Queens Election and Transit Updates: New Hotline, Station Rename, and Recycling Drive

New York Attorney General Letitia James launched a dedicated support line for the 2026 general election on Tuesday. The hotline will operate during the early voting period and on Election Day to assist voters with mail ballots, registration, and polling place issues.

The OAG hotline is staffed by attorneys and is available by phone at (866) 390-2992. During the early voting window, which spans from October 24 to November 1, the line operates from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Election Day, November 3, hours extend to 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The line remains open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on November 2 and November 4. James stated that the hotline exists to support New Yorkers at every step of the voting process and to keep elections free from intimidation.

The MTA simultaneously announced the renaming of the Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer subway station. The E, J, and Z lines will now identify the stop as Jamaica Center-York College. MTA Chair Janno Lieber said the change recognizes the nearby CUNY campus and aids navigation for students and staff. The station serves 23,000 daily riders in southeast Queens.

In Flushing, City Council Deputy Leader Sandra Ung, Congresswoman Grace Meng, Senator John Liu, and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic are hosting a recycling event at the Queens Botanical Garden parking lot on November 1. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and accepts electronics, textiles, and paint. Participants must bring paint in original, labeled containers of five gallons or less. Leaking cans and items like air conditioners and large appliances are not accepted.

State officials also revealed a plan to upgrade the state’s Electronic Benefit Transfer system. Senator Liu and Assemblywoman Rozic announced that the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance will replace magstripe cards with chip-and-tap technology. This move aims to stop benefit theft, a problem that resulted in over 34,000 claims and $17.1 million in reported losses in New York City over the past year. New cards are expected to be issued in early 2027.

Retailers and financial institutions must update their point of sale equipment and ATMs by December 1, 2026, to process the new cards. Rozic urged retailers to meet this deadline to ensure SNAP benefits reach the families that depend on them. The upgrade follows years of delays in modernizing the state’s fraud prevention measures.

Assemblyman Sam Berger and Queens Chamber of Commerce officials concluded a business walk along Main Street on October 20. They visited shops such as Wasserman Supermarket and Max & Mina’s Ice Cream to discuss rising operating costs, parking regulations, and e-scooter management. The group also addressed how local businesses can navigate city agencies for educational resources and support.