Saying Goodbye to 2020

and Ringing in 2021!

Dear Friends,

I hope you and your families enjoyed a joyous Christmas and holiday season.
First and foremost, I hope you are safe and well. As 2020 thankfully comes
to a close, it is a time for all of us to reflect on the challenges we have
faced and show appreciation to the loved ones that are in our lives. With
vaccinations on the horizon and an end to the pandemic in sight, it is my
hope that we continue to stand together as neighbors, friends and family as
we look out for each other and pray for healing.

Like many other New Yorkers, at the end of March, I began to experience
Coronavirus symptoms and began a long journey to recuperation by
self-quarantining, resting and healing at home with my family. After
everyone’s prayers and weeks of rest, I was blessed to have made a full
recovery. My family and I were overwhelmed by the generosity and love that
you shared with us in the spring and we cannot thank you enough for your
kindness. It was the true meaning of the Christmas spirit that came a
little early this year.

This past June, the City Council was faced with an unprecedented deficit
from the continuing pandemic and financial downturn. In spite of this, we
were able to bring tremendous victories for Northeast Queens in this
year’s budget. We secured funding for two major and long-wished-for park
projects in Bayside and College Point. Funds to create a new dream
playground for PS 184, restore the ecology at Powells Cove Park, develop a
reading garden at Auburndale Library, and add NYPD security cameras to our
busiest intersections — all projects to come out of our Participatory
Budgeting — were also secured.

The following Year in Review will highlight what we've accomplished
this year as well as showcase some of the virtual events and visits that
make me proud to be your Council Member!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, never hesitate to contact
either myself or my staff at any time. Both my family and I wish everyone a
happy, healthy and blessed New Year!

Sincerely,

____________________________________________________

Fiscal Year 2020 Budget

Announcing $20 Million in Funding Improvements for Northeast Queens​

Northeast Queens Schools, Libraries and Parks to See Major Upgrades

Photo taken in 2019 at MacNeil Park

On June 30, the New York City Council passed the City budget for the
upcoming fiscal year, and I’m proud to announce that, in one of the most
challenging budget years in recent memory due to the ongoing impact of
COVID-19, I was able to fight for and secure $20 million for improvements
throughout Northeast Queens. In seven years of fiscal budgets, my office
has now secured well over $120 million in funding for Northeast Queens.

The budget provides significant improvements to our parks, with $5 million
allocated to complete long-awaited waterfront, esplanade and seawall
repairs at the beautiful MacNeil Park. Another $3.4 million was allocated
to complete pathway renovations at Joe Michael’s Mile (North), a beautiful,
outdoor refuge for so many during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.

In total, I’m proud to have allocated nearly $5 million for upgrades at
local schools and over $10 million for improvements to our parks. Every
school within the district received a minimum of $50,000 to fund important
technology upgrades.

These record financial victories for our Northeast Queens community are
promises kept that will carry positive impacts into future generations.

A total of $1.6 million in funding was allocated in partnership with City
Council Speaker Corey Johnson for ecological restorations at College
Point’s Powells Cove. This is one of 11 projects on this year’s
Participatory Budgeting ballot that we fought to fund in this year’s
budget, despite the citywide cancellation of this year’s voting cycle due
to COVID-19.

“Powells Cove Park is a potentially beautiful natural area that‘s suffered
from inadequate maintenance and upkeep since its creation, even as usage
increases dramatically,” said Kathryn Cervino, President of the Coastal
Preservation Network. “The people of College Point deserve better and we
are grateful to Council Member Vallone for securing these funds. We look
forward to partnering on plans to improve flood-prone and worn out trails,
thin the hazardous overgrowth, beautify entryways and add trash cans to
ease the rampant littering. This park is truly a gem in the rough.”

Additional participatory budgeting projects funded in this year’s budget
include a $674,00 classroom renovation at JHS 194, accomplished in
partnership with Borough President Sharon Lee, and a $500,000 year-round
Reading Garden at Auburndale Library in partnership with Speaker Johnson.

“The updates to the two rooms in our school is an exciting thing for our
school, as it will provide additional updated classroom space for our
students,” said Jennifer Miller, Principal of JHS 194. “Thank you to
everyone who helped to develop and support this project, including Mr. Koe,
our SLT and PTA, and Council Member Vallone.”

A $820,00 funding allocation with Speaker Johnson was made to St. Mary’s
Healthcare System for Children, New York's largest provider of long-term
care to children with medically complex conditions. I was also proud to
advocate for and secure $5.1M in funding for the Support Our Seniors
initiative, which I established in 2015, and secure over $1 million to
directly support nonprofits in the district, such as the Bayside Village
BID, Commonpoint Queens, the Alley Pond Environmental Center, Douglaston
LDC, Poppenhusen Institute, and HANAC Angelo Petromelis Senior Center.

Read Coverage:

[1]Queens Courier

[2]Queens Chronicle

[3]Queens Post
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Leading Council Hearings on Post-COVID Economic Relief and Recovery​

In the wake of COVID-19, New York City’s economic recovery is on the minds
of all New Yorkers. Since June, I’ve chaired multiple hearings of the
Committee on Economic Development focused on COVID response and recovery
efforts in New York City. Our first hearing was specifically focused on the
New York City Economic Development Corporation’s COVID-19 response, job
development, and small business support in our “new normal.” Representing
the NYCEDC at this hearing was James Patchett, President and CEO, who
discussed establishing a local PPE and testing production chain and ongoing
job development efforts that aim to help New Yorkers attain economic
stability.

In September, I co-chaired a joint hearing focused on the recovery of New
York City’s tourism industries and arts and culture during the ongoing
COVID-19 crisis. There, my legislation seeking to create an Office of
Tourism Recovery was supported and discussed by fellow Members, industry
leaders and advocates.

The prolonged fallout from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to leave
its mark on every sector of the city’s economy, but nowhere is it more
pronounced than in our once-vibrant tourism, arts and entertainment
sectors. Acknowledging the difficult recovery ahead, my bill seeks to
create a dedicated office that would report directly to the Mayor and
support tourism recovery throughout the city over the course of the next
five challenging years. Proactive efforts like these will ensure the “City
that Never Sleeps” stays dynamic, vibrant and wide awake in this new
reality.

October's joint hearing of the Committees on Economic Development,
Contracts and Governmental Operations brought a critical and thorough
review of the city's decision-making processes throughout the course of the
COVID-19 pandemic and presented us with an opportunity to glean lessons
learned and discuss how EDC and the relevant city agencies are preparing to
tackle the second wave or a future health crisis.

Applying best practices from last spring, ensuring an adequate stockpile of
medical equipment, PPE, and testing and streamlining critical response time
between agencies and our medical community is paramount. The near-complete
effort to stockpile a 90-day PPE supply for the city and the now-live PPE +
Reopening Supplies portal established by EDC are vital safeguards as we
prepare for whatever comes tomorrow, next month or next year.

Read Coverage at [4]Crain's NY, [5]Playbill, [6]QNS

_______________________________________

Vallone and Speaker Johnson Double Funding

to Expand Free Senior Transportation Program during the COVID-19 Crisis

Photo taken before COVID-19

I'm proud to announce that, in partnership with New York City Council
Speaker Corey Johnson, the Free Senior Transportation Program was extended
this year thanks to an additional $150,000 in funding. This allocation is
in addition to the initial $150,000 in funding allocated to the program
this past fall by my office, the Queens Delegation and Queens Borough
President's office.

With this new allocation, my office has now increased the budget for this
successful program nearly eightfold since 2017, when his office earmarked
$40,000 to pilot the program. Most importantly, this critical service
remained operational during the COVID-19 crisis.

Selfhelp Community Services works in partnership with Four Twos and Central
Car Service to schedule rides. The program will continue to operate until
the funds are depleted.

Since my office created the initiative four years ago, the Senior
Transportation Program has provided thousands of free rides to and from
important medical appointments. I thank Speaker Johnson for his support and
commitment to this initiative and Selfhelp Community Services for always
being an outstanding community partner.”

“During these uncertain times, we must do everything we can to protect and
support vulnerable New Yorkers, including our seniors,” said Speaker Corey
Johnson. “Additional funding for this senior transportation program is so
important now. Aging residents have enough to worry about during the
coronavirus crisis. They should not have to worry about how to get around.
I thank Council Member Vallone and Selfhelp Community Services for their
partnership as we help our City’s seniors during this pandemic.”

Read Coverage:

[7]Queens Post

[8]QNS

[9]Patch

[10]QGazette

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Community Wins

Bright Moments in a Challenging Year

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Northeast Queens Strong During COVID-19​

Our healthcare workers and first responders are working tirelessly
throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and Northeast Queens continues to find
new and creative ways to rise and support our essential workers on the
front lines fighting this pandemic every day.

Through their Food for the Fearless initiative, Mark Boccia and the team at
Bayside's Bourbon Street Queens and OSP have raised over $100,000 and
counting to provide hundreds and hundreds of meals to healthcare workers at
our New York hospitals and the many first responders stationed at our local
precincts, firehouses, and at Fort Totten during the spring.

A local group organized Project Face Shield, assembling thousands of
critical face shields for healthcare workers at Elmhurst Hospital, Forest
Hills Hospital, Stony Brook University Hospital, Brandywine Nursing Home in
Little Neck, and several others at the height of the pandemic in the
spring.

The Coastal Preservation Network and a group of College Point residents
also established efforts to collect funds and distribute meals to hard
working staff at two local nursing homes.

In the spring, a group of neighbors created the Meals for Visiting
Healthcare Workers in Queens initiative to provide meals to the many
nurses, doctors, and paramedics from across the country who were staying at
the Adria Hotel and Conference Center and Best Western on Northern
Boulevard. Organizer Amy Herzog writes: "After 12 hour shifts on the front
lines, these medical workers are exhausted and hungry. Please help us raise
money to coordinate hot meals and other needed supplies."

The Help Our Healthcare Heroes initiative delivered meals to hundreds of
medical staff throughout Queens, Manhattan, and Long Island. Organizer
Karra Puccia writes: "Every dollar counts and we want to support these
heroes when they leave their families to care for ours." All of these
initiatives were found and supported on GoFundMe.

THANK YOU to these local organizers and to our first responders, our
healthcare workers, and all those on the front lines every day working hard
to get our city through this pandemic. We will weather these uncertain
times and come through stronger, together!

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Outdoor Dining Success in Northeast Queens

The prolonged fallout from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has left its mark
on every sector of the city’s economy, and our restaurants have faced
unprecedented hardship. In response to this, the Administration unveiled in
July the “Open Streets: Restaurants” program, which combines the Open
Streets and Open Restaurants initiatives on select corridors throughout the
five boroughs and allows qualifying restaurants and bars to safely expand
outdoor seating on the weekends by closing streets to vehicular traffic.

This past summer, Bayside’s Bell Boulevard was selected as one of the first
business corridors in the city, and the very first in Queens, to
participate in the new program. A few weeks later, we were proud to bring
the program to Douglaston Plaza. This amazing, months-long feat could not
have been achieved without close collaboration with local partners,
including the Bayside BID, Douglaston LDC and 111th Precinct, as we
welcomed countless diners for safe outdoor dining. By cutting obstructive
red tape and setting clear health and safety guidelines for our city’s
thousands of restaurant owners and the thousands more they employ, the
program offered a critical lifeline and helped ensure both the long-term
health of New Yorkers and the economy.

I thank every one of you who supported our restaurants this year by dining
in, taking out or ordering delivery in 2020 and beyond and I look forward
to the program in the warmer months ahead!

Read Coverage at [11]QNS, [12]Queens Gazette

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Northeast Queens Drive-In Movie Series

Recognizing the demand for fun yet safe, socially distanced community
activities this past summer, I was proud to organize a series of nostalgic
drive-in movies that provided Northeast Queens families with responsible
summer fun during the warmer months. Over 300 families registered and
participated in our four free movie nights and most showings sold out
online in less than an hour!

It was wonderful to empower the community to come together safely after
months of quarantine and to bring great exposure to many local businesses
and eateries, who need our support now more than ever. I thank Cord Meyer
Development, Triangle Equities and the Queens Chamber of Commerce for
partnering with my office to make these wonderful events a reality!

Read Coverage at [13]QGazette

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Vallone to MTA: Improve, Don’t Slash Bus Service in Northeast Queens!

Winter 2020 MTA Workshop in College Point (pre-COVID)

The proposed MTA Queens Bus Network Redesign has been a topic of concern
for my office since it was unveiled in January 2020. The cuts to express
bus service suggested as part of the draft plan are completely unacceptable
to our community, which is already a transit desert. The MTA should be
looking at increasing service and their investment in quality public
transportation in places like Northeast Queens that have been traditionally
underserved, not taking it away.

Every day, thousands of Northeast Queens residents rely on express buses to
get to Manhattan and back home. Cutting these services would further strand
our community. Under the proposal, the MTA would run a limited number of
buses during weekday rush hours and almost completely eliminate service on
the weekends. Our district cannot be left in the dust. We need accessible
transit options at all times for all of our residents. Any proposal that
denies further mobility to Northeast Queens is wholly unacceptable.

Before the pandemic and the ban on large public gatherings, I worked to
bring the MTA to every corner of our district to hear your concerns
directly, and I have confidence that they are listening. The MTA has
assured my office that any public comment forums for our district postponed
this spring due to COVID-19 will be rescheduled. The project is
indefinitely on hold.

In the meantime, we must remain active and vocal. Our voices can, and will,
ensure that our bus service is preserved and transit is improved in
Northeast Queens! Please continue to share your comments and concerns
online at [14]new.mta.info/queensbusredesign. We look forward to reviewing
the MTA’s revised network redesign plan, which is still in development due
to the pandemic.

Read Coverage at [15]Queens Eagle, [16]QNS, [17]Queens Chronicle

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Bayside's Fort Totten Sees June Reopening After Huge EMS Pandemic Staging
Effort

(Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

Patch article, May 27, 2020

"In the thralls of the coronavirus crisis, Fort Totten Park housed
ambulances from across the country — and was even considered as a possible
burial site if the pandemic worsened. Now, it's slated to reopen to the
public on June 1, according to City Council Member Paul Vallone.

The FDNY and the city's parks department are teaming up to ready Fort
Totten Park for public access, following the departures of the last members
of a "cavalry" of out-of-town EMTs and paramedics that had been stationed
there to assist New York City's first responders.

Vallone last week pressed the Fire Department to reopen the park to give
residents of northeastern Queens more space to follow social-distancing
rules, require New Yorkers to stay six feet apart from others.

"The closure of the park has caused severe overcrowding at nearby Little
Bay Park and the overcrowding is dangerous and makes social distancing
impossible," Vallone wrote in a May 21 letter asking the FDNY to reopen the
park. "Fort Totten is, as you know, sprawling and our residents would be
much safer outdoors if this could be made available to them."

Read the full article at [18]Patch Bayside

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Council Member Vallone and 109th Precinct Team Up to Improve Safety at
Harvey Park

Vallone and 109th Precinct have teamed up to target illegal parking of
commercial trucks, tractor-trailers and waste removal vehicles around a
local park. Commercial trucks, parking day and night around Harvey Park,
located between 144 Street and the Whitestone Expressway service road, has
become a chronic issue, preventing park goers from enjoying the park
safely.

This issue was brought to the Council Member’s attention by the Dwarf
Giraffe Athletic League, whose members frequently use the fields at the
park for their youth sports. According to local law, street storage of
commercial vehicles is prohibited in a residential area in excess of three
hours, and parking a commercial vehicle on a residential street between the
hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. is prohibited. At a meeting with the Precinct’s
new commanding officer in November, Council Member Vallone relayed details
of the ongoing issue and swift action was taken by local officers, who have
now issued 15 truck/trailer parking summonses in the immediate area.

“Commercial trucks constantly lined up along the perimeter of the park
decrease visibility and pose a risk to pedestrians seeking safe access to
this popular greenspace,” Vallone said. “I thank Commanding Officer John
O’Connell and the 109th Precinct for their attention to this issue and look
forward to our continued partnership.”

“We did touch base with Sanitation as they were assisting as well focusing
on the waste trucks in the area,” said Captain John L. O’Connell,
Commanding Officer. “We will continue to address this issue and make sure
any illegally parked trucks/trailers will be issued summonses.”

“The DG Board members want to thank Council Member Paul Vallone and the
109th Precinct for addressing the parking problem down at Harvey Park,” the
Dwarf Giraffe Board of Directors said in a statement. “The DG families
appreciate the fact that their safety is being addressed. Your continued
attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.”

Read Coverage at [19]Bayside Patch, [20]QNS

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Legislation

_____

Demanding Accountability from Con Edison Post-Storm Isaias​

Last year, we endured one of the most challenging summers in recent memory,
facing storms, power outages, and a global pandemic. Con Edison’s
disastrous, week-long response to Tropical Storm Isaias, which arrived in
New York City on Aug. 4 and was felt most profoundly in the borough of
Queens, was unacceptable and prompted me to immediately call for emergency
City Council hearings on the vulnerabilities exposed in existing emergency
preparedness and infrastructure.

In response, the New York City Council met remotely for a joint oversight
hearing on “Tree Removals and the Restoration of Power in the Aftermath of
Tropical Storm Isaias.” The Committees discussed two of my proposed
resolutions, which seek to push Con Edison to make needed service
improvements, better prioritize restoration efforts across the five
boroughs, and take accountability for damage sustained on private property
during weather events.

Con Edison’s failure to quickly restore power to tens of thousands of
Queens residents in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaias meant that the
borough hardest hit by COVID-19 also became the hardest hit by this weather
event. A borough-by-borough approach to Con Edison’s emergency response,
advance identification of vulnerable utility infrastructure, and
accountability for damage to private property during storm events are just
a few ways we can take action now and prevent a similar unacceptable
outcome in the future.

When it comes to a future natural disaster in our city, it's not a matter
of “if,” but “when.” We cannot leave New York City families in the dark.

Read Coverage:

[21]QNS

[22]Queens Post

[23]Queens County Politics

[24]QGazette

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City Council Passes Vallone-Sponsored Bill to Explore Use of Drones for
Building Facade Inspections​

In September, the NYC Council passed a [25]bill that will require the
Department of Buildings (DOB) to study the safety and feasibility of
permitting building façade inspections to be conducted by unmanned aircraft
systems, or drones. This bill, co-sponsored by Council Member Paul A.
Vallone, is an important first step toward making positive changes to the
city’s outdated technology laws and has the potential to improve safety,
reduce costs and save time.

Formerly known as Local Law 11, under the Facade Inspection and Safety
Program owners of all buildings over six stories tall must conduct a facade
inspection, and make the needed repairs, every five years. Drone use in New
York City is currently prohibited under a 1948 local law, which restricts
the take off and landing of any “aircraft” to airports and Port
Authority-designated locations.

“An outdated local law, drafted decades before the advent of what are
popularly known as ‘drones,’ is leaving New York City on the ground while
other cities are already using rapidly advancing technologies to support
business and improve safety,” said Council Member Paul Vallone, who also
chairs the Committee on Economic Development. “Clearing the way for
building industry firms, property managers and other companies to save both
time and money through the use of drones could certainly benefit the city,
particularly when it comes to ensuring our buildings are built safely and
properly maintained.”

In addition, facade inspections are a major ongoing expense for co-op and
condo boards. Reduced costs associated with drone facade inspections could
help ensure the financial stability of the thousands of housing
cooperatives and condominiums throughout the New York metropolitan area,
and the thousands of shareholders who depend on them as a vital affordable,
middle-class housing option.

“In addition to cost savings, drone inspections will give us a better view
of more portions of the property,” said Michael Brennan, General Manager of
The Bay Club in Bay Terrace, in a letter of support for the bill.
“Currently an engineer gets a view using binoculars, and scaffold drops are
used in areas of concern. A drone can take high resolution photographs in a
faster and less costly manner. A drone inspection would also be much safer
for those working, inspecting, and pedestrians below.”

This bill takes effect immediately and the study will be completed and
submitted no later than October 31, 2021. Council Member Vallone is also
working with Speaker Corey Johnson to explore legislation that would be
required to move forward with legalizing drone use in New York City.

Read Coverage at [26]Crain's NY, [27]Cooperator, [28]Queens Post

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Bill to Move City Data to the Cloud

Photo taken pre-COVID

In December, the Committee on Technology heard a bill by Council Member
Vallone which seeks to help bring New York City's technological
infrastructure into the 21st century and beyond. "Looking into
transitioning our data and applications to the cloud is the first step to
creating dynamic and cutting edge platforms for our city to build on that
are affordable and secure," said Vallone. "We must have a strong
technological foundation that we can rely on at a moment's notice to ensure
that we can continue our work through any emergency.

Cloud storage would also allow our city agencies to store and share data
more easily, creating a more transparent environment in our government.
Having access to this data, and to the incredibly powerful tools most cloud
computing companies offer, would allow us to identify problems more easily
and investigate solutions through a data driven approach.

"I want to thank Speaker Johnson and Chair Holden for allowing this bill to
create a comprehensive report on transitioning our systems to the cloud to
be heard. We must find ways to ensure the integrity of our technological
infrastructure and ways to utilize all of the data in the city’s care to
create meaningful data driven policy changes."

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Council Member Vallone Introduces Resolution

Calling for Peace for Armenia

At the Oct. 29 Stated Meeting, Council Member Paul A. Vallone introduced a
resolution calling on Congress and the President of the United States to
work towards a lasting ceasefire and peaceful resolution to the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, and issued the following statement:

“Today I want to rise and speak on the atrocities once again being
perpetuated on the Armenian people and express my deep concern with the
ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Once again, Armenia, the homeland of my wife and our family, finds itself
under attack and fighting for survival. It is my hope that an immediate
peaceful resolution can be reached to end the heartbreaking violence,
destruction and loss of life currently impacting the region of Artsakh. For
this reason, I've introduced today a resolution urging Congress and the
President of the United States to work towards a lasting ceasefire and
peaceful resolution to the Armenia and Azerbaijan conflict.

For the thousands of Armenian Americans who call our city home, and the
thousands more residing throughout the country, the U.S. must stand up to
aggression and let the Armenian people know they are not alone while we
advocate for peace in the region. I'm proud today to speak at our City
Council Chamber on this issue and call for #PeaceForArmenians.”

Read Coverage at [29]NY Daily News

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Council Member Vallone Lauds Passage of Anti-Age Discrimination Bills

At the Nov. 19 Stated Meeting, Council Member Paul A. Vallone celebrated
the passage of a package of five bills he proudly co-sponsored which will
together create a Center for Older Workforce Development, prevent and
address age discrimination in the workplace and help develop the older
adult workforce. Vallone serves as Chair of the Committee on Economic
Development and on the Council’s Aging Committee.

In a recent national survey conducted by the American Association of
Retired Persons (AARP) of adults older than 45, 61 percent of respondents
indicated that they have seen or experienced age discrimination in the
workplace, and 38 percent of these respondents indicated that such
discrimination is “very common.” In the last 15 years, the number of older
New Yorkers in the workforce has steadily increased and, with the COVID-19
pandemic, age discrimination has only worsened for older Americans, who
have reported targeted layoffs in recent months.

Vallone co-sponsored the following five bills, introduced by the Aging
Committee Chair Council Member Margaret Chin and Council Member Diana
Ayala:

· Int 1694-A:

· Creates an office dedicated to combating ageism in the workplace
and to developing the older workforce, called the Center for Older
Workforce Development.

· Int 1693-A:

· Requires the Department for the Aging (DFTA) to provide guidance
and support to the Center for Older Workforce Development, as created by
Proposed Int. No. 1694-A.

· Int 1695-A:

· Requires New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) to
conduct a two-year study related to age discrimination in the workplace.

· Int 1684-A:

· Requires the City Commission on Human Rights to create an
anti-discrimination poster that includes age discrimination, and to provide
additional age discrimination resources on its website.

· Int 1685-A:

· Requires all City agencies to provide age discrimination
training to their employees every two years.

“It is unacceptable that our older New Yorkers continue to face
discrimination and harassment at all stages of employment due to age
discrimination, which persists as one of the most prevalent forms of
discrimination in the American workplace,” said Council Member Paul
Vallone. “I thank Council Members Chin and Ayala for leading the charge on
these important anti-age discrimination efforts and know that these
preventative measures will help eliminate barriers to employment, educate
employers, and offer needed protections to our older New Yorkers.”

Read Coverage at [30]QNS

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Whitestone Street Co-Naming for Late Monsignor

At 2020's final Stated Meeting, the New York City Council voted to approve
Council Member Paul A. Vallone’s bill to co-name the intersection of
Clintonville Street and Locke Avenue, in front of St. Luke Roman Catholic
Church, as “Msgr. John C Tosi Way.” An official ceremony is currently
slated to take place sometime in the spring.

Monsignor John C. Tosi was a priest for over 45 years and a monsignor for
23 years within the Diocese of Brooklyn & Queens. Sadly, Monsignor Tosi
passed on May 23rd, 2020, after suffering from a coronary condition for the
past several years. He was 73 years old.

“I’m proud to announce this much-deserved honor for Monsignor Tosi, who was
regarded as a local stalwart and a man of deep faith,” said Council Member
Paul Vallone. “I look forward to joining together as a community in the new
year to celebrate his life and legacy in Northeast Queens.”

“Monsignor John Tosi was a faithful priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn for
almost 50 years, and he served the people of St. Luke for 15 years,” said
Fr. John Costello, the current pastor of St. Luke’s. “He was a generous,
dedicated, and caring priest who went out of his way to help others. He
loved Jesus, he loved the Church, he loved the parish, and he loved the
community – he was a Queens boy who grew up not too far away in Flushing.
His memory and his legacy will live on for many years here at St. Luke.”

____________________________________________

More Highlights

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Small Business PPE Distribution

Happy to join the Queens Chamber of Commerce, Bayside Business Association,
Bayside Village BID and Congresswoman Grace Meng in October to distribute
important PPE to local businesses, restaurants and neighbors!

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Masks, Shields & Test Kits Distributed

In June, I was proud to help distribute thousands of critical masks, face
shields and COVID testing kits to help keep our Queens community healthy
and safe. Thank you to Minsun Kim, the Museum of Korean American Heritage
and the Korean Consulate General for their generous donation to our city!

_________________________________________

Vallone Secures Funding for Cleaner Streets in Northeast Queens

In response to substantial cuts to the Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY)
operating budget in this year's challenging citywide budget, Council Member
Paul A. Vallone has secured and designated $71,000 through the New York
City Council’s Clean Up NYC Initiative to fund additional garbage pickups
in both QE7 and 11, which cover neighborhoods in Northeast Queens including
Auburndale, Bayside, College Point, Douglaston, Flushing, Little Neck and
Whitestone.

With this allocation, QE7 will see an additional trash bin pickup service
on Sundays, while QE11 will see pickups on one additional weekday, for 30
weeks. These increased services began on Sunday, August 23, and are in
addition to each garage’s regularly scheduled pickups, which were scaled
back due to agency-wide cuts.

Facing the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and a $9 billion budget
shortfall, every city agency was forced to implement cuts this past June.
As a result, the Department of Sanitation was forced to eliminate $106
million from their operating budget and subsequently reduce their level of
services. Vallone secured this funding allocation to offset the funding gap
in Northeast Queens and ensure cleaner streets in our neighborhoods.

“As we continue to face the ongoing impact of COVID-19, public health
remains top priority, and this allocation will serve to keep our streets
clean and our neighborhoods safe,” said Council Member Paul Vallone.
“Increased trash bin pickups, particularly around our busy commercial
corridors, will help ensure safety and sustained quality of life for all
those living, commuting, and doing business in Northeast Queens.”

"CB 11 is being hit hard by budget cuts across our agencies and all City
Services as a result of the tax revenue lost during the pandemic,” said
Joseph Marziliano, District Manager of Community Board 11. “We are so
thankful to see Councilman Vallone taking the initiative to step in and
keep up the quality of life and sanitation we have come to enjoy in
Northeast Queens."

Read Coverage:

[31]Queens Post

[32]QChronicle

[33]QNS

_________________________________________

Implementing Long-Awaited Whitestone Traffic Changes

In June, the Department of Transportation informed Council Member Paul A.
Vallone that requested one-way conversions at 17th Avenue, 17th Road, and
157th Street in Whitestone would be implemented by the end of the month.
The impacted streets surround JHS 194 and Saint Luke’s School, where
traffic flow and safety has been a cause of concern for the surrounding
community for a number of years.

Previously, Vallone heard from community members who expressed traffic and
safety concerns at the location. The Council Member subsequently asked for
a traffic study from the DOT, which then approved one-way conversions at
the site to enhance safety and mobility. Queens Community Board 7 also
supported and approved these new street configurations.

Parking will be preserved on both sides of the impacted streets. Community
members parked in the area will be asked to please turn their vehicles to
face the new direction of traffic.

“The safety of our children always comes first, and these traffic flow
changes will serve to improve pick-up and drop-off conditions for our
students, parents, and teachers,” said Council Member Paul Vallone. “These
traffic changes are a win for the Whitestone community members who have
long requested improved street safety at this location. I thank DOT Queens
Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia for working closely with my office on
this issue.”

“The safety of our students is our highest priority, so this street
conversion to a one way is welcome news for our school community who has
advocated for this change since 2016,” said Jennifer Miller, Principal of
JHS 194. “Thank you to everyone who has supported these efforts, including,
Ms. Slattery, JHS 194’s past and present SLT and PTA, Council Member
Vallone, the DOT, and our entire JHS 194 school family and its surrounding
community.”

[34]Read More at Queens Courier

___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________

Celebrating the Holidays!

______________

Francis Lewis Park Tree Lighting!

Thanks to Friends of Francis Lewis Park for partnering to bring some
holiday light to the community through the month of December!

________________________________________

Lighting the Menorah in Bay Terrace!

Honored as always to celebrate the Festival of Lights with Rabbi Yossi
Blesofsky and the Chabad of Northeast Queens with a socially-distanced
Annual Menorah Lighting. Wishing all of my friends in the Jewish community
a joyous and blessed Hanukkah!

________________________________________

Tree Lighting at MacNeil Park!

The holiday tree at MacNeil Park is lit! Please stop by with your family
sometime in the next few weeks and take in the joyful sight.

________________________________________

Thanks for reading! As always, if you have any questions or concerns, do
not hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,

Hon. Paul A. Vallone

New York City Council, District 19

42-40 Bell Boulevard, Suite 507

Bayside, New York 11361

718.619.8611

[email protected]

STAY CONNECTED!

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[37]

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