Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. delivered the 2025 State of the Borough Address at Queens Theatre in Flushing, Queens, on April 25, 2025. In his speech, Richards emphasized the importance of a steadfast vision, declaring there was “no time for fluff and rhetoric,” as “Queens is under attack.”
Before the Borough President’s address, invited community members enjoyed performances from the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts Choir, RIOULT Dance NY, and the uplifting sounds of the Bartlett Contemporaries.
Deputy Borough President Ebony Young served as the Master of Ceremonies and set the tone of the event, stating, “In Queens, we don’t shrink in the face of pressure. We are not just resilient — we are relentless.”
Between performances, elected officials voiced their collective support for Richards’ strategic vision of a more inclusive, sustainable, and innovative Queens.
The 2025 State of the Borough Address tackled the challenges posed by increasing economic inequality and concentrated power, highlighting how Queens can serve as a model of community-driven democracy. Richards emphasized that Queens has the answers — and the blueprint — for a better future.
Citing investments reported in the Queens Chronicle, the Borough President showcased several key community initiatives:
- Make the Road Community Center (Corona): A $1.8 million contribution to support legal assistance, childcare, and educational opportunities.
- Variety Boys and Girls Club (Astoria): An additional $5 million commitment for expansion, building on a $5 million allocation made in 2020.
- River Fund New York (Richmond Hill): A $3 million investment to support services such as food distribution and SNAP enrollment assistance.
- Arverne East Aquatic Center: Richards announced $46 million in state funding secured in partnership with Governor Kathy Hochul, with an additional $36 million from city and borough sources.
A particularly proud moment for the Laurelton community was Richards’ commendation of local activist Bess DeBetham. For forty years, DeBetham led the effort to establish the 116th Precinct in Rosedale. During the address, Richards announced that the precinct’s community room may be named in her honor and invited her to take a bow.
