Community Corner

🌱 $80mil Supportive Housing Development + A Tree Grows... In Queens?

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Queens.

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(Patch Media)

Good morning, Queens! ☀️

  • 🏠 Yesterday, Governor Hochul announced the opening of a new $80 million housing development in Jamaica.
  • 🗺 The districting commission votes on a new draft map on Thursday -- hopefully with some revisions to Queens' proposed district lines.
  • 🌴 A tree grows... in Queens? Municipal tree pruning in Queens and Brooklyn has been suspended.

🌤 Sun mixing with clouds. High: 79 Low: 69.

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Here are the top stories today in Queens:

1. Yesterday, Governor Hochul announced the opening of an $80 million affordable supportive housing development in Jamaica — a complement to the Governor's plans to make city housing more equitable and stable. The Kira includes a newly constructed 21-story mixed-use building with 139 units of affordable and supportive housing, including 69 with supportive services. It also features a children's recreation room, fitness room, laundry facilities, and outdoor activity space. "Supportive housing is a vital component of our work to ensure that all New Yorkers have a safe, affordable place to call home," Governor Hochul said. "The Kira will provide women who have experienced homelessness and domestic violence easy access to the support and services they need and deserve to build better lives for themselves and their children."

Governor Kathy Hochul


2. The NYC Districting Commission is expected to vote on a new draft map on Thursday, marking one of the last stages in the city's controversial attempt to redraw the boundaries of its 51 City Council districts. The commission, whose members are appointed by the mayor and leaders of the City Council, drew immediate disapproval for breaking up communities of interest, and for not protecting minority communities covered by the Voting Rights Act. Among the proposed changes was splitting up Rochdale Village in Queens — home to one of the largest groups of Black co-op owners in the city — into two districts. Another controversial move involved relocating parts of Manhattan's East Side, including some of Sutton Place and portions of Hunter College, to districts in Queens.

New York Times ; Gotham Gazette


3. A tree grows…in Queens? Municipal tree pruning in Queens and Brooklyn has been suspended for the past year because of "unforeseen legal issues with pruning contractors," which the city intends to resolve this Fiscal Year. Pruning, which involves removing dead, diseased, or broken branches, is vital to a tree's health and stability. However, routine pruning has been halted because of a massive insurance scam, and now precarious trees are less likely to be caught and addressed before dying.

Brooklyn Paper


4. A detainee trying to escape the city's jail barge jumped 50 feet into the East River on Tuesday — he was treated at the pier on Rikers and taken to Mt. Sinai Queens. Officials and sources said there was some kind of clash in the recreation yard, and that officers, right before he jumped, used pepper spray on the detainee while, identified as Brooklyn resident Gregory Acevedo, 48. "Clearly the entire system at Rikers is supposed to be designed to prevent anyone from being able to do this," said Silverman, who represents Acevedo in a robbery case."Clearly this is a massive failure on the part of the Department of Correction to protect him and the public as well." The FDNY said Acevedo was unresponsive when he was pulled from the water, and that he had not been there for more than a few minutes.

New York Daily News


5. The MTA announced on Monday that service on the J and Z subway lines between the 121st Street and Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer stations is rolling once again. Nearly 2.4 miles of 40-year-old track were replaced following a 10-week suspension, according to the MTA. The re-opening of these stations marks the end of a multi-phase project in southeast Queens that replaced approximately 3.6 miles, the length of about 64 football fields, of track. "The completion of this important track replacement work along the J and Z lines is great news for Queens subway riders," Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. "These critical improvements will produce better and more reliable service, which will be much appreciated by all those who travel in and around the vibrant neighborhoods these lines serve."

Queen Courier


🗞 Hungry for more news? 🍴Snack on these headlines:

  • Motorcyclist, 27, dies after crashing into car in Queens (New York Daily News)
  • An abandoned train track in Queens may soon become an actual park (Time Out New York)
  • Queens County Farm Museum Offers Epic Corn Maze Adventure: Have You Tried It? (NBC New York)
  • Overnight Detours Planned On Long Island Expressway: What To Know (Patch)Chilling Details Revealed in Killings of NYC Mom, Son and Niece as Fugitive Is Indicted (NBC New York)
  • New Law to Help Locate Missing Individuals with Autism and Alzheimer's Inspired In Part By Queens Boy(Senator Chuck Grassley)

From our sponsor:

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🗓 To Do Today in Queens:

  • Queens Botanical Garden Free Admission Wednesdays (9 a.m.)
  • Queens Farm Farmstand (11 a.m.)
  • UCP 2022 Conference on Latinos with Disabilities (12 p.m.)
  • Little Amal Visit Flushing Meadows Corona Park (3 p.m.)
  • Professional Women in Queens Discuss Their Favorite Book Over Coffee (6 p.m.)
  • Puzzle of A Downfall Child: Rockaway Film Festival 2022 (6:30 p.m.)
  • Gamestoria Weekly D&D (7 p.m.)
  • Sunnyside Folk Club (8 p.m.)

🗣 Queens Chatter:

  • Rent some banned books!: "While some people are working to ban critically important books by legendary authors like Toni Morrison, Queens Public Library is standing up against censorship during #BannedBooksWeek. In #Queens, we'll always speak out and defend the right to read. Go rent one of these #bannedbooks today." (Queens Borough President Donovan Richards via Facebook)
  • Get ready for compostpalooza: "#QBGCompostPaLooza is just FIVE DAYS away! As part of the event on Sunday, 9/25, visit the QBG Farm and Farmstand to see what's growing, go on a farm tour, take part in activities and listed to compost storytime! And of course see what produce we have for purchase! Sign up: https://compostpalooza.eventbrite.com/?aff=socialmedia Compost-Pa-Looza is a family friendly event at the Garden aimed to spotlight composting and empower the community to learn, network, and have fun with all things soil health! Come for workshops, community networking, activities, compost demos, performances, and tours! The event is INCLUDED in Garden admission ($0-6). Pro Tip: Arrive earlier between 9 and 11am at the Garden for FREE entrance!" (Queens Botanical Garden via Facebook)
  • 🐔🐓🐣 OMG OMG IT'S NATIONAL CHICKEN MONTH: "Did you know September is National Chicken Month? Come celebrate by visiting our heritage and rare breed hens at the farm! Their eggs, which are typically laid at a rate of one per day, can be purchased at the farmstand Wednesdays through Sundays. The farm features mobile coops that allow hens to regularly rotate throughout the grounds for access to fresh forage — in case you were wondering why the chicken crossed the road!" (The Queens County Farm Museum via Facebook)
  • Break ground at "The Cubes" tomorrow: Join us for the Official Groundbreaking of "The Cubes" with NYC Parks Wed, September 21 | 11 am – 12pm Alongside @NYCParks Commissioner Sue Donoghue @SocratesPark board member Stuart Match Suna @sms1213 @QnsBPRichards @juliej_won Assemblymember Catherine Nolan @LOT_EK (Socrates Park via Twitter)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— Emma Radu Fighera

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Queens Daily? Contact me at queens@patch.com

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