Tag: borough-president-donovan-richards

Queens leaders celebrate appointment of first-ever American Pope

american pope

May. 9, 2025 By Colum Motherway In a groundbreaking moment for the Catholic Church and American history, Queens elected officials are proudly celebrating the appointment of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV.  The 69-year-old Chicago native becomes the first American to be elected pope, assuming the role of the 267th successor to…

Queensbridge community honors late leader April Simpson-Taylor with street co-naming

From left: Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Council Member Julie Won, Daniel Lee Taylor, the husband of the late April Simpson-Taylor, and family members. (Credit: Alex Krales/NYC Council Media Unit)

Apr. 28, 2025 By sobrien April 28, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Elected officials, community leaders and members of the Queensbridge Houses community gathered in Long Island City on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the co-naming of 12th Street and 40th Avenue in honor of former Queensbridge Houses Residents Association President April Simpson-Taylor. Simpson-Taylor, who died…

Diocese of Brooklyn to honor Pope Francis with Friday Vigil Mass in Elmhurst

Pope Francis

Apr. 24, 2025 By Colum Motherway The Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens will honor the life and legacy of Pope Francis with a Vigil Mass of Repose on Friday, April 25, at Saint Bartholomew Church in Elmhurst. Bishop Robert Brennan will preside over the bilingual English and Spanish liturgy at 43-22 Ithaca St. at…

Queens BP Richards, 32BJ SEIU demand Con Ed cancel ‘outrageous’ rate hikes

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and members of 32BJ SEIU at Queens Borough Hall Monday morning to protest against a proposed rise in Con Edison prices.

Apr. 8, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Queens Borough President Donovan Richards joined members of services union 32BJ SEIU and civic and community leaders to call on Con Edison to cancel a planned rate increase that will see electric and gas bills rise by 11% and 13%, respectively, in 2026. Richards, speaking from Queens Borough…

Community garden in Long Island City battles eviction by MTA

Dec. 6, 2024 By Czarinna Andres Dec. 6, 2024 By Niamh McAuliffe Smiling Hogshead Ranch, a community garden unlike most in New York City, is facing eviction after more than a decade of welcoming locals without a waitlist or fence. Located at 25-30 Skillman Ave. in Long Island City, the garden offers an open space… Read more »

‘He didn’t deserve to die’: Borough President Richards leads emotional candlelight vigil for Tyre Nichols

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards held a candlelight vigil for Tyre Nichols outside Queens Borough Hall Monday, Jan. 30 after Nichols’ death at the hands of police officers in Memphis, Tenn., made national headlines for the brutality in which the officers beat him. Almost immediately after news broke about Nichols’ death, the Memphis police officers… Read more »