Local officials and community members gathered on Saturday to unveil “Christine Haider Way” at the corner of 58th Avenue and 189th Street, honoring the legacy of the late civic activist and Community Board 11 chair who dedicated her life to public service in Eastern Queens.
In attendance were U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, State Senator John Liu, Assemblymembers Ed Braunstein and Nily Rozic, Council Member Sandra Ung and longtime neighbors of Haider, who died in January 2023 at age 75. The Fresh Meadows intersection now bears the name of a woman many described as the heart of the community.
“People like Christine Haider are the unsung heroes of our city,” said Ung. “Street renamings like this one remind us of an important truth: that the people who make the biggest and most long-lasting difference in our city are not always those with the most power or the biggest platforms. They are the neighbors who take the time to care.”
Haider spent over 30 years on Queens Community Board 11, including time as its chair, advocating for zoning protections, infrastructure improvements and neighborhood quality-of-life issues. She was also president of the Harding Heights Civic Association and a devoted member of St. Kevin’s Parish, where she helped organize Memorial Day and Veterans Day tributes alongside her late husband.
“Christine Haider was a tremendous civic leader, dedicating so much of her life to making Queens a better place,” said Meng. “This street co-naming will help ensure that her commitment to our borough is remembered for generations to come.”
Liu added that Haider’s “profound love for our community resonates in our streets, homes, and neighborhoods to this day,” and called the renaming a fitting tribute to her legacy of civic engagement.
Braunstein echoed that sentiment, noting Haider’s fierce dedication to preserving the character of neighborhoods throughout Eastern Queens. “She fought tirelessly to protect our quality of life,” he said.
Dr. Eileen Miller, who served alongside Haider on the community board, reflected on her decades of faithful leadership. “Her dedication to addressing community issues and her consistent attendance at meetings instilled confidence in her leadership,” Miller said, noting Haider’s deep involvement with St. Kevin’s, her service with the Sea Cadets and recognition as a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre.
Haider’s impact extended beyond government. Rozic described her as a “pillar of the community,” whose years of service improved the lives of countless residents.
