New York State Lt. Governor Hochul meets South Asian Community
New York State Lt. Governor, Hon. Kathy Hockul, met with several members of the South Asian community in Queens, New York at a South Asian community leader roundtable discussion held on Monday, August 28th, 2017 at New Mejbaan Restaurant in Jackson Heights, New York. The purpose of the meeting was to provide information about “some of the great programs and resources available for all New Yorkers”, followed by community activities, issues, interests and concerns shared by the South Asian members in attendance. These included: Changing demographics and impact in New York; NYS Excelsior scholarship program for needy students; community economic development; immigration and discrimination issues; health care, youth and senior programs.
The meeting was organized by Hersh K. Parekh, Queens Regional Representative of the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Participating in the session was NYS Assemblyman Michael DanDekker, representing New York’s 34th Assembly District, which includes Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, and part of Woodside.
Among the members of the PIO community from the Caribbean were: Rhonda Binda, executive director of the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District; Ashook Ramsaran, president of Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC) & chair of NYP/Q Community Advisory Council; Harbachan Singh, vice president of Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC) & former president of Queens Civic Congress; Annetta Seecharran, executive director of Chhaya.
The meeting was the first of its kind and would be followed many more focusing on specific issues.
