Community Corner

🤐 Secret, Giant, Expensive Tunnel + Polio Disaster Emergency Declared

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! 🤠

Let's get this weekend started off right with some news you need to know:

  • 💦 The most expensive water project in the history of New York City is underway at an undisclosed location in Queens.
  • 🚨Disaster emergency in effect. Get your polio vaccine now.
  • 🤝 Hochul announced a new state-led program intended to provide support to new Americans.

📣 Our readers love to celebrate good news! You can now shout out your big announcement at the top of the Queens Daily newsletter. Whether it's a grand opening, new product for sale, birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding or new baby, let everyone celebrate alongside you! Submit your announcement here.

☀️Plenty ☀️ of ☀️ sunshine. High: 83 Low: 70.

Here are the top stories in Queens today:

1. A roughly $6 billion dollar and nearly thousand foot deep tunnel is being built at an undisclosed location in Queens as part of the city's most expensive water project ever. Eyewitness News reporter Kemberly Richardson toured the massive construction site, and took a look inside the gaping hole in the ground, now roughly 175 feet deep. This new tunnel will serve as a backup for two prexisting tunnels which carry water from reservoirs in upstate New York to the city. It is expected to be fully operational in 2032.

ABC7 New York


2. Governor Hochul declared a disaster emergency on Friday in an effort to accelerate polio virus inoculation rates among New York residents. To broaden public accessibility, Hochul's executive order authorizes paramedics, midwives, and pharmacists to administer polio vaccinations. This state of emergency follows the discovery of the virus last month in samples from Nassau County, which borders Queens. The state health department encourages all unvaccinated adults and minors as young as two months to get inoculated against the virus, which can cause irreversible paralysis in some cases. While all people are at risk, the virus primarily affects children aged three and younger.

Reuters


3. Governor Hochul announced the launch of the New York State Civic Leadership Program, a first of its kind state-led program intended to offer support to new Americans, and connect them with local government, institutions, communities, and available resources. There are three community-based organizations piloting the new program: the Chinese-American Planning Council, Agri-Business Child Development, and LifeWorks, all of which are located in three distinct New York State regions, both rural and urban. In Queens, the Chinese-American Planning Council will work toward empowering Chinese immigrants, especially families with special needs, elevating their voices, and encouraging their civic engagment efforts.

Governor Hochul Press Office


4. Queens State Senator John Liu, his government colleagues, and youth activists assembled outside City Hall on Monday, Sept. 5, in support of a package of bills that would reform the MTA's student MetroCard program. Liu sponsored a bill that prohibits metro transit authority from penalizing students for using their student MetroCard when school is not in session, such as on holidays. Additionaly, Liu, along with Manhattan Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, drafted legislation to expand the hours that student Metrocards are valid from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. "Regular school hours and extracurricular activities often occur at irregular and inopportune times, making scheduling transportation very challenging," Liu said. "Expanding student MetroCards and eliminating these penalties will remove a significant barrier to success for our city's student body, especially for those who commute from the farthest reaches of the city."

QNS


5. Choices Women's Medical Center, a Queens abortion and reproductive health provider, has experienced a significant uptick in out-of-state patients since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. There has been a 300% increase in patients from Texas alone. Merle Hoffman founded Choices in 1971 — shortly after abortion was legalized in New York State, and two years before it was legalized nationwide by Roe v. Wade. Today, abortion is currently banned in 12 states, and more bans are expected in the coming weeks. One symptom, among many, of these bans is that legal abortion providers like Choices are now overrun with calls from patients across the country seeking care. "It's going to stress the health care system," Hoffman said. "It's going to stress all of us, but we're going to do the best we can and must rise to this challenge." The Choices clinic is currently hiring in all areas, including social workers, midwives, and surgical nurses.

Spectrum News NY1


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

  • 82-year-old Sikh man attacked and robbed in Richmond Hill (Spectrum News NY1)
  • Can the city meet Rikers closure deadline? (Queens Chronicle)
  • Queens State Senator John Liu applauds Governor Hochul's signing of bill to reduce class sizes in New York City public schools (QNS)
  • Congee Village restaurants offering mooncakes in elegant gift bags to celebrate Saturday's Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (Queens Patch)
  • Queens leaders announce aid to AAPI businesses amid anti-Asian violence (QNS)

There's almost too much to do this Saturday in Queens. Take your pick:

  • Art To Wear: Workshop by Teng Teng (9 a.m.)
  • Hellgate Farmstand (10 a.m.)
  • Opening of The 2022 Socrates Annual: New Work By Artist Fellows (10 a.m.)
  • Queens Botanical Garden Farm Open Hours & Farm Stand (10 a.m.)
  • Intercultural Fall Festival & Street Fair (11 a.m.)
  • NYC Honey Fest at Rockaway Boardwalk (11 a.m.)
  • Free Yoga: SaturSongs of Love Foundation (11 a.m.)
  • 39th Annual Queens County Fair (11 a.m.)
  • Festival Gastronomico Internacional (4 p.m.)
  • Queensboro Dance Festival Pop-up Performance (5 p.m.)
  • Van Morrison at Forest Hills Stadium (7 p.m.)
  • Nice One! Comedy Show at Culture Lab LIC (9 p.m.)

Things happening on Sunday:

  • AMPSURF NY 9/11 Memorial Paddle Out at Breezy Point (7 a.m.)
  • Queens Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) (7 a.m.)
  • Free Surfing Lessons for Kids + Teens in Rockaway Beach (8 a.m.)
  • Donation Drive: 9/11 National Day of Service (10 a.m.)
  • Volunteer with Hunger Free America (10:30 a.m.)
  • Apples and Honey Day at the Queens Botanical Garden (includes the Pollinator Parade) (12 p.m.)
  • FREE RAIN BARRELS IN ASTORIA (12 p.m.)
  • New York Classical Players: Acclaimed Violinist Stella Chen Plays Mozart (2 p.m.)

🗣 Queens Chatter:


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

— Emma Radu Fighera

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

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