MELINDA'S FIRST HUNDRED DAYS

April 11, 2014

Dear Lucas,

Over the past hundred days I have focused on making the Borough of Queens a destination, an economic engine and a safe place to live, work and play. Our mission continues to be to improve the Borough by focusing on constituent services, education, and economic development, while preserving the integrity of the diverse cultures that make up Queens.

Borough Hall Access

Queens Borough Hall is a place the public can turn to when they are in need of assistance. Being accessible to and serving the communities that make up Queens is one of the most important priorities of my office. We are dedicated to identifying constituent issues in the Borough and finding appropriate solutions. So far we have already:

Promoted health and well-being, by teaming up with Jamaica and Elmhurst hospitals to sponsor educational seminars with the goal of signing up individuals for the Affordable Care Act.
Worked with Assemblyman Jeff Aubry and Senator Mike Gianaris, along with state legislators from across the Borough, to move legislation in Albany to reform the Queens Borough Public Library. Recent revelations about library operations have demonstrated the need for good governance reforms that are a fundamental part of restoring openness and trust in our library.
Coordinated Borough Hall's School Construction "War Room" to provide communities with greater knowledge of the roll out of new school seats, track overcrowding, monitor construction projects and ensure that arts and culture are a permanent part of the curricula in all Queens' schools.
Connected with our veterans' organizations for the first Veterans Meet-and-Greet Brunch at Borough Hall, in which we met with veterans and veteran service agencies to discuss issues and opportunities to best address their needs.

Economic Development

Constituent service is more than just resolving issues that are challenging our residents and businesses. It also means creating a better borough for residents to live and work. Economic growth is a huge part of that and by strengthening our economy, we are actually investing in our Borough and making Queens a place that people want to visit and immerse themselves in all that we have to offer. To spur the local economy we have:

Held the first Small Business Meet-and-Greet with industry leaders from across the Borough to discuss assets and challenges.
Focused on the Rockaways as a commercial sub-center. With the leadership of Mayor de Blasio, my office has been able to continue the Rockaway Ferry line. The ferry service will provide affordable and fast transportation which is vital to the growth and future of the peninsula. With better transportation, the Rockaways has the ability to become one of Queens' major commercial sub-centers.
Hosted three job fairs, including one to identify seasonal workers for Cirque du Soleil summer performances at Citi field.
Partnered with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) on a procurement event for MWSDBE opportunities with the PANYNJ and;
Launched Queens Tech Zone Strategic Plan Task Force.

Task Forces

As Queens Borough Hall is primarily dedicated to bettering our communities and the lives of our residents, we know we cannot efficiently serve our communities without incorporating the insight of community leaders, professionals and government agencies that have years of experience delivering services to the Borough. My office has formed various Task Forces and advisory boards that will assist us in collectively identifying the best way forward on many issues.

We have called the first meeting of the Queens Co-op and Condo Task Force, comprised of board presidents, managers and representatives, to focus on factors which are unique to this type of ownership of buildings.
We have set up the first meeting of the Borough President's Aviation Advisory Board, which will assist in addressing community needs while also working toward making sure the airports are a benefit to the economy.
Created a New York State Pavilion Task Force to preserve the Pavilion and determine how to utilize that space for tourist use and economic growth.
Launched the Flushing Commons Task Force to mitigate potential issues during construction.
Formed an interagency response group entitled "Clean Up Jamaica" to address concerns of the community with the assistance of the New York City Police Department, The New York City Departments of Sanitation, Transportation, Buildings, and the Long Island Railroad, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority. This interagency effort will resolve complaints, coordinate enforcement and facilitate consistent agency response to address chronic quality of life issues.
We continued the fine work of the Immigration Task Force and the Queens General Assembly and hosted a forum on human trafficking with the Queens Family Justice Center.

Culture and Tourism

Increasing tourism in Queens is essential to strengthening our local economy. By branding Queens as a tourist destination that can offer a unique experience with its culture, food, and attractions we can fully realize the benefits of economic growth. Queens' multiethnic and multilingual population is an asset in our drive to promote Queens as a cultural center. To promote cultural awareness and increase tourism within the Borough:

I have participated, sponsored and hosted various cultural events within the Borough including our African American Heritage event, the Greek Independence Day and Bangladesh Independence Day events, and have participated in Pagwah/Holi celebrations and several St. Patrick's Day Parades.
I have stressed that saving the NYS Pavilion is an essential factor in the branding of our Borough as a tourist destination. Restoring the iconic structure to its original splendor will not only preserve an edifice that is a landmark to Queens, but will also preserve a piece of the Borough's history.
In an effort to bring awareness to the NYS Pavilion and commemorate the World's Fair's anniversaries, I am eager to share that in conjunction with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and Assemblywoman Margaret M. Markey, we are hosting a daylong World's Fair Anniversary Festival to include fireworks and a concert in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park on Sunday, May 18 starting at 1:00 pm.

The Office of the Queens Borough President is dedicated to rebranding Queens as a cultural and economic force. We realize that though we have accomplished many things during our one hundred days, there is still much work to be done and my office is up for the challenge. I appreciate all the positive feedback I received as we travel around our Borough and I look forward to the next one hundred days and all the days that follow. Feel free to contact me at info@queensbp.org if there is anything I can assist with in the future.

Sincerely,

Melinda Katz

President

Borough of Queens