Play ball? Queens council candidate pushes safe sports restart for NYC school leagues

James Johnson is a candidate in Queens Council District 27. Photo via campaign

By David Brand

A former high school tailback now running for city council is urging New York City to restart its public school sports leagues, just like jurisdictions elsewhere in the state are starting to do.

James Johnson, a Campus Magnet High School alum and candidate in Southeast Queens’ District 27, said a year without sports has affected students’ mental and physical health while hurting their chances to get into college. 

“We want to make sure they have this outlet. We don’t want them to be depressed,” said Johnson, who is vying to replace term-limited Councilmember I. Daneek Miller. “You talk about a well-rounded student, and that means in the classroom and in sports and extracurriculars.”

The absence of sports mainly affects young people of color who make up the vast majority of New York City’s public school population, he said.

Westchester, Nassau and other counties outside the five boroughs have given schools the greenlight to begin training for the first time since March 2020. Those students will have an edge over their New York City counterparts when it comes to college applications, he said.

Johnson has organized a rally Saturday at the Southeast corner of Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans with local coaches and athletes. Similar events are taking place across the five boroughs.

Athletes with a chance to play college sports are at a particular disadvantage because they cannot showcase their skills for scholarships or roster spots, he said. “A lot of these kids need film,” Johnson said. 

He urged the city to conduct routine COVID testing and restrict spectators in order to resume sport safely.

“I want all public school kids to be able to utilize their facilities as soon as possible with a thought-out plan, a safe plan,” Johnson said. “If you do in-person learning, they have to test you anyway. So what we’re asking is if you run track, play football, play lacrosse, play soccer just bump up the testing so they can have practice.”

The city’s Department of Education said the return of the Public Schools Athletic League depends on the guidance of public health experts and a declining COVID-19 case rate.

“We are encouraged by recent updates from the state that allow us to create a pathway to bringing our scholar-athletes back together and give us the chance to restart programming that provides such tremendous benefit to so many,” said DOE spokesperson Nathaniel Styer. "Any PSAL return plan will adhere to all applicable city and state health rules and the public health situation in the city and more details will be available soon.”