The Indian Panorama

Tag: Queens

  • THE KERALA CENTER HONORS 7 INDIVIDUALS AT THE 2025 ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY

    ELMONT, NY (TIP): Indian American Kerala Cultural and Civic Center, Inc. (The Kerala Center) celebrated its 33rd Annual Awards Dinner at the Center’s auditorium in Elmont, NY on Saturday, October 25, 2025. The Center honored seven individuals who made notable contributions in their professions and to society with their selfless dedication.

    Kerala Center Awardees, From l. to r.: Koshy O. Thomas, Joharath Kutty, Diya Mathew Esq., Dr. Nandini Menon, Dr. Priscilla Samuel and Jayan Varghese.

    This year’s honorees and their categories of recognition were: Inspector Shibu Madhu – Govt. and Public Service; Diya Mathews – Legal Service; Priscilla Samuel – Nursing; Jayan Varghese – Pravasi Malayalam Literature; Koshy O. Thomas – Community Service; Nandini Menon – Education; and Joharath Kutty – Engineering. The keynote speaker was Dr. Suresh U. Kumar.

    The program commenced with introductory remarks and welcoming of the MC, Daisy Stephen Pallipparambil, by G. Mathai, Trustee and Program Chairman. Following the remarks by the MC, American National anthem was sung by Bailey Stephen and Indian National Anthem by Amisha Jaimon. President Alex K. Esthappan welcomed everyone and provided a brief description of the activities and goals of the Kerala Center. New York Senator John Liu, Assemblymembers Michaelle Solages & Edward Braunstein, former Senator Kevin Thomas and Ragini Srivastava, North Hempstead Town Clerk were the dignitaries present to say felicitations and present awards.

    After president’s welcome, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of the Trustee Board and Award Committee member made his remarks and introduced the keynote speaker, Dr. Suresh Kumar. In his speech Dr. Kumar talked about the concept of Indian Civilizational Intelligence that has the potential to propel India to be a number one or two economy of the world.

    The Board and Award Committee chairman Dr. Madhu Bhaskaran explained the process of selecting the awardees prior to the award presentation. In addition to the Kerala Center awards, Assembly members presented their own certificates and proclamations honoring the awardees.

    The award for excellence in community service went to Koshy O. Thomas. He was introduced by Samuel Joseph, youth forum secretary of the Kerala Center, and Assemblyman Braunstein presented the award in the presence of Sen. John Liu and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages. Koshy currently serves as Special Assistant and Community Liaison to New York State Assemblyman Edward Braunstein and also serves as the Chairman of the India Day Parade Committee in Queens.

    New York State legislators with Awardee Koshy O. Thomas. From l. to r.: Assemblyman Edward Braunstein, Sen. John Liu, Koshy Thomas and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages.

    The award for excellence in Nursing leadership went to Priscilla Samuel. Priscilla was introduced by Baily Stephen, and Varkey Abraham presented the award in the presence of Assemblywoman Solages. Dr. Priscilla Samuel is a nationally recognized leader in advanced practice nursing, currently serving as Vice President of Advanced Practice Nursing at the Mount Sinai Health System. With a career spanning clinical practice, academic leadership, and health system innovation, Dr. Samuel remains committed to advancing the role of nurse practitioners and shaping the future of healthcare delivery.

    The award for notable contribution to Pravasi Malayalam Literature went to Jayan Varghese. He was introduced by Raju Thomas, General Secretary of Kerala Center, and Ragini Srivastava, North Hempstead Town Clerk presented the award. Jayan is the author of ten books published in various genres of literature, like poetry and drama.

    The award for excellence in legal service went to Diya Mathews. Diya was introduced by Dr. Anna George, and Attorney Appen Menon, Kerala Center Trustee, presented the award. Diya is a trailblazing attorney, business leader, and community advocate whose career bridges law, entrepreneurship, and service. As Partner in Charge of Chugh LLP’s New York and New Jersey offices, she leads a thriving practice focused on business immigration law and corporate compliance. She is widely recognized for her expertise in the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). As she is admitted to practice law in both New York and India, she brings a truly global perspective to her work. She is the incoming President of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) – New Jersey Chapter.

    Dancers at the Kerala Center Awards Banquet

    The award for excellence in engineering went to Joharath Kutty. She was introduced by Nazeem Beena, and former Sen. Kevin Thomas presented the award. Joharath is a Senior Director of System Engineering at New York Power Authority (NYPA) with over 20 years of experience in the electric utility industry. Her career spans Power Generation & High Voltage Transmission, Substation design, Grid Modernization, Power System Operation & Control, Transmission Operations Planning, and has been involved in every aspect of transmission expansion projects. In her current role, she provides overall leadership and technical direction as “Chief Engineer”, for the Long Island transmission expansion project (Propel NY Energy).

    Kerala Center Awardees with Kerala Center officials and Past Awardees.

    The award for excellence in education went to Dr. Nandini Ambat Menon. She was introduced by Jose Stephen, Kerala Center member and NYC school teacher, and Dilip Varghese, Kerala Center Founder Grand Patron, presented the award. Nandini is the Founder and Chief Education Officer of Cedar Hill Preparatory School in Somerset, New Jersey. She also contributes to the broader education and entrepreneurial community through her service on the Board of the NJ Academy of Sciences, the Indian American Women Entrepreneur Association, and as Co-Chair of TiE NJ Next Gen and a committee member of TiE Global Nxt Gen.

    The awardee for excellence in Govt. and public service, Inspector Shibu Madhu, could not attend the ceremony due to family emergency.

    A view of the gathering in the packed room.

    The ceremony was attended by leaders of several community organizations including Pioneer Club, Sarga Vedi, INANY, GOPIO, FOMAA, and FOKANA. As part of the Award Ceremony, a souvenir was released by the souvenir committee that consisted of Jose Cheripuram, Jose Kadapuram and Dr. Teresa Antony, by giving a copy to Susamma Abraham, a Grand Patron of the Center.

    The Kerala Center Executive and Board members Raju Thomas, Abraham Thomas, Mathew Vazhappally and John Paul coordinated the event. The MC of the program, Daisy Stephen Pallipparambil, impressed everybody with her outstanding performance. Indian classical dances performed by Chandrika Kurup’s Noopura School of Dance made the awards night a colorful one. Associate Secretary Mary Philip concluded the ceremony with a vote of thanks to honored guests, awardees, sponsors, photographers, audience and everyone worked so hard to make it a successful event. With dinner catered by Spice Gardens, the 2025 Award Night came to an end.
    (Based on a press release issued by Dr. Thomas Abraham)

  • NYC parents, teachers struggle to buy school supplies amid tariffs, price hikes

    NYC parents, teachers struggle to buy school supplies amid tariffs, price hikes

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): New York parents preparing their kids for the first day of school are finding supplies cost more than ever — an added strain on families already struggling to make ends meet. The higher prices are a result of the 30% tariffs President Donald Trump imposed on imports from China this year, which affects nearly everything children need for school, said Brett House, a professor of economics at Columbia Business School.

    They are expected to hit low-income families especially hard, coming as federal cuts reduce the amount of support they are getting for other expenses, including food and housing assistance.

    Organizations that typically donate school supplies for families who cannot afford them are finding they are also stretched thinner as the number of people in need rises.

    Sapreet Saluja, executive director of the nonprofit New York Cares, said the increase in costs is forcing her team to rethink its annual Stand With Students campaign, which aims to donate about 20,000 backpacks filled with supplies to students by September.

    For example, the group decided to give kids looseleaf paper instead of a pencil sharpener and scissors, she said. And it is putting fewer pencils and pens in each backpack this year.

    “Parents are making these incredible decisions between groceries and these basic school supplies,” Saluja said.

    Karen Lawson, a Southeast Queens resident who has 4-year-old twins starting pre-K this fall, said she’s worried the expenses will only grow as her children do.

    “The supplies that they need right now are minimal compared to when they get to elementary, junior, high school, even college. The supplies just go up,” she said. “I’m just hoping I’m able to afford that when that time comes.”

    Lawson organizes back-to-school fundraising drives in her own community and is also a beneficiary of them. She said she knows kids get teased when they show up without supplies or with old or dirty items.

    “I’m on lines to get different resources that my daughters need too, because the prices are getting so high,” she said.

    Flatbush resident Julianna Sanchez, the mother of a 14-year-old high school freshman, said she’s finding ways to extend the use of last year’s school supplies. “This year, because of how expensive [school supplies] are, I’m actually making him reuse some of the notebooks that do not have all the pages used,” she said.

    If those run out, Sanchez said she’d find a workaround: “I’ll just have to take printer paper and he’s gonna have to use it.”

    Sarah Yunus, a fifth-grade teacher in the East Village, said she’ll receive a little more than $200 at the start of this school year from the City Council to spend on supplies for her classroom. She said she’ll try to make the money stretch, but it’s never enough.

    By spring, Yunus said she’s typically dipping into her own pocket to provide for her students. She can ask her school for more supplies, but approvals take a long time and she often can’t wait.

    “When you need something urgently, you can’t wait months for something to come,” Yunus said.

    The teacher said she’s also reached out to parents who could afford to help — and even to her own friends using an Amazon wish list.

    “Something as simple as a box of pencils can go a long way,” she said.
    (Source: Gothamist)

  • A musical ensemble at the Parker Jewish Institute brings harmony and wellness to residents and patients alike

    A musical ensemble at the Parker Jewish Institute brings harmony and wellness to residents and patients alike

    NEW HYDE PARK, NY (TIP): The ensemble is known as Sur Sagar, which means “Ocean of Melody” in Hindi. It features five women from the Institute’s long-term care residence at Parker’s Indian Cultural Unit. The Indian Cultural Unit is the first of its kind in the region, accommodating the rehabilitation, health-care and cultural needs of older adults in New York’s growing Indian population.

    At Parker, members of Sur Sagar come together in song to create something special. Beyond their enchanting melodies, Sur Sagar represents the therapeutic power of music in elder care. Music therapy can help reduce anxiety, improve cognitive function and provide a powerful outlet for emotional expression for older adults. While Parker’s residents and patients diligently participate in physical, occupational and speech therapies that nurture their bodies, these musical gatherings nourish their spirits, helping them to feel at ease so that they can heal.

    The enthusiasm and unity of Sur Sagar members illuminate the profound impact of culturally meaningful activities. As part of Parker’s Indian Cultural Unit, these sessions incorporate familiar melodies and rhythms that resonate deeply with residents, awakening cherished memories and creating moments of pure joy.

    Sur Sagar embodies the essence of Parker’s Indian Cultural Unit. The unit fosters the understanding that healing and care must address the physical being while also honoring cultural identity and nurturing the soul through art and expression.

    About The Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation

    The Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation is headquartered in New Hyde Park, New York. The facility is a leading provider of Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care. At the forefront of innovation in patient-centered health care and technology, the Institute is a leader in teaching and geriatric research. Parker Jewish Institute features its own medical team, and is nationally renowned as a skilled nursing facility, as well as a provider of community-based health care, encompassing Home Health Care, Medical House Calls, Palliative Care and Hospice. Parker Jewish Institute is also home to Queens-Long Island Renal Institute (QLIRI) – providing patients with safe, comfortable Hemodialysis treatments in a relaxed setting – as well as PRINE Health – a Vascular Center offering advanced vascular services. The Center and QLIRI further Parker’s ability to expand access to essential health-care services to adults in the greater New York metropolitan area.

    For more information, please visit parkerinstitute.org or call 877-IND-UNIT.

    (Based on a Press Release)

  • Indian American Educationist Uma Sengupta honored with street sign in New York

    Indian American Educationist Uma Sengupta honored with street sign in New York

    NEW YORK (TIP) : Uma Sengupta, an Indian American educationist, activist, and community leader, who died in March last year, has been honored with a street sign bearing her name in Queens, New York.
    Elected officials as well as friends and family of the trailblazer attended the street co-naming ceremony on Oct 16 at the intersection of 152nd Street and Union Turnpike in the Briarwood section of Queens.
    New York Attorney General Letitia James also attended the event. “I was proud to attend the street renaming to honor Uma Sengupta today,” she wrote on X. “Uma spent decades fighting for social, racial and economic justice. She embodied the very spirit of Queens, and now her legacy will not be forgotten.”
    City Council member James F. Gennaro, who authored the Council resolution to honor Sengupta, said “well known for her activism and decades of community service,” she was a trailblazer in the political scene here in Queens and beyond.” “It is my hope that anytime someone comes down 152nd Street and Union Turnpike, they are reminded of the great legacy she leaves behind.”
    Sengupta’s son Sumit described his mother as “a pioneer for women, educators and underserved as well as emerging immigrant groups. She was “affectionately known as the ‘mother of the community.”
    The family hopes that the street sign will help “New Yorkers and visitors feel the warmth of a mother’s words of encouragement, inspiring them to continue in my mother’s legacy of community development, philanthropic service and progress for society,” he said.
    Sengupta came to New York over 60 years ago with her husband — the late Suprabhat Sengupta — and three children to build a new life.
    She founded a Montessori School that provided high-quality early childhood education and ran in Flushing for over 38 years. She is also remembered for her work in the community in which she diligently worked for Indian Americans to have a voice, access, and equity.
    Sengupta made history in January 2004, by becoming the first Indian American woman to be sworn in as the Democratic Party District Leader of the 25th Assembly District, Part B, in Queens.

  • RANA honors Indian diaspora for selfless services; raises $1.3 million at the annual gala

    At Ganesh Vandana. Seen among others are Padma Bhushan DR Mehta, Prem Bhandari, CJI Randhir Jaiswal, KK Mehta.
    D R Mehta giving award and flowers to Dr Subha Jain on behalf of Dr Vijay Arya Deep Chopra, BOD RANA, and her son.
    Prem Bhandari giving flowers to LP Pant, national head, Dainik Bhaskar.
    Consul General of India, New York, Randhir Jaiswal, givinga plaque to Dr Raj Bansal, Mrs Raj Bansal. RANA joint treasurer Dr Sharad Kothariis giving flowers to Mrs Raj Bansal.
    Dr Sadhna Joshi from Canada being awarded by Dr Varun Jeph, Deputy Counsel General of India, New York.
    Rakesh Goenka of Canada being honored by Rashi Bajaj, Canada RANA President.
    RANA President Prem Bhandari noted the importance of unity among various diaspora communities and organizations in the US andsaid “it is important that all are united in raising their voices against discrimination and hate crimeslike vandalism of the Gandhi statue at the Hindu temple in Queens. He alsopledged to continue his efforts to bring together all Rajasthanis living in different parts of the world.
    Nidhi Ladda and Krupa Patel performed Ganesh Vandana and Mahishasur Mardini.
    Founder of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) Padma Bhushan D.R. Mehta is seen in attendance among other honorable guests.
    Actor Prashantt Guptha, who acted in Neerja Tashkand Files among others, hosted the Gala Event.

    NEW YORK (TIP): The Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA) held its annual gala event in Long Island, where it honored community leaders from the Indian diaspora for their selfless service and contributions to society. The Indian diaspora in the US has risen to the occasion time and again, in the direst circumstances. Some of the community leaders have led by example by giving selflessly for the welfare of fellow diaspora and beyond in need. The Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA),one such organization that has been a reliable source of help, organized an annual gala in Long Island to honor the community members from the Indian diaspora for their service and contributions to society.

    At the grand event, RANA also raised a generous $1.3 million from various community leaders in contribution to various charitable causes such as Jaipur Foot. Founder of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), which is the parent organization of Jaipur Foot USA, Padma Bhushan D.R. Mehta attended the event as the special guest alongside Consul General of India in New York Randhir Jaiswal, IFS, who was the chief guest, Deputy Consul General Varun Jeph as well as prominent members of the Indian-American community, particularly those hailing from Rajasthan. Dr. Samin Sharma, a noted interventional cardiologist at Mt Sinai, was the guest of honor at the event. At the event, D.R. Mehta spoke at length and gave a power point presentation about the charitable work of Jaipur Foot, which is a prosthetic limb provider to the differently-abled for free of cost. With BMVSS at the helm, Jaipur Foot camps have benefitted millions in India and abroad through various camps.

    As a way to show their support and appreciation, many diaspora members made generous contributions to Jaipur Foot USA and other charitable purposes. K K Mehta and Chandra Mehta announced a contribution of $1 million from their family trust and $100,000 in scholarships. KK Mehta was also the first NRI to donate Rs 1 crore on the first day PM Narendra Modi announced the PM CARES Fund, which was at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. RANA president and Jaipur Foot USA Chairman Prem Bhandari, who is also the family trust advisory board chairman, said BMVSS chief patron D.R. Mehta will be advising the trust with respect to utilizing the contribution in the best way possible. Bhandari also praised KK Mehta and Chandra Mehta for offering the Times Square Hotel to Air India pilots and crew members during the second phase of the Vande Bharat mission amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He also hailed the generosity with which 100 rooms were given to distressed Indian students for free at the request of the Indian consulate in NY request during the peak of COVID. Demonstrating yet another peak of generosity, Dr. Raj Bansal pledged to sponsor one Jaipur Foot camp in the memory of his late father. Besides this, Dr. Shubha Jain, a noted philanthropist from California, announced a contribution of $100,000 to RANA for charity purposes, and Anil Jain and Jugal Kishore Ladda also announced contributions of $50,000 each for Jaipur Foot.

    RANA posthumously honored Dharamchand Hirawat, and former RANA presidents Dr. Ajay Lodha and Rajiv Garg with the Lifetime Achievement Award “for their memorable contribution towards society.”

    The association also felicitated prominent diaspora members Dr. Raj Bansal, Dr. Sadhna Joshi, Dr. Shubha Jain and Rakesh Goenka for their contribution to the community over the years, including during the pandemic.

    Bhandari noted the importance of unity among various diaspora communities and organizations in the US. He pointed out that there are many state and community-specific organizations like RANA, Telugu Association of North America (TANA) and Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America (BJANA) GANA Gujrat Association of North America and diaspora organizations like FIA and Associations of Indians In America (AIA). But it is important that all are united in raising their voices against discrimination and hate crimes, he said highlighting the incident of vandalism of the Gandhi statue at the Hindu temple in Queens. “We are all Indians first,” Bhandari said, adding that he will continue efforts to bring together all Rajasthanis living in different parts of the world. On the sidelines of the gala event, Prem Bhandari praised International Business Times and said that “IBT is not like other international newspapers that are unable to digest India’s progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” He condemned such international news outlets while criticizing their efforts to “spoil India’s image by the means of fake news.” The RANA gala turned out to be an engaging event, complete with cultural performances showcasing Rajasthan’s heritage as well as songs by prominent artists from India. A group of RANA members’ wives also performed Rajasthan’s traditional Ghoomar dance at the event, which enthralled the audience. Nidhi Ladha and Kripa Patel did Ganesh Vandana and performed the Mahishasura Mardini dance.

    At the event, a Hindi newspaper and a TV channel were also awarded for their coverage of social concerns, COVID-19 updates, the Ukraine crisis, and issues related to immigrants. The entire event was hosted by the talented Prashantt Guptha, a Rajasthan-origin actor, producer and writer. He kept the proceedings of the event interesting, keeping the audience occupied in the most fun and entertaining way.

    (Based on a press release by RANA)

  • Highly Acclaimed Violinist Pandit Dr. L Subramaniam Performs a Traditional Indian Concert at Sri Chinmoy Centre , New York

    Highly Acclaimed Violinist Pandit Dr. L Subramaniam Performs a Traditional Indian Concert at Sri Chinmoy Centre , New York

    At the Sri Chinmoy Aspiration-Ground Temple Gardens in Queens, New York,an international choir led by British musician Sahadeva Torpy performs his
    arrangement of songs composed by Sri Chinmoy to celebrate the 75th Anniversary ofIndia’s Independence, including the famed Indian independence cry, Vande Mataram!
    Mr Randhir Jaiswal, Consul General of India in NY, Ms. Ranjana Ghose, and guest Mrs. Nilanjana Kaviraj in front of paintings by Sri Chinmoy.

    QUEENS,  NY(TIP): India’s foremost virtuoso violinist and composer, Dr. L. Subramaniam, dazzled a capacity audience in a performance by invitation only assembled at the Sri Chinmoy Centre’s beatific gardens in Queens, New York last night as he performed most beautiful traditional ragas. The Indian Consul General in New York Randhir Jaiswal offered a thought-provoking introduction to the programme, surrounded by elaborate decorations highlighting the Sri Chinmoy Centre’s dedication to India’s 75th year of Independence. The programme was hosted by the Sri Chinmoy Centre. As a prelude to Dr. Subramaniam’s stellar performance, an international choir of 35 singers performed under the direction of British musician Sahadeva Torpy.  The arrangements were of several of Sri Chinmoy’s compositions devoted to the revered and respected freedom-fighters of India’s past. The pieces included “Vande Mataram, Mother I Bow to Thee”, “Bharat Mata” and a Krishna bhajan. The spectacular event welcomed friends of the Sri Chinmoy Centre as well as invited guests and was introduced by Ms. Ranjana Ghose, President of the Board of Directors of the Sri Chinmoy Centre and a long-time friend of Dr. L. Subramaniam and Smt. Kavita Krishnamurthy Subramaniam. .

    The beautiful venue of the Aspiration-Ground Temple Gardens was exquisitely decorated in tribute to Mother India. During his lifetime (1931-2007), Sri Chinmoy had always observed the August 15th anniversary of Mother India’s independence in some significant way. In 1997, Sri Chinmoy had performed 50 peace concerts in various places around the world honoring Mother India. As well, he had written books of poetry in dedication to India and painted paintings dedicated to the soul of India. About his beloved Mother India, Sri Chinmoy had written:

    “The sons and daughters of India are arising again
    With incantation-fire.
    The deep and sonorous notes are being played
    To invoke Mother India.
    To India the world shall offer its salutation.
    Once again India’s Victory shall be proclaimed.
    We are the soldiers of light
    And the worshippers of the Fire-God.
    Away we shall chase world-fear.
    India, India, in this great land of Mother India,
    Before long the Peace of the Beyond shall reign supreme.
    Falsehood and emptiness forever shall end.
    Beauty’s light and delight shall blossom, grow and sport
    In the love of India’s heart.”
    ( Sri Chinmoy, India, My India, Mother India’s Summit-Prides, Agni Press, 1997)

  • Richmond Hill, Ozone Park (Little Guyana, India and Bangladesh), celebrate historic election of Albert Baldeo as District Leader in Queens

    Richmond Hill, Ozone Park (Little Guyana, India and Bangladesh), celebrate historic election of Albert Baldeo as District Leader in Queens

    Comeback hailed as triumph of good over evil

    RICHMOND HILL, NY  (TIP): Albert Baldeo brought triumph, inspiration and pride to the large South Asian and Indo-Caribbean population in Queens at the last elections. Baldeo, who came the closest to winning a State Senate seat when he was declared the new Senator, but which decision was later reversed to “narrow defeat by 500 votes,” overnight, in 2006, proved that he is still the leading voice and power broker from that community that was built by the blood, sweat and tears of immigrants that share a common heritage.

    Mr. Baldeo is well-known for his efforts to return and preserve democracy in Guyana recently, and successfully appealed to then US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, about the hijack of democracy and the need to restore democracy and law and order in Guyana, his native country. “We will continue to monitor democracy, peace and public safety in India, Bangladesh, Trinidad and Guyana also, foster more cooperation between the Indian subcontinent, the Caribbean and the Diaspora, while uplifting the lives of everyone living in the US,” Baldeo said.

    Baldeo also created history by becoming the first person ever elected District Leader twice, in two different Assembly Districts, AD 38 (2008), and AD 24 (2022). A passionate, respected and accomplished advocate and civil rights leader, and prominent, retired attorney, his triumph has been welcomed across the district as a fighter, champion and hero. His success was attained without any institutional help from the status quo. His success is even more impressive when one considers that his community was gerrymandered into 4 different Assembly Districts, which dilutes their votes and their voices. Baldeo proved that voters are fed up with politics as usual, and want genuine grassroots representatives, like him, to represent them, to further their interests, and speed up the recovery process.

    His rise inspires others who have been unfairly victimized, suppressed and discriminated by an imperfect judicial system, and marginalized from the mainstream of American politics, dreams and life. “Albert Baldeo’s history is about rising up back from injustice and discrimination, a legacy that will motivate others who have been targeted by an imperfect American system. From being the youngest Magistrate and Senior State Counsel ever in the Commonwealth, to twice elected District Leader, he is a beacon of encouragement to others.” Clearly inspired that Baldeo has returned at the helm, they said, “We know Albert Baldeo will be a strong, courageous voice for our communities as he retakes his seat in the table of government, the Queens County Democratic Organization, and in the corridors of power. Our communities will definitely be represented at all levels of power and leadership. This is also a reminder that good will always triumph over evil, and that you can’t keep good people down.”

  • BROOKLYN MAN SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO SEX TRAFFICKING A TEEN GIRL

    QUEENS, NY (TIP): Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on June 1, that Jordan Adderley, 32, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to sex trafficking of a child, rape and other crimes.
    The defendant profited from the prostitution of a 16-year-old girl whom he drove to various hotels, including the now-closed Umbrella Hotel in Kew Gardens, to have sex with male customers in exchange for cash. The victim engaged in prostitution acts between September and October of 2020.

    District Attorney Katz said, “This defendant lined his pockets with the money the victim made performing sex acts on strangers. Sex trafficking is a degrading industry that has caused irreparable harm to this young teenager. Although we cannot undo the trauma, we are holding this defendant accountable, and he will now spend time behind bars for his egregious actions.” Adderley, of Watkins Street in Brooklyn, pleaded guilty last month to sex trafficking of a child, sex trafficking, rape in the third degree, criminal sex act in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. Supreme Court Justice Peter Vallone, Jr. yesterday sentenced the defendant to a determinate term of eight years in prison, to be followed by five years’ post-release supervision. The defendant will also be required to register as a sex offender.

    According to Court records, the defendant met the victim, who was a runaway teenager, in September 2020. He manipulated the youngster into thinking he would help her find freedom. Adderley rented a room at the Hillcrest Hotel in Queens and taught the victim how to sell her body for cash. The defendant also had sexual intercourse and oral sex with the teenager, who was nearly half his age. The defendant’s orchestrated a trip to the now-shuttered Umbrella Hotel on Queens Boulevard, where an undercover New York Police Department team rescued the child. The defendant was discovered by police outside the hotel in his car waiting for the victim. During the arrest, police recovered dozens of glassines of cocaine.

    Assistant District Attorney Kiran Cheema, of the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Bureau, prosecuted the case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Jessica Melton, Bureau Chief, Assistant District Attorney Tara DiGregorio, Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Gerard A. Brave.

  • As Omicron Variant Cases Pop Up in U.S., Officials Launch Efforts to Prevent COVID Surges

    As Omicron Variant Cases Pop Up in U.S., Officials Launch Efforts to Prevent COVID Surges

    New York officials said five cases were detected in City and Long Island

    NEW YORK (TIP): As scientists identify cases of COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant in the United States, officials at all levels are working to prevent renewed surges of the virus as the holiday season moves along. On Thursday, December 2 alone, omicron variant cases of the virus were reported in several U.S. states, including New York, Minnesota, Colorado and Hawaii. While none of the cases have been confirmed in the state of Illinois, doctors and officials in the state say it is only a matter of time before the new variant makes its way to the Land of Lincoln.

    At the federal level, President Joe Biden unveiled a new winter plan to combat coronavirus, aiming to require health insurers to reimburse customers for the cost of at-home COVID tests and extending the mask mandate on public transportation through at least mid-March. Beginning next week, the Biden administration announced that all international travelers will be required to test negative for COVID-19 within 24 hours of their departure for the United States. “We will fight with science…not chaos and confusion,” he said. The administration also announced additional steps to encourage families to get COVID vaccines and boosters together, and to expand testing capabilities as cases increase around the country. Dr. Alfredo Menalora, an infectious disease specialist at Chicago’s St. Anthony Hospital, applauded the moves. “These are all very essential things, and are part of a robust intervention to mitigate the spread of the virus in general,” he said. Menalora says that doctors in the U.S. still are working to learn more information against the new omicron variant of the virus, studying whether it is more contagious than its predecessors, whether it causes more severe illness, and whether current vaccines work against it. “There’s mutations in the spike proteins, which is where our vaccines work,” he said.

    Officials are continuing to urge residents to get vaccinated and to get boosters, with all residents 18 and older now eligible to receive booster shots six months after receiving their second dose of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, and two months after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The news comes as Illinois copes with an increase in COVID cases, reporting more than 11,000 new confirmed and probable cases in the last 24 hours along. The uptick in cases was the biggest single day increase since Dec. 2020, and officials say positivity rates and hospitalizations are on the rise as the holiday season continues. New York officials have confirmed five cases of the omicron Covid-19 variant in the New York City metropolitan area, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced late Thursday, December 2 hours after cases were detected in Minnesota and Colorado. One case was discovered in Suffolk County on Long Island and four New York City: two in Queens, one in Brooklyn and another in the city, she said at a press briefing. Minnesota health authorities confirmed the second U.S. case of the omicron Covid variant earlier Thursday, in a resident who recently returned from New York City. New York City Health Commissioner David Chokshi said the cases indicated that omicron was spreading throughout the community, not just in travelers. Gov. Hochul assured residents that the discovery of omicron cases in New York doesn’t mean she will call for widespread lockdowns.

  • Indian American Felicia Singh in historic battle in Queens Council District 32

    Indian American Felicia Singh in historic battle in Queens Council District 32

    QUEENS, NY (TIP): Felicia Singh, the first Guyanese and Punjabi person to win the Democratic Party primary in Queens Council District 32, is joining the battle for the prestigious seat to center equity and justice in the community. She will square off with Queens Republican Party Chairwoman Joann Ariola on Nov. 2 in the district which includes parts of the Rockaway peninsula, Howard Beach, Belle Harbor, Woodhaven, and South Ozone Park. Kenichi Wilson, chair of Queens Community Board 9, is also running on the Community First line. The growing South Asian and Indo-Caribbean population in the district has been largely excluded from local politics, Singh, a teacher told the local City Limits, and has not benefited from the status quo. “A lot of our community members have felt erased in the way that they’ve received services from the city,” she was quoted as saying.

    “The thing that I envision the most about winning this election and what I hope we’re able to give back to our community is centering equity and justice in District 32.” The election for District 32, one of the most contentious races on the November general election ballot, is set to be “historic.”

    “No matter what the outcome is in the 32nd, a woman will be going from the 32nd to City Hall,” Ariola, who is from Howard Beach, told City Limits.

    “I’m running in one of the most competitive general elections in the city,” Singh, who has netted endorsements from both the New York Working Families Party, the Sunrise Movement, and many labor unions, was quoted as saying in a recent interview. “In fact, it’s probably more competitive than the mayoral election.”

    Democrats still heavily outnumber Republicans in Queens, with 807,187 active members across the borough.

    And Singh, a lifelong resident of Ozone Park who would be the first South Asian representative in the Council, has pulled in more in contributions, campaign finance records show, with $74,965. Ariola has raised $43,231.

    Several weeks ahead of the start of early voting, both candidates said they are focused on what is at stake: An ethnically and culturally diverse district, one uniquely vulnerable to the accelerating impacts of climate change. Affordable housing, education, infrastructure and resiliency are critical voter concerns, both agreed, according to City Limits. The two lifelong residents of the district differ on their priorities, however.

    Singh has backed reallocating at least $1 billion from the NYPD, money to be redistributed to “social services, youth development, and ensuring every person has a safe and dignified place to live.”

    Ariola, on the other hand, said that public safety is one of the most important issues facing the district.

    “One of the other differences between my opponent and myself, is that I’m more community-based and motivated when choosing a position on a particular issue, where my opponent really kind of follows the leader on the movement,” she said.

    Ariola has also criticized Singh’s support of extending municipal voting privileges to lawful permanent residents who live in the city, calling Singh, who testified in support of the measure, a “radical.”

    “Voting is a sacred right that must remain tied to citizenship,” Ariola said in a Sept. 21 press release. “This bill would chip away at the value of citizenship and the incentive for new Americans to make the commitment to become citizens. Not surprisingly, my radical opponent wants this and testified in favor of it in the Council hearing.”

    Singh called Ariola’s “radical” comments “ironic.” “What’s heartbreaking about what my opponent said about non-citizens, and calling me a ‘radical,’ is that she goes to spaces where non-citizens celebrate, and pray, and live and have small businesses,” Singh said. “And she asks them for their vote. And that is heartbreaking to me, and actually disrespectful, because now she’s calling me a radical for wanting those same people to support her, to be able to participate in municipal elections. So, it’s ironic and hypocritical.”

    “I’m the first Guyanese and Punjabi person to win the Democratic primary for City Council,” Singh added. “Our communities have run before but we’ve never won a primary. This is a really huge race in so many ways.”

    (Source: City Limits)

     

  • Queens Borough President Richards condemns “reprehensible” acts anti-Asian and anti-Semitic hate in parts of Queens

    Queens Borough President Richards condemns “reprehensible” acts anti-Asian and anti-Semitic hate in parts of Queens

    QUEENS, NY(TIP): Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. has condemned the anti-Asian, anti-Semitic and other recent hateful bias incidents, such as those reported in Flushing, Astoria and Rego Park. “These disgusting acts of anti-Asian and anti-Semitic hate were reprehensible, and those who committed them should be held accountable to the fullest extent possible,” said Borough President RICHARDS. “Racism and anti-Semitism are never acceptable, especially here in The World’s Borough where we take pride in our great diversity. The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force, the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes and the New York City Commission on Human Rights must continue to undertake a coordinated approach on these issues, and my office is ready to lean in and partner with our colleagues in City government on this effort. Queens residents should also be vigilant in reporting and speaking out against such acts of hatred and in showing support for our neighbors when they are attacked.  None of us should ever be made to feel unsafe or unwelcome in our own community”, Richards said.

  • Indian American Kash Patel named Chief of Staff to Acting US Defense Secretary 

    Indian American Kash Patel named Chief of Staff to Acting US Defense Secretary 

    WASHINGTON (TIP):  (TIP): Indian American Kash Patel has been named as the Chief of Staff to the Acting US Defense Secretary Chris Miller, the Pentagon has announced.

    The new appointment from the Pentagon comes a day after Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper and designated the National Counter Terrorism Center Director, Chris Miller, as the Acting Secretary of Defense. Chris Miller took over the functions and responsibilities of the new role on Monday, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

    Kash Patel, currently on the National Security Council staff, has been named by Acting Secretary Chris Miller as his Chief of Staff, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday. He replaces Jen Stewart, who resigned earlier in the day. Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. James Anderson, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security Joseph Kernan have submitted letters of resignation. Kashyap Pramod Patel, popularly known as Kash Patel, had previously served as senior counsel for counterterrorism at the House Permanent Select Committee.

    In June 2019, Patel, 39, was appointed as senior director of Counter-terrorism Directorate of the National Security Council (NSC) in the White House.

    New York-born Kash Patel has his roots in Gujarat. However, his parents are from East Africa mother from Tanzania and father from Uganda. They came to the US from Canada in 1970. The family moved to Queens in New York which is often called as Little India – in the late 70s.

    After his schooling in New York and college in Richmond, Virginia, and law school in New York, Kash Patel went to Florida where he was a state public defender for four years and then federal public defender for another four years.

    From Florida, he moved to Washington DC as a terrorism prosecutor at the Department of Justice. Here he was an international terrorism prosecutor for about three and a half years. During this period, he worked on cases all over the world, in America in East Africa as well as in Uganda and Kenya. While still employed by the Department of Justice, he went as a civilian to join Special Operations Command at the Department of Defense.

    At the Pentagon, he sat as the Department of Justice’s lawyer with Special Forces people and worked inter-agency collaborative targeting operations around the world.

    After a year in this sensitive position, Congressman Davin Nunes, Chairman of the House Permanent Select on Intelligence Committee, pulled him as senior counsel on counterterrorism.

     

  • DIWALI 2020

    Tom Suozzi US Representative
    NY 3rd District

    “Diwali Mubarak to all those who are celebrating this great festival on Long Island, in Queens, across the United States, and around the world. May we all join together in spirit to celebrate the triumph of good over evil and remember the importance of helping the less fortunate during these unprecedented times. While this year’s celebration may look a little different, we can still come together virtually with loved ones and friends over Zoom, Skype, and Facetime to celebrate new beginning.Over the years, I have had the chance to be a part of many Diwali celebrations to honor this great tradition. It is always a wonderful time filled with amazing food and the company of good friends. To all my friends in the Indian American community and others who are celebrating, I wish you all a very happy and blessed Diwali, and Naya Saal Mubarak!”

  • Indian American lawyer becomes first South Asian woman to be elected to New York State Assembly

    Indian American lawyer becomes first South Asian woman to be elected to New York State Assembly

    NEW YORK (TIP) : A 38-year-old Indian-American lawyer has become the first South Asian woman to be elected to the New York State Assembly. Jenifer Rajkumar, a Democrat, defeated her Republican rival Giovanni Perna.
    “Congratulations to @JeniferRajkumar on becoming the first South Asian woman elected to NY state office! Jenifer is a longtime public servant and legal advocate, and we know she’ll be a strong advocate for South Asian voices in Albany,” the Indian American Impact Fund tweeted on Wednesday.  Rajkumar, a Stanford-educated lawyer and an immigrant rights advocate, will represent New York City in the New York State Assembly, representing the 38th Assembly district, which includes Woodhaven, Ridgewood, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and Glendale. The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the NY state legislature, the state Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. Rajkumar is a lawyer and a professor at the City University of New York. She is also a former New York state government official. According to her profile on her website, Rajkumar has early roots in public service. Her parents immigrated to the United States from India and settled in the Queens neighborhood of New York. She serves on the Legal Advisory Council of Sanctuary for Families, New York City’s leading service provider and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and related forms of gender violence. She has spoken on public interest law and policy at Stanford Law School, CUNY Law School and Harvard Law School.
    In 2015 and 2016, Rajkumar was selected to Super Lawyers’ New York-Metro Rising Stars List, a recognition given to no more than 2.5 per cent of the lawyers in New York. Her profile said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had appointed her as the Director of Immigration Affairs and Special Counsel for New York state.

  • Queens Borough President Lee’s Initiative to Expand Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners

    Queens Borough President Lee’s Initiative to Expand Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners

    More than Doubles Current 26 SANE Nurses dedicated to Queens

    Adds 10 More Language Proficiencies of SANE Nurses Across 7 Queens Hospitals

    QUEENS, NY (TIP): Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee  announced, October 29,  an initiative to expand the number, language proficiencies and breadth of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) nurses across Queens hospitals. With this initiative to enhance the accessibility of the critical, sensitive care and expertise sexual assault survivors need, there will be at least 54 SANE nurses covering 14 languages across seven of the borough’s nine hospitals by September 2021. “Specialized, sensitive forensic care can make all the difference in the immediate aftermath of rape and/or sexual assault, not just in the ultimate pursuit of justice but in the survivor’s own agency and power,” said Borough President LEE. “It is our intent with this initiative to more than double the number of SANE nurses dedicated to Queens by this time next year, and to especially expand the multi-lingual pool of SANE nurses here in the World’s Borough. Queens thanks our committed partners in this shared mission to enhance the accessibility of this specialized expertise to care for and strengthen the Borough of Families.”

    The initiative will more than double the current 26 specialized SANE nurses — registered nurses specifically trained to provide comprehensive medical forensic care for survivors of sexual assault or abuse — who work exclusively across just four Queens hospitals, only some of whom speak Spanish, Chinese and/or Korean.

    The initiative will further expand the language accessibility of Queens’ SANE nurses by training nurses proficient or fluent in the following languages in addition to English: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Korean, Nepali, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Urdu.

    Read full story at www.theindianpanorama.news

    Borough President Lee’s funding will pay for the specialized SANE training of 15 of the 28 additional certified nurses, who will complete the SANE training by September 2021. The 28 SANE nurses will be trained at either the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault or Hofstra University.

     “NYSNA applauds the Queens Borough President’s initiative to fund more nurses to be trained as certified S.A.N.E. (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) nurses,” said New York State Nursing Association (NYSNA) Board Member TRACEY KAVANAGH, RN. “Addressing the serious public health issue of sexual violence requires specialized training and expertise. Certified S.A.N.E. nurses are equipped to properly handle the emotional and physical needs of survivors, as well as maintain the integrity of evidence. NYSNA is proud to provide care and support to our community and survivors of abuse and violence.”

    “The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault is a leading voice for supporting survivors of sex crimes and preventing sexual violence. Central to its mission is the Alliance’s Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Training Institute, the largest New York State Department of Health and International Association for Forensic Nurses-certified training program for emergency department and medical professionals in New York State,” said New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault Director of Intervention Programs SARA ZAIDI. “The 40-hour SAFE training provides nurses with the skills necessary to perform a trauma-informed forensic exam on sexual assault survivors, critical to beginning their healing journey. The Alliance is thrilled to support this initiative; it will enhance the quality of care provided to the Queens’ residents when they come to the Emergency Department in the most unfortunate of circumstances.”

     “We are thrilled that the Queens Borough President’s Office is spearheading the expansion of the SANE program across seven hospitals in Queens, greatly expanding the capacity of these hospitals to provide trauma informed, forensic health services to survivors of sexual violence,” said Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Commissioner CECILE NOEL. “Survivors need us now more than ever in these extraordinary times. This program expansion is vital to ensuring survivors of sexual violence are treated by well trained nurses who can effectively support and connect them to critically important resources. We look forward to working collaboratively with the Queens Borough President’s Office and the local hospitals to raise awareness about this program expansion and connect survivors to services.”

     “We thank Borough President Sharon Lee for helping NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens expand our efforts to provide competent and compassionate care to the victims of sexual assault,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens Interim Chief Executive Officer DEAN MIHALTSES. “Our highly skilled healthcare professionals are proud to serve some of the most diverse neighborhoods in New York City. The addition of multilingual SANE nurse practitioners will strengthen our hospital’s existing language access services, and augment our overall strategy to eliminate treatment disparities for patients with limited English proficiency.”

    “NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst’s Department of Nursing is excited to participate in the SANE program and expand our hospital’s services for sexual assault victims,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Chief Nursing Officer JOANN GULL, RN. “We look forward having our Nurse Practitioners trained to do comprehensive forensic sexual assault exams that can lead to better outcomes for patients and the prosecution of offenders.”

     “NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst’s SART program (Sexual Assault Response Team) is proud to collaborate with our Nursing Department to help victims of sexual assault deal with the complex medical, emotional, and legal issues that arise during these cases,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Emergency Medicine Department Director DR. STUART KESSLER. “Training and integrating Nurse Practitioners into our SART team will further enhance the care we provide to patients in our community who have been sexually assaulted.”

     “We are pleased to partner with the Queens Borough’s President Office on this important initiative for specially trained nurses who meet a critical community need,” said Northwell Health Executive Vice President and Chief Learning Officer and Hofstra/Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies Founding Dean KATHLEEN GALLO, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN. “Thanks to a federal grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Hofstra has already established itself as a leader in SANE education with the state’s first and only university- and health system-based program.”

    “St. John’s Episcopal Hospital is grateful for the Queens Borough President’s consistent support and funding for this much needed certification,” said St. John’s Episcopal Hospital Vice President of External Affairs RENEE HASTICK-MOTES, MPA. “As the only hospital on the Rockaway Peninsula that provides emergency care, this certification will enhance our ability to ensure that we are meeting the needs of every patient who walks through our doors.”

     “NewYork-Presbyterian Queens is proud to partner with the Queens Borough President and our neighboring healthcare providers on this important initiative,” said NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer ALAN LEVIN, MSN, MBA, RN, CPHQ, NEA-BC. “This program is another example of our exceptional nurses’ commitment to providing the highest quality and most compassionate care to the people of Queens.”

     “We are so grateful to the Queens Borough President’s Office for supporting our Emergency Department and helping us be more prepared for victims and survivors of sexual assault,” said Mount Sinai Queens Senior Director of Nursing JONATHAN NOVER, MBA, RN. “Our ED has and will always be here to serve our community. Your support is invaluable and it will strengthen our mission.”

     The Mount Sinai Health System currently employs nine SANE nurses and two SANE nurse practitioners, along with other associated medical personnel, who rotate through its facilities, including Mount Sinai Queens, as part of its Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program.

  • Engage South Asian Community in Run up to 2020 Census: Congresswoman Grace Meng Urges Census Bureau

    Engage South Asian Community in Run up to 2020 Census: Congresswoman Grace Meng Urges Census Bureau

    NEW YORK (TIP): U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) announced that she sent a letter to U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham urging him to include the South Asian community in the Census Bureau’s outreach leading up to the 2020 Decennial Census.

    The Census Bureau—through its 2020 Census Paid Media Campaign—is presently conducting outreach in English and numerous other languages including: Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Tagalog, Polish, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and Japanese. But the South Asian population is not included despite growing in size from 3.5 million in 2010 to approximately 5.4 million today.

    “I’m shocked that the Census Bureau failed to include the South Asian community in its outreach leading up to the 2020 Decennial Census,” said Congresswoman Meng. “There are approximately 5.4 million South Asians currently residing in the United States, including many in my Congressional district in Queens, and I cannot emphasize enough how imperative it is that we have an accurate count of all living individuals. Director Dillingham must correct this error and immediately include the South Asian population. We have less than a year before the census begins on April 1, 2020.”

    “Communities and neighborhoods across the nation have a lot to lose if we fail to engage the South Asian community in our census outreach,” said Jo-Ann Yoo, Executive Director of the Asian American Federation. “Our census media efforts must reflect the future we want for our country which requires us to go beyond the bare minimum to achieving full inclusion in our outreach. We must make every effort to ensure that everyone counts!”

  • Melinda Katz ahead of her Rivals in winning Endorsements in Queens DA Race

    Melinda Katz ahead of her Rivals in winning Endorsements in Queens DA Race

    QUEENS, NY (TIP): Endorsements of political organizations, labor unions and elected officials are sure to help signal to voters what kind of candidate they’ll be casting their ballot for on Tuesday, June 25.

    Melinda Katz seems to be far ahead of her rivals in winning endorsements.

    Among Organizations, she has got endorsements from Hum Hindustani, The Indian Panorama, Jamaica Bangladesh Friends Society, National Organization for Women – NYC and Brooklyn-Queens, New American Voters Association, Queens County Democratic Party, South Asian Democratic Alliance

    Labor has endorsed her in a big way with endorsements pouring in from  32BJ SEIU, Alliance of South Asian American Labor, CWA Local 1180, International Union of Elevator Constructors Local One, Mason Tenders District Council, New York Hotel Trades Council, New York State Laborers, SMART Transportation Division, Teamsters Local 237, TWU Local 100, Uniformed EMT’s Paramedics and Fire Inspectors Local 2507, Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York, Uniformed Fire Officers Association Local 854

    Melinda has solid backing from Public figures. Those who have endorsed her include  Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Gregory Meeks and Tom Suozzi; state Sens. Joe Addabbo and Leroy Comrie; Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie; Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.; Assembly members Jeffrion Aubry, Vivian Cook, Andrew Hevesi, Alicia Hyndman, Stacey Pheffer Amato and David Weprin; New York City Council members Adrienne Adams, Peter Koo, I. Daneek Miller, Donovan Richards and Paul Vallone; activist Kirsten John Foy.

    It appears to be a good going for Melinda who has left no stone unturned to reach out to voters for the June 25 Primary.

  • Queens Indian American community extends a reception to Melinda Katz

    Queens Indian American community extends a reception to Melinda Katz

    RICHMOND HILL, NY(TIP): The Queens Indian American community organized a reception to Melinda Katz, the Queens Borough President who is completing two terms this year.

    Melinda is now eying the post of District Attorney of Queens. It was a public relations exercise for Melinda who is admired for her work, in particular by the Punjabi community.

    Jarnail Singh Gilzian and Melinda Katz

    A Punjabi community leader Jarnail Singh Gilzian who owns the famous banquet and Restaurant Richie Rich in Richmond Hill hosted the reception which was attended by a large number of community leaders from Queens and Long Island.

    The more prominent amongst them who also spoke on the occasion included Mohinder Singh Gilzian, President of Indian Overseas Congress, Harbans Singh Dhillon, former Election Commissioner, Gurdwara Sikh Cultural Society, Harpreet Singh Toor, former Chairman, Gurdwara Sikh Cultural Society, Satnam Singh Parhar, Former President, India Association of Long Island, and Bhinda Begowalia, President of Begowal Society. Each speaker spoke highly of Melinda and pledged support in her bid for District Attorney of Queens.

    Melinda Katz addresses the gathering. Seen to her right is Jarnail Singh Gilzian

    Speaking on the occasion, Melinda spoke of her work as Queens Borough President. She pledged her support to the community which had always supported her. She thanked Jarnail Singh Gilzian for organizing a reception to enable her to reach out to a large number of her supporters and voters.

    Sections of the gathering
    Sections of the gathering
    Sections of the gathering
    Sections of the gathering

    Earlier, on her arrival, Melinda was welcomed with a bouquet presented to her by Jarnail Singh Gilzian’s family.

    During her more than an hour- stay, Melinda went around meeting everyone individually and obliging them with photographs.

    Melinda Katz poses for a photograph with community leaders
    Gilzian family with Melinda

    Prof. Indrajit Saluja emceed the event.

     

     

     

     

  • Yes, a D.J. Can Make a Difference!

    Yes, a D.J. Can Make a Difference!

    RICHMOND HILL, NY: Loud music and wild parties are probably what comes to mind when we hear the words disc jockey (DJ).  Sukhjinder Singh is not one to argue against that, having worked as the DJ in the successful Punjabi Mela concert in New York last May.  But try asking South Richmond Hill residents and they will be quick to say that Sukhjinder is not your ordinary DJ.  DJ Sukhjinder is more than loud music and wild parties.  DJ Sukhjinder is also all heart.

    Born in Bholath, a town in Kapurthala district in the state of Punjab, India, DJ Sukhjinder went to the U.S. in 2000 on his own search of the American dream – good job, nice house and car, family, and plenty of money.  But the American dream did not come easy to the then 18-year old DJ Sukhjinder. “I did all kinds of jobs. I worked whatever job I could get – in restaurants, construction, you name it. I was earning only $80 to $90 a day.  Taxi work was not available at that time.”

    For years, DJ Sukhjinder tirelessly worked multiple jobs, but without losing sight of his goal – having his own business.  Then in 2012, DJ Sukhjinder opened his very own CD/DVD store in South Richmond Hill, NY. And his formula for success: Service.  As inspired by his personal experience as an unhappy customer.  “I needed a new SIM card for my phone.  The guy at the store was charging me $10 to swap SIM cards!  When all he needed to do was to pick up the cellphone and change the SIM cards.  From there I ventured into the cellphone business as well.  And never did I take money for changing a SIM card!”

    Since then, DJ Sukhjinder has dedicated himself to helping make things easier for the South Richmond Hill community.  To this end, DJ Sukhjinder now offers DJ, photography, videography services and financial services in his CD/DVD store.  DJ Sukhjinder processes international money transfers, domestic money orders, and bill payments.  For all these, DJ Sukhjinder has partnered exclusively with RIA Money Transfer: “RIA is great!  They have competitive fees, best rates, and extra mile service.

    DJ Sukhjinder continues, “With RIA’s money transfer service, I have yet to hear a customer complaining that money was not received.  Instead, customers are happy that loved ones don’t have to go out of their villages to get the money.  To them RIA is reliable and convenient.  And because customers are happy with RIA, I am happy with RIA.”

    Visit DJ Sukhjinder at his Ria location, 116-01 101st Ave, South Richmond Hill, NY.  He is currently offering fee-free bill payments to all new and existing customers.

     

     

     

  • KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WEEK: CLOSING CASES, OPENING DOORS-August 6-10, 2018

    KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WEEK: CLOSING CASES, OPENING DOORS-August 6-10, 2018

    QUEENS, NY (TIP): Borough President Melinda Katz and the Legal Aid Society announced details of their upcoming “Know Your Rights Week: Closing Cases, Opening Doors”, a week-long series of public legal workshops between August 6-10 in various neighborhoods throughout Queens. Participants can access free, confidential advice from lawyers on ways to alleviate unnecessary barriers to employment and economic opportunity, including applications to seal their non-violent criminal conviction records, cleaning up rap sheets, and obtaining Certificates of Relief and Good Conduct.

    “If you’ve proven that you’ve turned your life around and are making good, the burden of a past non-violent mistake should not ruin or impede your future opportunities for the rest of your life,” Borough President KATZ said. “Second chances and social justice reform are an integral part of New York values. This is about eliminating barriers to employment and economic opportunity, reducing recidivism rates and breaking the cycle. Our hope and aim with ‘Know Your Rights Weeks’ is to bolster public awareness and connect eligible New Yorkers with free legal assistance and, ultimately, relief. The tireless efforts on the part of our community partners – and especially the Legal Aid Society – to equip and empower New Yorkers of their rights have a direct impact on building a better future for the growing families of Queens.”

    “Everyone deserves a second chance, and that includes a genuine opportunity to seal dated convictions that jeopardize housing, employment and other livelihoods,” said TINA LUONGO, Attorney-In-Charge of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society. “We’re proud to partner with Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and many community based partner organizations for ‘Know Your Rights Week’. Providing services and critical knowledge of the law to communities throughout this City is the key work of our Community Justice Unit and the core mission of everyone at The Legal Aid Society.

    Any criminal conviction can significantly hinder a person’s ability to secure employment, housing, financial aid, professional licenses and numerous other rights and benefits. New York’s conviction sealing law* is based on the belief that non-violent offenders who have turned their lives around for the better should no longer have to bear the stigma of a conviction or face unnecessary barriers to opportunity and employment.

    The new law went into effect on October 7, 2017 after Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation into law in April 2017. According to news reports, court officials believe that as many as 600,000 people in New York State could be eligible to seal their convictions, but as of May 2018, only 346 people statewide had their convictions sealed.

    The August 2018 “Know Your Rights Week: Closing Cases, Opening Doors” is in partnership with 696 Build Queensbridge, LIFE Camp, Inc., Sheltering Arms NY – Rock Safe Streets, Transitional Services for New York, Inc. and the Queens Library. The week is part of Borough President Katz’s slate of “Know Your Rights Weeks” and a continuation of her long-running partnership with the borough’s legal professionals to expand services across communities. All services and legal consultations provided during the week are free and confidential; RSVP is recommended but walk-ins are welcome.

    Borough President Katz has partnered with attorneys for several years to provide legal services at various Resource Fairs; as demands and needs increased, Borough President Katz launched her “Know Your Rights Week” initiative. The June 2018 series featured workshops and clinics focused on immigration; upcoming scheduled series include another week of “Closing Cases, Opening Doors” in September 2018, and on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in October 2018.

    “The 696 Build Queensbridge team whole heartedly supports having The Legal Aid Society’s ‘Case Closed’ Program coming into Queensbridge,” said K. BAIN, Founding Director 696 Build Queensbridge. “We believe that this program will open doors that were previously shut off to those who have fallen victim to the criminal justice system. In a society where mass incarceration and the privatization of prisons appear to be driving the economy one’s record being sealed for any person who has not committed a crime in 10 years and has no more than 2 convictions can make all the difference by bettering your chances at advancing your career, obtaining housing, and gaining access to resources. Additionally, this human justice approach to twos legal reform can be used to heal, low income communities of color, like ours, who have been targeted by biased policing and institutional discrimination and systemic oppression. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with The Legal Aid Society that promotes the livelihood of all members in our communities, especially those who have been left behind for far too long.”

    “This program is giving people an opportunity to start over and get a second chance,” said ERICA FORD, LIFE Camp, Inc. “Investing into our communities is very important and I am glad to be a part of this process.”

    “Rock Safe Streets is excited to partner with the Queens Borough President to help the Far Rockaway community get their cases sealed,” said MOUSTAFA SHAKUR of Sheltering Arms NY – Rock Safe Streets.

    “We are proud to partner with the Borough President to present the opportunities that exist to free confidential resources to help get a second chance in their lives,” said LARRY S. GRUBLER, PSY.D., CEO of Transitional Services for New York, Inc. “Everyone needs an opportunity to transition from a point in their life where they need a lot of support to a point in their life where they need less support. Without this knowledge it is hard to move forward.”

    “We are grateful to Queens Borough President Katz for offering our patrons and the public access to legal assistance that may not be otherwise available to them to seal their convictions and help them be successful in their lives,” said DENNIS M. WALCOTT, Queens Library President and CEO. “The ‘Know Your Rights’ workshops have proven to be invaluable to individuals who have participated in them at our libraries to date and we look forward to working with Borough President Katz to bring more of them to our libraries.”

    *About New York’s Conviction Sealing Law

    The law applies only to specific – predominantly non-violent – crimes; convictions for sex offenses and class A and violent felonies cannot be sealed pursuant to this law. Ten years must pass after the person’s last conviction or release from prison (whichever is later) before a person may apply for this relief; the person must have no charges pending, and the person is unlikely eligible if they have been convicted of two or more felonies, or more than two crimes. If granted, the person’s conviction would be hidden from public records (a sealed record would still be available to law enforcement agencies, employers for jobs that require a firearm, and pursuant to a background check for a gun purchase).

  • QUEENS UNVEILS TECH ZONE STRATEGIC PLAN

    QUEENS UNVEILS TECH ZONE STRATEGIC PLAN

    Roadmap for Equitable Job Growth in NYC’s Future Tech Hub

    QUEENS, NY(TIP):  Borough President Melinda Katz, the Western Queens Tech Task Force, Coalition for Queens and HR&A Advisors unveiled the long-anticipated Western Queens Tech Zone Strategic Plan (“Tech Plan”) – entitled Live, Work, Create: A Roadmap for Equitable Growth of the Western Queens Tech Ecosystem – during an event held today at WeWork Queens Plaza in Long Island City. The Tech Plan offers a roadmap for equitable job growth within the tech economy of Western Queens along the East River waterfront. Borough President Katz also announced the formation of the Western Queens Tech Council, charged with implementing the Tech Plan, identifying a tech-driven brand for the area and promoting a coordinated strategy for the tech district.

    The Tech Plan identifies strategic opportunities to build upon the area’s burgeoning tech ecosystem and proposes six initiatives to support its future growth as New York City’s future tech hub. The creation of the Tech Plan was first initiated by the Western Queens Tech Task Force in 2011 and funded by the New York State Department of State under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund. The Tech Plan can be viewed in its entirety here.

    “Tech jobs, on average, pay more and are growing at a faster clip than jobs citywide,” said Borough President KATZ. “Western Queens offers a coveted, dynamic mixed-use community where workers can live, ideas can synergize, and businesses can thrive. We commissioned the Tech Plan to facilitate a more equitable growth of this emerging global innovation hub and the City’s next leading tech ecosystem. By leveraging its inherent assets, as well as training locally and hiring locally, we will steer our borough into a more competitive lane of the digital age.”

    “Through smart development and innovative planning, Western Queens is on the verge of something great,” said ROSSANA ROSADO, New York Secretary of State. “The New York Department of State is proud to have put forth $150,000 toward these important projects that will embrace the growing tech market and promote economic growth across the Borough.”

    “As we enter the phases of implementation, our success in reaching the Tech Plan milestones will hinge upon continued engagement from all stakeholders vested in Western Queens’ growth, including those entrusted on the Tech Council,” Borough President KATZ said.

    The 21 individuals appointed to the Western Queens Tech Council are: Tristan Bel, NYDesigns; Karen Bhatia, NYC Economic Development; Seth Bornstein, Queens Economic Development Corporation; Tracy Capune, Kaufman Astoria Studios; Carol Conslato, ConEd; Samuel Cooper, Mayor’s Office of Chief Technology Officer; Samantha Dolgoff, NYC Department of Transportation; Commissioner Nicole Garcia, NYC Department of Transportation; Thomas J. Grech, Queens Chamber of Commerce; Jukay Hsu, C4Q; Michael Hulbert, Estee Lauder; Saeed Jabbar, Inclusion; Bill Keller, Queens College; Paula C. Kirby, Plaxall; Debbie Markell Kleinert, Queens Community Board 2; Tara Lannen-Stanton, Queens Library; Elizabeth Lusskin, Long Island City Partnership; Gail Mellow, LaGuardia Community College; Brian Shoicket, Uncubed; Jane Swanson, Cornell NYC Tech; John Young, NYC Department of City Planning.

    The Tech Plan’s six initiatives are grouped into three focal points and laid out in immediate, intermediate-term and long-term steps aimed at creating equitable access to tech jobs:

    People-Focused Initiatives (supporting talent pool growth and development of robust and stable workforce pipeline):

    • Prepare disadvantaged residents to succeed in existing tech training programs. Secure federal and state funding to leverage and expand pre-training programs designed to help close gaps between existing tech training programs and Western Queens residents, with an emphasis on supporting people underrepresented in the area’s tech ecosystem.
    • Strengthen the tech workforce pipeline to better align with job placement opportunities. Build stronger partnerships between City and tech employers to develop a shared understanding of their needs and expand opportunities for on-the-job practical training.

    Place-Based Initiatives (fostering the creation of new tech-supportive physical spaces):

    • Define 300 acres of strategic nodes to focus investment. Create a density of activity to attract and link residents, students and tech firms, boosting the Western Queens tech ecosystem and encouraging informal connections.
    • Develop a 40,000 – 60,000 square feet physical hub for tech and innovation open to the entire community. Build a central tech hub to expand access to tools, training and affordable office space and increase connections between the tech ecosystem and the broader community.

    Programmatic Initiatives (incentivizing tech growth in Western Queens and on clearly articulating the value of the area):

    • Expand marketing of Western Queens tech opportunities. Create a recognizable brand for Western Queens that leverages its growing tech ecosystem, as well as the many opportunities that the area offers to grow tech businesses, through targeted outreach campaigns for residents and developers.
    • Customize regulatory tools and incentives to attract more tech firms. Create new economic development tools to incentivize private sector investments and job creation, such as increasing the existent 10-20 percent State tax credit for investments into qualified firms, as well tapping into the NYC Entrepreneurial Investment Fund.

    The partners on the Western Queens Tech Task Force who made the Tech Plan possible were: 500 Startups; Association for a Better New York (ABNY); Center for an Urban Future; Citigroup; Coalition for Queens; Con Edison; Cornell Tech; Flux Factory; Google; IBM; Inclusion; JetBlue; Kaufmann Astoria Studios; LaGuardia Community College; Local Data; Long Island City Partnership; Mayor’s Office of Tech and Innovation; Noguchi Museum; NYC Department of Buildings; NYC Department of City Planning; NYC Department of Education; NYC Department of Transportation; NYC Digital; NYC Economic Development Corporation; NYCHA; NYDesigns; NY Tech Meetup; Office of Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer; Ontodia; Open Tech Institute; Partnership for New York City; Plaxall; Queens Chamber of Commerce; Queens College; Queens Community Board 1; Queens Community Board 2; Queens Economic Development Corporation; Queens Public Library System; Queens Vocational & Technical High School; Queensbridge Residents Association; REES Neighborhood Zone (NYCHA); Roosevelt Island; Shapeways; Tech:NYC; TF Cornerstone; Uber; Uncubed; Urban Upbound (ERDA); Verizon.

    Follow Borough President Katz via @melindakatz or www.facebook.com/queensbpkatz

  • Xavier University holds 11th Graduation Ceremony

    Xavier University holds 11th Graduation Ceremony

    QUEENS, NY(TIP): On Saturday, June 16th, 2018, Xavier University School of Medicine held its eleventh Graduation Ceremony. This year’s festivities took place at St. John’s University in Queens, New York.

    52 graduates took the stage to receive their coveted hoods and well-earned diplomas. These students have spent tireless hours in their studies, and it was wonderful to see them finally graduate. Graduates Christophe Jerjian, Salutatorian, and Roopak Sekhon, Valedictorian, had the honor of addressing their fellow graduates during the ceremony. Christophe spoke about responsibility, and its new definition now that they are MDs. Roopak talked about trust and respect, and emphasized the importance of respect for colleagues in the medical field, including those who do not have an MD after their names. These two students were honored with plaques to commemorate their successes.

    Dignitaries

    Xavier had the pleasure of welcoming back an alumnus to address the graduates: Dr. A. Aboud. Dr. Aboud is currently at Michigan State University Hospital in a Family Medicine residency. Dr. Aboud gave the students advice about their futures, and how to be successful during residency. Some of his tips included goal setting, the importance of organization, and how to acknowledge one’s strengths and weaknesses and learn from mistakes. Xavier encourages alumni to continue their involvement with the University, and it was wonderful to welcome back Dr. Aboud for this special event.

    Trustees

    Aside from students, Xavier was honored to have many dignitaries present for the event, including Chairman Edwin Casey, Chancellor Dr. J.G. Bhat, President Ravishankar Bhooplapur, Trustee Dr. Obi Nwasokwa, Trustee Dr. Anthony Shallash, Trustee Mr. Frank Croes, Trustee Dr. Ravindra Kota, Advisor Dr. Dayan Naik, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Arun Dubey, Associate Provost Dr. Burton Herz, Clinical Deans Dr. Joseph Balsamo and Dr. Ahmad Abazid, Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Richard Pestell, Clinical Chairs, Dr. Paul Liu, Dr. Parvez Mir, and Dr. Sanjivan Patel, Vice Chair of Internal Medicine Dr. Ramesh Naik, and Professor Neelam Dwivedi. Xavier also had the privilege of welcoming Dr. Harry Jacobson as the Keynote Speaker.

    Dr. Jacobson earned his MD from the University of Illinois, and went on to complete a residency at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. He now serves as the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of TriStar Health Partners. In his address to the graduates, he touched on a number of topics, including health care in America, and the opportunities that are now available to students with their MDs. It is not just that they are doctors, they can now conduct research, enter into academics, and become entrepreneurs. Xavier thanks Dr. Jacobson for attending.

    Members of the Board of Trustees also spoke to the students and gave their advice for the future. Chancellor Dr. J.G. Bhat talked about the changing medical field, and how students now need to study societal concerns in medicine, whereas in the past it was purely about diagnosis. Chairman Mr. Edwin Casey defined success and love, and stated the importance of sharing success with others. Finally, President Ravishankar Bhooplapur talked about the growing technology available to these new graduates, but how they must always remember to be empathetic towards their patients. Technology may change over time, but empathy and connecting with patients never will.

    Graduates with dignitaries

    Graduation is always a wonderful opportunity to recognize students and their successes, and congratulate them and their loved ones for all of their hard work. Xavier cannot wait to see where these students go in the future and have them among our prestigious alumni.

    Xavier University School of Medicine 2018 Graduates:

    1. Abdulmuttableb Al Soufi
    2. Amar Gokli
    3. Andrea Hernandez *
    4. Angitha Alex
    5. Biju Kallumkal
    6. Chidelu Onyeani-Nwosu *
    7. Christophe Jerjian *
    8. Dale Adebayo
    9. David Martinez
    10. Fahad Nagaria
    11. Farah Khan
    12. Harija Khan
    13. Hashem Rifai
    14. Jenna Rabadi-Innabi
    15. Jessica Kainth
    16. Karisma Kothari
    17. Kaycee Umeoji *
    18. Majd Jazaerly
    19. Manpreet Kaur
    20. Marcus Jennings
    21. Maria Belaev
    22. Michael Arroyo
    23. Mohammed Hnoosh
    24. Mohsin Altaf
    25. Nabeel Borazan
    26. Nabil Ahmed
    27. Naval Walia *
    28. Nejma Louahlia
    29. Neveen Al-Atiyat
    30. Parshotam Kundan
    31. Pooja Bathija
    32. Pooja Solanki
    33. Pratick Patel
    34. Rafay Cheema
    35. Rami Sakaan
    36. Robert Statz
    37. Rochard Sauveur *
    38. Roopak Sekhon *
    39. Samer Al-Daheen
    40. Sean Arora
    41. Seshu Pisipati
    42. Seung Eun Kim
    43. Shabnam Zahedi
    44. Shannon Arora
    45. Sheila Joshi
    46. Shivan Patel
    47. Suha Qasem
    48. Tatyana Beaubrun
    49. Terence Riley
    50. Utsav Aiya
    51. Vishal Ganta
    52. Zain Nagaria

    * With honors

    (Press Release)

  • OFFICIALS TO MTA: RESTORE ORIGINAL “FREEDOM TICKET” PLAN

    OFFICIALS TO MTA: RESTORE ORIGINAL “FREEDOM TICKET” PLAN

    Elected Say Eliminating Proposed Discounted LIRR Fare Between Southeast Queens and Penn Station Renders Freedom Ticket Pilot “Inferior” and “Set Up For Failure”

    QUEENS, NY (TIP):  In advance of the upcoming Board Meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Borough President Melinda Katz, U.S. Representatives Gregory Meeks, Senators Leroy Comrie and James Sanders, Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman and Clyde Vanel and Councilmembers Adrienne Adams and Daneek Miller in a joint letter to MTA Chairman Joe Lhota expressed their opposition to the MTA’s proposed revision to the “Freedom Ticket” plan, which would force Freedom Ticket riders seeking to get to and from midtown Manhattan to first transfer at Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn.

    The proposed revision would eliminate the discounted LIRR one-way $6.50 Freedom Ticket fare originally proposed in 2015 between six southeast Queens stations (Rosedale, Laurelton, Locust Manor, St. Albans, Hollis and Queens Village) and Penn Station in Manhattan or Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn. Currently, the $10.25 one-way peak weekday fare is cost prohibitive for many between the Queens stations and Penn Station or Atlantic Terminal.

    “As you know, we have been avid supporters of the ‘Freedom Ticket’ plan put forward by the New York City Transit Riders Council (NYCTRC) in 2015,” the elected officials wrote in a joint letter this week to Chairman Joe Lhota. “The inferior Freedom Ticket pilot program now under consideration, however, would force users… a transfer that would substantially increase their commuting times…  Given this significant limitation, without the option of Penn Station, I expect few southeast Queens residents would use Freedom Tickets if the pilot program is implemented in its current state. The pilot is therefore being set up for failure, an outcome that is unacceptable, as it will not properly serve SEQ residents, allow for sufficient outreach in the community, nor gauge their use of a long term program.”

  • Dr. Jagdish Gupta-led new Executive Committee 2018 of AAPI-QLI inaugurated

    Dr. Jagdish Gupta-led new Executive Committee 2018 of AAPI-QLI inaugurated

    (Long Island, NY – February 28, 2018) During a solemn ceremony that was attended by over 250 physicians and community leaders, Dr. Jagdish Gupta and his new executive committee members assumed charge of AAPIQLI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin of Queens and Long Island) at the popular Akbar Restaurant in Garden City, Long Island, NY on February 9th.

    Dr. Ajay K. Lodha, past President of AAPI-QLI and national AAPI, was elected unanimously as the Chair, BOT of AAPIQLI in a subsequent meeting on Feb. 16th,2018. Dr. Lodha assumed charge as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the inaugural event.

    Dr. Lodha called upon the AAPI members to “stand united, in order to be able to fight for our rights,” while pointing to the fact that Indian American Physicians service every 7th patient in the nation and contribute immensely to the healthcare industry in the nation.

    As the participants at the event cheered, the outgoing President of AAPI-QLI, Dr. Rakesh Dua, whose term ended after serving as the association through a memorable and eventful year, passed on the gavel to Dr. Jagdish K Gupta, a practicing Gastroenterologist, serving the community for over 40 years.

    Inaugural address by Dr. Jagdish K Gupta (President AAPIQLI)

    Along with Dr. Gupta, other members of the Executive Committee 2018, were administered the oath of office included, Dr. Himanshu Pandya, President Elect; Dr. Raj Bhayani, Vice President; Dr. Abhay Malhotra, Secretary; and Dr. Vinod Jayam, Treasurer.  Ten prominent physicians were inducted as Members at Large of the Governing Body. The Organization is ably guided by 15 members, constituting Board of Trustees and Five Advisory Board Members from the community.

    In his inaugural address as the incoming President, Dr. Jagdish Gupta, President-Elect of AAPI QLI, announced the exciting new programs for the members in the year 2018 under his new leadership. “We want to continue to be the most vibrant, transformative and politically active Chapter among all AAPI chapters in the nation,” he said.

    Dr. Jagdish K Gupta (President AAPIQLI) 5th from Left, Dr. Ajay K. Lodha (Chairman of Board) 3rd from right.

    AAPIQLI, one of the largest chapter of National AAPI, has been serving 800 members physicians since 1995, providing continuing medical education, and discussing the state of the art topics in healthcare, wealth management and practice management.  Dr Vajinath Chakote, Chairman of the Nominating & Election Committee, declared the results of 23rd AAPI-QLI Executive Committee for 2018.

    The Mission of AAPI Queens and Long Island has been to represent the interests of all physicians of Indian Origin in the area including providing Continuous Medical Education (CME) and engaging in charitable activities for the benefit of our community at large. Since its inception there was a strong alliance with and support from National AAPI.

    Dr. Jagdish K Gupta (Current President), Dr. Ajay K Lodha (Current Chairman BOT), Dr. Tarun Wasil (Past Chairman of BOT)

    AAPI QLI grew rapidly in membership and was well accepted by all other local and national professional organizations. From the very beginning the leadership put heavy emphasis on transparency and the democratic process, which is the main ingredient for its enormous success. AAPI of Queens and Long Island currently represents 660 active physicians and donates more than $60,000 annually for charitable purposes. It is also one of the largest chapters of National AAPI.

    During the colorful event, AAPI-QLI pledged to donate funds to several community Organizations, including Governor Cuomo Puerto Rico Relief and Rebuilding Fund to alleviate devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, International Nutrition Network (INN) which serves free meals and operates 10 Soup Kitchens in 14 location across Long Island, ROTACARE which provides free medical, dental, pharmacy and other behavioral health services to low income people, Sankara Nethralaya & Eye Foundation, providing world class free tertiary eye care and helping eradicate blindness in India and many other cultural and religious community Organization.

  • Oct 19 announced as Diwali Day at AAPI-QLI’s Diwali gala

    Oct 19 announced as Diwali Day at AAPI-QLI’s Diwali gala

    GARDEN CITY, NY (TIP): It was a joyous occasion for the Indian community of New York. The AAPI-QLI Annual Diwali celebration at Akbar restaurant here was attended by over 400 physicians and their spouses as attendees including various community leaders.

    The highlight of the Oct 13 event was the announcement by Hersh Parekh and Joanne Choi from State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office declaring October 19 as official Diwali Day for the State of New York.

    AAPI-QLI is the largest chapter of National AAPI, and represents all the Indian origin physicians from Queens and Long Island. Dr Rakesh Dua is its current President.