Howard Beach is our grand old community in South Queens. Originally a large farm, over the years it became a bustling suburb with a very particular vibe, at once very NYC and very set apart. And whether we live there or not, we all, in our area, feel like the “home town” of Howard Beach is ours to share.
My two children went to PS 232. That was my introduction to the town from a parent’s perspective, and that’s where you really see what makes this place special. Cross Bay Boulevard has every kind of shop you can imagine. There are parks everywhere. Every block offers a sense of community, with children playing and community organizations always rolling out fun things to do for everyone – children, adults, and seniors. This is a town where the people who live there for years have a presence; everyone has their favorite spots; people know your name.
This is the permanent vibe of Howard Beach – the small, proud town inside the big city. It’s no wonder so many hard working men and women choose to make their homes here – safe, welcoming and family-oriented, it’s a wonderful refuge to come home to from wherever they work. And the faces of Howard Beach are rapidly diversifying, with neighbors of every background and belief moving in side by side. The town is close to the heart of the American Dream; people from all across the world want that life for their family.
And the people of Howard Beach are incredible neighbors, taking everyone in from all over and becoming ever richer for it. Kids grow up with friends from all corners of the United States, plus every continent; new arrivals are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh.  In a place of such community-centeredness and pastoral beauty, these kids, the future of New York City and of the world, get all the benefits of a city and a suburb in just a few square miles. And it’s never a far walk to the water.
Inescapably, when we think of Howard Beach, we come back to family. With its many excellent schools, its natural beauty and its ethos of looking out for one another, the neighborhood operates with families in mind from top to bottom. And, as a Member of the New York State Assembly, that gives Howard Beach a special place of prominence for me. I’m a family woman. My constituents rejoice and plan around their families first and foremost. It’s an honor for me to represent a place that values families so highly.
Here’s to our “South Queens home town,” Howard Beach, on your 120th birthday. You’ve always been “our own little corner” of NYC, and you always will be. Whether we’re looking for an awesome restaurant for a romantic night out, a great community group to join, time with our families or a really solid tan, you’ll always be first in our minds and our hearts. Here’s to many more great years ahead!