses added to the fleet over the next two years.
The switch to electric buses was hailed by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.
“This common-sense investment to reduce our carbon footprint and dramatically cut emissions that pollute our air will make an indescribable impact in the long-term health of our families and our city as a whole,” Richards said. “I look forward to the day when every vehicle in this city runs on electric power, while the days of fossil fuel consumption become nothing but a distant memory.”
Queens Borough Hall Gets New Address in Honor of Late Borough President Claire Shulman
April 26 | Astoria Post
The entrance to Borough Hall has been adorned with a new address to greet visitors for years to come.
Queens Borough Hall has been given a new vanity address in honor of late Queens Borough President Claire Shulman.
The address of the Kew Gardens building, where Shulman served as the borough’s first female borough president for 16 years, was designated “One Claire Shulman Way.”
A sign above the door displaying the new address was unveiled in a ceremony led by current Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Monday.
Queens becomes first county in New York State to reach 1 million vaccine milestone
April 24 | QNS
A year after Queens became the city’s epicenter of COVID-19, the borough has reached 1 million residents vaccinated, making it the first county in the state to reach the milestone.
Borough President Donovan Richards announced the achievement on Friday, April 23, based on data from the State Department of Health showing that 1 million residents in “The World’s Borough” have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
April 23 | Queens Eagle
A group of Queens’ elected officials convened at Borough Hall Wednesday to call for systemic change and to honor the Black Americans killed at the hands of law enforcement, a day after an ex-cop was convicted of murdering George Floyd in Minnesota.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards reminded attendees that the fight for justice did not start with the murder of George Floyd and that it does not end with indictment of Derek Chauvin. He took a moment to remember Sean Bell and the acquittal of the officers who shot him.
“We’ve always felt that our lives did not matter — every time we lost [a case], and there was no justice served we felt devalued,” Richards said. “Especially by those meant to protect and serve.”
Richards called for deeper investment in low-income areas and an active commitment from elected officials to root out excessive force, pass laws to protect people of color and ensure accountability for police violence.
“When we say Black lives matter it shouldn’t be viewed as an attack on any other community or an attack on law enforcement,” he added. “It should be viewed as a truth which we can all stand firmly on but this only happens when we practice police accountability.”
April 23 | Queens Eagle
Late Queens Borough President Claire Shulman’s name will live on at the government office where she presided for 16 years.
Starting Monday, Queens Borough Hall will be located at “One Claire Shulman Way,” a vanity address that will appear on a street sign outside the building.
“Claire Shulman was a larger-than-life figure who consistently defied expectations with her uncanny ability to get things done for the people of Queens,” current Borough President Donovan Richards said Friday.
Queens officials celebrate return of composting services as part of city’s COVID-19 recovery plan
April 23 | QNS
Queens elected officials are welcoming the return of several composting programs that were cut from the city budget during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis caused by the shutdown.
The Earth Day announcement at City Hall included the resumption of the curbside composting service provided by the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and the expansion of community composting, reuse and hazardous waste disposal initiatives.
“With climate change already taking a toll on our city in terms of severe storms like Sandy, it is imperative that we leave no stone unturned in our fight to make New York City the greenest city in America — ensuring the long-term sustainability of our communities in the process,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. “The restoration and expansion of these programs are part of a greater puzzle we must solve to secure the safety of our families, and Queens is grateful to all involved for the commitment.”
latest city initiative to curb gun violence that is set to be implemented in Queens
April 23 | QNS
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said it is no longer enough to interrupt gun violence as it happens.
“Keeping our families safe and streets secure requires a proactive, hands-on approach with our youth — actively engaging our families with numerous opportunities for employment and personal enrichment that our historically underserved communities have sought for years,” Richards said. “Safe Summer NYC represents a significant step toward a future where our neighborhoods are gun and gang free, and we look forward to working with our city and community partners to make that a reality.”
Donovan’s Plan for Climate Justice
Queens leaders rally at Borough Hall in solidarity with Black lives after Chauvin verdict
April 22 | QNS
One day after a jury found former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd on all three counts, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards joined several elected officials for a rally in the Helen Marshall Cultural Center at Queens Borough Hall on April 21.
Like many others, Richards said he didn’t expect that Chauvin would be found guilty. He recalled the raw emotions he felt when the verdict in the Sean Bell case came in, acquitting the officers involved in the shooting death of Bell on all charges.
Bell, who was Richard’s neighbor, died in the early morning of his wedding on Nov. 25, 2006, when plain-clothed and undercover NYPD officers fired a total of 50 rounds at Bell and his two friends.
“At that moment, we never thought we would get justice or see justice in this country,” he said.
Richards said that many Black men, himself included, felt Chauvin’s knee on their necks and that centuries of racism and injustice left them so disillusioned, they couldn’t even imagine a guilty verdict.
“We’ve always felt that our lives did not matter. Every time, one of us lost our lives, and there was no justice served. It didn’t matter what our title was. We felt devalued,” the former councilman said.
Mayor says city will fully fund 116th Pct
April 22 | Queens Chronicle
Ten months after the city pulled the plug on a new 116th Precinct in Southeast Queens, Mayor de Blasio said he wants to bring back what residents have been fighting to get built since the Ed Koch administration.
“I can announce today that we are fully funding the new 116th Precinct and a new community center,” de Blasio said Tuesday during a press conference largely devoted to combating crime and gun violence through police-community partnerships.
Members of the 116th Precinct Community Task Force, many of whom go back to its origins, were praised by U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Queens, Nassau) and Borough President Donovan Richards.
City moving on gun, gang violence push — Pols, NYPD lay out community and law enforcement crime initiatives
April 22 | Queens Chronicle
NYPD Chief of Department Rodney Harrison couldn’t hide his personal sadness Tuesday when discussing the arrests in the March 12 death of Gudelia Vallinas, 37, in a stray-bullet gang-related shooting March 12.
The mayor said the Summer All Out program will move 200 officers from administrative assignments to beef up patrols in areas with the highest levels of gun violence. The city also will double the size of the Cure Violence workforce from 325 to 650, and expand it to 31 sites. Summer Youth Employment slots will more than double from 800 to 2,000.
District Attorney Melinda Katz and Borough President Donovan Richards both said the continued partnership between the NYPD and its neighborhoods is a key to the effort.
“There’s no contradiction in asking for safe streets and fair policing,” said Richards, also speaking of Vallinas, who was a mother of two when she was shot near the Woodside Houses.
Mayor Rolls Out Summer Safety Plan as Gun Violence Continues to Rise
April 21 | Sunnyside Post
Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a new plan Tuesday that will add more cops in high crime areas as a means to combat gun violence.
The announcement comes at a time when the number of shootings continues to spike across the city and New Yorkers have been calling for the mayor to clamp down on it. For the month of March 2021, there were 492 gun arrests citywide, a 66.8 percent increase compared to March 2020, according to the NYPD.
“It’s not enough to interrupt gun violence as it happens. Keeping our families safe and streets secure requires a proactive, hands-on approach with our youth — actively engaging our families with numerous opportunities for employment and personal enrichment that our historically underserved communities have sought for years,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.
NYC PARKS REVEALS DESIGN PLANS FOR $4.6 MILLION RENOVATION OF GORMAN PLAYGROUND
April 21 | CityLand
NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP today joined Borough President Donovan Richards, Council Member Costa Constantinides and Queens Community Board 3 District Manager Giovanna Reid to unveil the design for a $4.6 million renovation of Gorman Playground in East Elmhurst.
“The creative design unveiled today for Gorman Playground could not have been developed without the extensive and valuable input of residents of the surrounding community,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. “Thanks to their valuable ideas and feedback, their kids will soon be able to enjoy a playground that has been transformed into a top-quality recreational space that will delight East Elmhurst’s children for decades to come. We look forward to seeing this exciting design become reality.”
Queens officials celebrate completed renovation of Crocheron Park Little League Ballfields in Bayside
April 20 | QNS
On Friday, Queens lawmakers and the NYC Parks Department celebrated the completion of the much-anticipated renovations at Crocheron Park Little League Ballfields in Bayside.
Construction began in 2019 and included a comprehensive reconstruction of the park’s southeast ballfield (known as Field 3), the installation of new bleachers and enhanced landscaping for the area. Additionally, the field received new safety and accessibility features for players and fans alike.
“The baseball field renovations at Crocheron Park have created a first-class recreational space where the Major League Baseball players of tomorrow can hone their skills and enjoy the fun that only the national pastime can bring,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. “These renovated ballfields will be a true asset to the Bayside community.”
$3.2 Million Overhaul of Hart Playground Complete, Officials to Hold Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Tuesday
April 19 | Sunnyside Post
The Parks Dept. has completed a $3.2 million revamp of a Woodside park and will hold a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event Tuesday that will be attended by several Queens officials.
Hart Playground, located at 37th Avenue and 65th Street, has been given a facelift and now features a new basketball court, children’s play areas and other amenities.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards will attend the ceremony tomorrow.
Elected Officials, Community Leaders Announce $4.3M for Floating Hospital
April 19 | National Herald
NEW YORK – On April 17, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) joined Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and community leaders to announce the $4,320,500 she secured for the Floating Hospital in the American Rescue Plan. The resources are part of the American Rescue Plan’s investments to expand health services and access to COVID-19 vaccines in underserved communities.
"With a healthcare system here in Queens that was overburdened well before the COVID-19 pandemic struck with deadly, unprecedented force, greatly expanding access to quality healthcare deserving of our families must be the top priority of all our leaders on all levels of government. With the passage of the American Rescue Plan, we've done just that," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "These critical funds, which will be used right here at the Floating Hospital, will help expedite our COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts in underserved neighborhoods and boost the collective health of our communities. Queens is grateful to Rep. Carolyn Maloney and all our borough representatives who fought to bring the American Rescue Plan to life."
Long-Awaited Revamp Of Bayside's Little League Field Complete
April 17 | MSN Sports
The NYC Parks Department began construction on the park’s southeast ballfield — which it had planned to reconstruct since 2017, according to agency records — at 215th St. and 35th Ave in July of 2019, Patch reported.
Current Borough President Donovan Richards has continued to support the project, describing the renovated fields as “a first-class recreational space where the Major League Baseball players of tomorrow can hone their skills and enjoy the fun that only the National Pastime can bring.”
NYPD chief joins Queens officials to inform Asian community about safety resources in Flushing
April 16 | QNS
In light of the staggering increase in Asian American hate crimes, NYPD Community Affairs Chief Jeffrey Maddrey joined Councilman Peter Koo and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards on a walkthrough tour of Flushing on Wednesday, April 14, to talk to local business owners and residents addressing the issues facing the Asian American community.
Richards pointed out that Queens county is the most diverse county in the nation.
“We believe in building bridges, not walls. We break down walls here in Queens County because we understand that our diversity is our strength,” Richards said.
NYC Parks $4.5m Renovation Of Chappetto Square
April 16 | Queens Gazette
NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP joined Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, City Council Member Costa Constantinides, and Queens Community Board 1 Chair Marie Torniali to cut the ribbon on the total reconstruction of Chappetto Square through the Community Parks Initiative (CPI) — the City’s first-ever parks equity initiative. The project was funded by a $4.5 million allocation from Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“The reconstruction of Chappetto Square has transformed this space into a first-class neighborhood park that will serve the entire Astoria community,” said Borough President Richards. “With the COVID-19 pandemic hopefully in our rear view mirror, folks are beginning to rediscover their communities, and there is no better place for Astoria residents to start their rediscovery than by visiting this wonderful gem of a park. Peter Chappetto, the fallen World War II service member for whom Chappetto Square is named, would be proud to know that his old neighborhood has such a fine park.”
Gorman Playground designs unveiled
April 15 | Queens Chronicle
The city revealed design plans for a $4.6 million renovation of Gorman Playground in East Elmhurst last Thursday.
“The creative design unveiled today for Gorman Playground could not have been developed without the extensive and valuable input of residents of the surrounding community,” said Borough President Donovan Richards. “Thanks to their valuable ideas and feedback, their kids will soon be able to enjoy a playground that has been transformed into a top-quality recreational space that will delight East Elmhurst’s children for decades to come.”
Queens leaders applaud city’s launch of summer programs for kids
April 14 | QNS
Queens elected officials are praising a new city initiative that will combine summer school and summer camp to create a program to help youngsters as parents return to the workplace.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that applications for the free Summer Rising plan will open Monday, April 26, and families can sign up through the Discover DYCD website.
“It has been a tumultuous year for our city’s youth and Summer Rising is critical for our return to normal,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. “Our students deserve every opportunity available to thrive and learn, and I encourage Queens families to take advantage of this innovative program.”
City to Launch Summer School Program, Open to All Students
April 14 | Long Island City Post
The city is launching a summer school program that is open to all students to attend — not just those who have fallen behind academically.
The free program, offered by the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD), will combine school instruction with extracurricular activities for students in grades K through 12.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards praised the city’s announcement and urged Queens students to enroll in the summer program.
“It has been a tumultuous year for our City’s youth and Summer Rising is critical for our return to normal,” he said in a statement. “Our students deserve every opportunity available to thrive and learn, and I encourage Queens families to take advantage of this innovative program.”
NYC expanding violence interrupter model at Woodside and Astoria Houses
April 13 | Queens Eagle
New York City will soon increase the role of so-called violence interrupters at two Western Queens public housing complexes where shootings have spiked, officials said Monday.
The Woodside Houses and Astoria Houses, both located in the 114th Precinct, will be the latest focus areas of the city’s crisis management system, which funds mediation and community services for people at risk of gun violence. The model relies on credible messengers — community members with street experience also known as violence interrupters — to diffuse conflicts and connect residents with counseling, employment, education and other services.
The city’s decision comes after three people were shot around the Woodside Houses last month. The victims included Gudelia Vallinas, a 37-year-old mother of two killed by a stray bullet March 12.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards described the plan to increase the number of violence interrupters at the two public housing complexes during a meeting with community board leaders and Police Commissioner Dermot Shea Monday.
Jackson Heights Leaders Show Support for Residents Left Homeless Following Last Week’s Fire
April 13 | Astoria Post
Queens elected officials – including U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – joined dozens of residents displaced by last week’s massive blaze in Jackson Heights at a news conference in front of their fire-ravaged buildings Monday afternoon.
The event was held to show support for the hundreds of tenants left in disarray. More than 150 families were forced to abandon their apartments as a result of the eight-alarm blaze.
“In less than one hour, [we] lost our homes and left with only the clothes on our back,” said Andrew Sokolof-Diaz, president of the 89th Street Tenants Unidos Association. The group represents residents of 89-07 and 89-11 34 Ave., both of which were damaged during the fire.
Ocasio-Cortez, state Sen. Jessica Ramos, Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and a representative for Councilmember Daniel Dromm addressed the crowd and pledged to help the residents.
$4.5 Million Revamp of Small Park in Astoria is Complete, Officials Hold Ribbon Cutting
April 10 | Astoria Post
The Parks Dept. has completed a $4.5 million revamp of a small park located by the Triborough Bridge and several Queens officials visited the area yesterday to hold a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
Chappetto Square, a 1.25 acre park located on Hoyt Ave (between 21st and 23rd streets), has been transformed from an unkempt asphalt area into a landscaped community park.
The park now features four new seal-coated ecua-volley courts, drinking fountains with bottle fillers, asphalt pathways, and enhanced landscaping. It also includes shaded seating areas, game tables, and lighting for the pedestrian pathway.
“The reconstruction of Chappetto Square has transformed this space into a first-class neighborhood park that will serve the entire Astoria community,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards at the ceremony.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic hopefully in our rear view mirror, folks are beginning to re-discover their communities, and there is no better place for Astoria residents to start their re-discovery than by visiting this wonderful gem of a park,” he added.
Richards introduces list of CB reforms - The BP announced new measures in unveiling his new appointments
April 9 | Queens Chronicle
A new borough president means a new approach toward community boards.
When Queens Borough President Donovan Richards held a virtual webinar on Tuesday announcing his first slate of community board appointments since being elected he also took the opportunity to make several reforms to the Queens community board network.
The reforms include establishing a centralized code of conduct for board members in addition to the call for every community board to conduct a review of its bylaws in order to try and create more uniformity throughout the 14 boards.
In describing his office’s process of naming new members to the borough’s community boards, Richards said his staff paid close attention to making appointments and reappointments that would make the panels more inclusive, adding more racial diversity and more women to them. The boards only had room for 110 appointees chosen from over 900 applicants.
Ribbon Cut On $4.5M Renovation Of Astoria's Chappetto Square
April 9 | Astoria Patch
ASTORIA, QUEENS — On a sunny Thursday afternoon a group of elected officials and community members cut the $4.5 million ribbon on Chappetto Square.
The project has also added four ecuavoley courts with net-less posts, where people can play the Ecuadorian version of volleyball or set up their own games — NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and Constantinides all played a masked game on the court, according to a photo posted on Twitter by the NYC Parks Communications team.
April 9 | Queens Eagle
Over two dozen New York City leaders have urged the federal government to kill a controversial pipeline project that would run underneath the waters off the Rockaway Peninsula.
The proposed Williams Northeast Supply Enhance Pipeline, or Williams Pipeline, would deliver fracked gas from Pennsylvania to New York city via a tube underneath New York Harbor. The plan was rejected last year by New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation.
In a letter Wednesday, Comptroller Scott Stringer, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and State Sens. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., Jessica Ramos and James Sanders called on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Richard Glick to also reject the Williams Pipeline once and for all. The pipeline would move the city and state further from achieving its climate goals, they said.
Queens borough president will host two job fairs in April
April 8 | Queens Eagle
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards will host two virtual Queens job fairs to help residents get back to work this month, he said Tuesday.
Richards will co-host the first event with Assemblymember Catalina Cruz on April 9. The job fair will feature representatives from 82nd Street Academics, Animal Care Centers of NYC, Building Skills NY, CAMBA, Inc., Commonpoint Queens, the Council for Airport Opportunity, Express Employment Professionals, New York Life, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, and Workforce1.
"The economy came to a grinding halt at the onset of COVID-19, resulting in millions of lost jobs nationwide,” Cruz said. “While some of our neighbors have begun to go back to work, many are still struggling to put food on the table. These job fairs are critical in connecting job hunters with the resources they need to get back on their feet.”
The second, regularly scheduled job fair will take place one week later on April 15.
Participating organizations include Animal Care Centers of NYC, Building Skills NY, CAMBA, Inc., The Child Center of New York, Commonpoint Queens, the Council for Airport Opportunity, District Council 9 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Empire Vets, Express Employment Professionals, Forest Hills Financial Group, the New York City Children's Center, NYC Transit/MTA, New York Life, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, Queens Centers for Progress, Resorts World Casino New York City, Turning Point for Women and Families, WATCHGUARD 24/7, Westhab, Inc., and Workforce1.
Both will be livestreamed on queensbp.org.
Registration for the pre-fair question and answer is available online.
Queens borough president announces reforms and new appointments to community boards
April 7 | QNS
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards held a virtual webinar on Tuesday, April 6, to outline community board reforms and new appointees.
Richards described the move to make new appointments and reappointments to community boards more inclusive, which included adding diverse voices and more women to the boards.
During Richards’ campaign for borough president, the former councilman advocated for more equity on the borough’s advisory boards. For Richards, this is the beginning of a long road of work ahead to ensure all Queens citizens are represented.
“It’s important to remember that in Queens county, we boast over 350 different languages spoken in Queens county, and our boards need to represent that,” Richard said. “We don’t build walls; we break them down, and diversity is our strength.”
Borough President Richards Names New Community Board Appointees, Announces Reforms
April 7 | Sunnyside Post
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced Tuesday his community board appointments as well as a number of new reforms that aim to raise board standards.
Richards appointed 373 members across Queens’ 14 community boards out of a pool of more than 900 applicants — a record number of applications for the borough. Each appointee will serve a two-year term from April 1, 2021 through to March 31, 2023.
The majority of appointees were existing board members, although 110 members were selected to a board for the first time. Of the first time members, 62 percent are women, 74 percent are 45 years old or younger and 73 percent are people of color, according to Richards’ office — all increases from previous years.
Parents of school-aged children are also better represented with this year’s appointees, he said. About a third of new members have children in grades K to 12.
Queens United Against Anti-Asian Attacks
March 31 | Queens Eagle
When the Queens Community Board 7 chair berated a young woman at a contentious rezoning hearing last year, police officers approached and separated him.
Another Community Board 7 member sparked outrage in 2019 when she said pedestrians “deserve to get run over” if they cross the street with their eyes glued to their phones. An ex-Community Board 2 chair was hit last year with a workplace discrimination complaint.
And then there was the Community Board 4 member who said bike lanes would be unnecessary after Donald Trump rounded up “all the illegals.”
Those behaviors would likely all face punishment under a new set of Queens community board reforms introduced by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Wednesday.
The reforms, including the creation of a clear code of conduct and disciplinary protocols, come a day before Richards announces new appointments to Queens’ 14 community boards.
Queens electeds join community leaders at candlelight vigil for Atlanta mass shooting victims
March 31 | QNS
A little more than a month after Queens Borough President Donavan Richards held a press conference addressing the steep rise in AAPI hate crimes, the borough president joined elected officials and members of the community outside Borough Hall on March 29. This time, they were there to remember the victims of the Atlanta mass shooting with a candlelight vigil.
“Let’s work hard and continue to partner together so that the next time we gather here, it will be in celebration and empowerment and that we’re elevating our communities,” Binda said before introducing Richards.
The borough president began his speech by chanting, “stop Asian hate” before observing a moment of silence for the victims of Atlanta and the victims of verbal and physical hate crimes across the country.
Vaccine efforts still lagging in poorer NYC neighborhoods
March 30 | New York Post
“It’s mind-boggling, it’s unacceptable, it’s beyond ridiculous that we’re having this conversation,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. “This is a matter of life and death for these communities.”
New York City’s poorer neighborhoods are still being left behind in the race to vaccinate against COVID-19, despite promises from Mayor de Blasio and Gov. Cuomo to improve equity, data shows.
Queens’ CitiField ballpark is home to one of the city’s highest-profile vaccination hubs, yet its zip code, 11368, is the third-least vaccinated across the five boroughs, according to an analysis of city data by The Post.
Just 20.2 percent of residents in that zip code — which covers portions of Corona and Flushing — have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, well below the citywide average of 31 percent.
Speaking Out Against Anti-Asian Attacks
March 29 | CBS News
Dozens gathered in Queens on Monday night for a candlelight vigil honoring the lives lost in the Atlanta shooting and standing will all victims of hate.
NYPD numbers show at least 31 anti-Asian hate crimes citywide so far in 2021. But the department admits crimes against Asian Americans have long gone underreported.
“Being silent is being complicit when we see our brothers and sisters being attacked,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.
Mayor Pledges to Provide Greater Support to Community Groups That Manage Open Streets
March 29 | Long Island City Post
“With the pandemic interrupting our normal way of life, Open Streets became salvations for restaurants and changed the way we dine here in New York City,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said in a statement. “Open Streets have truly revitalized boulevards, avenues and more across Queens, and I look forward to seeing our streets enjoyed again this year.”
The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) is now accepting applications for the second year of its Open Streets program that transforms roadways into pedestrian spaces and outdoor dining areas.
Local businesses and community groups can apply online to designate a street near them as an Open Street. Both new and existing community partners are encouraged to submit a 2021 application as soon as possible, although the DOT is accepting submissions on an ongoing basis.
Pols Urge JetBlue to Stay in Queens
March 29 | The Forum
On Wednesday, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. sent a letter to Hayes, urging the company to commit keeping its corporate headquarters in LIC.
“When JetBlue initially chose Kew Gardens and later Long Island City as the site of its corporate headquarters, it marked the beginning of what has become a deep and mutually-beneficial partnership between your airline and the borough of Queens. Let’s continue that partnership,” Richards wrote. “I understand the COVID-19 pandemic has placed significant strains on JetBlue and other airlines, and that emerging from the nadir will require difficult choices. But I know that it would be a long-term mistake for JetBlue to abandon its relationships and roots in Queens, thereby losing out on everything our borough and its residents can offer.”
Queens leaders call for an end to gun violence following fatal shootings at Woodside Houses
March 26 | AMNY
Amid the recent surge of shootings in Queens, Borough President Donovan Richards joined community members outside of Woodside Houses on Thursday, March 25, to call for an end to gun violence. Elected officials, community leaders and the family of Gudelia Vallinas, an innocent victim of the recent shootings, gathered for the rally denouncing the plague of gun violence after Vallinas, a 37-year-old mother of two, was fatally shot near her home in Woodside Houses.
Woodside rallies against shootings
March 27 | Queens Chronicle
The Woodside community gathered Thursday in the wake of fatal shootings in the area.
“They did not only kill a wife and a mother, a friend, they also killed me, too, because now when I walk the streets I know I’m never going to see her again and the pain will never go away,” said Alfredo Vallinas, whose 37-year-old wife, Gudelia, was killed by a stray bullet during a March 12 gang shootout.
The two started dating at 15 and married at 23. The couple, who have two children, were supposed to celebrate their 15th anniversary in May.
“I just want the streets to be safe again,” Vallinas said. “We shouldn’t be living like this, shootings all the time.”
Borough President Donovan Richards, speaking outside the Woodside Houses Management Office at 50-51 Broadway, said he wants to see the criminals turned in.
“We call for the community to turn them in because you know who they are,” he said. “We have to turn them in. We’re not asking for vengeance but when you do the time you gotta do the crime and her family deserves justice.”
‘Hate has no Home Here’ – Borough President on Rise in Bias Crimes
March 26 | Forum
On Monday morning, borough elected officials joined community and faith leaders, and law enforcement personnel, on the steps of Borough Hall to address what Queens Borough President Donovan Richards characterized as a troubling rise in bias crimes, especially against Asian American and Jewish communities, both in recent weeks and over the past year.
“I want to thank all our friends in the press for being here today — at the People’s House — to discuss a virus that has been in our midst long before COVID-19 came to town. That virus is called hate,” Richards said in his remarks.
JFK Construction Jobs Will Drive Recovery
March 26 | Forum
Mayor Bill de Blasio, U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-Jamaica), and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards on Monday announced key elements of the foundation for the new John F. Kennedy International Airport construction projects that they said will drive a recovery by creating more than 20,000 jobs, investing $10 to $15 billion in new infrastructure, and boosting tourism to New York City.
March 26 | Queens Eagle
Queens leaders joined residents of the Woodside Houses rallied Thursday to condemn a spike in gun violence following three shootings, include one the night before.
One of the shootings took the life of Gudelia Vallinas, a 37-year-old mother of two struck by a stray bullet March 12.
No suspects have been arrested, and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards urged local residents to share information that could lead to the killers.
“To the Vallinas and Clairborne families — our hearts are with you,” Richards tweeted. “To the individual shot near the Woodside Houses just last night, we are praying for your full recovery.”
Woodside Residents Hold Rally Demanding an End To Gun Violence
March 26 | Astoria Post
Around 40 people gathered outside the Woodside Houses NYCHA complex Thursday to call for an end to local gun violence and to demand justice for the victims of recent shootings.
Elected officials, community leaders, residents and family members of the victims came together outside 50-51 Broadway to condemn a series of shootings that have taken place in the neighborhood this month – which have rocked the community and left residents in fear of walking the streets.
The Thursday rally was organized by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and was also attended by State Sen. Jessica Ramos and City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer.
Richards said that he was “sounding the alarm” about the rise in shootings and said that the neighborhood belongs to the people– not the perpetrators of gun violence.
“Over the course of the last two or three weeks, we’ve seen our streets turn into a war zone,” Richards said.
“These are our streets, these are not your streets. The residents of this community… deserve to be able to go out about their business without dodging bullets,” Richards said.
Queens Community Gathers To Condemn Gun Violence After Recent Shootings
March 25 | CBS News
DONOVAN RICHARDS, JR.: Over the course of the last two or three weeks, we've seen these streets turned into a war zone. We need to ensure that these young people are getting the investments that they need to stop these shootings. It's about prevention.
Gun violence continues to soar in New York City. Three recent shootings in Queens outside of a NYCHA complex have community leaders and victims' families calling for a cease fire; CBS2's Alice Gainer reports.
MTA Eyes Commuter Rails as Discount Subways Substitutes With Crowds Expected Back
March 26 | The City
“We don’t need to see the E train at capacity, we’re trying to stop the spread,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards told THE CITY. “So the commuter trains can relieve some of that pressure.”
The MTA is exploring ways to increase the number of passengers at commuter rail stations in Queens, Brooklyn and Bronx neighborhoods that lack easy access to the subway.
MTA Chairman Patrick Foye recently said on the “Recalibrating Reality” podcast that the agency is “poised to have [the commuter railroads] do more” as part of a long-term “relook” at fares and commuting patterns that have shifted during a pandemic.
LIC celebrates the return of the arts
March 25 | Queens Chronicle
“Culture never closed in Queens,” said Borough President Donovan Richards at the event. “Our arts and culture institutions rose to the occasion by finding new ways to interact with audiences through their virtual programming.”
A year after New York City’s arts and cultural sector suddenly shut down in response to the Covid pandemic, LaGuardia Community College gathered on a frigid spring day to celebrate the gradual dethawing of the city’s performing arts.
The LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Long Island City hosted a performance last Friday by Joan Ashley and Caren Calder of the all-women percussion and vocal ensemble Alekande, with guest dancer Dionne Monsanto, as a way of announcing that the venue had been selected to participate in the city’s Open Culture program.
Queens borough president urges JetBlue to remain in Long Island City
March 25 | QNS
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards is calling on New York’s “hometown airline” to stay grounded in Long Island City.
In a letter to JetBlue CEO Robin Harris, Richards urged the company to commit to keeping its corporate headquarters in Queensboro Plaza instead of moving its operation to Florida.
“When JetBlue initially chose Kew Gardens and later Long Island City as the site of its corporate headquarters, it marked the beginning of what has become a deep and mutually-beneficial partnership between your airline and the borough of Queens,” Richards wrote. “Let’s continue that partnership. I understand the COVID-19 pandemic has placed significant strains on JetBlue and other airlines, and that emerging from the nadir will require difficult choices. But I know that it would be a long-term mistake for JetBlue to abandon its relationships and roots in Queens, thereby losing out on everything our borough and its residents can offer.”
Anti-gun violence rally in Queens after pair of deadly shootings
March 26 | ABC News
WOODSIDE, Queens (WABC) -- Officials in Queens held a press conference Thursday calling for the urgent need to address a recent surge in gun violence across the borough.
Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. hosted the event at 50-51 Broadway outside the Woodside Houses Management Office, near where two people were shot to death in separate incidents within the last 12 days.
JetBlue should 'reassess' tentative plan to leave NYC: Queens Borough President
March 22 | 1010 WINS
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards on Wednesday called on JetBlue to “reassess” a tentative plan to move its headquarters out of Long Island City.
A spokeswoman for JetBlue Airways last week said the company was considering relocating to Florida.
In a letter addressed to JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes, Richards said he was “disappointed” by the news, adding that he was “writing to ask you to reassess those plans and commit to staying in Queens.”
New Balls Fields At Whitey Ford Field in Astoria
Monday, March 22 | Queens Gazette
NYC Parks Queens Borough Commissioner Michael Dockett joined Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., City Council Member Costa Constantinides and Queens Community Board 1 Chair Marie Torniali on March 17 to break ground on the reconstruction of ball fields at Whitey Ford Field in Astoria. The $2.9 million project was funded by $493,000 from Mayor Bill de Blasio, $1 million from Council Member Constantinides, and $1.5 million from former Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.
STATEMENT ON Possible JETBLUE Relocation
I was disappointed to learn JetBlue is reportedly considering relocating its headquarters from Long Island City to Florida. I am urging JetBlue’s corporate leadership to reassess those plans and to commit to staying in Queens.
When JetBlue initially chose Kew Gardens and later Long Island City as the site of its corporate headquarters, it marked the beginning of what has become a deep and mutually-beneficial partnership between your airline and the borough of Queens. Let’s continue that partnership.
I understand the COVID-19 pandemic has placed significant strains on JetBlue and other airlines, and that emerging from the nadir will require difficult choices. But I know that it would be a long-term mistake for JetBlue to abandon its relationships and roots in Queens, thereby losing out on everything our borough and its residents can offer.
As Borough President, I am committed to building an environment in Queens that allows businesses—large and small— to adapt, grow, and thrive. I ask that JetBlue’s leadership meet with me soon to discuss what can be done to keep JetBlue’s headquarters in Long Island City, and I hope that one day soon we’ll be able to celebrate the renewal of our partnership.
City Councilman Costa Constantinides endorses Donovan Richards for Queens Borough President
Friday, March 19 | QNS
City Councilman Costa Constantinides is backing Donovan Richards, the current Queens Borough President, for reelection. Constantinides, who also ran for the position in last year’s election, announced his endorsement of Richards on Friday, March 19.
City begins $2.9 million transformation of Astoria’s Whitey Ford Field
March 18, 2021 | QNS
The city broke ground on the $2.9 million reconstruction of the baseball field at Whitey Ford Field along the East River in Astoria.
The dilapidated facility at the northwest edge of Halletts Peninsula will receive an extreme makeover including natural grass turf and brand-new dugouts. The field’s entrance will also be reconstructed to provide a more welcoming point of entry for visitors along Second Street.
“Whitey Ford grew up in Astoria with the dream of making it in Major League Baseball, but he hardly could have imagined that his dream would come true less than seven miles away on the pitcher’s mound at Yankee Stadium,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. “Today’s groundbreaking on the reconstruction of Whitey Ford Field will pave the way for a first-class facility where Astoria’s ballplayers of today can work on making their own dreams come true.”
Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Site Opens in Corona Saturday
Friday, March 19 | Jackson Heights Post
A pop-up COVID-19 vaccination site will open in Corona tomorrow– just days after local leaders called on the city and state to open more sites.
Health providers will administer the vaccine Saturday at Aliento de Vida Church, located at 103-12 Roosevelt Ave., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments will be prioritized for residents of the 11368 ZIP code.
The pop-up site was established about a week after Assembly Members Catalina Cruz, Jessica González-Rojas and Jeffrion Aubry, along with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, held a news conference demanding the state and city place additional vaccine sites in Corona.
Constantinides Backs Incumbent Donovan Richards in Queens Borough President Race
March 19 | Forest Hills Post
Council Member Costa Constantinides has endorsed Donovan Richards–the incumbent–in the Queens Borough President race.
Constantinides, who unsuccessfully competed for the borough president spot last year, said Richards has performed well since he took office last year–following his victory in the special election.
CWA 1180 endorses Richards for borough president
March 18 | Amsterdam News
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards gave his “State of the Borough” address last Wednesday. If the Communications Workers of America Local 1180 has its way, he’ll give a few more.
On Tuesday, CWA Local 180 officially endorsed the former New York City Council Member for re-election as Queens Borough President. With its leader citing Richards’ work on behalf of working people.
“Donovan Richards has always been a fighter for labor, the working middle-class, and for our members,” stated CWA Local 1180 President Gloria Middleton. “As we work to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we need strong leaders like Donovan to ensure that municipal workers who keep New York City and our boroughs running are not used as scapegoats for struggling governments. We know he will work with the incoming mayor to advocate for the needs of our members and retirees in Queens...”
March 17 | Twitter @ Angacevedo15
March 17 | Twitter @ Dean_Moses
‘Not going to be tolerated’: Queens borough president talks rise in anti-Asian hate crimes
Friday, March 18 | PIX11
The rise in attacks against Asian Americans has been felt across New York City, particularly the borough of Queens, where more than 25% of residents identify as Asian. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards discussed the borough’s efforts to confront anti-Asian hate.
Queens rallies after Georgia shootings
March 18, 2021 | Queens Chronicle
In the wake of eight people, including six Asian women, being shot to death in Georgia Tuesday, Queens rallied at a candlelight vigil in Jackson Heights Wednesday night.
“You attack them, you attack me,” Borough President Donovan Richards said. “You fight them, you fight me. If you’re bold enough to bring a gun out or attack or preach hate or spit on individuals, if you’re bold enough to do it to them, then be bold enough to do it to me. Because I’m ready to fight you. Because we have to stand together.”
Activist Chuck Park said Richards is much braver than he is.
Jackson Heights community mourns victims of Atlanta shooting, denounce anti-Asian hate
Friday, March 18 | QNS
More than 100 community members gathered for a candlelight vigil in Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights on Wednesday, March 17, to mourn the eight victims, six of whom were Asian American women, of the tragic mass shooting at several Atlanta spas earlier this week.
Demand More Vaccine Sites In Corona
March 17, 2021 | Queens Gazette
Assemblymembers Catalina Cruz, Jeffrion Aubry, Jessica González-Rojas, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and local community groups called upon Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio to increase the number of vaccination sites in the neighborhood of Corona. Corona possesses one of the lowest COVID-19 immunization rates in the five boroughs, despite being one of the most populous neighborhoods in the city. Only three vaccination sites exist to serve over 83,000 residents, with only two sites offering second doses at this time. Hurdles in obtaining vaccination appointments and registration difficulties have also contributed to the staggeringly low rates.
At the onset of the pandemic, Corona – and the adjacent neighborhoods of Jackson Heights and Elmhurst – earned the nickname “the epicenter of the epicenter” of the COVID-19 pandemic due to high infection and death rates in the region. The makeup of the district largely consists of low-income essential workers in the construction, restaurant, and healthcare sectors. Due to demands for in-person manual labor, the majority of these employees do not have the option to work remotely and face repeated exposure to the general public. Because of economic restraints and lack of affordable housing, low-income families in the area must often house multiple generations in a single apartment, making social distancing measures recommended by the CDC nearly impossible. These factors – along with lack of access to affordable healthcare and preventative medicine – have contributed to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic last year in Black and Brown communities such as Corona.
PIX11 part of monthly program to get Queens residents back to work beginning with online job fair
Wednesday, March 16 | PIX11
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards has been looking for a way to get his borough back to work since the coronavirus pandemic devastated the local economy last year. PIX11 is part of the borough president’s effort to hold monthly, virtual job fairs.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, with Manhattan BP, Calls for Cuomo’s Resignation
March 15 | Astoria Post
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards joined the growing chorus of New York officials calling for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to step down — following allegations that the governor harassed several women.
Borough president, New York Blood Center team up to host blood drives for Queens kids with rare blood condition
March 12, 2021 | QNS
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and the New York Blood Center have partnered to host five blood drives across the city in support of two young brothers with a rare blood condition, beginning on March 13.
King Singh, 7, and Mesiah Singh, 6, who are from Queens Village, were both born with a rare blood disease called glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD). G6PD causes red blood cells to break down in response to certain medications, infections or other stressors. There is no cure for this disease, so the only lifesaving treatment is a blood transfusion when the red cells break down from a trigger, according to New York Blood Center.
JFK, LGA workers open bargaining for contract renewal
March 4, 2021 | QNS
Elected bargaining committees representing more than 10,000 majority Black and immigrant workers at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports and 32BJ SEIU members met employers virtually Thursday, March 4, in the first sessions for contract renewals.
The unit is the largest group of airport workers to start bargaining since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is expected to lead the nationwide conversation on essential worker safety and recovery in the coronavirus era.
“Queens is the gateway to the rest of the country and the world because of our airports, and there are many workers of color who regularly face systemic racial inequalities, which have been heightened by this pandemic,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. “We need to ensure our airport workers have a voice on the job to fight for security, dignity, and respect. A strong contract for thousands of airport workers of color is a crucial step toward justice and equity. Our borough fully supports the hardworking staff of JFK and LaGuardia airports.”
Donovan Richards: Every Neighborhood In Queens Deserves A Connected Bike Network
March 4, 2021 | Streetsblog
Don’t tell this borough president, “No one bikes in your neighborhood.”
Queens Beep Donovan Richards laid out an ambitious, aggressive transportation agenda in his 2021 State of the Borough, an agenda that focuses heavily on creating a safe and humane transportation system that benefits every inch of the city’s largest borough (and also positions him nicely for re-election).
“Enough is enough, lives are on the line with every change of a traffic light,” Richards said in the first of what he hopes will become yearly addresses.
St. John’s Hospital in Far Rockaway gets a reprieve
March 5, 2020 | Long Island Herald
Outside St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway at a news conference turned pep rally on March 5, elected and hospital officials announced that the medical facility that was being pressured by the New York State Department of Health to become a 15-bed “micro hospital” the plan has stalled.
“I’m happy to say based on the work of all us coming together, and that means our elected officials who came together when we got the news, including the staff of St. John’s, and most importantly you the community, because of you we have got a reprieve on keeping St. John’s Hospital open,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, to applause and cheers.
Richards calls for boroughwide bike network in State of Borough speech
March 4, 2021 | Queens Chronicle
Borough President Donovan Richards ripped the city’s transportation system during his first State of the Borough address Wednesday.
“For millions of us, no matter how we get around, not a day goes by where the system does not fail us,” he said.
Richards said that could mean being late for work or fatalities, including the 25 pedestrians, 33 motorists and one cyclist killed in 2020.
2021 State of the Borough Address
United Against Hate
Feb 24, 2021 | Queens Gazette
Standing united with elected officials, community leaders, faith leaders and law enforcement, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards hosted a press conference Monday on the steps of Queens Borough Hall to “categorically condemn the troubling rise in bias crimes, especially against our Asian American and Jewish communities, both in recent weeks and over the past year,” Richards said.
Below are some of Borough President Richards’ remarks, as prepared for delivery:
“I want to thank all our friends in the press for being here today — at the People’s House — to discuss a virus that has been in our midst long before COVID-19 came to town. That virus is called hate.
“Like COVID-19, it hit our minority communities hard last spring — especially our Asian American communities — only to seemingly slide back into the shadows until this month’s second wave. That couldn’t be further from the truth. It might not have been making headlines, but this plague of prejudice is still running much too rampant, just like it’s been for generations.
Queens Community Board Applications See 56-Percent Jump
Feb 22, 2021 | Forest Hills Patch
KEW GARDENS, QUEENS — A record number of people applied to serve on one of Queens' 14 community boards this year, according to the borough president's office.
The office received 931 applications from newcomers and current board members seeking reappointment — a borough record, and an increase of more than 56 percent from the 595 applications submitted last year, a spokesperson said.
That includes nearly 700 people who are not currently members of a community board, compared to 252 last year.
"Democracy works best when it hears the voices of all the people it serves," Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. "Having a community board membership that truly reflects the diversity in Queens will help ensure our City government hears what our borough's residents have to say."
Queens Lawmakers Gather on Steps of Borough Hall to Denounce Spike in Hate Crimes
Feb 22, 2021 | Sunnyside Post
Queens lawmakers and community leaders joined together on the steps of Borough Hall Monday to denounce a recent string of hate crimes against the Asian American and Jewish communities in the borough.
The press conference was organized by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards following three bias incidents in the borough this month. Two Asian woman were attacked and a swastika was drawn on a Rego Park synagogue last Tuesday.
“For even just one of these incidents to occur here in Queens, the most diverse county in America, is an affront to everything we represent,” Richards said at Borough Hall. “But for three to happen in [two] weeks, on top of everything our borough has been through over the past year? It’s time to stand up and say ‘enough.’”
One-on-One with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards
Feb 19, 2021 | NY1
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards is constantly on the move.
On the morning he caught up with NY1, the 36-year-old Richards joined two business ribbon-cutting ceremonies in Jamaica.
He’d visited a pop-up vaccination site in South Richmond Hill, attended a Lunar New Year celebration by JFK airport, and all before lunch.
As Queens Borough President, a lot of people are counting on him to succeed. Not only because of the things they want done in the borough, but because they relate to Richards, being that he’s the first black man to ever hold the office.
“It’s been surreal to achieve this monumental and historic victory in becoming the first black man to be the borough president in Queens,” Richards said.
He said there’s never a dull moment.
“I know that being the first, there’s always a big responsibility and you know you have to get it right,” Richards said.
Donovan Richards creates history in Queens
Dec 10, 2020 | Caribbean Life
Former New York City Councilman Donovan Richards was sworn in on Dec. 2 as the first Black man to serve as Queens Borough President in the office’s 122-year-history.
Richards’s swearing-in ceremony took place a day after New York City Board of Elections certified his defeat of Republican Joann Ariola in the November elections.