Community Corner
🌱Southern Queens Floods In Storm + Hochul Nominates Next Chief Judge
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Queens.
Good morning, Queens! ❄️
Brrrr is all I have to say. Here are today's top stories:
- 🌊 Major flooding in areas along Jamaica Bay has forced scores of families to evacuate their homes.
- ⚖️ Governor Kathy Hochul tapped Hector LaSalle,who has run the Queens and Brooklyn's Appellate Division court, the largest in the nation, for the past year and a half, to serve as New York State's next chief judge on Thursday.
- 🚫 Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was the only Democrat Friday to vote against the $1.7 trillion sprawling end-of-year spending package that has been passed by Congress.
☀️ Some sun; 🌬 windy, 🧊much colder. High: 19 Low: 16.
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Here are the top stories in Queens today:
1. Major flooding in areas along Jamaica Bay has forced scores of families to evacuate their homes as rising tides left some vehicles underwater and flooded townhomes in the Rockaways and other regions of Southern Queens. Major portions of New York and New Jersey highways were closed due to flooding and downed trees, and a commercial vehicle ban is in effect for parts of both states. In Rockaway, video footage shows emergency vehicles making their way through several inches of flooding in Howard Beach, and residents being rescued out of their ground floor windows and moved to higher ground as water reached waist level. Southern Queens residents are told to relocate to higher ground for their own safety, according the NYC Emergency Management.
2. Governor Kathy Hochul tapped Hector LaSalle, the presiding justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, who has run the Queens and Brooklyn's Appellate Division court, the largest in the nation, for the past year and a half, to serve as New York State's next chief judge on Thursday. If his nomination is confirmed, LaSalle would become the first Latino, and the first person of color, to serve as the most powerful judge in New York State. The Queens and Brooklyn's Appellate Division is the largest and busiest appellate court in the country, and LaSalle oversees 21 judges, over 400 non-judicial employees, and manages a budget of approximately $69 million. If LaSalle is confirmed to state legislature, his reposnsibelties would increase and he would oversee the state's entire court system, which features over 16,000 employees and a $3 billion budget.
3. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was the only Democrat Friday to vote against the $1.7 trillion sprawling end-of-year spending package that has been passed by Congress. The progressive politician cited increased in funding for immigration enforcement and defense as the reasons for her decision to vote "no" on the bill. "I campaigned on a promise to my constituents: to oppose additional expansion and funding for ICE and DHS — particularly in the absence of comprehensive immigration reform," Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security."The dramatic increase in ICE and DHS funding ... cuts against the promises our party made to immigrant communities across the country," Ocasio-Cortez added.
4. Some Southern Queens resident woke up underwater Friday morning after heavy rain and gusting winds caused coastal flooding in Howard Beach, Far Rockaway, Arverne, and other neighborhoods along Jamaica Bay. The intense winter storm caused airports to cancel flights just as families travel for the holidays with areas across the borough without power. As of 12 p.m. on Friday, LaGuardia Airport has canceled 364 flights and John F. Kennedy Airport has canceled 120 flights.The zip codes affected by Friday's storm include 11224,11235, 11414, 11691,11692, 11693, 11694,11697, which encompass Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods. Queens Borough President Donovan Richard was expected to visit affected areas on Friday afternoon.
5. Driven by the cost of fuel, and plummeting temperatures, Con Edison is seeking rate hikes that have many Queens residents outrages at their utility costs. "I think we're in for a painful two or three years," said Tom Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. "I think we're in for a painful two or three years." "Unfortunately, former Gov. Cuomo shut down Indian Point way too early for the conversion to green and sustainable energy to catch up," Grech added. "And so now we're all paying the price, taking into account that plus the situation in Russia and the Ukraine, putting pressure on global fuel supplies, both gas and oil, just makes it for a very, very difficult situation."
🗞 Hungry for more news? 🍽 Snack on these headlines:
- Mayor Adams' whereabouts unknown as NYC experiences severe weather and flooding (Gothamist)
- Live Updates: Bitter Cold Christmas Eve Will Dawn Across Eastern U.S. (The New York Times)
- Chunks of Sperm Whale Wash Up on NYC Streets After Storm Surge (Newsweek)
- 'Stay home if you can': Southern Queens residents told to move to higher ground amid tidal flooding (Queens Courier)
- Man at JFK Airport tried to hide gun in jars of peanut butter, TSA says (PIX11 News)
🗓 To Do Today in Queens:
- Sunnyside Greenmarket (8 a.m.)
- Socrates Sculpture Park Free Admission Saturday (8 a.m.)
- Riis Holiday Children's Pajama Party (9 a.m.)
- Coding Lab for Kids: Code Your First App (10:30 a.m.)
- Captain Tilly Park — Nature's Workshop: Build a Birdfeeder (11 a.m.)
- Exhibition - Living with The Walking Dead (12 p.m.)
- Tea Tasting & Custom Tea Blending Class (12 p.m.)
- Art Experience in NYC: Oil Pastel 3D Drawing Workshop (1 p.m.)
- Illuminate The Farm (5 p.m.)
🗣 Queens Chatter:
- 🚨 If possible, do not travel until the storm passes: "My office is monitoring ongoing street flooding in Rockaway and Broad Channel — we'll be convening city agencies later this morning to get the latest on storm response. Until the storm passes and the roads are treated for ice as the temperature drops, STAY HOME if you can." (Queens Borough President Donovan Richards via Facebook)
- ❄️ Making sure the storm response is comprehensive: "We've convened NYC Emergency Management, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, NYPD, New York City Department of Sanitation, NYC DOT, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), Con Edison, among other city agencies, to make sure our response to today's storm and impending deep freeze response is as comprehensive and unified as possible." (Queens Borough President Donovan Richards via Facebook)
- 🌊 Severe flooding in the Rockaways: "Rockaway CD32 is reporting a great deal of flooding as a result of the winter storm. Emergency services have temporarily closed the Addabbo Bridge. NYCEM, FDNY, NYPD, DSNY, and DEP teams are in the District. Please remain home if you are not a first responder." (Queens Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)
- 🧊 Things haven't been this bad in the Rockaways since Sandy: "Things are bad here in Arverne on Beach 69th Street, one of Rockaway's lowest lying areas. Resident Freddy Newsome says he hasn't seen anything like this since Sandy, his neighbor is using a bucket to scoop out several feet of water in the backyard." (The Rockaway Wave via Twitter)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday. I'll see you around!
— 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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