Category: Opinion

Op-Ed: The bottom line is vaccines save lives

Covid,Nurse,Vaccinating,Child,Putting,A,Bandage,On,At,A

Oct. 1, 2024 By Dr. Maja Castillo, Healthfirst Pediatric Medical Director As a pediatrician, I have given thousands of shots to children over the years. While definitely one of the least ‘fun’ parts of my job, I know that it is one of the most important. Most of these children received their shots on…

Op-ed: Every New Yorker deserves reproductive freedom and equal rights

reproductive

Sep. 18, 2024 By Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas As it is for many, the fight for equal rights is personal to me. Prior to running for office, I served for thirteen years as the Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, a national organization dedicated to amplifying Latina/e voices in the…

Op-Ed: Not another Amazon disaster

Jun. 20, 2024 By Czarinna Andres June 20, 2024 By John J. Ciafone, Esq. A few years ago, Long Island City won a national competition to house the corporate headquarters of Amazon.  Amazon promised tens of thousands of jobs, from technical employment for workers to local student graduates, deliverers, contractors, laborers, construction union jobs, Porters… Read more »

Op-Ed | Say yes to City of Yes to unlock LIC’s economic potential

May. 10, 2024 By Czarinna Andres May 10, 2024 By Laura Rothrock New York City has undergone significant changes since the 1960s, a transformation vividly evident in Long Island City (LIC).  The neighborhood’s industrial areas are now complemented by a soaring skyline, and our historic landmarked streets and local commercial corridors now lead to an… Read more »

Op-Ed | Hochul: Action is Imperative on Shoplifting, but Violent Crime is Just Fine

hochul

Apr. 29, 2024 By Council Member James F. Gennaro Negotiations regarding the New York State budget have just concluded a few days ago and a budget has passed after more than two weeks of delays. But while Gov. Kathy Hochul has proclaimed this year’s ‘bold agenda’ aims to make New York ‘safer,’ there hasn’t been…
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Op-ed: An urgent call for revising NY’s criminal justice reforms to protect public safety

criminal

Apr. 11, 2024 By Council Member Robert Holden In 2019, the State Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo embarked on a controversial overhaul of New York’s criminal justice system by enacting several laws, including cashless bail and sweeping changes to discovery laws. Simultaneously, the New York City Council passed laws that compounded these challenges, notably the…
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Op-ed | New York City’s broken property tax system

property

Jan. 8, 2024 By Martha Stark For decades, it has been an open secret that New York City’s property tax system is inequitable and unfair. This regressive system, rooted in outdated and discriminatory policies, has not only exacerbated the housing crisis but also deepened the economic divide, disproportionately burdening lower-income and minority communities. Next week,…
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Neighborhood meeting to address persistent sewer backup and flooding concerns in northwest Queens set for February

neighborhood

Jan. 4, 2024 By Rachel Butler Residents of East Elmhurst, Astoria and Jackson Heights will be meeting with government officials on Feb. 1 to discuss the long-standing issue of sewer backups and flooding in their respective neighborhoods. The issue has been especially problematic in recent years, given the extreme weather. For instance, Hurricane Ida in…
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