Community Corner

🏆Democratic Incumbents Sweep Queens+ First Out Republican Congressman

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

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Good morning, Queens! 🤠

  • 🏆 Democratic incumbents in Flushing and central Queens celebrated victory in several key races for state Senate, state Assembly and Congress.
  • 🏳️‍🌈 George Santos became the first ever openly gay Republican Congressman on Nov. 8 after winning against Democrat Robert Zimmerman, who is also gay, in a race for the 3rd Congressional District House seat.
  • 🛒 A new eight-story apartment building in Astoria will also include a multi-level Asian grocery store!

☺️ Nice with ☀️ plenty of sunshine. High: 64 Low: 56.

Here are the top stories in Queens today:

1. Democratic incumbents in Flushing and central Queens celebrated victory in several key races for state Senate, state Assembly and Congress during the Nov. 8 general election. Democratic incumbent Congresswoman Grace Meng declared victory in the race for the 6th Congressional District, which includes the neighborhoods Bayside, Elmhurst, and Flushing, to name a few. Meanwhile, in the race for Senate District 11, Democratic incumbent Toby Ann Stavisky emerged triumphant. In the race for the Assembly District 40 seat, Democratic incumbent Ron Kim won his sixth term in office, and said he remains more focused than ever on delivering affordable housing, long-term care for older adults, better schools and quality jobs. Finally, in Central Queens, Assembly District 27 Democratic incumbent Daniel Rosenthal, and Assembly District 28 Democratic incumbent Andrew Hevesi both emerged victorious from their respective races.

Queens Courier ; New York Daily News

2. The first ever openly gay Republican Congressman, George Santos, said he won his 3rd Congressional District House seat by sticking to a "common sense" platform. "I kept my message true to the people," he said during an interview with the Post on Wednesday. Santos acknowledges the historic nature of not only his candidacy, but also of his race against Democratic opponent, Robert Zimmerman, who also is gay. The race between Santos and Zimmerman marked the first ever congressional race in U.S. history between two out LGBTQ candidates. "We duked it out," the Republican congressman-elect said.

New York Post ; NBC News

3. A new eight-story apartment building in Astoria will also contain a multi-level Asian grocery store, according to plans presented to a neighborhood board last week. The site of the proposed building, which is mostly empty now except for a two-story house, will be redeveloped with a 65-unit apartment building containing the two-story, 12,000-square-foot Asian supermarket on its lower floors. The supermarket will feature fresh produce, along with a "well-curated specialty Asian products," and will be run by Tim Cheng, who has other businesses in Queens, including Wonderful Marketplace in Flushing, D & Z Supermarket in Elmhurst and HK Food Court, also in Elmhurst. By including the supermarket, the developer of the building, Jack Fang, will receive a zoning bonus through the city's FRESH Food Stores program. Fang will this zoning bonus as he requires special permission from the City Planning Commission in order to build his proposed 85-foot-tall building, which is above the block's 75-foot height limit.

Patch

4. Two tractor-trailer drivers were killed a mile apart in two separate crashes along the same Queens road. The first accident occurred around 2:50 a.m. when a 49-year-old trucker who had stepped out of his rig Grand Ave. near 57th St. in Maspeth was struck by a wrong-war driver in a Chevy sedan. The 43-year-old woman driving the sedan swerved over the double yellow line and hit the victim who died at the scene. The second crash happened about a mile east from the earlier accident when, at around 10:40 a.m., a 50-year-old trucker lost control of his rig and slammed into a street pole on Grand Ave. near Borden Ave. The driver was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital, where he died a short time later.

New York Daily News

5. The Bayside Historical Society and the Long Island Sound Region of the Classic Car Club of America have organized their eighth edition of an antique automobiles event at Fort Totten Park this Sunday. Starting at 9 a.m., car enthusiasts can walk up to the Castle at Fort Totten to view the free classic car showcase featuring dozens of vintage-style vehicles. "It's different because there's no judging, no trophies, no awards. People just appreciate the cars and conversations," said Jim Barnes, the event organizer. "It's the most casual show in New York."

Patch

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

  • Queens sees higher voter turnout in Nov. 8 general election (Queens Courier)
  • Queens Holocaust survivor recounts horrors of Kristallnacht, says she still experiences hate (CBS New York)
  • French-Asian Pastry Shop Opens In Little Neck (Patch)
  • Inside the NYC backroom poker dens spotlighted in Eric Ulrich probe (New York Post)
  • Santos Declared Winner In Bayside Congressional Race (Patch)

🗓 To Do Today in Queens:

  • Queens Hospital Center Farmers' Market (8 a.m.)
  • Volunteer at 9 Million Reasons / Evangel Food Pantry (8:45 a.m.)
  • Farm Community Volunteer Days (9:30 a.m.)
  • Queens Hip Hop 101: A Master Class (4 p.m.)
  • New York Chinese Chorus (5 p.m.)
  • Cardio Sculpt (6 p.m.)
  • Hidden Risks: Dating Violence (6:30 p.m.)
  • Lioness: Women in Jazz Concert Series (Part 2/3) (7:30 p.m.)

🗣 Queens Chatter:

  • 🩺 Most profound thanks to nurses for their life-saving work always and especially over the last two years: "There are heroes and then there are nurses... Great to have the New York State Nurses Association at Borough Hall today to thank them for their life-saving work over the past two years, hear their concerns and reaffirm my commitment to supporting and investing in our healthcare heroes however possible." (Queens Borough President Donovan Richards via Facebook)
  • 🎁 Get ready for the holidays with these workshops at the Queens Botanical Garden: "🎄Holiday workshops are HERE! Make centerpieces to display, wreaths to hang, cards to send! Sun, 11/20: Floral Design: Holiday Centerpiece 🎟 https://qbgholidayfloraldesign... Sun, 11/27: Holiday Wreath Making 🎟https://qbgholidaywreaths.eventbrite.com/?aff=socialmedia Sat, 12/10: Holiday Card 🎟Printmaking https://qbgholidayprintmaking.eventbrite.com/?aff=social" (Queens Botanical Garden via Facebook)
  • 🎨 Visit the many art museums Queens has to offer!: "We all know Queens is full of art + culture so why not use today to visit one of the many many art museums Queens has to offer?? #queenschamberofcommerce #queenschamber #queensnyc #queensart #artsandculture #artmuesum #artmuseumday" (Queens Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)
  • 🏛 Explore the Queens Museum archives: "For this week's World's Fair Wednesday, we're highlighting the past site of the United Nations, the New York City Building, which is now the Queens Museum. From 1946-1950, the United Nations held their assemblies in our building before they moved to their present location in lower Manhattan. During this time, historic delegations were passed. President Truman gave a speech at an assembly, The Declaration of Human Rights was created, and Mrs. Vijaya Lakshani Pandit, of India, was the only woman to head a delegation during this period." (Queens Museum via Facebook)
  • 🖼 Artists-in-residence: 🌟NEXT WEEK🌟 As part of our partnership with @studiomuseum, "It's time for me to go: Studio Museum Artists-in-Residence 2021–22" opens on November 17! Meet the artists-in-residence: Qualeasha Wood , Jacob Mason-Macklin, and Cameron Granger. (MoMA PS1 via Twitter)

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That's it for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Emma Radu Fighera

About me: Emma Radu Fighera is a reporter born and raised in Queens, New York. She studied Literature and Studio Art at Hamilton College, where she helped run the only daily publication on campus, The Daily Bull newsletter. This past spring she earned her M.S. from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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

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