🛤 QueensWay V. QueensLink Debate + NYCHA For Affordable Homeownership

Good morning, Queens! 🏆

• 🛤 The debate continues over how best to repurpose a three-and-a-half-mile abandoned rail line in southern and central Queens. What does Queens need more -- a new park or a new train line?
• 🏠 NYCHA has joined forces with local agencies, including the Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens, to renovate 18 homes across The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens, and make them available to first-time homebuyers.
• 👕 The Astoria Worker Project and the Astoria Food Pantry are distributing supplies from last month's clothing drive to hotels in western Queens where migrant families are temporarily being housed.

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⛅️ Partly sunny and breezy. High: 54 Low: 36.

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Here are the top stories in Queens today:

1. The debate continues over how best to repurpose a three-and-a-half-mile abandoned rail line in southern and central Queens that has fallen into ruin since it was closed in 1962. Some think the derelict line should be turned into a nature trail, or a linear park, similar to the High Line in Manhattan. The QueensWay project seeks to bring this green space vision to life, and would connect a half-dozen neighborhoods which sit on either side of the old rail line. However, others say residents of the neighborhoods in question — Forest Hills, Rego Park, Glendale, Woodhaven, Ozone Park and Richmond Hill — need expanded transit options far more than they need green space. In response to this demand, the QueensLink project was developed — a transit and park corridor which would connect northern and southern Queens. At the moment, QueensWay seems to have the better chance, as Mayor Adams committed $35 million in September to convert nearly three-quarters of a mile of the city-owned rail corridor into a park.

The New York Times

2. The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has joined forces with local agencies, including the Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens, to renovate 18 homes across The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens, and make them available to first-time homebuyers. The cluster of one to three-family homes were secured through the Small Homes Rehab-NYCHA Program, which renovates properties to provide affordable homeownership to low and moderate-income families. "Homeownership is one of the strongest pathways to the middle class and generational wealth, which is key to closing the racial wealth gap," said Jessica Katz, the city's chief housing officer. "Providing New Yorkers with opportunities to own their own homes is an important priority in Housing Our Neighbors, the Adams Administration's housing and homelessness blueprint."

Norwood News ; nyc.gov

3. After a successful clothing drive in October, the Astoria Worker Project and the Astoria Food Pantry are now focusing on distributing the supplies to hotels in western Queens, where migrant families who recently arrived in New York City are temporarily being housed. According to Astoria Worker Project Director Noah Meixler, between 700 and 1,000 items of clothing, as well as hygiene products, and underwear were donated over the course of the two-week-long drive. Meixler said the drive was organized in response to feedback from the community, who recognized that many of the migrants lacked sufficient winter clothing as they were sent from Texas. "Many of these families have been sent to New York on buses from Texas with the purpose of straining resources in cities run by Democrats," Meixler said. "The use of human beings as political props is simply despicable."

Queens Courier

4. Queens native Shamel Capers was just 16 years old when he went to prison for eight years for a crime he always maintained he did not commit. Now, in a CBS2 exclusive, Capers spoke about how he got his murder conviction thrown out. "If you know that you're innocent, fight, until the day that you show that you're innocent," he said. Capers was accused of being the second shooter in the killing of 14-year-old honors student D'Aja Robinson, who was caught in the crossfire of a gang dispute in Jamaica, Queens. Capers' conviction was based on the testimony of a known gang member who received a significant sentence reduction in exchange for telling prosecutors Capers was involved in the crime. It took Capers' lawyers four years to secure his release, and now that he is free, Capers hopes his journey will offer inspiration to others.

CBS News New York

5. NYPD officers from the 104th Precinct in Queens rescued an "emaciated" Great Dane and her seven puppies during a traffic stop on Saturday. The dogs are currently in the care of an animal hospital, and their owner, Ravon Service, was charged with eight counts of torture to an animal, eight counts of neglect of an impounded animal, and seven counts of carrying an animal in a cruel manner and unreasonable noise. Service is an accused notorious animal abuser — he was arrested last year on 20 counts of torturing animals, 20 counts of neglect of impounded animals, and two counts of acting injurious to a child. In this case, 20 dogs were saved from a disgusting Brooklyn apartment where animal excrement had leaked through the floor and down into a child's bedroom.

New York Post ; PIX11

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🗞Hankering for more headlines? 👀Look no further:

• Blue shield: These NYPD officers got to keep their jobs despite arrests (New York Post)
• Flushing Teenager Goes Missing On Thanksgiving (Patch)
• NYC psychotherapist killed as fire tears through Queens apartment (New York Daily News)
• Juniper Valley Park Track and Field opening to the public after 18 months of construction (Queens Courier)
• 1 hurt when taxi catches fire at Queens gas station (CBS New York)
• Alleged Queens drunk driver in custody after fatal collision with scooter rider (AM New York Metro)

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🗓 To Do Today in Queens:

• U.S. Guyana Chamber of Commerce Event (8 a.m.)
• Hyaluron Pen Training, Lip Fillers & Fat Dissolve Certification (10 a.m.)
• Tiny Tots (11 a.m.)
• Mandala Art Workshop (12:30 p.m.)
• Chair Fitness (2 p.m.)
• IT CAN BE WHAT IT BECOMES, Graham Marks Exhibition at the Sculpture Space Center for Ceramic Arts (2 p.m.)
• Chess Class: From Beginner to Pro (2:30 p.m.)
• The New York Winter Lantern Festival: Illuminate the Farm (5 p.m.)
• You've Got Gayme: In Person Game Night (6:30 p.m.)

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🗣 Queens Chatter:

• 👀 'Tis the season for vigilance:"It's that time of the year when it's suddenly a whole lot darker and a whole lot harder to see. If you're driving: don't let dusk blind you from others on the road — keep an eye out for pedestrians! If you're a pedestrian: wear reflective clothing! #DuskAndDarkness #VisionZero" (NYPD 109th Precinct via Twitter)
• 🌱 Support the Queens Botanical Garden on #GivingTuesday: "Support our organic gardening and protection of hundreds of native species! This #GivingTuesday, help us plant the seeds for #Biodiversity! Show how much you believe in the work we do and donate today: https://queensbotanical.org/give" (Queens Botanical Garden via Facebook)
• 🎤 TODAY catch Jenifer Rajkumar speak at the Vivah Panchami Festival in America: "I'm honored to be the Keynote Speaker at the Vivah Panchami Festival in America. Looking forward to greeting the Indian, Nepali & South Asian American communities at this celebration of the eternal bond of Sita and Ram. Catch me tomorrow at 9:45am at http://facebook.com/mithilacenterUSA" (Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar via Twitter)
• 🍽 Donate to Queens Farm's annual food drive supporting CUNY families: "Drop off non-perishables 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 Facebook)
• ♻️ Everything you need to know about curbside composting: "You're not dreaming, Queens! We're doing a great job of #CurbsideComposting! Do you still have questions about curbside composting? Join us and Queens Master Composter Gil Lopez on Wednesday, November 30 at 6PM and learn everything you need to know. https://queenslibrary.org/.../the-new.../004963-1022..." (Queens Public Library via Facebook)

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More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Berkeley College Transfer Open House (December 1)
• Berkeley College MBA Information Session (December 6)
• Ugly Holiday Sweater Day Party (December 10)
• Holiday Lights At The Bronx Zoo (December 23)
• Add your event

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You're officially in the loop for today! See you 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