New York City CouncilCouncil Member Donovan Richards Jr., a lifelong resident of Southeast Queens and the Rockaways, was elected to the New York City Council in March 2013.
Once Richards was elected, he was appointed to be the chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection, which allowed him to address the decades-old systemic issue of flooding in Southeast Queens. Richards secured more than $1.5 billion to help fill the enormous sewer infrastructure hole in Southeast Queens.
As he entered the second half of his term, Richards was appointed to be the chair of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises. This opportunity provided him the chance to be at the center of Mayor de Blasio’s push for affordable housing across the city.
Moving forward as the chair of Zoning and Franchises, he helped negotiate a stronger, more inclusive affordable housing plan and made history when the Council passed the most aggressive affordable housing policy in the nation.
While Richards continues to work towards improving the lives of all New Yorkers, he maintains an emphasis on serving District 31 residents to ensure that the communities of Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens and Far Rockaway receive the resources they deserve. READ MORE