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Brooklyn DA Offers AirPods for Guns in East New York

BQE Admin on December 8, 2025

Photo via DA Gonzalez’s office

By JACK DELANEY | jdelaney@queensledger.com

Could AirPods help reduce the number of gun deaths in Brooklyn? 

The DA’s office thinks so. On Saturday, local District Attorney Eric Gonzalez partnered with St. Paul Community Baptist Church in East New York to host a buyback event where Brooklynites could trade in guns for $500 bank cards — with the first 100 attendees getting AirPods, to boot.

“Brooklyn is about to finish this year with record lows in homicides and shootings — a testament to the comprehensive and holistic approach we have taken to reduce gun violence,” said Gonzalez, adding that gun buybacks are integral to those efforts because “they allow the community to get involved.”

By the time the six-hour event was over, a total of 157 firearms had been collected. Gonzalez’s team offered rewards that differed based on the type of weapon: $500 for operable guns and assault rifles, $200 for 3D-printed or ghost guns, $75 for rifles and shotguns, and $25 for airsoft, imitation, and inoperable guns.

The buyback followed a no-questions-asked policy, preserving the anonymity of participants. However, active or retired law enforcement officers and licensed gun dealers were ineligible.

“As a community-rooted Baptist church serving East New York since 1927, we are committed to promoting safety and wellness for our congregation and our neighbors,” said Rev. Dr. David K. Brawley, the church’s lead pastor. “To that end, we are proud to partner with the Brooklyn DA’s Office on gun safety initiatives that help reduce violence and support a healthier, safer community.”

A spokesperson for the DA’s office emphasized that it holds periodic buybacks throughout Brooklyn, pulling more than 600 guns out of circulation over the past three years.

This weekend’s event comes as the borough experiences a steep drop in gun deaths. Though shootings rose slightly in November, Brooklyn saw 29% fewer homicides in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the city as a whole is on pace to post the lowest yearly tally of shooting incidents and victims in its history.

“Red Cup Rebellion” Comes to Gowanus

BQE Admin on December 8, 2025

By COLE SINANIAN | news@queensledger.com

Starbucks workers protesting against unfair labor practices in Gowanus on Monday, December 1, received a welcome show of solidarity when Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani and Senator Bernie Sanders showed up to address the crowd. 

The protesters, members of the union Starbucks Workers United, had been striking around the country since November 13 in the longest unfair labor practices (ULP) strike in Starbucks history. Workers  are on strike for a union contract that would boost staffing levels and to draw attention to the ULP charges the union has filed related to the Starbuck’s union-busting activities. The strike has been called the “Red Cup Rebellion,” and has affected some 95 Starbucks stores in 65 cities. 

The protest comes as Starbucks, which pulled in $37 billion this year, is being fined $35.5 million by the City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection for violating NYC’s Fair Workweek Law. 

Among the protesters was City Council Member and fellow Democratic Socialist Tiffany Caban.

Mamdani addressed the crowd amid signs with slogans like “What’s Disgusting? Union Busting!” and “No Contract, No Starbucks!”

“I’ve said this to many of the unions that are here today, many of the rank and file, which is that we want to build an administration that is characterized by being there for workers every single step of the way, “ he said. 

Sanders’s speech stuck to his typical themes of  America’s high wealth disparity and the increasingly powerful oligarchic class: “We are living in an economy where the people on top have never, ever had it so good,” he said. “You have one man owning more wealth than the bottom 52% of American households. The CEOs made unbelievable salaries, 60% of our people in Vermont, in New York City, all over this country are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to pay the rent, struggling to pay for health care, struggling to put food on the table.”

South Slope Street Co-Named After Donna Maxil

BQE Admin on December 8, 2025

Council Member Alexa Aviles (front row, second from left) with family and friends at the co-naming in South Slope.

By JACK DELANEY | jdelaney@queensledger.com

Late last month, a new street sign was affixed to a pole in South Slope, on 17th Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues, christening “Donna Maxil’s Way.”

Even if this co-naming hadn’t come to fruition, however, this small patch of Brooklyn would have been Maxil’s. “[Donna] was the perfect example of how if you take care of your family and neighbors, you can start to change the world,” wrote Anthony Almojera, one of several dozen community members who attended the ceremony on November 22, describing her as “a truly wonderful human being.”

Maxil was born and raised on the block, and continued to shape the neighborhood throughout her life. After battling cancer, she founded the 17th Street Cancer Crusade in 2005 to raise money for researching a cure. Though it started small, the block party fundraiser — featuring face paint booths, raffle prizes, and a flea market — eventually became a local staple that would draw friends and relatives from across the country. 

Maxil passed away in 2021, but the Cancer Crusade has continued under the auspices of her daughter Melissa. (Both Donna and Melissa were recognized by the Brooklyn DA’s office in 2013 as part of a 33-person cohort of “Brooklyn’s Extraordinary Women.”)

“Over the years, [Donna’s] name became synonymous with 17th Street,” said City Council Member Alexa Aviles, who represents the area, adding that she was “deeply beloved and respected by her family and community.”

Having once attended local elementary school PS 124, Maxil would later give back as a long-time PTA member, then paraprofessional, and finally parent coordinator. As news of the co-naming spread, tributes from former students poured in online.

“I am lost for words,” said Rob Aurelius. “[She] was such an amazing school aid, and she always made sure I kept out of trouble. Even in my adult life, Donna and I always kept in touch and hugged every time we saw each other. Thank you, Donna, for being a positive influence in my life.”

Fellow PS 124 alum Mercy Figueroa echoed Aurelius’ sentiments. “I will always remember how she brought homemade goodies for us in school like chocolate lollipops,” said Figueroa, writing shortly after Maxil’s death. “She had a beautiful and kind smile.”

Maxil also served as the president of the 72nd Precinct Council, working to connect local law enforcement with her neighbors. Officers joined residents at the co-naming celebration, and the precinct’s post about the event summed the prevailing feeling up concisely: “May this new name stand as a lasting tribute to her life, legacy, and impact on our community.”

Menin Declares Victory, Extending Brooklyn’s City Council Speaker Drought

BQE Admin on December 8, 2025

Manhattan rep Julie Menin says she has the support needed to become the next speaker of the City Council.

By JACK DELANEY | jdelaney@queensledger.com

The race to become the second most powerful official in New York City had scarcely started before it was over.

Last Wednesday, November 26, City Council Member Julie Menin announced that she has secured endorsements from 36 of the legislative body’s 51 members, giving her a commanding supermajority that all but guarantees she will be the next speaker.

In the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral win, five council members had emerged as candidates for the speakership: Crystal Hudson of Brooklyn, Selvena Brooks-Powers of Queens, Amanda Farías of the Bronx, and Menin and Christopher Marte of Manhattan. 

Menin, 58, and Hudson, 42, were seen as the strongest contenders in a secretive campaign that’s often compared to a popularity contest. But within weeks, Menin rallied both moderate Democrats and Republicans, who view her as a check on the mayor-elect, alongside a smattering of progressives to effectively clinch the race— the swiftest result since the speaker’s position was introduced.

Hudson conceded shortly after Menin’s announcement. “I have always said this should be a member driven process; and today, my colleagues have made their choice clear,” the Downtown Brooklyn rep said in a statement. “I am optimistic and excited for the future of [NYC] and look forward to continuing to deliver for the city that we all love.”

So who is Menin, and what will her tenure as speaker mean for New Yorkers?

A Varied Resume

Menin’s long career has included stints in business, government, law, and foundation work, a varied resume that many of her boosters highlighted in their endorsements.

“She’s been a business owner, a nonprofit leader, a Commissioner, and a Councilmember,” said Minority Leader Joanne Ariola. “At every step she’s shown that she can cut through the red tape of city bureaucracy and produce real results.”

Menin was born in 1967 to a painter and a radiologist, and grew up in Washington, D.C., where she would also begin her professional journey as a regulatory attorney in 1992 — two years before her soon-to-be post as city council speaker was officially established.

Corporate law eventually brought Menin to NYC, and in 1999 she pivoted to the food sector, opening a restaurant in lower Manhattan called Vine. When the eatery was damaged during the 9/11 attacks, she launched a new organization: Wall Street Rising, a nonprofit dedicated to rebuilding businesses in the financial district that grew to 30,000 members. (One of its early actions was partnering with Robert DeNiro to pull together the first Tribeca Film Festival in 2002; Bill de Blasio would later name Menin as the city’s “film czar.”)

Menin’s next act was in local government. In 2005, she was elected as the chair of Manhattan’s Community Board 1, a role she kept for seven years. The most significant test of her leadership came when a mosque was proposed near the World Trade Center in 2010, sparking Islamophobic backlash; with Menin at the helm, the board voted 29-1 in favor of the mosque, but pushed for the inclusion of an interfaith community center.

City officials took notice. Following a failed bid to become Manhattan Borough President in 2013, Menin was tapped to run the Department of Consumer Affairs, where she carried out the recently-created paid sick leave law, spearheaded a tax credit for low-income residents, and worked to reduce fines against small businesses. 

But Menin wasn’t one to be restricted to a single niche. Drawing on her time at Wall Street Rising, Menin pivoted again in 2016 to head the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, brokering a deal to bring the Grammys back to NYC after a 15 year hiatus. Then, as De Blasio’s term came to close, she oversaw the implementation of the 2020 census and won a Supreme Court case to block the Trump administration from including a question about citizenship status.

Menin was elected to the City Council in 2022, representing the Upper East Side and parts of Harlem and Midtown. As with her career, the legislation she’s introduced and sponsored has been varied, with an emphasis on small businesses: bills passed this session ranged from requiring licensing for self-storage warehouses to providing legal services for low-income domestic violence survivors. 

Much of the buzz around Menin’s bid for speaker has cast her as a potential foe to Mamdani, highlighting her Jewish identity and her marriage to a real estate developer. Meanwhile, stalwarts of the City Council’s Progressive Caucus like Brooklyn Council Member Shahana Hanif expressed disappointment that Hudson was snubbed, worrying that Menin would hinder the mayor-elect’s agenda.

But early indicators suggest otherwise. Menin and Mamdani met recently, as reported by Politico, and in an interview last week she stressed their common goals — including “fast and free” buses and creating a Department of Community Safety to shift mental health calls away from the NYPD. 

Menin also reiterated her commitment to building affordable housing on empty lots and above some public libraries, and to expanding NYC Kids Rise, a college savings program she launched while serving under De Blasio.

“With this broad five-borough coalition, we stand ready to partner with mayor-elect Mamdani’s administration and deliver on a shared agenda that makes New York more affordable through universal childcare, lowers rent and healthcare costs, and ensures that families across the city can do more than just get by,” Menin said in Wednesday’s announcement.

What powers will she have as speaker to accomplish those aims?

The Speaker’s Curse

The speaker represents the council as its figurehead, both publicly and in negotiations with the mayor. 

But much of their day-to-day is spent wrangling the chamber, determining its legislative priorities and steering the timeline for hearings and votes. As speaker, Menin will be tasked with hand-picking the heads of committees, and will set the budgets for each council member’s office.

In the past, speakers have also acted as checks on the mayor. Menin will lead talks with Mamdani over the city’s $200 billion annual budget, and has hinted that she could revive the council’s ability to issue subpoenas, a rarely-used tool that was most recently activated in 2021 when the NYPD refused to disclose information about its “Digidog” contract for surveillance robots.

As the second rung of NYC politics, the speaker’s seat has been seen as a stepping stone — with a major caveat. Menin has reportedly said that she has no desire to run for mayor, per the New York Times. If she has a change of heart later into her speakership, however, she’ll face a curse that has dogged her predecessors: of the six previous speakers, five have run for mayor, most recently Adrienne Adams. Few have made a splash, and all have ultimately failed in their bids. 

With Wednesday’s announcement, Menin joins a storied line of Upper East Side politicians who have played starring roles in the speaker race. That list includes Gifford Miller, who presided over a wave of rezonings in the early aughts, but it reaches back even further, to the position’s origins.

In 1985, the retirement of Majority Leader Thomas Cuite triggered a chaotic scramble for succession. Despite some bad blood, council members from Manhattan and Brooklyn formed an alliance to elect Samuel Horowitz, who represented South Brooklyn, as the council’s joint majority leader and speaker. 

Horwitz seemed destined for a coronation. But party leaders in the Bronx and Queens went on their own offensive, ultimately pulling off the unthinkable — in an infamous twist known as the “Dreyfoos Betrayal,” the Upper East Side rep Robert Dryfoos defected from the Manhattan bloc to support the campaign of Peter Vallone, Sr., a council member from Queens. 

Vallone would go on to hold court for 11 years, holding court in the new era after the Board of Estimate was eliminated in 1989 and the speakership was formalized in 1993. Decades later, a Brooklyn council member has yet to become the speaker — and with Menin’s victory over Hudson last month, the drought continues.

GPS Artist Uses Brooklyn As Her Canvas

BQE Admin on December 8, 2025

In November 2025, GPS artist Janine Strong drew a ram’s head by biking across the borough for 13 hours.

By JACK DELANEY | jdelaney@queensledger.com

They walk and bike among us, making strange loops in the park and cycling the wrong direction up one-way streets. You may have even honked at them — lost in thought, leaning over their handlebars to check their phones in traffic. 

But for GPS artists like Janine Strong, who recently trekked 93 miles across Brooklyn in a single day, there’s a method to the madness. To them, the objective of exercise isn’t just posting a new PR or burning calories: it’s illustrating on a massive scale.

Strong, a native of Vancouver, CA, has made over 75 drawings since she started cycling seriously in 2019, using the satellite tracker built into the popular fitness app Strava as if it were an Etch-a-Sketch.

Sometimes, Strong picks a site with an idea already in mind — like when she drew a 40-mile-long “Big Apple” that stretched from Midtown to Forest Hills.

But for her latest creation in Brooklyn, Strong looked for shapes hidden in the map and spotted the makings of a ram. 

“I got so much joy out of feeling like I found something in the streets that has essentially always been there, but has never been revealed before,” she told the Star.

After setting off from Flatbush, Strong quickly fashioned an ear. By the time she left East New York, the head was mostly formed. Fittingly, the neck involved a trip down to Sheepshead Bay. One horn curled around Prospect Park; she had to dismount in Greenwood Cemetery, which she called a “special place,” and stopped to chat with some fellow bikers. Next came the zigzag up to Downtown Brooklyn, before the horn continued its arc through Bed-Stuy and arrived at its base once more in Flatbush.

The sun had long since set: the whole trip took 13 hours and involved a cumulative 2,000 feet of elevation gained.

But this isn’t Strong’s first creative foray in Brooklyn — in fact, it’s not even the first farm animal she’s designed here.

Last year, Strong embarked on a month-long project of drawing the zodiac signs while staying in the borough. In short order, Strong’s bike painted a scorpion, a centaur, the scales of justice, and yes, a goat, on the canvas of Southern Brooklyn.

Other local projects have included a rendition of Vermeer’s classic “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” and a replica of another, more dubious masterpiece: “Comedian,” the banana duct-taped to a museum wall by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan that sold for $6 million in 2019.

A series of drawings last year included this rendition of “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Vermeer.

“If I’m going to the East Coast, I’ll definitely be spending time in Brooklyn,” said Strong. “It’s one of my favorite places to do GPS art.”

Strong, whose artistic practice also encompasses traditional drawing and photography, sees the constraints of the medium as part of its appeal. “[When I was younger] I would always draw straight with ink on paper, never with pencil,” she said. “Similarly, with GPS art you can’t erase anything. I loved the permanence of having to work with what happens and not change it.”

The community — equal parts obsessive, eclectic, and welcoming — is a deal sweetener. One of the earliest examples of GPS artists was Reid Stowe, who in 1999 undertook a 5,000-mile circumnavigation of the Atlantic Ocean in his sailboat, lasting 194 days without touching land as he slowly drew an enormous sea turtle with data recorded in his logbook. The next year, the US military opened its satellite signals to the public, and a digital iteration of the discipline took off. 

With the advent of fitness apps, a new renaissance is now underway. “We support each other online,” explained Strong. “They’re all over the world, and we all have quite different approaches to things.” One man traces intricate drawing among sand dunes in Brazil; an Australian artist makes all his drawings in the same park, running free-form. In 2022, channeling Stowe, an Anglo-Italian couple brought their dog along as they traveled 4,500 miles to imprint a bicycle across Europe as a protest against fossil fuels.

For those interested in trying GPS art themselves, Strong has some practical advice.

While not essential, gear can make the long, erratic treks less daunting. “One thing that really increased my level of safety and comfort was getting this pair of glasses where there’s a little mirror in the left lens,” she shared. “So with a very short movement of my eye and my head, I can see exactly what’s happening behind me without having to turn my whole head.”

Another project: drawing the Zodiac signs, like this centaur representing Sagittarius.

To create curves and diagonal lines, GPS artists often have to work on large scales — much like how pixel artists have to increase the resolution to draw smoothly. But Strong sometimes makes use of a workaround in Strava: if you pause your session and move to a new location before pressing play again, the program will draw a straight line between the two points. (She executed one project, a star upstate in Ithaca, through this method exclusively.)

Strong designs all of her works digitally in the app, but you can also try websites like routedoodle.com and gpsartify.com that allow you to randomly generate ideas. 

If you’re stumped, expand your horizons. “Some of the European cities have amazing canvases,” said Strong. “That’s part of what I love about it: every place is a totally new canvas, and you can’t draw the same thing in a different place.”

This Week in North Brooklyn: 11/28-12/4

BQE Admin on December 5, 2025

The Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Red Hook, from above.

★ The last public comment session for the environmental review of the 122-acre Brooklyn Marine Terminal proposal took place on Monday, but the deadline for written comments was pushed back to March.

★ Several small businesses on West St and Greenpoint Ave were given a 90-day extension after being told to vacate by November 30.

★ The embattled Atlantic Yards project in Downtown Brooklyn is moving forward after a two-year delay, with a public workshop on December 8.

★ Smith Street Maternelle, a bilingual daycare in Brooklyn Heights, is hosting a book fair on December 6 that’s open to the community.

★ The bougie “Williamsburg Winter Village,” set to open Dec. 5, is facing blowback for charging a $12 entry fee. 

★ Serial dine-and-dasher Pei Chung is now in jail at Rikers Island — and is getting evicted from herWilliamsburg high-rise by her landlord, who bizarrely enough is former NY governor Eliot Spitzer.

★ The F and M trains will permanently switch routes between Manhattan and Queens on December 8 to eliminate a merge at Queens Plaza. 

★ Grim: 38-year-old Timothy Taylor was sentenced to 22-years in prison for fatally stabbing his pregnant wife in their Williamsburg apartment in October.

For a full run-down, head to a deli, coffee shop, or grocery store near you and pick up this week’s issue in print!

Brooklyn Finally Breaks Through at Barclays

BQE Admin on December 4, 2025

Emphatic slams punctuate Nets win vs Hornets

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

In their 10th attempt, the Brooklyn Nets were finally able to emerge victorious on their home court in the 2025-26 season. Highlighted by a series of delectable dunks, Brooklyn were able to dispatch the Charlotte Hornets for a 116-103 win on the first night of December. It was their first win on home turf since early April.

Egor Dëmin, Danny Wolf, and Noah Clowney all threw down big dunks to the delight of the bench and local crowd. Egor’s came in transition while Wolf and Clowney both threw down contested slams.

Leading the Brooklyn offense once again was Michael Porter Jr., who recorded his 6th game with 30+ points in his first 17 games as a Net. He hit a season high 7 three-pointers, tied for the second most in his career. Porter Jr. has truly stepped into his new role as primary scorer for the Nets, and he credits Head Coach Jordi Fernandez for helping him elevate his play.

“I think Jordi is a genius of a coach in terms of the schemes he puts out, especially offensively for me” Porter said postgame about his coach. “The different creative ways that Jordi has our team running plays to help me get touches and looks off is really next level. He’s making it so easy for me to play my game.”

Notably, some of the Nets’ best performances have come in the absence of Cam Thomas, currently nursing a hamstring injury. The offense has looked more fluid and potent even without his incredible scoring touch, and the Nets rookies have taken advantage of increased minutes.

Thomas is set to get a MRI at the end of the week, with updates on his return to play coming shortly after. With Brooklyn playing better ball and confidence starting to take hold after a lethargic start to the campaign, perhaps Cam’s return could be the catalyst for continued success. 

Of course, the Nets won’t be in a rush to get Cam back, as his hamstring is the same one injured multiple times last season, holding him to just 25 games played. Whether a contributor on the floor or an asset for a trade, Brooklyn needs Thomas back long term.

New York City FC Defeated in Eastern Conference Finals

BQE Admin on December 4, 2025

Miami and Vancouver seek 1st MLS title

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

A wild playoff run for the Boys in Blue came to a screeching halt in Southern Florida over the weekend, conceding five times in a defeat to Inter Miami CF. After allowing just a single goal in their first four matches of the postseason, New York City FC were unable to contain a star-studded Floridian side who punched a ticket to their first ever MLS Cup Final.

After being involved in all 12 of Miami’s playoff goals this postseason, Lionel Messi only contributed to one of their five strikes in the Conference Final. Instead the match was settled by a hat trick from Argentinian youngster Tadeo Allende, with fantastic play by soccer legends Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

It was a frustrating opening half for the New Yorkers, who were met with physicality and antics as Miami tried to unsettle the visitors. It seemed to work out, as quick breaks downfield resulted in a pair of early goals. The first came from Allende, who was able to beat a lackluster challenge by NYC newcomer Raul Gustavo before thundering the ball past Matt Freese on the near post.

After some words and shoves were exchanged by Messi and New York midfielder Maxi Moralez, Miami quickly struck a second time, again through Allende who found a pocket of space for a header in the 6-yard box. 

Just like that, Miami had scored more in 22 minutes than NYC had given up in their previous four postseason games combined. An already daunting task was made even more impossible.

Homegrown talent Justin Haak was able to claw back a goal for NYC before the first half expired, thumping home a header of his own. With a glimmer of hope, NYC stayed in the match, down 2-1 at halftime.

There were a few golden opportunities to equalize, but just as they did in a few tough defeats this season, New York were unable to convert in key moments. The first came just minutes into the second half, as a giveaway by goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo gave Moralez a chance at the top of the box. Instead of attempting a shot, the midfielder laid off a lackluster pass, and the chance quickly faded.

Novo made up for his mistake in the 67th minute, as another perfect opportunity fell for NYC’s Julian Fernandez inside the box. Fernandez curled a shot towards the far corner, but Novo was able to get his hand to it for a fantastic save. Almost immediately after, Miami broke downfield for their third goal, this time scored by Mateo Silvetti.

With the game already escaping NYC’s grasp, the dagger came in the 83rd minute as Jordi Alba set up the 4th Miami strike with a backheel assist on a counterattack. Six minutes later, Allende finished off his hat trick and Miami coasted to their first Conference Title.

“When I walked in back in January to start this project, one of the things we mentioned was that we had to do better than the previous season. From an objective standpoint, that’s what we did, but to finish the season like this tells us we have a few more lessons to learn,” commented Head Coach Pascal Jansen after the defeat. “With the players that we have, even though we were missing three key players, we shouldn’t be as naive as we showed tonight. It is time to rest now, and our full focus is on next season because we have to do better again.”

Miami will host the MLS Cup Final on Saturday, December 6 at 2:30pm. They will take on  the Vancouver Whitecaps, who defeated debutants San Diego in the Western Conference Final, 3-1.

 

NYC Names Todd Dunivant as Next Sporting Director

Following their exit from the playoffs, New York City FC made a few announcements, including the appointment of new Sporting Director, Todd Dunivant. One of the most decorated players in MLS history, Dunivant won 5 MLS Cup titles, 2 Supporters Shields, and a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, playing over 300 matches in his 13-year career.

Dunivant joins from USL club Sacramento Republic FC, where he served as the General Manager and most recently club President.

“The club’s strong foundation is something we will build upon from day one, and I’m eager to join the incredible players, coaches, and staff that already exist at New York City FC,” said Dunivant in his introductory press conference. “The future has never been brighter for the club and MLS, and I look forward to accomplishing big things together in 2026 and beyond.”

Remembering Paul Kontonis, a Youth Soccer Pioneer

BQE Admin on December 4, 2025

Paul Kontonis was a leader in Queens soccer, coaching and directing at Eleftheria Pancyprian Soccer Club and serving as President of the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League. (Photos from @nypancyprianssoccerclub on Instagram)

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

The Queens soccer community fell into a period of mourning last week following the sudden passing of Paul Kontonis, a Director and coach with Eleftheria Pancyprian Soccer Club and the President of the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL). He was 54 years old.

Paul’s infectious positivity and love of the game was felt across nearly every soccer field in Queens and beyond, as he made endless strides to make the world’s game accessible to thousands in the world’s borough.

Paul understood the importance of joy and personal growth through sport, as well as the determination and heart required to lift trophies at different levels. Under his watch, the NY Pancyprian Freedoms added milestones to their club’s history with Cosmopolitan Soccer League (CSL) and American Premier Soccer League (APSL) titles, Eastern New York State Soccer Association (ENYSSA) state cups, and even the USASA National Amateur Cup in 2024.

Paul was no stranger to winning a cup!

“[Paul] was unwavering in giving his time, energy, and care to the club and deeply committed to the growth of our players and the strength of our programs,” the NY Pancyprian Freedoms said in a somber statement. “Paul was known for his incredible dedication, passion for the game, and his ability to connect with everyone he met. Most importantly he did it all with a smile on his face. The soccer community has lost a true ambassador for the game, and an amazing friend, mentor, father, and colleague.”

As Director of Club Development, Paul also spent years forming connections from New York Soccer to the biggest leagues in Europe. With trips to visit historic Spanish clubs like Real Madrid, Eleftheria Pancyprian players got to train on the same grass graced by the sport’s top talents.

His first taste of coaching came with Blau-Weiss Gottschee, one of the most prestigious soccer academies in the city. Paul helped kids as young as 5 years old channel their early love of the game, helping mold their discipline and skills.

“Watching those kids grow into soccer players has been incredible. I am still in touch with many of the players,” Paul once said about his time with the BW Gottschee academy. It’s a testament not only to the lasting connections built by Paul, but how much he genuinely cared about the progression and growth of the players he took under his wing.

“Paul believed in what we were building together,” the CJSL stated. “He championed the growth of our league, supported the development of our players, and worked tirelessly to elevate our standards. His impact—both on and off the field—was meaningful, lasting, and will continue to be felt throughout our community.”

Paul with young members of Eleftheria Pancyprians SC

“Both the APSL and CSL worked with Paul on a regular basis, both in his capacity as a member of the NY Pancyprian Freedoms coaching staff and as president of the CJSL. Paul was generous with his time and worked tirelessly for the benefit of his players and the soccer community,” added Bill Marth, a board member for both local soccer leagues.

On top of his dedication to the product on the pitch, Paul was also an ambassador for local broadcasting and media, helping grow grassroots organizations like Game In Frame. As a media and marketing professional himself, Paul understood the importance of growing media outlets to strengthen local soccer teams, players, and the community.

“I met Paul in the early formative years of Game in Frame, and without hesitation he took me under his wing,” shared Josh Pratt, the founder and CEO of Game in Frame. “He generously shared the wisdom he’d built through his successful career as a media and marketing leader, along with his deep knowledge of the NY soccer landscape. Alongside being a visionary, Paul was a loyal and kind friend. I lost count of the times when he stuck his neck out for Game in Frame or for me personally, opening doors when we were still unproven.”

That was the essence of who Paul was; someone who always helped find opportunities for those who worked hard to better their craft so they could enjoy the benefits of their growth down the line. As he said, “when you train hard, you can have so much more joy in your soccer.”

The NY Pancyprians celebrated their 2024-25 APSL Metropolitan Division title earlier this year. Paul is seen second from the right.

Memorial visitation will be held at Frederick Funeral Home in Flushing, Queens on Thursday, December 4 from 6 to 9pm and Friday, December 5 from 10am to 1pm. Donations to the Kontonis family can be made at www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-the-kontonis-family-in-honor-of-paul.

AI, Fascism, and…Noise Pollution?

BQE Admin on December 3, 2025

In her first State of the District address, North Brooklyn senator Kristen Gonzalez recaps a year’s worth of legislative work.

Kristen Gonzalez speaking at he State of the District address on November 17. Photo by Alexandra Chan via @sengonzalezny on Instagram.

By COLE SINANIAN

news@queensledger.com

In a wide-ranging State of the District address on November 17 at CUNY Law School in Long Island City, New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez urged cooperation and unity in the struggle against the Trump Administration, and vowed to protect and improve quality of life for her constituents in her unique, three-borough senate district. 

Hailing from Elmhurst, Queens and representing New York’s 59th District  — which includes Astoria, Long Island City, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Stuyvesant Town, and Manhattan’s Kips Bay and Murray Hill — Gonzalez, a Democrat and Working Families Party member, was the youngest woman ever elected to the New York State Senate when sworn in on January 1, 2023 at 28-years old. Raised by a single mother, the former tech-worker and community organizer now chairs both the Senate’s Internet and Technology and Elections Committees. She sits among New York City’s progressive-socialist core, her district overlapping with those of other prominent, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-endorsed politicians like City councilmember Tiffany Cabán, Assemblymembers Emily Gallagher and Claire Valdez, and Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. 

After a brief introduction from Valdez, Gonzalez launched into an explanation of her role as a state senator, followed by a review of her legislative achievements in 2025 and a discussion of her goals for the year ahead. 

Budgeting and bargaining

Gonzalez presented the state legislature as a tool for standing up to what she called an “openly hostile federal government.” But if this tool is to be effective, state lawmakers must coordinate with each other and with constituents across both legislative chambers, Gonzalez said. She explained how laws are passed— bills are introduced in both the Senate and the Assembly and must pass by a majority in both chambers. At this point the governor signs off, and the bill becomes a law. 

For the 2025 legislative session, Gonzalez passed 19 bills, co-sponsored 209 and introduced 49 to  be passed in future sessions. As chair of the Elections Committee, many of Gonzalez’s legislative wins dealt with voting rights, digital transparency and regulations on the AI industry. 

Some of the bills Gonzalez has sponsored this year includes legislation to designate a statewide “chief artificial intelligence officer” to help guide policy decisions relating to AI, the “secure our data act,” which would protect data stored by the state from external individuals and organizations, protections for gender-affirming care, and a bill to establish cost-accountability in the construction of AI data centers. 

Besides passing bills, Gonzalez and her colleagues in the state legislature work to allocate the state’s $254 billion budget, $115 billion of which went to the New York City Council in 2025. A draft budget is proposed by the governor, then the Senate and Assembly respond with their own version of the budget, negotiating with the governor until an agreement is reached. 

For the 2025 fiscal year, Gonzalez’s office helped secure $1.3 billion for affordable housing in New York City through housing voucher access programs. Securing funding for the MTA, which is controlled by the State, is another major part of Gonzalez’s and her fellow New York City senators’ work. This year saw $60 billion secured for the transit authority, much of which went to improvements to the city’s subways stations, such as at Queens Plaza and Queensboro Plaza stations, which got elevator upgrades this year as a result of this funding. 

This year’s budget also included funding for the State’s Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP), and $2.2 billion for childcare programs. Gonzalez’s office also holds a pot of state money designated for local organizations and nonprofits in her district. This year, the youth development program at Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens received funding from her office for afterschool programming and to triple the number of students it serves. 

 “If you are someone who has an organization, a nonprofit, that needs either operational funding  —  that’s the programming – –  or capital —  and that’s more the physical space,” she said, “you can absolutely reach out to our office.” Local organizations can call her district office at (718) 765-6674, or apply for funding through a form on her website, although applications must be submitted by June in order to meet this year’s budget deadline. 

A dignified life 

Gonzalez emphasized that her legislative work is focused around three main issue areas: affordability, quality of life and democracy. Echoing the populist message propagated by mayor-elect and fellow Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, Gonzalez made it clear that her vision for New York is one that puts working-class New Yorkers first. She described the city she envisioned, where affordable housing is accessible to all in the neighborhoods where they work, public infrastructure is safe and efficient, and every New Yorker, regardless of salary, can enjoy a high quality of life. 

“Quality of life,” as Gonzalez explained it, includes protection from natural disasters, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and easy access to public parks and open space. 

“We’re looking at safe streets and street redesigns that make sure that we’re protecting pedestrians because across our district, we’ve had an incredible number of deaths due to traffic violence,” Gonzalez said. “It also means having open spaces in clean spaces that we can enjoy, that when you leave your house, you don’t have to assume you’re paying at least $20 to $50 to enjoy something, that you can go somewhere that is free, that is publicly owned and publicly funded.” 

She called out stewards of some of these public spaces who were present in the audience, including the Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park and the Hunters Point Park Conservancy. Community members at Bushwick Inlet Park are organizing to prevent the construction of the Monitor Point towers, a proposed group of mixed-use high-rises just to the park’s north that activists say would crowd the neighborhood, cast shadows and threaten the delicate coastal ecosystem. 

Air quality and pollution in the district are also part of this quality of life. In northern Brooklyn and Queens, “peaker” plants — power plants that run during the summer to boost electricity generation at peak hours — have historically brought dirty air to the neighborhoods where they operate. Though many have closed over the past few years, some, like the massive Ravenswood Generating Station in Long Island City, remain operational, and represent an opportunity for the state’s transition to renewable energy, Gonzalez said. A bill that she co-sponsored in 2023, the Build Public Renewables Act, allows the state power authority to build public wind and solar facilities. 

Gonzalez also took aim at the area’s noise pollution, referencing her bill to impose a tax on non-essential helicopter and seaplane flights in major cities. She mentioned the constituents who had complained to her office about how the noisy helicopters flying over the East River detract from quality of life in the district, characterizing them as symptomatic of the wealthy classes’ entitlement to indulge in their luxuries at the expense of everyone else. 

“It is a clear example of how the city serves millionaires and billionaires that are able to travel by helicopter and plane over protecting our quality of life and the majority of the public,” she said. 

Senator Gonzalez discusses what she called the Trump Administration’s “openly hostile federal government.” Photo by Cole Sinanian.

…and a functioning democracy

Crucial to Gonzalez’s vision for a high quality of life in her district is robust participation in the democratic process and a government that protects the people who elect its members. This is perhaps more important now than ever, Gonzalez urged, as the Trump Administration has deployed troops to cities controlled by the Left and detained immigrants at Manhattan’s 26 Federal Plaza without due process. She praised the Mandating End of Lawless Tactics (MELT) Act, introduced by Senator Patricia Fahy, which would require federal immigration agents to reveal their names and faces while operating in New York.

Much of her upcoming legislative work deals with data transparency and protecting the democratic process from threats posed by deepfakes and generative artificial intelligence. As chair of the Internet and Technology Committee, Gonzalez promised to ensure that campaign finance data remains public, and to put guardrails on AI development, characterizing the technology as an “existential threat” to her district’s workforce. 

But most importantly, as Gonzalez reiterated, democracy begins in communities, and the top priority of elected officials must be to serve the best interest of the people they represent.

“I have heard from so many of you that you have had moments or interactions with either politicians or offices from any level of government that have not actually helped you,” Gonzalez said. “And I really want to be clear that with this office, with what we’re doing and how we’re working, we are trying to change that. And by proving we can change that, by proving that we can have a functional government, it sends a signal to the rest of the city that not only organizing works, but from the bottom up, we can actually win big things together.”

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