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On COVID Anniversary, González-Rojas Highlights Health Inequities

BQE Admin on March 19, 2026

Queens Lawmaker Proposes Five-Point Community Health Plan

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

On the anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, State Assembly Member and Democrat for State Senate Jessica González-Rojas unveiled a comprehensive five-point plan to rebuild neighborhood health care infrastructure in Queens, aiming to ensure communities like East Elmhurst, Corona, and Jackson Heights are better prepared for future public health crises. The announcement was made Tuesday at a press conference at First Baptist Church in East Elmhurst, a hub for community outreach and support during the pandemic.

These neighborhoods were among the hardest-hit in New York City during the early months of COVID-19. Hospitals were overwhelmed, families lost loved ones, and essential workers—including nurses, airport staff, grocery clerks, and delivery drivers—faced extraordinary risks. Many residents had limited access to primary care, preventive services, and culturally competent medical resources, leaving them vulnerable when the virus surged.

“Six years ago, our communities became the epicenter of the epicenter of the COVID pandemic,” González-Rojas said. “We remember the loved ones we lost. We remember the fear and the uncertainty. We remember the extraordinary courage of our neighbors who showed up for each other every single day. Public health doesn’t start in Albany or in Washington. Public health starts in our neighborhoods. This is about building a health system rooted in community, prevention, and equity.”

The five-point plan proposed by González-Rojas focuses on building and strengthening local health infrastructure while addressing systemic disparities:

González-Rojas’s Five-Point Community Health Plan

Build a new primary care clinic in East Elmhurst: The clinic will provide accessible primary care in a neighborhood that experienced some of the highest COVID-19 infection and mortality rates in the city.

Expand community health services in Corona and Jackson Heights: The plan calls for partnerships with trusted community organizations to provide additional primary care, mental health services, and preventive care directly where residents live and work.

Strengthen public health emergency preparedness: Investments will ensure hospitals, clinics, and community providers are better coordinated and prepared for future public health crises.

Expand mental health services for youth and families: Recognizing the long-term effects of the pandemic, the plan emphasizes school- and community-based mental health resources.

Support and protect frontline health workers: Measures will provide resources and support for the workforce that keeps the health system running, including hospital staff and community health workers.

State Assembly Member Catalina Cruz, a longtime advocate for Queens communities, highlighted the ongoing need for equitable investment: “Thank you for bringing us together when this first hit. I don’t think any of us knew quite what to expect. And there are plans like this that will make sure that we are working together, not just as elected officials, but as community leaders, and that we care about people to make sure our community can survive.”

Pastor Patrick H. Young, who led First Baptist Church’s COVID response, emphasized the role of community institutions in filling gaps left by the public health system. “We became the lifeline for our community. We still provide mental health centers, free for 12 weeks. I just had a meeting this week to plan and move forward to execute this wonderful health clinic here in our community,” he said. During the pandemic, the church provided food, clothing, and makeshift medical support to thousands of families, serving as a model for community-based intervention.

Former City Council Member Daniel Dromm, who represented Queens during the early weeks of the pandemic, stressed health care as a fundamental right. “Healthcare is a human right. This community has traditionally been overlooked for healthcare. Finally, we have someone who also believes that health care is a human right. Thank you for doing this, and I’m very proud to be here,” Dromm said, recalling the long lines outside Elmhurst Hospital and the struggles faced by residents who lacked primary care.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams praised the community-driven focus of González-Rojas’s plan. “Jessica Rojas is putting together a five-point plan. So we’re not just remembering people in vain. We’re doing something so we don’t add any more names. This is a well thought out plan that is community based. Community we provide investment,” Williams said, emphasizing that strong local coordination is key to preventing future crises.

Working Families Party State Director Jasmine Grapper highlighted González-Rojas’s leadership and dedication to her district. “She’s not afraid of hard work, she’s not afraid of showing up. We are proud to support you. Thank you for your vision and your leadership, and we’re excited to get you into this seat so that you can continue to lead this community and lead our people,” Grapper said.

González-Rojas’s announcement also underscored the importance of immigrant and working-class families in the district. Many residents were essential workers during the pandemic, balancing jobs with caregiving responsibilities while facing barriers to health care access. González-Rojas said her plan is designed to ensure language access, culturally competent care, and neighborhood-based services that reflect the realities of the community.

“There are so many that I’m thinking of today, so many of our neighbors that are no longer with us, but I’m here to deliver a five-point plan, to say that you matter, your life matters to us, and that we want to make sure there are no more lives lost to a pandemic that we were unprepared for,” González-Rojas said as she closed the event.

5,000 Free Tickets Highlight Independent Queens and Brooklyn Theaters

BQE Admin on March 19, 2026

Courtesy Freepik 

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

Independent moviegoers in Queens and Brooklyn will have a rare opportunity to see local cinemas take center stage during the city’s first-ever Art House Cinema Week, set for March 20–26. The initiative, announced by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) and Art House New York (AHNY), will feature screenings at nearly 30 independent theaters across the city.

“MOME, in partnership with Art House NY, is proud to help kick off NYC’s inaugural Cinema Week by funding 5,000 free tickets, so more New Yorkers can experience the magic of cinema while supporting their local theaters. This initiative reflects our vision for an inclusive creative economy that supports the people who make art, the people who experience it, and the venues that bring it to life. At a time when many New Yorkers and independent theaters are feeling the squeeze of the affordability crisis, we’re stepping in with a simple way to open doors and strengthen our creative ecosystem. I hope to see you at the movies!” said Rafael Espinal, Commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME).

Espinal, who previously led the Freelancer’s Union, emphasized the local and community focus of the week. “Well, first and foremost, it’s going to serve to highlight the city’s vibrant cultural institutions and provide New Yorkers the opportunities to rediscover their local independent cinemas and be able to come together. You know, in these theaters is a greater community experience and enjoy the art of filmmaking. What I love about this initiative in particular is that we’re doing three things right. One, we’re supporting the small businesses that provide avenues for this art to be experienced by New Yorkers. Two, we’re making affordable, if not free, for everyday New Yorkers to be able to access the culture these spaces provide. And we’re supporting the greater economy, because I think we all know that the trend towards watching cinema in the theaters has been on a downward spiral, and we’re open to re-engage and re-motivate folks to get back into the movie theaters, for sure.”

The event offers a mix of perks, including discounted memberships, reduced concession prices, and curated programming ranging from cult classics to documentary premieres. Several theaters in Queens and Brooklyn will take part in Cinema Week, offering special screenings and promotions aimed at bringing audiences back to neighborhood cinemas. In Queens, participating venues include UnionDocs in Ridgewood; Kew Gardens Cinemas, which is offering $5 admission for all shows during Cinema Week; and Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, which is offering 10% off new memberships and hosting screenings of films from 25 years ago, including the Made in NY film The Royal Tenenbaums. Brooklyn participants include Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn, Brooklyn Academy of Music – Cinématek, Cobble Hill Cinemas, Nitehawk Cinema, and Williamsburg Cinema.

Espinal noted his personal connection to Queens theaters. “I went to CUNY Queens College, and on the way home, back to East New York, Brooklyn, I’ll have the path in Forest Hills Queens. And as a big cinema buff myself, I was really interested in seeing this independent film called Broken Flowers by Jim Jarmusch, which starred, which starred, what’s his name, Bill Murray, and it was the first time I would say, you know, as a college student, maybe as a young adult, where I bought a ticket by myself and sat down and was able to experience an independent film. And it was just memorable experience for me to be able to do that, and to be able to have access to films that normally aren’t shown in more mainstream theaters, was amazing. I think, you know, that experience in itself, I think, reinforces why these theaters are so important.”

The free tickets are available to eligible New Yorkers, including CUNY students, teachers, military personnel, SNAP/EBT cardholders, and families registered with Cool Culture. No advance registration is required; tickets can be picked up directly at participating theaters.

Cinema Week organizers hope this inaugural event becomes an annual fixture. “I think I would say that this is a great opportunity for New Yorkers to get off the couch and be able to go out with their families and experience movies how they were intended to be, to be experienced, and that’s in the movie theater,” Espinal said.

For more information on participating theaters and programming, visit www.arthouseny.org.

NYC’s Massive Social Welfare Spending Worsens Poverty

BQE Admin on March 19, 2026

Political Whisperer

BY ROBERT HORNAK

An alarming new report was just released that shows the poverty rate at its highest level since this report first began tracking poverty in the city over ten years ago.

The Poverty Tracker report, issued in collaboration between the anti-poverty group Robin Hood and Columbia University, showed that in spite of having the highest taxes in the nation and a massive social welfare system, poverty in NYC has increased year by year and now stands at 26%, double the national average of 13%.

Party thanks to an inflation explosion, 2023 found 2.1 million New Yorkers living in poverty, 100,000 more than in 2022. In 2024, the poverty rate was expected to decline with inflation finally starting to slow. Instead the number of New Yorkers in poverty increased by another 100,000. This includes 450,000 children now living in poverty.

This was happening as NYC saw a net population decrease in 2023 of 78,000 residents. And while 2024 city outmigration figures are not available, NYS had net outmigration of 120,000 residents from 2023-2024. At the same time, NYC was taking in tens of thousands of illegal migrants, concealing the damaging loss of thousands of working class residents.

NYC spends billions every year on social welfare programs. In fact, according to the NYS Comptroller, NYC has the highest per-capita welfare spending in the nation.

In 2023, an incredible $2.4 billion in cash assistance was given to just over 720,000 city dwellers, almost $3,500 per person. That amount increased by half a billion over each of the two previous years, with the number of recipients increasing from 555,000 over the same period. These were the highest numbers since this was first tracked over a decade ago.

In addition, the city spends $14 billion on the Dept. of Social Services, $4.4 billion on the Dept. of Homeless Services, and $3.3 billion on children’s services. The state spends approximately $8 billion on Medicaid, most of which is in NYC, and spends $500 million on WIC food assistance that covers 233,700 city residents. The spending is unfathomable and things continue to get worse, in spite of all the programs and money spent.

And while everyone speculates what the effects of some federal cuts in social spending in this or that program might mean to future outcomes, nobody is asking the one question that really matters – with all these programs, why do more people keep falling into poverty?

Billions of dollars are being spent in NYC, increasing year after year after year. Meanwhile the problem gets worse and worse. What is it the NY is getting so wrong? This problem doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as bad in most other states that don’t have the same massive spending NY has for these programs.

When do we finally stop and admit that the emperor has no clothes.

In comparison, Florida – considered NYC’s sixth borough – has a poverty rate of 12%, below the national average. As of 2021, their social welfare spending was one of the lowest per capita in the country at approximately $1,524 per person. Historically troubled Washington D.C. has a poverty rate of only 14%.

Democrats will surely try to blame this on Republican cuts. But many other Democrat-run states are not having the same problem, and they are not spending the billions that NY is spending.

Consider that since 2014, Democrats have had total control over NYC government, holding the mayoralty and control of the City Council. Since 2013, Democrats have held the governor’s office and majorities in both chambers of the statehouse. And, since 2009, Democrats have held the presidency for all but five years and for approximately half that time they’ve had majorities in Congress.

If Democrats had any grand ideas there was plenty of time for them to pass. The idea that Republican policies in any way are responsible for NYC’s massive failure to even moderately improve the lives of people looking to government for help with the billions it spends is not just a cop out. It’s malfeasance on an unimaginable scale. And confirms the emperor is indeed stark naked.

 

Robert Hornak is a veteran political consultant who previously served as deputy director of the Republican assembly leader’s NYC office and as executive director of the Queens Republican Party. He can be reached at rahornak@gmail.com and @roberthornak on X.

Deadly Four-Alarm Fire In Flushing Kills Four, Injures Several

BQE Admin on March 19, 2026

A four-alarm fire in Queens left four people dead and several others injured Monday afternoon, according to the Fire Department of the City of New York. Crews responded shortly before 12:30 p.m. to 44-49 College Point Blvd., where heavy flames were reported on all three floors of the building. Two additional victims were taken to nearby hospitals in critical condition. During firefighting operations, a stairwell inside the building collapsed, trapping two firefighters who were later rescued and transported to hospitals in stable condition.

More than 230 firefighters and EMS personnel responded to the blaze, which was brought under control just before 2:45 p.m. “This is a difficult and tragic day. There were several victims in this fire. The Fire Department did an extraordinary job under difficult circumstances, putting this fire out and saving people. I can’t thank them enough for their continued efforts and commitment to life safety,” said Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore. Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said firefighters encountered heavy fire upon arrival and rescued a victim from the second floor using a portable ladder before the stairwell collapse. As crews worked to free the trapped firefighters, other members performed CPR on victims outside the building. Fire marshals are investigating the cause.

The World’s Borough Showed Out for the Queens Sign’s First Anniversary

BQE Admin on March 19, 2026

By Maryam Rahman

A birthday candle was attached to each letter of the bright blue “Queens, the World’s Borough” sign located in MacDonald Park. The year’s first sixty-degree day brought out hundreds of Queens residents, as they crowded into all nooks and crannies of the park. Dozens lined up to take photos with Mr. and Mrs. Met, joined in on dance performances, and bought Girl Scout cookies by the handful. Since it was International Women’s Day, cheers even went out to Mrs. Met, who blew kisses to the crowd.

The Queens Sign Block Party took place on Sunday, commemorating the first anniversary of the sculpture created by Larry Ng. The event was produced by Northwell Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital, and kicked off with remarks from Ng, president of LIJ Forest Hills Lorraine Chambers Lewis, and representatives such as Councilmember Lynn Schulman and Congresswoman Grace Meng.

Ng’s original vision for the sign was for the diversity of Queens to be highlighted. He used the same font as Milton Glaser’s I ❤ NY logo, along with the colors of the Queens flag. Ng attributed the turnout to everybody being “sick of the snow and storm.” Still, he said, “I think it’s just a great day for Queens.”

Booths of small businesses, community organizations, and local services were set up across the park. In the center, DJ Nett and several young DJs from the nonprofit The Nettwork Inc played back-to-back hits, like Master KG’s “Jersualema” and Elvis Crespo’s “Suavemente.” Immediately next to them, the Forest Hills Girl Scouts attracted major foot traffic as one of the most popular tables.

Dancers from Queensboro Dance Festival and Move Make Bloom also held live performances, in addition to holding mini dance classes. Even the littlest parkgoers practiced their moves, either rushing headfirst onto the dance floor or clutching a parent’s hand as they were coaxed on.

Attendees snacked on a variety of foods, including tostones rellenos at Ence’s booth, which promptly sold out, sourdough treats from Angie’s Artisan Sourdough Goods, and full meals from the Bad Mon Jerk Chicken & Waffles truck.

When asked how the event was for her as a business owner, Letaisha King, owner of the perfume oil brand Ah’lure Scents said, “Nothing short of amazing.” King spoke of how the event provided an opportunity to meet and make plans with other business owners as well as meet community members across cultures and walks of life.

“It’s a great turnout, plus the sun is coming out, and it was gloomy,” King said. “It’s like it was meant for today to happen, especially on a Sunday.

Other small business owners agreed. For Tiffany Huff, who runs 3Dimension Studio NYC alongside her husband, she said “for us, it means everything” to be able to come out to events like Sunday’s. Meeting community members in-person has allowed the business to become a viable source of income for Huff’s family.

It took Stancy Saji, government and community relations manager at Northwell LIJ Forest Hills, four months to plan the event alongside her team. Northwell Health had sponsored the sign and its unveiling last year, and Saji called Ng with the intent to do a birthday party reflecting the diversity the sign celebrates.

“For people to come out and meet each other in this kind of environment and space, I think we need that more than ever,” Saji said. “We have double dutch going on there, right? That’s from Southeast Queens. We have so many other unique elements that represent so many different zip codes.”

Visitors also stopped by to learn about resources at tables for Northwell Health, Community Board 6, Ridgewood Savings Bank, and more.

“Local access to care doesn’t mean anything if people don’t know about it,” Chambers Lewis said. “Doing things like this really bring the community together and organizing it. But then as well informing them so that they can have richer, longer lives.”

Both vendors and those just passing by expressed gratitude for the event.

Candice, a parkgoer visiting with her son and his friends said, “I hope it occurs next year as well for the second anniversary.”

Artist Yamilet Almonte, had set up her booth at nine in the morning, not expecting how loud it would soon get. “I was born and raised in Queens, so I feel like I’ve never seen these type of block parties. I find it more in other boroughs,” she said. “It’s finally nice to see that representation for Queens.”

Youth Roller Hockey League Drops Puck on Biggest Season Yet

BQE Admin on March 19, 2026

The Middle Village Players Roller Hockey League celebrated its 7th Opening Day puck drop this weekend, overcoming challenging weather conditions to kick off what is shaping up to be the league’s biggest season yet.

League volunteers and families worked tirelessly after removing a large amount of snow and waking up to a wet rink caused by two nights of misty conditions. Thanks to an incredible effort by an army of kids and parents—who squeegeed, mopped, vacuumed, and swept the rink dry—the league was able to get five of the six scheduled games played.

With 120 kids participating this season, MVP Roller Hockey has more than doubled in size since its inaugural Fall 2023 season, when the league began with just 50 players. The growth is a testament to the dedication of the volunteer families and neighbors who make the league possible.

Opening weekend delivered plenty of excitement, with three of the five games decided by just one goal and two games going to shootouts to determine the winner.

The league also hosted its Second-Ever Juniors Division game, featuring the first wave of mite-aged players who have now graduated into the older Juniors division.

Weekend Box Scores

Saturday

Game 1: The Tigers and Hawks battled to a 1–1 tie, with the Tigers prevailing 2–1 in a shootout.

Game 2: The Hitmen defeated the defending champion Cardinals 6–5 in a high-scoring matchup.

Sunday

Game 1: The Pogozelski brothers, along with league-leading playmaker Conor McPhillips and Luca Leone, led their squad to a 7–2 victory over the Dolphins.

Game 2: The Cardinals and Tigers battled to a 2–2 tie, with the Cardinals winning 1–0 in the shootout.

Game 3 (Juniors Division): The Jets defeated the defending champion Squirrels 8–6. Mason Monahan, Conor Greany, Joseph Scotti, and Lexington Baruch combined to score all eight Jets goals while adding five assists. The Squirrels were led by Alex “Hips” Wilkos, who recorded a hat trick to keep his team in the game.

Notable Performances

Alexander Posylkin scored four goals across two games.

The Feng brothers of the Hitmen, both new to the league, each scored their first goals.

The Woo sisters and their linemates Tereza Steskalova, and Jojo Anderson combined for four goals and four assists for the Cardinals.

Benji Wilkos recorded two goals for the Dolphins, while Max Szablinski added two goals for the Tigers.

Kalani Tapia and Sadie Ehrhart each scored their first goals of the season for the Hawks, showing that the league’s young girls are making a big impact and are not intimidated by the high level of competition.

Special recognition also goes out to all the goalies (Jax Anderson, Tommy Cernan, Leo Horowitz, Juan Jose Munoz, James O’Donnell, and The Mendes Brothers) who stepped up and filled in throughout the weekend.

MVP Roller Hockey is run entirely by volunteers and relies heavily on the support of local sponsors. Please visit the league’s sponsors page and support the businesses that help make this community league possible.

We are SO proud and want to give a huge shoutout to our MVP Alumni who just won the CHSHL B Division City Championship with Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School! 🏆🥅

Congratulations to:
Goalie Artur Prosinski
Anthony Corso
Gary O’Sullivan
Joey Chierichella
Mason Monahan

And a special shoutout to two amazing coaches who also volunteer in our league:
Jojo Pagano and Donato Campanella 🙌

Your hard work, dedication, and leadership both on and off the ice make our entire community proud. Keep representing and inspiring the next generation! 💪

Sunnyside’s Irish Olympic Powerhouse

BQE Admin on March 18, 2026

The secret history of the Irish American Athletic Association and its Sunnyside home. 

GEOFFREY COBB | gcobb91839@Aol.com

Author, “Greenpoint Brooklyn’s Forgotten Past

Every four years tens of thousands of residents of Queens, New York watch the Olympic Games, unaware that the borough wrote a glorious chapter in early Olympic history and that a group of Olympians who trained in a sporting complex between Woodside and Sunnyside became the first superstars of the Olympics. It’s a history every Queens resident should know and take pride in. Few people today, however, know the fascinating, but little-known story of the Irish American Athletic Association and its Queens home Celtic Park.

In the 1890s, when the modern Olympic movement was just beginning, few people could afford the luxury of competing as athletes, and those who did were almost exclusively white Protestant male members of New York’s Upper Class. Many of these blue bloods belonged to New York’s oldest sports club, the elitist New York Athletic Club, which looked askance at working-class and immigrant athletes who wanted to join the club, and often denied them membership.

In 1897, Irish immigrant P.J. Conway founded the Irish American Athletic Association and purchased land in what was then called Laurel Hill, Queens, near Calvary Cemetery. Though most of the members of the club were Irish American, anyone was free to join the club, unlike the New York Athletic Club. The I.A.A.C. quickly became one of the most ethnically diverse organizations in America and served as a “working man’s” athletic club, regardless of race of religion, in an era of fierce prejudice and discrimination.

The I.A.A.C. built a state-of-the-art track in Queens that opened in 1898 and the club would produce an astounding twenty-six Olympic gold medals, twenty-two silver medals and eight bronze medals for the American Olympic team between 1908 and 1924. The I.A.A.C. also won a total of 17 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national team championships—10 outdoor and 7 indoor. Additionally, club athletes won 81 individual national outdoor titles and 36 individual national indoor titles.

In the 1908 London Olympics alone, the club’s athletes won a remarkable twenty-four medals, including nine individual gold medals and two more in relay events. The I.A.A.C. won more medals alone in track and field than Great Britain, considered to be the world’s best track and field nation. The club’s Olympic medalists became the first Olympic athletes ever invited to a reception by the President. Theodore Roosevelt welcomed the I.A.A.C. Olympians to his summer home, where he was presented with a gold medal a club member had won and Roosevelt became an honorary I.A.A.C. member.

The I.A.A.C welcomed working class athletes of any backgrounds, and the first Jewish American and African American gold medal winners were members of the club. Myer Prinstein, a Polish-born Jewish immigrant who later practiced law in Queens, competed for the I.A.A.C at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics and won both the long jump, while setting an Olympic record, and the triple Jump on the same day, the only athlete ever to win both events in the same games. In Athens in 1906, he again won the long jump competition, beating the world record holder, Peter O’Connor.  In 1908, African American John Baxter Taylor became the first African American gold medalist while competing for the I.A.A.C. in the men’s medley relay team. Tragically, Taylor contracted typhoid and died shortly after the games at age twenty-seven.

The I.A.A.C. also produced the first superstars of the games, a group of Irish immigrant weight throwers known as “The Irish Whales” for their huge size and enormous appetites. Between 1900 and 1924, with an interruption because of World War I, these athletes won an astounding twenty-three Olympic medals, including twelve gold medals. Perhaps the finest of the group of legendary athletes was New York City Police Detective Martin Sheridan, a five-time Olympic gold medalist who won two golds in the 1906 Athens Games and three silvers. Greek King George was so impressed by Sheridan that he had a statue erected in his honor and sent him a gold goblet. In his obituary the New York Times hailed him as “one of the greatest athletes the United States has ever known.”

Located in Queens between 48th and 50th Avenues and 42nd to 44th Street, Celtic Park was more than an athletic training grounds. It was ground zero for Irish events, labor meetings and political rallies, but it closed during World War I and problems arose during prohibition when alcohol raids by federal agents led to donnybrooks and arrests.  In the 1920s, the Irish community opened a new sporting venue, Gaelic Park, in the Bronx, making Celtic Park, a secondary sports venue. Finally, in the 1930s, the land was sold to a developer and today an apartment building occupies the once hallowed sports ground.

For decades, the City of New York did nothing to commemorate the amazing achievements of the Irish American Athletic Association, but finally in 2012, thanks in large part to City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, the city designated 43rd street in Woodside Winged Fist Way, after the I.A.A.C.’s official emblem.

Memetic Warfare: Gotham Goose’s Campaign for Civic Engagement

BQE Admin on March 18, 2026

Through his satirical hyper-local news outlet, Nick Stergiou uses memes to get Astorians engaged in their community. 

BY COLE SINANIAN

cole@queensledger.com

Nick Stergiou is in many ways the archetypal Astorian everyman. He is half Greek, half Colombian, both a transplant and a native. The commercial producer and social media manager was born in New York but raised in Bakersfield, California, where his family ran a bagel business. The West Coast, however, was not Stergiou’s vibe, so at 18 he booked it back to the only place that felt like home: Astoria.

“It gave me a unique perspective on being a New Yorker, because I’ve always felt like a native and also a transplant at the same time,” Stergiou said.

Now 38, Stergiou is the brains behind the Gotham Goose, a popular hyper-local satire Instagram page that doubles as Stergiou’s ploy to get more Astorians engaged in local politics. As a teen, Stergiou developed his sense of humor watching late night hosts like Conan O’Brien and spent lots of time on the internet, growing fluent in the language of trolling. As an adult, he’s developed this fluency into a potent catalyst for civic engagement.

While running the social media accounts for his labor union, the Production Workers Guild IATSE Local 111, Stergiou deployed a strategy called “memetic warfare” to get members to sign union cards. A kind of propaganda technique, memetic warfare involves propagation of internet memes as a means of influencing public opinion. Anyone who follows the local Karaoke Shout Instagram page — which Stergiou runs — should be familiar with his irreverent brand of self-referential humor. With Gotham Goose, this looks like the merging of the local and national cultural zeitgeists through satirical, Astoria-centric Instagram memes.

One recent headline reads “Queens Pride Committee Votes to Flip ‘IA’ this year in LGBTQIA+ to include Community with AI Bot Relationships.” Another is headlined “Photos of Mayor Mamdani with Epstein are Real – Not AI Generated.” The Epstein in question, of course, is not the convicted sex-trafficker, but Manhattan City councilman Harvey Epstein. According to another post, the City unveiled a “monster truck-style ambulance” that can crush the parked cars on the notoriously congested 31st Ave with its giant wheels.

“There’s a problem with people believing everything they see on the internet and taking it seriously,” Stergiou said. “If you read and pay attention, you’ll be in on the joke. So it is sort of  revealing who is actually paying attention and who is not.”

In other words, if you know, you know. An attentive Astorian should be informed enough about the neighborhood and local politics to know whether or  not a post is satire, Stergiou explained. Sometimes, Stergiou posts real Astoria happenings, albeit with a satirical spin. One morning while walking down Ditmars Blvd, he watched as a worker put up a sign on a vacant storefront on the corner of 31st for a new restaurant called “Astoria BBQ.” Using a combination of photoshop and AI, Stergiou quickly crafted a post declaring that “BBQ” in Astoria stands for “Balkan  Breakfast Quesadillas,” a concept that might include on its menu “feta chilaquiles” and a “shakshuka morning melt.”

“Yes, I do post misinformation, but it’s obviously a joke,” he said. “It’s to make people laugh and realize, like, things are stupid and funny.”

Longtime Gotham Goose fans will also notice the recurring bird motif. The name was inspired by Stergiou’s lifelong affinity for birds; he is pigeon-toed and had pet cockatiels as a kid. “Honky the Snow Goose,” Gotham Goose’s official mascot, was allegedly seen chatting up “Astoria the Turkey” at Hallett’s Cove Beach, according to a March 11 post. Then there’s the shadowy cabal known as the “Council of Monk Parakeets,” whose enigmatic doings are — in Stergiou’s Gotham Goose universe — largely responsible for Astoria’s recent embrace of democratic socialist politicians.

In the Gotham Goose universe, the enigmatic “Council of Monk Parakeets” is the silent force driving Astoria’s left-wing politics. Photo via @gothamgoose on Instagram.

Monk parrots in New York are a real thing; observant New Yorkers may have seen their bright green wings flashing among the treetops across Brooklyn and Queen’s green spaces. Legend has it they’re descendants of a flock destined for pet stores that escaped from JFK in the 1970s. They’re now one of NYC’s thriving invasive bird populations, often nesting atop air conditioners, electrical poles, and lighting fixtures.

But in Stergiou’s satirized Astoria, the hooded Council of Monk Parakeets nests atop an electrical pole on 23rd Ave, and convenes in a conclave-esque ceremony whenever there’s a local election. In February, they “elected” Diana Moreno, who replaced Mamdani in Assembly District 36. Most recently, the Gotham Goose reported that the parakeets were seen “dropping political flyers” for Democratic  Socialist of America (DSA)-endorsed NY State Legislature candidates Phara Souffrant-Forrest and Jabari Brisport, and Claire Valdez, who’s running to replace Nydia Velázquez in New York’s 7th Congressional District.

“It’s basically the Parrot’s Republic of Astoria,” Stergiou wrote in a post, referring to the neighborhood’s nickname, “the People’s Republic of Astoria,” which alludes to its status as a hub for left-wing politics. “The volunteers knock doors, but the parrots quietly confirm what they decided weeks ago.”

But beneath Stergiou’s satire, there’s nuanced commentary on the unending New York City struggle between old timers and transplants and how that struggle affects local governance.

“The point is there’s some kind of driving force of nature that is affecting our politics,” Stergiou said. “The DSA seems so strong here it seems like sometimes people don’t have a choice because they’re just so active that it’s like, there’s gotta be something that’s keeping all these candidates coming. It’s the monk parrots.”

On a more serious note, Stergiou, who describes himself as democratic socialist-leaning, has little sympathy for Astorians who complain about transplants bringing their politics to the neighborhood but then refuse to engage in politics themselves. Whether these socialist newcomers are transplants or not, the kind of canvassing and grassroots campaigning that has become NYC-DSA’s trademark is a highly effective strategy for political mobilization, Stergiou points out. The old timers could take note.

“Native New Yorkers who are fed up with things, they complain a lot but they don’t participate,”  Stergiou said. “If everyone participated then maybe the change you want would happen, instead of just saying, like, oh,  the transplants are here and they ruined everything. It’s like, well, they just participated.”

Iftar with the Astoria Welfare Society

BQE Admin on March 17, 2026

BY COLE SINANIAN 

cole@queensledger.com 

JACKSON HEIGHTS — Gaggles of hungry teenagers shuffled into the cafeteria of IS 230 middle school in pods of four or five on Friday evening, all eager to break their Ramadan fasts with the heaps of fragrant rice and chicken being served from a large pot at the front of the room.

Some teens border on unruly — giggling and catcalling excitedly with their peers from their tables and booths as they anticipate the arrival of the evening’s keynote speaker, New York State Senator Jessica Ramos. The youngsters’ eyes widen as their plates are piled with food and Iftar — the evening meal after a day of Ramadan fasting — has commenced.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Jabed Uddin walks from table to table greeting everyone he sees with a firm handshake and a pat on the shoulder. As Secretary General of the Astoria Welfare Society — an organization dedicated to tackling food insecurity in Western Queens — Jabed is known among the local Bangladeshi Muslim community for his warm smile and devotion to community service.

Mohammed Jabed Uddin, general secretary of the Astoria Welfare Society with his son, Nihal.

Friday’s Iftar, organized in collaboration between the Astoria Welfare Society and Ramos’ office, is part of a series of Iftars organized each year at a different public school in Ramos’ district, which includes Corona, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights. On Friday, Ramos took the opportunity to draw attention to the importance of her work in Albany and urged unity at a time of political instability.

“I want to thank you, and as always, even though you’ve already broken your fast for today, I ask you to keep in mind everything that’s going on in our community and in our world,” Ramos said. “With immigration, with our young people— please keep us all in your prayers.”

Ramos continued: “I myself right now am in the middle of helping negotiate the New York State budget. That’s my job. I go to Albany every Monday to go negotiate with the Senate, with the Assembly, and with governor Hochul, so we can make sure we’re getting the funding we need for our schools like this one, our hospitals, our libraries, and so many other services that we depend on.”

After the meal, attendees laid down a mat in the center of the cafeteria to pray. Ramos then returned to the podium to deliver certificates to several distinguished community members, before gathering everyone in the room together for a group picture. A group of teen boys huddled in the corner, however, seemed uninterested in joining the photo, so Ramos — referring to the group as “the cool teenagers” — asked them to help with taking the photo.

Of  course, they could not say no to their state senator.

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