By Elizabeth Kim
The New York City Council is flexing its oversight powers over a mental health response program that Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made a key part of his new approach to changing how the city handles 911 calls involving people in mental distress.
The Council on Thursday passed legislation requiring the Mamdani administration to submit regular performance reports on the Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division, also known as B-HEARD.
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By Maya Kaufman
The City Council unanimously passed legislation Thursday to require more comprehensive and frequent data reporting on the B-HEARD initiative, which sends specially trained emergency medics and social workers to respond to select 911 calls about a mental health crisis.
The bill would require relevant city agencies to share aggregate data every six months on mental health-related 911 calls and B-HEARD dispatches, in addition to the program’s average response time and demographic information of the individuals in crisis.
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By Eyewitness News
NEW YORK (WABC) — Biking weather is back and a record setting helmet giveaway is planned for New York City cyclists.
Safety gear, including lights, will be handed out in all five boroughs starting on Saturday at the Russell Page Playground in Queens.
Transportation Department Experts will be on hand to fit you for the right helmet.
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By Lea Tomaswick
Inside Government is a Q&A series that gives New Yorkers a glimpse inside the role of the elected officials who represent them. This edition of Inside Government with PoliticsNY, sponsored by AARP New York City, features New York City Council Member Lynn Schulman. Council Member Schulman represents the 29th Council District in Queens which includes the neighborhoods of Rego Park, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, South Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and South Ozone Park.
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Relocation announcement comes amid push to keep it in Forest Hills
By Stephanie G. Meditz
Larry Ng’s vibrant “Queens, The World’s Borough” sculpture is moving to a new home — one it will share with the New York Mets.
The stainless steel, six-foot tall artwork, originally on view in Forest Hills’ MacDonald Park, will be relocated to Citi Field, City Councilmember Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills) announced March 20.
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By Bob Hennelly
The radical rollback by the Trump administration of the schedule of vaccines required for the nation’s tens of millions of children and a resurgence in measles nationally, prompted the New York City Council’s Health Committee to convene hearings this week to hear from New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin.
WBAI carried these hearings LIVE as well as a LIVE call-in show hosted by Jenna Flanagan and Dr.
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On March 5, following the New York City Council’s Health Committee Hearing on access to childhood vaccines in New York City, Chair Lynn Schulman joined WBAI to debrief the hearing. Tune in around minute 49 to listen!
By Shane O’Brien
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced that School District 27 in Queens will be among the first four communities that will receive free 2K seats this fall.
Mamdani on March 3 announced that 2,000 toddlers will receive free full-day child care this fall as part of his 2K rollout, with seats concentrated in communities that the Mayor says have the greatest economic need and childcare gaps.
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By Dominique Jack
NEW YORK (PIX11) — Should the five boroughs face another public health emergency, dentists could be the ones administering vaccines, under a proposed New York City Council bill.
Resolution 0273-2026, sponsored by Lynn C. Schulman, seeks to allow dentists to give vaccines for the flu, COVID-19, HPV, or any other illnesses during a public health emergency.
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Four Queens pols on speaker’s team; new and continuing committee chairs
By Stephanie G. Meditz
The City Council last Thursday voted to approve a slate of new leaders and committee appointments, as Speaker Julie Menin (D-Manhattan) led her first stated meeting.
Four Queens Council members will serve on Menin’s leadership team, which includes representation from across the city.
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