ASTORIA – Council Member Costa Constantinides, District 22, railed against President Trump’s decision to end talks on a federal stimulus until after the November 3 election. “This partisan decision will no doubt impact New Yorkers who have financially suffered for nearly seven months as the COVID-19 pandemic has raged on,” according to a news release from the council member dated October 6.

Constantinides said in his statement, “Today, Donald Trump told every small business owner in Astoria to drop dead. This politically driven decision will leave hard-working people in an even worse financial situation as a second spike hits. But sadly this doesn’t come as a shock. This man has paid little-to-no income taxes. He was born on third base, but insists he hit a triple.

“We can play with dining regulations as much as possible to help bar and restaurant owners. All we’re doing is plugging holes in a sinking ship. The only true solution that will get these small business owners, who provide thousands upon thousands of jobs in western Queens, is to put cash in their hands. There is only one entity, led by one person who can do that: the federal government Donald Trump controls. Instead, he would rather ram through a Supreme Court nominee while he tweets dangerous messages about COVID-19. 

“Once again, Senate Majority Leader McConnell has done the President’s bidding to hurt the majority of Americans, while making his wealthy backers richer. I hope Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader Schumer, and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin will block out this noise and continue to work for a solution.”  

Council Member Costa Constantinides represents the New York City Council’s 22nd District, which includes his native Astoria along with parts of Woodside, East Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights. He serves as the chair of the City Council’s Environmental Protection Committee and sits on three additional committees: Sanitation, Resiliency, and Technology. For more information, visit council.nyc.gov/costa.