Three Garden City Fifth Graders Named Finalists in Assembly District 19 Law Contest

Three fifth graders from Garden City’s Stratford Avenue School were named finalists in Assembly District 19 Minority Leader Ed Ra’s 2026 “There Ought to Be a Law” contest, receiving recognition for student proposals about disability employment, business schedules and bicycle safety.

Patrick Burns, Julien Fitch and Alice Grant were among the 20 finalists identified by Garden City Public Schools from 553 entries submitted by fifth-grade students across nine local schools in the district. The local school report was published July 2, 2026.

Three proposals from Stratford Avenue

Burns proposed requiring companies registered to do business in New York with more than 10,000 employees to hire a certain percentage of workers with disabilities. His idea emphasized matching jobs with workers’ strengths and abilities.

Fitch proposed Sunday closures for stores selling some nonessential goods, while allowing pharmacies to remain open and permitting supermarkets and restaurants to operate on reduced schedules.

Grant proposed prohibiting the use of electronic devices while riding a bicycle. Her proposal focused on distractions, reduced awareness of surrounding traffic and the possibility that earbuds could block important sounds.

These were student proposals submitted through an educational contest. The available school and Assembly reports do not say that any of the ideas was introduced, passed or enacted as legislation.

Citations at a Mineola ceremony

The Garden City school report said Burns, Fitch and Grant were recognized at an awards ceremony on June 22, 2026, and that each finalist received a citation. The New York State Assembly identified the ceremony as taking place at Mineola High School.

The Assembly described the contest as an opportunity for fifth-grade students to think critically about ideas they believe could make good laws. Assemblyman Ed Ra said the exercise helps students learn about the legislative process and understand that their ideas can make a difference in their communities.

Finalists, not the overall winner

The overall 2026 winner was Gabriella Rodia of Polk Street School. Her proposal concerned employee mental-health days, including time away from work for personal well-being rather than only for documented physical illness or a doctor’s note.

The two official accounts use different labels for the recognized students: Garden City Public Schools described Burns, Fitch and Grant as among 20 finalists, while Ra’s Assembly release referred to 30 semi-finalists selected from the 553 entries. This article preserves those source-specific descriptions rather than treating the figures as interchangeable.

For Garden City, the local result is that three Stratford Avenue fifth graders received formal recognition for civic proposals. Their recognition did not mean that their proposals became law or that they won the contest overall.

Sources

• Garden City Public Schools: Three Garden City fifth graders named finalists in Ed Ra’s contest
• New York State Assembly: 2026 ‘There Ought to Be a Law’ contest results