🌊 Jamaica Bay Storm Surge Barrier Proposed + Review Con Ed Price Hike

Good morning, Queens! 🎩

• 🌊 A new $52 billion proposal by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers promises to protect New York Harbor from storm surges.
• ⚡️ Queens lawmakers have major issues with Con Edison's projected 2023 price hikes.
• 🚪🔒 After recent incidents, NYC public school parents are calling for increased security measures on school property -- liked locked front doors.

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⛅️ Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 72 Low: 55.

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Here are the top stories today in Queens:

1. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a proposal Saturday detailing a $52 billion, 14-year construction project that would build 12 movable storm surge gates, which could be closed during major storms to prevent inland flooding. The tentative plan, dubbed Alternative 3B, would also include extensive systems of seawalls and flood walls in the entire Rockaway Peninsula, southern Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan, and East Harlem. One of the largest of the surge gates proposed by the Army Corps includes one across the entrance to Jamaica Bay, which is home to nature preserves and endangered salt marshes. Several environmental groups, including the Guardians of Flushing Bay, have expressed concerns about the impact of the gates on marine habitats and the coastline.

The New York Times ; Gothamist

2. State Sen. Michael Gianaris and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, two Queens Democrats, led a letter to the Public Service Commission and Gov. Hochul demanding a public hearing to review Con Edison's proposed 2023 price hikes. Con Ed, the city's largest utility supplier, has warned 10 million residential customers that their electrical and heating bills are projected to increase this winter. The letter, signed by 51 lawmakers, asserts that "Working-class New Yorkers need another chance to be heard," and that Con Ed is out to "line their pockets" — increasing their revenue in 2023 by more than $1 billion.

New York Daily News

3. After two recent incidents at Queens public schools, parents are calling on the Department of Education to increase security measures on NYC school property — like locking the front doors to schools, installing buzzer systems, and adding more safety agents. This push comes after an incident on Sept. 15 when an emotionally disturbed person got into P.S. 28 in Corona through its unlocked front doors, and was able to get past security. Luckily, this intruder tried the wrong elementary school — the principal at P.S. 28 is trained in jiu jitsu, and was able to subdue the deranged man. And then, almost two weeks ago, there were reports of a man harassing students outside P.S. 87 in Middle Village. In a statement, the DoE said that hundreds of safety agents will be added to schools this year, and that a push notification system to alert parents and staff in the event of an emergency will be rolled out.

FOX 5 New York

4. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and other local politicians, joined Mayor Adams in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic on Sunday and Monday to assess the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, a category 1 storm. More than a week after the storm, nearly half of the Puerto Rico's 1.5 million power customers are still without electricity — an unfortunate reminder of the aftermath of Hurricane Maria five years ago when parts of the island were without power for almost a year. Adams arrived in Puerto Rico, which he called the city's "sixth borough," on Sunday morning, and met with an NYC Emergency Management team that had been previously deployed to the island. Then, on Monday, Adams' delegation arrived in the Dominican Republic, where they met with the island's president, several senators, and local leaders.

Politics NY

5. A man attempting to evade police after shoplifting from Rite Aid tried to carjack a vehicle to make his escape, but instead of getting away, the thief ended up plowing the car through the front window of a KFC. Officers tried to stop the suspect after he allegedly stole over $1,000 of merchandise from a Rite Aid in Hillcrest around 2 p.m. As officers tried to arrest him, the man approached an uninvolved person in a vehicle, and tried to steal their car. The driver resisted, and the during the chaos, they somehow hit the gas, which sent the sedan right through the window of the fast-food restaurant. Neither the driver nor the alleged thief suffered any serious injuries.

New York Post ; New York Daily News

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🗞 Hankering for more headlines? 👀 Look no further:

• More details about the successful gun buyback event in Ozone Park (Queens Courier)
• Blood donation for Sickle Cell Awareness Month (PIX11 News)
• Queens lawmakers host Senior Appreciation Month performance in Queens Village (Queens Courier)
• 'Little Thailand' celebrated in Queens (Bangkok Post)

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🗓 To Do Today in Queens:

• Elmhurst Greenmarket (8 a.m.)
• Volunteer at 9 Million Reasons / Evangel Food Pantry (8:45 a.m.)
• Queens Botanical Garden Farm Community Volunteer Days (9:30 a.m.)
• Early Stage Memory Care (10 a.m.)
• Chair Aerobics (11 a.m.)
• Create Animal Bookmarks at the Douglaston Public Library (3:30 p.m.)
• Sunset Meditation at Socrates Sculpture Park (6 p.m.)

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🗣 Queens Chatter:

• Donovan Richards visits Puerto Rico: "The devastation we witnessed yesterday in Puerto Rico was stunning and heartbreaking. But once again, the people of 🇵🇷 have shown the world what resilience and hope in the face of tragedy look like. #Queens will be there every step of the way as #PuertoRico recovers from the wrath of Hurricane #Fiona — that's a promise. The same goes for the Dominican Republic, where we're honored to be today. More to come." (Queens Borough President Donovan Richards via Facebook)
• Dance performance inspired by Asian immigrants' stories: "THIS Saturday, 10/1 at 2:30 and 4:30pm, join us for special performances of "Here We Root," a contemporary dance inspired by Asian immigrants' stories, focusing on the Chinese diaspora in Flushing, NY. Included in Garden Admission. Register: https://qbghereweroot.eventbrite.com Choreography: @jiemin.art in collaborations with performers @maya_lam @kathyychennn @mayu_y1129 @tsubasa_nishioka @eric.dans @shanychuang Costume @emmii.hs • Composer @james.acampora • Erhu music @chiiwings • Voice over @chohchun • Drama consultant: @weiyeh This project is made possible (in part) by the Queens Council on the Arts @qnsarts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs @nyculture in partnership with the City Council @nyccouncil. Note: Jiemin Yang is also running a Go Fund Me campaign to raise funds for the production. Please consider supporting the performers by donating at this link: https://gofund.me/554b91b8" (Queens Botanical Garden via Facebook)
• Bird is the word: "📣 🐤 Bird Walks with NYC Audubon are BACK at the Garden this fall! In this special series, spot and identify birds like cardinals! Dates: Saturdays, October 1, 15, & 29, and November 5 & 19, 9:30-10:30am. Included in Garden admission (up to $6)
  Register: https://qbgfallbirdwalks.eventbrite.com Pro Tip: Become a Garden Member today and enjoy programs like our Bird Walks for FREE! Link in bio or https://queensbotanical.org/membership Shari Romar @birdsbugsbuds . #NYCBirdWalks #BirdWalk #NYCBirds #BirdsOfInstagram #NYCAudubon #Cardinal #QueensBotanicalGarden (Queens Botanical Garden via Facebook)
• Checkout some new artwork painted on b-ball courts: "🏀⛹️‍♀️ Meet us in Murray Park, just down the street in Long Island City, to celebrate a new public artwork by Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds and Project Backboard, painted across two basketball courts." (MoMA PS1 via Twitter)

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More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Cow Goes to the Opera - an opera for kids of all ages! (October 2)
• 8th Annual ENY 5K (October 8)
• City Gate Productions Presents: Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire (October 14)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you tomorrow for your next update.

— Emma Radu Fighera

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