QUEENS, NY – Costa Constantinides on July 22 conceded in the Queens Borough President Democratic primary. He issued the following statement:

 “I want to congratulate one of my best friends, Donovan Richards, on a hard fought victory. We are all rooting for you to deliver Queens through the other side of this crisis.

“We started this campaign nearly a year ago on the idea that we could rethink what a Borough President can do for Queens. From beginning to end, I believe we changed the conversation on what this office could — and should — do for the 2.3 million people who call this amazing, diverse place home. I want to thank everyone who supported this movement. It didn’t matter if you were an elected official, one of the progressive unions or just a Queens resident who dreamed of a better future, your faith in my vision for Queens has meant the world to me.

“My hope is the ideas born from this campaign outlive it. Queens was the epicenter of the epicenter for COVID-19. This borough still deserves state-of-the-art new hospitals — especially in southeast and central Queens. We can never stop fighting for access to better healthcare. That means we must also never rest until every dirty power plant in Queens closes, because our Black and Brown neighbors have borne the environmental burden of powering this City for too long. Queens residents want to get back to work in a new green economy, and they deserve to get to those jobs on affordable mass transit that leaves no one stranded. The MTA board still needs to be reformed, so every borough has a seat at the table and a mandate to fight for their county.

“It has been a privilege to serve alongside Donovan in the City Council over the last six and a half years. While his presences there will be sorely missed, I am so excited to see what he will do as out next Borough President. He loves Queens dearly. I know he won’t stop fighting for it.

“I won’t either — no matter what life has in store. This borough is ready to lead New York City into a stronger, progressive future. I’m proud this campaign helped prove that.”

Costa Constantinides currently serves in the New York City Council, where he represents western Queens and chairs the Committee on Environmental Protection. His legislative accomplishments include the Climate Mobilization Act, a Green New Deal for New York City, as well as the historic 80% reduction by 2050 of carbon emissions commitment. Costa lives in his native Astoria with his wife and son.

For more information, visit: www.votecosta.com.