From Yellow Cab To Silver Screen: Jack Dym’s Story

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

Jack Dym, a New York City cab driver whose career spanned more than six decades and over two million miles, celebrated his 99th birthday this week with a small, intimate gathering of family. Though quiet, the occasion marked a lifetime of dedication to the city he has loved and served, and a legacy that continues to inspire both family and filmmakers.

Dym, a widower and father of four, became a symbol of perseverance and dedication in New York’s taxi community. In the 1980s, he received a lifetime achievement award for his remarkable career, which saw him crisscross the boroughs thousands of times over. In 2002, he was featured on CBS Sunday Morning after completing his high school education and attending his senior prom in his 80s, an event that captured the hearts of viewers nationwide. He was also recognized by the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission as the oldest living cab driver.

“Jack’s life is incredible,” said his cousin, Elyssa Rosen, who has written a screenplay inspired by Dym’s journey. Titled Two Million Miles of Love, the story honors a working-class New Yorker who, despite personal hardships, remained devoted to his family and the people he encountered behind the wheel.

Rosen said the idea for the screenplay emerged from family history and Jack’s role as one of the last living members of a close-knit immigrant family. “Jack is the last one left from a very big family of the Greatest Generation,” she said. “All his brothers and our parents are gone. I knew about him growing up, and later, when I was working in a restaurant, he would come in and eat. That sparked my curiosity about his life and how our family built itself here.”

The screenplay, while inspired by real events, takes creative liberties. In Rosen’s story, Dym raises an adopted daughter alone after the death of his wife, a narrative choice that diverges from his real-life family but captures the essence of his devotion and quiet heroism. The screenplay spans five decades, following Dym and his daughter through New York City from the 1950s to the late 20th century.

“In the 1950s, they go to Radio City Music Hall, see the Rockettes, and visit the Copper Cabana,” Rosen explained. “The 1960s reflect the Vietnam War and city protests. The 1970s show a generational clash as he navigates fatherhood. Studio 54, the cultural milestones, the city’s evolution—it’s all there. I wanted the audience to feel the city through Jack’s eyes.”

Rosen, who has a background as a teacher and edtech professional, said mentorship from David Kirkpatrick helped shape the screenplay. Kirkpatrick, a former studio executive, provided guidance on structure and pacing, helping Rosen focus the story on Jack’s humanity rather than only his accomplishments.

“Jack’s story isn’t about fame or fortune,” Rosen said. “It’s about a man who loved people and faced the challenges of his time with grace. That’s what I wanted to capture.”

Dym’s real-life achievements and adventures read like a movie script in themselves. Beyond decades of driving, he witnessed the city evolve firsthand, meeting countless passengers, including notable figures, and maintaining a steadfast commitment to service despite long hours and the city’s challenges.

“Even now, at 99, he’s positive and upbeat,” Rosen said. “He uses a walker and his memory isn’t what it once was, but his attitude is remarkable. He makes people happy just by being around.”

His 99th birthday was a low-key affair with family, including Rosen and her husband, but plans are underway for a larger celebration when Dym turns 100. For now, Rosen continues to work on bringing his story to the screen, hoping that the film will honor not just a remarkable life but also the city that shaped it.

“Everybody loves nostalgia and New York,” she said. “The story has humor, heart, and history. From the immigrant experience to the cabbie’s daily grind, it’s a portrait of resilience and love. I hope audiences see Jack for who he is—a man who, through decades of hard work and devotion, never lost his love for people.”

Two Million Miles of Love represents more than a biographical story; it is a tribute to a generation that shaped New York City and a reminder that ordinary lives can be extraordinary.

Courtesy NYC.Gov

Mamdani Starts Governing Within Hours of Inauguration

By MOHAMED FARGHALY & COLE SINANIAN

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

Zohran Kwame Mamdani was sworn in as New York City’s mayor just after midnight on Jan. 1, formally taking office before a larger public ceremony later in the day at City Hall that drew tens of thousands of supporters and progressive leaders from across the country.

At 34, Mamdani is the youngest mayor the city has had since the late 19th century. He is also the city’s first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian descent and the first to be born in Africa. A democratic socialist, Mamdani enters City Hall after an insurgent campaign that pushed affordability to the center of the national political conversation.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders administered the ceremonial oath of office during last Thursday’s public inauguration, marking a symbolic handoff between two of the country’s most prominent democratic socialists. Hours earlier, Mamdani began governing immediately, announcing executive actions focused on housing, tenant protections and the structure of his administration.

Tens of thousands of New Yorkers braved plunging temperatures and single-digit wind chills Thursday afternoon to witness the swearing-in of democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, City Comptroller Mark Levine and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, as well as speeches from progressive leaders like U.S. Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders.

Dubbed the “2026 NYC Inauguration block party,” the event had several blocks of Broadway between Liberty Street and City Hall blocked off and lined with several large screens. NYPD directed late arrivals into a slow-moving queue at Church Street that meandered for nearly two hours before spilling into a dense bottleneck where officers conducted security screenings.

As the crowd amassed at the corner of Broadway and Liberty Street, some spectators, many wrapped in scarves and keffiyehs or wearing Democratic Socialists of America beanies, gave into the cold and turned back before coming within sight of the screens broadcasting the speakers a few blocks north at City Hall.

Several chants erupted from the crowd as they awaited entry. One group began shouting, “Let us in! Let us in!”

“Free Palestine!” another shouted.

While spectators shivered, seven blocks away Jumaane Williams delivered a rousing and emotional speech after being sworn in for his third term as New York City public advocate.

The 49-year-old self-described “activist politician” evoked Grenadian revolutionary socialist Maurice Bishop, Kendrick Lamar’s protest anthem “Alright,” and the plight of separated immigrant families at nearby 26 Federal Plaza. He urged unity over division as the best antidote to what he described as an increasingly authoritarian federal government.

At one point, Williams directly addressed his younger self, the child of immigrants from the tiny Caribbean island nation of Grenada.

“I gotta take a second to say something to so many young people out there. And I’m gonna say it to one person who’s waited 49 years to hear it. Little black boy, you are worth it and you always were,” Williams said, his voice breaking. “And without any titles, you were enough. You were always enough. And you deserve to accept love, you deserve to be protected. And I’m honored to be here to help create a city that’s worthy of that for you.”

He continued, “So just hold on, we gon’ be alright.”

Amid a standing ovation from his political allies lining the steps of City Hall, Williams concluded by asking the audience to hold hands and repeat after him.

“We can all be the voice of the people. I know what’s ahead but I won’t lose hold. And I won’t lose hope. Anything can happen so anything can happen. And as we march forward, no one let go of anyone’s hands.”

Next, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus performed “Bread and Roses,” a song associated with the American labor movement and women’s suffrage, before Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders took the stage to deliver a short speech and swear in Mayor Mamdani. Sanders, who like Williams and Mamdani identifies politically as a democratic socialist, has become the de facto patriarch of American progressive politics since his unsuccessful but highly disruptive bids for president in 2016 and 2020.

“I’m here mostly to thank the people of New York City,” Sanders said. “You knocked on doors, you shared your dreams and your hopes for the future of this city. And in the process, you took on the Democratic establishment, the Republican establishment, and the president of the United States, and some enormously wealthy oligarchs. And you defeated them in the biggest political upset in modern American history.”

But it was Sanders’ rejection of the idea that his and Mamdani’s progressive policies are “radical” that drew the loudest applause of his speech.

“All of us have heard as Zohran’s opponents have called the agenda that he campaigned on radical, communistic, oh and absolutely unachievable,” Sanders said, pausing. “Really? That’s not what we believe.”

He continued, “In the richest country in the history of the world, making sure that people can live in affordable housing is not radical. Providing free and high quality child care is not radical.”

Mayor Mamdani’s speech, like the campaign that preceded it, evoked New York’s contradictions.

“Where else can you hear the sound of the steelpan, savor the smell of sancocho, and pay $9 for coffee on the same block?” Mamdani asked, drawing laughter from the audience. “Where else could a Muslim kid like me grow up eating bagels and lox every Sunday?”

Mamdani affirmed his allegiance to democratic socialist principles, declaring that he would not back down from the values that won him the election.

“I was elected as a democratic socialist, and I will govern as a democratic socialist,” the new mayor said. “I will not abandon my principles for fear of being deemed radical. As the great senator from Vermont once said, ‘What’s radical is a system which gives so much to so few and denies so many people the basic necessities of life.’”

As the sun lowered behind the towers of the Financial District and the air grew increasingly frigid, the thousands of New Yorkers who braved the January cold, some standing in line for more than two hours, beamed at the screens lining Broadway, a few with tears in their eyes.

At one point, Mamdani thanked Eric Adams for attending. The screens briefly flashed the former mayor’s face and were met with boos from the crowd.

An older woman in a wheelchair struggled to her feet to shout at the towering screen.

“I love you Zohran!”

As Mamdani’s speech drew to a close, ecstatic cries pierced the winter air.

“That’s my mayor! That’s my mayor!”

In his first two executive orders, announced in a press release, Mamdani revoked all executive orders issued after Sept. 26, 2024, the day former Mayor Eric Adams was indicted, saying “that was a date that marked a moment when many New Yorkers decided politics held nothing for them.”

He also established that his administration will include five deputy mayors, fewer than under the Adams administration. The roles include first deputy mayor, deputy mayor of housing and planning, deputy mayor of economic justice, deputy mayor of operations and deputy mayor of health and human services.

“Today marks the first step in building an administration that works for all New Yorkers,” Mamdani said. “We’ve established the foundations of it, and now it’s time to deliver on our affordability agenda, tackle the challenges facing New Yorkers, and usher in a new era for New York City, one that proves that government can deliver for working people.”

When asked about the future of the Rent Guidelines Board, Mamdani said, “I continue to be confident that the Rent Guidelines Board will assess the landscape of tenants for rent-stabilized units across this city and find they’re in dire need of relief.”

He also said he would keep the recently created Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism.

“Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously. We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try,” Mamdani told a cheering crowd.

“To those who insist that the era of big government is over, hear me when I say this. No longer will City Hall hesitate to use its power to improve New Yorkers’ lives,” he said.

Since the inauguration, Mamdani has moved quickly to begin implementing campaign promises. In his first days in office, he signed additional executive orders, announced appointments and launched the Office of Mass Engagement. Several actions focused on housing, while others rolled back directives issued during the final months of the Adams administration.

Mamdani also unveiled three executive orders tied to housing and tenant protection, including the revival of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants. The office will be led by Cea Weaver, who will serve as its executive director.

“There is no economic justice without safe, quality, affordable housing New Yorkers can live in. This is not just about building new housing, it’s also about enforcing the laws in existing housing,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “Through the Rental Ripoff hearings, City Hall will not only be listening, we will take action to ensure that the law is followed without exception and that New Yorkers know their rights when it comes to the often hidden or deceptive fees associated with the hunt for housing.”

Mamdani also clarified that New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch reports directly to him after confusion over language in an executive order.

“My police commissioner will continue to report directly to me,” Mamdani said. “My police commissioner, just like my schools chancellor, will report directly to me. The executive order is in terms of the question of coordination.”

“This is about the daily minutiae of coordination, not about the question of reporting,” he added.

On the international stage, Mamdani condemned the abduction of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces after Maduro arrived in New York City to face charges. Mamdani said he called President Donald Trump to oppose the military operation, marking his first public break with Trump since their meeting in November. The White House has not responded.

Locally, Mamdani has leaned into his affordability agenda. He rode the Q70 bus, currently the city’s only free bus line, to promote his proposal for fare-free bus service citywide, speaking directly with riders.

He also traveled to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, to announce the completion of long-delayed safety upgrades along McGuinness Boulevard. Under the Department of Transportation, now led by Mamdani appointee Mike Flynn, the project will install parking-protected bike lanes and reduce traffic lanes to improve safety.

In one of his most sweeping housing actions, Mamdani signed an executive order directing multiple city agencies to hold “Rental Ripoff” hearings in all five boroughs within the administration’s first 100 days. The hearings will allow tenants to testify about unsafe conditions, hidden fees and abusive landlord practices.

“Standing together with the wind of purpose at our backs, we will do something that New Yorkers do better than anyone else: we will set an example for the world. If what Sinatra said is true, let us prove that anyone can make it in New York—and anywhere else too. Let us prove that when a city belongs to the people, there is no need too small to be met, no person too sick to be made healthy, no one too alone to feel like New York is their home. The work continues, the work endures, the work, my friends, has only just begun,” Mamdani said, closing his inauguration speech.

By COLE  SINANIAN

news@queensledger.com 

The King of Falafel is a busy man. On a recent Friday evening, 60-year-old Fares “Freddy” Zeideia bounces around his Astoria restaurant, checking in on diners and offering crispy knobs of fresh falafel wrapped in a napkin to everyone who enters, free of charge.

Also present are a group of building consultants who are here to help Zeideia deal with a potentially expensive headache: he’s facing a fine of up to $6,000 or more from the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) for an allegedly unauthorized light-up sign that hangs from his storefront. Zeideia insists the sign — which reads “STOP GENOCIDE” and “#FreePalestine” — has a permit, and suspects that the complaint that brought DOB inspectors to his restaurant came from someone who was offended by his pro-Palestine messaging.

Born and raised in the village of Ein Yarbud in occupied Palestine, Zeideia does not shy away from inflammatory politics. The entirety of his restaurant, King of Falafel & Shawarma, is decorated in the spirit of the Palestinian resistance against the State of Israel. Among its decor are a street-facing sign depicting President Donald Trump with a clown’s nose and the words “Elect a Clown, Expect a Circus;” a large mural in the dining room of Palestinians resisting the Israeli military with the words “No Migration Except to Jerusalem;” and, perhaps most controversial, a “Walk of Shame” of stickers showing the faces of world leaders and celebrities on the floor leading from the sidewalk outside the restaurant’s door all the way into the toilet bowl in the bathroom at the back. The idea, Zeideia explains, is to allow patrons to step, urinate and defecate on the faces of the people he considers complicit in Israel’s war crimes.

The list is expansive. The faces of Benjamin Netanyahu, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Hilary Clinton, Eric Adams, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi adorn the floor alongside DJ Khaled — the Palestinian-American music producer criticized for his perceived silence on Israel’s destruction of Gaza — as well as authoritarian Arab leaders like Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, United Arab Emirates president Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, and the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

”In Hollywood they have the Walk of Fame,” Zeideia said. “Here we have the Walk of Shame.”

The display has brought fines and harassment. A complaint to the Department of Buildings logged in November 2023 described “posters on the sidewalk and the ground in front of the restaurant,” that are “large” and “share their political beliefs,” which the DOB later inspected without issuing a violation. In May 2024, Zeideia was fined $6,350 for the allegedly illegal light-up sign in front of his restaurant. However, Zeidea claimed that in 2023 the DOB inspected the sign, made a few adjustments and issued a permit, which is visible on the sign’s underside.

A more recent complaint, logged in September 2025, concerns the same sign and accuses it of “very inappropriate messages,” highlighting that it is near a bus stop that kids use and therefore “needs to come down.” DOB inspectors came again to inspect the sign on December 16, concluding that the sign was unauthorized, despite the permit on its underside, and told Zeideia that they would return for a more thorough inspection in the coming weeks.

But perhaps more concerning were the death threats. Zeideia described his employees regularly receiving calls to the restaurant from people threatening to burn it down and kill him and his family.

“They start talking, saying ‘tell your boss we’re gonna kill him,’” Zeideia said. “He better take that shit out or he’s gonna lose his life.’”

Once, a TikTok influencer took a viral video of the restaurant and its many stepped-on photos of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Someone sent the video to a Saudi Arabian influencer, and within hours, Zeideia had some 40,000 one-star Google reviews.

“They were so happy, they thought they shut me down,” he said. “Then I ordered 30 more pictures of the prince, I expedited it, I paid $300 more. Then I put it on the street the next day.”

Another time, an Egyptian woman was offended to see the president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, on the walk of shame. She entered the bathroom, removed her underwear, and stuffed it into the toilet bowl, causing the bathroom to flood.

It’s annoying, yes, but Zeideia is used to brushing off threats. He’s dealt with them since he first opened his food truck back in 2002, which eventually evolved into his current restaurant on Broadway, opening in 2016. Just after 9/11, this was an uncomfortable time to be an Arab-American. Zeideia faced regular threats, to which he responded with falafel.

“People used to pass by and say ‘go back to where you came from,” Zeideia recounted. “They’d say ‘you’re a terrorist,” I’d say ‘no, I’m not a terrorist. Have some falafel. And I started giving falafel to everyone.”

While the DOB has yet to issue a second fine, Zeideia’s customers have rallied to support him and his message. A GoFundMe page started by a 22-year-old Long Island resident named Kyra Sorkin has already raised close to $13,000 in just over a week, nearly double the expected fine. Sorkin, despite living a 30-minute train ride away from Astoria, has long been a loyal customer at King of Falafel & Shawarma. When Zeideia posted an Instagram video explaining the situation, Sorkin — who’s experienced in crowdfunding campaigns — reached out, offering to help him.

“It’s some of the best Palestinian food I’ve ever had,” Sorkin said. “It’s a place that I want to support, that I always bring friends to when they visit New York.

She continued: “I really appreciate how steadfast Freddy is in his advocacy for his people. I think that’s really nice to see, especially these days when it’s so intimidating.”

But the support of his community can do little to alleviate the immense suffering in Palestine, Zeideia said. When Israel’s bombardment of Gaza began after October 7, 2023, his stress level reached new heights. So distraught was Zeideia that his chest would seize up in pain, causing him to collapse. A cardiologist told him that he had been having miniature heart attacks, and that he needed immediate open heart surgery.

“I’m 60,” Zeideia said. “Looking at the people in Gaza who are dying in their tents…what could possibly happen? I’m not gonna be out on the street worrying about dying. I’ll have medication, I’ll have food, I’m not gonna die of hunger. How about these people who can’t eat, who are bones?”

Christian Spencer

Volunteers placed thousands of evergreen wreaths on veterans’ graves at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn on December 13, honoring those who served as part of the annual Wreaths Across America observance.

The nationwide effort, now in its 19th year, brings together volunteers at more than 5,000 locations to lay Christmas balsam wreaths on veterans’ headstones.

“Right now, nationwide, there’s over 5,000 locations, and one million volunteers are doing the same thing we’re doing right now — placing a wreath on a headstone and honoring a veteran,” said Carlos Verone, the volunteer location coordinator for Wreaths Across America at Cypress Hills.

The ceremony drew New Yorkers from across Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island to the military cemetery, which borders Brooklyn and Queens and is the only national cemetery in New York City.

About 227,000 service members are interred there.

“They want to be able to give back to the local veterans,” Verone said. “It’s great to see the young generation come out here and pay respects.”

That generational presence was visible throughout the ceremony. Suri Yeung, a high school student and ROTC Petty Officer Third Class, said the event was a reminder to “cherish the people that have fought for America for us and to show appreciation to them.”

She described the experience as a chance to learn skills, build friendships, and take part in a tradition centered on remembrance.

Community support extended beyond the cemetery grounds. Lisent Gordon, the owner of Historic N Tavern, was recognized for opening his business to volunteers in past years when winter conditions left many searching for warmth.

“There’s more than one way to serve,” Gordon said. “Not just being in the military, but supporting the military.” He added that being honored as an immigrant made the moment especially meaningful.

Cypress Hills is strictly a military cemetery, Verone noted, with civilian burial grounds located elsewhere. Among those honored are 24 Medal of Honor recipients, including three who received the nation’s highest military honor twice — one of them posthumously.

Out of religious respect, wreaths are not placed on Jewish headstones. “They don’t want a Christmas wreath on a Jewish headstone, so they’re very clear about that,” Verone said. “But otherwise, the bottom line is that they’ll try to place a wreath in honor of the veterans here.”

Held nationwide under the theme “Keep Moving Forward,” the Cypress Hills ceremony took place one day before 1.1 inches of snow blanketed the area on Sunday, Dec. 14. Even if winter weather had arrived earlier, Stop & Shop, a volunteer sponsor, was prepared with a van serving hot refreshments and cookies.

As ROTC students huddled near the vans to stay warm, a selected few presented the gun and flag during the ceremony’s opening; it’s part of the event’s broader mission to pass remembrance forward.

“Honor a veteran, remember a veteran, and teach the next generation to go forward,” Verone said. “Us old guys aren’t going to be around forever, so it’s up to the next generation to carry that idea of respect and honor.”

How a Youth-Led Group Is Fast-Tracking Subway Fixes

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

A youth-led transit advocacy group that started as a high school club is making waves in New York City transit circles, building support for a major subway service change while keeping a slate of other improvement campaigns in motion.

The Joint Transit Association (JTA) — formerly the Tech Transit Association — is made up of students and alumni from New York City public schools. The group was officially formed in 2023, when transit clubs at Brooklyn Technical High School and Stuyvesant High School joined forces to create a citywide organization.

Edward Zheng, a member of JTA, traces the origin of his advocacy back to his middle school years, when he first learned about the QueensLink proposal — a plan to convert a disused rail corridor in Queens into a new transit connection.

“I found myself really impressed about how some of a group of people were advocating to build a rail line that’s not too far from where I live,” Zheng said. “Is there any group out there that’s willing to, you know, advocate? Is there any interest in trying to get Queens its, you know, subways, because we don’t have much subways here in Queens?”

That curiosity led Zheng to launch a transit issues club at Brooklyn Tech during the pandemic. “Without much advertisement, we were able to get 30–35 people in a meeting, and I found myself being like, well, wow, I’m not the only weirdo who has an interest in trains,” he said.

When he connected with the Stuyvesant club in 2022, the two groups decided to merge, creating the Joint Transit Association with a broader base of members and a shared focus on advocacy.

One of JTA’s most significant campaigns has been the push for the “F and M Swap,” a service change that would reroute the F and M trains to reduce bottlenecks at Queens Plaza, where multiple subway lines converge.

“Queens Plaza is an absolute mess,” Zheng said. “You have E trains and F trains merging … E and M trains merging … and M and R trains merging … these are absolutely atrocious.”

Zheng said the swap would remove two of the three merges, improving reliability and reducing crowding. The idea gained traction after the MTA temporarily rerouted the F train during a 63rd Street tunnel repair, which demonstrated the benefits.

The group’s advocacy included writing proposals, sending dozens of daily emails to officials, and lobbying elected leaders. Zheng credited JTA members — Jeffrey, Justin, Alexa and Scott — for the behind-the-scenes work that kept the effort alive.

“Knowing that all these benefits are happening in part because we, you know, we just constantly talked about this, first to different politicians, then to the public — you know, it works, and that’s like one of the most rewarding parts,” Zheng said.

In June 2024, the MTA confirmed its intent to move forward with the F/M Swap, aiming for implementation in December 2025 pending board approval.

While the swap has been their flagship issue, JTA’s advocacy extends to other projects, including the QueensLink, the 7 Train Project, and the Interborough Express. Zheng said the group supports building the IBX on schedule, automating its operations, and using it as a model for future subway automation in New York. They also support boosting housing construction near IBX stations to address the city’s housing shortage while guarding against displacement.

The group is currently developing a proposal to increase F train frequency during off-peak hours and add more F express service in South Brooklyn. They are also researching ways to restore subway service frequencies cut during the 2010 budget crisis.

“The most rewarding part is showing that politics matters. You know, our voice, it matters,” Zheng said. “That makes it definitely worth it.”

For Zheng, the fight is personal. He remembers waiting at Roosevelt Avenue for an E train to Court Square while several F trains passed by, wishing the swap had been in place.

Edward runs JTA’s YouTube channel and is the group’s primary video producer, handling most of the content himself after asking other members to help and finding few volunteers. The channel serves as JTA’s main outreach tool — publishing explainer videos, launching campaigns such as the F/M Swap, gauging public response, and helping drive petitions, rallies and canvassing efforts. Edward leans on other members  for proposal writing, emailing and event work; he also says that after he posts a video he often signs off, but finds seeing audience reactions and support rewarding.

The JTA engages with students, alumni, and the public through its YouTube channel, petitions, rallies, and canvassing at transit-related events. They also collaborate with politicians and community leaders to refine proposals and build political support.

Zheng emphasizes that while he produces much of the group’s video content, the JTA is a team effort. “JTA itself can’t, you know, be functional without other people who constantly help me advocate and write emails and plan events,” he said.

Readers interested in getting involved can email TTA@jointtransit.org.

Courtesy REBNY

MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

New York City is falling well short of its ambitious goal to add 500,000 new housing units by 2034, according to a new report from the Real Estate Board of New York that warns current policies and incentives are not producing homes fast enough to address the city’s deepening housing crisis.

The report, REBNY’s New Housing Development Pipeline, analyzes permit and construction data from the city Department of Buildings from the first quarter of 2024 through the third quarter of 2025. It also offers an early assessment of major housing initiatives, including City of Yes, the 485-x tax incentive and the 467-m program, which encourages office-to-residential conversions.

Since the start of 2024, just 66,162 housing units have been completed citywide, about 13 percent of the decade-long target. To stay on track, the city would have needed to produce an average of 12,500 units per quarter starting in 2024. Instead, construction has averaged about 9,452 units per quarter.

As a result, the pace of building required for the remainder of the decade has risen sharply. REBNY estimates that the city would now need to complete roughly 13,147 units per quarter through 2034, an increase of nearly 39 percent from the current rate, to meet the goal.

That shortfall has created what the report describes as a 433,838-unit housing gap, a challenge made more daunting by slow-moving development timelines. Projects with 10 or more units now take at least four years to complete, reflecting rising costs, regulatory hurdles and financing challenges.

“The current tools for housing production are not adequate to meet the needs of New York City, and without the creation of significant new incentive programs and comprehensive rezonings there is no way we will meet our goal to build 500,000 new homes by 2034,” said James Whelan, President of the Real Estate Board of New York. “This city needs a much more aggressive set of proposals to drive new housing production, lower costs and deliver a New York City that works for everyone. Our industry is ready to work with our leaders in City Hall and Albany to do just that.”

The report also examines the Affordable Neighborhoods for New Yorkers Tax Incentive program, known as 485-x, which replaced the long-running 421-a program in 2024. REBNY found that 485-x accounts for just 3 percent of all housing units currently in pre-development or under construction across the five boroughs, raising questions about whether the program is strong enough to spur large-scale development.

Further concerns emerge in the pre-development pipeline. While 47,124 units are technically in pre-development, about a third of them, or 14,419 units, were pre-filed more than five years ago and are considered unlikely to move forward. The number of projects stuck in pre-development for more than five years has grown by more than 7 percent on average each quarter since early 2024, representing thousands of units that may never be built.

At the same time, REBNY credits recent policy wins with preventing an even steeper decline in housing production. The report estimates that there would be at least 38 percent fewer units in the pipeline had the real estate industry not successfully advocated for a deadline extension of the 421-a program and for the creation of 467-m, which allows commercial buildings to be converted into housing with permanently affordable units.

Brooklyn leads the city in active construction, with 29,361 units under construction as of the end of the third quarter of 2025, accounting for 39 percent of all units being built. Manhattan follows with 15,767 units, or 21 percent, while Queens has 14,883 units, the Bronx 13,664 and Staten Island 1,122.

A similar pattern appears in completed housing since the start of 2024. Brooklyn again ranks first with 26,563 units completed, about 40 percent of the citywide total. Queens follows with 16,767 units, the Bronx with 13,456, Manhattan with 8,039 and Staten Island with 1,229.

The report situates these findings against the backdrop of an acute housing shortage, marked by a citywide rental vacancy rate of 1.41 percent, the lowest since 1968, and a record number of families living in shelters. While state and city leaders have enacted tax incentives and zoning changes aimed at boosting housing supply, REBNY argues that far more aggressive action will be needed if New York City hopes to close the gap and ease pressure on renters in the years ahead.

MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

Holiday dinners hosted at two Queens public schools this month offered families facing housing instability a rare chance to slow down, share a meal and spend time together in a welcoming setting.

The events were organized by Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens in partnership with the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation as part of the nonprofit’s ongoing Adopt-a-Family holiday initiative. Dinners were held Dec. 18 at P.S. 16Q, The Nancy DeBenedittis School, and Dec. 22 at P.S. 92Q, The Harry T. Stewart, Sr. School, both in Corona. New York State Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, who represents the 39th Assembly District, attended in support.

“It was truly meaningful to see P.S. 16 transformed into a home, a place of warmth, joy, and connection. For many families navigating housing instability and economic uncertainty, the holidays can be especially difficult. Events like this offer more than a meal. They provide dignity, comfort, and a sense of belonging,” Cruz said. “I’m deeply thankful to Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens and the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation for appreciating all families, honoring the cultural diversity of our community, and reminding our neighbors that they are supported not just during the holidays, but year-round. This is the power of partnership and what it looks like when we show up for one another in Queens.”

School cafeterias were decorated with holiday lights, music and activity tables for children, who posed for photos with Santa, played games and showed off art projects. Donations included stuffed animals from the Bronx Zoo, toys from the 110 Precinct Youth Explorers and Elmhurst Hospital, and household items from the nonprofit God’s Blessings Plan. Parents and caregivers were able to spend uninterrupted time together as children played nearby.

Each dinner welcomed about 100 guests, many living in temporary housing or homes without reliable cooking facilities. Families were served a sit-down holiday meal that included turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, along with vegetarian options. Organizers said the menu was designed to reflect the cultural diversity of Queens.

“These events are about more than food,” said Yoselin Genao Estrella, executive director of Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens. “NHS of Queens and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation serve Queens families in different, yet deeply connected, ways: housing and financial stability on one side, healthcare access and wellness on the other. Through our Adopt-a-Family initiative, we bring those missions together to offer families nourishment, relief, and hope at a time when stress and uncertainty are often at their highest. It is a powerful example of what community collaboration can achieve.”

Behind the scenes, NHS of Queens staff worked with school parent coordinators to identify families most in need and to coordinate food, decorations and on-site support. Families also received information about housing assistance, financial counseling and health insurance options during the events.

“We’re all stronger when we stand together with trusted community partners,” said Dr. Mark Levy, president and CEO, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield New York. “By working with a common purpose – to remove barriers to stable housing, nutritious food, and quality healthcare – we’re helping Queens families move from crisis to stability.”

Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens serves more than 12,000 residents annually, with a focus on Community Boards 3 and 4, areas with some of the borough’s highest rates of housing instability and food insecurity. The organization has long partnered with public schools as access points for families in crisis.

Parents and caregivers described the dinners as a welcome break from daily stress, organizers said, as children laughed, played and posed for photos.

“The holiday season should be a time of warmth, joy, and togetherness for every family. In Queens, our public schools become places of comfort and community, and these holiday dinners offered families facing housing instability a chance to gather, share a meal, and celebrate with dignity during a stressful time of year. I’m grateful to Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens and the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation for bringing holiday cheer, meaningful support to our neighbors, and for reminding families that they are seen, valued, and cared for,” said Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, who represents the 34th Assembly District.