By Michael V. Cusenza
The Woodhaven community recently welcomed Mayor Eric Adams and representatives from many City agencies for a “Community Conversation”, the 25th such chat this administration has held across the five boroughs (not counting senior and youth town halls).
“Woodhaven is known for its diversity and community spirit, its strong sense of community,” Commissioner Fred Kreizman of the Community Affairs Unit noted.
Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-ozone Park) and Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) represent Woodhaven on the Council and in Albany.
“It really is wonderful to see such a large crowd, and it’s really great that you now get to see each and every person that we deal with when we come to your meetings and you come to us to address your issues,” said Ariola, chairwoman of the Fire and Emergency Management Committee.
Ariola later said that, as a member of the Council Common Sense Caucus, she regularly works with Democrats to help keep the City running.
“We are people who know how to work across the aisle. We are people who understand that it’s not about your party, it’s about the issues that are affecting the community. That’s what matters,” Ariola added. “But leadership comes from the top. And that’s why I thank Mayor Adams, because no matter what, he sits with us from the Common Sense Caucus. We’re 9 in the Common Sense Caucus, and yet with all that’s going on in the city, you make time. You make time to listen to us, to see what’s necessary, what we are hearing. We are the ears on the ground. There has never been a more available administration than the Adams administration. We’re able to get in touch with each commissioner and have a relationship. Every borough commissioner, every single member of the department, the NYPD, DSNY, it doesn’t matter. Everyone wants to do their job. And we didn’t have that for the prior eight years, but that’s what was brought through this administration.”
Rajkumar, the daughter of Indian immigrants, said dreams are big in Woodhaven.
“That is why you see me at PS 60, the Woodhaven School, PS 97, Rosa Parks School, speaking at every fifth grade graduation, because I want all of the kids of Woodhaven to know that anything is possible from here in Woodhaven if they put their mind to it. And that is my a hundred percent commitment,” she said.
But as a proud member of The World’s Borough, Rajkumar said Woodhaven knows Queens is not all roses.
“Now, as residents of Woodhaven, we face common challenges together. When I knocked on all of your doors, the number one concern that came up and the number one concern that came up tonight was public safety,” she noted, adding, “I want to thank I want to thank all the top NYPD brass who came and made sure that we could talk directly to them. In the name of public safety, I’m working to shut down all the illegal smoke shops proliferating across our neighborhood, that’s why I was proud to introduce and author the SMOKEOUT Act, which will allow New York City to shutter all these illegal smoke shops very quickly. Next, e-bikes. I’ve introduced two bills in Albany that will regulate e bikes by requiring them to have license plates, insurance and inspection, so we can finally take care of these public safety issues.”
