Donovan Richards To Give First 'State Of The Borough' Address

KEW GARDENS, QUEENS — Queens Borough President Donovan Richards will outline his plans to help the borough recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and create a more equitable Queens in his first State of the Borough address, which will air Wednesday night.

Richards, who was sworn into office in December after a special election, is set to lay out a "comprehensive vision of a borough freed of the long-standing injustices in healthcare delivery, housing, transportation, environmental policy and more," according to a news release.

His pre-taped address will air online at 6 p.m. Wednesday on the Queens Borough President's Office website, YouTube and Facebook.

“Our message today to all, hear it loud and hear it proud: Queens will lead the way out of this pandemic. Queens will lead the efforts to address health disparities, economic disparities, and racial and gender disparities,” Richards says in an excerpt of the address. “We will create a more just society, a more just borough, and together we will improve the quality of life for all who call Queens home."

The "State of the Borough" address is an annual tradition in which the borough president highlights recent milestones and shares plans and priorities.

This year's hourlong program will include a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by students from Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School in Astoria and a performance by Cambria Heights saxophonist Ashley Keiko.

Deputy Borough President Rhonda Binda will also give remarks.