THE FORUM NEWSGROUP | JANUARY 11, 2018

VOL. 17 • NUMBER 2 • JANUARY 11, 2018

Howard Beach • Ozone Park • South Ozone Park • Woodhaven • Richmond Hill • Broad Channel Forest Hills • Middle Village • Glendale • Maspeth

South & West

KNOTS LANDING

Severe Snow Storm, Myriad Mishaps Lead to Lengthy Delays, Chaos at Kennedy Airport

See Story on Page 2 JFK’s weekend from hell started when a blizzard and bone-rattling temps affected operations, including arrivals and departures, leaving passengers in limbo for hours. It was capped off on Sunday by a major water-main break at Terminal 4.

Photo Courtesy of Alban Denoyel

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 17 • Number 02 JANUARY 11, 2018 | 1

Cuomo Kicks off All-Electric Bus Pilot Program in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan

By Forum Staff Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced the start of a three-year pilot program for 10 all-electric buses with the goal of reducing emissions and modernizing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus fleet.

According to the State, after a study of best practices from systems across the United States and around the world, the MTA identified two vendors to manufacture a total of 10 all-electric buses, which were leased for test and evaluation over a period of three years in the New York City operating environment. The first of those vendors, Proterra, was selected to provide five over-night charging electric buses which will be operated on routes including the B32 in Brooklyn and Queens. The second vendor, New Flyer, will provide five buses that will be operated on the M42 and M50 routes in midtown Manhattan.

The new zero-emission, all-electric buses support environmental sustainability, are quieter than traditional buses, and will feature amenities such as Wi-Fi and USB ports, according to the administration.

The new zero-emission, all-electric buses will feature amenities such as Wi-Fi and USB ports.

Using lessons learned from the initial phase of the pilot, the MTA intends to order an additional 60 all-electric buses. Timing of the larger order will be dictated by the buses’ performance during the initial phase of the pilot.

“As we overhaul and reimagine the MTA, we have an opportunity to not only modernize our bus

fleet but to also reduce emissions that impact the environment and public health,” Cuomo said. “This new program helps the MTA secure a cleaner and greener future while leveraging the latest in innovative advancements to push New York's transit systems into the future.”

The three-year lease for the

Courtesy of Proterra

Proterra buses includes six depot charging stations, which will be installed in the Grand Avenue Depot in Maspeth, where the buses will be recharged overnight or mid-day. The first leg of the pilot will also include one “en-route” high-power charging station, which will be located at Williamsburg Bridge Plaza in Brooklyn,

and be used to extend the range of the buses by quickly recharging without having to return to the depot. The plaza is the hub for nine routes that serve Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.

“As a hub of business and transportation, New York City is an ideal proving ground for both electric buses and the charging technology,” said MTA Chairman Joe Lhota. “As we continue to modernize our public transit system, the MTA looks toward a more sustainable future by continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and innovating in all of our operations.”

The program is intended to provide the MTA and manufacturers of electric buses with actionable data on what works best in New York's metropolitan environment. The MTA will use the results from the pilot to refine and develop bus specifications for future electric bus procurements to ensure buses are fully able to meet the rigors of operating in New York City. As a result, the State noted, the initial lease and evaluation of buses does not eliminate any other builders from future competitive procurements.

Intense Snow Storm, Water Main Break Plunge Kennedy Airport into Chaos

By Michael V. Cusenza

It seems that John F. Kennedy International Airport last weekend came down with a drastic case of Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

The dominoes began to tumble on Thursday with a winter storm that, according to the National Weather Service, brought “blizzard criteria” to the travel hub for several hours, including relentless snowfall and punishing winds that exceeded 60 miles per hour at times.

The conditions caused widespread delays in arrivals and departures.

Friday and Saturday saw North Dakotalike temperatures visit the northeast, with wind chill real-feel in the negative teens. This deeply affected systems and operations at the airport, exacerbating delays.

On Sunday morning, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey issued a statement regarding “the situation” at JFK. “Yesterday’s extreme cold, amid the ongoing recovery from Thursday’s storm, created a cascading series of issues for the airlines and terminal operators.

These included frozen equipment breakdowns, difficulties in baggage

handling, staff shortages, and heavier than typical passenger loads. These challenges left passengers on planes for extensive periods, as the airlines and terminal operators experienced delays in getting aircraft in and out of gates,” the agency said. “The [Federal Aviation Administration], working with the Port Authority, airlines and terminal operators, diverted 17 flights. Terminal 1 was closed to incoming flights at 7 p.m. Many aircraft

2 JANUARY 11, 2018 • Number 02 VOL. 17 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

experienced long delays in reaching gates, particularly international flights at Terminals 1 and 4. The Port Authority provided buses to bring passengers to the terminal from 25 planes at Terminals 1 and 4.”

Then things went from awful to horrendous.

At approximately 2 p.m., a water pipe that feeds the sprinkler system broke in the privately operated Terminal 4.

After water from the broken pipe began flooding the terminal, power to the affected areas of the terminal was shut off for safety reasons. The event “significantly disrupted” operations at Terminal 4, according to Port Authority.

“What happened at JFK Airport is unacceptable, and travelers expect and deserve better,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “While the water pipe break that occurred appears to be weather-related, we have launched an investigation into the incident to determine exactly what occurred and why an internal pipe was not weather protected and whether any other failures contributed to this disruption. The Port Authority is committed to providing the highest caliber of service to all travelers and we will hold those responsible accountable for any shortcomings we find.”

On Wednesday, Port Authority announced that former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will lead an independent investigation into the events at JFK Airport during and following Thursday’s storm.

Photo Courtesy of Johnny Casey

Borough Blasted by Snow ‘Bomb,’ Brutal Temps

By Michael V. Cusenza

By Thursday night, Queens found itself atop a list of which its proud residents wanted no part.

The infamous “bomb cyclone” walloped the World’s Borough all day, dumping an average of 11 inches of the white stuff – the most in the city. Some neighborhoods really felt the storm’s wrath: Howard Beach (more than 13 inches); Bayside (12.4 inches); Ozone Park and Middle Village (12.3 inches).

Add wind gusts of 50-60 mph, and teeth-chattering, single-digit temperatures – with real-feel figures hovering around negative 10 degrees – to those snow totals and you have the equation for a truly miserable weekend.

Photos Courtesy of City Councilmen Eric Ulrich and Bob Holden; Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 17 • Number 02 JANUARY 11, 2018 | 3

Laurelton Man Arrested at JFK after Gun is Spotted among Carry-on Items

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The loaded .38-caliber handgun was detected by TSA officers at a JFK Airport checkpoint.

A Laurelton man on Friday was arrested after he was caught allegedly trying to sneak a loaded firearm past the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to TSA officials.

Agency officers detected the weapon after the man entered the checkpoint and placed his carry-on items on the x-ray conveyor belt.

The .38-caliber gun was loaded with six bullets, including one in the chamber. TSA supervisors contacted the Port Authority Police who responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the gun, and subsequently arrested the man.

In addition to criminal charges, the offender is likely to incur civil penalties from the federal government. According to TSA, the agency has the authority to assess civil penalties of up to $13,000. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $3,900.

Following the incident, TSA administration officials noted that passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided case, locked, and stowed separately from ammunition.

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Borough Leads City in Banner Vision Zero Year

By Michael V. Cusenza Last year, in a banner 12 months for the Vision Zero initiative, the city saw the fewest traffic fatalities on record, with Queens leading all boroughs, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday in Woodside.

In 2017, the World’s Borough saw 59 fatalities compared to 65 in 2016, a 9-percent decline. The previous record low in Queens was 63 fatalities in 2011.

Overall, NYC experienced a 32-percent drop in pedestrian fatalities last year. In 2017, 214 people, 101 of them pedestrians, were lost in traffic crashes; compared to 231 total fatalities and 148 pedestrians in 2016.

De Blasio noted that this marks the fourth consecutive year of declining traffic deaths under Vision Zero. Since 2013, fatalities have dropped 28 percent.

“The lower speed limit, increased enforcement and safer street designs are all building on each other to keep New Yorkers safe. Now we must deepen this work. Not even a single tragedy on our streets is acceptable, and we’ll keep fighting every day to protect our people,” de Blasio pledged.

Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

Mayor de Blasio made the announcement on Monday at the NYPD’s Central Garage in Woodside.

Hizzoner pointed to the transformation of Queens Boulevard and the Woodhaven-Cross Bay corridor as one of the reasons for the exceptional Vision Zero statistics. Last year, the City Department of Transportation completed its third phase of street redesign along Queens Boulevard in Rego Park and Forest Hills that featured numerous safety improvements.

Queens Boulevard in 2017 enjoyed a third-consecutive year without a

single pedestrian or cyclist fatality – previously an unimaginable achievement for a thoroughfare once known as “the Boulevard of Death.”

And in November, DOT and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority unveiled Select Bus Service along Woodhaven and Cross Bay boulevards. Though the conversion, which saw a lane of thru traffic eliminated in both directions, seems to have fouled up

commutes and has had a negative impact on small businesses, the alteration of one of the borough’s most crash-prone corridors includes dramatic pedestrian safety improvements, according to the City.

“The City has been making great strides in improving safety and reducing motorist and pedestrian fatalities along many busy thoroughfares in Queens, however there is still work to be done,” said

newly minted Councilman Bob Holden (D-Glendale). “Now that stretches like Woodhaven Boulevard are moving slower and seem to be more congested, cars and trucks have been using side streets to avoid traffic and our neighborhoods have been feeling the biggest impact. We may be making some roads safer, but we may pay the price on our side streets. The mayor and DOT must work with local communities to eliminate this compiling safety concern and to ensure there are no unintended consequences from Vision Zero.”

Other notable Vision Zero achievements for 2017 include: a single fatality among school-aged pedestrian children (5-17 years old); strong traffic enforcement; safer fleet of City vehicles; safer forhire vehicles; safety improvement projects; turning-safety improvements; traffic signal retiming; and making cycling safer.

However, as DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg noted, in 2017, the city experienced an increase in fatalities among drivers, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.

“We know we have much more work to do to fully achieve Vision Zero,” she said.

DHS Doesn’t Vet Hotels for Criminal Activity prior to Placing Families with Kids: Report

By Forum Staff The City Department of Homeless Services does not consider criminal activity at prospective hotels prior to placing families with children at those locations, according to a scathing report released on Thursday by the Department of Investigation.

The analysis pointed to two instances in the Bronx in which DOI investigators found homeless families with children sharing the same facilities as prostitution enterprises and uncovered troubling observations and interactions by homeless residents that included a proposition to work as a prostitute to supplement income.

The probe also identified dozens of prostitution-, assault- and controlled substance-related arrests on the premises of commercial hotels housing homeless families with children throughout the five boroughs.

According to the report, DHS did not assess prospective hotels against indicators of potential illicit activity prior to client placement, or shortly thereafter in the case of emergency placements. City Investigators reviewed arrest incidents between Jan. 1, 2017 and Aug. 10, 2017, and found arrest incidents had occurred on the premises of 34 of the city’s 57 commercial hotels housing homeless families with children. Among those incidents were 59 prostitution-related arrests, 34 assault-related arrests and 11 arrests for controlled substances.

Department of Investigation officials noted

File Photo

Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks (r.) said the City is working “to evaluate remaining as well as new locations to ensure the safety of our homeless families as we phase out the use of commercial hotels once and for all.”

that the existence of red flags at these 34 sites does not, of itself, demonstrate a need to close all of these sites, but it does expose a need for DHS to perform safety assessments.

“There is no more important obligation than providing safe shelter to homeless children and families. DOI’s investigation found several safety concerns that require immediate attention,” said DOI Commissioner Mark Peters.

Additionally, DOI investigators also identified suspicious booking patterns at both the Bronx Days Inn and the Bronx Super 8 Hotel, including an individual who purchased as many as 77 nights during the period examined. In some instances, these individuals paid for their stays all in cash, which is typical of prostitution promoters who use all-cash transactions to anonymize their illicit activities. DOI also discov-

ered that simple internet searches of the Bronx Days Inn and Bronx Super 8 Hotel addresses along with keywords such as “escort” would result in several links to websites promoting prostitution and containing the contact information and addresses of the hotels.

According to DOI, Homeless Services has agreed to DOI’s recommendation that it will enhance its commercial hotel for families with children approval criteria to include a public safety component that will identify possible criminal activities occurring at prospective hotels.

“We are pleased that DHS has recognized these concerns and is working with DOI to put measures in place to solve this problem,” Peters added.

DHS has also agreed to, where possible, reserve an entire hotel for families with children, rather than a portion, to eliminate the possibility of DHS clients sharing locations with criminal behavior.

“Upon being notified of safety concerns requiring immediate action, we took immediate action, relocating families or occupying locations entirely, as DOI recommends and recognizes in this report,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. “We are working closely with our NYPD management team to evaluate remaining as well as new locations to ensure the safety of our homeless families as we phase out the use of commercial hotels once and for all.”

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 17 • Number 02 JANUARY 11, 2018 | 5

NYPD Announces Changes at Highest Leadership Levels

By Michael V. Cusenza Fresh off its monumental year in crime decline, the City Police Department on Monday announced more than a dozen changes at the executive staff level as part of the NYPD’s continuing operational shift toward Neighborhood Policing.

The new roles are set to go into effect next week.

“By driving crime and violence down to levels New York City has not seen in nearly seven decades, we achieved in 2017 what many thought was unimaginable,” Police Commissioner Jim O’Neill said.

“Instead of taking comfort in this achievement, we have a redoubled sense of urgency. We must make every neighborhood safe, at all times. To accomplish this, we have to complete the transformation of the NYPD, which we can only do in partnership with all the people of New York.”

ter and safer place to live and visit since my first day on patrol in 1984 thanks to the hardworking men and women of the NYPD. A big thank you to my wife Lisa who supported me during all these years,” said Gomez, a former commanding officer of the 106th Precinct.

O’Neill said that, as one of the principal designers of Neighborhood Policing, Monahan is “uniquely qualified” for the new assignment at the NYPD’s highestuniformed rank.

Other notable executive staff appointments include: Assistant Chief Rodney Harrison, current executive officer of the Patrol Services Bureau and leader of the bureau’s Neighborhood Photo Courtesy of NYPD Policing implementation, will beChief of Department Carlos Gomez, who once helmed the 106th Precinct, has come Chief of Patrol; Assistant retired after 33 years on the force.

Chief Edward Delatorre, current Chief of Patrol Terence Monah- Gomez, who has retired after 33 commanding officer of Patrol Borough Staten Island, will become an will become Chief of Depart- years with the City’s Finest. ment, taking the reins from Carlos “NYC has become a much bet- Chief of the Transit Bureau; and

Deputy Chief Nilda Irizarry Hofmann, current executive officer of the Risk Management Bureau, will become Chief of Community Affairs and the first Hispanic woman in the NYPD promoted to threestar chief.

Joining Gomez in retirement: Chief of Personnel, and former CO of Patrol Borough Queens North, Diana Pizzuti; Chief of Transit Joseph Fox; Chief of Community Affairs Joanne Jaffe; and Chief of Citywide Operations Thomas Purtell.

“These men and women have devoted more than a century of service to the NYPD and to the people of this city,” O’Neill added. “Each of them has tirelessly contributed their very best efforts to help bring about the massive crime reductions of the last few decades. We thank them for this, knowing their great talents will continue to bring them much success.”

Two Men Plead Guilty to Vicious Slash Attack on Whitestone Teen

By Forum Staff Two men have pleaded guilty to first-degree assault in the violent slashing of a teenage exchange student, mistaken for someone else, as she walked to school in Whitestone in December 2015.

District Attorney Brown said, “In pleading guilty, the defendants have admitted to a heinous attack on a teenage girl. The victim in this case was not the target, but nonetheless she will forever be marred by the memory of what happened to her and the scars on her face. The defendants in the case deserve to be incarcerated as punishment for their crime.”

The defendants were identified as Wilson Lai, 26, of Oakland Gardens, Queens, and Devon Berkley, 39, of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The pair of slahers pleaded guilty to first-de- The victim was slashed twice on the left side of her face on 147th Street near 13th Avenue. gree assault yesterday before Queens Supreme

File Photo

Court Justice Gregory Lasak, who indicated he will sentence them on February 14, 2018.

Lai will receive a 19-year prison sentence and Berkley 18 years - with both defendants’ sentences followed by five years’ post release supervision.

Authorities say that according to the charges, Lai and Berkley orchestrated a plan in December 2015 to assault a teenager who lived in Whitestone, Queens. However, on December 16, 2015, Berkley ran up to the wrong teenager and attacked a 16-year-old exchange student who was living in the same house as the intended target.

The exchange student was on her way to school when Berkley slashed her twice in the face and ran from the scene.

The victim was hospitalized and recovered from the violent attack, but she has two long scars lining the left side of her face.

Mexican Drug Trafficker Laundered Profits through Borough Business: Feds

By Forum Staff An international drug distributor who used a Queens jewelry store to launder millions of dollars in narcotics proceeds has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, federal authorities announced on Friday.

Salvador Jimenez Uribe, 52, also known as “Salvador Uribe Jimenez,” pleaded guilty in 2016 to Photo Courtesy of DEA international cocaine importation According to federal officials, Uribe also facilitated the transport of large quantities of conspiracy, international narcotics cocaine from Ecuador to the United States. distribution conspiracy, narcotics 6 JANUARY 11, 2018 • Number 02 VOL. 17 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

distribution conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy.

According to court filings, Uribe smuggled cocaine, marijuana, and heroin across the United StatesMexico border, concealing the drugs in tractor-trailer trucks operated by associates of Mexican drug cartels and delivering the product to co-conspirators in the New Yorkarea. Uribe also facilitated the transport of large quantities of cocaine from Ecuador to the U.S., hiding the white powder in the flaps of cardboard boxes containing bananas,

shipped by an Ecuadorian company.

“The defendant trafficked kilograms of cocaine and heroin from South America and Mexico for distribution in the United States, flooding our streets with dangerous drugs, and laundered millions of dollars in narcotics proceeds,” said Richard Donoghue, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “This sentence demonstrates that those who seek to profit from importing and distributing narcotics in our country will be held accountable.”

Richard Donoghue Appointed Interim U.S. Attorney for Eastern District

By Michael V. Cusenza United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently announced the appointment of Richard Donoghue as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

The Eastern District is: Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island in NYC; and Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island.

Despite blizzard conditions, Donoghue was sworn in on Thursday by Chief Judge Dora Irizarry.

“When I became Attorney General, President Trump gave me clear orders to go after MS-13,” Sessions said. “Since then, this Department of Justice has been relentless, arresting hundreds of MS-13 members from Los Angeles to Long Island. Today, I am appointing someone as Interim United States Attorney for Eastern District of New York who has tremendous experience prosecuting MS-13: Richard Donoghue. As a federal prosecutor for more than a decade—including as Criminal Chief of that office—he has been involved in the prosecution of gang members, terrorists, and corrupt public officials. Every MS-13 member in Long Island should know, Richard Donoghue will use all the tools at his disposal to get criminals off our streets.”

According to the DOJ, Donoghue served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the EDNY office, where he held positions including Chief of the Criminal Division and Chief of the Long Island Criminal Division. As

Donoghue was sworn in on Thursday by Chief Judge Dora Irizarry.

an AUSA, he investigated and prosecuted MS-13 racketeering cases and other violent crime, white collar crime, public integrity offenses, and drug trafficking.

Additionally, from 1993 to 2000, Donoghue served on active duty in the U.S. Army JAG Corps, where he held positions including military magistrate judge, prosecutor, defense counsel and contract litigator; and

Photo Courtesy of EDNY

from 1993 through 1995, Donoghue served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. Donoghue received his B.A., cum laude, from Hofstra University and his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. Upon the appointment of Donoghue as Interim U.S. Attorney, acting U.S. Attorney Bridget Rohde will resume her role as First Assistant U.S. Attorney.

In other EDNY news, Sessions on Friday selected the district to receive two additional Assistant U.S. Attorney positions to focus exclusively on violent crime.

“I have asked Congress for additional PSN funding because I believe nothing will be more effective at reducing violent crime,” the AG said. “Under this program, I am asking a great deal of our United States Attorneys. I am both empowering them and holding them accountable for results.”

According to Sessions, the additional resources will “enhance the office’s ability to prosecute violent crimes” committed by members and associates of MS-13. The prosecutors will also focus on other violent gangs such as the Crips, Bloods, Latin Kings, 18th Street gang, Salvadorans with Pride, and Outlaw motorcycle gangs, all of which have a significant presence in the Eastern District.

“The provision of additional Assistant U.S. Attorney positions reflects the commitment of the Department of Justice to reduce violent crime by identifying and prosecuting gang members whose destructive conduct endangers residents of our district,” Donoghue said. “Using every law enforcement resource available, this office and the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force will continue to work tirelessly to make our communities safer by bringing to justice those violent criminals who show no regard for human life.”

We’ll Maintain Our Policy on Bail in Misdemeanor Cases: DA Brown

By Michael V. Cusenza Queens District Attorney Richard Brown this week noted that his office will adhere to its long-standing protocol on bail in misdemeanor cases.

“Our policy has always been, and will continue to be, to seek bail in those misdemeanor cases involving defendants with prior histories of failing to appear, lengthy criminal records which indicate a likeliness to flee, or other pending cases,” he said.

Brown, who has served as the borough’s top law-enforcement officer for more than 26 years, sought to clarify Queens’ code on such offenses on Tuesday after Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez and Manhattan DA Cy Vance announced that their offices will not request bail in most misdemeanor and violation cases.

“When non-violent New Yorkers are jailed as a function of their inability to pay, we perpetuate inequality and mass incarceration, and bring about unnecessary immigration, employment, and family consequences,” Vance said. “Beginning today, we will be guided by the presumption that bail is not appropriate for misdemeanor cases.”

Gonzalez noted that his office implemented the policy back in April.

“The goal is not to punish poor defendants accused of crimes, nor to disrupt

imperative for justice reform, and our moral, generational obligation to close Rikers [Island], it is clear that ending cash bail is an idea whose time has come.”

In Queens, Brown said the “numbers demonstrate that our current policy is working.”

“In a study that we did of one week picked at random, we found that of 700 defendants arraigned on misdemeanor charges in Queens County, bail was set on only 43 (6 percent) of those cases. Among those 43 defendants there were 478 prior arrests, 340 prior convictions, 114 prior bench warrants and 93 other pending cases. Forty of the 43 defendants had other pending cases when they were arrested. We repeated this survey on three subsequent occasions and the rePhoto Courtesy of the Queens District Attorney’s Office sults were identical,” he noted. “At the end of 2017, out of 7,100 pending Queens misQueens DA Richard Brown (l.) and Manhattan DA Cy Vance. demeanor cases there were just 55 misdelives, or interfere with jobs or education, trict Attorney’s Office, right alongside our meanor defendants from Queens who were but rather to make bail decisions that are centuries-old founding mission of public being held on Rikers Island solely because fair and consistent with public safety,” he safety,” he added. “Our reform mission re- they cannot make bail. Those defendants said. quires that we continually evaluate the jus- have an average of 11 prior arrests, one feloVance characterized Tuesday’s pledge as tice system we have in the context of the ny conviction, six misdemeanor convictions an effort to reduce inequality and unneces- City we are today, and identify practices and two prior failures to appear in court… sary incarceration in the justice system. which result in unfair or unnecessary conse- Our policy has been to seek bail when the “Over the past eight years we have made quences for New Yorkers accused of crimes, defendant’s history and the circumstances the advancement of criminal justice reform and for the strength of our communities. In of the case warrant it and, where appropria part of the mission of the Manhattan Dis- light of our record-low crime, our national ate, we will continue to do so.”

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With 2018 State of the State Address, Cuomo Promises New York ‘Will Continue to lead the Nation’

By Michael V. Cusenza Governor Andrew Cuomo recently delivered his eighth State of the State address, an ambitious slate of social and economic policies and legislative reforms that, he said, “will increase opportunity for New Yorkers and ensure that it continues to serve as a beacon of equality, unity and fairness for the nation.”

“New York believes that there is no future built through division—but only through unity. The New York way is that tolerance is expected from all, inclusion is our operating principle, and forging community is the ultimate goal,” Cuomo said at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.

“For too long in this country, government has promised too much and delivered too little. This administration understands that effective government requires citizen confidence and management competence.

To better society, government leaders must be dreamers and doers; visionaries and achievers. We are facing unprecedented challenges to women's rights, our immigrant community, the environment and our economy. New York is unwavering. We will continue to lead the nation by fighting to protect and advance the rights of all women, ensuring the integrity of our elections, safeguarding New York's natural resources, creating the jobs of tomorrow, combating the federal assault on our tax code and reforming our criminal justice system so that wealth does not dictate outcome.”

Highlights of the 90-minute address include: keeping NY economically competitive; advancing the women’s agenda; launching a comprehensive plan to attack homelessness; expanding educational opportunity; building 21st Century infrastructure; and health care.

Keeping the Empire State economically competitive centers on reducing taxes, Cuomo said. New lower tax rates will save middle class New Yorkers nearly $6.6 billion in the first four years, and annual savings are projected to reach $4.2 billion and benefit six million filers by 2025, according to the governor.

To advance the women’s agenda, the State needs to: combat sexual harassment in the workplace; remove firearms from domestic abusers; end sextortion and revenge porn; pass the comprehensive contraceptive coverage act; and call on the State Common Retirement Fund to invest in companies with women and minority leadership, Cuomo noted.

New York’s plan to attack homelessness calls for an increase in mental health and substance use disorder services for individuals experiencing homelessness; and a comprehensive homeless services plan from each local social services district.

On education, Cuomo indicated that the State will make investments to strengthen early childhood programming; ensure no student goes hungry; and expand access to higher education.

The governor touted New York’s $100 billion infrastructure program during 8 JANUARY 11, 2018 • Number 02 VOL. 17

this year’s State of the State. This plan includes $11.7 billion to transform the state’s transportation infrastructure. The State Department of Transportation is set to pave 2,000 miles of road and repair or rehabilitate 500 bridges, and the New

said he’s calling on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to expeditiously authorize the development of an AirTrain connection between LaGuardia and Willets Point, creating access to both the number 7 subway line and the Long Island Rail

"T

he New York way is that tolerance is expected from all, inclusion is our operating principle, and forging community is the ultimate goal."

–Gov. Andrew Cuomo York State Thruway Authority will renew an additional 170 lane miles, repair or rehabilitate 25 bridges and complete the new Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge in 2018.

Additionally, Cuomo indicated he wants to build the AirTrain to create train-to-plane access to LaGuardia Airport. The governor

• THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

Road, which offer service to Grand Central, Penn Station and all of Long Island. The project is expected to be developed through a public-private partnership. The Port Authority will begin the environmental review process as soon as possible, with the goal of starting construction in 2019.

Cuomo pledged that New York will continue to expand access to affordable and quality health care while addressing the major health challenges facing the state’s communities today. The opioid epidemic has developed into a monumental health challenge facing myriad NY neighborhoods.

To address the crisis, Cuomo said he will propose a comprehensive plan to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for perpetuating the epidemic; strengthen protections against addiction stemming from prescription opioids; take steps to eliminate insurance barriers to addiction treatment and recovery services; direct state agencies to implement regulatory and policy reforms that increase access to substance use disorder services; and advance legislation to add 11 fentanyl analogs to Schedule I of the controlled substance schedules of State Public Health Law. We commend the governor for recognizing that this public health crisis – Superstorm Opioids – requires not only strong leadership but also significant action, stating that this pandemic of overdose and addiction to opioids must be addressed with a multi-prong approach that includes prevention, treatment, and recovery services,” said John Coppola, executive director of the New York Association of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers.

“Moving forward, New York State must align our resources with the magnitude of this problem if we are to make real progress and save lives. Strengthening the prevention, treatment, and recovery workforce and increasing funds to support their efforts is critical to reducing the pain and suffering for families and communities across New York.”

Photos Courtesy of Mike Groll and Darren McGee​/Office of ​the ​Governor

Schumer Urges Trump to Sign Law to Help Cut off Flow of Fentanyl into NY via JFK Airport

By Forum Staff Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Sunday called on President Donald Trump to immediately sign a recently passed bipartisan bill that will help cut off the flow of illicit fentanyl from China, Mexico, and other countries into New York via John F. Kennedy International Airport.

According to Schumer, the “International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology Act,” also known as the INTERDICT Act, will give U.S. Customs and Border Protection new hi-tech—and portable—tools and personnel to improve detection capabilities and increase the seizure of illicit fentanyl shipped to the U.S. from abroad through mail and express consignment carriers.

In Fiscal Year 2017, Schumer noted, more than 81 pounds of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids were seized via international mail and private carriers. In New York, approximately one million pieces of mail enter the JFK mail facility each day – roughly 60 percent of the nation’s international mail. According to reports, seizures of fentanyl at the mail center increased from seven in 2016 to 84 in 2017—all from China. Most recently, in October, two postal packages containing 725 grams of fentan-

Photo Courtesy of DEA

In October, two postal packages containing 725 grams of fentanyl arrived at JFK and were sent to a home in Mastic Beach, L.I., before it was ultimately seized by federal authorities.

yl arrived at JFK and were sent to a home in Mastic Beach, L.I., before it was ultimately seized by federal authorities. The packages originally came from Hong Kong.

Schumer also pointed out that drugs have been seized via commercial flights as well at the airport. In October, 17 individuals were charged with operating a drug ring that transported cocaine and heroin on commercial flights to JFK from Arizona.

“Now that Congress has passed the INTERDICT Act, New York is just one signature away from writing a new chapter in the opioid scourge,” Schumer said. “This new law will make sure our ports of entry, field labs and international mail facilities have access to more handheld chemical scanners to test suspicious substances and provide vital real-time data on its source. That means narcotics, like illicit fentanyl, can be

quickly detected, identified and seized on the spot—and it means our diligent screening staff is more safe because they will not have to risk their own safety to expose dangerous substances.”

Specifically, the INTERDICT Act: • Ensures that CBP will have additional portable chemical screening devices available at ports of entry and mail and express consignment facilities, and additional fixed chemical screening devices available in CBP laboratories.

• Provides CBP with sufficient resources, personnel, and facilities – including scientists available during all operational hours – to interpret screening test results from the field.

• Authorizes – based on CBP guidance – the appropriation of $9 million for hundreds of new screening devices, laboratory equipment, facilities, and personnel for support during all operational hours.

According to the City Health Department, in 2016, there were 1,374 drug overdose deaths in the five boroughs; fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin, was found in 44 percent of those overdose deaths.

“As a major port of entry, JFK International Airport should be amongst the first locations to receive new high-tech drug scanners once this bill is signed into law,” Schumer said.

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Last Year was Safest in Modern City History: NYPD

Photo Courtesy of NYPD

Commissioner O’Neill said that after the historic 2017, the department will “continue deepening relationships with the public, emphasizing the shared responsibility we have to our safety.”

By Michael V. Cusenza Gotham is the safest big city in the United States. And its police department has the numbers to back up that claim.

And thanks to three new crime-reduction benchmarks, 2017 was the safest 12 months in modern New York City history. According to the NYPD, last year marked the first time: the total number of murders has fallen below 300 (290 – the lowest per-capita murder rate in 70 years); the total number of index crimes has fallen below 100,000 (96,517); the total number of shooting incidents has fallen below 800 (789).

Additionally, several other index crime categories have achieved historic reductions, including: robbery, burglary, and grand larceny auto.

“I want New Yorkers to know, this is just the beginning,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “As our Neighborhood Policing vision deepens and residents work with police officers in common cause, the flow of information will stop crimes before they happen and we will continue to build trust between communities and law enforcement. This department never rests on its

laurels and America’s safest big city will get even safer.”

Police Commissioner Jim O’Neill dubbed the historic decline a “New York miracle,” promising that his department will “continue deepening relationships with the public, emphasizing the shared responsibility we have to our safety. I am confident we can do more. And we will. It is an honor to lead this organization and be a part of the change we are seeing across the nation’s safest city.”

It was also one of the safest years on record for Queens. According to NYPD CompStat figures, in 2017, there were 50 murders in the World’s Borough – the second-lowest number of homicides in a single year since 1961.

Overall, Queens saw a 7.9-percent decline in serious felony crime in 2017, bolstered by an 18-percent drop in auto crimes; a 4.8-percent dip in robberies; a 3.1-percent drop in felony assaults; and a 1.9-percent drop in rapes.

Queens residents may be enjoying the safest period in its proud history, but the borough is by no means a utopia without blemishes.

“Although overall crime is historically at its

The Pharmacist’s Corner Presented by Frank Pantina, R.Ph

THE FLU A STATE OF EMERGENCY The flu season is just getting started in the United States, and it's already showing many signs that it will be worse than usual.

Emergency room visits are on the rise, and many pharmacies are running short of medication.

The New York Times reported the other day that twelve children died as of last month. But it's not just here in New York that the flu has unleashed this lethal strength. In San Diego California, there were 45 deaths reported at the beginning of last week and by the end of the week the toll was up to 91.

Experts are all clamoring to raise awareness around the fact that as bad as things are this year, it will not remotely compare with what they term "pandemic conditions" that will arise if resources are not devoted to the development of a universal vaccine.

Back in 2013 Gov. Cuomo initiated a state of emergency to deal with the 19,128 cases that were reported then.

It was so bad that he actually suspended, for 30 days, the section of a State Education Law that limits the authority of pharmacists to administer immunizing agents only to individuals 18 years of age

or older.

Here in New York there was a 66% increase in the number of cases lab diagnosed cases for the week ending December 30th, over the previous week.

So if you're worried about knowing whether or not you're facing the flu, here are some tell-tale signs to watch for according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC): Fever and/or chills, cough, sore throat, a runny and/or stuffed nose, body aches, headaches, and fatigue (flu symptoms may present in groups of two or three or all at once). Some flu patients also experience diarrhea and vomiting.

The CDC says that another complicating factor contributing to the severity of conditions is the bitter cold we have been experiencing. It makes for a more resilient and longer lasting strain.

Another consideration health experts are concerned with is the effectiveness of the current vaccine against the current strain. The flu vaccine is usually 40 to 60% effective although last year the number was down to 39%. Remember that this protection is a great asset and it's not to late to get your shot. Please feel free to call on us with your concerns.

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lowest point in decades,” District Attorney Richard Brown noted, “it doesn’t negate the fact that we have been facing a new and increasingly deadly drug crisis in our communities over the last several years, namely, heroin mixed with the synthetic drug fentanyl – an opioid painkiller 30

to 50 times more potent than heroin. These two drugs combined is a deadly cocktail. As a result, we’ve seen staggering numbers of fatal overdoses – far outpacing homicides in Queens.”

Addabbo Urges EDC to Phase in Free MTA Bus and Train Transfers on Ferry System to integrate payment options,” said NYCEDC spokeswoman Stephanie Baez.

Additionally, the senator pledged to contact State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard the agency about possibly expanding its ferry Beach) kicked off the new year and latest legislabus service to the residents in Broad Channel tive session by calling on the City Economic Deand Howard Beach. velopment Corporation to have the NYC Ferry “Currently, residents of Broad Channel who system provide free transfers for riders that can drive and park their cars before boarding the be used on all Metropolitan Transportation AuNYC Ferry in the Rockaways can do it for free, thority buses and trains. while residents of Howard Beach who wish to Right now, passengers have to pay a $2.75 do the same are inundated with the toll for crossfare for a one-way ticket on the ferry, and addiing the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge,” tional $2.75 for any MTA bus or train after it.

Addabbo added. “That just adds an additional “As the MTA continues to work on the next fare for those people, which isn’t fair. That is why generation of the MetroCard, I ask that they I would like to see the buses that bring people take into consideration the growing number of people who use the NYC Ferry,” Addabbo said.

Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo’s Office into the Rockaways to get the ferry expanded to Broad Channel and Howard beach. This would “With the number of passengers on the NYC Addabbo said the free transfers “would be a major benefit” to commuters. provide these residents with an alternate way of Ferry likely to increase in the coming years, it getting to the ferry, and if the MTA transfer plan would be a major benefit for the riders if they these parts of our city’s public transportation open to exploring Addabbo’s request. could continue their route by using a free trans- system will help everyone travel faster.”

“As the MTA works to implement a new fare moves forward it would be a free transfer from fer onto an MTA-operated bus or train. Joining The City told The Forum this week that it is system, we’ll continue to discuss opportunities that bus onto the ferry.”

10 JANUARY 11, 2018 • Number 02 VOL. 17 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

By Michael V. Cusenza

Corey Johnson Delivers First Speech as City Council Speaker

By Michael V. Cusenza Corey Johnson has been elected City Council Speaker and recently delivered his first speech as head of Gotham’s legislative body.

“Over the last four years, under the leadership of Mayor [Bill] de Blasio, Speaker [Melissa] Mark-Viverito, and the members of this council, our city has made significant progress on a number of critical issues: Free universal Pre-K for every four year old in New York City; historically low crime rates and a dramatic decrease in the truly harmful and corrosive practice known as stopand-frisk; tens of thousands of new units of affordable housing; a dramatic drop in traffic fatalities; the lowest unemployment rate in decades; paid sick leave and living wage laws that are benefiting working families without killing a single job,” Johnson, 35, noted.

“But the problems and challenges we continue to face are of historic proportions.”

Those problems and challenges, Johnson said, start with an af-

Photo Courtesy of William Alatriste/NY City Council

“The problems and challenges we continue to face are of historic proportions…but the future of our city depends on our ability to confront them,” Johnson said.

fordability crisis “that threaten the very existence” of communities across the five boroughs.

“New Yorkers who have lived in the same community their entire lives now find themselves priced out, unable to afford their

rent or even groceries. Many working families are living paycheck to paycheck, one missed shift or one medical expense away from eviction,” said Johnson, who was reelected in November to his second term as

councilman representing District 3 in Manhattan.

The new Speaker also pointed to an overflowing shelter system; small businesses unable to compete with deep-pocketed chain stores; the subway crisis; “racial

disparities” affecting life expectancy, health outcomes, criminal justice, and education; and the coming fiscal realities presented

by Washington and Albany as just some of the issues New York’s elected leaders have been tasked with tackling.

“These problems are incredibly complex and entrenched. But the future of our city depends on our ability to confront them,” Johnson said in remarks in Council Chambers. “And confront them we will.”

Johnson later called on his colleagues to recognize the tremendous influence the Council retains, and to use that deliver opportunities to all New Yorkers.

“Let us continue to take on the important issues that may be considered controversial today, but will be indisputable tomorrow. Let us continue to use the power of this body to expand opportunity for all, to be the voice for the voiceless, the champions of the most vulnerable. Let us continue to be a source of light and love and hope in a turbulent world,” he posited.

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EDITORIAL PRESIDENTIAL It’s certainly no secret that many Americans feel that the sacred, traditional mold for the United States presidency was shattered in November 2016 with the election of borough native Donald Trump.

And after the 2018 Golden Globe Awards aired on Sunday evening, many Americans felt the possibility of another unconventional candidacy on the horizon, perhaps as near as 2020 – that of talk-show queen and business mogul, Oprah Winfrey.

We watched Oprah’s nine-minute address.

Thanks to the genius of YouTube, we actually viewed it three times, searching for the moment that might have inspired such a rumor to take off.

We didn’t find it.

One could make a strong case that Oprah’s defense and praise of a free and independent press, which she characterized as “currently under siege,” was a direct reference to President Trump’s icy relationship and treatment of scribes and talking heads since entering office. But beyond that, her entire speech was devoted to addressing the oppression of women and blacks in America. We agree with Oprah there. We also agree with her statement that “speaking your truth is the most powerful tool that we have.”

But all of that does not a president make.

We like Oprah and consider her to be a powerful force in the nation. But she is not a politician, nor is she a world leader. In fact, she shares with Donald Trump much of the

“resume” that so many feel make him unqualified to lead the country. While their celebrity gives them a vast range of public reach and their wealth and success apparently qualifies them as possessing business and financial acumen, are either of those things enough to be the leader of the free world? We think not.

But perhaps what is most disturbing is that the American people seem hell-bent on looking in the wrong direction for something—anything—to lead them away from what they feel is so obviously wrong with this country. A commonly expressed sentiment since the broadcast has been ‘If Trump can be president, then why not Oprah?’ The answer to that question should be fairly obvious, especially to those inquiring. If you are citing Trump’s lack of political and leadership experience, why on God’s green earth would you then want to replace what you view as devastating to the country with more of the same lack of appropriate knowledge and experience??

While Oprah is unquestionably more likable, more stable, and more genuine than the president has portrayed himself, especially as of late, can you really envision her sitting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff after Kim Jong Un launches a nuclear missile, with a well-manicured hand cuffed to a 45-pound briefcase containing the nuclear football?

Neither could we.

That said, Oprah’s timely remarks were desperately needed and greatly appreciated. We certainly hope that they have inspired the next great leader of the free world, whoever he or she may be.

“Maintain hope for a brighter morning even in our darkest nights.”

Amen, Oprah.

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THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 17 • Number 02 JANUARY 11, 2018 | 13

Legal Notices Notice of Formation of CLASSIC HEIGHTS REALTY, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/28/17. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 37-51 76th St., Jackson Heights, NY 11372. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 4632 VER­ NON LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/14/17. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Tuchman, Korngold, Weiss, Liebman & Gelles LLP, 6 E. 45th St., NY, NY 10017. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

LEE’S WELLNESS ACUPUNC­ TURE, PLLC Arts of Org filed with NY Sec of State (SSNY) on 11/1/17. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 143-27 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11354. Purpose: Acupuncture.

Notice of Formation of SGK PROPERTIES LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/22/17. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to GEORGIOS KOSMIDIS, P.O. BOX 5879, ASTORIA, NY 11105. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 1445 St. Marks Avenue RCBS, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/29/17.

Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 217-02 Jamaica Avenue, Queens Village, NY 11428. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of BRANDON RAMNARAIN PHYSICAL THERAPY, PLLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/01/17. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 91-28 218th St., Queens Village, NY 11428. Purpose: to practice the profession of Physical Therapy.

TEDDYTORI LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/20/15. Latest date to dissolve: 12/31/2099. Office: 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, 30-05 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11102. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of TMD EVENT TECHNOLOGIES LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 5/23/17. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: C/O United States Corporation Agents, Inc., 7014 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11228 Purpose: any lawful activity.

HW Manhattan One LLC Arts of Org filed with NY Sec of State (SSNY) on 12/1/17. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 136-33 37th Ave, #8B, Flushing, NY 11354. General Purposes.

Notice of formation of JACKSON HEIGHTS 1122, LLC, a limited liability company. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/09/2017. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to 3749 81st Street, Room 6B, Jackson Heights, NY11372. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME SOCRATES SERVICES INTERNATIONAL LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/11/2017. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to the LLC, 24-32 45th Street, Astoria, New York, 11103. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of MY MJ LLC a limited liability company. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/14/2017. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to UNITED STATES CORPORATION AGENTS, INC. , 7014 13TH AVENUE, SUITE 202, BROOKLYN, NY 11228.

Purpose: any lawful purpose.

MAIN STREET ASSOCIATES GROUP LLC Arts of Org filed with SSNY on 11/30/17. Off. Loc.: Queens County, SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: UNITED STATES CORPORATION AGENTS, INC.. Purpose: to engage in Notice of Formation of Chesford Es- any lawful act. tates RCBJ LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with TONY BROWN REAL ESTATE Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/29/17. HOLDINGS, LLC Articles of Org. filed Office location: Queens County. SSNY NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 11/14/2017. Ofdesignated as agent of LLC upon whom fice in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of process against it may be served. SSNY LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 217-02 Jamaica Av- shall mail process to 140-19 169thSt., Jaenue, Queens Village, NY 11428. Purpose: maica, NY 11434. Purpose: Any lawful any lawful activity. purpose.

14 JANUARY 11, 2018 • Number 02 VOL. 17 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

Notice is hereby given a license, number (PENDING) for on-premises Liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell liquor at retail in a Restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 69-16 Roosevelt Avenue, Woodside, NY 11372 for on premises consumption.

PHO THANH NA LTD. MEADOWS GREATER MANAGEMENT LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/16/17. Office: 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 61-42 168TH STREET, FRESH MEADOWS, NY 11365. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

LANGSIMM RENTALS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/20/17.

Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to:MICHAEL SIMMONS, 117-42 141st STREET, JAMAICA, NY 11436. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

QUEENSBORO STRATEGIES LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/16/17. Office: 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, c/o Criterion Group, LLC, 35-11 36th Street, 3rd Floor, Long Island City, NY 11106.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Great Neck Group LLC, Arts of Org filed with SSNY on 10/24/17. Off. Loc.: Queens County, SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: The LLC, 62-19 Boelsen Crescent, Rego Park, NY 11374. Purpose: to engage in any lawful act.

TRENDY JADE LLC Arts of Org filed with NY Sec of State (SSNY) on 9/29/17.

Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: LEGALINC CORPORATE SERVICES INC, 1967 WEHRLE DRIVE, SUITE 1 #086, BUFFALO, NY 14221. General Purposes.

ANKINO PLANNING Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/08/18. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to NAOKI KINOSHITA, 1-55 BORDEN AVE. APT 23-C, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

DID YOU KNOW? Side effects of snoring include higher risk for Alzheimer's Snoring may seem like a pesky yet minor problem, but it can be much more serious than some people know. Although snoring is a common problem among all ages and genders, the National Sleep Foundation says that men are twice as likely to snore as women, and snoring can worsen with age.

The aging process can lead to a relaxation of the throat muscles, resulting in snoring. Furthermore, the NSF says anatomical abnormalities of the nose and throat, illness and other factors may also contribute to snoring. Drinking alcohol, which can have an effect similar to muscle relaxants, in the evening can make snoring worse.

While many people may think snoring is a mere nuisance, it actually may be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea. Over time, apnea can be associated with high blood pressure and increased risks of heart attack, stroke or death, advises WebMD. Now there is new evidence that those with obstructive sleep apnea may be at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease as well. A new study published in the journal Neurology found that people with sleep apnea tended to develop memory problems and other signs of cognitive impairment earlier than people without such sleep disorders. Richard Osorio, MD, a research assistant professor of psychiatry at the NYU Center for Brain Health, found that, among 2,000 people studied, those who reported having sleep apnea or snoring tended to develop signs of mild cognitive impairment, including memory lapses and slower speed on cognitive skills, about 12 years earlier on average than those who didn't report any sleep-related breathing issues. Mild cognitive impairment often precedes dementia related to Alzheimer's disease.

Some researchers believe snoring and sleep apnea may contribute to a buildup of the toxic protein in the brain called beta-amyloid, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

If snoring has become problematic, men are urged to visit a doctor or sleep specialist to see which therapies can be instituted to help improve sleep and overall health.

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