Aug. 14, 2019 By Shane O’Brien
State Sen. Mike Gianaris has announced $10,000 in state budget funding for equipment at the Queensbridge Public Library Tech Lab.
Gianaris announced the funding on Wednesday at the library Tech Lab at 10-43 41st Ave. in Long Island City.
The funding will go toward securing new computers and other equipment at the lab. The funds will also be used to pay for additional literacy classes.
Gianaris said that teaching people how to use computers was a crucial skill in the current job market. “Promoting digital literacy is indispensable as we prepare our community for today’s job market,” Gianaris said. “I am pleased to help our neighbors develop the skills they need to succeed in this economy.”
“The Queensbridge Tech Lab has become an essential resource for people who want to develop the high-demand skills needed in today’s job market,” said Dennis Walcott, President and CEO of Queens Public Libraries “This money will go a long way towards helping narrow the digital divide in the borough.”
Queensbridge Public Library celebrated its 70th anniversary this July. It was initially a library branch and family literary center in 1949, before it was converted into a full tech lab in 2017 to increase digital literacy in the Queensbridge area.
Gianaris also announced other state funding for community groups, including $58,000 for the Jacob Riis Settlement House, $30,000 for the Gantry Parent Association, $13,000 for Sunnyside Community Services, $13,000 for Hunters Point Middle School, and $20,000 for Immigrant Families Together.
16 Comments
wow GOOD job posing for a photo op You were spotted you in a greek church during Easter making a family tmove over just for YOU so you can sit down, who do you think you are!!???
Ive been there about 5 times, it seems underused. These kids from Queensbridge have a great opportunity to learn to all this tech stuff but the place seems empty, even on a Saturday. The people there are extremely helpful and enthusiastic to help. My kid was in a recent class with 25 slots open and only a few were filled.
Tell your kids to get off the video games and learn something that will actually help their future.
Anyway, Giannaris, Amazon was ready to build tech labs in several local schools when you blew that deal.
AmaZON back out of LIC on their own accord and the realtors posting here are mad at Gianaris because they missed out on the opportunity to sell overpriced condos to hipsters.
Job Killer Gianaris will do anything for a photo op. Vote this bum out…
Gianaris gives Greek-Americans a bad name. He is a traitor!
Jimmy van Bramer secured $25,000 for the Drag Queen Story Hour yet in this article Sen. Gianaris can only get “$10,000 in state funding for equipment at the Queensbridge Public Library Tech Lab and $13,000 for Sunnyside Community Services”. The priorities are very, very wrong here.
I can’t believe you don’t respect our former mayor.
Great Point!
Wow, a whole 10k every year. Really makes up for the 15 mil Amazon was promising.
This guy is not really helping.
He already lost the black votes in Queens. It’s time for him to go!
Our Queensbridge community was working hard to get the best agreement with Amazon for funding/jobs and you Gianaris along with Bramer killed everything. I am tired of these useless politicians telling us what’s best for us.
Mike the Job Killer Gianaris chased away 25,000 Amazon jobs from LIC & now he’s trying to save face with a measly 10k investment. What a joke!
He is a joke
It’s the same old angry realtors posting on every article about Gianaris. Get a life already!
This terrible boon to the community is thanks to de Blasio’s soft-on-tech policies
De Blasio – he delivered with record low homelessness, affordable rents across NYC and a decrease in crime during his term. NOT!!!!!!
Democrats like Deblasio and Gianaris are destroying our party. We need new Democratic leaders that will stick up for middle class families, blue collar and union workers.