Dear Friends and Neighbors,
It is with great pride that I introduce myself as your new Assemblymember for District 37, and as the first Latino to represent Sunnyside, Ridgewood, Long Island City, Maspeth, and Woodside in this seat. I would like to use this opportunity to tell you how my office has been advocating for you in Albany and to share what we have been doing in the district.
In various parts of the district, we have hit the ground running visiting three dozen small business. We shared information related to small business support & grants, in addition to distributing COVID-19 testing kits. Our office has started troubleshooting constituent cases on topics such as ERAP, Labor, traffic related issues, and housing. On the topic of street safety and equity, I was proud to advocate for and push for the roll out of over two dozen new Citi Bike stations in Ridgewood and Maspeth. This is a monumental step forward for transit equity in the district, and for creating a more connected New York City.
One of my top priorities in office, however, is to ensure we enact measures that bring about true public safety for all our constituents. That is why I met with the 108th Precinct, the 104th Precinct and Queens North Patrol Borough to discuss an array of issues regarding street safety, gun violence, traffic calming measures, quality of life issues and more. I expressed my concerns about the response and treatment of houseless individuals, and those who are suffering from a lack of mental healthcare. Pointedly, I raised questions regarding gender-based violence, LGBTQIA hate crimes & disproportionate violence against black and brown New Yorkers. As we work to address these complex issues, I will focus on the importance of investing first in community-based solutions, prevention, accountability & transparency.
Above all, my office will be focused on accessibility, so that every member of the district is able to reach us. In order to meet with more members of the district, my team and I launched a series of mobile office hours at the Ridgewood Queens Public Library this week, with more dates and locations being added in the near future. We have also started taking in-person appointments to meet with constituents at our district office in Sunnyside, at 45-10 Skillman Ave. Anyone interested in scheduling an appointment can contact 718-784-3194, or they can email ardilaj@nyassembly.gov. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Juan Ardila, MPA
Member of Assembly, District 37
