Public Employee Press

Donovan Richards wins special election in Queens

With help of DC 37 activists, who hit the streets in Queens District 31 to help him, Donovan Richards won the Feb. 19 special City Council election. Richards replaced former City Council member James Sanders Jr., who now represents the 10th Senate District in the state Legislature.

An experienced community activist who worked as chief of staff for Sanders, Richards has fought hard to keep libraries, day care centers, hospitals and schools open in his district, which includes Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens and Far Rockaway.

When the Dept. of Education wanted to shut PS 181 in Rosedale, Richards fought back to prevent the Donovan Richards wins special election in Queens school from being closed.

He was also in the forefront of the struggle to keep open Peninsula Hospital in the Rockaways.

Always concerned with the rising levels of gun violence in the district, Richards helped to establish gun buy-back programs that were responsible for removing 919 guns from the district.

"We're proud to have supported him and helped him win because he fights for the same issues that we fight for," said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts.

"The issues he supports all have an impact on the quality of life not just for union members but for all New Yorkers," she said. "He is an ally in our struggles now."