QUEENS, NY – LIC Coalition, a progressive Long Island City-based organization dedicated to local government that transparently serves its communities, on May 13 endorsed Costa Constantinides as the leader that Queens needs to get back to work, build new hospitals, and fight the climate crisis. 

“LIC Coalition strongly endorses Costa Constantinides for Queens Borough President,” LIC Coalition members said in a joint statement. “We support Costa’s efforts to fight Climate Change and promote sustainability; his rejection of contributions from big real estate developers; and his commitments to public land for public use, to deeply affordable housing, and to building new hospitals in Queens so that we have the capacity we need and deserve. Costa will invest in a STEAM curriculum at our schools—including arts programming, solarization of all schools, and the addition of a STEM or hydroponic science lab in every school. And he will invest in desperately needed cutting edge green infrastructure throughout the borough so that Queens is at the forefront of sustainability and the growth of good paying green jobs. We believe Costa Constantinides is the best candidate to lead the fight for a more equitable and sustainable Queens.”

“I am humbled to have the support of the LIC Coalition, which fights every day for a fairer community,” said Costa Constantinides, progressive Democrat for Queens Borough President. “At a time when our neighborhoods deserve public land for public use — whether that’s hospitals, schools, or parks — they have answered the call to lead. Together, we can transform Queens to create a fairer, open borough.” 

LIC Coalition has led the effort to stop the irresponsible overdevelopment of luxury housing in western Queens. As pricey high rises have dotted the East River waterfront, Long Island City’s aging infrastructure has become exacerbated. Members of the LIC Coalition have fought for a more sustainable neighborhood, where the community gets a say in the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, sewage doesn’t pour into the East River, and it’s affordable to raise a family. 

Together, Constantinides and the LIC Coalition took a stand against Amazon’s attempt to buy the neighborhood and build a corporate campus without going through ULURP. The deal only promised to price out many families while not putting money into our infrastructure, nearby public housing, or create a school-to-workforce pipeline. 

As Borough President, Constantinides has promised to secure a state-of-the-art hospital for Queens, create 50,000 union green jobs, put a hydroponic science lab in every school, and solarize every City building in the borough that’s ready to support panels. LIC Coalition joins community organizations and leaders such as the South Asian American Voters Association as well as tenant leaders for the Astoria and Woodside Houses in supporting his grassroots movement. 

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.