Join the movement — Japneet Singh is bringing District 28 together!

City Council District 28 residents in Queens were treated to a Memorial Day dinner of BBQ fare on May 26, thanks to Japneet Singh, candidate for the turn-limit seat. Singh visited Southeastern Queens, Richmond Hill, Jamaica, South Ozone Park, Rochdale Village, and the Van Wyck, promising change.

With a failing education system, community neglect, crumbling infrastructure, and inequity, Singh is ready to roll up his sleeves and get to work on day one if elected.

He is passionate about uplifting the community and ensuring new road infrastructure and neighborhood safety.
So far, he has garnered support from a broad cross-section of the diverse district. Constituents are expected to come out and vote in numbers, starting with early voting on June 16 and lasting until June 24.

“I’m very happy families came out to partake in this meal. We served over 300 individuals over the weekend. For me personally, it’s about uniting our district. For far too long, our elected officials have kept folks from South Jamaica, South Ozone Park, and Rochdale Village residents apart. A sister came from the South Jamaica community just to say hi; that’s what we’re trying to do, bring people together,” said the candidate.

Singh calls on big business owners like Resorts World to give back to the community. “It has been 14 years that they’ve been here. I was a high school senior when they started building this casino. They are now bidding to get a full license, and what that means is everything will be electronic with open tables like Atlantic City, he said, adding that the revenue currently is $500 million per year and will increase to over a billion dollars.

“New York State is in one of the higher tax brackets for gambling. Currently, $250 million is being spent, of which 80% should go towards education at John Adams, my alma mater. Elementary and middle schools are in the district with the casino, yet they’re not doing well,” said Singh.

“This goes to show that the promise made to give back to our kids and our young people was not kept.

“We are suffering, and just to put things into perspective, in the last 14 years yet, less than 1% of their total revenue has gone into community initiatives or organizations,” argued the candidate.

“We’re trying to build a community that’s not judgmental to your zip code or your neighborhood. We want them to be united and understand that our struggles are the same; when our brother and sister in Rochdale suffer, we suffer, too. We’re stronger as one community, and I think I’m the only candidate who’s really trying on every side of the district to make a difference. That’s what we need,” he passionately summarized.

The John Adams alum said he visited with the guidance counselor and principal, who has been advocating for a new track and field, and tried unsuccessfully to meet with casino management for help to discuss improvements in the area.
“What’s the purpose of running a business when you’re not even supporting your local community? On day one, we’re going to call for a meeting and make sure we establish certain relationships where we can give back to the community, said Singh.

He said the district has 64,000 registered voters, but only 14,000 voted four years ago and urged constituents to get to the polls. Early voting is June 24.

“The young people are the future. “It’s about this next generation, and so many members of my team are a part of that next generation that will lead this country forward. I thank you,” he said.

South Ozone Park resident Nash, who mastered the BBQ grill, said Singh is the right person for District 28. “Honestly, no other candidate has been up and down the district and mingled with the people as much as Japneet has. All the other candidates stick to where they are; they have done nothing in Rochdale and other parts of the district. People are hurting; no one comes on this side of the Van Wyck to discuss issues affecting residents,” he said.

“This is South Ozone Park and Richmond Hill; no other candidate walks the street to ask residents about their needs.”

“We need change and funding, especially for education. We need the roads to be fixed and proper transparency,” Nash urged.

A recent Hunter College graduate said it is essential that “we get to decide where our money is spent.” With his father and brother at his side, he agreed that after-school programming is very important because “we have a lot of youngsters in the neighborhood who don’t have opportunities to help them get off the street and into vocational skills.”

“Sometimes they need mental health counseling, the 30-year resident, who added that community youth need help to stay out of trouble.

“I hope a council member will help us. We badly need funding for educational initiatives,” said the voter.