Meng elected Vice Chair of DNC

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After hacked emails released to the public showed that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) was favoring Hillary Clinton over U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, the national political organization was in shambles.

Its embattled chair, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida, resigned right before the convention. She didn’t even gavel in to begin the program. She was replaced by former Al Gore campaign manager and longtime Democratic operative Donna Brazile.

Now, one of Queens’s own will try to right the ship. Congresswoman Grace Meng was recently elected Vice Chair of the DNC by a unanimous vote after the convention ended.

“I am deeply honored to be chosen for the position of Vice Chair and I thank my DNC colleagues for having confidence in my ability to serve in this leadership role,” Meng said. “Democrats have an ambitious and robust agenda that includes critical items as immigration reform, gun safety legislation, helping middle class families and much more.”

Meng is widely considered a rising star in the Democratic Party. Serving her second term in Congress, she is the first Asian American member of Congress from New York. She had a brief speaking slot in the convention, standing alongside other Asian American colleagues in Congress.

Grace Meng to speak at DNC tomorrow afternoon

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Congresswoman Grace Meng, left, will speak at the convention.

If you already enjoyed the first night of the Democratic National Convention, it’s about to get better.

Local Queens politicians are set to speak at the convention in Philadelphia, including Congressman Joseph Crowley. Congresswoman Grace Meng will appear late Wednesday afternoon in a slot with other Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) members of Congress.

She’s slated to speak for about one minute.

“It is an honor to have been selected to address the convention alongside several of my colleagues,” Meng said. “This will be my first Democratic National Convention and I am looking forward to an exciting four days, and helping Hillary Clinton become the next President of the United States.”

McGoldrick Library to be temporarily closed

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Queens Library at 155-06 Roosevelt Avenue off Northern Boulevard will be temporarily closed starting August 12, 2016.

The facility will be installing new heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment during this time.

In its place, a mobile library will provide limited library service every Monday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Library users are invited to use any other Queens Library locations. For more information, visit www.queenslibrary.org.

 

Local artists headline Flushing Night Out

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Flushing Night Out (FNO) is the first community night market, organized by the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce, to hit downtown Flushing.

Local musicians Sleep2, Elizabeth Shim, Kenny & Vincent and the Quills are set to headline the Friday event, which began on July 15th. Visitors can also enjoy the food and music on July 29th, August 12th, and August 26th from 6 to 11 p.m. at Flushing High School (35-01 Union Street).

All events are free and open to the public.

Featuring the theme “Summer Nights,” visitors will be able to picnic on school grounds, enjoy live performances and enjoy arts and crafts activities. More than 30 local vendors are also featured at Flushing Night Out.

Bay Terrace senior center receives $500K grant

Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center

Assemblyman Edward Braunstein presented the Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center with a $500,000 check last week.

The grant will go toward upgrading the building’s lobby, auditorium and heating. It will also help create a new handicapped walkway.

Braun stein presented the grant at a senior health and wellness forum at the senior center on June 29.

Last year, the NYC Board of Elections announced the location couldn’t be used as a poll site because of the slope of the walkway in front of the building. Once the new walkway is completed, Braunstein said he will ask the BOE to make the location a poll site again.