Meeks rings opening Nasdaq bell

Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from Queens who represents the 5th Congressional District, rang the opening bell of the Nasdaq exchange on Jan. 22. Meeks’ district includes southwest Queens, Inwood, Elmont and Valley Stream. The Nasdaq Stock Market is the second-largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization (the value of the companies that are traded on the stock market), behind only the New York Stock Exchange. Meeks noted that 18 percent of New York state’s and 7 percent of New York City’s tax collections is generated by from the securities industry, which helps to fund schools and infrastructure. A third of the securities industry’s workforce is made up of immigrants, he added, referring to the ongoing debate on immigration policies and border security.