Richards sworn in as Queens borough president

By Rachel Vick

New Borough President Donovan Richards reflected on his role as the first Black man elected to lead Queens and outlined his plans for supporting immigrants and low-income residents during a special swearing-in ceremony outside his office at Borough Hall Sunday.

Richards, who represented Far Rockaway and part of Southeast Queens in the city council from 2013 until Dec. 1, recited the oath of office administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James before discussing the historical significance of the occasion.

“This year, much light has been shined on racial injustice,” Richards said. “We still have so much work to do, but we recognize those who worked so hard to make change.”

He specifically acknowledged the late Helen Marshall, the first African American elected Queens borough president and the namesake for Borough Hall’s main atrium.

“Kids in my neighborhood often grow up thinking they can't make it and can't do great things,” Richards said. “Being able to see someone like Helen Marshall in this seat means something, and meant something to a young person of color like me — it's why I'm standing here today.”

Richards said he plans to further equity in the borough by identifying sites for new affordable housing, appointing community boards that better reflect the districts they represent and establishing an immigrant welcome center.

He said he will work with Assemblymember Catalina Cruz to develop the center, which will offer legal, language and case management services for immigrant New Yorkers

“In Queens, our diversity is our strength. We welcome people from all over the world and we should be able to ensure that they don't have difficulty staying,” Richards said. “We don't build walls in Queens, we build bridges.”

Richards was surrounded by his family, friends and local leaders, including U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks, chair of the Queens County Democratic Party.

Meeks highlighted the role of late Borough President Claire Shulman, an early Richards supporter, in advocating for him.  

He commended Richards for assembling a transition team that represents the borough's rich diversity.

“He is historic in that he is a transitional and transformative borough president,” Meeks said.

“It is what we are as a borough and he has shown already, in just the few days he’s been the borough president, that he understands the meaning of one Queens, and brings Queens together.”