QUEENS TIPublished forM the BoroughES of Queens VOLUME 24, NO. 27 THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019 25 CENTS the Queens Times Citi Field’s New Address is 41 Seaver Way Wishes All its Readers NYC Councilmember Francisco Moya is pictured with New York Mets COO Jeff Wilpon in front of Citi Field where Citi Field’s new address will forever be known as 41 Seaver Way, in honor of Hall of Fame Pitcher and Mets legend, Tom Seaver. Photo Credit: New York Mets. See story on page 2. Vallone Celebrates Fifth Annual Independence Day Fireworks Show Assemblywoman Catherine Attends Annual Independence Day Celebration At Astoria Park Pictured: Assemblywoman Nolan with George Stamatiades, Central Astoria and Marie Torniali, Executive Director, Central Astoria and Chair of Council Member Paul Vallone celebrates the Fifth Annual Independence Day Celebration with his family Queens Community Board 1. See story on page 4. and over fifteen thousand spectators at Fort Totten Park. Photo by Dominic Totino. See story on page 2. One Edition for ALL of Queens! Visit our website at www.queenstimes.com PAGE 2 THE QUEENS TIMES THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019 Vallone Celebrates Fifth Annual Independence Day Fireworks Show With Record-Breaking Crowd (Continued from page 1) Rocks, and Phil Costa & the Some- and Grucci Fireworks, Linda De- thing Special Big Band. Sabato and Vallo Transportation On Wednesday night, Council “What a fantastic night kicking for providing shuttle service, and Member Vallone, Queens Cham- off summer 2019 with upwards of so many local vendors and musi- ber of Commerce and the Bayside fifteen to twenty thousand people cians. A special thank you goes to Historical Society hosted the in Fort Totten!” said Council Tom Grech of the Queens Chamber Fifth Annual Independence Day Member Paul Vallone. “This event of Commerce, Paul DiBenedetto of Celebration at Fort Totten, where would not have been possible the Bayside Historical Society, and a record crowd gathered for a without the support of so many my Chief of Staff Jonathan Szott concert and fireworks show. This groups, including Matt Symons for being the keystone that inter- year’s event was even bigger and and the New York City Department acts with the labyrinth of agencies better than ever with a 15 minute of Parks & Recreation, Deputy involved. Thank you for joining us Fireworks by Grucci show being Inspector Keith Shine and Detec- for this celebration of our country launched from a barge on Little tive Kevin O’Donnell of the 109th and community. I hope you and Neck Bay and performances from Police Precinct, New York City your families enjoy a happy and MM Rock Camp, Chicken Head Fire Department, Scott Cooper healthy 4th of July!” Citi Field’s New Address is 41 Seaver Way (Continued from page 1) from the mound in Shea. It’s only on 41 Seaver Way. It’s an honor and right that Citi Field now sits at the childhood dream come true to im- The New York City Council corner or Shea Road and Seaver mortalize one of the greatest Mets passed NYC Councilmembers Way! of all time with this street renam- Francisco Moya bill to rename “The Franchise, Tom Terrific ing”, said Councilmember Moya. 126th St between Northern Bou- (the real one!) may not have laid the There’s one more honor on tap levard and Roosevelt Avenue to bricks of Citi Field but he helped for Tom Seaver. The New York Seaver Way in honor of the Mets build the foundation this franchise Mets have announced they are great Tom Seaver. For 20 seasons, is celebrated for. Our ballpark was commissioning a statue of The Tom Seaver gave us everything his built with his right arm. So it’s only Franchise to be placed outside of right arm had. He built a franchise fitting for Citi Field to now reside Citi Field, aka 41 Seaver Way. Attorney General James’ Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Decennial Census New York Attorney General Latinos. Thanks to the Court, everyday people need us to stand Letitia James today released the the census will remain a tool for firm in our fight for justice. After following statement in response delivering on our government’s all, everyone counts, and there- to the U.S. Supreme Court’s deci- promise of fairness and equity, fore, everyone must be counted. sion, in Department of Commerce and states, like New York, will not “I am grateful to the talented v. New York: be shortchanged out of critical re- professionals in the New York “Every single person in this sources or political representation. State Attorney General’s Office country deserves to be counted, Our democracy withstood this who worked tirelessly on this plain and simple. We are pleased challenge, but make no mistake, case, especially New York Solici- Subscribe to the with the Supreme Court’s deci- many threats continue to lie ahead tor General Barbara Underwood. sion today. from the Trump Administration I also want to thank our many “This one question could have and we will not stop fighting. government and public interest Queens Times caused a substantial undercount, Now, more than ever, the margin- partners for their support and col- particularly of noncitizens and alized, the disenfranchised, and laboration.” Your Local Newspaper-One Edition for All Of Queens Just $28.50 per year... and have the paper Statement on SCOTUS Decision to Block Citizenship delivered to your door by US Mail Question From 2020 Census Please Enter my Subscription For One Year Borough President Melinda Katz plete Count Committee, a group of sistants, office staff and more. The stated the following in response to more than 75 community leaders event was the single largest U.S. Name .............................................................................. the United States Supreme Court’s from across the borough tasked Census Bureau job fair in the New decision to temporarily block the with strategizing how to ensure York City area so far this season. Address .......................................................................... federal government from adding everyone in Queens is counted That same evening, community- a citizenship question to the 2020 accurately and fairly in next year’s based organizations, civic leaders City..................................................Zip........................... Census. decennial count. and residents testified before the “Queens maintains the citizen- As part of her determined efforts New York State Complete Count Please make check payable to: Queens Times and mail to: ship question is discriminatory, to prevent a potential undercount Commission at its joint Queens 11-20 154th Street, Whitestone, NY 11357 especially as it was designed to in next year’s decennial count, County public hearing with Bor- weaponize the Census in order to Borough President Katz first host- ough President Katz, the seventh dilute resources, representation ed a Census Town Hall at Borough and largest hearing in terms of the and minority voting power,” said Hall in November 2018 to propel number of speakers held statewide Borough President KATZ. “While public discourse and engagement by the NYSCCC this year. With the fight to ensure a fair count is for the 2020 Census. Governor Cuomo and Mayor de far from over, the Supreme Court’s In April 2019, Borough President Blasio allocating $20 million decision today to temporarily Katz signed an amicus brief set to and $22 million, respectively, to Published every week by C.T. Publishing Corp. block this question is incredibly the United States Supreme Court, support Census outreach, those Executive Office: 108-59 49th Avenue, Corona Heights, NY 11368 encouraging. There is still much along with nearly 200 other elected who testified called on for those Operations: 11-20 154th Street, Whitestone, NY 11357 work to be done to ensure that officials from around the country, resources to be distributed among Phone (718) 592-2196 • FAX (718) 606-8202 every Queens resident is counted opposing the inclusion of a citizen- trusted community-based orga- Web Site: www.queenstimes.com accurately in the 2020 Census, be- ship question on the 2020 Census. nizations involved in outreach cause an undercount is something On May 1, hundreds of New efforts to make the 2020 Census email: [email protected] Queens simply cannot afford.” Yorkers participated in a Queens in Queens as accurate as possible. James C. Lisa .............................................. Publisher/Editor The county of Queens, with its Job Fair for the 2020 Census at The Census determines the Lew Scala .............................. Associate Publisher/Webmaster 2.35 million residents, is known Borough Hall, co-hosted by Bor- borough’s representation in the Joseph V. Dorsa ..............Assistant Editor/Photo Journalist as the most diverse county in the ough President Katz, her Queens U.S. House of Representatives, as Lou Duro ................................ International Correspondent nation. Complete Count Committee and well as how much federal fund- Merle Exit ...................................Arts/Entertainment Editor In January 2018, Borough Presi- the U.S. Census Bureau, which is ing Queens receives for schools, Robert Elkin ....................................................... Sports Editor dent Katz first announced plans for looking to hire for positions such infrastructure, health services Nicole Rescigno ............................................... Office Manager the formation of her Queens Com- as Census takers, recruiting as- and more. Bob Grant........................................................ Photojournalist The Queens Times is published