Community Corner
Hochul's Chief Judge Pick Opposed+ Suozzi's $14mil Final Act In Office
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Queens.
Good morning, Queens!😮
- ⚖️ Governor Kathy Hochul's nomination of Hector LaSalle to be the next chief judge of New York's Court of Appeals was in precarious territory Thursday as more state Senate Democrats have come out against the pick.
- 💰😁 Queens and Long Island Representative Tom Suozzi completed his final act as Congressman Wednesday by committing $14 million to 15 major projects across his district.
- 🎄 Looking for a place to drop off your Christmas tree? Look no further than Mulchfest 2023.
🌞 Mostly sunny. High: 53 Low: 43.
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Here are the top stories today in Queens:
1. Governor Kathy Hochul's nomination of Hector LaSalle, who has run the Queens and Brooklyn's Appellate Division court, the largest in the nation, to be the next chief judge of New York's Court of Appeals was in precarious territory Thursday as more state Senate Democrats have come out against the pick. "I believe Justice LaSalle represents a continuation of a status quo that sullied the Court's reputation and ruled inconsistently with NYers values," said Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) in a statement on Twitter. "I will vote 'no' should the nomination be brought to the Senate floor." Despite the recent criticism, Hochul told the Post that she continues to stand by her decision to pick LaSalle, who would become the court's first non-white chief justice. "Judge LaSalle is a highly qualified, experienced, and respected jurist, and his historic nomination deserves a full hearing and confirmation process," Hochul said. "I expect that the Senate will fulfill their constitutional duties and engage in a robust, fair process. I know that Judge LaSalle is the best candidate for the job, and I believe that when Senators hear from him directly, they will agree."
New York Post ; New York Daily News
2. Queens and Long Island Representative Tom Suozzi completed his final act as Congressman Wednesday by committing $14 million to 15 major projects across his district which are intended to address some of the region's most pressing needs. One of the organizations to benefit from Suozzi's funding is the Bayside-based Center for Women of New York (CWNY), which received $1 million to put toward funding classes and services for the advancement and empowerment of women, as well as providing other direct services. "My biggest priority in Congress has been to fight for New York and ensure that my constituents on Long Island and in Queens receive their fair share," Suozzi said. "I am proud that the House-passed appropriations bills consist of several items I have fought for, including investments in preserving the Long Island Sound, support for our vulnerable and aging populations and elder care, including Holocaust survivors, cancer research and technology, local infrastructure projects, emergency management and much more."
3. Finally -- thanks to Mulchfest 2023 there's a less wasteful way to dispose of your Christmas tree! Rather than just dumping it on the sidewalk, drop off your tree at one of the city's dozens of mulch sites, including a few in Western Queen, where the Parks Department will take each tree and break it into wood chips to nourish city parks. "Mulchfest" runs this year from Dec. 26 to Jan. 8. Some drop-off sites even offer free mulch for New Yorkers to take home and use to satisfy all their mulch needs.
4. The Queens District Attorney's office said Thursday it would investigate Representative-elect George Santos to determine whether any crimes were committed after details surfaced that Santos misrepresented his employment history and education. The Queens DA is the third prosecutor's office to review the now-embattled Republican"While as a matter of course we do not comment on open investigations, we are reviewing whether Queens County has jurisdiction over any potential criminal offenses," a spokesperson for the Queens DA said.
ABC7 New York ; The New York State Senate
5. Every day, New Yorkers struggle with food hardship, a year-long, systemic problem that requires year-round systemic solutions. Nationwide, in 2021, 34 million Americans struggled with hunger, and in Queens alone, Hunger Free America found that approximately 257,539 (one in eleven) residents -- including one in seven children -- suffered from food insecurity. In Southeast Queens, the state comptroller reported that households in Edgemere, Far Rockaway, and Hammels had the lowest median incomes and highest shares living with poverty and food insecurity in Queens. Not only does mass food deprivation violate human rights and public health mandates, it also creates economic, social, and public safety burdens, which make people more vulnerable to malnutrition, fatigue, illness, chronic diseases, and increased risk of depression and other mental health challenges.
🗞 Hungry for more news? 🍽 Snack on these headlines:
- While several northeast Queens residents are calling for Congressman-elect Santos' resignation, others remain supportive (Queens Courier)
- NYC Mom Run Over in Front of Kids Had Turned Own Pain Into Life Mission to Help Self, Others (NBC New York)
- NYPD officers save distressed baby during home birth in Queens (PIX11 New York News)
- Senate turns on gov's chief judge pick (Queens Daily Eagle)
- Police-involved shooting in Queens kills suspect in Far Rockaway (ABC7 New York)
🗓 To Do Today in Queens:
- Queens Botanical Garden Free Admission Fridays (Winter Hours) (7 a.m.)
- Kids Week: Be a Nature Detective (11 a.m.)
- DIY String Art Craft (1 p.m.)
- Amaze Light Festival (4 p.m.)
- The New York Winter Lantern Festival – Illuminate the Farm (5 p.m.)
- Sparkle + Sweat (6:30 p.m.)
- Handmade Samosas & Chutney - In Person Cooking Class (@DidYouKhado) (6:30 p.m.)
- 6th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration (7 p.m.)
- End of the Line Comedy Show & Open Mic (11 p.m.)
🗣Queens Chatter:
- 🎉 Happy Kwanzaa, Queens!: "Honored to have welcomed neighbors and fellow leaders to our annual Kwanzaa celebration at Borough Hall last night! Thank you to our incredible performers, speakers, attendees and cosponsors for a wonderful night of Black excellence and joy. Kwanzaa's seven principles to uplift our communities and nurture our traditions are present in the work we do throughout the year. While there's still a lot of work to do, we celebrate how far we've come and the bright future ahead of us. Have a blessed Kwanzaa, Queens!." (Queens Borough President Donovan Richards via Facebook)
- 😁 Drop off shelf-stable foods for the annual food drive!: "Help Queens Farm fight hunger! Drop off shelf-stable foods for our Annual Food Drive supporting CUNY families. The City University of New York is the nation's largest urban public university, and the most successful in the nation at graduating students from low-income and first-generation households. In a 2021 report, 50% of CUNY students expressed worry about running out of food before being able to afford more, and 27% reported often or sometimes skipping a meal because they could not afford food. 41% of CUNY students are eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Don't let hunger stand in the way of CUNY students' academic dreams; stop by the Farm Store and drop off packaged, healthy foods for this important cause through December 31st! https://www.queensfarm.org/food-drive/" (The Queens County Farm Museum via Twitter)
- 🤓 Upcoming town hall: "There will be a Town Hall for @NYCSchoolsD25 parents with @DOEChancellor David Banks on Tuesday, January 3, at 6:30 p.m. Register for the event at https://sites.google.com/d25.nyc/home/public-meetings/cec?pli=1" (Council Member Sandra Ung via Twitter)
- 🌷 Too many reasons to give to the Queens Botanical Garden: "There are SO MANY reasons to give to QBG this year! We cannot do what we do without YOUR HELP! Please make a tax-deductible gift to support the place where people, plants, and cultures meet! Go to link in bio or https://queensbotanical.org/give2022" (Queens Botanical Garden via Facebook)
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That's it for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new 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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