Tag: claire-valdez

Queens lawmakers condemn Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ as dangerous and unjust

Big Beautiful Bill

Jul. 7, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Elected officials across Queens have criticized the Trump Administration and Republican lawmakers for passing the “One Big Beautiful Bill” last week, stating that the federal budget bill will have “dangerous and rippling effects” across New York City and State. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on…

ICE detains Ridgewood High School student, lawmakers call for release

ridgewood high school student

Jun. 9, 2025 By Barbara Russo-Lennon A Ridgewood high school student has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reportedly due to his immigration status. The student, whose name has not been disclosed, is enrolled at Grover Cleveland High School, according to Gothamist. State officials say the teen was arrested last week…

Advocates push for speed limiter law as Queens drivers rack up hundreds of school zone tickets

Jun. 5, 2025 By sobrien June 4, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The five most persistent “super speeders” in Queens racked up a combined 643 school zone speed camera tickets in 2024—an average of one every 14 hours—according to new research from street safety groups Transportation Alternatives (TA) and Families for Safe Streets. One driver…

NYC’s largest housing voucher program faces legal challenge, budget strain

CityFHEPS

Jun. 3, 2025 By Shane O’Brien As New York City grapples with the ongoing housing crisis, CityFHEPS, a city-funded voucher program for low-income households, has played an increasingly prominent role in securing housing for some of the poorest residents in the city. But the program, which has grown astronomically since its inception in 2018,…

Protesters rally over COVID nursing home policy at Cuomo’s alleged Ridgewood campaign stop

Cuomo

May. 20, 2025 By Colum Motherway Former Governor and mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo did not appear at an alleged campaign stop at the Peter Cardella Senior Citizens Center in Ridgewood on Friday, May 16, prompting backlash from demonstrators and Assembly Member Claire Valdez. The protesters—many of them relatives of individuals who died in nursing…

‘This is another attack on New York’ — Queens democrats rally against Trump’s effort to kill congestion pricing

Congestion pricing will introduce tolls for motorists traveling south of 60th Street in Manhattan.

Feb. 19, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Elected officials across Queens have condemned President Donald Trump after the Trump Administration moved to end federal approval for congestion pricing Wednesday. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy informed Gov. Kathy Hochul in a letter that he would rescind the federal approval of the congestion pricing program, describing the…

Queens lawmakers rally against Con Edison’s 14% rate hike proposal

con edison

Feb. 13, 2025 By Colum Motherway Several Queens elected officials are voicing their opposition to Con Edison’s proposed rate hikes for electricity and gas, urging the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) to reject the increases and address ongoing concerns about utility affordability. The proposal, which could raise rates by up to 14%,…

Queens officials slam Mayor Adams over ICE memo, call it violation of sanctuary laws

Mayor Eric Adams speaking to the media at City Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Feb. 10, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Elected officials, unions and community organizations across Queens have slammed Mayor Eric Adams in response to reports that the Mayor’s office distributed a memo to city agencies suggesting that they should let ICE agents enter municipal facilities without a warrant if staff “reasonably feel threatened” or fear for…

Claire Valdez vows to ‘build a New York for everyone’ after being sworn in as State Assembly Member for District 37

Jan. 13, 2025 By Czarinna Andres Jan. 13, 2025 By Colum Motherway Newly sworn-in Assembly Member Claire Valdez has promised to help deliver an inclusive and more progressive New York as she officially begins the next stage of her career. Valdez is the new representative for Assembly District 37, which covers the neighborhoods of Ridgewood,… Read more »