Donovan Richards sworn in for second term as Queens borough president; vows housing, jobs and immigrant defense

Donovan Richards was sworn in for a second term as Borough President of Queens on Feb. 8, 2026, at Queens College’s Goldstein Theatre, where elected officials, community leaders and hundreds of residents gathered to celebrate and hear his agenda for the next four years.

Richards took the oath of office in a ceremony that featured remarks from U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and other city and state officials. “We brought that 25% unemployment rate down to just 5.4%,” Richards said in his inaugural address, citing what he described as economic recovery and job growth tied to projects such as the JFK Airport redevelopment. He added, “We will defend our immigrant communities with our budgets and our bodies.”

The inauguration combined ceremonial elements, interfaith invocations and several substantive policy themes. Schumer used his remarks to sharply criticize recent federal immigration enforcement actions, saying ICE had been "terrorizing immigrants" in Minnesota and urging stronger oversight. Attorney General Letitia James called for unity against hate and then sworn in Richards, framing the event as both a celebration and a call to collective action.

In his roughly 30-minute address Richards reiterated priorities familiar from his first term: affordable housing, school investment, health care and workforce development. He cited large-scale projects and funding figures — referencing a $20 billion redevelopment at JFK Airport, an asserted $46 million in health investments and more than $400 million in school, parks and cultural funding — and pledged to push for tens of thousands of affordable housing units across neighborhoods from the Rockaways to Long Island City.

Speakers who praised Richards emphasized his community roots and political trajectory. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams urged attendees to continue grassroots engagement and to hold elected leaders accountable; Assemblymember Catalina Cruz and City Comptroller Mark Levine highlighted Richards’ role in securing capital projects and grants for the borough. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz noted the importance of partnerships between the borough president’s office, prosecutors and law enforcement on gang and gun violence prevention.

The program also featured youth performances and nonprofit spotlights. Organizers announced a QPTV series, Queens Perspectives, to showcase local nonprofits. A brief public-service segment by Jordan Peele addressed online bullying, and nonprofit Transitional Services for New York described plans for a 50-unit supportive housing site for people facing mental-health challenges.

Richards closed by framing his second term as a moment to continue progress while acknowledging ongoing challenges — homelessness, affordability and public-safety disparities — and urged residents to remain engaged as the administration pursues rezonings, development on public land and leveraged funding to expand schools, community centers and health services. The ceremony concluded with applause and an invitation to a reception and community programming following the formal event.