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May 23, 2016

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EDITOR’S NOTE / Contents

JON LENTZ Senior Editor

In 1939, millions of visitors descended on Queens to visit the World’s Fair. A swamp and former ash dump were transformed into an international event with the tagline “Building the World of Tomorrow.” A “Town of Tomorrow” showcased futuristic homes, General Motors’ “Futurama” envisioned the world as it might look in 1960, and dozens of nations hosted their own exhibitions. Towering over it all were two monumental structures, the Trylon and the Perisphere. Crowds from across the country and around the globe flocked to the borough again 25 years later for the 1964 World’s Fair, held at the same site at Flushing Meadows. On display were the computer, a “Picturephone,” and new monuments evoking the Space Age, notably the Unisphere and the New York State Pavilion. Today the old World’s Fair grounds may be a shadow of their former selves, but Queens remains a place that is as international and visionary as ever. In this special edition on Queens, we explore the borough’s bright future.

10.

THE FUTURE OF TRANSIT

How the borough is stepping up its transportation game.

14.

THE ‘Q’ IN THE BQX

The local take on what the BrooklynQueens Connector means for the borough.

20.

STAVING OFF SCANDAL

With new policies, the Queens Library hopes to avoid repeating the past.

22.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Lawmakers tell us about their favorite spots to take a stroll in Queens.

25.

VISIONS OF THE FUTURE

From accessibility to better use of green space, borough officials share their visions for the future of Queens.

38.

BACK & FORTH

A Q&A with Museum of the Moving Image Executive Director Carl Goodman.

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ONLY IN QUEENS By MELINDA KATZ

IT IS TRULY a blessing to represent the 2.3 million people who live in this unique and special place we call the borough of Queens. For one thing, Queens is the most diverse county in the United States and one of the most diverse places on the planet. “The World’s Borough” is home to immigrants who hail from more than 120 countries and speak more than 135 languages. We cherish the diversity that can be found only in Queens because it exposes us to new ideas that help us t h i n k d i f ferent ly a nd meet opportunities with more creativity, m o r e p e r s p e c t i ve a n d m o r e

innovation. That’s one of the reasons why so many successful businesses got their start in Queens and why our borough remains an attractive home for startups in the burgeoning technology sector. Our diversity also allows us to offer a wealth of attractions that can be found only in Queens and that allow both residents and visitors alike to experience the unique tastes and traditions of the many cultures represented here. For example, in Queens you will find vibrant celebrations of heritage a n d c u l t u r e t h a t yo u wo n’t necessarily find along Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, like the birthday procession for Lord Ganesha, the Colombian Independence Day Parade and the vibrant and colorful Festival de las Flores. Only in Queens will you find the Queens International Night Market, a large, family-friendly open-air ma rket i n F lu sh i ng Meadows Corona Park modeled after popular open-air night markets in Asia. Only in Queens will you find a diverse array of cultural attractions

that suit any taste, like the Queens Mu seu m, t he T ha l ia Spa n i sh Theatre, the Jessica Lang Dance Company and the Louis Armstrong House. And only in Queens will you find t he On ly i n Q ueen s Su m mer Festival, a free public event on June 26 in Flushing Meadows Corona Park that my office is sponsoring in partnership with the New York City Parks Department, the NYC & Company Foundation and Delta Air Lines. While we celebrate our diversity, we Queens residents recognize that we also share much in common with each other. This is especially true about the love we have for our families and about our desire to make sure we live in neighborhoods where our families can thrive. Queens is unique in that while we treasure being a part of a big city, we remain a borough of individual neighborhood s, each w it h it s own identity. Melinda Katz is the Queens borough president.

MELINDA KATZ’S OFFICE

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New York’s Hospitals and Doctors Have the Nation’s Highest Medical Malpractice Costs—That Makes No Sense Despite fewer adverse events and scoring high on numerous quality measures, New York’s world-class hospitals and doctors spend billions annually on medical malpractice costs—by far the nation’s highest. It’s stark proof of a deeply flawed system. Let’s not make things even worse. We urge the NYS Legislature to reject any bills that would increase medical malpractice costs and weaken the ability of doctors and hospitals to deliver high-quality care.

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“

TWO WORDS: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. - Assemblywoman PHILLIP GOLDFEDER

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OUR SUBWAY CARS ARE PACKED TO THE BRIM EVERY MORNING, THE 7 TRAIN IS SHUT DOWN FOR TOO MANY WEEKENDS EACH YEAR AND IS CONSISTENTLY UNRELIABLE, AND OUR BUSES DON’T DO ENOUGH TO CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT TRAIN SERVICE.

QUEENS CAN ALSO BENEFIT FROM UPGRADES TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE – MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES – AND MORE EFFICIENT MASS TRANSIT SUCH AS UPGRADING AND EXPANDING TRAIN AND BUS SERVICE, AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE AIRTRAIN TO LAGUARDIA AIRPORT. - Rep. GRACE MENG

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- State Sen. MICHAEL GIANARIS

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LAST YEAR’S VIEWS

In last year’s borough issue, we asked every lawmaker in Queens to name one thing that would make the borough better. The most common response? Transportation. Much of the sprawling borough is beyond the reach of public transit. While two major airports and a number of train and subway lines are in Queens, many residents have to drive – and when they do venture out, they are stymied by potholes, lane closures and traffic jams. Even for those lucky enough to live near a subway line, the trains are often crowded and plagued by frequent delays. In the following pages, we provide updates on several major transportation projects in the planning stages or already underway in Queens, while also asking locals to weigh in on one flashy new proposal – the mayor’s proposed streetcar line.

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WE NEED BETTER TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR LOCALS AND VISITORS ALIKE. IMPROVED ROADWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WILL POSITION QUEENS AS NOT ONLY A PLACE OF RESIDENCE, BUT A DESTINATION FOR WORK AND PLAY. - State Sen. LEROY COMRIE

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THE BOROUGH AND THE ENTIRE CITY WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT FROM IMPROVEMENTS TO ITS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS INCLUDING TIMELY TRAINS, BETTER ACCESS TO BUSSES, SMOOTHER ROADS AND MORE BIKE LANES, BUT AN EASIER ROUTE TO AND FROM LAGUARDIA AIRPORT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY VALUABLE. - New York City Councilwoman JULISSA FERRERAS-COPELAND

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QUEENS REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST UNDERSERVED BOROUGHS AND SEVERELY LACKS MASS TRANSIT THAT REDUCES COMMUTE TIMES AND OVERCROWDING, AND IMPROVES PEDESTRIAN AND DRIVER SAFETY.

VERY FEW SUBWAY LINES RUN THROUGH QUEENS, AND THE ONES THAT DO ALL RUN THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE BOROUGH.

- Assemblywoman NILY ROZIC

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-Assemblyman MICHAEL DENDEKKER

CityAndStateNY.com

TRANSPORTATION OF THE FUTURE The Brooklyn-Queens Connector isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the only major transit project officials are eyeing in Queens (more about that later). Here are some major transportation projects you should know about.

LAGUARDIA AIRPORT

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Gov. Andrew Cuomo last July announced a proposal to create a single, unified main terminal at LaGuardia Airport. The plan also includes more taxiway space, but it will not add new runways. TIMELINE: The biggest portion of the project, a $4 billion main terminal, is scheduled to be partially completed and open to passengers in 2019, with full completion 18 months later. COST: $5.3 billion

LAGUARDIA AIRTRAIN

In early 2015, Cuomo called for the creation of an AirTrain connecting to LaGuardia from the No. 7 subway line and the Long Island Rail Road at the Mets-Willets Point Station. TIMELINE: Five years COST: $450 million

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Our Perspective Our Perspective

MTA

Economic Economic Inequality is Inequality is Making us Sick Making us Sick

EAST SIDE ACCESS The East Side Access project will connect rail passengers from Long Island and Queens directly to Manhattan’s East Side by adding Long Island Rail Road tunnels into Grand Central Terminal. Currently, the LIRR only connects to Penn Station on Manhattan’s West Side. TIMELINE: Service is scheduled to start in December 2022 COST: $10.18 billion

JFK AIRPORT Last summer Cuomo announced that an advisory panel would develop a master plan for the major international airport, which will be due by this July. Cuomo also announced that the airport’s old TWA terminal will be converted into a “state-of-the-art” hotel. TIMELINE: TBD COST: TBD

By Stuart Appelbaum, President, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, By StuartUFCW Appelbaum, President, RWDSU, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, RWDSU, UFCWinequality has an even higher cost conomic than many people realize. Beyond lowering conomic inequality an even higher cost living standards for has working Americans, a than many realize. by Beyond lowering treasure trove of people data compiled the Center on living working Society andstandards Health andforthe UrbanAmericans, Institute a treasure trove of dataconsequence compiled by of theincome Center on reveals that a major Society and Health and the Urban Institute inequality is poorer health and even shorter reveals that major consequence of income lifespans for athose inequality is poorer health and even shorter who earn less – poor those lifespans for an people have Simply put, the who earn lessthan – poor average lifespan six years shorter the lower one’s income, people have an wealthy. And the greater the gap, the Simply put, the the greater one’s average lifespan six years shorter than the worse these problems become. lower one’s income, likelihood of disease wealthy. And the the gap, tend the to People withgreater lower incomes the greater one’s and premature death. worse these problems become. have more restricted access to medical likelihood of disease People with lower incomes tend to care, are more likely to be uninsured or and premature death. have more restricted access medical underinsured, and have less to paid time off and flexibility in their work care, are more likely to issues. be uninsured or lives to address health underinsured, andthe have lessone’s paid income, time off the andgreater flexibility in their work Simply put, lower one’s likelihood lives to address health issues. of disease and premature death. Mental health is a casualty of lower Simply put,People the lower thelive greater one’s likelihood incomes as well. withone’s lowerincome, incomes shorter lives, and of disease andquality premature health of lower suffer a lower of life.death. It’s a Mental troubling trendisinaacasualty society with a incomes as well. People with lower incomes live shorter lives, growing pay gap and rising economic inequality, where the gapand suffer a lower qualityAmericans of life. It’s and a troubling trend a society with a between the richest everyone elseinkeeps getting growing pay gap and rising economic inequality, where the gap bigger. Economic inequality is hurting the health of American families. between richest Americans and everyone else keeps getting So the what’s the prescription? bigger.Without Economic inequality hurting the good jobs andisbenefits, the health impactofofAmerican economicfamilies. So what’s the prescription? inequality will continue to hurt the health of working families. The best and benefits, the impact of economic way forWithout workersgood andjobs communities to become stronger, and the best inequality willthe continue hurtthe thehealth healthgap, of working families. way to close pay gaptoand is through union The jobsbest and way forcontracts. workers and communities to become stronger, and the best union way toIt’s close paythat gapeconomic and the health gap, is jobs and no the secret in equality is through linked tounion a shrinking unionmovement. contracts. At the exact same time union membership began to labor It’s no secret that economic in equality is going linkedto tothe a shrinking drop sharply in the 1970s, the share of income richest labor movement. same time union membership began to Americans began At to the rise.exact The shared prosperity we saw with the drop sharply the 1970s, the has share of income going the richest growth of theinlabor movement withered away, andtowhile labor Americans began to rise.doubled The shared saw with thehas productivity has almost sinceprosperity 1973, thewe median wage growth of the labor movement has withered away, and while labor grown only 4 percent. productivity doubled since 1973, the median wage has It’s nothas onlyalmost bad for our economy and weakening workers’ grown only percent. families, it’s4bad for our health. A stronger – and healthier – America It’s on notaonly bad for our weakening depends revitalization of economy the labor and movement and workers’ better jobs for families, bad for our health. A stronger – and healthier – America Americanit’s workers. depends on a revitalization of the labor movement and better jobs for American workers.

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For more information, visit www.rwdsu.org For more information, visit

www.rwdsu.org

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CITYWIDE FERRY SERVICE

NYCEDC

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a new Citywide Ferry Service that will build on the existing East River Ferry. Fares will be equivalent to a subway ride. The service will connect to Rockaway, South Brooklyn and Astoria in 2017, with routes to the Bronx and the Lower East Side opening in 2018. TIMELINE: Service is scheduled to be fully operational by 2018. COST: New York City is providing $55 million in infrastructure upgrades and $30 million in annual operating support.

SELECT BUS SERVICE

In December, the city announced the launch of the Q44 Select Bus Service, a 14-mile line connecting the Bronx with downtown Flushing and Jamaica in Queens. Another major Select Bus Service Line, the Q52/53, will travel along the Woodhaven and Cross Bay boulevards to the Rockaways. TIMELINE: Construction on the Q52/53 was originally set to start in 2017 and take about a year. COST: The estimated cost of the Q52/53 is $400 million, up from an original estimate of $200 million.

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New and Improved Energy Needed for a Fast Growing Borough BY THOMAS J. GRECH

The Lonely Planet Travel Guide recently listed Queens as a top U.S. travel destination. Those of us who live or work here aren’t surprised: our borough is home to a vibrant arts scene, global food culture, microbreweries, trendy boutique hotels, the Rockaways and Citi Field, and two world-class airports. And to do the most with what we’ve built here, we must improve our existing energy sources and develop new ones. One dramatic example of the borough’s demand for energy is provided by our airport “Gateways to the Nation,” LaGuardia (LGA) and John F. Kennedy International (JFK). They’re operating near maximum capacity, with LGA handling 27 million passengers a year and JFK just over 50 million; they employ almost 50,000 people and generate $53 billion in economic activity each year. These miniature metropolises need power 24/7, and lots of it. We can’t afford not to modernize them and the infrastructure that supplies their energy. Significant existing infrastructure is housed right here in Queens, with 53 different power generation facilities supplying half of New York City’s electricity and fully 10% of the power produced within the entire State of New York. That’s a lot for one borough, so it’s vital that the plants in Queens remain online and in top condition via constant investment in maintenance and upgrades. We also coordinate with energy infrastructure in the rest of New York City and the state, so we need a modern and effective transmission grid and new sources of zero-carbon generation like wind and solar.

NYCDOT

Those kinds of investments are being made by power companies such as National Grid, which has designated $100 million to upgrade infrastructure here over the next few years. That’s great, but we also need the State to step up to the plate and award permits to innovative initiatives that will support growth, cut the cost of power, and help meet new clean-energy mandates. Natural gas, the lowest-carbon fossil fuel, has become abundant and much cheaper, making the natural gasfired Caithness II power plant in Yaphank a welcome addition to our nearby power generation. The state’s rejection earlier this year of the Port Ambrose liquefied natural gas project was a setback, but public awareness of its benefits should compel a fresh look at it.

QUEENS BOULEVARD

As part of his Vision Zero initiative, which is aimed at reducing traffic deaths in New York City, de Blasio last year announced a major redesign of Queens Boulevard. This month, the mayor said that despite opposition, the project would go forward with new bike lanes. TIMELINE: Construction work began in 2015, with additional capital improvements scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2018. COST: $100 million

There’s never been any doubt that our borough’s a leader—and because “A Better Queens is Our Business,” we must assure that we have all the energy we need, with an efficient infrastructure to deliver it, to keep Queens at the top. About the Author: Thomas J. Grech is the Executive Director of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. SPECIAL SPONSORED SECTION

The New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance (New York AREA) is a diverse group of business, labor, environmental, and community leaders working together for clean, low-cost and reliable electricity solutions that foster prosperity and jobs for the Empire State.

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The in the

WHERE WILL THE HIGH-TECH TROLLEY TAKE QUEENS? Story by JOHN SURICO Photos by JAKE NAUGHTON

THE ROUTE OF the proposed Brooklyn-Queens Connector, or BQX, follows the same path that development has taken recently in the outer boroughs. The majority of the streetcar’s stops would be near the waterfront in Kings County, from Sunset Park to Greenpoint. But on the other side of the Pulaski Bridge – or perhaps a proposed streetcaronly span – lie a handful of stops, from Long Island City’s glitzy towers to Astoria’s public housing projects. Here, the route completes its ultimate mission: to connect Brooklyn and Queens, once and for all. After tracking the streetcar’s potential path through Kings County for our Brooklyn issue, we continued following one possible BQX route into Queens, starting at Court Square, along the way asking residents and business owners their thoughts on the proposal. And what we heard was emblematic of a larger theme: how this borough is digesting the impending development, or, as some residents called it, the “Long Island City-ification” of the surrounding neighborhoods; a natural continuation, really, of the Williamsburg waterfront, which the streetcar would trail. Some worried what the potential streetcar would mean for their rents. Others saw opportunity. But all in all, this is very much a borough on the brink of change, and the streetcar, in their minds, symbolizes the direction Queens could turn in the years to come.

CityAndStateNY.com

BQX

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Part 1:

LONG ISLAND CITY / QUEENSBRIDGE After crossing Newtown Creek, the streetcar will quickly find itself at Jackson and 47th avenues, one of Long Island City’s busiest intersections. As with Brooklyn Heights and Williamsburg, it’s hard to imagine just how the BQX would fit on the roads – especially traveling up 11th Street, a central corridor – of a neighborhood that’s getting busier by the day. Luckily, a trolley here would be extremely convenient for the carless commuter: At its first stop, the streetcar would connect to one of the most transit-friendly areas in all of Queens. Within walking distance are two Long Island Rail Road stops, a handful of buses and four subway lines – the 7, E, M and G. It’s easy to imagine Greenpointers ditching the subterranean G train for a more scenic trip along the waterfront. At Queens Plaza, the streetcar is set to shift course and then head up 21st Street, which is also a main truck route, and, unfortunately, a known drag at night for speedy drivers. The question of logistics is raised again, but regardless, its location would still be convenient – at least, for commuters: the Queensbridge stop, at 21st Street and 41st Avenue, would offer a link to the F line, this area’s main transit artery. But in Long Island City and Queensbridge – the former a neighborhood that brings to mind the Emerald City from “The Wizard of Oz,” the latter home to one of the largest public housing projects in the country, and the childhood home of famed rapper Nas – the streetcar could mean very different things.

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NIKITA SHOSHENSKY

Occupation: Studio artist Age: 31 Location: 48th Avenue and 11th Street

“I moved to the Bronx in 1993, and there was a time when this city was livable. Studio artists like myself could find space that was affordable, or at least somewhere where gallerists and other studio artists were, or where you needed to be. Now, I work in Bushwick, Red Hook and here, but it’s becoming tougher to be an artist in New York. The question is, do we want to become San Francisco? Because it will happen. Long Island City is already a lost cause.”

DSHERING GURUNG

Occupation: Manager of Natural Frontier Market Age: 33 Location: 47th & Jackson avenues

STEPHEN MODICA Occupation: Manager of Paretti’s Liquor Store Age: 35 Location: 21st Street and 41st Avenue

“The condos are already here. We’re getting hotels, at this point. The property values are skyrocketing. But this is something we’ve expected here for a decade. We knew it would happen when they started building up Hunters Point. In theory, it sounds good: North-south transit would be better, as long as it’s reliable, and it might be a scenic route to take. But it just doesn’t seem that plausible to me, because of traffic. It should be anywhere but 21st Street.”

The intersection at 48th Avenue and 11th Street in Long Island City.

“Long Island City is happening. There are big developers coming in, and so many people moving here, especially if the MTA is shutting the L train down. It means more business, and more money for us. It’s not always nice for the people who live here, though. So I think a streetcar would be good, but I’m skeptical. It has to be for the convenience of the public, not the developers.”

CityAndStateNY.com

Part 2:

ASTORIA A majority of Astoria residents – at least those with a MetroCard – are beholden to the N/Q line, which has six stops along 31st Street. The neighborhood (of which I am a resident) fans out from the above-ground train, with waiting cabs and connecting buses down below. Those who live in the neighborhood’s southeastern corner, near Broadway and bustling Steinway Street, have an additional choice of the M and R trains. But those further north aren’t as lucky. From the waterfront, a walk to the closest N/Q stop can take up to half an hour, putting those who live on the neighborhood’s outskirts – particularly those in the Astoria Houses public housing project – in somewhat of a transit dead zone. There are buses, but residents said those can take forever, especially on the weekends, limiting access to the eateries and bars along Astoria’s main corridors. Walk nearly a mile east, and it feels like a completely different neighborhood. As it travels up 21st Street, the streetcar would make stops at Broadway and Astoria Boulevard, adding another transit option to this far-flung section of the neighborhood, and perhaps joining the Citywide Ferry Service, which is scheduled to stop here starting in 2017. To some residents, that would be a great benefit – but others worry that it could be a sign, like the upcoming Astoria Cove project and new developments now rising above Vernon Boulevard, of what’s to come.

CityAndStateNY.com

TONY ABRAMS

Occupation: Owner of Top 5ive Barber Shop Age: 40 Location: Broadway and 21st Street

AMANDA IOCO

Occupation: Artist Age: 23 Location: Broadway and 21st Street

“It could be great for businesses, but it could also be like the Second Avenue Subway, with scaffolding and construction for years. And it’ll bring up property values, but at whose inconvenience? I already have a high rent here. Of course, it’ll bring in more customers, and more money, which would possibly outweigh the cost – I’m just worried about everything that would come before that. Then again, once it’s built, it could be like sightseeing over here. ‘Oh, look, there’s a barber shop!’”

“Right now, it takes me a bus and a few trains to get to Williamsburg. It’s a pain, and I want to go out there at night more often. So the streetcar would be great for us around here, because we have to rely on the buses so much. We’re already seeing new stores and developments going up, and this would bring business.”

CHRIS GREEN Occupation: Construction worker Age: 45 Location: Astoria Houses, at 8th Street and Astoria Boulevard “Some people who live here have to wake up an hour earlier to get to work. For me, it’s a 25-minute walk to the subway. For my mom, though, it can take a lot longer. On Saturdays and Sundays, too, the bus doesn’t come that often. And most people in the projects don’t have a car. Something needs to be put over here.”

The intersection at Broadway and 21st Street in Astoria.

CityAndStateNY.com

HOW TO PREVENT ANOTHER SCANDAL

ON A RECENT Thursday night, the Queens Library’s board of trustees gathered in an unassuming conference room on the second floor of the library’s central branch. Under discussion were several run-of-themill items, like approving contracts for HVAC maintenance and Samsung tablets (which have been incorporated into various library programs, like adult literacy classes). But the evening’s final agenda item cut to the core of a scandal that the Queens Library desperately wants to shake. Without mentioning the library’s former CEO, Thomas Galante, the board unanimously adopted new internal reporting requirements entirely inspired by his actions, which have repeatedly put the library on the front pages of city tabloids and are still the subject of heated litigation. While “less onerous” than the city government’s conflict-of-interest reporting requirements, according to the library’s general counsel, Lewis Finkelman, the library’s new financial disclosure policy requires all “key executive personnel” – including the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and general counsel – to report all out-

side income, business relationships, securities holdings, debts owed and gifts received, as well as those of their spouses and children. Given Galante’s past transgressions, the expanded requirements are far from shocking. According to an investigative report released by New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer last July, Galante, along with other members of library senior leadership, spent over $300,000 in prohibited expenses, charging everything from lavish meals to the organization’s credit card. Earlier in 2014, the Daily News reported that a $27,000 rooftop deck had been built next to Galante’s office and that he enjoyed the use of a free car. Galante also made over $200,000 during a 22-month stint as a “parttime” consultant for another employer, the Elmont Union Free School District, at the same time that he was receiving a full-time salary at the library. According to the comptroller’s report, the purchases he reviewed “directly violated one or more former Library policies” and “could also constitute embezzlement, grand larceny, or related crimes.” Since the comptroller’s damning

JEFF STEIN

AS QUEENS LIBRARY REBOUNDS, QUESTIONS REMAIN By JEFF STEIN from NEW YORK NONPROFIT MEDIA

CityAndStateNY.com

WILLIAM ALATRISTE FOR THE NEW YORK CIT Y COUNCIL/JEFF STEIN

Thomas Galante, the president of the Queens Library, testifies before the New York City Council in 2014.

report, the library has moved swiftly to clean house. Galante and other staff members were fired. The library quickly adopted all of the comptroller’s recommendations, according to Carl Koerner, the chairman of the library’s board of trustees, including implementing a new credit card usage policy and establishing a Freedom of Information Law process that makes internal library documents publicly available upon request. Given these internal reforms, as well as the much-lauded hiring of former New York City Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott as the library’s new CEO, Koerner expresses certainty that the library has shown policymakers – and the public at large – that the library, which receives 94 percent of its funding from the city, is a responsible steward of taxpayer funds. “Every council member that I’ve talked to knows the good that we’re doing in the community, whether it’s through adult literacy programs or preparing kids for kindergarten,” Koerner said. “They know that there’s no reason to penalize the people who take advantage of those programs. … I think that the only

Former New York City Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott, the Queens Library’s new CEO.

limitation on funding at this point is that there are just so many things that the city needs to fund.” But even as the library assures the public that it has moved on from an isolated incident, Galante’s legal maneuvers persist as headline fodder. This month, the Daily News reported that Galante, on top of his suit for breach of contract, is demanding that the library pay for his legal defense in a countersuit that the library has brought against him to recover misspent funds. AS THE SCANDAL continues to percolate in the media, lawmakers are still grappling with how – or whether – to respond to the scandal with legislation. City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley has expressed interest in reviving a bill that would require all “persons in leadership positions” at nonprofit organizations that receive funding from the city to submit additional financial disclosure forms, as well as records on so-called “third-party transactions.” The bill, which was originally introduced last fall, never made it out of the Contracts Committee, where it faced opposition from the chair-

wo m a n , C i t y C o u n c i l wo m a n Helen Rosenthal. “The bill, as currently written, doesn’t get at the problem that it was meant to solve: the corruption at the Queens Public Library,” Stephanie Buhle, a spokesman for Rosenthal, said after the bill’s introduction. “It’s clear that there isn’t the sort of oversight that needs to be in place. The question is figuring out a way to implement that kind of oversight while taking into consideration the concerns raised by human services nonprofits, and the current bill doesn’t do that.” Indeed, nonprofit advocates were fiercely opposed to the bill from the outset, calling it “an unworkable, unfunded mandate” and claiming that it would only make legal compliance more burdensome for nonprofits while providing limited benefits for the city. Laura Abel, senior policy counsel for the Lawyers Alliance of New York, said that the bill would require an “enormous infusion of resources” to overseeing agencies in order to keep up with an influx of paperwork from the more than 2,000 nonprofits that do business with the city.

Michelle Jackson, associate director and general counsel of the Human Services Council, described the additional reporting as redundant, given the existence of audits on every city contract, as well as reporting to the IRS and state attorney general’s Charities Bureau. “Rather than adding forms to the hodgepodge of existing reporting requirements and imposing additional approval requirements on nonprofits, the city should develop a robust enforcement framework that puts both nonprofit leaders and government officials on notice that there will be meaningful consequences for unethical or illicit behavior,” Jackson added. However, Crowley says that she has submitted a request to add an amendment to the bill that responds to at least one of the advocates’ criticisms. “After the hearing, I put in an amendment to the bill which would create a position in the mayor’s office of contracts and services to review nonprofit companies and their financial disclosures,” Crowley said. “I do think there are still regulatory holes that need to be filled with respect to nonprofits – for example, when boards review expenditures, employees aren’t required to disclose any notable relationships they may have with someone providing services. Disclosures are made to the state, but the city doesn’t see all of that information.” Despite this tweak, Rosenthal did not express interest in pursuing the legislation. “For now, we’re looking forward to seeing the recommendations from the new board of the library,” Rosenthal said in an email, adding that she’s much more interested in addressing procurement reform as it relates to nonprofit organizations. As far as the Queens Library board is concerned, such legislative efforts are simply unnecessary, especially in light of their “extensive” internal revisions. “I think that if you look at the situation, there actually is an internal system that’s in place,” Koerner said. “Unfortunately, there will sometimes be people with bad intentions. But it’s impossible to legislate away every bad actor.”

CityAndStateNY.com

GREEN

QUEENS

I LOVE VISITING FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK, ESPECIALLY DURING THE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL. DIVERSITY PLAZA AND MACDONALD PARK ARE ALSO FAVORITES.

Manhattan has Central Park and Brooklyn has Prospect Park, while the Bronx (with Pelham Bay Park) and Staten Island (the Greenbelt) rank first and second, respectively, for having the largest parks in the city. But Queens isn’t green with envy. The borough has its own leafy destinations, too, from Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to the revitalized East River waterfront to Jamaica Bay, an expansive open space that Queens shares with Brooklyn. Plus, the borough has more trees than any other. Of course, there are many more overlooked parks and green spaces dotting the borough, so we asked each elected official in Queens to share where they like to spend their time outdoors.

“THE WINDING PATHS OF QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN IN FLUSHING ARE BEAUTIFUL IN THE SPRINGTIME.” -City Councilman PETER KOO “MY FAVORITE PLACE IS ASTORIA PARK, AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING IT AN EVEN BETTER PLACE FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.” -City Councilman COSTA CONSTANTINIDES “I ENJOY ROCKAWAY BEACH, BROOKVILLE PARK AND BAISLEY POND PARK. ALL OF THESE PLACES OFFER PEACE, SERENITY AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY NATURE AND COMMUNE WITH GOD.” -State Sen. JAMES SANDERS JR. “IN SOUTHERN QUEENS AND ROCKAWAY, YOU’RE NEVER TOO FAR FROM THE WATER. NOTHING BEATS OUR BEACHES AND THE PARKS AROUND JAMAICA BAY.” -Assemblyman PHILLIP GOLDFEDER “CUNNINGHAM PARK, IN MY ASSEMBLY DISTRICT, IS MY FAVORITE PLACE FOR A DAY OUTDOORS. I ENJOY VISITING THE PARK WITH MY THREE GRANDCHILDREN.” -Assemblyman DAVID WEPRIN

- State Sen. TOBY ANN STAVISKY

I LOVE TO SPEND TIME WITH MY DAUGHTER IN ASTORIA PARK AND TAKE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL WATERFRONT VIEWS. - Assemblywoman ARAVELLA SIMOTAS

“SINCE I WAS A CHILD, MY FAVORITE PLACE TO SPEND TIME OUTDOORS HAS BEEN ASTORIA PARK.” -State Sen. MICHAEL GIANARIS “ELMHURST PARK, WITH ITS ROLLING HILLS OF GREEN GRASS, IS MY FAVORITE OUTDOOR SPACE IN QUEENS.” -City Councilman DANIEL DROMM “AT OUR BOROUGH’S PARKS. SO MANY GREAT SPOTS IN QUEENS, FROM FOREST PARK TO JUNIPER VALLEY PARK TO CROCHERON PARK.” -Rep. GRACE MENG

QUEENSBRIDGE PARK AND DUTCH KILLS GREEN. AFTER SO MANY YEARS FIGHTING TO BUILD OR REPAIR THEM I TRULY ENJOY THEM! - Rep. CAROLYN MALONEY

CityAndStateNY.com

“DOESN’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN CATCHING A GAME AT CITI FIELD. LET’S GO METS!” -Rep. JOE CROWLEY

I LIKE TO SPEND TIME ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL FORESTS OF ALLEY POND AND CUNNINGHAM PARKS. - City Councilman BARRY GRODENCHIK

I LOVE GOING TO FOREST PARK TO SPEND TIME WITH MY FAMILY, GO FOR A RUN OR JUST ENJOY THE FRESH AIR. - City Councilman ELIZABETH CROWLEY

BAISLEY POND PARK. I ENJOY WALKING ALONG THE TRAIL SURROUNDING THE POND AND THE VIEW FROM THE PROMENADE. - City Councilman RUBEN WILLS

“ALL YEAR ROUND ROY WILKINS PARK IS A PLACE WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER, BUT THE SUMMER IS SOMETHING SPECIAL. THE RESIDENTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TENNIS AND BASKETBALL COURTS, THE YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS AND EMPLOYMENT, WITH ALL THE CONCERTS AND ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING JERK FEST, THAT GO ON IN THE PARK.” -City Councilman I. DANEEK MILLER “BOWNE PARK AND FLUSHING MEADOWS PARK.” -Assemblyman RON KIM “BOWNE PARK IN FLUSHING IS MY FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE SUMMER!” -City Councilman PAUL VALLONE “I LOVE WALKING ALONG THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS OF MY DISTRICT SPEAKING WITH MY CONSTITUENTS AND VISITING WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.” -City Councilwoman KAREN KOSLOWITZ “I LIKE TO RIDE MY BIKE IN FLUSHING MEADOW PARK AND PLAY GOLF AT CLEARVIEW GOLF COURSE.” -Assemblyman MICHAEL DENDEKKER

NYC PARKS

“LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY PARK.” -State Sen. TONY AVELLA

I LIKE TO SPEND TIME RELAXING IN BROOKVILLE PARK AND SPRINGFIELD PARK OR ENJOYING A WALK ON THE ROCKAWAY BOARDWALK. - City Councilman DONOVAN RICHARDS

“QUEENS HAS BEAUTIFUL PARKLAND, AND MY DISTRICT IN PARTICULAR IS HOME TO ALLEY POND, KISSENA, PECK AND CUNNINGHAM PARKS. ALL OF THESE PARKS ARE A PART OF THE BROOKLYN-QUEENS GREENWAY – A 40-MILE PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLING PATH CONNECTING EACH PARK.” -Assemblywoman NILY ROZIC

CityAndStateNY.com

CELESTE SLOMAN

VISIONS of the

FUTURE Queens is on the upswing. The borough, long overlooked in favor of Manhattan and Brooklyn and their more fashionable neighborhoods, has evolved from a patchwork of quiet residential communities and ethnic enclaves into a destination in its own right. But while elected officials in Queens proudly tout the boroughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many assets and attractions, they are just as quick to point out the improvements and investments needed to make it a better place for their constituents. In this section, we asked each of them to share with City & State what they see in the boroughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future. Read on to learn what they envision.

CityAndStateNY.com

TOBY ANN STAVISKY STATE SENATOR Democrat - District 16

JAMES SANDERS JR. STATE SENATOR

Part of what makes Queens so special is its character. We are a unique conglomerate of quiet suburbs and bustling streets, families and young professionals, where 138 languages are spoken. It is important we preserve the character that has made Queens such a great place to live. I am proud to represent one of the most diverse Senate districts in the state. From empanadas in Elmhurst to boba tea in Downtown Flushing, we truly are the “World’s Borough.” Queens is in the middle of an exciting period. More tourists are choosing to visit during their vacations and more New Yorkers are choosing to make their homes here. However, while we encourage planned development and tourism, we must also ensure the people of Queens are taken care of. That means improving our public transportation, reducing overcrowding in our schools and encouraging developers to create more affordable housing. If we can continue to grow as a community and work to preserve our uniqueness, the future of Queens is bright. 

Democrat - District 10

PAUL VALLONE CITY COUNCILMAN Democrat - District 19

My vision for the future of Queens includes increased economic development with more participation by Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs). I have introduced legislation that would raise the city’s cap on MWBE contracts so that it will match the state threshold, and ensure that these companies get their fair share of the LaGuardia Airport rebuild and other opportunities. Additionally, increased access to education is of paramount importance and remains one of my legislative priorities, so I have introduced a bill known as the New York Promise Program, which would allow students who qualify to attend community colleges statewide for free by providing a tuition waiver in the form of a grant. Last but not least, I would like to see increased access to affordable transportation, especially in areas

like Far Rockaway, which lacks many of the travel option other parts of the city enjoy. Therefore I have introduced the Long Island Rail Road Fare Act, which would provide for the inclusion of Far Rockaway in the LIRR’s reduced weekend fare program called CityTicket. The program offers a $4.25 flat rate ticket price for single-direction travel within New York City, however Far Rockaway is excluded, because the trains pass through Nassau County. My bill would correct that injustice. Queens is the city’s most diverse borough and so much can be done to enhance what is already here and share it with the rest of the city. We have a skilled workforce, talented entrepreneurs, an eclectic arts and culture scene, a beautiful beach and so much more. As an elected official chosen to represent a portion of this borough, I will do all I can to ensure it reaches its full potential. 

Queens is better when we all stand united and work together. I am proud to call Borough President Melinda Katz a friend, and we have accomplished so much together to make The World’s Borough a great place to live for our children and families. As elected officials, we must continue working hand in hand to ensure that our constituents continue to receive their fair share of funding. When I entered office, I made it our mission to improve our district’s schools, parks and libraries. Our great borough will excel when our children thrive, so it is imperative that education is always a priority. We must focus on allocating more resources to our elementary, middle and high schools as well as CUNY colleges. When our students succeed, we as a borough succeed. 

CityAndStateNY.com

ARAVELLA SIMOTAS MICHAEL DENDEKKER

ASSEMBLYWOMAN

My vision for the future of Queens is a place where hardworking families can continue to live and thrive. We need to support our local small businesses. We need to invest in a more comprehensive public transportation system throughout our borough, which means increasing and improving both subway and bus lines. We need to make sure we have safety measures like crossing guards in place to keep our children and our communities safe. We need to reduce the overcrowding in our public schools and get kids out of classroom trailers. Queens has always been a great place to raise a family – I grew up here and raised my children here. My vision for the future is one in which this is still a reality, and that means supporting families and their needs.

CITY COUNCILMAN Democrat - District 20

Democrat - District 36

ASSEMBLYMAN Democrat - District 34

PETER KOO

The dynamic borough of Queens has become one of the most popular destinations in New York. People from around the world are drawn to the many unique opportunities here, including diverse cultural and artistic offerings, innovative economic development and stateof-the-art health care facilities. As a lifelong resident of Astoria, I am dedicated to meeting the needs of our growing population and ensuring this vibrant community continues to flourish. As Queens attracts increasing numbers of residents, it is essential that we work to enhance public health, safety and quality of life throughout the borough. More must be done to reduce air pollution, improve public transportation and make our streets safer for everyone. We must continue our efforts to use clean energy sources and expand preventative care to combat the persistent health disparities facing some of our communities. We are fortunate to live in the

most diverse county in the nation. Queens is strengthened by its rich cultural heritage and must continue to embrace new waves of immigrants. Our immigrant families deserve quality legal assistance, education and social services to fully integrate into their new homes. It is also vital that we expand affordable housing for working families and guarantee our senior citizens can remain in the Queens communities they’ve always called home. Perhaps nothing is more fundamental to the future prosperity of Queens than providing a good education for young people. It is crucial that our schools have the resources to provide a worldclass education to all children, including English language learners and students with disabilities. Strengthening our programs in early learning, STEM and foreign languages will give our families the tools they need to thrive and prepare our students to drive continued growth and innovation in Queens. 

The rapid growth within Queens, especially in communities like Flushing, necessitates a hard look at our infrastructure needs. It’s easy to build homes without regard for infrastructure, but it takes responsible government to put the quality of life of residents before new development. Our schools are overcrowded, our subways are over capacity, and our sewers dump into our waterways when it rains. We can and must do better. We must weigh these long-term needs against the reality that Queens is fast becoming the place to be. Our residents come from every corner of the world, and we speak every language. This diversity has become our strength, but we are still far removed from the more stable infrastructure that exists across the East River. My vision for the future of Queens is one of cautious optimism. There is a palpable excitement living here during a period of such vast transformation, but it is the responsibility of the city to ensure that the rush to build does not outpace our capacity.

CityAndStateNY.com

COSTA CONSTANTINIDES CITY COUNCILMAN Democrat - District 22

I see a future in which we further reinvest in and reinvent our open spaces. Queens’ parks, waterfronts, plazas and other green spaces are vital to our neighborhoods. We’ve been working to improve these spaces through environmental regulations that benefit our air quality, upgrades at our parks and playgrounds, and new athletic spaces. In my district in particular I’ve pledged to implement a long-term capital plan for Astoria Park that includes erosion control, upgraded play equipment and a designated soccer field. We’re also revitalizing our city’s greatest resource – our water. After decades of Astoria’s piers and ferry docks lying dormant, expanded Citywide Ferry Service will once again serve the Western Queens waterfront beginning next year. Residents and visitors will also be able to interact with the water hands-on at our ecodock in Astoria, which will be built in the coming years. Our waterfront was once a hub of transportation, recreation, and education. I’m excited to see it return as a vital resource.

PHILLIP GOLDFEDER

MICHAEL GIANARIS STATE SENATOR Democrat - District 12

ASSEMBLYMAN Democrat - District 23

My wife Esther and I recently welcomed our son, Gabriel – our third child – into the world. When I think of the future of Queens, I can’t help but think of the place where he will grow, learn and hopefully have his own family someday. My wife and I are able to raise him and his big brother and sister in the same Rockaway neighborhood where I grew up because of the opportunities that this borough provided families like ours. To ensure all our children have this same opportunity, we need to prepare for a future where Queens will only continue to grow in popularity and population. This will bring many challenges, but the most pressing need is for better transportation. Our aging subway network is designed to shuttle commuters in and out of Manhattan,

even though half of Queens residents work elsewhere, and new business districts are sprouting up from Long Island City and Forest Hills to Jamaica and Rockaway. Connecting these centers of employment and culture is the key to growing our local economy and providing families with access to job opportunities. That’s why I’ve been a staunch advocate for the reactivation of the Rockaway Beach Rail Line, also known as QueensRail. This would create the borough’s first north-south subway link and provide thousands of Queens commuters with direct access to neighborhoods that are now largely inaccessible. This is the future we need for Queens, the future that will allow our children to continue to thrive in the city’s greatest borough. 

Queens is a well-known hub for innovation and cultural institutions. Support of local arts institutions allows for contributions that keep our neighborhoods beautiful and lively. With our communities growing at rapid speed, it is important that our infrastructure keep pace. I am proud to have led the way towards establishing new public transportation options in western Queens such as Citi Bike, new bus and ferry service and other exciting possibilities to come. With these additions, residents will be able to travel to and from their destinations faster and easier than ever. More affordable housing and health care facilities are also required to provide the public with access to needed services. Continuing to have ample park space for families will allow for a variety of recreational activities in new green spaces. I look forward to seeing the continued, wonderful progression of Queens. 

CityAndStateNY.com

Hey

Queens it’s

www.ICPHusa.org

Students Affordability

Rent

Doubled up Neighborhood

Bronx

Children

Income

Family Homelessness Employment Brooklyn Child welfare

Queens

CITY COUNCILMAN Democrat - District 26

Last year, Queens gained more people than any other borough. Who wouldn’t want to live in New York City’s most diverse borough, near our gorgeous green spaces and our rich cultural institutions? From Jamaica to Whitestone, I’m glad so many people are learning what I’ve always known – that Queens is a wonderful place to live. As our borough grows, we need to make smart investments in transportation, schools, and arts and culture. I envision Queens with livable streets, where drivers, cyclists and pedestrians feel safe. A livable borough also requires fast and reliable public transportation. The 7 train, which stretches from Flushing to Long Island City, is one of the city’s most crowded, yet its centuryold equipment can’t sustain the line’s current ridership. Queens residents shouldn’t have to worry about being delayed by yet another signal malfunction. All students in Queens should learn in state-of-the-art schools.

School Districts 24 and 30, which encompass Western Queens, are among the most overcrowded in the city. I fought to bring 10 new schools to my district and will continue to advocate for school construction throughout the borough so students can learn and thrive while staying close to home. In my vision for the future of Queens, every child, in every neighborhood, will have access to arts, culture and learning. We recently restored six-day library service across the city; in the future, libraries from Rockaway to Ridgewood should be open all day long, every day of the week. Our already world-class cultural programs should be fully funded, so children and adults alike can find beauty, self-expression and a connection to history in these institutions. Queens is already incomparable. If we invest now in our transportation, schools, culture, and libraries, we’ll build a future for Queens where we all can thrive. 

Resources for Queens

ICPH provides easy-to-read and simple-to-use resources describing what’s going on in your community. See the list below for what you need to know to make informed decisions, advocate, raise money, or help make a difference.

Atlas of Student Homelessness in New York City

Queens

New York City

A comprehensive set of maps and stats to shed light on the challenges facing homeless students in public schools featuring each of Queens’ seven school districts

or g

JIMMY VAN BRAMER

Shelters

Drop-out rates Domestic Violence Median Income Manhattan Poverty Staten Island Rent burden Academic Performance

Eviction

Recidivism

Housing Instability

#timetotalkhomelessness

a. us H P .I C www

On the Map Dynamics of Family Homelessness in New York City An easy-to-follow series of maps, charts, and tables that describe what is happening with family homelessness as well as economic and housing stability in each community and city council district in Queens and citywide

A Neighborhood Divided: Gentrification, Poverty, and Homelessness in Elmhurst/Corona A community profile of the Elmhurst/Corona neighborhood and key factors that may impact community and housing stability and family homelessness

Community Snapshots: Family Homelessness in Your Community A one-page resource on each of the 14 community districts in Queens looking at key factors from shelter entry to affordability of rental units and unemployment

Learn more at

www.ICPHusa.org

CityAndStateNY.com

ELIZABETH CROWLEY CITY COUNCILWOMAN Democrat - District 30

JOE CROWLEY CONGRESSMAN Democrat - District 14

Queens is New York City’s fastest growing borough, in both its population and economy. I believe the best way to accommodate this continuing growth is through expanding public transportation, specifically by implementing a light rail service along the Long Island Rail Road’s Lower Montauk branch – a rail line that is still owned and maintained by the LIRR, and used only temporarily overnight for freight transport. This light rail would run between Jamaica and Long Island City, and be an opportunity for intra- and inter-borough transit for thousands of residents in communities currently lacking reliable public transportation. Light rail commuter service could alleviate this burden and provide quick and convenient access to several subway lines that connect to Brooklyn and Manhattan, as well as the East River Ferry, Citi Bike, the LIRR and the JFK Air Train.

Train service could also significantly strengthen the local economy. So much of the area surrounding this right of way is filled with industrial buildings and storage facilities. But an environmentally sound light rail service could encourage different types of businesses to plant roots in our communities. Not only is there a flourishing Industrial Business Zone in Maspeth, but new artisanstyle businesses are popping up in many different neighborhoods. Broadway Stages has brought film to Glendale, and we continue to see breweries, industrial bakeries, tech start-ups and more all along the Lower Montauk line. In a borough and economy growing faster than city planners can prepare for, we must take advantage of every option we have to improve the economic opportunities and the overall quality of life. This project is ideal for our growing population.

It’s often said that Queens is the gateway to Manhattan, but for too long it’s been seen just as a starting point, not a destination in its own right. That has changed. Now, Queens is considered the place to be – not just for tourists (and food enthusiasts), but also for families, young people starting out in the workforce and entrepreneurs looking to start a business. As a borough, we must continue to embrace these changes and work together to make Queens an even better place to live, raise a family and do business. That means boosting our schools and ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn. That means supporting local businesses, continuing to foster the emerging tech industry and creating jobs here in our borough. That means preserving our green spaces and expanding access to transportation

and affordable housing. And that means cultivating the arts and continuing Queens’ long tradition of producing artists, musicians and other creative professionals. It also means embracing the many faces that make up the fabric of Queens. Our diversity isn’t just what sets Queens apart; it’s what brings us together. Our borough is a melting pot, not just of different ethnicities, but of religions, sexual orientations and socioeconomic backgrounds. At a time when anti-immigrant and other hateful rhetoric fills the airwaves, Queens is a shining example of how people from various cultures can come together. Whether it is welcoming new immigrants, keeping traditions alive, or paving the way on civil rights, Queens has been, and will continue to be, a model for the rest of the country. 

CityAndStateNY.com

RON KIM

I hope to wake up 25 years from now and live in a borough where our classrooms and libraries are not overcrowded, where the 7 train and buses are not congested and run on time, and where we no longer deal with frequent, excessive airplane noise. I hope to see a Queens where we continue to embrace and celebrate diversity and offer more opportunities for new immigrants to succeed. I hope to see my district, a place with more mom-andpop stores than any other part of New York, continuing to thrive as its residents and small business owners no longer feel targeted by government agencies. 

ASSEMBLYMAN Democrat - District 40

RUBEN WILLS CITY COUNCILMAN

CAROLYN MALONEY

Democrat - District 28

Queens is due to witness an explosion in development over the next several years, as both JFK and LaGuardia Airport will undergo a series of renovations worth billions of dollars. My Jamaica district is being primed to serve the city’s booming tourism industry, and it currently lies at the center of several major projects designed to accommodate the lodging needs of the more than 50 million people who visit New York City each year. Coupled with ongoing efforts to attract greater commercial opportunities to the area, along with its increasing popularity among residents seeking affordable housing options, change in the makeup of the community is all but certain. This isn’t necessarily problematic, as it will surely bring more jobs and greater economic wealth to Jamaica, as well as the entire borough. However, such benefits should not

overshadow the work that has been done to improve the quality of our local schools and marketplaces, and it would be unfortunate to see the neighborhood suddenly go the way of Harlem and central Brooklyn. Whether they be in “Downtown Jamaica” or “Astoria Cove,” efforts to spur economic development must always be cognizant of the need to preserve the natural identity of the community as it exists today. My Jamaica constituents, in particular, represent what remains of America’s once-thriving middle class. They are homeowners and civil service employees. They should not be uprooted in the name of progress simply because of a failure to anticipate the potential for “unintended consequences.” There comes a point where an established pattern of unintended consequences suggests only intentional displacement.

CONGRESSWOMAN Democrat - District 12

The population of Queens is booming. Each year more and more people move in and call Queens their home. We have seen a wonderful increase in the number of new businesses, and Queens is an undeniable hotspot for everything from exciting new restaurants to museums to unique boutiques and specialty shops. We have done a great job of supporting new development in Queens, but now we need new infrastructure to support this increased population. We have to invest in new schools, increased methods of transportation and open green spaces. Families are moving in with young children that need places to learn and play

and grow. We must make it easier for children to go to school in their neighborhoods. Not only does it help foster a sense of community, it also cuts down on travel time both for students and parents. There is a dearth of open green spaces, and in order to ensure that the community continues to thrive that is something we need to make a priority. People love their parks, and beautiful parks help to attract more visitors and potential customers to the area. All these new residents and visitors need increased methods of transportation so they can easily maneuver around the city, and businesses need their customers outside of the borough to have easy access to the area.

CityAndStateNY.com

KAREN KOSLOWITZ CITY COUNCILWOMAN Democrat - District 29

BARRY GRODENCHIK CITY COUNCILMAN

My vision for the future of Queens County is bright and optimistic, and with good reason. I have lived here for over 55 years, and have witnessed our borough’s population explode with brilliant and vibrant diversity as we have become an economic powerhouse for our great city. I believe the future holds greater promise for our borough, with more people finding Queens to hold the promise of a better future for themselves and their families. We in the City Council have worked to protect them by placing stricter regulations on developers so that middle-class families and seniors on fixed incomes can now afford the American Dream. I see our residents enjoying new and expanded parks as we work to ensure that our public spaces are beautified to enhance the quality of life for all the people of our borough. I envision all our libraries going to seven-day-aweek service as more students and senior citizens alike utilize

21st century technologies. Our future also includes more quality public schools, with 100 percent universal pre-K availability, and senior centers that function as true community centers with enhanced resources that improve both the body and mind. Queens also has a rosy economic future, as we improve our transportation infrastructure at our airports, provide a positive environment for more high-tech startups and focus on bringing more retail establishments to our commercial corridors, thus bringing more good-paying jobs within reach of our residents. As chairwoman of the Queens Delegation of the New York City Council, I intend to see my optimistic vision for the future of our borough fulfilled by working to unite my colleagues in support of those organizations and individuals who seek to make our borough a safer, cleaner, and more economically viable and enjoyable place to live. 

Democrat - District 23

I am a proud lifelong resident of Queens who celebrates the diversity that makes us one of the most incredible places on earth. We’re home to some of the best schools, parks and hospitals in the city. I truly believe that the future of our borough is bright. I am honored to represent this borough and look forward to bettering our home. The residents of Queens need better access to reliable transportation. My colleagues in Queens have been consistently advocating for various new methods of transportation – from light rails to expanded select bus service, the residents of Queens deserve equal access. I am currently proposing a park-andride location at Belmont Park. As

a representative of an area known as a transportation desert, I will continue to fight for high-quality, reliable transportation throughout the borough. Public safety remains a top priority. I am incredibly grateful that eastern Queens will receive $70 million for a new police precinct. After 40 years of community activism we will finally be opening a new precinct. I am eager to work with both my colleagues in government and the local community on the development of the new 116th police precinct. Finally, I work every day to improve our already outstanding schools and am investing $3 million in capital funds in the coming fiscal year to do just that.

CityAndStateNY.com

NILY ROZIC ASSEMBLYWOMAN Democrat - District 25

TONY AVELLA STATE SENATOR Democrat - District 11

My vision for Queens involves its past just as much as its future. The borough has such a rich history, you can see it seeping from the architecture and character of its many unique neighborhoods. It simply wouldn’t be Queens if we didn’t retain these core elements so that future generations can have a link to its tremendous past. Going forward, the mantra should be “preserve and improve.” We need to tackle the safety issues that naturally come when an old borough with narrow streets now has two or three cars per household. We need to have Queens claim its fair share of city services and mass transit. Even where the rails do reach, the current system has simply failed to scale with the rising population. The 7 line’s maxed capacity and constant failure exemplifies the need to invest

in the borough’s infrastructure. Queens is also home to an aging population. We must do right by the senior population, provide them the services they need and not let them be priced out of their own neighborhood. The iconic city parks of Queens should also be preserved so that green spaces continue to balance the urban. Overall, Queens is a beautiful and diverse borough which has been able to blend a city lifestyle with its suburban aesthetic roots. Whether you’re a young professional just entering the job market, looking for a safe community to raise a family or looking to live out your golden years in comfort, Queens has always had something for everyone. So long as we don’t divorce its past from its future, but rather build on what makes Queens great, that will continue to be the case.

Queens remains the borough of immigrants. Nearly half of the population in Queens is foreignborn. One of my many hopes for the future of Queens is that language access and government services will expand to best meet the needs of our borough. All too often, we hear of the growing needs many face, whether it is access to interpretation services, overcrowding in schools, overburdened mass transit, a shortage of affordable housing or low wages for workers. The best way to ensure our collective success is to work on and pass legislation that would allow for flexible and predictable working arrangements; protect and increase good-paying jobs; and create new avenues for growth leading to a bright, prosperous future. 

CityAndStateNY.com

JOSE PERALTA STATE SENATOR Democrat - District 13

DANIEL DROMM CITY COUNCILMAN Democrat - District 25

Jackson Heights, Woodside, Astoria – Queens is bursting with neighborhoods ideal to make one’s home. Flushing-Meadows Corona Park, Citi Field, The Louis Armstrong House Museum, Kaufman Astoria Studios – Queens is also full of iconic and hidden tourist treasures. These are just some of the reasons why I envision Queens, the most diverse borough, as a true destination. Not only as a destination for families, but also as a tourist destination, a tourist magnet. More and more families are moving full-speed to our borough. They see Queens, and I agree, as a place to put down roots. It is a working-class, immigrant universe, where the ‘mom and pop’ and the middle class are the ingredients that dissolve into a magnificent melting pot. We have great schools, terrific parks, commercial strips, historic neighborhoods, and Roosevelt Avenue, a microcosmic thoroughfare unparalleled by any other.

To magnify the attraction of Queens as a destination, we have to establish mechanisms to increase affordable housing for our hardworking families. A strong working class guarantees a strong quality of life, which creates a perfect habitat for children, families and others. On top of that, our social and economic future is looking bright, especially with the imminent development of Willets Point and some other areas, the revamp and modernization of LaGuardia Airport, as well as the transformation of some terminals at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Queens is the most diverse place in the country, if not the world. This multicultural, multiethnic atmosphere can be found everywhere – in its neighborhoods, and its culture, arts and society. Here in Queens, we have residents from every corner of the globe, and that reality is invaluable. 

Queens is the Borough of Nations. People from around the world have come to Queens for a better life and for a better education for their children. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to keep up with the need for additional school seats. Therefore, I envision a future where every needed school seat in Queens is built. It is no secret that our public schools face tremendous overcrowding. As of now, 35,259 school seats are needed in Queens – the majority of seats needed in the city. School Districts 24 and 30, which I represent in the City Council, are the two most overcrowded school districts in all of New York City. In many schools, students are taught in auditoriums, gymnasiums and cafeterias. In schools where overcrowding is particularly severe, even locker rooms, hallways and closets must be

utilized. These unsuitable learning spaces and swelling class sizes pose enormous challenges for educators and students alike. That said, we are heading in the right direction: plans for new school construction in our borough are already underway. Council Member Julissa FerrerasCopeland and I successfully fought for an increase of $868 million in the School Construction Authority Fiscal Year 2017 budget for the construction of additional schools. This additional funding will greatly alleviate overcrowding in Queens. Though there is still more work to be done, we are definitely making progress. It is my dream that one day everyone will realize that the key to solving many of the ills in society rests in providing students with a great public education, and that it starts with assuring every student a seat at the school table. 

CityAndStateNY.com

I. DANEEK MILLER CITY COUNCILMAN Democrat - District 27

GRACE MENG

DONOVAN RICHARDS

CONGRESSWOMAN Democrat - District 6

CITY COUNCILMAN Democrat - District 31

When I think of the future of Queens, I see a borough that no longer has to deal with the transit inequities of the past. I see commuters no longer deciding between the convenient commute and the affordable commute. In the near future, Rockaway residents should have the ability to choose between the ferry, the Long Island Rail Road, Select Bus Service or an A train with vastly improved service to get to and from work. Laurelton, Rosedale and Springfield Gardens residents should also have the option to take advantage of Freedom Ticket, a monthly pass to use the LIRR, the subways and the buses at a discounted rate without having to pay for transfers. The future of Queens would be vastly improved by MTA investments that could make all of these dreams a

reality. Freedom Ticket would alleviate the burden on our subways by making the LIRR a financially viable option. Select Bus Service will make mass transit on Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards faster for commuters and safer for pedestrians. The A train suffers from some of the most unreliable service in the entire city, so the addition of more trains and countdown clocks would go a long way toward helping transitstarved communities in Queens. With the city’s $2.5 billion investment in the MTA, it is as important as ever that we do everything we can to end decades of inequitable transportation. With more people moving to Queens than ever, along with the city’s push for more affordable housing, we need to ensure that Queens is truly prepared for its bright future. 

Queens should be a place where people can live, work and raise a family. To ensure this, our transportation system needs to be strong enough to support the growing number of people that are calling the borough home. In the communities of southeast Queens, residents have the longest commutes while paying additional costs for inadequate service. The Long Island Rail Road does not stop at the St. Albans station nearly as frequently as others and it is more expensive to take. My call for the MTA to charge the same price to use the LIRR as it does for subways and buses, as well as allowing free transfers from one service to another, will go a long way to improving the quality of life for Queens residents now and into the future. 

An AirTrain to LaGuardia can make public transportation more attractive to those traveling to and from the airport, and it would expand the potential of the 7 train and Long Island Rail Road. I’m also working with the LIRR to reopen the old Elmhurst station, and we’re making sure that the overhaul of the Flushing LIRR station will meet the growing needs of the area. A robust transportation system stands to reduce congestion, promote tourism and stimulate our borough’s economy. Small businesses are the backbone of Queens’ economy, and we must do everything we can to help our entrepreneurs succeed. I’ve called for a Small Business Development Center to be established in the northeastern part of the borough and I continue to work with the SBA to eliminate red tape for emerging businesses, startups and minority small business owners.

Although Queens has always been impacted by aircraft noise, the problem has increased due to new flight patterns over the borough. I’ve led several recent efforts to mitigate aircraft noise, and have proposed that the EPA – instead of the FAA – take the lead in combatting it. Queens is arguably the most diverse place in the nation. Services that are provided to borough residents should reflect that rich diversity, and I’ve led numerous initiatives to make that happen. These include offering important government forms such as college aid applications in languages spoken by Queens residents; creating halal and kosher lunch options for our public school students; and establishing more dual language programs for students in city schools. There are so many others areas that we must address for the future of Queens. I look forward to tackling all these vital issues in the months and years ahead. 

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ASSEMBLYMAN

JOSEPH ADDABBO

Democrat - District 24

STATE SENATOR

My vision for the future of Queens rests on a keen understanding of what makes Queens great today: diversity. As the gateway to the United States for millions of immigrants, Queens is one of the few places in the world where one can experience so many different arts and cultures from every corner of the world in a single day. Queens is also one of the few places on our planet where one can witness acts of tolerance and acceptance being exercised on a daily basis by people all across the borough. The people of Queens are always willing to lend a helping hand to a neighbor and have a reputation for standing with their fellow New Yorkers against acts of intolerance and hate, regardless of the group being targeted. This has been the case since at least 1657, when a group of English Citizens signed the Flushing Remonstrance to stand with their Quaker neighbors against religious intolerance and declare that ‘We are bounde by the law to do good unto all men.’ Back then, Queens served as the model for tolerance, acceptance, and peace; a safe haven from the chaos across the ocean; and as proof to the power of liberalism. In the future, Queens will continue serving this role for our city, state, country, and the world. While others resolve their disagreements using other means; in the World’s Borough we look to break bread, whether it’s pita, roti or challah rolls. 

Democrat - District 15

For Queens to meet the needs of its growing population and visitation, it must take measures to improve its transportation. People, especially in southern Queens, have an extremely difficult time traveling not only to Manhattan, but also merely to other parts of the same borough. The isolated areas of my district, namely Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach, Broad Channel and the Rockaway Peninsula, have been advocating for years to increase the reliability and efficiency of our public transportation system. Better transportation will also assist individuals as we work toward expanding job opportunities in the borough. With two major airports, the Resorts World Casino, thousands of businesses of various sizes and acres of undeveloped property, I believe Queens has great potential for job growth. The increase in population, improved transportation and job growth dictate that Queens must have a vision for expanded educational options, including trade and apprenticeship programs. Enrollment at CUNY schools in Queens has been rising, and many of our elementary classrooms are bursting at the seams. For our borough to keep up with the demand for quality education, we must plan now for a brighter future of our generations to come. 

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5/6/16 12:14 PM

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THE DIRECTOR’S

DIRECTOR

A Q&A with Carl Goodman of the Museum of the Moving Image Visit a retro movie palace, play the original Ms. Pac-Man or hear a film director talk about her craft – you can do it all at the Museum of the Moving Image. It’s one of Queens’ biggest cultural attractions and hosts our Queens issue launch party. City & State’s Jeff Coltin talked to the museum’s executive director, Carl Goodman, about presidential campaign ads, Spider-Man and Queens earning its exclamation point. had all this time. And that’s happening now. I think that as we evolved, the question mark at the end of Queens when we told them where we were has turned into an exclamation point.

C&S: Tell me about your work with the “Inspired by Culture” campaign. CG: We are, here at the Museum of the Moving Image, chartered to provide education services for the people of New York. The engine of that activity is both the earned income that comes from exhibits and events but also, in some small part but important part, funding from the City of New York. And what we’ll be doing during this budget season is to make sure that both our elected officials and members of (Mayor) Bill de Blasio’s administration are well aware of the restrictions and limitations that we have and have had since 2008 from budget cuts, and we feel that now is the time to restore us to previous levels and allow us to increase what we do for the public. C&S: Queens was named the top travel destination in the country last year by Lonely Planet. Have you seen a difference in clientele or a growth in visitors since then?

CG: In terms of tourists, absolutely! What we see are the more adventurous tourists that want to go off the beaten track – the same tourists we’ve seen for 30 years. But now in addition to that we’re seeing, let’s call it the “everyday tourist,” who has heard about Queens, wants to spend the day here, wants to have great food, wants to go to great museums and make a day of it. We are hosting delegations of travel writers from every country imaginable seemingly every week, and so the pace of tourist visits has increased. This is great for the economy of New York, it’s great for Queens and the local businesses. The restaurants are full of our visitors, they’re spending money in the neighborhood. And we have a buzz. Suddenly, it seems, Queens is cool. And we are very proud to have been part of that evolution. But I would say it’s an evolution, not a revolution. We’ve been here for over 30 years. Sometimes, it takes a long time to understand and perceive what you’ve

C&S: You also helped put together “The Living Room Candidate” project, which is exciting for us since we cover politics. Can you explain that? CG: We have three online projects. One is a film and media journal called “Reverse Shot,” one is a project done with the Sloan Foundation called Sloan Science and Film, and finally, the most addictive of our websites, is an online history of presidential campaign commercials from 1952 to the present of streaming video devoted to the ways which presidential candidates have sought to convince and persuade and possibly even manipulate the public to get the public to vote for them. It’s a site that’s appealing to both political consultants and the general public. It is truly fascinating and sees millions of people a year. As we gear up for this election season – we focus on the general – we know who’s going to be in it, I think, and it’s going to be quite an interesting year. We can’t wait to track and put online the current crop of commercials. C&S: Which of the 2016 presidential candidates do you think uses the screen best, even among the full field in the primaries? CG: We focus on the general election and remain absolutely neutral. I do, especially (laughs). Our curators are allowed to develop an opinion. All I can

say, and we know this from the history of this website, is we really don’t know who commanded the screen better until the election is over. At that point, it’s usually easy to tell, just from looking at the commercials, who won. So if you look back at how George Bush trounced Michael Dukakis, it’s clear from the ads. How Reagan won is clear from the ads – using Roger Ailes, by the way, as a political consultant. This year, I think you’ll see two very different types of ads from each of the candidates. I’m personally quite a fan of Eisenhower’s ads from 1952. Really worth viewing. He was comfortable with the camera. He even used Disney for animation and jingles, while his opponent looked like he never wanted to be on the screen ever again. That’s Adlai Stevenson. C&S: What’s your favorite depiction of Queens on screen? CG: (laughs) I like the Queens that’s depicted in “Spider-Man.” Great things come out of this neighborhood, including webbed superheroes. A film like “Julie and Julia,” where the lead character lives in Long Island City. I like movies and TV shows that have a presence in Queens where Queens just happens to be a place where interesting and smart people live. Where it doesn’t simply project a certain stereotype of the borough, because the borough is comprised of so many different neighborhoods. You can’t characterize it in its entirety in one film. For more, including why Goodman says the museum couldn’t be anywhere but Queens, visit cityandstateny.com.

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5/20/16 12:30 PM

City & State

CityAndStateNY.com

Everyone deserves to breathe clean, smoke-free air in their homes.

Smoke-free housing protects New Yorkers, especially children from secondhand smoke. For more information on going smoke-free, or to lend your support, visit SmokeFreeHousingNY.org. CS0015_FP.indd 1

5/20/16 12:35 PM