 good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the topping out ceremony of the future 116 person before we do the actual ceremony we're gonna have a couple of our elected officials and some of the executives from the police department come up and speak and then we're gonna go over and sign the beam and then it's gonna be placed in which will complete the topping out so without further delay I'm gonna introduce our first speaker of the day from the Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Tom Foley. Wow I have a couple of fans out there right as I as I expressed to the to the borough president earlier today is making engineering and architecture really cool because of the support that we have from a borough president Don Van Richards here in Queens but it is a it's a great day here topping out ceremony at 116 precinct again my name is Tom Foley I'm the Commissioner Department of Design and Construction and lead an amazing team of 1200 professionals we have over a 25-year relationship with our colleagues at NYPD everything from we've been working with them extremely closely of great collaboration we had worked with them over on the police academy we're currently were a completed beautiful a new academy and we're also working with with them and then up and up in the Bronx at the 40th precinct here at 116th 33,000 square feet beautiful new building with community center that will be that is remains on time and on budget thank you mr. Arscott so and it's it's it's not by mistake when these things happen and they're happening more often this is what are this is what we expect this is what we demand upon ourselves for for expediting capital projects within the city of New York we have a great real responsibility placed upon our team and we readily accept it this project a lot of a lot of the efforts that we're making are incorporated into our just released DDC blueprint it's it's really is a framework for improving capital project delivery in the city of New York and make no mistake there's huge challenges but we're up to the task this project by Datner Architects I was designed a year ahead of schedule we were literally here a year ago putting shovels into a make you know almost a created sandbox I don't think we have to pay a change order for that but either way but it shows you the what the power of partnerships of working with our with our with Sinalder our builder with tectonic our our engineering team out here and Jacobs into completing the work feel like I'm at the US Open you know like a couple years ago before they reverted it anyway but it really shows the efforts that we're collectively making in order to improve capital delivery in the city we have one of the things that we've incorporated on to this project that's now being standard or several things is an extra work allowance basically what had happened here was there was unforeseen ground conditions that would have delayed the project at least one year we had registered contingency funding I know it's not sexy but we had registered contingency funding in order to allow the contractor to continue working while we can while we negotiate the the obviously the unexpected condition we also have contract incentives for them to complete this project ahead of schedule and we look forward to paying this over to Sinalder because as soon as we can provide this this service this building this community center this precinct back to the back to the community to PD then we've done our job so we're really looking forward to this as I mentioned this remains on on schedule on budget and we're at we have our on-site presence here to ensure that that gets done I just like to point out a couple of our DD Sears that are in the house during our design phase we had Lucy Wong that was really leading the effort with Datner she's still obviously committed to the project stops out here our own time and during construction we have Kevin R. Scott who and Anthony Patelli who are doing a fantastic job and and I would be remiss without you know the leadership that has been shown here under First Deputy Commissioner Eric McFarland Deputy Commissioner Sal Cali and our new Associate Commissioner Judy Wong so Judith Bernard I'm getting all my Judas mixed up today but Judy's yes so without further ado I'm gonna hand this back over but thank you all and we look forward to being out out here early 2024 for our completion and where we're gonna open up the doors right behind me into this beautiful new 100 million dollar precinct thank you thank you Commissioner Foley it is now my honor to introduce Assemblyman Clyde Vanell first of all good afternoon everyone it's a it's a great day here in southeast Queens this one 16th precinct has been something that the community has been fighting for for over 40 years and we're excited that we're gonna have a world class space here that includes community space let's give a round of applause for the community space everyone this shows smart design smart community smart community police relations we have worked so long to make sure that this happens and that we deserve the best in southeast Queens and we deserve such a such a precinct and such a space we're also excited that we have world-class services we have a world-class DDC with this program with providing this world-class design and development right here so we're really excited the community excited we can't wait to see you know the end of it we're also excited that we're on budget and on time and you know every time I pull up here and see what's behind us I'm in awe to see all the work that the men and women here that you know that you guys do let's give a round of applause to everyone that's been helping out and working here so thank you everyone thank you for being here and you know today's a good day in New York thank you thank you Assemblyman Vanell it is now my honor to introduce the Queens borough president Donovan Richards councilwoman 40 years 40 years and we're making history today in southeast Queens and before I begin I must call up best to beat them because there's no way come on up best for her flowers this is an afternoon that has been more than 40 years in the making let's give it up for best to beat them she has struggled and fought for this and I know there were many sleepless nights for people like you but those nights are over wondering if this day would ever arrive but it's here and we have the people of this community and their advocacy to thank for it today it is an honor to stand here as we top off what will be the new 116 precent which which is going to make a world of a difference right here in southeast Queens I want to thank thank you to DDC let's give it up for the workers the men and women who are making this a reality today never forget the workers thank you to all my colleagues in particular I want to shout out my partner in this endeavor a council member Sylvina Brooks powers today is really about two things public safety and relationship building on public safety we all know that the response times in the 105th precent are longer than any other precent in New York City but when you have more than 350 lane miles in a precent it's really not hard to imagine why it is come on up here Olivia this is about you quite simply we're asking one precent to cover in an area nearly the half half the size of Manhattan now let's put that into perspective who here knows how many police precincts are in Manhattan police department alright I'm not he's Queens South it's alright 22 precincts 22 precincts while nearly the entirety of East and Southeast Queens has just one that's what decades of deliberate disinvestment in communities of colors look like but we're flipping the script in the fight to secure the hundred and four million dollars for this precinct was one I was not only proud to participate in but damn sure glad to have one not only did we get a new precent but we're getting one with community space built right in it and out of the negotiations also came over a hundred million dollars for a community center in Roy Wilkins Park and we want to thank mayor Adams for adding an additional forty seven million dollars to that the tide is turning Southeast Queens the days are being looked over look are over and done with and with these new community spaces will come the forging of a stronger healthier relationship between our officers and the neighborhoods that they're sworn to serve and I genuinely believe that we know that in Southeast Queens there is no contradiction in asking for safe streets and also police reform at the same time we will never sacrifice sacrifice pushing the department to do better in what you see behind me is what 21st century policing will look like as we create safe communities in a department that is responsive as well so thank you all for being here thank you to the community leaders who who fought the charge for this for over 40 years federated blocks of Laurelton Rosedale Civic Association Spring Gar Civic Association Community Board 13 thank you all and to the families of Southeast Queens this is your day more than anyone else's God bless you all congratulations Queens get the money thank you borough president Richards it's now my pleasure to introduce council member Sylvina Brooks Powers and good afternoon everyone so teamwork right that's what today is all about I just want to say thank you to Mayor Adams to my predecessor Queens borough president Donovan Richards and our esteemed members of the police department along with our partners in government I know we have assembly member Clyde Vanell here I see I'm joined by my colleague council member Linda Lee and we we have a couple of others that will join us including assembly members Alicia Heineman and Khalil Anderson and so it's amazing to be here to be able to recognize this milestone and to see the vision of our community to completion as we all know this has been decades and coming with stalwarts like best to beat them and I think rich hella brackets he here rich rich isn't okay and rich as well as the co-chairs for the task force that really helped to spearhead this and ensure that the community leaders elected leaders stayed focused at the task at hand to say the least Southeast Queens like many other communities has been plagued by violence for too long amid rising gun violence and drug use the social fabric of our communities was left to fray and the city neglected to protect its citizens it's true that New York has come a long way in recent decades but in southeast Queens each week seems to bring news of another shooting another precious soul taken from us in a senseless act the offices of the 105th precinct work hard to protect us but in our city's fifth largest precinct where years of underinvestment have resulted in slow response times a traffic jam that can make a difference between life and death my district has seen far too many lives lost in the last year just several weeks ago we lost an 18 year old and rock away to census violence we had another shooting in rosedale so our neighborhoods have suffered for it and it's time for change and today that change is finally here with the establishment of the new 116th precinct precinct station here in rosedale our communities across eastern Queens will be safer our police forces will be better equipped to promptly address emergencies and promote public safety our residents can enjoy safer neighborhoods knowing that help is just around the corner and before I close I just want to take time with point of privilege and request that any of the members of the 116th precinct task force just wave your hands today is because of each of you and we want to make sure that we continue to recognize you so that we understand how we were able to get to this point I particularly want to recognize once again best to beat them and Richard Helen break for their tireless leadership this group of civic leaders came together with the shared vision built a coalition to fight for a better public safety to protect our neighbors and to make Queens safer this top and is a culmination of years of advocacy from residents elected officials and community residents to ensure a better quality of life for residents of southeast Queens so thank you so much for everyone that helped to make today possible and thank you to our construction workers I know we were putting a pause in your day but we have to celebrate you because you're putting it together so thank you as well for your work thank you councilmember Brooks from powers it is now my honor to introduce the commanding officer of patrol borough Queen South assistant chief Kevin Williams good afternoon everyone thank you for coming I'm excited to be here at the future home of the 116th precinct today's top and north ceremony brings us one step closer to the opening of 116th precinct this precinct is the physical evidence of the new york city police department's commitment to the residents of rosedale laurelton springfield gardens and floral park the 116th precinct will allow for a more rapid police response and as equally as important the 116th precinct with its community meeting room will improve community police engagement I want to personally thank those who long advocated for the construction of this precinct and I look forward to walking through these doors with you in 2024 thank you and have a great day thank you chief Williams it is now my honor to introduce the first deputy commissioner Edward Caban hello everyone on behalf of the police commissioner I'm honored to join all of you here for this exciting ceremony today we take a major step toward the completion of the new 116th street precinct it has been said so many people have fought for this precinct over the years the need for a new precinct in southeast queens has been going on for decades and today we are one step closer to fulfilling that need and of course we are all excited at the progress being made of the construction of the building but it's what comes next that will have a huge impact I look forward to the day when this brick and mortar comes to life when the hum of your NYPD officers going about their work can be felt in the community when the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods see the police not just during crisis but as neighbors and also as partners in the vital work of public safety that day is fast approaching and I just want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make it so finally to the NYPD officers who join us thank you for all you do your hard work is appreciated and does not go unnoticed it is now my honor to turn it over to our mayor the honorable Eric Adams thank you thank you commissioner combined and all our partnerships that we have here our council woman above president as well as our assemblymen and our council person to have two council persons who are here but this is our investment in public safety and justice you could have both this precinct is a location that many of our electives have fought for and they was receiving mixed messages and uncertainty it was about the quality of life many people don't fully appreciate how the elected officials in this part of Queen Southeast Queens how the homeowners of the everyday people here they want to be safe and they want quality policing and they want to make sure the men and women who are providing that safety have a location that is state of the art to make sure that they can carry out their jobs and function this was an easy lift when it came down to this community of I say this over and over again everyone that talks about disbanding police departments and police officers ask them if we take the cops off your block do you want us to start there and you get the same thing of resounding no and this community understands it they understand that we can get the quality we want and make sure that we have the justice we deserve so I think our electives in this community the civic groups and our contractors who are here you're building a precinct you're building the bedrock of our public safety is a place where men and women can go to and start their days out on patrol or evening out on patrol I know what it was like to be in a precinct that was dilapidated falling apart didn't have the basic necessities that our police officers deserve and that is not going to happen here so hooray to these leaders hooray to people who came together and made this happen this took years in the making but you're part of an administration that lives by three letters gsd get stuff done and we got it done thank you very much at this time I invite all our elected officials over to the the beam to sign it please this is our name I'm not a bologna to you I was going to get back in thank you thank you you're welcome thank you what's up man thank you man thank y'all you're the new province Ali you're a trogo I'm down a number of trails you didn't live long enough to see it but but thank god I actually got this this has been this has actually been a date for it but today this morning the former president announced money for our library construction she saved the library with the they're sitting in a personal crisis that's oh no I'm sorry if I got in the way of the camera no no you're on your way I'm trying to get this photo off just to decide if you don't recognize me I understand I understand you've waited a hundred times but some people haven't you've waited a hundred times but some people haven't you've waited a hundred times I think it's a it's a lot like it's a lot like it's a lot like it's a lot like it's your shot so good I think yeah I'm fine that guy gotta come back have him come back which guy? no cameraman I don't even know what he ate I don't even know what he ate does it clean or do I need to get people to know give me a minute I'm sorry okay the suit and the red excuse me DJ sorry I still Take it up get stuff done