On June 30, New York City Council finalized the Fiscal Year 2027 budget for a whopping $126 billion. Of that, Councilwoman Joann Ariola secured $32.8 million for District 32.
The budget items are split among parts of District 32, which includes the western end of Rockaway and Breezy Point, Broad Channel, Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven and parts of Richmond Hill. Of that nearly $33 million, several places on the peninsula and Broad Channel will benefit.
Over the last few weeks, Councilwoman Ariola has been sharing some of the specifics on her social media pages. One of those items includes $25K to help maintain Rockaway’s Tribute Park on Beach 116th Street. “The park is a beautiful memorial to the lives lost in the 9/11 tragedy, and it should be given the respect and maintenance it deserves. With this money, we will be able to fund initiatives with the Friends of Tribute Park to keep the area looking its best,” Councilwoman Ariola said.
Local schools are also getting some love. Some funding includes $500,000 to renovate the music and band suite at Rockaway’s Scholars’ Academy and $500,000 for technology upgrades at P.S. 114 to provide new smart boards, tablets, computers and other devices.
Three firehouses in desperate need of repair in District 32 will be splitting more than $5 million in funding, including Engine 266 on Beach 92nd Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard. “Our fire stations are literally falling apart. We have ceilings falling down, floors held up by stilts, gaping holes in roofs, and more. That’s why I am so proud to have secured $5 million to improve three of our local firehouses most in need,” Councilwoman Ariola said.
Among one of the biggest budget items is an $18 million investment for the Broad Channel Library to undergo a major renovation with a complete overhaul. “The people of Broad Channel deserve nothing less than a state-of-the-art facility for their families and children to learn and grow in, and I am proud to have secured the funding necessary to make that happen,” Councilwoman Ariola said in a press release. “With this money, we are not only investing in a physical building. We are investing in the community and strengthening a vital neighborhood institution that Broad Channel families will be able to rely on for decades.”
“The library was hit during Hurricane Sandy and was cleaned up but suffered serious damage at that time. It is long overdue for a major upgrade and now it will receive both a major renovation and become resilient for future storms,” Dan Mundy Jr., President of the Broad Channel Civic Association, said. “This is just another example of Councilwoman Ariola delivering for her constituents. This facility will be enjoyed by old and young residents of Broad Channel for years to come and is great news for our community!”
The total breakdown of District 32’s budget includes $4.3 million in capital projects and tech upgrades for schools, $600K for roads, $5.7 million for firehouses, $18.4 million for libraries, $50K for a new Dingo (utility vehicle for landscaping), $400K for local organizations including civic associations, volunteer firehouses, district events and animal rescues, $110K for seniors, $25K for anti-poverty measures such as meal giveaways and local pantries, $150K for school programming, $100K for public safety events, $100K for A Greener NYC cleanups, $340K for Cultural After-School Adventure (CASA) after school programming, $145K for cultural programs, $90K for tech programs for schools, $195K for domestic violence safety and awareness events, $50K for the Neighborhood Development Grant Initiative for merchant associations, $280K for NYC Cleanup for medians and the marine debris removal program, $90K for a Parks Equity Initiative, which includes events, cleanups and movie nights, $75K for SU-CASA senior cultural programming and $150K for support for older adult senior centers.
“This is the result of strong advocacy for our district, and good relations with people on both sides of the aisle,” Councilwoman Ariola told The Rockaway Times.
“When people say that a minority power in government is ineffective, they are lying to you,” she added. “This year alone, I’ve brought 32.8 million examples of how wrong that statement is.”
