Month: September 2020

With so many New Yorkers continuing to suffer from food insecurity and hunger, food pantries are in desperate need of more funding and support.

Last week, Councilman Peter Koo announced the passage of a resolution in the City Council providing $65,880 in new funding for food pantries throughout Flushing.

The allocation will go to La Jornada, the Tzu Chi Foundation, South Asian Council for Social Services, Flushing Jewish Community Council and CCNS-St. Michael’s Church.

The funding will be used to purchase supplies for operational support.

“Thousands of New Yorkers are in need of emergency food assistance due to the pandemic, and this funding will help make sure those who are struggling through tough times will continue to have access to food,” Koo said.

“Food pantries in Flushing have lines around the block every day, and we need to do everything in our power to ensure the safe operation of those important public service centers.”

For the 29th consecutive year, Queens College has been named one Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges.”

Since the guide was first published in 1992, Queens College has been a mainstay on the list. The school was also ranked a 2021 Best Regional College for the Northeast.

Queens College was noted for its high-quality academics, affordability and diversity.

The results are formed from student surveys from across the country on dozens of topics about their schools.

“It comes at no surprise that Queens College has been recognized in every edition of the Princeton Review “Best Colleges” guide for our academic excellence, affordability and accessibility to students,” said QC President Frank H. Wu, “and I am already well-acquainted with its extraordinary diversity, with students having greeted me in 17 languages as I took office in July.

“For over 83 years, we have provided an unparalleled combination of equal access and opportunity for ambitious students – many of modest means – to advance toward successful and rewarding futures,” he added.

Additional trash bin pickups has come to northeast Queens.

Last week, Councilman Paul Vallone announced that he secured $71,000 through the City Council’s Clean Up NYC Initiative to fund garbage pickups in communities in his district, including Auburndale, Bayside, College Point, Douglaston, Flushing, Little Neck and Whitestone.

The funding comes in response to significant cuts to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY)’s operating budget, which has left garbage bins filled with trash throughout the city.

“As we continue to face the ongoing impact of COVID-19, public health remains top priority, and this allocation will serve to keep our streets clean and our neighborhoods safe,” Vallone said in a statement. “Increased trash bin pickups, particularly around our busy commercial corridors, will help ensure safety and sustained quality of life for all those living, commuting and doing business in northeast Queens.”

Within Queens Community District 7, there will be an additional garbage pickup on Sundays.

In Community District 11, there will be pickups on one additional weekday for 30 weeks.

The increased service began on August 23.