Peralta’s Booming Constituent Services

Queens Tribune:

Half-way through 2016 and the office of state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) has already opened more than 600 constituent cases. According to a press release, some of the issues people raised were pertaining to housing, immigration, employment, quality of life and street safety. “We are trying to help solve the problems our constituents face in their daily lives,” said Peralta.

Whenever people have a problem, they can address those issues using Peralta’s constituents’ services, which offer one-on-one guidance. The professionals then make referrals to City and Federal agencies.

Some of the problems constituents faced that were fixed were the City’s Department of Transportation’s installation of speed bumps, along with personal problems such as rent freeze applications and New York State Taxation and Finance issues.

“Constituents services is a vital part of the work we do,” Peralta said. “Assisting those in need and addressing the problems of my constituents have always been among my top priorities.”

Peralta also made note of his annual events in efforts to maintain his community involvement. Some of those events were his Back-to-School Giveaway, where he distributed more than 2,100 backpacks filled with school supplies; a job fair, which resulted in 50 people hired on the spot with hundreds of scheduled interviews; a Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, where more than 500 turkeys were distributed to families in the community; an Annual Toy Drive, the distribution of toys during the holiday season; and a Coat Drive, where more than 1,800 coats were distributed to residents in the winter.

In addition to those events, Peralta held community gatherings such as the Black History Month Celebration, the Women of Distinction Celebration, town hall meetings on airplane noise, homeless shelters and street safety, and has attended 38 graduation ceremonies in his district, presenting 5,425 certificates of achievement to the graduates. Overall, an estimated 6,000 people have participated in his events over the course of a year.

Since being elected in 2010, Peralta’s constituent services team has received almost 7,000 cases, with over 1,000 cases a year.

Peralta strongly encourages his constituents to drop by, call or email his office if there is anything they need.

This is the link to the complete story.