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Meng Restores Polling Site at Latimer Gardens Housing Complex in Flushing, Queens

January 25, 2018
QUEENS, NY – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that the New York City Board of Elections (BOE) has agreed to her request to restore the polling site at the Latimer Gardens housing complex in Flushing, Queens.
Since the polling place was closed in 2012, tenants of the complex and those who reside in the surrounding area, have been forced to trek a half a mile away to P.S. 214, an ordeal that has made it difficult for these individuals to vote. Many are senior citizens who rely on canes, walkers and wheelchairs while other voters have been unable to travel to the site due to its distance.
Last November, Meng called for Latimer Gardens to be reinstated as a polling location in letters she sent to the heads of the BOE and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Latimer Gardens is a NYCHA development.
"The decision to bring back the polling place at Latimer Gardens is great news and I'm thrilled that local residents will once again be able to cast their ballots there," said Meng. "It will make it much easier for these voters to access the ballot box and it knocks down the barriers that residents faced in exercising their right to vote. I thank the BOE for listening to the concerns I raised about this problem and for working with me to fix it. I look forward to this restored voting location benefiting the Latimer Gardens community, and the area surrounding it, for many years to come."
The Latimer Gardens polling place is expected to be restored in time for this year's elections. It will be the polling place for approximately 2000 voters and be housed in the complex's gymnasium.
The site, which was originally opened in 2006, was shut down when voting was done in the complex's community room. It was closed because the room had access issues for those with disabilities. But the usage of the gym now makes the location handicap accessible.
The BOE will soon inform voters through the mail about their new voting location.
Click here to view the letter Meng sent to the president of the BOE. Click here to view the letter Meng sent to the chair and chief executive officer of NYCHA.