The Queens Tribune is proud to introduce to you Queens' Community Characters.

To make this honorable list, an individual had to fit the following definition: A resident of Queens who is widely known as someone successfully affecting change for the better in his or her community; someone who is omnipresent in the political or civic process and is undeniable idiosyncratic, famous for his or her quirks; and finally, a Community Character is someone who works primarily outside of the system to accomplish his or her goals.

So with this in mind, we set out to compile the following list. A lot of these notables we work with on a regular basis and thus were an obvious choice. But former editors, members of the city council, government officials and others also had suggestions.

Whether the people on this list are here for their work in zoning reform, fighting over-development, creating park space, saving animals or simply successfully getting a stop light installed at that pesky intersection, they are all important to our community in one way or another, and manage to put a smile on our faces, whether they mean to or not.

...Your Community Characters
photo by Ira Cohen

-Mark M. Fox
QCulture 2 editor