By Anthony Medina<\/p>\n
Queens City Council Member Joann Ariola<\/a>, representing City Council District 32 residents, has secured $31 million in funding as part of the recently approved New York City Council budget for fiscal year 2025. <\/p>\n The councilwoman steered millions of dollars to help maintain vital services and organizations this year in her expansive district, which includes\u00a0Breezy Point<\/a>,\u00a0Broad Channel<\/a>,\u00a0Glendale<\/a>,\u00a0Howard Beach<\/a>,\u00a0Ozone Park<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Woodhaven<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ariola, while acknowledging her Republican minority status, attributes her budgetary success to engaging with the community and maintaining ongoing proactive relationships with city entities.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThose relationships really are based on accountability. It\u2019s my job to have the relationship but also hold them accountable,\u201d Ariola told QNS. \u201cAnd they understand that they know that I\u2019m not asking anything for myself; I\u2019m asking for my constituents.\u201d<\/p>\n Ariola\u2019s budgetary triumph includes millions for enhancing older adult programs, schools, public safety efforts and local volunteer organizations. <\/p>\n For instance, three Glendale schools are getting a combined $500,000 from the funding round for advanced media rooms, better technology and structural upgrades like new water fountains and bathrooms. <\/p>\n The redistricting of city council lines across Queens last year allowed Ariola to take the lead as the legislative representative for the neighborhood. <\/p>\n \u201cI focused a lot in Glendale and Woodhaven because those were my pickup areas,\u201d Ariola explained, emphasizing the importance of adequate legislative leadership in Queens. <\/p>\n An effort to visit schools in the district also played a key role in deciding where the taxpayer money was spent.<\/p>\n \u201cI went there and learned a lot,\u201d Ariola said. \u201cWe\u2019re all about getting to know the people and having a relationship, because if you don\u2019t have a relationship with your schools, you don\u2019t have a relationship with your civics.\u201d<\/p>\n One educational program that gained special attention from the Queens council member is\u00a0Inside Broadway<\/a>, a non-profit organization that provides schools with a performance arts education curriculum for a wide range of age groups from K to 12th grade.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ariola shared that the $80,000 allotted to the Inside Broadway program will allow schools to embed performing arts into their curriculum. <\/p>\n Funding was also allocated for services for older adults, including senior centers and programs aimed at helping seniors adapt to modern life.<\/p>\n Ariola secured a total of $110,000 for aging services, with over $5,000 designated for senior centers in Howard Beach, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and other areas in her district.<\/p>\n Graffiti removal and street clean-up initiatives in the district have been awarded nearly $280,000.<\/p>\n The funds are distributed to nonprofit organizations that have already been actively working to remove graffiti and litter in Ariola\u2019s district, including the Queens Economic Development Corporation<\/a> and the Center for Employment Opportunities<\/a>.<\/p>\n Law enforcement remained a top priority for Ariola, with community safety and domestic violence programs from the 100th<\/a>, 102nd<\/a>, 104th<\/a> and 106th<\/a> NYPD precincts each receiving $25,000 from the budget.<\/p>\n Volunteer-based organizations, including local pet rescues, are also marked to receive $5,000 each to help their causes. Ariola has prioritized helping pet rescue organizations in her district with donation events.<\/p>\n A $6 million project to build a skate park in Broad Channel has been funded, according to information from the councilwoman\u2019s office.<\/p>\n Ariola noted that deciding how city council funds are allocated can often be challenging. She said the process of determining where the funds go often comes from looking at the past and analyzing how each recipient spent their funding. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important to me to make sure that the constituents realize that as their representative in the city council, it\u2019s my job to make sure that their money is being spent wisely,\u201d Ariola said, recognizing that taxpayer dollars are the backbone of city council funds. <\/p>\n At the end of June, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams agreed on a $112.4 billion budget for fiscal year 2025, amid growing tensions between the governing bodies. <\/p>\n The agreed budget restored vital services, including funding for New York City Public Libraries and the Department of Education, but gaps remain for these resources to address.<\/p>\n Ariola\u2019s efforts in District 32 are part of a more significant effort from city council members across the five boroughs to enhance and maintain services for community members.<\/p>\n Link to story: https:\/\/qns.com\/2024\/07\/council-member-joann-ariola-secures-31-million-queens-district-32-nyc-budget\/<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Anthony Medina<\/p>\n Queens City Council Member Joann Ariola<\/a>, representing City Council District 32 residents, has secured $31 million in funding as part of the recently approved New York City Council budget for fiscal year 2025. <\/p>\n The councilwoman steered millions of dollars to help maintain vital services and organizations this year in her expansive district, which includes\u00a0Breezy Point<\/a>,\u00a0Broad Channel<\/a>,\u00a0Glendale<\/a>,\u00a0Howard Beach<\/a>,\u00a0Ozone Park<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Woodhaven<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n …<\/p>\n