December 29, 2022, Jamaica jumpstart was early ‘22 focus
Electeds climbing the ranks, once-in-a-blue-moon phenomena and revitalization efforts in the commercial hub of Downtown Jamaica headlined the first part of 2022 in Southeast Queens.
December 8, 2022, City Council passes Queens lawmaker’s bill to curb catalytic converter thefts across the city QNS
As vehicle catalytic converter thefts are on the rise in New York City, with Queens being in the epicenter, a bill introduced by Councilwoman Linda Lee was passed by the City Council on Wednesday, Dec. 7, to deter future thefts.
November 25, 2022, City Council passes Queens lawmaker’s bill to track opioid settlement fund and its related programs QNS
The New York City Council voted to pass Councilwoman Linda Lee’s bill, Int.0404, to require the city Department of Health to track and report on the funds secured for the city and New York State Attorney General Letitia James from settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors.
October 26, 2022, Queens is epicenter of catalytic converter thefts in the five boroughs QNS
Catalytic converter thefts across the five boroughs have risen by nearly 269% over the past year, with Queens leading the way with 2,092 catalytic converter thefts by August, compared to 574 during the same period last year, according to the NYPD.
October 20, 2022, Bills aim to curb catalytic converter theft ‘epidemic’ NY1
The five boroughs have seen a triple-digit spike in catalytic converter thefts, NYPD officials said Thursday — and the City Council is gearing up to crack down on the crime.
October 20, 2022, Elmhurst Hospital gets a booster shot Queens Chronicle
Elmhurst Hospital Center got a shot in the arm. And Frank D. O’Connor Playground got a breath of fresh air.
On Monday, just outside the main entrance to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, City Councilman Shekar Krishnan (D-Jackson Heights) and other top city and Queens officials announced major investments for the medical center and the Frank D. O’Connor Playground, which sits across the street.
September 28, 2022, Councilwoman tours Hollis shelter following asylum seeker’s suicide QNS
While the city grapples with a wave of more than 13,000 asylum seekers that have overwhelmed the shelter system in recent months, Councilwoman Linda Lee toured the Hollis Family Shelter at 21-05 Jamaica Ave. to learn more about the living conditions at the facility after a young mother from Colombia committed suicide on Sept. 18.
September 26, 2022, Queens lawmakers host Senior Appreciation Month performance in Queens Village QNS
City Councilwoman Linda Lee and Senator Leroy Comrie in collaboration with Queens Theatre hosted a live performance for seniors at the SNAP Senior Center in Queens Village on Friday, Sept. 23.
September 16, 2022, Queens lawmaker introduces legislation to improve accessibility, expand employment opportunities for disability community across city agencies, QNS
Councilwoman Linda Lee on Wednesday, Sept. 14, introduced two bills to improve accessibility across city agencies and expand employment opportunities for New York City’s disabled community.
September 1, 2022, Stakeholders Grapple With Shortage of NYC Truck Parking, Transport Topics
The Trucking Association of New York and state leaders are looking to address a shortage of truck parking in the New York City area that has led to trucks being towed and booted, and which has prompted an effort in the state Legislature to increase fines for trucks parked illegally in residential areas.
August 29, 2022, Officials Celebrate Additional Library Funding in New York City Budget, Gotham Gazette
The new fiscal year 2023 New York City budget includes $452.8 million in expense funding for the city’s three library systems and research libraries — a $20 million increase from last year’s $431.9 million. Additionally, the City Council put another $15.7 million in operating funds from its discretionary monies, set to be shared among the three systems, bringing the total expense funding for libraries in this year’s city budget to $468.5 million.
August 23, 2022, City targets illegal truck parking in Queens, Queens Daily Eagle
The city is cracking down on illegal truck parking on residential roads, an issue officials say is a plague particular to Queens. Between Aug. 15 and Aug. 19, the 103rd, 105th, and 113th precincts ran Operation “Heavy Duty Enforcement,” issuing nearly 600 summons and towing dozens of illegally parked tractor trailers off of city streets.
July 28, 2022, Roadway Named for Co-Op President ,Queens Chronicle
Site near Hilltop Village dedicated to cop and biker Melvin ‘Mel’ Doby
July 25, 2022, Melvin ‘Mel’ Doby Memorial Way unveiled in Holliswood,QNS
New York City Councilwoman Linda Lee joined Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and Assemblyman David Weprin Sunday at the intersection of 204th Street and Foothill Avenue to unveil Melvin “Mel” Doby Memorial Way.
July 13, 2022, Councilwoman Lee, Speaker Adams announce $9.5 million in funding for Queens Village Public Library,QNS
New York City Councilwoman Linda Lee and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams announced Tuesday that the Queens Village Public Library will receive $9.5 million in funding. The funding will be used to provide the library with its first major renovations since opening in 1952.
July 8, 2022, Queens councilwoman hosts town hall with updates on transit, crime,QNS
City Council member Linda Lee hosted a town hall at the Cross Island YMCA Wednesday night, July 6 to discuss transit, crime and quality of life issues in eastern Queens.
June 24, 2022, Councilwoman Lee talks state’s mental health crisis,QNS
New York City Council Member Linda Lee on June 23 discussed the mental health crisis occurring in the city with New York State Attorney General Letitia James. As The Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities and Addictions, Lee was one of several panelists of community activists, health professionals and elected officials who testified on the matter.
June 15, 2022, 51 Council Members in 52 Weeks: District 23, Linda Lee ,WNYC
May 27, 2022, Council Backs State Legislation That Would Hike Fines on Trucks Parked Overnight in Residential Areas,Queens Post
The New York City council voted Thursday in support of state legislation sponsored by two Queens legislators that would increase the fines commercial truck owners would have to pay who park their vehicles on residential streets overnight.
May 26, 2022, J-51 Tax Abatement Could Live On-And Help Climate Change,Habitat Magazine
On the eve of the expiration of the J-51 tax abatement, which has helped moderate-income co-ops and condos pay for vital capital projects, state Assembly member Edward Braunstein, a Democrat from northeast Queens, has introduced legislation that would extend the program and, critically, expand eligibility.
May 26, 2022, Council hesitant on speed cameras,Queens Chronicle
State lawmakers came to an agreement on legislation regarding speed cameras in school zones late last week. Though the bill — which would expand the city’s speed camera program to 750 school zones and extend it for three years — is poised to pass, the final decision rests with the City Council. And among its members, the issue is far from settled.
May 24, 2022, Four Queens Lawmakers Introduce resolutions to mark Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month ,QNS
The largest group of AAPI New Yorkers ever elected to the City Council introduced two resolutions on Thursday, May 19, to celebrate the role of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in New York City in honor of AAPI Heritage Month.
May 23, 2022, It’s Time to Deliver Our Neighborhoods from Illegal Commercial Truck Parking ,GothamGazette
No matter where you look in Eastern Queens, it seems like there’s a commercial truck illegally parked. Whether it’s along a highway or in a quiet residential neighborhood, these four-ton vehicles are hard to miss. Now, it seems like this long-standing problem is reaching a crisis level citywide. Fines and enforcement alone won’t solve this problem — we need a comprehensive solution that involves government agencies, elected officials, and the private sector to solve this problem for the long-term.
May 20, 2022, Advocates, Council Members Call on City Government to Better Support Asian Communities,GothamGazette
Asian-American social-service providers want to be more involved in city policy-making around mental health and language access as the city grapples with an ongoing surge in anti-Asian hate crimes.
May 19, 2022, New York City Council Members, community advocates push to require AAPI education in schools, increase access to mental health services for community CBSNews
City leaders and community advocates gathered in City Hall Park on Thursday, calling attention to the issues the Asian American and Pacific Islander community is facing, sharing with CBS2’s Jenna DeAngelis changes they’re pushing for.
May 3, 2022, Power of Diversity: New wave of Asian Americans seizing elected office,City & State
Taiwanese and Hong Kong immigrants broke through a generation ago. Other groups are now making progress.
May 3, 2022 Councilwoman Lee announces initiatives to crack down on illegal dumping in eastern Queens, QNS
City Councilwoman Linda Lee announced an initiative addressing illegal dumping sites across her eastern Queens district. This initiative marks the third in Lee’s Spring Cleaning Series, aimed at restoring and beautifying District 23.
May 2, 2022, New York City Council calls for $5 million for hate crime prevention NY Jewish Week
Speaker Adrienne Adams and other New York City Council members called for $5 million in funding for hate crime prevention at a press conference on Friday.
April 25, 2022, In budget asks, City Council tailors its message to the mayor, City & State
Council members sounded like Eric Adams Monday, ahead of his executive budget reveal.
April 25, 2022, NYC City Council preempts Mayor Adams with $1.3B spending demands a day before second budget draft
The preliminary budget Mayor Adams proposed in February clocked in at $98.5 billion. If he were to fully incorporate the Council’s demands in his executive budget, it would bring the city’s total spending plan to $99.8 billion for the next fiscal year which begins in July.
April 5, 2022, Queens Pols Say Group Handling Inmate Release Hotel Program Must Go, TheCity
Since the start of the pandemic, 1,700 inmates released from city jails and state prisons have stayed in hotel rooms at taxpayers’ expense, including more than 200 who have been checked in for more than a year, according to new data obtained by THE CITY.
April 4, 2022, Council member Linda Lee officially inaugurated as District 23 representative, QNS
Council member Linda Lee was inaugurated into her position Sunday, April 3, at Queensborough Community College’s Student Union. Lee, a Democrat, now represents District 23 after emerging victorious among seven other candidates in the Democratic primaries last June and the general election in November.
March 28, 2022, Gillibrand announces plan to slash prescription drug prices during Flushing visit, QNS
As pharmaceutical companies have implemented drug price increases on hundreds of prescription medications, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced her policy package to lower the cost of drug prices during a press conference at the Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York (KCS) in Flushing on Monday, March 28.
March 28, 2022, Elected Officials Call for Community Response Following Shooting of 16-Year-Old Student Near Cardozo High School Forest Hills Post
Council Member Linda Lee, joined by Congresswoman Grace Meng and Council Member Vickie Paladino, held the press conference to call on city officials to address public safety with a coordinated response.
March 22, 2022, Queens lawmakers, religious leaders call for expanded Empire State Child Tax Credit, QNS Queens elected officials were joined by religious leaders, advocates and impacted families on the steps of Borough Hall in Kew Gardens on Sunday, March 20, calling on New York state to include the expanded Empire State Child Tax Credit in the final enacted budget.
March 15, 2022, Queens councilwoman on tackling city’s mental health crisis CrainsNewYork
City Councilwoman Linda Lee has spent decades working to improve access to mental health care and social services for New Yorkers, first as a camp counselor for the city’s at-risk youth and most recently as chief executive of Korean Community Services, a Queens-based nonprofit that runs a bilingual mental health clinic and targets the Korean population.
March 17, 2022, Ukrainian relief off to refugees in Poland Queens Chronicle
Over the last two weeks, several Queens councilmembers — including Francisco Moya (D-Corona), Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone), Selvena Brooks-Powers (D-Laurelton), Linda Lee (D-Oakland Gardens), Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans) and Sandra Ung (D-Flushing) — used their district offices as Ukrainian donation centers, according to Councilmen Bob Holden (D-Middle Village) and Jim Gennaro (D-Kew Gardens Hills)
March 2, 2022, Queens nonprofit opens new adolescent mental health clinic: “It’s really stigmatized, especially if you’re a kid”
A Queen’s nonprofit is tackling this head on, opening a new mental health clinic.
February 27, 2022, Increase in Hate Crimes Against Asians
It’s been two years since COVID-19 caused havoc in our lives, and there is an increase of hatred, discrimination, assault and even murder against Asians around the world. Recently, a Korean-American woman was murdered in her apartment in Chinatown in Manhattan, New York City. We connect with a council member in New York City to take a closer look at this issue.
February 25, 2022, Councilwoman Lee on the city’s efforts to improve mental health care and resources, Spectrum News
Councilwoman Linda Lee sat down with NY1 political anchor Errol Louis on “Inside City Hall” on Friday to weigh in on what the city needs to do to improve the mental health services it offers to New Yorkers in need.
February 25, 2022, Council sets table for open dining, Queens Daily Eagle
Permanent al fresco dining is now one step closer to becoming a reality in Queens and the rest of the city after the City Council approved a bill amending the city’s zoning laws Thursday.
February 15, 2022, Christina Lee’s Alleged Killer Had Arrests, but No Mental Health Intervention, The City
At a vigil near stabbing victim’s Chinatown building, Asian leaders and groups demand action on mental illness and women’s safety.
February 15, 2022, Queens lawmakers and community leaders condemn surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans, QNS
Several Queens lawmakers were joined by Asian American community leaders for a rally in Manhattan on Friday, Feb. 12 to support a South Korean diplomat who was brutally assaulted in front of the United Nations building last week.
February 9, 2022, Queens Council Member on Increasing Access to Mental Healthcare, City Watch
“Access means a lot of different things, and language access is a huge part of it,” Councilmember Linda Lee, who now chairs the committee on mental health, told WBAI’s City Watch.
February 9, 2022, Williams, Lee elected co-chairs of Queens delegation to City Council, QNS
Council members Nantasha Williams and Linda Lee were elected to serve as co-chairs of the Queens delegation to the City Council by their collogues on Friday. The duo will replace former Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, who chaired the delegation from 2015 to 2021, when she was term limited out of office.
February 8, 2022, Council Members Williams and Lee Elected Co-Chairs of Queens Council Delegation, Sunnyside Post
Council Members Nantasha Williams and Linda Lee will be leading the Queens Council Delegation.
February 3, 2022, SBS boss meets merchants, vows fewer fines, Queens Chronicle
Councilwomen Williams and Lee join walk along Jamaica Avenue.
February 1, 2022, Max Politics Podcast: The New City Council Chairs for Public Health and Hospitals, Gotham Gazette
Newly-elected New York City Council Members Linda Lee, Mercedes Narcisse, and Lynn Schulman, are, respectively, the new chairs of Council’s Committees on Mental Health; Hospitals; and Health. The lawmakers discuss their backgrounds, vision, and plans for for chairing these independent and overlapping committees that are charged with considering legislative and budget funding, holding oversight hearings and more.