Queens, NY – Today, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Council Member Leroy Comrie met with local residents at the Alpha Phi Alpha Senior Center in Jamaica to discuss the impact the FY 2013 budget will have on the seniors programs and other City services throughout Southeast Queens.

This meeting was one of several Southeast visits the Speaker made today, including a meeting with Community Board 13 Members and Civic and Community Leaders in Queens Village where she discussed, how under her leadership, the Council has passed a series of measures providing tax relief to small businesses, including an increase in the Unincorporated Business Tax (UBT) fixed credit on incomes up to $100,000, providing $28 million in small business tax relief, and an increase in the personal income tax credit for UBT taxes paid, saving taxpayers $35 million. Additionally, Speaker Quinn announced this year’s budget includes $60,000 in Council funding to aid M/WBE’s (Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprises) throughout Queens and that the Council restored Industrial Business Zone funding for the Business Outreach Center Network and the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation.

to and she noted a number of victories for the borough in the city’s recently passed budget. Due to the efforts of the City Council, a number of services will remain available to Queens residents, including senior centers, child care, fire companies, parks, libraries, and various cultural institutions.

“This year’s budget exemplifies the Council’s commitment to the city’s aging population, children, and the well-being of our city’s working class families a priority,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “Whether it’s through restorations to senior services, parks, cultural institutions, childcare or ensuring our fire companies remain open, the Council has ensured that the residents of Queens will continue to receive these vital services.”

SENIOR SERVICES

Social Adult Day Care – The Council’s efforts have ensured that all Queens senior centers remain open and $150,000 in Council funding went to social adult day care programs throughout the borough.

CHILDCARE

Out-of-School Time (OST) – The City Council more than doubled the number of slots that were awarded in Queens under the DYCD RFP from 5,840 slots to 12,196 – over 1,300 more than in FY 2012.

Early Learn – Council funds led to the restoration of more than 1,200 childcare slots at 14 centers in Queens as well as an additional 600 Family Day Care slots.

In Council Member Comrie’s district, the following six centers restored slots due to Council funding:
• Myrtle Jarmon Early Childhood Education Center
• Afro-American Parents DCC 3
• Montessori Progressive Learning Center
• Quick Start Head Start DCC
• Committee for Early Childhood Development
• Charles R Drew Early Learning Center 1

FIRE COMPANIES

Four Queens fire companies remain open thanks to the City Council’s efforts:

• Engine 306 in Bayside
• Ladder 128 in Long Island City
• Engine 294 Richmond Hill
• Engine 328 in Rockaway

PARKS

Staffing and Maintenance – The Council’s funding adds more than 150 additional workers to staff Queens’ parks and $2 million for citywide tree pruning to ensure the city’s parks are safe.

Pools –Council funding saved Fort Totten pool from closure and restored funding to keep public swimming pools like Astoria, Fisher, Flushing Meadow, and Liberty open for the full season.

LIBRARIES

The Council’s efforts guarantee that Queens Borough Public Library branches will maintain at least 5-day service at every one of their locations.

CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

The Council’s efforts led to major funding restorations for City cultural institutions such as the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing Town Hall, Queens Museum of Art, Queens Botanical Garden, P.S. 1, and the Museum of the Moving Image.
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