Queens Lawmakers On The Move — Friday Oct. 13, 2017

Queens County City Council News

Councilmember Ferreras-Copeland Praises Non-Profit Resiliency Committee’s First Year 

Councilmember Julissa Ferreras-Copeland/via Facebook

The Non-Profit Resiliency Committee is soon going to start it’s second year and City Councilmember Julissa Ferreras-Copeland (D-Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona), who is the chair of the Finance Committee, joined Mayor Bill de Blasio in celebrating its early accomplishments.

“The Nonprofit Resiliency Committee is delivering on its promise to offer opportunities and establish meaningful partnerships with nonprofit organizations around the City. Thanks to their work, New Yorkers in need have prompt and efficient access to social services. I want to thank Mayor de Blasio for his commitment to making sure these vital organizations count with the City’s full support,” said Ferreras-Copeland.

Since the committee’s creation, policies and practices have been enacted to facilitate closer collaboration between the City and non-profits in the management of $6.5 billion in social service programs every year, de Blasio’s office boasted.

Mayor BIll de Blasio

The other accomplishments they commemorated include investments and policy changes designed to stabilize the sector and strategies that allow social service organizations to cater to vulnerable New Yorkers.

“We set out on a mission and our first year’s efforts have proved to bring significant improvements to the way we best serve New Yorkers with our partners in human services,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “New Yorkers count on us to work together and deliver on some of our biggest initiatives. The Committee’s second year promises to build upon these achievements.”


8th Annual Hispanic Leadership Awards In Sunnyside Next Week

City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer/Facebook

City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Astoria, Long Island City) will host the 8th annual Hispanic Leadership Awards in Sunnyside next Tuesday, October 17.

The event will run from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Thalia Spanish Theater, 41-17 Greenpoint Ave.

The Distinguished Public Service Award will be presented to City Councilmember Carlos Menchaca(D-Brooklyn). Other honorees include Sofie Moncayo, the PTA President at IS 125, Joel Ochoa, the Tech Support Specialist at the Woodside Library, Clara Oza, a Parent Coordinator at PS 343, Luis Alban, the President of the PTA Presidents Council, Carolina Peñafiel, executive director of Local Project, and Nanette Morales, an office assistant at the Catholic Migration Services.

The event is free and open to all who RSVP by emailing [email protected] or calling (718)383-9566 ext. 1. Light refreshments will be served.


Senator Peralta Announces Improvements To Lexington School For The Deaf

State Senator Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona) announced state funding for capital improvements to the Lexington School for the Deaf during a visit to the school yesterday morning.

The funding, $119,000, will go toward repairing the school’s 50-year-old roof. Right now, the 4,500-square-foot roof over one wing of the school must be replaced entirely. The roof over the adjacent walkway corridor also has to be replaced.

Several students, the school’s CEO Donald Galloway, and the principal Jane Moran were all present during Peralta’s announcement.

 “We must ensure our students are safe when they are in school. Not having to deal with leaks from an old roof is essential to the health and safety of students. I am glad I was able to secure funds in this year’s state budget to repair the damaged roof and the walkway in the school,” said Peralta.  

The roofs need replacing due to several points of damage that affect the drainage system. Several locations on the roof had standing water. Lexington, founded in 1864, is the largest school for the death in New York. Although nearly half the students are from Queens, students from all five boroughs attend the school.

 “On behalf of the school, I would like to thank Senator Jose Peralta for securing this state allocation. Senator Peralta recognizes the importance of investing in the capital needs of schools. This gift will repair the fifty-year-old roof on our school and allow us to continue our work to enable deaf children to be successful students and citizens,” said Galloway. “We are grateful to Senator Peralta for this grant, and for his ongoing support of Lexington and its students.”