One of baseball’s first expansion teams, the Mets debuted in 1962. In their first two years in the league, they played their home games at the Polo Grounds in Harlem. In 1964, they moved into the newly constructed Shea Stadium. The Mets stayed at Shea until 2008, which was torn down in February 2009. In April of that year Mets […]
Cuts In FY 2012 Budget Threaten Schools, FDNY
Faced with the loss of 6,000 teachers and 20 firehouses, among other cuts to city services, New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and Queens Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer are going to be very busy. “Over the next four to five weeks, the city budget is on all our minds,” de Blasio said, while Van Bramer described the budget […]
Key Anti Terror Program Avoids A Cut
Congressmember Carolyn Maloney (D–Queens/Manhattan) had high praise for Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano after her announcement that New York City would not be getting a reduction in a key counter-terrorism grant program. Napolitano’s announcement came on May 19, several days after the Republican Congress slashed the vital program by 20 percent. She stated that New York City, including Long Island, […]
Elected Officials Visit Townsend Harris
Townsend Harris H.S. at Queens College in Flushing held their annual Legislative Luncheon on May 20. The event was hosted by the school’s PTA, and led by Principal Kenneth Bonamo. The high school highlighted their stellar humanities and science departments and the accomplishments of the students. The elected officials praised the school’s exemplary academic commitment and the achievements of its […]
Van Bramer Presents Artist Panel At MMI
Key figures in theater, dance and film came to the Museum of the Moving Image (MMI) in Astoria on May 21 to participate in a special three panel discussion about the importance of the arts and the role it will play in the future of New York City. Hosted by Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee, […]
The Origins of Memorial Day
Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of former Union soldiers and sailors – the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) – established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared it should be May […]
A Memorial To The Many Fallen
The final resting place for 1,102 (75 were recovered) crewmen of the U.S.S. Arizona who lost their lives on December 7, 1941. They are still entombed within the Arizona herself. The sunken battleship is commemorated by a 184 foot-long memorial structure that spans its mid-portion. No part of the edifice touches the ship. There are three sections in the memorial: […]
Lawmakers Vehemently Oppose Fire Company Closings
The release last week of the city’s long awaited list of fire company closings has Queens lawmakers fuming, vowing to keep open as many of the targeted units as possible. The list, released by FDNY officials on May 18, includes four Queens fire companies in neighborhoods scattered across the borough: •Ladder 128, 33-51 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside •Engine 306, 40-18 214th […]
Mayor Pummeled On Firehouse Closings
The release of the proposed 20 firehouse closings last week had Mayor Michael Bloomberg dodging brick-bats coming at him from every direction—even from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in Albany. But he staunchly defended the action, which is attributed to the city budget shortfall. Those protesting the proposed closures ranged from Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, councilmembers and City Council Speaker […]
