Queens Chronicle South Edition 03-28-24

Parents, pols rally for safer streets

Marchers call for passage of Sammy’s Law; more crossing guards, redesigns

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

They did it for Bayron Palomino Arroyo, 8; for Giovanni Ampuero, 9; Dolma Naadhun, 7; Quintus Chen, 3; Doniqueca Cooke, 21; and for those they left behind, hoping no other parents will lose their children because of a bad or inattentive driver.

More than 200 people gathered at PS 110 in Corona last Friday for a press conference and march aimed at passing state legislation to improve traffic safety in the city.

“We are here because some adults have failed you,” state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Jackson Heights) said to the scores of children who were in attendance.

Ramos and other members of the Queens delegation to Albany for years have supported Sammy’s Law, which would allow the city to reduce its speed limits, which now are set at 25 miles per hour unless signs indicate otherwise.

Legislators and parents speaking Friday also want scrambled crosswalks, the nickname for those that have periods of red lights in all directions simultaneously to allow pedestrians to cross in safety.

Raul Ampuero’s son, Giovanni, was killed crossing Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights while with his mother in 2018. Ampuero held up pictures of Giovanni and Bayron, who died under similar circumstances on

March 13 at 31st Avenue and 100th Street in East Elmhurst.

Ampuero was one of multiple people who said the pedestrians did the right things both times — crossing at a corner, waiting for the

light and holding hands.

“Look at this picture. This was my Giovanni. Look at the smile he wore; how devastated the family is because our boy isn’t here anymore. Look at Bayron. This is a beautiful kid. He

should be playing in the park with his friends. That is why I’m asking people to help us ... How much? How many? This needs to stop.”

Ampuero told the Chronicle it still is hard to keep coming out to support families suffering as his has, and to fight for changes.

“It takes spiritual strength,” he said. “If your spirit and your heart are strong, you can do anything.”

Ramos said backers of both measures hope that they can be added to the state budget, now under negotiation with a deadline of April 1; and also called for budget adjustments from Mayor Adams.

“This is every parent’s nightmare,” said the mother of two boys. “We are here to send a message to our governor and our mayor. We demand that Sammy’s Law be included in the state budget ... with scrambled crosswalks ... diagonal crosswalks outside our schools so children can cross without any cars during arrival and dismissal. We demand that 500 crossing guards are restored to the city budget, and that more are hired.”

Donald Nesbit of Local 372, the union that represents crossing guards and cafeteria workers, also spoke of budgets. His workers lost posthumously promoted community coordinator Krystyna Naprawa, 63, when she was struck by a car while on duty as a crossing guard in

continued on page 24

Raul Ampuero holds photos of his son and Bayron Palomino Arroyo, killed six years apart in traffic crashes. He was one of more than 200 in Corona on Friday calling for passage of traffic safety legislation in Albany. PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON

MTA installs signs to honor Little Guyana

New plaques unveiled at A train station honor the neighborhood’s rich culture

by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

Two plaques bearing the inscription “Welcome to Little Guyana” were unveiled last Friday at the Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd. A Train station in South Richmond Hill, in tribute to the neighborhood’s vast Guyanese population and vibrant culture.

The initiative to install the plaques was spearheaded by the Richmond Hill-South Ozone Park Lions Club, who enlisted the support of state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven). Addabbo then recommended the installation to the MTA, which crafted the plaques to withstand environmental elements, making sure they will endure for years to come.

Located in the station’s mezzanine on both sides of the station booth, the plaques are strategically placed for the nearly 27,000 daily riders to appreciate.

The signs’ installation coincides with Holi, a joyous celebration of light, color and spring observed by the Guyanese-American community and the wider Indian diaspora.

Among the attendees at the unveiling were Romeo Hitlall, president of the South Ozone ParkRichmond Hill Lions Club, Addab-

bo, Councilwoman Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills), Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows), MTA New York City Transit Department of Subways Senior Vice President Demetrius Crichlow and Capt. Berkley VanTull, the commanding officer of the NYPD

106th Precinct.

“At New York City Transit Department of Subways, we value the rich diversity of our customers, and our stations should reflect the mosaic of New York City’s multinational communities,” Crichlow said in an MTA press release. “I’m grate-

ful to all who came together to bring these plaques to this station and honored to celebrate the countless contributions Guyanese-Americans have made to this neighborhood and all of New York City.” Crichlow told attendees that while the station’s name is unchanged,

conductors will be encouraged to acknowledge Little Guyana when arriving at the station.

“That is one thing we will be encouraging our conductors to do — show some love for Little Guyana,” he said.

“This is a snapshot of how government should work, the resident comes to the elected official, the elected official goes to the agencies and good things happen for a community,” Addabbo said. “These plaques serve as a symbol of unity and recognition of the vibrant culture that adds so much to the fabric of our diverse city. Let us continue to embrace and honor the traditions and positive contributions of our Guyanese neighbors in ‘Little Guyana’ and beyond. As we work on addressing the serious issues facing our residents these days, the unveiling of these signs spreads much needed happiness and creates a positive feeling for this community.”

“I am deeply honored to witness the installation of signage welcoming visitors to ‘Little Guyana’ at the Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd Station train station,” Hitlall said in the MTA’s press release. “This initiative is a testament to our community’s rich tapestry of cultures and serves as a symbol of inclusivity and diversity.” Q

Casino licenses not coming until late ’25

Addabbo calls delay ‘embarrassing,’ but commission still denies any delay

by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

The state Gaming Commission will not award any downstate casino licenses until late 2025, nor will it open submissions until next year, Robert Williams, the panel’s executive director, announced Monday.

Since four of the potential plans in the city would require the passage of the proposed Gaming Text Amendment, which would allow casinos to be built in commercial and manufacturing zones, Williams said it was unlikely for those projects to complete the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, in addition to an environmental review, before the first quarter of next year. Accepting applications before then, he said, “would make little sense.”

Williams had said at the commission’s December meeting that the Gaming Facility Location Board would work through the holidays to respond to the second of two rounds of questions from applicants, the release of which triggers a 30-day submission window. That came and went.

When the Chronicle last week asked commission spokesperson Brad Maione to explain the delay for an exclusive report, he denied there was one, noting that there is no deadline for the beginning of application filing.

The commission stood by that even after Monday’s announcement.

The move comes two years after the state expedited the process by a year, meaning licenses could be awarded as soon as this year. Now, it seems that’s moot.

State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven), who chairs the Senate Gaming Committee, was less than pleased by Williams’ announcement. “It’s getting embarrassing,” he said of the lack of movement on the application process.

He objected to the idea that the process cannot move forward at present, adding, “I’m of the opinion — and I’ll always be of the opinion — if the governor or mayor or anybody wants something done, it can be done.”

Asked Monday if he had heard from any potential applicants about Williams’ announcement, Addabbo said, “There’s frustration across the board. They want to get started.” He did not say which would-be future casino owners had expressed that frustration.

South Ozone Park-Richmond Hill Lions Club President Romeo Hitlall, left, MTA NYC Transit Department of Subways Senior Vice President Demetrius Crichlow, state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr., Assemblyman David Weprin and Councilwoman Lynn Schulman celebrate the unveiling of “Welcome to Little Guyana” signs at the Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd. train station in South Richmond Hill.

PHOTO BY MARC HERMANN / MTA

A spokesperson for Mets owner Steve Cohen, who is seeking to build a casino next to Citi

Field

proposal, declined to comment.

MTA board approves congestion pricing

Agency signs off on Manhattan toll plans; federal lawsuits still ongoing

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

Confirming what was possibly the worst-kept secret in city or state government in recent years, the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted Wednesday to approve a package of congestion pricing fees for drivers entering Manhattan at 60th Street or below.

Passenger vehicles and small commercial vehicles — sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, and small vans, according to an MTA press release — paying with a valid E-ZPass will be charged $15 during the day and $3.75 at night, when there is less congestion, to enter the Central Business District. They will be charged no more than once a day.

Barring action from the courts in any one of four federal lawsuits that have been filed to stop it, tolls could be implemented by June.

The stated aims are to raise $1 billion per year for the MTA’s capital budget and to encourage use of mass transit.

“Today’s vote is one of the most significant the Board has ever undertaken, and the MTA is ready,”

said MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber in a press release. “In advance of day one of tolling, we’ve increased service on 12 subway lines, advanced redesigns of the entire NYC bus network, and implemented the largest service increase in LIRR history. And there’s more to come with the funds raised from congestion pricing — more accessible stations, modernized subway signals, and new expansion projects like Phase 2 of

the Second Avenue Subway and Metro-North Penn Station Access.”

Trucks and some buses will be charged a toll of $24 or $36 during the day to enter the congestion relief zone in Manhattan below 60th Street, depending on their size and function, and $6 or $9 at night. The toll for motorcycles will be $7.50 during the day and $1.75 at night. Yellow taxi, green cab and black car passengers will pay a $1.25 toll for every trip to, from, within or through

the zone; customers of app-based forhire vehicles will pay $2.50. As previously proposed, qualifying authorized emergency vehicles and qualifying vehicles carrying people with disabilities will be exempt. So too will school buses contracted with the NYC Department of Education, buses providing scheduled commuter services open to the public, commuter vans licensed with the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, and specialized government vehicles.

The MTA said as previously proposed, a 50 percent discount will be available for low-income vehicle owners and a tax credit is available for low-income residents of the Central Business District.

Full details are available online at congestionreliefzone.mta.info.

Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth) came out full force just before the Chronicle’s deadline on Wednesday afternoon.

“The MTA Board’s approval of congestion pricing is a blatant assault on every New Yorker who’s already struggling to get by, Holden said in a press release from his office. “It’s a disgusting cash grab that punishes

our most vulnerable — those with no choice but to commute from transit deserts. This isn’t just a policy failure; it’s an act of war on the working class. Mark my words: we’re taking this fight straight to the courts. See you there.”

The councilman and others have their choice of venues.

The United Federation of Teachers and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella filed suit in January, a action that was joined by the city’s 400,000-member Municipal Labor Committee and 18 elected officials in February.

The Staten Island Chapter of the NAACP joined last week.

A class action suit filed by lead plaintiff New Yorkers Against Congestion Pricing Tax, Inc. in January also includes a number of elected officials plus businesses and individuals from neighborhoods on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy filed a suit last July. Democratic Fort Lee, NJ, Mayor Mark Sokolich and a resident of Fort Lee who suffers from respiratory disease filed their suit last November. Q

E-bike bills await legislative approval

State pols pen regulations regarding micromobility vehicles and batteries

by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

As lithium-ion battery-related fires blaze throughout the city and electric bikes and scooters crowd the streets, state lawmakers are working to pass legislation to remedy the issues associated with the devices.

A4938, which passed the Assembly on March 5, would prohibit the sale of lithium-ion batteries used in micromobility devices, bicycles with electric assist or mopeds, unless such batteries are manufactured in accordance with certain standards and specifications.

Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) and Juan Ardila (D-Sunnyside).

The Senate version, S00154, is currently in the Consumer Protection Committee. Queens co-sponsors include state Sens. Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria), Kristen Gonzalez (D-Long Island City), John Liu (D-Bayside) and Jessica Ramos (D-Jackson Heights).

“We are going to end this now.”

— Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar

The bill would provide a civil penalty and would authorize district attorneys, county attorneys and corporation counsels to have concurrent authority to seek the relief.

The co-sponsors of A4938 include Queens Assemblymembers Steven Raga (D-Maspeth), Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills), David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows), Stacey

“This is a bold step forward in addressing the problems we face with lithium-ion batteries,” Pheffer Amato said of the bill’s Assembly passage in a press release. “By setting a standard and mandating only safety-proven batteries can be sold and operated, we can prevent fires, but also tragic injuries and deaths. This bill holds retailers and sellers accountable. I believe we have more work to do in addressing issues caused by e-bikes and my sleeves are rolled up.”

She added that those who violate the law would be charged a penalty between $500 and $1,000.

S07760 and A08102 would require micromobility devices, mopeds and bicycles with electric assist to have a red tag attached to the charging cord, which states to unplug when not in use. The tag would include additional consumer safety information regarding safe usage of the product and its charging equipment.

The legislation is co-sponsored in the Senate by Queens state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven), and in the Assembly by Assemblymembers Jessica González-Rojas (D-East Elmhurst), Ardila, Alicia Hyndman (D-Springfield Gardens), Nily Rozic (D-Flushing) and Vivan Cook (D-Jamaica).

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) has also introduced legislation to regulate the usage of e-bikes.

A09092 would require bicycles with electric assist and electric scooters to be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles and have a license plate.

A09114, on the other hand, would do all that and require that the vehicles be inspected annually, includ-

ing an inspection of the battery, and have liability insurance.

According to nyassembly.gov, as of publication, there are no co-sponsors or Senate versions of the legislation.

“In 2023, e-bikes caused more than 7,000 injuries in New York City,” Rajkumar said on X when announcing the new bills. “There were more than 250 fires from e-bike batteries, killing 18 people and injuring 133. We are going to end this now.”

Q

State lawmakers introduced electric bicycle and scooter legislation that aims to curb the accidents and fires associated with the vehicles and their batteries.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON / FILE

Crossing the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge will cost $15 or more starting sometime in the next few months after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority approved congestion pricing Wednesday. PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON

Distracted driving event in RH

Sen. Addabbo, agencies partner to promote safe practices

by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and to commemorate the occasion, state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) is partnering with the NYPD, city Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and State Police to host an interactive distracted driving event, according to a press release from his office.

Distracted driving, which includes activities like texting, eating, adjusting the stereo or interacting with passengers, diverts attention from the road and significantly increases the risk of accidents.

On April 10, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Richmond Hill High School at 89-30 114 St., Addabbo’s constituents can participate in an experience that aims to prevent the tragic accidents that can occur when motorists take their eyes off the road.

The event will feature virtual reality crash simulations, impaired or drunk goggles and use of a seat belt convincer and rollover convincer, according to the press release.

The seat belt convincer provides a realistic experience of a five- to 10 mile-per-hour

The impaired driving simulation will utilize drunk or impaired goggles to replicate symptoms like disorientation, altered perception, vertigo and distorted vision, illustrating the dangers of driving under the influence.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,522 individuals were killed by distracted driving in 2021, accounting for 8 percent of all traffic fatalities, 14 percent of injury crashes and 13 percent of all policereported motor vehicle traffic crashes. The agency also reported 362,415 people injured in accidents involving distracted drivers that same year.

Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds, according to Addabbo’s office, and at 55 miles per hour, that is akin to driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

USPS carrier targeted in Woodhaven

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two men who attempted to rob a USPS letter carrier in Woodhaven earlier this month.

According to the agency, on March 7 at approximately 11 a.m., the pair tried to rob the carrier near 87-28 92 St.

Those with information about the incident should contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1 (877) 876-2455, saying “law enforcement” when prompted.

The case reference number is 4266868ROBB. All information will be kept strictly confidential. Q

collision. Participants can ride in a cart that simulates a crash, emphasizing the impact of not wearing a seat belt.

A rollover convincer demonstrates the dangers of not using seat belts by showcasing the effects on occupants in a rotating pickup truck cab, with dummies representing an adult and child, Addabbo’s office said.

“I am not offering a class in what not to do, but rather allowing people to truly experience impairment and distraction using the senses of touch, sight, and sound,” Addabbo said in the press release. “In doing so, hopefully it will get people to think twice about being pre-occupied behind the wheel.”

For more information, contact Addabbo’s office at (718) 738-1111. Q

These men are wanted in connection with an attempted robbery of a USPS mail carrier last month

U.S. POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE PHOTOS

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State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. is hosting an event in partnership with multiple agencies to combat distracted driving.

EDITORIAL AGEP No, City Council, migrants can’t vote

What part of “Every citizen shall be entitled to vote at every election” and “provided that such citizen is eighteen years of age or over” does the leadership of the City Council not understand? It’s pretty clear to us that the above lines in the state Constitution say voting is for citizens. It’s pretty clear to the judge on Staten Island who ruled that the misguided city law trying to partially extend the franchise to about 800,000 immigrants was unconstitutional. It’s pretty clear to the three jurists on a four-judge Appellate Division panel who upheld his ruling.

Yet it’s not clear to the City Council, which is wasting taxpayer funds appealing the ruling to the Court of Appeals, the state’s highest. Maybe it’s a reading comprehension thing; it’s only recently that the city went back to teaching phonics. But it’s more likely an aspirational thing: The lawmakers think the Constitution should allow noncitizens to vote in municipal elections, therefore it must be that it does say so. Or at least that it doesn’t not say so. Or something. And when mommy (one judge) says no, ask daddy (a panel of judges), and when he says no, ask Grandma and Grandpa (the judges at the tippy top).

It is all kind of childish, isn’t it? And wasteful.

Remember, this is the law that was so out there former Mayor Bill de Blasio wouldn’t sign it. He wouldn’t veto it either, so it became law after he left office, in January 2022. Then some Republicans, moderate Democrats and a naturalized citizen in Queens sued. They won, in June 2022. The city appealed. The plaintiffs won again, this past Feb. 21. After that, Mayor Adams was wise enough not to appeal. He chose well. But the Council chose otherwise.

Were the law to stand, any foreigner who has been here for a month and meets a couple other requirements would be able to vote in city elections. Would that include any of the 180,000 recent migrants who decide to settle down here? Why not? Even if they crossed the border without authorization, if they’re seeking asylum, they have a legal status of sorts. And if the law isn’t written to include them, someone would sue on their behalf to rewrite it in court.

But that’s only if the Court of Appeals reverses the Appellate Division and allows the unconstitutional law to be imposed on the citizens of New York — who themselves all have to abide by the state Constitution. The other one, too. And guess what, City Council — there are ways to alter either Constitution legally. Try one if you like.

How long to hold ’em?

That cheering you may have heard earlier this week wasn’t necessarily from Mets fans getting an early start on the season. It was more likely from the army of well-paid consultants and public relations firms representing the deep-pocketed companies hoping to build full-fledged casinos in the metropolitan area.

Following an exclusive Queens Chronicle report on the delay in the pre-application process for the three golden tickets, that is, downstate casino licenses Albany will issue, the state announced it won’t even be accepting applications until next year. Licenses won’t be awarded until late in the year (safe bet: It’ll be later than that). That leaves major players like billionaire Mets owner Steve Cohen and gaming giant Genting hanging.

We were never a fan of radically expanding legal gambling, which functions as a (barely) voluntary sin tax on those who can least afford it. But it’s the law, and building casinos at least would provide thousands of construction jobs. The delay is maddening. Are the same people who screwed up legal marijuana working on this? It almost seems that way. Stop shuffling and deal the cards already!

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

Rail plans dashed

Dear Editor:

Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

Stela Barbu Office Manager

Jan Schulman Art Director

Gregg Cohen Editorial Production Manager

Last week the feds gave NYC $117 million to fund Mayor Adam’s transit-blocking park on the Long Island Rail Road Rockaway Beach Branch right-of-way. This funding is in addition to the $35 million the mayor already committed when he announced his skinny park in September 2022. The mayor was in such a rush that he never bothered to ask Queens residents if they wanted a new subway, a new park or QueensLink, which includes both. Nor did he acknowledge that the park would occupy the borough’s only north-south rail corridor being considered by the MTA for reactivation. Who does that? And why? And why now?

Ironically the new park funding, which seems designed to kill any hopes of restoring rail transit in Queens, comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation. President Biden proudly announced that he was “delivering environmental justice by reconnecting disadvantaged communities and neighborhoods to new opportunities for the future.”

Contributors:

Lloyd Carroll, Mark Lord, Ronald Marzlock

Photographers:

Walter Karling, Michael Shain

Office: The Shops at Atlas Park 71-19 80th St., Suite 8-201

Glendale, NY 11385

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No, he’s not. This park-only project, if we let it happen, will do exactly the opposite. It will ensure that the 3.5-mile rail connection from Ozone Park to Rego Park that was severed by the city over 60 years ago will remain severed and the communities it isolated will remain so.

Politicians and the MTA say congestion pricing is needed to improve outerborough public

transit so motorists can ditch their cars. Building a park on this unique transit right-of-way proves they aren’t serious about delivering on that promise. How can we ever hope to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution if we intentionally block the reactivation of an unused, publicly owned rail corridor right between the infamously congested Woodhaven Boulevard and Van Wyck Expressway?

If you are interested in supporting QueensLink’s all-volunteer, nonprofit outreach campaign, you will find multiple options at thequeenslink.org.

Rick Horan Executive Director, QueensLink Rockaway Beach

Queens horse hockey

Dear Editor:

Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth) tells the Chronicle one of the most hilarious experiences upon joining the Council was seeing reporters not being able to identify his party

(“CM Holden says he still has work to do,” March 21, multiple editions). Not surprising. Elected as the Republican/Conservative/ Reform/“Dump de Blasio” candidate, Holden has since come to lead a contingent of strange City Council bedfellows in tenaciously pursuing Bill de Blasio’s old cause célèbre: legislation (Intro 573) to “wind down the horse drawn carriage industry” in Central Park.

Holden has also been “working with” astroturf animal rights nonprofit NYCLASS, aka New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets. Founded by a Manhattan real estate developer, the serial campaign finance scofflaw lobbyist group of wealthy donors and prominent New Yorkers drew headlines (and subpoenas) funneling big money to de Blasio’s successful first mayoral campaign, in which he promised to ban the horse carriages on “Day 1.”

NYCLASS bigwigs had to walk away from that bad investment with the collapse of a desperate last-ditch deal de Blasio hatched that would have at least moved the stables out of “coveted property on the West Side of Manhat-

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

tan” (The New York Times). A displeased NYCLASS honcho told The Times the group’s “main focus will be on City Council races, in the hope of building a majority to support a ban.”

This latest go at (emphatically) disinterested, purely humane progressive meddling in Central Park has Holden and a retinue of Council co-sponsors that runs the gamut, from fellow “common sense” law-and-order sorts to self-styled “socialists,” among them “restorative justice” decarceration maximalist Tiffany Cabán of Astoria. NYCLASS liked both Holden and Cabán in 2021 and were officially “thrilled” to endorse Holden (now “Democratic/Animal Welfare”) in 2023. Holden and Cabán types logically could make common cause reviving another moribund de Blasio project — property tax reform — but it’s a good guess NYCLASS types wouldn’t be thrilled.

Edwin Eppich Glendale

E-bikes need plates

Dear Editor:

The reason, as you stated in your editorial (“Put plates on e-bikes, March 21), that e-bike riders are “zipping along sidewalks, against traffic, alongside turning cars and everywhere else without a care” is that they can’t be identified. No foot patrol officer can catch them and no traffic cameras can identify them.

A reasonable cost for a plate could have the added benefit of directing the monies to mass transit improvements. I would hope that every council member supports a bill that is beneficial for pedestrian safety and mass transit improvements.

Louis Kramberg Rego Park

No room at animal shelter

Dear Editor:

I thank you for the article on the new animal shelter in Queens (“New animal shelter named for Vallone,” March 21, multiple editions). The only problem is that, once the new Queens shelter opens, they will close the Brooklyn shelter for an unspecified amount of time and transfer all the animals from Brooklyn to Queens, so they can remodel accordingly. And we all know that could take a year or two.

So in reality, the shelter will be very limited in cage space, if it has any cage space at all. The Brooklyn shelter already houses more cage space than the new Queens shelter will accommodate. What does that tell you? Brace yourself for a long wait!

Joan Silaco Queens Village

Vote GOP for security

Dear Editor:

Re “Do more for safe subways,” by Kevin O’Leary, Letters, March 14:

Dear Kevin of Kew Gardens. You wrote, “It would be wonderful if the judges would pitch in and lock up the offenders and repeat offenders.”

Actually, it would be wonderful if the residents of NYC would start voting Republican,

the “law and order” party. When they start voting for Republican City Council members, state senators, district attorneys, mayor, governor, and especially Republican/Conservative judges, that is when you and your family will begin to feel safe again, driving and walking around, and riding the subways, just like it was when Giuliani, and then Bloomberg, were mayor!

Until then, the people who vote D must reap what they sow.

Michael Naimoli Ozone Park

Casino license safe bets

Dear Editor:

What the state gaming commission isn’t telling anyone is that there is only one casino license up for bid (“What’s the hold up on casino licenses?” March 21).

Aqueduct Race Track and Yonkers Raceway, aka racinos, are allowed to have electronic casino games as long as there is live horse racing on the property. Both of these properties have been guaranteed full casino licenses when they are given out, due to their years of service and their help sustaining the horse racing industry.

The licenses will not be given until Belmont Park’s renovations are complete in two years and Aqueduct Race Track can be closed. Giving out the licenses was delayed because they decided to build the UBS Arena and stopped the Belmont Park renovations because they did not want both projects going at the same time.

So let the fighting begin for the one license that will be available the day Belmont Park opens, and that day will miraculously also be the same day the governor happens to sign off on full gaming casinos in New York City.

David Conlin

Howard

Beach

Pledge, lies and tyranny

Dear Editor:

The Pledge of Allegiance will be changed.

All students will have to recite, “I pledge allegiance to the tyrannical union of Trump and the hatred and lies on which it is based.”

Ray Hackinson

Ozone Park

With friends like these ...

Dear Editor:

President Biden is afraid of losing the proPalestinian voters in battleground state Michigan. He had Sen. Chuck Schumer blame Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for blocking peace in the region, and Schumer also said that Israelis should vote him out of office. So much for being against foreign interference in elections.

The fact that Hamas continues to hold hostages, including Americans, doesn’t seem to matter as much to our president and Sen. Schumer as long as there is an election to be won.

With Israel having “friends” like Biden and Schumer, who needs enemies?

Lenny Rodin

Forest Hills

FAITH TALK

Pastor Stephen Roser

Stephen Roser is the pastor of Howard Beach Assembly of God Church

On the very fi rst Easter Sunday Jesus appeared suddenly among His disciples, showed them His wounded hands and feet, invited them to touch Him, and even ate a piece of broiled fi sh in order to convince them that He was present in a real body. Because it all seemed too good to be true, they were unable to accept that He could have any form other than a ghost. Disbelief would have prevented them from bearing witness to His resurrection, but Jesus transformed their wills and their thinking by pointing them to Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah who would suffer and rise from the dead. These, He said, were fulfi lled in Him. Their faith came alive and so did their preaching. All of us need a similar shedding of light upon our understanding because our natural minds do not accept spiritual things.

Attitudes like pride, defensiveness, and the love of money blind our intellects to Bible truth. We see the words or hear them, but we do not thoroughly understand them until there is a change from above in our thinking and believing.

While the help of learned teachers and Bible commentaries is important, a prayerful, humble heart will fi nd a thousand treasures in the Bible which a self-willed student will fail to understand.

The passage of centuries has not diminished the power or willingness of the Living Christ to transform minds so that they can understand His Word and will. Easter is the perfect time to bow the knee and ask for the changeover.

NYC Council Members Tiffany Cabán, Shekar Krishnan and Francisco Moya invite you to

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Red Hawks get the victory

Congrats, Red Hawks! The High School for Construction Trades, Engineering & Architecture in Ozone Park reigned victorious on March 17 in the NYC Public Schools Athletic League’s 2A girls basketball championship.

In a game against Brooklyn’s Medgar Evers College Preparatory School’s Lady Cougars, the Red Hawks came from behind to pull out a 63-59 overtime victory.

“We were down by 13 in the first half,” the team’s coach, Jason Salamanca, told the Chronicle. “But we tied the game and were able to pull it out in overtime.”

The school celebrated the win by posting a photo with the team alongside the championship banner on its Facebook page.

“It was very exciting, because it was our first championship in our school’s history,” Salamanca said. — Kristen Guglielmo

HB Kiwanis offers scholarships

The Kiwanis Club of Howard Beach is continuing to support higher education by awarding annual scholarships to students living in the 11414 ZIP code for the eighth consecutive year.

The funds will benefit high school seniors who will be continuing their education at an accredited college or university in the fall of 2024.

benefiting six total honorees.

The $1,000 awards are the James Giustizia Memorial Scholarship, the Matthew Pecorino Scholarship and the August Sirgiovanni Memorial Scholarship. According to club member Steve Sirgiovanni, the scholarships are named for their sponsors.

According to the club, this year’s programs will feature three $2,500 awards available to community-minded individuals, as well as three $1,000 scholarships,

The application can be found on the club’s website, howardbeachkiwanis.org.

All forms must be postmarked no later than April 30. Those with questions can contact Sirgiovanni at (917) 209-3336. Q

CTEA

City declines to pursue noncitizen suffrage, but lawmakers persist Council appeals migrant vote case

by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief

The City of New York is not appealing the state court ruling that struck down its law allowing noncitizens to vote in municipal elections.

But the City Council is.

The law was struck down Feb. 21 when a 3-1 majority of judges on an Appellate Division panel ruled it unconstitutional and in violation of the state’s Home Rule Law.

The City Council announced Monday that the Law Department had filed a notice of appeal on its behalf, indicating that it wants a ruling on the case from the Court of Appeals, the state’s highest.

“The Council passed Local Law 11 of 2022 to enfranchise 800,000 New Yorkers who live in our city, pay taxes, and contribute to our communities,” spokesman Rendy Desamours said in a prepared statement. “Today’s filing to appeal the Second Department’s recent decision seeks a determination from the state’s highest court that the law is consistent with the State Constitution, Election Law, and the Municipal Home Rule Law. Empowering New Yorkers to participate in our local democratic process can only strengthen New York City by increasing civic engagement. We look forward to the Court of Appeal’s consideration of the Council’s appeal.”

Educating our students to be independent thinkers and lifelong learners

signed nor vetoed it, so it took effect in January 2022 as per city law. A coalition including the state Republican Party sued to overturn it, saying in part that New York’s Constitution only allows citizens to vote.

“We vowed to use every legal tool in our arsenal to block this unconstitutional and unAmerican law, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” plaintiff and then-state Republican Chairman Nicholas Langworthy said in a prepared statement at the time. “The law is clear and the ethics are even clearer: we shouldn’t be allowing citizens of other nations to vote in our elections, full stop.”

crous, and the City Council’s decision to appeal the lower court’s judgment, which sought to halt this madness, is misguided,” Holden said via email. “This law was unconstitutional from the start, and any efforts to prolong this process only detract from the integrity of our electoral system.”

“Unfortunately, this is exactly what I expected from my colleagues in the City Council, but I’m confident that the initial ruling will stand on appeal,” Ariola said in her email. “Judge Wooten’s decision was deeply rooted in constitutional law, and I don’t believe Council lawyers will find any valid pathways to victory here. I believe that the administration’s lawyers already understand that an appeal is nothing but a lost cause, and that’s why they declined to make an appeal of their own in this case.”

PHOTO BY PETER C. MASTROSIMONE

The City Council wants approximately 800,000 immigrants in the five boroughs to be able to vote in municipal races, something state judges have said is unconstitutional — so far.

The Mayor’s Office did not respond when asked if it too would appeal, but the Council press office told the Chronicle via email that “the City Law Department has chosen to solely file a notice to appeal on behalf of the Council.”

The law was passed on Dec. 6, 2021, when Mayor de Blasio was still in office. He neither

Among the other plaintiffs are six members of the City Council and the Republican National Committee. Plaintiffs from Queens include Councilwomen Joann Ariola (R-Howard Beach) and Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone), Councilman Bob Holden (D-Middle Village) and Phillip Yan Hing Wong, a naturalized citizen.

When the plaintiffs won, in June 2022, the Adams administration appealed. But the ruling was upheld in the Appellate Division’s decision in February.

Reaction among Queens lawmakers was mixed. Two who are plaintiffs responded immediately to Chronicle inquiries.

“The idea of extending voting rights to noncitizens has always been fundamentally ludi-

Associate Justice Paul Wooten authored the Appellate Division ruling.

Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán (D-Astoria) supports the law and the appeal.

“I believe that for democracy to work, everyone who is affected by the decisions of the government needs to have a say in who makes up the government,” she said in an email Tuesday. “Green card holders who live in New York City feel the impact of city policy as much as anyone else. That’s why I’m proud to have voted for Our City Our Vote as one of my first acts in the Council.” Q

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Council passes class size bill

Legislation requires DOE to report stats three times per year

by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

The City Council last week passed Int. 45, which would require the Department of Education to report the actual class size of all classes in DOE schools and programs three times annually.

The bill, sponsored by Councilwoman Rita Joseph (D-Brooklyn), the chair of the Committee on Education, would also require the DOE to report on a district-, borough- and citywide level the number and percentage of students in special programs, disaggregated by program type, grade level, race or ethnicity, gender, special education status and English language learner status.

In 2022, the state Legislature passed a bill mandating that the DOE limit the number of students in classrooms across all K-12 schools through a five-year phase-in process beginning in fall 2023.

The limits on class sizes vary depending on the grade level, but range from approximately 20 to 25 students. Physical education

and performing arts classes can have 40 students, and each year, an additional 20 percent of classrooms must be under the limit.

Though the DOE already provides reporting on the average class size of all city public schools and programs, reporting on actual class sizes would provide increased transparency, according to the Council.

Int. 45 was co-sponsored by

Queens Councilmembers Selvena Brooks-Powers (D-Laurelton), Tiffany Cabán (D-Astoria), Jim Gennaro (D-Hillcrest), Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills), Jennifer Gutiérrez (D-Brooklyn, Queens), Shekar Krishnan (D-Jackson Heights), Julie Won (D-Long Island City), Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans) and Sandra Ung (D-Flushing). Gennaro, Krishnan, Schulman

and Gutiérrez all sit on the Education Committee.

“Int. 45 will empower parents, educators, and policymakers with the information they need to advocate effectively for our children’s futures,” Joseph said in a City Council press release.

“Together, we are building a stronger, more accountable education system that leaves no student behind.”

The DOE has been open about class size mandates being a tradeoff. Agency officials have said smaller classes means more funds will have to be spent on teachers, new schools and more classrooms.

At a City Council hearing in February, First Deputy Chancellor Daniel Weisberg said, “We share the goal. We want to get there. We also want to be very clear and transparent about what it’s going to take to get there.”

The bill now awaits the mayor’s signature to become law. City Hall did not respond to an inquiry on whether Mayor Adams intends to sign the bill. Q

Career center to open at LaGuardia Mets owners donate $116.2M for Cohen Career Collective

by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City has received a $116.2 million grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation to establish a workforce training center.

Announced last Wednesday, the grant is the largest ever given to a community college in the United States, and the largest in CUNY history, according to a press release from the foundation, which is led by philanthropist and New York Mets co-owner Alex Cohen.

The center, called the Cohen Career Collective, will boast its own 160,000-squarefoot facility with state-of-the-art training that will help students earn associate degrees, industry certifications and other credentials valued by employers in high-demand sectors, including healthcare, construction, technology, culinary, hospitality and film.

Students will include recent high school graduates, new immigrants and asylumseekers, students in the college’s associate degree program, veterans, the formerly incarcerated, students with disabilities and workers in search of new opportunities, the foundation said.

The facility will include specialized shops, labs and classrooms for hands-on instruction and training, as well as quiet study areas, student meeting rooms, a career services center, computer labs, a lecture hall and more.

In addition to career and technical training, the Cohen Career Collective will provide

“Our goal is to make a positive difference in people’s lives.”

— Alex Cohen, president of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation

English classes for foreign-born students who need to improve their English before taking vocational programs. High school equivalency classes will be offered as well to ensure that trainees obtain their GEDs.

The Cohen Career Collective will also be the home of the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program at LaGuardia, which the college runs in collaboration with the Department of Youth and Community

Donate blood and save lives

“Donate Today, Save Lives Tomorrow” is the motto of the New York Blood Center, which is seeking donors as the state continues to face a blood shortage.

Each person who signs up to help quell the region’s blood shortage can aid surgery and cancer patients, accident victims and new mothers and babies.

Information is available at nybc.org.

Upcoming blood drives in Western and Central Queens include:

• Knights of Columbus Council 5103, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, March 29, at 84-05 78 Ave., in Ridgewood;

• Magar Association, USA, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 31, at 75-15 Woodside Ave., in Elmhurst;

• The Shops at Atlas Park, 1 to 7 p.m. on Monday, April 1, at 8000 Cooper Ave., next to TJ Maxx, in Glendale;

• Sunnyside Jewish Center, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, at a busmobile at 40-20 47 Ave., in Sunnyside;

• NYC Department of Design and Construction, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, at 30-30 Thomson Ave., 1st Floor atrium, Long Island City; and

• Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation-USA. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. April 21, at 88-01 Queens Blvd., in the former T-Mobile store in Elmhurst.

Blood drives in and around North Queens in the next few weeks include:

• St. John’s University, student organization lounge, room 128, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, at 8000 Utopia Pkwy. in Jamaica Estates;

Development.

“I wanted to create a place where students have access to high-quality programs and facilities and can learn the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world,” Alex Cohen said in the press release. “Our goal is to make a positive difference in people’s lives. We are proud to create the Cohen Career Collective and are committed to our neighbors here in Queens.”

“CUNY is immensely grateful to the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation for this extraordinary gift that will have a transformational impact for LaGuardia Community College and CUNY,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez. “This historic $116.2 million investment multiplies CUNY’s role as an engine of upward mobility and doubles down on our commitment to helping our students not only get a degree but a well-paying job after graduation.”

He added that he looks forward to the ways in which the Cohen Career Collective will help promote educational equity and advance LaGuardia and CUNY’s role as a driver of inclusive growth in New York. Construction of the facility is anticipated to be completed by January 2029, the foundation said. Q

• Flushing Mail Carriers-Branch 294, banquet hall, 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, at 35-79 160 St. in Flushing;

• Joseph French Memorial Blood Drive at Community Church of Douglaston, auditorium, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, at 39-50 Douglaston Pkwy. in Douglaston;

• St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church, St. Luke’s Hall, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 21, at 16-34 Clintonville St. in Whitestone; and

• NYPD 107th Precinct, muster room, 12 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, at 71-01 Parsons Blvd. in Flushing.

There are four upcoming drives in Eastern and Southeast Queens:

• The Winchester School, gym, 12 to 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 16, at 86-35 235 Court in Queens Village; blood drive coordinator Marnie Tannenbaum;

• NYPD 103rd Precinct, muster room, 12 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 24, at 168-02 91 Ave. in Jamaica; blood drive coordinator Sgt. Navdeep Singh;

• NYPD 105th Precinct, muster room, 12 to 6 p.m., Thursday, April 25, at 92-08 222 St. in Queens Village; blood drive coordinator Sgt. Navdeep Singh. Q

The City Council passed a bill that would require the Department of Education to report class sizes three times per year.

Distressed man, 19, fatally shot by police

by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

Just days after on-duty NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, 31, was shot and killed in Far Rockaway, Queens was rocked by another tragic shooting.

At approximately 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday, officers responded to a 911 call reporting an individual in distress at 101-12 103 St. in Ozone Park, authorities said.

At a press conference, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said that officers found a man in “mental crisis” and said the situation on the second floor of a two-family house “quickly escalated.” He described it as chaotic and dangerous, and later said the man, a 19-year-old, called the cops himself.

“Our officers attempted to take the individual into custody to get him help,” he said.

The man, who was not identified, took a pair of scissors from a nearby drawer, Chell said, and approached the officers.

Police responded by using their Tasers on the man, which Chell said was effective.

“But a mother being a mother came to the aid of her son to help him, and by doing so, she accidentally knocked the Tasers out of his body,” Chell said.

NYPD officials address the media following the shooting of a 19-year-old emotionally distressed man after he approached cops with scissors. SCREENSHOT VIA NYPD / X

The man got back up and approached officers with the scissors. Chell said the officers had to defend themselves and had no choice but to use their firearms.

The man was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, authorities said, where he was pronounced deceased.

“As our city mourns for Officer Diller ... our cops still have to be out here 24/7, defending the community, helping the community, and they tried to do that today with a person in mental distress,” he said. Q

Action needed on traffic crash crisis in Queens OPINION

by Jessica Ramos

Last week, I stood arm in arm with hundreds of children and their parents, as well as principals, teachers, crossing guards, community leaders and my colleagues to protest the surge of traffic violence plaguing our community. We called the event an “Emergency Children’s March for Street Safety” because we were driven to mobilize by an unparalleled crisis.

Our hearts are broken at the recent loss of 8-year-old Bayron Palomino Arroyo, and also for Bayron’s older brother, who was injured in the same crash. In the days before and after Bayron was killed, we lost neighbors in Sunnyside, Bayside and Maspeth. There is not a single neighborhood of Queens that hasn’t felt the sting of loss and injury. We are losing, and traumatizing, cherished members of our communities at a staggering rate.

I will be fighting for in Albany in the coming week, and one is entirely in the hands of Mayor Adams.

First, the governor must follow the Senate’s lead and make Sammy’s Law to give New York City local control over speed limits a reality. One of the most effective measures to reduce traffic fatalities is controlling vehicle speed. Studies show that even small reductions in speed can significantly decrease the likelihood and severity of crashes. However, New York City currently faces a major obstacle: Albany imposes limits on our authority to set speed limits.

CThe only year in the past decade that we have seen as many fatal crashes on Queens streets as 2024 was 2023. Shockingly, in the last two years, over half of all children killed on the streets of New York have been killed in Queens alone. In all of New York City, no neighborhood is more deadly for pedestrians than Flushing.

ollisions are the No. 1 killer of children in New York City.

Each year, countless lives are shattered, families torn apart and futures erased by the relentless onslaught of traffic crashes. It doesn’t have to be this way, and if the hundreds of Queens families who took to the street last week are any indication, the people of our borough are rising to demand better. We know how to prevent every single one of these fatalities, and we need action.

The governor must also include scramble crosswalks in the budget to keep our children safe. In New York City, most fatal crashes occur when drivers are turning. This is the most dangerous place on the road for pedestrians, cyclists, children and seniors. My bill will give more time for pedestrians to cross (also called a “Barnes dance”) without any upcoming traffic at intersections outside of schools — giving all pedestrians a “walk” signal at once, ensuring that crossing is safe and secure.

Last Friday, our communities shared three demands — two are focused on what the governor needs to do, and what

Lastly, we need Mayor Adams to act, and act immediately, to protect our children. Last summer, the mayor cut the budget for school crossing guards by 18 percent, depriving nearly 500 crossing guards of their jobs, and leaving hundreds of schools — and thousands of children — underprotected. He must reverse those budget cuts right away, fully restoring funding for those who guard our children as they go to and from school. Crashes are the No. 1 killer of children in New York City, and this is not an area that we can afford to shortchange. Legislation will take time to enact, but Mayor Adams can protect our kids starting today.

These three demands are no-brainers, and the crisis of traffic crashes in Queens demands urgent action. For every Queens child who marched with us last week, and for the countless others who deserve safe passage as they move throughout our great borough, we must treat this moment as the emergency it is. Q

Jessica Ramos is New York State Senator for the 13th District, in Western Queens, and the mother of two children.

State Sen. Jessica Ramos, in black, leads a march for safe streets last Friday with Raul Ampuero, in white, whose 9-year-old son was killed by a hit-and-run driver in 2018, and others. PHOTO BY WARREN WHITMORE

Citi Field welcomes Citi Bike

66 Mets-themed cycles already in place for opening day travelers

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

Now Mets fans can take themselves out to the ball game — and back — on bicycles.

Club officials last Thursday met with government and corporate dignitaries to cut the ribbon on 66 new Mets-themed Citi Bikes in the Citi Field parking lot a short distance from the Jackie Robinson Rotunda.

The bikes also are a Brandon Nimmo throw from the steps leading to and from the No. 7 train’s Mets-Willets Point station.

The cycles are adorned on their fenders with team logos and photos ranging from Mr. Met to Pete Alonso.

Michael Sullivan, chief of staff to Mets owner Steve Cohen, and team President of Business Operations Scott Havens welcomed Department of Transportation Ydanis Rodriguez and Councilman Francisco Moya (D-Corona).

Also on hand braving temperatures in the 30s and wind gusts in the 20s were Michael Brous, Lyft’s vice president and head of its Transit, Bikes and Scooters unit; Citi Head of Marketing and Brand Engagement Tina Davis; and Jackson Heights resident Jim Burke, a member of Transportation Alternatives and co-founder of the 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition.

Lyft operates the Citi Bike program.

Havens said the new bike corrals are a tangible showing of the commitment Steve and Alex Cohen made to Queens when they purchased the team back in 2020.

“This is an investment in the community,” Havens said.

Burke agreed, saying the two new bike stations are an investment in the environ-

“Now people can bike as a family,” Burke said. “Usually the children have bikes. Now Mom and Dad can grab a Citi Bike.” Moya also appreciated the investment in his district; and, he said, the post-game opportunity to work off a few of the calories one would likely consume from Citi Field’s

eclectic concession fare.

Rodriguez said the Adams administration has been adding numbers and miles of bike lanes at record clips.

While cycling to and from the ballpark could be a pleasant experience either coming from the Malcolm X. Promenade along Flushing Bay to the north or through Flushing Meadows Corona Park from the south, Rodriguez acknowledged that the heavily trafficked Roosevelt Avenue is another matter, at least for now.

“Mayor Adams is working to expand bike usage in the city,” the commissioner said. “There are going to be challenges. Roosevelt Avenue is a challenge we have to work on.”

Brous was present both as a Lyft executive and a Mets fan.

“I can say without exaggeration or hyperbole that this is the peak,” he said.

Brous said the bikes are another important link to a major mass transit asset

And he said his interest in the bikes’ success is personal as well as business. He encouraged his fellow Mets fans to make a strong showing.

“Our bikes outside Yankee Stadium are the most used in the Bronx,” he said. “There’s nothing I hate more than losing to the Yankees — unless it’s the Braves or Phillies.” Q

Mr. and Mrs. Met joined team and community dignitaries at last week’s ribbon cutting for 66 new Citi Bikes in the parking lot at Citi Field.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON

Religious affordable housing complexes?

Mayor Adams advocates for faith-based, low-cost apartment units

by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

Ahead of Easter, several elected officials and faith leaders surrounded Mayor Adams last Friday during a press conference at the Antioch Baptist Church in Jamaica as he unveiled his plan to utilize religious institutions to build more affordable housing throughout the city as part of his City of Yes agenda.

With approximately 200,000 of the city’s Black population reverse migrating to the South, followed not too far behind by seniors, as vacancy rates plummet to 1.4 percent, it is more crucial than ever to create low-cost housing units, said various elected officials.

“Today we are throwing open the door to new solutions and new housing that will help us solve the crisis by working with our churches, our synagogues, our mosques and other faithbased organizations to build more housing and reclaim our city for working-class people,” said Adams. “This is a fight for the soul of our city ... you will never be a good shepherd if you don’t know the needs of the sheep.”

One of the mayor’s goals is to enable leaders of religious institutions, including those that are landmarked, to convert old convents, school buildings and other properties they own into apartment complexes.

“We have all of these landmarked buildings and churches are being told as they are falling down that they can’t get the money to rebuild them,” said Adams. “We have to have more flexibility ... and these faith-based leaders have been talking about it over and over again.”

The mayor said religious leaders would get new facilities for their congregation and resources, especially for those who are struggling since the decreased population is translating to smaller congregations.

The site of the old St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Queens Village is one complex that some residents and parishioners speculate could be transformed into housing.

In 2022, the church was demolished and the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, which oversees the facility, said it would build a more energy-efficient ADA-compliant worship space. As for the defunct day school and rectory on the grounds, the diocese has made no decisions on how those buildings will be utilized in the future.

“We applaud the Adams administration for any step towards the creation of affordable housing and easing the burden on working families,” said Bishop Provenzano of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, via email. “As for the property at St. Joseph’s, Queens Village, we are still exploring all available options and have no definite plans.”

The City of Yes Housing Opportunity plan, Adams’ zoning reform proposals, will enter public review in April. Community boards will be able to learn more about the initiative later this spring and the City Council will vote on it by the end of the year.

“We want to hear from folks so that we can make sure that we can work in alignment with the needs of the community to get the results that we are looking for,” said Adams.

Ariola meets future leaders

The student councilmembers of PS/MS 47 in Broad Channel last week welcomed city Councilmember Joann Ariola, who stopped in to answer questions about local government, pushing through failures and following dreams.

“It’s so important for our next generation of leaders to learn about city government, and to meet with their local representatives,” Jessica Corsaro, a teacher at the school who oversees the student council, said in a press release from Ariola’s office. “These kinds of events are great and I look forward to working with Councilwoman Ariola again in the future.”

“It’s always an honor to speak with the stu-

dents of District 32,” Ariola said in a statement. “These kinds of Q&A sessions allow young people to not only learn about government, but to also feel that their voices are heard and respected as well. They allow us to build bridges across generations, and plant the seeds of leadership that will blossom in the years to come.”

She added, “Who knows? Our next mayor — or maybe even our next president — may have been sitting in that room, and this conversation could have been just the spark they needed to begin a career of public service in the future!”

At a press conference Mayor Adams, left, advocated to use church property to create affordable housing throughout the city.

Commissioner Dan Garodnick of the City Planning Commission said the low vacancy rate has led to homelessness, gentrification and a lack of leverage for tenants, creating an imbalance of power between them and landlords.

“Options for the most affordable apartments is functionally zero,” Garodnick said about the lack of low-cost housing. “Faith leaders can see what the housing crisis is doing to our city every weekend too often in rows of empty pews as housing costs are hollowing out communities across our city.”

YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT/ NYC

Garodnick said the city will expand existing programs that will allow landmark religious buildings to sell transferable development rights to generate revenue for their operations and build more housing on their properties. That will permit religious leaders to convert unused property into housing units, and grant them the opportunity to use infill construction, he said.

Infill construction refers to using open spaces like parking lots on church campuses to erect new buildings, according to nyc.gov.

The Rev. Timothy Mitchell, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, said that he supported the mayor’s initiative.

“There is a sacred text that says, ‘Without a vision people perish,’” Mitchell said. “We are grateful that our mayor has a vision. People don’t have to perish on the street because they don’t have a home.”

Mitchell said Antioch Baptist has seen old, young and other people with medical needs come through the door who have struggled to find a place to stay. The church also has done mission work giving food to the homeless living under the Long Island Rail Road bridge in Jamaica.

“If we can open our doors to bring in and welcome people who have problems and are struggling, then we can open our doors to bring in vision, opportunity and create ways for them to be able to make it in this world,” Mitchell said.

The pastor added that since his family moved to Queens when he was 4 years old,

there has been a vacant lot one block over from the church.

“We can develop that lot into a place people can call home,” he said.

Mitchell said a housing program in which the government and faith leaders are united will work because it has worked before with the American Baptist Churches of Metropolitan New York.

“We are in a state of emergency,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. “We have had a compounding issue with the homeless in our city for a long time.”

In November 2023, there were 92,879 homeless people, including 33,399 children, sleeping in the city’s shelter system, according to the Coalition for the Homeless.

Richards said the borough has led the city in housing production for two years and more is in the pipeline, but there is a lot more to do.

“This rezoning ... gives us the opportunity to not just talk about the housing crisis, but to be a part of the solution,” Richards said. “One way we can move many of these projects forward is to do what God has called us to do, that is to take care of the least among us.”

Richards also called for those in the state Legislature to support housing packages in Albany, such as legalizing basement apartments and moving forward with 421a, a tax break for developers who build affordable housing that expired.

“Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter?”

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) said quoting the Bible. “When there is a crisis, the faith community rises to the challenge ...”

Rajkumar said common sense tax incentives are critical to supporting the mayor’s housing agenda.

State Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) said it’s about time to break the floor-area-ratio cap, which can limit how much and where the city can build new housing, because young adults and seniors are leaving the city.

“This planned City of Yes will create an opportunity for every neighborhood to do a little bit more so that we can break this housing crisis,” Comrie said.

Garodnick said the proposed zoning changes would create 100,000 units of housing in 15 years and could have an impact on the city for the next 60 to 80 years.

Adams said City of Yes means that young adults, seniors and others can age in place without having to leave the city.

“It’s about building a small amount of housing all over the city,” he said. Q

Our Neighbors Civic Meeting on April 3

The Our Neighbors Civic Association of Ozone Park welcomes all to its monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 3, in the basement of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, at 111-50 115 St. in South Ozone Park. The doors open at 7 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7:30.

Scheduled guest speakers include a representative from the city Human Resources Admin-

istration to discuss SNAP benefits, fitness instructor Ann Fosteris to discuss stress relief and Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels and GOP mayoral candidate. The civic is also distributing Covid test kits while supplies last.

For more information, contact civic President Joe Caruana at (917) 589-5555. Q

PHOTO COURTESY NYC COUNCIL

METS 2024 SEASON PREVIEW

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

The die was cast for the 2024 Mets last June 23 when Mets owner Steve Cohen held a press conference before a game at Citi Field following a disastrous loss in Philadelphia. Journeyman relief pitcher Jeff Brigham had given up four runs in the eighth inning as he walked and hit batters, and added a bevy of wild pitches, to turn a much-needed Mets win into an all-too typical 2023 defeat.

At that press conference, Cohen was cautiously optimistic the Mets would get out of their funk in July and be a legitimate playoff contender. He also admitted there was a good chance what Mets fans had been seeing the first half of the season would be the story for the second half.

As we all know, things did not change last July. Cohen conceded that spending money on aging free agents was not a wise strategy, and that the only way to have sustained success was to have a fertile farm system. He traded the two big-name free agents he had signed over the previous two years, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, along with promises to pay a good chunk of their remaining exorbitant contract, to the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros, respectively. In return, the Mets got a trio of top prospects: infielder Luisangel Acuna and outfielders Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford.

At a press conference in Kansas City, where the Mets were at the time of the July 31 trade deadline, Cohen was asked why he raised the proverbial white flag for the 2023 season with two months remaining. “Hope is not a strategy!” he famously told the media. He also indicated the Mets would not be adding any high-profile names during the off-season.

New management

Word leaked out the week before the end of the season that Cohen had finally gotten the man he had sought to run his team’s baseball operations ever since buying the Mets from the Wilpon family in the autumn of 2020. Native New Yorker and Harvard alum David Stearns grew up a Mets fan. Stearns had been an executive in various capacities, including p resident of baseball operations, with the Milwaukee Brewers since the fall of 2015.

Cohen had long admired the job Stearns had done with a small market team, and figured he could do wonders for the Mets with his financial resources. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, who grew up a Yankees fan in the Bronx, was not willing to give the Mets permission to speak with Stearns until last September when his contract would be expiring anyway in another month.

Stearns started working unofficially even before moving into his new office in Flushing. His first edict was to dismiss popular manager Buck Showalter. It was not a case of the public blaming Showalter for the Mets’ painful 2023 season, but rather, as baseball operations president, he wanted to select his own field manager.

At his introductory press conference at Citi Field, Stearns quickly diminished any expectations of splashy free-agent acquisitions, or trades. He said he wanted to give the young talent in his new organization a chance to prove themselves.

He also told the media he expected the current Mets general manager, Billy Eppler, who was in attendance, to be an integral part of his management team. Three days later, however, Eppler resigned, because Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred’s office found evidence Eppler had manipulated player personnel on the injured list. The details of Eppler’s alleged transgressions have remained untold. Stearns did not replace Eppler as he assumed the general manager’s role.

In November, Stearns made his first major hire, selecting longtime Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza to be the Mets’ field boss. Although he had not managed in the majors, Mendoza managed Caribbean winter league teams, as well as plenty of minor league clubs. He managed Yankees games whenever Aaron Boone got tossed by an umpire for arguing a call.

The December winter meetings were as quiet as Stearns hinted they would be. The Mets did give it their all to sign heralded Japanese free agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, as both Cohen and Stearns flew to Tokyo to meet with him. Yamamoto was selected, as expected, to join compatriot Shohei Ohtani, on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

beginning of the season and may not return until after the All-Star Game break as he recovers from hip surgery. Peterson has been mediocre, but he has been adept at eating innings, which takes pressure off the Mets bullpen.

The Mets are counting on 35-yearold Jose Quintana to be their ace until Senga returns. Quintana missed the first half of the 2023 season recovering from surgery for a cancerous lesion that was found on his rib after he complained about tightness on his left side during a spring training game. Quintana has pitched very well, although his won-loss record does not reflect that thanks to the Mets puny offense which failed to give him the necessary run support.

David Stearns is betting on two free agents who can best be described as reclamation projects, former Yankee Luis Severino and exSan Francisco Giant Sean Manaea. Severino signed a one-year deal while Manaea received a two-year contract, so neither will be a longterm liability if things do not go well.

Stearns made a point of reuniting with one of his favorite former players, as he traded pitching prospect Coleman Crow to the Milwaukee Brewers for Adrian Houser. Do not expect fans to be posting any “K” signs in the stands when he pitches because he is a soft tosser who induces ground balls rather than strikeouts.

Starting pitching

Solid starting pitching has long been a strong suit for the Mets. This year, however, things look shaky. For the third straight season, the Mets will begin without their best pitcher. Kodai Senga, who finished second in the balloting for the 2023 National League Rookie of the Year Award, missed all of 2024 spring training with a right shoulder strain. Missing Opening Day is not a big deal, but if Senga’s absence is prolonged, this will be a long season for the Mets.

Southpaw David Peterson is another pitcher who will miss the

the game to protect a lead.

Lefty Brooks Raley was one of the few reliable relievers Buck Showalter could count on last year, especially after Diaz’s terrific replacement as team closer, David Robertson, was traded to the Miami Marlins at the end of July. He will be a valuable eighth-inning setup man for Diaz.

The spotlight will be on homegrown pitcher Tylor Megill, who has shown flashes of brilliance, but who often has struggled with his command of the strike zone. Megill has been working on some new pitches, including a split-finger fastball, so we will soon find out if the Mets’ patience with him will be validated. It will be interesting to see whether any of a trio of vaunted Mets pitching prospects — Mike Vasil, Christian Scott and Blade Tidwell — gets called up from the team’s Syracuse farm club this year. Stearns would ideally like them to spend the entire year there improving their craft.

Bullpen

The good news for Mets fans is obvious. Major League Baseball’s most dependable closer, Edwin Diaz, is back after missing the entire 2023 season because of a leg injury sustained during a postgame celebration by Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. Even if Diaz is not as automatic as he was in 2022, it will be good to hear the trumpets playing as he comes into

Adam Ottavino opted out of his contract with the Mets at the end of 2023 to assess the market for his services. Ottavino can still get batters out, but he discovered the market for a 38-year-old relief pitcher who has trouble preventing opposing runners from stealing bases, combined with a propensity to give up home runs at very inopportune times, was not very robust. He returned to the Mets but had to take a $2.5 million pay cut.

Although he has been maddeningly inconsistent, meaning more awful than good, Drew Smith is back for another season. Last year I wrote here that Smith needs to prove he is more than just another marginal guy on the roster. He may be out of chances if he is not more of an asset to the Mets in 2024.

Rounding out the bullpen are a trio of veterans signed by Stearns: Michael Tonkin, Jorge Lopez and Jake Diekman. There are no guarantees on how they will perform, but they must be an improvement over the dreadful Jeff Brigham, Grant Hartwig and Josh Walker, who were pummeled by opposing hitters.

Catcher

Here is another rare area of good news for the Mets. Francisco Alvarez lived up to the hype in his first

full big-league season as he slugged home runs and surprised everyone with his solid defense and pitchcalling. He did strike out quite often, however. It would be terrific if he could improve his contact skills in 2024.

Backup catchers rarely excite anyone, but there is a big drop-of f after Alvarez. Omar Narvaez batted a paltry .211, and he was known for his offense when the Mets acquired him. His defense was nothing special, either. Longtime Mets backup Tomas Nido, who was never a great hitter but was known for his solid defense, regressed in both areas so much that he spent most of 2023 with the Syracuse Mets.

There is a good chance the Mets’ top draft pick in 2022, catcher Kevin Parada, will get a call up to Flushing sometime this season.

Infield

The Mets’ main power threat, Pete Alonso, will once again be manning first base. Alonso slugged 46 home runs but batted a paltry .217. He was struck on the wrist by a fastball thrown by Atlanta Braves hurle r Charlie Morton on June 7. He was having a great season at the plate up to that point, but his batting average went into a downturn after he spent a 10-day stint on the injured list.

As every Mets fan knows, Alonso will be a free agent after the completion of this season. For his sake, I hope he has a season like Aaron Judge had for the Yankees during his 2022 “walk year,” and not the disastrous one Michael Conforto

continued on page 22

Veterans Pete Alonso, left, and Brandon Nimmo hope to have many home run high-fives in 2024 as anchors of the Mets offense. PHOTO COURTESY NY METS

Kodai

Mets 2024

continued from page 22

had during his final Mets season in 2021.

Second baseman Jeff McNeil was the 2022 National League batting champion as he hit a terrific .326. Like a lot of things associated with the 2023 Mets, McNeil had a year to forget as his average dropped to .270, and he had to get hot during a meaningless September. He seems to get into trouble when he starts obsessing over home runs instead of just getting on base.

There is little doubt this year’s Mets media guide will play up the fact shortstop Francisco Lindor was a 30-30 man in 2023. Yes, Lindor did slug 31 homers and stole 31 bases. While that number may make Baskin-Robbins officials happy, what hurt the Mets was his very pedestrian .254 batting average. Lindor badly struggled during the first two months of the 2023 season as his average was below the .200 “Mendoza line.” If the Mets are going to have better results this season, Lindor cannot be a no-show at the plate during April and May.

Mets management was hoping highly touted prospect Brett Baty would be their next David Wright. Baty struggled so badly at both the plate and in the field that he was demoted to the Syracuse Mets in August.

Mark Vientos is another young, homegrown player who can play both first and third b ase. Vientos is a below-average fielder, though he did turn in some nice plays with his glove last year. His ability to hit the long ball is his calling card. While he did display power last year, he also struck out an inordinate number of times.

The Mets sent Vientos back to their Syra-

cuse AAA club on Sunday. He has power, but he needs to cut down his whiff rate. If Vientos can put the ball in play more frequently, and improve on his defense, he should return to Flushing sooner rather than later.

One of Stearns’ first free agent signings was Joey Wendle, who is replacing Luis Guillorme as the Mets utility infielder. Wendle should be able to hit better than Guillorme, which, frankly, is not a high bar. Wendle is a superb infielder who can play every infield spot.

Outfield

The strong play, both offensively and defensively, by rightfielder Starling Marte, was a major reason the Mets won 101 games in 2022. In September of that year, he started experiencing groin pain, and had to go on the injured list. The Mets fell apart as soon as Marte left the lineup, as they were swept by the Braves in a late September weekend series and were then bounced out of the postseason by the San Diego Padres the following weekend.

Marte told me in Spanish last June he was still experiencing severe pain, and admitted it was hard for him to swing a bat or chase down a fly ball. He was playing because he felt that as a professional athlete it was his responsibility to play through any kind of discomfort. While his work ethic is admirable, the fact he was not the Starling Marte of most of 2022 was an important reason the Mets won only 75 games last year.

The biggest name position player Stearns signed as a free agent for the Mets was centerfielder Harrison Bader, who grew up in Bronxville, NY, and played on the same University of Florida Gators baseball team as Alonso. Bader is a superb defensive player. He has been

labeled a light hitter, but he certa inly got some big hits as a member of the Yankees the last two seasons. A strong concern about Bader is he is injury prone.

Brandon Nimmo signed an eight-year, $162 million contract last year. While his batting average dipped slightly, his power numbers increased, and he still showed a terrific eye at the plate as he drew his usual high number of walks. The only disappointing part of Nimmo’s offensive game was his lack of stolen bases considering the good speed he possesses.

On a bright note, Nimmo has worked hard to become one of baseball’s best outfielders. His play in centerfield was top-notch as he effortlessly tracked down deep fly balls and showed a better-than-expected arm. With Bader slated to play center, Nimmo will shift to left.

Stearns acquired Tyrone Taylor to serve as the Mets’ fourth outfielder in the same trade he acquired starting pitcher Adrian Houser. Taylor has a reputation for providing stellar defense. He also has some pop in his bat.

Designated hitter

A week before opening day, the Mets signed veteran JD Martinez to serve as their designated hitter. Stearns had been telling the media he wanted Vientos to serve as the Mets primary DH.

Stearns may have been playing a form of poker with Martinez’s agent. By talking up Vientos, he was hoping to get Martinez to lower his asking price. That appears to be what happened.

There also may have been another factor involved. Alonso will be a sought-after free agent once this season ends. A major reason the

Mets were aw f ul in 2023, and Alonso on ly batted .217, is because he did not have anyone batting behind him who could force opposing pitchers to throw him strikes. Having Martinez in the Mets lineup should solve that problem.

Outlook

Even before Kodai Senga reported to Por t St. Lucie with a sore arm, Stearns and Mendoza were tempering expectations, as both threw out that favored baseball cliche about the Mets “being competitive” this year. Every team’s management says that.

To avoid disappointment, Mets fans shoul d take the attitude their team is starting the season 20 games behind the Atlanta Braves, an d 10 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies, since both teams have superior rosters.

The Flushing faithful will undoubtedly rea d or hear the expression “if everything breaks right” in other Mets previews. Firstly, things rarely break right. Secondly, that phrase is always used for teams that are not particularly good.

A credible goal for 2024 is to simply finish over .500. If the Mets make the playoffs as a wild card, that would be great. At the very least, however, they need to get the disastrous taste of last season out of everyone’s mouth.

There is exceptionally good news on the horizon. The Mets will shed $70 million in the guaranteed contracts they lavished upon Scherzer and Verlander at the end of this season. Tha t should free up payroll dollars for top-tier free agents going into the 2025 season. The Mets now have solid minor league talent in thei r pipeline. That has been a rarity in recent years.

Keep all that in mind when things get bumpy this summer for our Flushing heroes. Q

Queens Library opens community center

Space to learn from each other, quoth the Ravenswood leader

by Oona Milliken Chronicle Contributor

Residents, donors and elected officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Ravenswood Houses to unveil a new community learning center in the public housing development. The learning center, operated by the Queens Public Library, is open four days a week with career services workshops, digital technology training, re-entry opportunities for formerly incarcerated people and free English as a second language classes.

FDuring the ribboncutting, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards praised the Queens Public Library for creating a space for people to improve their lives, especially in an underserved community. Richards said the cost of incarcerating people in New York City is much higher than focusing on preventing crime.

prevent violent crime by investing in centers like this,” Richards said.

Though the QPL opened its Ravenswood branch in 1951, that location was moved to Long Island City in 2007, after which the original space became a family literacy center and subsequently a universal pre-K location. Now, it features a public lounge area for residents to gather, two classrooms and a computer lab. Corinne Haynes, a technology trainer for the Queens Public Library, will be the new site coordinator.

rom help with resumes to basic coding and more.

“I often remind people that you cannot criminalize your way out of poverty; we can do a lot of work to

Street safety

continued from page 2

Woodhaven last October.

According to a press release, classes and services offered at Ravenswood will include financial literacy tools, help writing resumes and cover letters, prepping for job interviews, classes on protecting oneself online, computer and basic software fundamentals, coding and graphic design, as well as helping formerly incarcerated people get identification cards and jobs.

“We are thrilled to welcome back our customers and offer programs and services focused on workforce development and digital literacy, reflecting the current needs of people who live and work in Long Island City and Astoria,” Library President Dennis Walcott said.

Bishop Mitchell Taylor, senior pastor at Center of Hope International and CEO of Urban Upbound, said that collaboration within the community can prevent people from living in poverty.

“There should be no reason that we can’t build community wealth and turn our communities around,” Taylor said during the event, “so that our children never have to be without the resources they need.”

“They say a budget is a reflection of our morals and our values,” Nesbit said. “And so our electeds here are showing their morals and values are in the right place. But it isn’t enough.”

Ramos said lawmakers still have an opportunity to pass the bills on their own before the June recess if they are not part of the budget agreement.

Also in attendance were Borough President Donovan Richards; state Sens. John Liu (D-Bayside) and Catalina Cruz (D-Corona);

Ravenswood is a New York City Housing Authority development, where the average income for a family is $25,605, far below the poverty line in the city, according to The New York Times. It is much smaller than the Queensbridge Houses, another complex in the area that has a QPL branch and a tech lab.

Now, residents of Ravenswood can have access to similar resources closer to home thanks to the library.

Christina Chaise, a member of the Tenant Association Board at Ravenswood, said it was nice for the association to have a place to meet during the day. She also said she is looking forward to starting a parent café for people to gather and support each other in parenthood.

“We need public space to learn with and from each other, and obviously there’s a disproportionality with resources that residents here experience so I think that this can be a space that offers those possibilities,” Chaise said. “We’re hoping that we can work alongside the Queens Library to create programming that enriches our community.”

and Assemblymembers Ron Kim (D-Flushing), Jessica González- Rojas (D-East Elmhurst) and Steven Raga (D-Maspeth).

Following the press conference the group marched almost a mile while carrying signs and banners to Junction Playground in Jackson Heights.

Richards, at the press conference, invoked Bayron, Giovanni, Dolma and Quintus, to call for the legislation and the necessary funding.

“They could have gone anywhere. They could have done anything,” Richards said. “Their dreams were shattered by reckless driving. Instead, we’re here talking about them in the past tense; talking about who they were instead of who they are and who they

Jamila Inocente, a case worker for the organization, will be at Ravenswood twice a week to help residents with their various needs.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to help the community and be more involved,” Inocente said.

could be. As the father of an 8-year-old, I cannot fathom losing my son to traffic violence. And we know these deaths were preventable.”

“This is about the lives of our children, too many of which have been lost to drivers who do not do the right thing,” Liu said. “We don’t call them accidents — none of these are accidents. They’re crashes. They are traffic violence. And they have caused devastation to too many families.”

González-Rojas had a close call of her own when she was struck by a car back in January, coming away with a broken arm.

“I stand here as a mother. I stand here as a victim of traffic violence,” she said. “... I cannot bear to think about the pain Bayron’s parents are feeling right now.”

When asked what she is looking forward to most, Inocente said she just wants to help people. “I guess connecting with people, and just being a point person,” she said. Q

The assemblywoman spent weeks in a cast and is undergoing 12 weeks of physical therapy.

“But I’m here to tell the story,” she said. “Bayron’s not.”

Ramos introduced Kim by saying Flushing is statistically the most dangerous neighborhood in Queens. He recalled thinking of his daughters as he walked along the streets in the hours after Quintus’ death.

“And I recognized how dangerous the crosswalks are, how the designs are,” Kim said. “Now is the time to think of every single corner, every single sidewalk with the lens of a child. With the lens of an older adult. The lens of every vulnerable person walking these sidewalks.” Q

Celebrating the opening of the Ravenswood Community Learning Center are residents and officials including Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, in grey suit at center left, Queens Library President Dennis Walcott, in blue suit with shades, Bishop Mitchell Taylor, Carol Wilkins, Corinne Haynes of the library, Will Fisher of Rise Light and Power, Carly Graham Garcia of Amazon, in white coat and many others. Above are the tables for career services, left, and tech support. At left, the Tree of Ideas. PHOTOS BY OONA MILLIKEN

Aquatics Center closing yet again

Parks knew, but never said, work would be needed before 2025 plans

by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

All good things must come to an end.

Just over a year after it reopened to the public following more than three years of work and Covid-related delays, the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center will shut its doors again starting Sunday, March 31.

The Department of Parks and Recreation told the Chronicle the at-least-six-week closure will be used for swapping out faulty panels on the pool’s moveable floor, which is designed so that it can be made deeper to use for diving. The agency had previously worked to repair it for more than a year.

A Parks Department spokesperson said Tuesday that the pool’s unique floor panels had to be custom made, but were not ready for the February 2023 reopening, nor was it known how long they would take. The agency had said at the time that the aquatics center would close again for further repairs to the roof — in 2025. There was no mention of further work on the pool floor, nor of a closure in 2024.

The spokesperson did not respond in time for press when asked why that was not made clear last year given it was known the panels would need replacing.

The $67 million aquatics center, which opened in 2008, initially closed in January 2020 for emergency repairs to the ceiling net-

ting. Though that was estimated to take “at least six weeks,” the work was not finished until July 2021 due to the pandemic, according to news site The City. But the pool remained shuttered, even as in December 2021, thenDeputy Parks Commissioner Margaret Nelson told the City Council it would reopen in either January or February 2022. The agency later said that was due to some repairs to the move-

able

center reopened in late February 2023. Councilmember Sandra Ung (D-Flushing) was not thrilled by the latest closure. “There was so much excitement when the Aquatic Center reopened last February after three years after what was supposed to be six weeks of repair work, so it’s unfortunate that we are now facing another emergency closure ... I

hope that this time six weeks really does mean six weeks,” she said in a statement. “While I understand the need for repairs and upkeep, this comes ahead of what will be a much-longer planned closure beginning next year, during which Queens residents who rely on the Aquatic Center will once again have to find an alternative.”

Indeed, residents of the World’s Borough are not happy. Maria Contreras Collier, who lives in Jamaica Estates, attends a popular water exercise class at the pool and was upset to hear of yet another closure. “It is incompetence at the highest level that they can’t get their act together and sadly no one is held accountable,” she wrote on Facebook, tagging the Chronicle. “To add insult to injury they have failed to inform the participants of their intention. A waste of tax payer money!!”

Flushing resident Elzbieta Karwowska’s 8-year-old son, Theo, is at the pool six days a week.

“It’s awful,” she said of the upcoming closure. “There’s no swimming pool he can go to in the area, except the very expensive Y[MCA].” She added that other swim schools are fairly pricey, too.

When the Chronicle asked if Theo would like to chime in over the phone, Karwowska turned to her son before replying, “He’s very upset. He’s almost crying.” Q

Hardly more than a year after the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center reopened following three years shuttered, the pool will close again starting Sunday. PHOTO BY MICHAEL SHAIN

Last kidnapping and robbery suspect ID’d

Victims also allegedly assaulted when taken from Jamaica, Woodside: U.S.

by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

Police said last Thursday that they have identified the last person wanted in connection with a robbery that occurred on March 27, 2023.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the suspect, Ruhel Choudhury, 34, of Jamaica was allegedly also a part of a larger kidnapping ring, with six others, that would target people from their own Bengali community.

On the night in question, police received a report at approximately 7:30 p.m. that Choudhury and several others allegedly snuck up from behind on John Doe-1, forced him into a vehicle and stole his belongings at 88-33 181 St. in Jamaica, according to the NYPD.

tim inside of a Honda SUV and held him hostage for 13 hours. Abu Chowdhury allegedly beat the victim inside the vehicle, drove him around Queens, forced him out of the SUV and filmed him standing naked in a residential neighborhood, prosecutors said.

“I urge anyone who believes they were victims of these defendants to contact the [USAO] ...”

— U.S. Attorney Breon Peace, Eastern District of New York

The department is working on the case in concert with the FBI.

The USAO went on to say in further detail that Choudhury and his co-conspirators Abu Chowdhury, Syed Ahmed, Shahed Alom and Anzu Khan of Jamaica, along with Sultana Razia of Woodside, allegedly abducted the vic-

Ahmed, Alom, Khan and Razia allegedly communicated via cell phone with Abu Chowdhury at different points throughout the night and took part in beating and threatening to kill the victim. When the unidentified man asked for water, it allegedly was laced with a sedative and led to him losing consciousness. He later woke up in a hospital the day after he had been kidnapped off the street, said the USAO.

Ruhel Choudhury, Abu Chowdhury and Iffat Lubna, the latter man’s wife, were allegedly involved in a second kidnapping on May 11, 2023. The husband-and-wife duo allegedly abducted and assaulted John Doe-2 at 72nd Street and Broadway in Woodside. Abu Chowdhury allegedly forced the victim into a minivan and began pummeling him. The couple and Ruhel Choudhury later took the victim to a

hotel, authorities said.

The husband allegedly sodomized John Doe-2, made a ransom call to his father for $20,000 and threatened him. By day three of the kidnapping, the victim was allegedly left in an abandoned house blindfolded and tied up, but he escaped after he chewed through his restraints. He then broke a window and asked residents in the neighborhood to call 911, prosecutors said.

Ruhel Choudhury, 34, is wanted in connection with a robbery and two kidnappings in Jamaica and Woodside. PHOTO COURTESY NYPD

“The defendants allegedly exploited their shared ethnic background with the victims in furtherance of the crimes,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement in January. “I urge anyone who believes they were victims of these defendants to contact the United States Attorney’s Office ...”

The link to contact USAO is justice.gov/ usao-edny/report-crime.

Chowdhury, Ahmed, Alom, Khan and Razia were charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap John Doe-1 in January, according to the USAO.

Additionally, the husband and wife were hit with a conspiracy-to-kidnap charge for John Doe-2, whose name was also withheld. They

Arrest in first killing of 2024

Double stabbing at Roosevelt Avenue and 76th Street

by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief

Police said last Saturday they have made an arrest in the city’s first killing of the year, one that took place in Queens less than four hours into 2024.

Charged with stabbing a 29-year-old man to death near the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and 76th Street, on the Elmhurst-Jackson Heights border, is Torrence Holmes, 35, of St. Nicholas Place in Harlem.

Police were called to the scene of a double stabbing at the location at about 3:58 a.m. Jan. 1, according to the NYPD. They found two wounded men there — the victim who died, Tsering Wangdu, of 30-42 81 St. in East Elmhurst, who had been stabbed in the leg; and a 30-year-old who had been stabbed in the face and chest.

Emergency Medical Services transported both to NYC Health + Hospitals / Elmhurst, police said. The 30-year-old was in critical condition and Wangdu was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Queens has been the scene of the city’s first killings of the year in three out of the last four years, with New Year’s Day slayings in 2021 in Kew Gardens and 2022 in Astoria. Last year the city’s first homicide took place in the Bronx.

The 110th Precinct, where police say

House of horror: The 43rd Avenue location where a man allegedly hit his mother and then beat his father to death.

Holmes was arrested around 1 p.m. Saturday, has seen two murders so far this year, according to NYPD Compstat statistics. The adjacent 115th Precinct has seen none. The border between the two is Roosevelt Avenue, with the 110 on the south side and the 115 on the north.

Last year the 110 saw three killings, and the 115 saw four, according to the statistics. In 1990, when murder peaked citywide, the numbers were 36 and 28, respectively.

In addition to manslaughter, Holmes was

charged with tampering with physical evidence and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.

Patricide alleged in Corona

A Corona man allegedly beat his elderly father to death on March 18.

Leo Macbryde, 79, and his 47-year-old son, who has the same name, were involved in a dispute within their house at 104-71 43 Ave., police were told when they arrived there at about 1:20 p.m. in response to a 911 call. They were told the younger man had hit the older one multiple times.

Emergency Medical Services transported the elder Macbryde to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, where he was pronounced deceased.

Pursuant to their investigation, police arrested the younger Macbryde at about 5:05 p.m. the next day, within the jurisdiction of the 110th Precinct. He was charged with two counts of assault.

According to the Daily News, the younger Macbryde allegedly punched his mother and threw a computer monitor at her before going downstairs and beating his father. His mother found her husband on the floor, bleeding and unresponsive, the paper said. According to a photo the News posted online, the couple had been married for at least 50 years. Q

were previously charged with kidnapping John Doe-2 in a different indictment.

Khan and Alom were detained on Jan. 11. Ahmed and Razia were released on $100,000 and $50,000 bond, respectively, and each received home detention.

Abu Chowdhury and Lubna were out on bond of $250,000 and $100,000, respectively, for their earlier arrest. The former was arraigned on the superseding indictment and the latter will be arraigned at a later date.

If caught, Ruhel Choudhury could face two counts of kidnapping and two counts of kidnapping conspiracy charges, a spokeswoman from the USAO said via email.

Anyone with information on Ruhel Choudhury is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS (8477), or, for Spanish, 1 (888) 57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto nypdcrime stoppers.com, or by texting 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577, or by going to the @nypdtips account on X. All tips are strictly confidential. Q

Local 7 work will floor you

The latest union recruitment announced by the state Department of Labor will be split between April and October. The Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for Tile, Marble and Terrazzo BAC, as in Bricklayers and Allied Crafters, Local Union 7 seeks five tile setter apprentices, five terrazzo worker apprentices and five marble, carver, cutter and setter apprentices.

Applications will be available at the International Masonry Institute, at 12-07 44 Ave. in Long Island City from 8 to 8:30 a.m. each day from April 15 to 19 and Oct. 21 to 25. Applications must be completed and exams taken on the same day. Applications cannot be mailed in. Applicants must be at least 18 and capable of certain physical tasks, including working with power tools and lifting and moving heavy equipment. They must be able to handle extreme weather and exposure to loud noise, hazardous machinery, hazardous voltages and respiratory irritants. For more information, one may call the union at (718) 706-9294.

More about the recruitment, and others, is at dol.ny.gov/apprenticeship/overview. Q

— Peter C. Mastrosimone

BQE Weekend Closure

Interim Repairs Span 4 and Span 34

April 13 - 15, 2024

Avoid trips using BQE

Use transit or alternate routes

This 50-hour closure will allow for critical repairs

BQE Closure Atlantic Ave

PROUD SUPPORTER OF OUR LOCAL INSTITUTIONS

CULTURE LAB LIC HOUR CHILDREN

HUNTERS POINT PARKS CONSERVANCY

JACOB RIIS SETTLEMENT HOUSE

KIDS RIDE CLUB

LIC ARTISTS

LIC COMMUNITY BOAT HOUSE

LIC CULTURAL ALLIANCE

When? 2:00 a.m. Saturday, April 13 until 4:00 a.m Monday, April 15

Where? Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street

LIC YMCA

Sands St

Queens-bound BQE will be fully closed from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street

Staten Island-bound BQE will remain open

More details and alternate routes: www.nyc.gov/bqealert

Questions?

(347) 647-0876 or NYC311 anavalurkar.consultant@dot.nyc.gov

MOMA PSI

MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE

NYC KIDS RISE

PURSUIT

QUEENS MUSEUM

QUEENS PUBLIC LIBRARY

URBAN UPBOUND

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY!

PLAXALL.COM

Still questions about new Maspeth shelter

Some neighbors OK, some businesses uneasy; City Hall declines info request

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

At the beginning of the month, the city placed 15 single immigrant men in a shelter that was created at the Maspeth Jewish Center, located at 66-64 Grand Ave.

Residents organized a large protest near the synagogue on March 16. Opposition was discussed openly by Councilman Bob Holden and on some community-based social media sites; while only one person brought it up during the March 13 meeting of Community Board 5.

Now everything seems to be in a position of “hurry up and wait.”

A man answering the phone Monday at Yeshiva Choftez Chaim of Queens, which owns the building, referred the Chronicle to Mayor Adams’ office.

criminal activity, or mental illness.

“Since the beginning of this crisis, we’ve sought creative solutions to house and provide services for the more than 184,000 migrants who have come to New York City and asked for shelter,” the reply said. “Our response has not only required a whole-of-government effort but also included collaboration with nonprofits, community organizations, volunteers, and the faith community. We are exceptionally grateful to all our partners — most recently the Rabbinical Seminary of America — who have stepped up and offered to help.

“I just heard about them the other day. I haven’t had any problems.”

— Maspeth resident Walter Kazowski

“As Mayor Adams has said, it is not enough to be parishioners, we must also be practitioners, and congregations that participate in our faith-based program are doing just that.”

has increased everywhere,” he said in a telephone interview. He is concerned that it might become more of a problem once the men are more settled and if attention lessens.

An informal survey of businesses and residents along Grand Avenue on Monday turned up mixed results.

“I just heard about them the other day,” said Walter Kazowski, who was waiting for a bus. “I haven’t had any problems.”

The Mayor’s Office responded to an email from the Chronicle, but did not address a number of direct questions seeking information on the length of the contract; the projected cost to the city; any possible discussions with residents and community leaders about their concerns; and whether the men in the shelter have been vetted or screened for substance abuse,

Holden, in a recent interview, told the Chronicle he was made aware of increased reports in shoplifting at a Key Food supermarket just three doors down from the shelter.

Hasan Zghari, supervisor of the store, told the Chronicle he is not prepared to point fingers just yet.

“Shoplifting has increased, but retail theft

A man waiting in a nearby deli said he is a resident of more than 40 years and also has had no problems. He said he is familiar with the work the Rev. Mike Lopez does with the homeless community through a food pantry and other services in Ridgewood.

Four business owners said they also had not

yet encountered any problems from residents, though two of them expressed concern for the future. Q

Not much information is available from the city on a new shelter for immigrant men in Maspeth.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON

When is the right time to look into summer camp?

Summer camp provides children weeks of entertainment, camaraderie and opportunities t o learn and grow. It also offers a welcome respite for parents and other caregivers from h aving to provide recreation for kids during summer vacation, especially if those kids will be attending a sleepaway camp.

Many children are emot ionally ready to attend camp between the ages of 8 and 10. Some need a little more time to m ature. Parents may t hink they have plenty

o f time to investigate c amps. Chances are if the weather has already warmed and summer vacation is on the horizon, then it’s already too late to get kids into most summer camps.

According to HealthyChildren.org, a division of the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is important to start researching summer camps as soon as possible. Many start booki ng as early as January of the current term year. Furthermore, popular programs fill up quite fast. Even though summer weather may be furthest from one’s mind in the middle of w inter, this is the time when summer camp decisions must be made.

Start by asking for recommendations from

others. The difficulty with this approach is that many people are very protective of their camp choices, especially if the programs are particularly popular. They may not be inclined to give up the secrets to their good thing, especially if that means kids will have to compete for limited spots. Parents also should conduct an internet search of camps in the area and look at online reviews and ratings.

Find out if the camp is accredited by the American Camp Association. This will not guarantee a risk-free environment, but ACA accreditation is a better bet for providing a camp that is safe and nurturing.

Price also may be a factor in the camp decision. Camps are not all priced the same, so it may require doing some math to figure out what is the best value. Location also can be a consideration. Having to drive a long distance away for camp can be a deterrent to some people.

Rest assured that families who are a little late to the game may be able to find summer camp accommodations. But they may have to make some concessions.

— Metro Creative Connection

EV charging planned near JFK

NYCEDC reaches deal for largest public access site

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

The New York City Economic Development Corp. last week designated Wildflower, a New York City-based developer, as its choice to create what is being billed as the city’s largest publicly accessible electric charging station in Southeast Jamaica near John F. Kennedy International Airport.

A press release issued by the EDC on March 20 said the station is scheduled to open sometime in 2025. What is being called the JFK North RFP Project will offer 65 slots on 2.3 acres of land between the Nassau Expressway and Rockaway Boulevard just west of where they split, next to the Bartlet Dairy distribution center. It will be built to accommodate expansion on site.

Wildflower specializes in sustainable urban infrastructure.

The announcement came three weeks after Mayor Adams unveiled his Green Economy Action Plan.

“Wildflower’s electric vehicle charging development is a prime example of how committed New York City is in meeting our goals in the Green Economy Action Plan while positioning the city as a global model in sustainability and carbon neutrality,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “This development represents a unique

dy International Airport.

opportunity to transform a manufacturingzoned property into the city’s largest electric vehicle charging station ...”

Maria Torres-Springer, deputy mayor of Housing, Economic Development and Workforce, said by 2040 the city is projected to

have 400,000 green jobs, and that the project exemplifies the true power of EV charging.

“Great cities are in a permanent state of renewal. Today, one of New York’s central challenges is building the infrastructure for a green energy future,” said Wildflower founder Adam Gordon. “This project will deliver a cleaner, more sustainable and more connected city for all New Yorkers with 24/7 public access to electric vehicle charging in this critical area of the city.”

Back in January, Con Edison and DVM unveiled more than 400 chargers at the Hilltop Village co-ops in Hollis Hills. On a smaller scale, the city and Con Edison placed five in the World’s Fair Marina parking lot in Flushing back in February.

City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said in the EDC press release that this is just the beginning.

“Achieving a greener transportation future includes investing in publicly accessible electric vehicle charging to help us say goodbye to fossil fuels,” Rodriguez said. “This development will deliver a significant number of EV chargers to help power our electric vehicle future and advance the Adams administration’s investments to build over 20 EV charging stations citywide. We thank EDC, Wildflower, and the many stakeholders who will bring this project to fruition.” Q

JFK concession info sessions

The JFK Airport Institute of Concessions will have two virtual video calls and one in-person meeting at its information center in Jamaica about opening stands at the airport, within the next two weeks.

The video calls will be held on March 29 and April 3, from 1 to 6 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., respectively. The April 6 meeting, starting at 6 p.m., will be held at the JFK Redevelopment Community Information Center, located at 144-33 Jamaica Ave.

To sign up, visit tinyurl.com/3w9cchda and scroll down to the registration link.

The information sessions are for the community to learn about the institute’s 10-week program, which is designed to equip area and diverse entrepreneurs with the skills to successfully compete and operate a concession at the airport. For more information, email info.concessions@panynj.gov.

Businesses that have been in operation for at least three years, average 1,500 transactions per month and have highgrossing food and beverage or retail experience may apply. Minority or womenowned firms and aviation industry companies with disadvantaged owners will have preference.

Q

— Naeisha Rose

An electric vehicle charging facility with 65 slots and the capacity for more has been approved for construction near John F. Kenne-

Got smarts?

b Mi

Queens Museum team trivia contest wants you April 12

by Michael Gannon

chael Gannon h l G

Do you know who was mayor in 1857 and how he influenced modern police lingo? Are you a fan of both “Saturday Night Live” and New York City history?

Are you a fan of entertaining evenings out — and at least a little bit competitive?

The 13th annual Panorama Challenge at the Queens Museum on April 12 might be just the thing for you.

The in-depth quiz on New York City history is returning for the first time since the epidemic, and pits teams with players of various levels and ranges of city and general knowledge.

It all takes place on the walkway around the museum’s famous scale model of the five boroughs. Produced in cooperation with the Museum and the Municipal Art Society of New York, it serves as a fundraiser for the City Reliquary Museum in Brooklyn.

The event goes from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Admission is $20 in advance at bit.ly/3vBbjaE, or $25 at the door. It is $15 for members of the City Reliquary, the museum or MAS. One may sign up to play anytime.

“The deadline is when we begin reading the first question,” said Jonathan Turer, who has been writing most of the questions almost since the contest’s inception. Turer and Emcee Gary Dennis are professional New York City tour guides, and Dave Herman, founder of the City Reliquary Museum, got his start in that business.

Organizers have teased three of the categories this year’s teams will confront — “Saturday Night Live and Staten Island;” Queens actress Awkwafina; and “Fame,” with Turer saying the latter could involve either the 1980 movie or the 1982 TV show.

“Or the song,” Turer said.

He, Dennis and Herman admit that a tour guide might have some advantages, given their knowledge of city history, but that the number and composition of the questions are intended to level the playing field. Teams of up to eight can come ready to rumble, or people can just show up and form groups.

continued on page 33

6

King Crossword Puzzle

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

Chick Corea tickled the ivories in Cambria Hts.

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

Armando Giamatista Corea was born on Oct. 26, 1906, in Boston. His family had roots in the Province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of Italy.

He fell in love and married Anna Zaccona. He made a good living as a trumpeter. Too old to be drafted for World War II, he worked for Jack Kaiser’s nightclub Toto’s in Holyoke, Mass.

21

29 Library array 31 -- plume

32 Wise sayings

33 “Scram!”

34 Preventive shot, slang

36 40 winks

37 Sidesteps

38 Lipstick shades

41 Repairs

44 Rent

45 Foolproof

48 Hollywood trickery (Abbr.)

50 Ruby or Sandra

Answers on next page

Armando Jr. came along on June 12, 1941. Nicknamed Chick by an aunt, he was introduced to the piano at age 4 and got a drumset at 11. He took to music immediately and explored the piano on his own.

Corea married Josefina “Joanie” Rivera and they were blessed with two children, Thaddeus and Liana. They bought a humble house at 114-73 227 St. in Cambria Heights on the Queens Village border.

He started recording professionally in the 1960s and went on tour with Miles

Davis in 1968. His career took off from there. He accumulated an astounding 27 Grammy awards, the fourth most of alltime. He also made front-page news in 1993 when he was excluded from playing in a concert in Stutggart, Germany, because of his membership in Scientology, but it didn’t slow him down musically.

Corea died in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 9, 2021 at age 79 from a rare cancer. Q

The Queens home of jazz piano legend Armando “Chick” Corea at 114-73 227 St. in Cambria Heights, as it looks today. GOOGLE MAPS IMAGE; INSET VIA WIKIPEDIA / POLYDOR RECORDS

Spirit of the ‘Femina Creativa’ at Queens College

by Naeisha Rose associate editor

This Women’s History Month, the Garage Art Center is featuring paintings, sculptures, textiles, Asian folk art, digital photographs and more from 23 female artists in its “Femina Creativa (Creative Woman)” art exhibit, which runs until April 26, at the Queens College Arts Center.

The exhibit, located at 65-30 Kissena Blvd. in Flushing on the 6th floor of the Rosenthal Library, is open to the public Mondays to Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Stephanie S. Lee, founding director of the Garage Art Center, told the Chronicle that no ID is necessary for entry and people may simply enter through the main gate at the college at 65th Avenue and Kissena Boulevard to get to the library, which is distinctive for its clock tower.

Lee said she wants the exhibit to highlight how female artists are flourishing.

“Female artists are going strong despite all the obstacles that we face ... like having multiple roles in our daily lives,” she said. “We are doing our thing and people can get good energy by sometimes just watching someone else doing something good continuously. It is helping them to move forward as well.”

Lee also described some of the artwork

featured in the exhibit.

“One artist used earth pigments to make her art and another artist used body painting and took a photo of her body,” said the founding director and curator. “Another one used Styrofoam and another person used 2D art. There is also a collage.”

Lee has her own work in the exhibit. Her munjando painting (artwork with South Korean characters) “Hahn” features an ouroboros and eunjangdo (Korean knives). It’s meant to express the feelings of anger and unburdening of the Korean comfort women who were sexually abused when Japan colonized the country from 1910 to 1945.

A digital print diptych of a body painted and covered in silk belongs to Katy Martin, who titled her piece “Visitation.”

“Why I called it ‘Visitation’ is that the paper in the background is Chinese paper with gold flecks,” Martin told the Chronicle. “I did a residency at Shanghai University, the College of Fine Arts.”

Martin, a multidisciplinary artist, said that she had a group of friends whose work she curated and she often visited them whenever they went to Shanghai from 2005 to 2015. In 2016, that culminated in her taking up a residency at the university. During her visits, she often saw images of

the Goddess Guanyin of Mercy, a Buddhist goddess who is associated with compassion.

“Think of her like the Madonna,” Martin said. “She is a part of a lot of people’s lives.” Her work is also meant to convey chi.

“Chinese painting is all about chi,” Martin said. “Chi is something bigger than you. In Western paintings, there is positive space and negative space ... Chi is a bigger force, and when you make a mark in a Chinese painting you disturb the chi. It goes around you, and you are also a part of the chi, so you take responsibility for the movement around your marks and that really appeals to me.”

When she got back to Jackson Heights, Martin wanted to conjure Guanyin through her artwork.

In the photos, Martin’s gold painted body is swathed in silk and can be seen in front of the canvass of Chinese paper painted in a calligraphy art style with gold and black acrylic painting and ink.

“The idea is that I’m the gesture of painting ... it’s me, it’s really me and it’s also an abstraction and a language,” she said.

Martin took the photos in 2018, stepped away from them and then revisited the negatives in January 2024 for the exhibit.

“I’m very honored to be in this show and I think the art is just terrific,” Martin said. Q

Panorama Challenge is hardly a trivial pursuit

continued from page 31

“It’s fun,” Herman told the Chronicle. “It creates a competitive event for people who people who really love to nerd out over New York City trivia. And while it is a competitive event, it brings people together ... They can share this passion and love for local trivia and just getting to know the city on an intimate level.”

Dennis reiterated that it isn’t geared toward the professional crowd.

Crossword Answers

“Not by a long shot,” he said.

Turer said the game starts with 30 basic questions of general knowledge; but those wanting to test their mettle can go to a second question directly related to the first, only crafted to be more challenging.

“Some questions for civilians, some for tour guides,” Dennis said. ”I have a ton of fun doing this.”

Turer said he became involved while working as a tour guide for his friend and mentor, Mark Levy, who always had been drawn to the Panorama since seeing it at the World’s Fair, and thought it would make a good foundation for a city trivia contest. Turer asked the first few years if he could write a few questions, and later asked to write more.

“They told me, ‘You can write all the questions,’” he said.

Dennis said he usually will be seeing the questions for the first time when he reads

them at the museum, though he will be briefed if a word or phrase will be difficult to pronounce. Turer and other judges direct a laser pointer to the Panorama at the neighborhood to which the question pertains. Spelling counts in many instances. There will be a halftime intermission with

DJ and live entertainment, plus food and beverages.

The museum is located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. A free shuttle bus will run between the museum and the Mets-WIllets Point subway station between 5:30 and 7 p.m. and 9 and 10 p.m. Q

Katy Martin and her work “Visitation,” left, in the “Femina Creativa” exhibit. At right, curator Stephanie Lee, founding director of Garage Art Center, and Queens College Professor Pyong Gap Min with Lee’s artwork “Hahn.” COURTESY PHOTOS

The Dutch Killers, above, hoist the championship trophy in 2019, while at left, Dave Herman, founder of the City Reliquary addresses the teams. On the cover: Two players from 2016 take part in the action at the Queens Museum’s historic panorama of New York City. Winning teams get their name on the trophy. PHOTOS COURTESY CITY RELIQUARY

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Originally fi led with the Secretary of State of Delaware on 10/27/23. Offi ce: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 211 East 43rd Street, Suite 639, New York, NY 10017. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

30-17 Astoria Hotel Partners LLC fi led Arts. of Org. with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/27/2023. Offi ce: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: The LLC, 7 Times Square, 18th Fl, NY, NY 10036. Purpose: any lawful act.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT QUEENS COUNTY U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR VELOCITY COMMERCIAL CAPITAL LOAN TRUST 2019-1, Plaintiff against ZENTENO CORP.; VICTORINA DOMINGUEZ, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC, 28 Corporate Drive, Suite 104, Halfmoon, NY 12065. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered January 17, 2024, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at steps of Queens County Supreme Court, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435 on April 5, 2024 at 10:45 AM. Premises known as 80-09 Roosevelt Avenue, Jackson Heights, New York 11372. Block 1291

Lot 43. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Second Ward in the Borough of Queens, County of Queens, City and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $2,924,513.60 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 714725/2021. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 11th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. Referee will only accept a certified bank check made payable to the referee. Michael Cervini, Esq., Referee File # 23-00063-01

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led NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 2/16/2024. Offi ce in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 47 Morris Drive, Syosset, NY 11791. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

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Notice of Formation of REIDO PLUMBING & PAINTING, LLC

Articles of Organization were fi

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS, BANTAM FUNDING

II, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. UNITED ASSETS CORPORATION USA, ET AL., Defendant(s).Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 7, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the outside steps of the Queens County Supreme Court, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435 on April 12, 2024 at 11:15 a.m., premises known as 1142 Welling Court, Astoria, NY 11102. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, Block 506 and Lot 60. Approximate amount of judgment is $854,910.06 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #712227/2020. The Referee shall comply with the Eleventh Judicial District’s COVID-19 policies concerning public auctions of foreclosed properties. These policies, along with the Queens County Foreclosure’s Auction Rules, can be found on the Queens Supreme Court - Civil Term website. Richard M. Gutierrez, Esq., Referee Polsinelli PC, Amy E. Hatch, Esq., 600 Third Avenue, 42nd Floor, New York, New York 10016, Attorneys for Plaintiff

150277, KEW GARDENS, NY 11415. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS, NYCTL 1998-2 TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK

MELLON AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN, Plaintiff, vs. COLLEGE POINT ASSOCIATES, Defendant. Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated May 22, 2023 and duly entered on May 30, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the outside steps of the Queens County Supreme Court, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY on April 5, 2024 at 10:30 a.m., all that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, Block 3919 and Lot 1. Said premises may also be known as No # 122 Street, Queens, NY. Approximate amount of judgment is $3,740.42 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index #709014/2019. The Referee shall comply with the Eleventh Judicial District’s COVID-19 policies concerning public auctions of foreclosed properties. These policies, along with the Queens County Foreclosure Auction Rules, can be found on the Queens Supreme Court - Civil Term website. Charlane O. Brown, Esq., Referee The Law Office of Thomas P. Malone, PLLC, 60 East 42nd Street, Suite 553, New York, New York 10165, Attorneys for Plaintiff

Notice of Formation of OFFSHORESEAFOODMARKETLLC

Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/09/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: JEANE R FINDLEY-BARNES, 157-12 134TH AVE, 2ND FLOOR, JAMAICA, NY 11434. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

STATE Of NORTH CAROLINA

CUMBERLAND COUNTY in the

General Court of Justice District Court Division File No: 22 CVD

6076 Filed Sep. 29, 2023 at 11:04

Cumberland Co., C.S.C. MELISSA

BROWN, Plaintiff VS Alton Linton, Defendant, Oulematu Sissoko

Defendant. ORDER GRANTING TO SERVE BY PUBLICATION (Child Custody Service by Publication)

THIS MATTER having come before the Court on the Plaintiff’s Motion for Publication on the 22nd day of August 2023; and the Court having reviewed the Petition filed in this matter, and for good cause having been shown, the Court makes the following: FINDINGS OF FACT 1. That the Plaintiff filed an Emergency Complaint for Child Custody on November 16 , 2022. 2. Plaintiff filed Motion for Emergency Child Custody was granted on November 16, 2023. 3. Plaintiff is and has been a resident and citizen and resident of Cumberland County, North Carolina, and has been for more than six months next preceding the institution of this action. 4. That at the time of the filing of this action DefendantOulematu Sissoko was believed to be residing in Laurelton, New York. 5. That diligent efforts were made to locate and personally serve the Defendant, Oulematu Sissoko in Laurelton, New York, however all efforts were unsuccessful. 6. Defendant Sissoko’s location cannot be ascertained with due diligence and service via publication is necessary. BASED UPON THE FOREGOING FINDINGS OF FACT, THE COURT MAKES THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS OF LAW: 1. This matter is properly before the Court, which has both subject matter and personal jurisdiction. 2. Service by publication is necessary and appropriate. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED AS FOLLOWS: Service of Plaintiff’s Summons and Complaint shall be perfected pursuant to Rule 4 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure. Signed this the 21 day of September 2023. HONORABLE

CATILYN EVANS CHIEF DISTRICT

COURT JUDGE Brown Vs. Linton 22 CVD 6076

OMAE LLC. Art of Org. fi led with the SSNY on 02/08/2024.

Offi ce: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC.

OMAR ELSHARAWI 163-63

89TH ST, HOWARD BEACH, NY, 11414. Any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT- COUNTY OF QUEENS DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR ABFC 2004-HE1 TRUST, ABFC ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004HE1, Plaintiff, AGAINST FELICIA SAMUELS, et al. Defendant(s) Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on January 8, 2024. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Courthouse steps of the Queens Supreme Court, located at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435 on April 12, 2024 at 12:15 PM premises known as 15516 115th Drive, Jamaica, NY 11434. Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Queens County and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York. Block 12193 and Lot 0014. Approximate amount of judgment $671,024.36 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #724653/2021 | 2616705. Autrey G. Johnson, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLP

- Attorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747

Real Estate

EQUAL HOUSING. Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, familial status or disability in connection with the sale or rental of residential real estate. Queens Chronicle does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect housing discrimination call the Open Housing Center (the Fair Housing Agency for the five boroughs of New York) at 212-941-6101, or the New York City Commission of Human Rights Hotline at 718722-3131.

The Queens Chronicle reserves the right to alter wording in ads to conform with Federal Fair Housing regulations.

Co-ops For Sale

Howard Beach/Lindenwood, Fairfield Arms, 1 BR, 1 full bath. Co-op—needs TLC. Reduced 164K. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136

Howard Beach/Lindenwood, Mint 2 BR, 2 bath. Dorchester Bldg, 4th fl, updated, HW fls, lots of closets. Asking $289K. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136

Open House

HOWARD BEACH/ ROCKWOOD PARK OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, March 30th 12:30-2:30pm 160-22 84th Street

Oversized Mother/Daughter Large rooms, hardwood floors. 5 BRs, Master BR suite with bath/walk-in closet

Anna Maria Ariola Grillo CONNEXION REAL ESTATE Call for details 917-682-5222

Howard Beach, Sat 3/30, 12:30-2:30pm, 160-22 84 St. Lg Brookfield style hi-ranch, 5 BRs, 3 baths, Open layout, master BR w/en-suite. 40.25x100 lot. Asking $1,150,00. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136

Legal Notices Legal Notices

PIN: 84123B0031 – THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, PLANNING

The New York City Department Of Transportation Planning & Management cordially invites your company to submit bids for the following contract: Warehouse Rental and Inventory Management (Specifications) available for download free of charge starting 03/18/2024.

To access the IFB, vendors should visit the PASSPort public Portal at https://www.nyc.gov/site/mocs/passport/about-passport.page

Notice of Qualifi cation of PAINT LIKE FRIDA USA LLC. Authority fi led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/05/24. Offi ce location: Queens County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 01/24/24. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: TELOS LEGAL CORP., 5500 Main St., Ste. 345, Williamsville, NY 14221. Address to be maintained in DE: 13 W. Main St., PO Box 953, Felton, DE 19943. Arts of Org. fi led with the Secy. of State, Division of Corporations, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of DESIGNS BY DASH LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/08/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: THE LIMITED LIABILTY COMPANY, 13010 95TH AVE, SOUTH RICHMOND HILL, NY 11419. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Click on the “Search Funding Opportunities in PASSPort” blue box. Doing so will take one to the public portal of all procurements in the PASSPort system. To quickly locate the IFB, insert the EPIN, 84123B0031 into the Keyword search field. In order to respond to the IFB, vendors must create an account within the PASSPort system if they have not already done so.

A pre-bid conference via Zoom is scheduled for 04/03/2024 at 11:00 AM. Those who wish to attend the pre-bid meeting must email the authorized agency contact for a link no later than 04/03/2024 by 4:00 PM.

The deadline for the submission of questions via email is 04/10/2024 by 4:00 PM to the authorized agency contact person. This procurement is subject to participation goals for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise of 27%.

Any inquiries concerning this IFB should be directed by email, under the subject line “84123B0031/84123MBTP551-Warehouse Rental and Inventory Management” to the email address of the Authorized Agency Contact, Kathy Cornwall-Wilson, at kcornwallwilson@dot.nyc.gov or through the PASSPort communication function.

Responses to this IFB must be submitted via PASSPort. All Bids must be received via Passport before the Bid Due Date, 04/24/2024, no later than 11:00 AM.

No In Person viewing of bid opening will be permitted. You will find the Zoom information in Passport with full details.

Virtual Bid Opening will be conducted via Zoom Webinar on 04/24/2024 at 11:30 AM.

To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

Legal Notices Legal Notices

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK - COUNTY OF QUEENS PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION, V. LAWRENCE HOUSE, ET AL. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated August 21, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens, wherein PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION is the Plaintiff and LAWRENCE HOUSE, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE on the COURTHOUSE STEPS OF THE QUEENS COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 88-11 SUTPHIN BLVD., JAMAICA, NY 11435, on April 5, 2024 at 11:30AM, premises known as 19043 112TH AVE, SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412: Block 10951, Lot 120: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON

ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE BOROUGH OF QUEENS, COUNTY OF QUEENS, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 709885/2015.

Jose C. Polanco, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

Notice of Formation of THE BIRTHDAY BOOKS LLC

Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/31/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: THE BIRTHDAY BOOKS LLC, 25 HUDSON WALK, BREEZY POINT, NY 11697. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF QUEENS. TLOA MORTGAGE, LLC, Plaintiff -against- SON’S OF BHUMAK INC., et al

Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 26, 2023 and entered on November 8, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the courthouse steps of the Queens County Supreme Court, located at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY on April 12, 2024 at 11:45 a.m. premises situate, lying and being in the County of Queens, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the westerly side of 125th Street, distant 133.38 feet northerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the westerly side of 125th Street with the northerly side of 101st Avenue; being a plot 100.12 feet by 40.04 feet by 100.12 feet by 40.04 feet. Block: 9465 Lot: 18

Said premises known as 97-26 125TH STREET, RICHMOND

HILL, NY Approximate amount of lien $580,076.87 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 703931/2019.

WILLIAM T. DRISCOLL, ESQ., Referee The Camporeale Law Group PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 585 Stewart Avenue, 770, Garden City, NY 11530

Notice of Formation of DGPJ32, LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/14/2022. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: LEGALINC CORPORATE SERVICES INC, 1967 WEHRIE DR, SUITE 1 #086, BUFFALO, NY 14221.

Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

HEARING NOTICE

The New York City Board of Standards and Appeals has scheduled a hybrid public hearing on the following application on April 15th or April 16th, 2024: BSA Cal. No. 2023-22-BZ Premises: 1A Jarvis Court, Queens - Block 15599, Lot 652 Variance (§72-21) to permit the construction of a three-story House of Worship (UG 4) contrary to underlying bulk requirements. R4-1 zoning district. Applicant: Law Office of Jay Goldstein, PLLC An agenda listing the specific session (including the final date and time) with call-in details will be posted as an announcement on the front page of the Board’s website (www.nyc.gov/bsa) the Friday before. The hybrid public hearing will be livestreamed on the Board’s website and on YouTube. Interested persons or associations may watch online and call in to present testimony during the public hearing. Please see the Board’s Virtual Hearing Guides located at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/bsa/public-hearings/public-hearings.page

The public hearing will be conducted as a “hybrid” public hearing,” during which the Commissioners will meet in person at the Board’s office in Manhattan and also appear virtually on live-streamed YouTube and on an interactive Zoom Webinar. Applicants and the public may attend in person or participate remotely by calling into the Zoom Webinar and watching the YouTube livestream. The in-person portion of the hearing will take place at 22 Reade Street, 1st Floor, Spector Hall, New York, NY 10007. Anyone wishing to attend the hearing in person must present identification and go through a security checkpoint upon arrival into the building. Details for the hearing will be posted on the Board’s website the Friday before the hearing. Persons who request that a language interpreter or a sign language interpreter or any other form of reasonable accommodation for a disability be provided at any of the scheduled hearings must notify Toni Matias, Deputy Director of the Board of Standards and Appeals, at 212-386-0085 or tmatias@bsa.nyc.gov at least 10 days before the hearing date. In the interest of accommodating social distancing with limited seating capacity and to address ongoing health concerns, members of the public are strongly encouraged to participate in the hearing remotely. You may submit a written statement by using the “Public Comment form” on the Board’s website located at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/bsa/contact-bsa/public-comments.page For any communication, please include or refer to BSA Calendar No. 2023-22-BZ and the property address: 1A Jarvis Court, Queens, Block 15599, Lot 652. To coordinate review of the application materials, inquire about continued hearing dates and/or assistance, please Contact the Board office at (212) 386-0009

Notice of Formation of FIRST STEPZ DAYCARE LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/15/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: REPUBLIC REGISTERED AGENT SERVICES INC, 54 STATE STREET, STE 804, ALBANY, NY 12207. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of Homegirl Therapy Mental Health Counseling P.L.L.C. Arts. of Org. fi led with Secy. of State (SSNY) on 3/6/24. Offi ce location: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail/email process to: 147-25 94th Ave, 2314, Jamaica, NY 11435, homegirltherapypllc@gmail.com. Purpose: practice the profession of mental health counseling.

Notice of Formation of HR GROUP NYC LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/06/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: NURY ROBLES, 1923 WOODBINE ST, APT. 2L, RIDGEWOOD, NY 11385. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of L&C ACUHEALTH LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/19/2023. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: L&C ACUHEALTH LLC, 146-02 20TH AVE, WHITESTONE, NY 11357. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

HEARING NOTICE

The New York City Board of Standards and Appeals has scheduled a hybrid public hearing on the following application on April 15th or April 16th, 2024: BSA Cal. No. 2023-37-BZ Premises: 85-29 Commonwealth Boulevard, Queens – Block 8613, Lot 9 Variance (§72-21) to permit the development of a two-story plus cellar (UG 4) house of worship contrary to underlying bulk regulations. R2A zoning district. Applicant: Sheldon Lobel, P.C. An agenda listing the specific session (including the final date and time) with callin details will be posted as an announcement on the front page of the Board’s website (www.nyc.gov/bsa) the Friday before. The hybrid public hearing will be livestreamed on the Board’s website and on YouTube. Interested persons or associations may watch online and call in to present testimony during the public hearing. Please see the Board’s Virtual Hearing Guides located at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/bsa/public-hearings/public-hearings.page The public hearing will be conducted as a “hybrid” public hearing,” during which the Commissioners will meet in person at the Board’s office in Manhattan and also appear virtually on live-streamed YouTube and on an interactive Zoom Webinar. Applicants and the public may attend in person or participate remotely by calling into the Zoom Webinar and watching the YouTube livestream. The in-person portion of the hearing will take place at 22 Reade Street, 1st Floor, Spector Hall, New York, NY 10007. Anyone wishing to attend the hearing in person must present identification and go through a security checkpoint upon arrival into the building. Details for the hearing will be posted on the Board’s website the Friday before the hearing. Persons who request that a language interpreter or a sign language interpreter or any other form of reasonable accommodation for a disability be provided at any of the scheduled hearings must notify Toni Matias, Deputy Director of the Board of Standards and Appeals, at 212-386-0085 or tmatias@bsa.nyc.gov at least 10 days before the hearing date. In the interest of accommodating social distancing with limited seating capacity and to address ongoing health concerns, members of the public are strongly encouraged to participate in the hearing remotely. You may submit a written statement by using the “Public Comment form” on the Board’s website located at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/bsa/contact-bsa/public-comments.page

For any communication, please include or refer to BSA Calendar No. 2023-37-BZ and the property address: 85-29 Commonwealth Boulevard, Queens - Block 8613, Lot 9. To coordinate review of the application materials, inquire about continued hearing dates and/ or assistance, please contact the Board office at (212) 386-0009.

Notice of Formation of LW ERSKINE REALTY LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/06/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, 11416 197TH ST., SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Magnolia Psychotherapy LCSW, PLLC, Arts of Org. fi led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 5/12/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Andrea Cilento, 1959 76th St, Apt. 1, East Elmhurst, NY 11370. Purpose: Licensed Clinical Social Work.

Notice of Formation of Limited Liability Company (LLC) Name: AS POPS LLC Art. of Org. fi led by the Department of State of New York on: 02/02/2024 Off. Loc.: County of Queens Purpose: Any and all lawful activities. Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: The LLC 217-44 98th Avenue Queens Village, NY 11429

Notice of Formation of NNY ACCOUNTING SOLUTIONS,

LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/11/2024. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: NICOLE NELSON YOUNG, 21141 115TH AVENUE, CAMBRIA HEIGHTS, NY 11411. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

For the latest news visit

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Combustion effi ciency and safety tests to ensure your heating system’s optimal operation

Inspecting walls, attics or roof cavities for insulation

Use of thermal imaging, and blower door testing to assess draftiness and verify the correct placement of insulation

When homeowners combine proper whole home insulation with thorough air sealing, they can expect to:

1. Achieve reduced energy bills.

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B SPORTS EAT

Mets get JD to DH

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

Despite his insistence on using the designated hitter as a rotation spot in the lineup for his players to get at-bats, with Mark Vientos being the primary beneficiary, Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns reversed himself last Thursday by signing veteran slugger JD Martinez to handle those duties.

The designated hitter position has long been a vexing problem for the Mets as they have gotten little production from it. The DH has traditionally been for players who can hit but have defensive liabilities. Dominic Smith and Daniel Vogelbach were DH underachievers. Martinez is a vast upgrade based on his track record.

It was reported Martinez turned down a more lucrative contract from the San Francisco Giants to sign with the Mets for a contract everyone is calling team-friendly. His agent, Scott Boras, is famous for getting top dollar for his clients, and demanding they accept the best offer.

So why didn’t he insist on Martinez playing for the Giants? Boras is being strategic. Martinez’s presence in the lineup should boost the offensive statistics of Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, who, as every Mets fan knows, will be a free agent at the end of the 2024 season. Alonso’s agent is, you guessed it, Scott Boras. Big contracts net agents big commissions.

Citi Field is turning 15 years old, so Mets

CEO Steve Cohen decided it was time to spruce things up. The club has refurbished the ground level concourse and the Hodges Gate entrance, and has expanded the Delta 360 lounge behind home plate to resemble a luxury hotel VIP concierge club for high-rollers.

The Mets have relocated their Hall of Fame to behind the outfield seats near Shake Shack. The plaques, however, can be found by the top of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda escalator.

The Mets Team Store has more than doubled its size by expanding into the old Hall of Fame space. This provides more room for all kinds of merchandise, and of course, more revenue opportunities. When I asked some Mets officials if they would stock visiting teams’ paraphernalia, especially for the Subway Series and the NJ Turnpike rival Philadelphia Phillies, the reaction was surprising. The Mets were willing, but Major League Baseball frowned upon it.

USA Today has cited Citi Field as having the best stadium food two years running. The Mets will continue their program of introducing fans to the cuisine of mom-and-pop restaurants as part of their Taste of Queens program. Glendale’s Benny’s Cuban Café, Poprice, a Fresh Meadows Korean restaurant, and Jamaica’s RyRy’s Kitchen, serving Caribbean favorites, are this year’s trio. Bon appetit! Q

See the extended version of Sports Beat every week at qchron.com