By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

Zellnor Myrie still rides the subway—not as a campaign prop, but because it’s how he’s always gotten around. One recent evening, as he waited on a platform, a fellow rider recognized him. There were no cameras, no staffers, just a brief exchange and a quiet thank-you. “That’s the kind of interaction that keeps me grounded,” Myrie says. Now a State Senator and one of New York City’s leading mayoral candidates, Myrie is running on a promise to rebuild a city that feels increasingly out of reach for working families. His campaign is rooted in the everyday experiences of New Yorkers — shaped by the same commutes, rent hikes, and after-school pickups — and driven by bold, progressive solutions to make the city more affordable, more just, and more livable for all.

Born and raised in a rent-regulated apartment in Brooklyn to Costa Rican immigrant parents, Myrie is hoping to ride a wave of progressive momentum from Albany to City Hall. The 37-year-old state senator, a Fordham graduate and product of New York City’s public schools and after-school programs, says his lived experience gives him a clear-eyed perspective on the city’s most urgent crisis: affordability.

“I’m living the struggle,” Myrie told the Queens Ledger during a recent roundtable interview. “I have student loans like everyone else. I take the train. I know what it’s like to watch friends leave this city because they can’t afford to stay.”

Myrie, first elected to the State Senate in 2018, quickly made a name for himself as a forceful advocate for tenant protections, criminal justice reform, and gun safety. In his first legislative session, he helped pass a suite of landmark reforms, from the Reproductive Health Act to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Since then, he’s sponsored more than 60 bills that have become law, earning him praise from progressive groups and legislative colleagues alike.

Now, he’s turning that track record into a campaign for mayor — anchored by a sweeping housing proposal he calls Rebuild NYC, which aims to deliver one million new homes over the next decade.

“I am excited about this opportunity to lead the city that my parents came to 50 years ago, but that opportunity that they came for that’s slipping away for a lot of us,” Myrie said. “I want to change all of those things, and I believe that I have the record, and I’m the right person to do that at this moment.”

Under Rebuild NYC, Myrie would rezone Midtown to allow for 85,000 mixed-income units and use city tools like mandatory inclusionary housing to build and preserve 1 million homes — 700,000 new, 300,000 preserved. The plan also secures permanent revenue for the city’s public housing authority, NYCHA, and would phase out councilmember veto power over land-use projects, a long-debated political bottleneck to construction.

His passion for public service began early. “The best mayor we’ve had was La Guardia — someone who spoke his mind and fought for all New Yorkers,” he said. Myrie’s journey started with community board meetings and escalated through law school, a stint in the City Council, and finally the State Senate. 

He often thinks back to his own childhood — how a public school education, after-school programs, and a stable apartment gave him a foundation. He wants every child in New York to have that same chance. His universal after-school proposal — extending care from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. — would cost billions, but Myrie argues the tax revenue from families staying in the city would offset the price.

“As I mentioned, I’m the product of an after-school program, but you shouldn’t have to be in a neighborhood where you have a PTA that can afford this programming to be able to benefit from that,” Myrie said. “Every kid should have access to it, and it should be high quality. We cannot be a city where you cannot afford to raise a kid here.”

On public safety, Myrie walks a fine line. He proposes a stronger presence in subways, but favors reallocating officers to platforms and train cars, backed by 150 police-clinician teams. His approach to crime is deeply shaped by personal experience, including a mass shooting at a Brooklyn parade last year. He wrote the nation’s first law holding gun manufacturers accountable and was named “Gun Sense Lawmaker of the Year” by Everytown for Gun Safety in 2021.

Myrie is clear-eyed about the fiscal challenges the city faces. He opposes raising property taxes unless absolutely necessary, and says the city has already missed its window to bolster reserves before federal cuts hit. But he’s firm on protecting the city’s social infrastructure: after-school care, summer youth jobs, and safe housing.

Myrie is running against seasoned insiders and political veterans but makes the case that he brings a different kind of experience — one rooted not in decades of power but in firsthand knowledge of what it takes to stay in the city.

“The same folks responsible for our current problems shouldn’t be the ones trusted to fix them,” he says. “We need to do big things again. If we could build the Empire State Building in 13 months, we can build a city people can afford to live in.”

Zellnor Myrie envisions a transformed New York City after four years under his leadership. His promise is clear: a city where every child has access to high-quality after-school programs, where every young person who seeks a summer job can find one, where people feel safe on the street and subway and where the cost of living is lower, making it more affordable for families to stay. With a focus on safety, fairness, and opportunity, Myrie’s vision is one of inclusivity and resilience, where the city’s social infrastructure is robust and accessible for all. He believes that through bold, progressive actions, New York can once again be a place where working families thrive, and where the opportunities his parents came to the city for are restored and expanded for future generations.

Courtesy Officer of Governor Kathy Hochul

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

New York will become the largest state in the nation to impose sweeping, bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphone use in K-12 schools under a new policy announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, marking a landmark move aimed at improving student mental health and reducing classroom distractions.

The statewide mandate, secured as part of the recently passed Fiscal Year 2026 state budget, requires all public, charter, and BOCES schools to restrict unsanctioned use of internet-enabled personal devices during the entire school day, including lunch and study hall periods. The policy goes into effect for the 2025-2026 academic year and is backed by a $13.5 million allocation to help schools implement storage solutions for student devices.

“New York was the first state to target addictive social media feeds — and now we’re the largest state to restrict smartphones in schools throughout the entire school day.” Governor Hochul said. “I know our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling — and that’s why New York continues to lead the nation on protecting our kids in the digital age.”

The policy mandates that parents still be provided with a way to contact their children during the school day, a move aimed at alleviating safety concerns. Schools will have the flexibility to determine how smartphones are stored, with local implementation plans required to be developed in consultation with teachers, parents, and students. The measure also prohibits policies that could lead to inequitable discipline outcomes.

“This isn’t about being anti-phone or anti-technology — it’s about being pro-childhood,” New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person said. “We’re giving students seven hours a day free from distractions so they can focus on learning, access their creativity, and make real human connections. Tackling social media and technology use as a public health issue will take continued partnership, education, and courage — and New York is ready to lead the way.”

This initiative aligns with the mission of Phone Free New York, a movement founded by Raj Goyle that advocates for protecting children from the harmful effects of smartphones and social media. Goyle emphasizes that while digital technology has transformed modern life, its unchecked use — especially among teens — has fueled a crisis in mental health, exacerbated by the pandemic. The evidence, he notes, increasingly supports that smartphones and social media are major contributors to declining youth well-being.

Courtesy Officer of Governor Kathy Hochul

New York now joins a growing list of at least nine other states that have implemented some form of school-based phone restrictions, signaling a bipartisan recognition of the issue. As Goyle highlights, this movement is not about rejecting technology outright but about ensuring that students have the freedom to learn, connect, and grow in healthier, more focused educational environments.

Hochul’s announcement follows a months-long statewide listening tour that brought together educators, students, parents, and public safety officials to assess the impact of smartphones in schools. The resulting report, More Learning, Less Scrolling: Creating Distraction-Free Schools, concluded that unrestricted access to personal devices hampers academic performance, impedes creativity, and contributes to rising mental health issues among youth.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, up to 95% of teens use social media, with more than a third reporting near-constant use. The report highlights a correlation between high social media usage and increased risks of anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and cyberbullying — concerns echoed by educators and mental health professionals across the state.

Nearly 75% of teachers surveyed in a 2023 Pew Research Center poll identified cell phone distractions as a major issue in their classrooms. Teachers and administrators who participated in the listening sessions cited increased student engagement and decreased behavioral incidents in schools that had already adopted phone-free policies.

“Smartphones are designed to be addictive in a way that makes it harder for kids to focus and learn,” Mothers Against Media Addiction Founder and Executive Director Julie Scelfo said. “As parents, we are grateful to Governor Hochul and the lawmakers who led this effort to support engaged, distraction-free learning in our schools, making New York a model for the rest of the nation. MAMA volunteers are energized by this victory — five states down, and only 45 more to go.”

In addition to the restrictions, students with documented needs — including medical conditions, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), or translation services — will be granted exceptions under the policy. Students will also continue to use school-issued devices such as laptops and tablets for educational purposes.

Courtesy Freepik

The new statewide standard builds on Hochul’s broader youth mental health agenda. In 2024, she signed the first-in-the-nation “Safe for Kids Act,” which requires parental consent for minors to access algorithm-driven social media feeds, and the New York Child Data Protection Act, prohibiting the sale of personal data from users under 18 without explicit permission.

The governor has also overseen a $1 billion statewide investment in mental health, including $20 million in startup grants for school-based mental health clinics. Since February 2024, 71 new clinic satellites have opened, with 40 located in high-needs districts, expanding the state’s network of over 1,100 school-based mental health sites.

By Alice Moreno

For 70 years, the non-profit organization Variety Boys and Girls of Queens Club (VBGC), located at 21-12 30th Rd in Astoria, has been a vital resource for children in the area, granting them access to various activities to help them grow as people. Now, the VBGC will be undergoing a massive change that will bring more benefits to the community.

On April 16, the VBGC received a $2.5 million investment from the office of Senator Jessica Ramos to provide new pool facilities. It is a component of the $293 million expansion of the VBGC, which, upon completion, will make it the largest Boys and Girls Club in the country at 116,000 square feet.

The state-of-the-art pool renovation, titled “The Senator Ramos Aquatic Center,” will include a bevy of new features, including a regulation pool, a wading pool to host “Mommy/Daddy and Me” classes, and a new wet locker. The pool was last updated in the early 2000s. 

“My own son was one of those kids who learned how to swim right here at the Boys and Girls Club, and it’s been a resource for our young people in this area,” said Costa Constantinides, the CEO of VBGC of Queens. “Which includes the Queensbridge Houses — the largest public housing development in the country — Ravenswood houses, Astoria houses, and Woodside houses, less than a mile away.”

The Senator Ramos Aquatic Center will also be open year-round, a stark contrast from neighboring Astoria Pool, which is typically only open during the summer. 

In addition to the new pool features, a plethora of amenities will also be built at the VBGC, such as Queen’s first planetarium, a 400-seat school, and a 1,500-seat arena. The expansion can house over 16,000 people, which increases the number of children being served at the club by 34%. The VBGC will also include 230 units of affordable housing, with 70 of the units being set aside for those aging out of foster care. The entire building will also be carbon-neutral, ensuring sustainability and a healthier planet.

Furthermore, a mental health clinic will be provided on the first floor, making sure that every child is supported and has someone to talk to.

“I remember playing here as a kid growing up, and remember making lots of friends here,” said Senator Jessica Ramos. “We need more spaces like these, so that we are keeping our youth busy and safe. We are giving parents peace of mind, and of course, even the whole family is able to enjoy the resources.”

The new pool expansion will break ground this December and will roughly take 30 months to complete. According to Constantinides, he hopes that every child can use the resources provided to help them grow into strong adults with flourishing careers. 

“We want it to be a space where every child, regardless of their zip code or their income, are able to come here and enjoy themselves and to find their passions, and to be able to carry that forward into their lives,” said Constantinides.

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

Michael Blake isn’t just running for mayor—he’s running on a lifetime of service, shaped by the streets of the Bronx and sharpened in the halls of the White House. Now a Democratic contender in the crowded 2025 mayoral race, he offers a rare combination of national experience and hometown heart—with a vision of a New York City where opportunity isn’t a privilege, but a promise. A son of Jamaican immigrants, Blake’s journey has been shaped by his family’s hard work, faith, and dedication to public service.

Blake, now 42, began his path to the mayoral race with a commitment to creating opportunities for all. As a White House aide during the Obama administration, he was part of the team that helped defeat Donald Trump in 2016. Blake, who helped launch the Urban Entrepreneurship Summit, worked tirelessly to create jobs across the country. Later, during his six years as a member of the New York State Assembly, Blake spearheaded efforts such as the My Brother’s Keeper initiative, aimed at supporting Black and Brown boys in education and career pathways.

“My goal has always been to help people achieve their dreams in a very practical way, helping people who didn’t get a chance before now have a chance,” Blake said during a recent roundtable with the Queens Ledger.

Blake is no stranger to the struggles New Yorkers face. Growing up in the Bronx, he learned from a young age the importance of community and hard work. His mother worked at a manufacturing plant for 40 years, commuting two buses a day across the bridge to Jersey, while his late father worked as a janitor in a Bronx union.

Named after two of Jamaica’s most iconic leaders—Michael Manley and Alexander Bustamante—Michael Alexander Blake carries not just a name, but a legacy of bold leadership and a commitment to politics woven into his very identity.

“When your parents name you after Jamaican prime ministers your parents definitely cared about politics.”

Blake’s candidacy is built on a legacy of public service. From expanding the My Brother’s Keeper program to helping implement the first statewide initiative for boys and young men of color in New York, Blake has always fought for policies that uplift marginalized communities. Through his work in the Assembly, Blake helped secure initial funding for My Brother’s Keeper—”$25 million to $18 million state funding to help school districts across state with their college and career community engaging programs to help more Black and Brown boys graduate school and was successful and still goes on till today,” Blake said. 

But it’s his vision for New York City that sets him apart. Blake is not just focused on policies that serve the city’s immediate needs, but on creating long-term solutions for affordable housing, economic equity, and public safety.

On the housing crisis, Blake advocates for building on every available plot of land to meet the city’s growing demand for housing. “If we’re serious about this, let’s find every plot of land that’s available and figure out how to build on that and increase the opportunity for more people to get in the game.” Regarding the City of Yes proposal, he added, “On the city of yes it should have went further; it didn’t address affordability just building more units. ‘Affordable to who?’” 

His vision for “true economic fairness” extends to addressing New York City’s budget challenges. Blake supports reforming how income and creditworthiness are assessed in housing.

“End credit scores for home ownership applications, change local median income.” He also distinguishes between policy approaches: “Guaranteed income is different than universal income, creating the floor with everybody, assessing who actually has a gap and helping them is a more equitable approach.”

On the topic of the ever emerging notion of city casinos, Blake sees opportunity where others criticize. “I Believe it will help create jobs and wages and create a full dynamic opportunity that the community benefits from,” and added, “At the end of the day it’s a person’s choice what they’re doing with their funds.”

Blake also reflects on his unique approach to working with the federal government, informed by both personal and professional experience. “It is impossible to lead New York City if you don’t have an understanding of DC, if you’re laying out a plan you should be able to articulate how exactly you’re paying for it,” Blake said. 

During the COVID-19 crisis, Blake took swift action to support New Yorkers. “We brought World Central Kitchen to New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked with restaurants, Small Businesses and nonprofits to feed and provide P.P.E. to New Yorkers.”

He also led efforts on Capitol Hill. “I led an effort to work with US Senate members on how to get funding for small businesses faster and better because the PPP did not work and they could not access the funds. I helped change that in a significant way.”

Blake’s approach to the economy includes cracking down on empty storefronts and rentals. “Vacant apartment tax, vacant storefront tax, landlord is making a conscious decision to weigh out this small business for a bigger market rate, for Blake behavior like that hurts everybody, look into rescinding licenses.”

His extensive leadership experience, he says, is central to why he’s running. “I fundamentally believe that we are in a moment in time right now where there’s a lot of people who are talking about different ideas that are not realistic given the environment that we’re in.”

Blake also hasn’t shied away from sharp critiques of former Governor Andrew Cuomo, questioning the circumstances around his resignation and the nursing home scandal. “He still hasn’t said if he didn’t do it, why did he resign then?” and “the nursing home issue during COVID and people died because of a book deal.”

As a reverend licensed since 1995, Blake’s faith is a constant thread through both his personal and political journey. “Born with a heart murmur in Bronx hospital on Christmas night 1982, it’s the reason I still have a portrait of the Last Supper in my living room,” he shared, reflecting on the role faith has played in his life. He recounted a near-death experience in 2001, when he fell asleep at the wheel and miraculously survived—an event so pivotal that the words he wrote afterward still hang on his mother’s fridge. And while his career has taken him to the national stage, Blake remains deeply rooted in his Bronx upbringing: “From a local dynamic I’m still that kid who would get pizza from Vinny’s hanging at Van Cortland Park.”

He’s also the CEO of KAIROS Democracy, which works on “positive storytelling of the impact of democracy, people think democracy is not working for them and show them when it is done correctly how it impacts them,” and he’s a partner at the Atlas Strategy Group, focused on applying “consciousness to capitalism.”

For Michael Blake, it’s not about lofty promises—it’s about showing how his leadership can help people “keep the lights on.” He summed up his candidacy by pointing to the connection between his life, his service, and the city: “People are genuinely wanting to understand how my policies are helping them keep the lights on.”

Blake’s campaign is not just about politics. It’s about service—a lifelong dedication to his community, his city, and his faith. As mayor, Blake wants to leave behind a legacy that empowers New Yorkers to keep money in their pockets, build their dreams, and create a more equitable city for future generations.

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

On an unassuming block in Astoria, inside a gym called HardKnox, Bonafide Warhawk is building more than athletes—he’s building resilience. A lifelong martial artist and co-founder of the gym, Warhawk has transformed a personal history marked by violence and hardship into a mission focused on discipline, empowerment, and care.

Warhawk, who was born and raised in Astoria, grew up in instability. After a fire left his family homeless, he and his mother spent time in shelters before he was enrolled at the Milton Hershey School in Pennsylvania, a boarding school for children from under-resourced backgrounds.

“That school was filled with kids who had been through a lot,” Warhawk said. “That shaped the way we grew up. Fighting was just part of the environment.”

Eventually expelled and sent back to New York, Warhawk found himself living with a father whose erratic behavior led him to the streets. At age 12, while defending a friend during an altercation, he was stabbed in the eye in Jackson Heights. 

“I thought I could fight him—knife to bare hand—and when I went to hit him, he dug the knife right into my eye, came out the back of my head,” he said.

The injury left him legally blind in one eye and marked a turning point in his life.

“I was supposed to die, but I didn’t,” Warhawk  said. “I couldn’t see anything for like a month. It was a whole learn how to walk again, learn how to touch things again process. It impacted me greatly, because now I have to learn how to function again. I’m in between two worlds. I don’t function like a blind person… and I can’t do the things that regular people do.”

After recovering, Warhawk began studying a range of disciplines—from Taekwondo and Muay Thai to knife and stick fighting. He adapted his training methods to compensate for his limited vision and ultimately became a certified personal trainer with support from the Commission for the Blind.

Over the next decade, he built experience at fitness clubs across New York City, including Equinox and New York Sports Club, where he learned both technical and customer service skills. He also began training others independently, often in public parks, regardless of weather.

“We were out there in the snow, in the rain, because people wanted to train,” he said. “It wasn’t about money. It was about giving people something they could rely on.”

That same ethos defines HardKnox Astoria, which Warhawk co-founded with partners after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted their previous training spaces. The gym emphasizes functional fitness; a curriculum rooted in traditional combat systems adapted for modern self-defense and sport.

Warhawk  co-founded the gym alongside Aman Sadiyan, bringing their shared vision of creating a community-driven space that blends fitness, fighting, and the spirit of New York City.

When  Sadiyan and Warhawk  took over a former Chinese wrestling gym in Astoria, they saw an opportunity to create something special. 

“We really put our heart into the aesthetic,” Sadiyan  said, describing how the space was transformed. The gym now features curated graffiti and vintage New York memorabilia. Each room at HardKnox tells its own story—such as the “mamba room,” a tribute to Kobe Bryant. The entryway showcases a custom-built counter, crafted from old MetroCards sealed in epoxy, which Sadiyan described as “our homage to New York City, the grit of New York mixed with fitness and fighting.” Even the bathrooms reflect the city’s energy, with stickers and graffiti reminiscent of a Lower East Side dive bar.

However, what sets the gym apart is not only its visual elements but also its community. “What makes this place different than other places is the kind of clientele that we serve,” Sadiyan said. The members at HardKnox are not just looking for physical transformation but for personal growth as well. “We all have a common thread of always having a hunger—for more, in the sense of growth.” For Aman, HardKnox isn’t just a fitness studio; it’s about fostering a community where people thrive both inside and outside the gym. “It’s more than a fitness studio—it’s a place to become a better version of yourself,” he said. “Our emphasis is on building and serving a community.”

The facility combines practical martial arts instruction with an atmosphere designed to be welcoming, particularly for those who may feel out of place in conventional gyms. The space features community-centered programming and an aesthetic meant to foster comfort and focus.

The facility also boasts a variety of training spaces, each with its own unique vibe and purpose. There’s the personal training room, which is designed like a “glorified home gym,” where clients receive individualized training sessions. The main floor is dedicated to functional fitness, with no shoes or socks allowed, emphasizing barefoot movement. Additionally, HardKnox features a spin studio, where high-energy classes take place weekly.  Every room in HardKnox is designed to tell its own story. 

“We created an atmosphere where these people have hard lives, and you at least need somewhere to escape, even if it’s for a minute.” Warhawk said.

He said the name reflects the nature of the training and the community it serves.

“We created the name HardKnox because life is hard, and sometimes you need to escape from it, and that’s what we chose to be—escape,” Warhawk said.

What sets HardKnox apart, Warhawk said, is its commitment to care.

“People can go anywhere to train,” he said. “What we offer is attention to detail, respect for every person who walks through the door, it’s something a lot of places have forgotten—just care for the people. It’s not about you.”

Those interested in visiting Hardknox Gym can find it at 37-20 Astoria Blvd S, Astoria, or contact them at (718) 210-1465 for more information.