Dozens of Southeast Queens Residents attended a City Corridor and Q&A session led by Rep. Gregory Meeks on Monday, June 16.
Photograph by Athena Dawson.
U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks hosted a city corridor assembly Monday, June 16, on the Jamaica Performing Arts Middle to handle the affect of Trump administration insurance policies on New Yorkers.
Dozens of attendees stuffed the venue’s theater to listen to Meeks ship an summary of current federal developments, adopted by a reside Q&A session with constituents.
A lot of Meeks’ remarks centered on criticism of the Trump administration’s current coverage agenda, together with unmet marketing campaign guarantees associated to the price of dwelling, in addition to proposed cuts to Medicaid and reductions to the federal workforce by means of the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE).
“Local politics and local issues are always important,” Meeks mentioned, emphasizing the significance of partaking instantly with constituents throughout New York’s fifth Congressional District. The district consists of the Rockaway peninsula, Cambria Heights, Hollis, Howard Seaside, Jamaica, Kew Gardens, Laurelton, Queens Village, Richmond Hill, Rosedale, South Jamaica, Saint Albans, Springfield Gardens, and South Ozone Park, in addition to JFK Airport.
Calling Washington, D.C. “absolute chaos,” Meeks criticized the president for failing to ship on guarantees to cut back grocery and dwelling prices. “We have not focused or voted on one bill that would do any of these things,” he mentioned. “What we focused on first and foremost, and the first thing they were trying to do, was to make sure that the tax cuts he put in place in the first four years, he made permanent.”
Meeks additionally urged a extra measured method to federal price range reductions, pointing to former presidents Invoice Clinton and Barack Obama as examples. “When [Clinton] left in 2000, there was no deficit, unemployment was down, in fact, we were talking about a surplus. Had we done that, or continued that, we would be in a much better place today,” he mentioned.
Meeks criticized a lot of Trump’s current actions in the direction of the federal authorities, together with huge price range and workforce cuts to federal companies by means of DOGE. Photograph by Athena Dawson.
Meeks instructed the group that Republican-led price range cuts in Washington might severely affect essential federal companies and social security web packages, together with Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP.
Meeks argued that the reconciliation invoice—not too long ago handed by Home Republicans—is a part of an effort to finance prolonged tax breaks for the rich by slashing important public packages. “The reconciliation package is all in the name of finding money, so that you can give these tax cuts to the super rich,” he mentioned.
He cited Congressional Funds Workplace findings that the plan would disproportionately hurt lower-income People whereas rising sources for high earners. “To me, that sounds like a reverse Robin Hood situation, where you’re taking from the poor and giving to the rich,” Meeks mentioned.
The congressman additionally warned of the invoice’s native affect. He mentioned potential cuts of over $800 billion to Medicare and $250 billion to SNAP could be devastating for Queens hospitals, notably Jamaica Hospital, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, and NYC Well being + Hospitals/Queens. “They would lose an estimated $22 million in Medicaid reimbursements,” Meeks mentioned. “Hospitals like these can’t afford these kinds of cuts. In New York, Medicaid pays for the care of 64% of people in nursing homes, as well as community-based services like home health aides.”
Q&A session touches on housing, Democratic technique and endorsements
When requested about perceived weaknesses throughout the Democratic Get together, Meeks harassed unity, authorized challenges to government orders, and the significance of voter turnout. “There are certain seats that we have to win to make a difference because elections matter,” he mentioned, referring to the upcoming 2026 midterms.
One attendee raised considerations about senior housing in downtown Jamaica, noting the proliferation of enormous house developments. Meeks responded that he shared these considerations, pointing to diminished federal funding for inexpensive housing and emphasizing that metropolis and state packages usually require developments to put aside models for seniors and low-income households.
When requested about his most popular candidate within the subsequent mayoral race, Meeks mentioned he deliberate to rank former Governor Andrew Cuomo as his first selection and present Metropolis Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as his second. “I have a pick, and I am voting for Andrew Cuomo number one, and I love and respect Adrienne Adams… so I am going to say number one and number two,” he mentioned, urging attendees to take part within the upcoming major election no matter their candidate of selection.
