THE FORUM NEWSGROUP | MARCH 12, 2020

VOL. 20 • NUMBER 11 • MARCH 12, 2020

‘HOME’ OF THE BRAVE Team Depot Donates $18K Facelift to Ozone Park American Legion Post

See Story on Page 3 Scouts present colors Sunday at American Legion Post 632 on 101st Avenue for the grand unveiling of the renovations performed —free of charge — by the Home Depot Foundation Forum Photo Courtesy by Michael V. Cusenza

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 20 • Number 11 • MARCH 12, 2020 | 1

Feds Dismantle Racehorse Doping Rings

By Forum Staff More than two-dozen individuals have been charged with participating in schemes built on the systematic and covert administration of illegal performance-enhancing drugs to racehorses competing across the United States and abroad, federal prosecutors announced Monday.

The four unsealed indictments each allege the shipment and administration of adulterated and misbranded drugs designed to secretly and dangerously enhance the racing performance of horses beyond their natural ability, a dishonest practice that places the lives of affected animals at risk, officials noted.

“Putting the lives of horses at the center of an alleged plot to cheat professional horseracing around the world can never be accepted,” said City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea.

According to the indictments, the charges arise from an investigation of widespread schemes by 27 racehorse trainers, veterinarians, PED distributors, and others to manufacture, distribute, and receive adulterated and misbranded PEDs and to secretly administer those PEDs to racehorses competing at all levels of professional horseracing. By evading Food and Drug Administration rules and regulations, as well as prohibitions against the use of PEDs, and by deceiving regulators and horse racing officials, participants in these schemes sought to improve race performance and obtain prize money from racetracks throughout the U.S. and other countries, including in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Bill Brine

“Putting the lives of horses at the center of an alleged plot to cheat professional horseracing around the world can never be accepted,” said City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea.

the United Arab Emirates, notwithstanding the detriment and risk of the health and well-being of the racehorses. Trainers who participated in the schemes stood to profit from the success of racehorses under their control by earning a share of their horses’ winnings, and by improving their horses’ racing records, thereby yielding higher trainer fees and increasing the number of racehorses under their control. Veterinarians and drug distributors profited from the sale and administration of the medically unnecessary substances.

“These men allegedly saw the $100 billion dollar global horseracing industry as their way to get rich at the expense of the animals that were doing all the hard work,” said Bill Sweeney, Jr., assistant director-in-charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Our investigation

reveals the cruelty and inhumane treatment these horses suffered all to win a race.”

The most extensive indictment charges 19 of the 27 defendants “representing a cross-section of corruption throughout the thoroughbred and standard-bred racing industries.” It alleges that Jorge Navarro, a racehorse trainer, has participated in the doping of horses under his control using a variety of PEDs, including customized PEDs designed in part to evade normal anti-doping tests administered by racing regulators. Navarro operated his doping scheme covertly, using a straw man to receive certain products designed to mask the presence of PEDs, avoiding explicit discussion of PEDs during certain telephone calls, and working with others to coordinate the administration of PEDs at times that racing officials would not de-

tect such cheating, according to charging documents.

Navarro trained and doped XY Jet, a thoroughbred horse that won the 2019 Golden Shaheen race in Dubai. As alleged, Navarro was intercepted during phone conversations discussing his doping practices, and administered PEDs to XY Jet. Among Navarro’s preferred PEDs were various “bloodbuilding” drugs, which, when administered before intense physical exertion, can lead to cardiac issues or death. Navarro announced XY Jet’s death, as the result of an apparent heart attack, in January of this year. An investigation of the circumstances of the horse’s death remains ongoing.

As alleged in the “Navarro Indictment,” fellow trainer Jason Servis doped virtually all horses under his control, including Maximum Security, the horse that crossed

the finish line first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby before being disqualified for interference. Among the misbranded and adulterated PEDs used by Servis was the drug “SGF-1000,” marketed and sold by defendant Michael Kegley, Jr., among others, and which is compounded and manufactured in unregistered facilities. SGF-1000, like many other customized PEDs, may cause racehorses to perform beyond their natural abilities, thereby increasing the risk of injuries. Servis and others working with him, including veterinarians Kristian Rhein and Alexander Chan, attempted to conceal Servis’s doping practices through the use of falsified veterinary bills and fake prescriptions.

Servis also tipped off Navarro to the presence of racing officials searching for signs of illegal doping. Navarro expressed his relief regarding Servis’s “tip”: “[The track official] would’ve caught our asses fucking pumping and pumping and fuming every fucking horse [that] runs today.”

The charges in each of the four indictments carry sentences from five years’ to 20 years’ imprisonment.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman called the case “the largest ever of its kind from the Department of Justice. These defendants engaged in this conduct not for the love of the sport, and certainly not out of concern for the horses, but for money. And it was the racehorses that paid the price for the defendants’ greed. The care and respect due to the animals competing, as well as the integrity of racing, are matters of deep concern to the people of this district and to this office.”

Pair of Gun-Packing Perps Swipe $270K from Aqueduct Racetrack

By Michael V. Cusenza Two men made a lot of money at Aqueduct Saturday night—but poker and the ponies had nothing to do with it.

The surgical mask-wearing, gun-wielding duo made off with approximately $270,000 in cash from the South Ozone Park racetrack, according to police and published reports.

Three staffers, including two security guards, had been tasked with moving the lucrative haul to the basement vault from the third floor when the crooks burst in around 11 p.m. and quickly herded the employees into a room before stealing the workers’ cell phones and the loot, according to accounts of the incident published

2 MARCH 12, 2020 • Number 11 • VOL. 20 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

in the New York Daily News and New York Post.

However, an unidentified Aqueduct employee told the Post on Sunday that the brazen armed heist “had to be” an inside job.

“You tell me: How did they know exactly where they bring the money down?

The exact route from upstairs to the vault downstairs? It had to be someone familiar with the procedure here,” the employee said.

No injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing.

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Transpoman

Two bandits robbed Aqueduct Racetrack last weekend.

‘Home’ Sweet Home: Team Depot Renovates Ozone Park American Legion Hall Free of Charge

By Michael V. Cusenza The Home Depot Foundation recently completed much-needed renovations to American Legion Post 632’s Ozone Park headquarters—and didn’t charge the nonprofit military veteran organization a dime for the materials or labor.

In all, Team Depot Community Capt.

James Eng and his squad of volunteers performed more than $18,000 worth of improvements to the group’s beloved hall on 101st Avenue.

“I get very emotional at things like this,” Eng said on Sunday afternoon at the unveiling. “It’s just a great pleasure to give back to organizations like this.”

City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) characterized the updated facility as a treasured member of the Ozone Park family.

“It’s an important part of who we are,” Ulrich added, “and such a resource for our community.”

Forum Photos by Michael V. Cusenza

Team Depot Community Capt. James Eng and American Legion Post 632 Commander Steve Rademacher.

Table setting for POW/MIA service members.

The Home Depot volunteers that performed the renovation sat at Table 5 on Sunday.

Refurbished artwork outside the main hall at American Legion Post 632’s Ozone Park headquarters.

Scouts present colors.

Team Depot and American Legion Post 632 leaders.

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 20 • Number 11 • MARCH 12, 2020 | 3

Richmond Hill Rapist Gets 7 Years

By Forum Staff A Pennsylvania man who aided a woman in finding a place to live in 2015, has been sentenced to 7 years in prison for forcible rape which took place in the basement apartment he helped her locate in Richmond Hill “The victim met the defendant in a Queens temple and trusted him when he offered to assist her in finding a place to live,” said District Attorney Melinda Katz.

“This defendant, however, was a predator who waited for an opportunity to victimize this woman. In the victim’s new home, the defendant forced himself on her and then later apologized for the attack telling her he would ‘never do it again without permission.’” Ashok Singh, 59, of West Milton Street in Easton, Pennsylvania was found guilty of rape in the first and third degree and unlawful imprisonment in the second degree Queens Supreme Court Justice Gia L. Morris sentenced Singh to a determinate sentence of 7 years in prison to be followed by 5 years’ post release supervision and required him to register as a sex offender According to trial testimony, the victim, a 40-year- old woman, visited a temple to

look for rental postings on the bulletin board. At this place of worship, she met Singh. The pair talked and the defendant offered to help her find a place to live They exchanged phone numbers and 4 days later, the defendant called her with news that he’d found an apartment and that she needed to move in right away The defendant helped the then-40-yearold woman move into the unit and afterwards, he went grocery shopping for food and wine and returned to the Richmond Hill apartment When the victim turned down the wine Singh became enraged. He threw her on the bed and forcibly raped her. When Singh fell asleep, she ran out of the apartment, contacted a friend for help and the police were called Later, at an area hospital where the victim was being treated, Singh called her and left a voicemail message on her cell phone.

He said in sum and substance that he was sorry and that he would never do it again without her permission Evidence was submitted at trial showing that Singh’s DNA was a match to vaginal swabs taken from the victim during a sexual assault evidence collection exam.

Missing Richmond Hill Teen Found Following five anxiety fueled days, the family of Gabriella Maldonado on Wednesday collectively exhaled inside the 13-year-old girl’s Richmond Hill apartment, basking in the teen’s return and the abrupt end to a harrowing ordeal.

Gabriella was last seen shortly after midnight on Saturday, Feb. 29, in her Jamaica Avenue residence.

She was found on March 4 seemingly unharmed and promptly transported by authorities to Elmhurst Hospital for evaluation, according to police officials.

Investigators did not provide an explanation for Gabriella’s sudden disappearance.

Photo Courtesy of NYPD

4 MARCH 12, 2020 • Number 11 • VOL. 20 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

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Educate Students on Virus: Addabbo

“We need to make sure that we are prepared for, not scared of this coronavirus,” Sen. Addabbo said.

By Forum Staff There are certain measures that all schools can take to educate their students on the coronavirus and how to prevent it, State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) announced Tuesday, adding that he wants to ensure that the City school system is prepared to protect the health of students and faculty in the event of a larger outbreak.

Addabbo indicated that he continues to receive updates on the virus and how it’s tracking in Queens, across the state, and the rest of the country. According to the most recent data provided to the senator, coronavirus can stay on surfaces—such as metal, glass or plastic—for as long as nine days. Coupled with an incubation period of up to 14 days, teachers and students alike must be consistent with protective hygienic measures and habits, Addabbo noted.

The main thing teachers should do is discuss the importance of students washing their hands with soap and water and to cover their coughs and sneezes in their elbow or into a tissue, as this is the best way to prevent the spread of the virus, the senator said. Teachers should also be disinfecting all devices and equipment used by students, especially shared equipment like calculators, musical instruments, whiteboards, markers, gym equipment, mats and other surfaces after every period.

“I want to urge the NYC Department of Education and our private-school system to take precautions against the spreading of the coronavirus,” Addabbo said. “If a student or teacher is feeling ill, they should

File Photo

not come to school and risk infecting others. Instead, they should go to their doctor for a proper diagnosis and return to school only when feeling back to normal. It is our responsibility to take this health crisis seriously and do all that we can to prevent its spread.”

Additionally, the senator said, schools should consider obtaining hand-sanitizing dispensers and refills for multiple common areas, including the main office, cafeteria, library, bathrooms and hallways to protect students and staff, as well as surgical masks for potential use by the kitchen and serving staff and for use by students if need be in the future.

In order to combat the outbreak, DOE is hiring an additional 85 school nurses to ensure every district school building has a full-time nurse by the end of the week; all international school trips have been cancelled for the remainder of the school year; and DOE has also sent a survey to nonpublic schools to help identify shortages of paper towels, soap, hand sanitizers, and medical supplies, and will distribute materials to any school experiencing shortages, the senator noted.

“We need to make sure that we are prepared for, not scared of this coronavirus,” Addabbo added. “If the public panics, it just makes matters worse as this situation continues to evolve.”

For up-to-date information, visit nyc. coronavirus.com. Residents with questions regarding the virus can also call (888) 3643065 to speak to experts from the State Department of Health.

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THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 20 • Number 11 • MARCH 12, 2020 | 5

EDITORIAL Hire the Best and Brightest New York. The Empire State.

Our motto, “Excelsior,” is proudly emblazoned on NY’s coat of arms. It is the Latin word meaning “higher,” “superior,” “lordly,” commonly translated as “Ever Upward.”

New York. Home to the greatest city in the world.

New York. One of the 10 worst states for hiring veterans.

We know. We were also dumbfounded.

Unfortunately, it’s true. The 10 BEST states for hiring veterans include: New Jersey, Alaska, Virginia, California, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Dakota, Georgia, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The 10 WORST states for hiring veterans: Ohio, Michigan, Louisiana, Mississippi, Wyoming, West Virginia, Indiana, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and yes, New York; according to a study released Wednesday by InMyArea.com using the most recent data from state and federal governments, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau and the Veterans Affairs Administration.

The rankings were determined by analyzing government hiring practices, unemployment rates, median income, veteran business ownership and job training investment per veteran in every state.

Some more key national findings from the analysis:

Highest average salary for vets is in Virginia ($56,140); the lowest is in Arkansas ($33,584).

Only six states saw vet unemployment increase in the last five years: North Dakota, Ohio, Idaho, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Vermont Four states put vets on the front of the line for civil service jobs: New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota.

Veteran-owned businesses are most prominent in Oklahoma and South Carolina.

According to InMyArea.com, while there’s been obvious success (veterans’ unemployment fell by more than 300 percent between January 2011 and December 2019), the thread of success on the national level doesn’t necessarily weave through all the states, and certain areas of the country are better for veterans when it comes to getting a good job.

“We wanted to better understand the differences that exist on the state level in the hiring of veterans, so we compared each state across a half-dozen specific categories, including government hiring practices, unemployment rates, median income, veteran business ownership and job training investment per veteran,” researchers wrote.

Translation: More bad numbers for NY. The Empire State finds itself, again, among

the worst when it comes to average annual veteran unemployment rate: 5 percent. (To give you a better idea, Iowa is the best at 1.4 percent.)

Veterans own businesses at a rate of about 135 per 1,000 establishments, according to data published by VeteranOwnedBusiness.com, an online veteran-owned business directory. Where do you think New York ranks on the list of best and worst states for vet-owned businesses?

If you guessed “among the worst,” you get a gold star. Oklahoma’s tops at 182.9 veteranowned businesses per 1,000 establishments; New York clocks in at 87.3.

“The picture of a returning military veteran as a disaffected individual struggling to rejoin society and find gainful employment, while perhaps a reality at some points in American history, has largely been replaced by relatively low unemployment for veterans across the country. However, with millions of Americans on active duty, a concerted effort likely will still be needed in the years to come to ensure veterans’ lives are filled with the dignity they’re due thanks to their service,” IMA researchers concluded.

That’s a goal for all of us.

Excelsior.

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At 180 acres, Sunnyside Yard is the only centrally-located, transit-accessible site of its size remaining in the five boroughs.

By Forum Staff The de Blasio administration and Amtrak recently released the long-awaited, highly anticipated Sunnyside Yard Master Plan.

After decades of wrangling, administration officials indicated that the new, “once in a century” framework will focus on building new public transit first and making all housing affordable, with a focus on New Yorkers earning less than $50,000 per year.

The culmination of more than 18 months of community engagement and technical analysis, the Master Plan calls for the creation of the long-sought Sunnyside Station, 100-percent affordable housing with 12,000 homes, 60 acres of new open space, equitable homeownership opportunities, and infrastructure and other public amenities on a publicly controlled site equal in size to Roosevelt Island.

According to the administration and Amtrak, the plan provides a blueprint for the construction of a deck structure over the rail yards that would support streets, infrastructure, open space, and buildings.

In addition to the design of the deck structure, the plan “responds to urgent priorities identified by New Yorkers during the planning process. It will ensure that public priorities drive the future of the yard and is intended to be implemented in many phases over multiple decades, beginning with key investments in public infrastructure, proposals for a new street grid, open space network, infrastructure, and public transit options,” officials indicated.

Responding to community input throughout the planning process, the Master Plan takes a transportation-first approach.

Specifically, participants consistently expressed that Sunnyside Station—a new regional rail station to be built in Sunnyside Yard next to Downtown Long Is-

land City—is a top priority for Western Queens and must be built first. In response, the City is committing to making a substantial funding contribution for Sunnyside Station to make the project a reality. The City has said that it will immediately begin conversations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority about how to fit this into its capital planning.

“The first step in this decades-long plan must prioritize infrastructure investments, and I am encouraged that the Master Plan includes the Sunnyside Station in its first phase,” said U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan). “Long Island Railroad, Amtrak and NJ Transit are already coming in to Long Island City’s Sunnyside Yard, and with Penn Station Access under construction to bring Metro North through the yard, it would be shortsighted to allow so many transit system to converge without providing station access for passengers. Creating this transportation hub will allow many new economic opportunities, while servicing a neighborhood that suffers from a lack of investment. While I am initially encouraged by the proposal for the Sunnyside Yard Master Plan governance entity, it is necessary that this continues to be a community driven process and I will not support plans that abandon this approach.”

Both the City and Amtrak have indicated that they have committed to forming a nonprofit planning entity in partnership with local elected officials, community members, and other key public stakeholders. This entity will steward implementation of the Master Plan and ensure that future decisions reflect the public priorities established by the Plan, including affordable housing, open space, transportation, and sustainability goals, and help coordinate early investments such as Sunnyside Station.

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Virus Sparks NY State of Emergency

Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

Mayor de Blasio and City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot take questions Friday at a coronavirus briefing in Brooklyn.

By Michael V. Cusenza During a Saturday briefing on the novel coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency to help New York more quickly and effectively contain the spread of the pathogen.

As of Wednesday afternoon, at least 173 people in New York have tested positive for the virus.

According to Cuomo, the state of emergency allows, among other things: Expedited procurement of cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer and other essential resources Allowing qualified professionals other than doctors and nurses to conduct testing Expedited procurement of testing supplies and equipment Expedited personnel onboarding Expedited leasing of lab space Allowing EMS personnel to transport patients to quarantine locations other than just hospitals Providing clear basis for price gouging and enforcement investigation “What are we doing? We are testing aggressively especially along suspected populations by following the infection tree because we want to identify people, because want to put them in a position where they’re not going to infect anybody else,” Cuomo added.

Of the 173 Empire State cases of the coronavirus, 36 are in the five boroughs, including at least two in Queens.

“As New York City continues to see more cases of community transmission, I am reminding New Yorkers to remain vigilant and take the necessary steps to protect themselves,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“We are continuing to do everything in our power to keep New Yorkers safe and

healthy, and are asking our federal partners to help us increase testing capacity so we can get the job done faster.”

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has declared facemasks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes temporarily in short supply to prevent stores from overcharging New Yorkers, de Blasio noted. The declaration makes it temporarily illegal to drastically increase prices.

Stores found to be overcharging consumers will be issued a violation with a fine up to $500 per item. DCWP encourages consumers who feel they were overcharged to file a complaint at nyc.gov/dcwp, or by contacting 311.

According to Hizzoner, New Yorkers should continue to exercise basic precautions while going about their lives: wash your hands, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. If you have any questions on finding medical care call 311. To get regular updates on the latest developments with coronavirus in New York City text COVID to 692-692; you will receive regular SMS texts with the latest news and developments. As of Tuesday, more than 20,000 New Yorkers have signed up for COVID, de Blasio reported.

Currently, 24 NYC residents are under mandatory quarantine and 2,019 are under voluntary home isolation, the mayor said. Those under mandatory quarantine receive daily calls and twice weekly unannounced visits by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Upon identification, all individuals under voluntary home isolation will receive calls and texts with information and reminders to call a doctor or DOHMH if they feel sick or develop symptoms, such as fever and cough or shortness of breath.

10 MARCH 12, 2020 • Number 11 • VOL. 20 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

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

HEALTHY HEARTS START AT YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY Cardiovascular (CV) disease is a major American health concern. It is responsible for 1 out of every 3 deaths in this country. There are over 2 million strokes and heart attacks reported every year. Hypertension (high blood pressure) and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) are primary contributing CV health risks. These conditions affect more than 80 million Americans each year. Along with the huge loss of life comes the tremendous financial burden resulting from cardiovascular disease.

Because of the crush imposed by cardiac diseases on the economy, Medicare, Medicaid and private payers, have really applied the push for health-care teams to manage disease collectively and efficiently.

The role of the pharmacist here is very clear: ensuring cardiac patients are compliant with their meds thereby preventing hospital readmissions.

Cardiac medications include many types of drugs including Lipid-Lowering Therapies like stations and cholesterol absorption inhibitors, Blood Pressure Meds like Beta Blockers, Diuretics and ACE inhibitors and Thyroid meds like Levothyroxine. These are just a few of the myriad of meds that a cardiac patient can face.

With new drugs constantly turning up, physicians are realizing the value of pharmacists’’

expertise in medications– it is an essential piece in saving the lives of patients.

At your local pharmacy there exists a real opportunity to learn about your meds. Not only what they do for your conditions, and safeguarding that you always have the ample supply you need, but also whether you’re on the right one, at the appropriate dose. Another component monitored by your pharmacist is the possibility of any potential drug interactions between your particular medications.

The role of the pharmacist as a member of your cardiac health-care team is recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) which both recommend a team-based approach, which includes pharmacists, in the treatment of hypertension.

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Ride for ‘Smiles’

An NYPD widow recently announced that she has dedicated her upcoming ride in the Chapter 37 Police Unity Tour to hero Det. Brian Simonsen, his family, friends, and fellow Finest at the 102nd Precinct.

Lisa Tuozzolo, who lost her husband, Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo, in the line of duty in 2016, announced her plans on Twitter.

“With honor & pride, I will ride in the Chpt 37 Police Unity Tour 4 NYPD Det Brian Simonsen,” she wrote.

The Police Unity Tour is a four-day fundraising bike ride from Gotham to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., just in time for the start of National Police Week (May 10 – May 16) where Simonsen, affectionately known as “Smiles,” will be honored.

Simonsen, 42, (pictured with his wife Leanne) was shot and killed by friendly fire after responding to a robbery call at a T-Mobile store on 120th Street and Atlantic Avenue in Richmond Hill in February 2019.

Tuozzolo, 43, a single mother of two young boys, completed the New York City Marathon last November in her late husband’s honor.

Photo Courtesy of PUT Chapter 37

Commuter Advocate Coalition Release Recommendations for Borough Bus Network Redesign

By Michael V. Cusenza A coalition of three top transit advocacy groups on Thursday announced a platform of borough bus riders demands developed from riders’ concerns about the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s draft Queens bus network redesigns.

Why has the MTA decided to redesign the massive Queens system? According to MTA New York City Transit officials, the borough’s bus network “has not substantially changed to meet the evolving needs of customers. We’ve made minor changes to pieces of the network, but have not kept pace with growth in Queens. Our customers asked us to take a fresh look at how we can redesign the Queens Bus Network to provide more reliable service, shorter travel times, and better connections. Nearly 52 percent of Queens residents rely on public transit for their daily commutes, and at least 11 percent commute primarily by bus.

So, it is imperative that we reinvent the borough’s bus network to better serve its residents and workers, so they can spend less time and energy commuting.”

On Thursday, representatives from the Riders Alliance, Straphangers Campaign, and the Tri-State Transportation Campaign presented a list of seven principles to help guide the MTA’s revision process

Photo Courtesy of Riders Alliance

City Councilman, and Queens borough president candidate, Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton) delivers remarks on Thursday during a rally for a better borough bus network at the Q5 bus stop, Parsons Boulevard and Archer Avenue in Jamaica.

as the agency finalizes its plan: invest in the bus network; equitable service; increased frequency; optimizing routes; improving stop amenities; better connections; and better communication with riders.

Some of the myriad recommendations include: Gov. Andrew Cuomo should invest in transit options that are adjacent to the bus, which when coupled together will help unlock the city for riders in Queens. Such programs could include additional LIRR

discounts for rides within NYC. The MTA should provide additional service to low-income neighborhoods in Queens. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a four-person household is considered low-income if they make an average salary of $31,300. The MTA should prioritize service improvements for low- income neighborhoods in Queens, including Far Rockaway, Rockaway Beach, Flushing, Ridgewood, Corona, Jamaica, East Elm-

hurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Murray Hill, Hillcrest, Jamaica Hills, Rego Park; The MTA should maintain or add routes that serve job centers, prioritizing sites with high numbers of hourly workers like both airports, malls, hospitals, senior centers, and universities; The MTA should increase frequency on bus routes that serve over 10,000 daily bus riders to 10 minutes or better during the day (5 a.m.—11 p.m.); The MTA should increase frequency on buses that operate overnight to frequencies of 20 minutes or better (11 p.m.—5 a.m.); The MTA should operate buses 24/7 to both airports.

Add more direct North to South buses to connect Southeast Queens with Northeast Queens Add more local bus routes that connect into Manhattan, express bus routes should not be the only option because its high cost can be a barrier to many; Subway deserts in Northeast and Southeast Queens should have access to frequent service beyond the rush hour timeframe.

“We’re calling on the MTA to ensure that rider needs are met in its final redesign plan, and on Albany to guarantee that the MTA has the funding it needs to make this plan a success,” said Straphangers Campaign Director Jaqi Cohen.

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THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 20 • Number 11 • MARCH 12, 2020 | 11

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12 MARCH 12, 2020 • Number 11 • VOL. 20 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

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Legal Notices FULFILL YOUR PROJECT LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 10/01/2019.

Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to PETER JOHNSON, 168-10 127TH AVENUE, APT 2G, JAMAICA, NY 11434. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

211 QUEENS VILLAGE LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/04/2020. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 9831 211th St, Jamaica, NY 11429. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

MOOVES, LLC Art. Of Org. Filed Sec. of State of NY 09/19/19. Off. Loc.: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served & shall mail proc.: c/o Musho Kolenovic, 26-14 Jackson Avenue, Unit #2A, Long Island City, NY 11101. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of NEW HIMALAYA LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of New York SSNY on 01/13/2020. Office located in Queens County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC TO ,Chen Chen 13103 40th RD, Apt 12c, Flushing, NY 11354. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of FG-PH Courtlandt Manor Views LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/8/20. 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 FG-PH Development, Inc., 54-42 46th St, Flushing, NY 11378. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of DMB CAPITAL INVESTING LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/1/19. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to:DMB CAPITAL INVESTING LLC 233-04 129TH AVENUE, QUEENS, NY 11422 . Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: AGRIM PEST SOLUTIONS, LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/03/14. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to:the LLC, 2116 80th Street, East Elmhurst, NY 11370. . Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of WEDDINGS BY DESIGN LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/17/20. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 155-05 Cohancy St., Howard Beach, NY 11414. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Emily Blasi at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

River Fund Abel Collin Property Owner, LLC App.

for Auth. filed w/ SSNY 12/26/19. Off. in Queens Co. Cert of Formation filed w/ SSDE 12/20/19.

SSNY desig. as agt. of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 89-11 Lefferts Blvd, Richmond Hill, NY 11418. Add. req. to be maintained in DE: Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801. Name & add. of the auth. officer in DE where copy of Cert of Formation filed: DE Sec. of State, John G Townsend Bldg, 401 Federal St, Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: any lawful activity.

JOEAUD SERVICES, LLC App. for Auth. filed with the SSNY on 01/14/20. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to JOEAUD SERVICES, LLC, 187-32 QUENCER ROAD, ST. ALBANS, NY 11412. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

FOUR POINTS FLUSHING OPERATIONS, LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/12/2020. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 3506 Leavitt St., CF-A, Flushing, NY 11354. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of formation of 94-19 PLATTWOOD LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of New York SSNY on February 12, 2019.

Office located in Queens County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC, 9419 Plattwood Ave, Ozone Park, NY 11417. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

NICMON CREATIVE LLC filed Arts. of Org. with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/07/20. County: Queens. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: The LLC, 83-83 118TH STREET, Apt 6A, Kew Gardens, NY 11415. Purpose: any lawful act.

FMGK LLC filed Arts. of Org. with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/13/20. County: Queens. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o The LLC, 156-15 91st St, Howard Beach, NY 11414. Purpose: any lawful act.

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Notice of Formation of Whitestone Medical of New York LLC, a professional service limited liability company (PLLC). Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State on 2/4/20. Office location: Queens County. Sec. of State designated agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: Corporate Creations Network Inc., 15 N. Mill St., Nyack, NY 10960. Purpose: practice the profession of medicine.

PB&J Montgomery LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/06/20. 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, 131-07 131st St, South Ozone Park, NY 11420. Registered agent address is c/o SG INC CPA, 131-07 131st St, South Ozone Park, NY 11420. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of JANJUA HOUSE LLC, a limited liability company. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State on 12/09/19. Office location: Queens County. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: JANJUA HOUSE LLC, 150-24 6TH AVENUE, WHITESTONE, NY 11357. Purpose: Any lawful purpose ORTI INVESTMENTS LLC. App. for Auth. filed with the SSNY on 01/06/20. Originally filed with Secretary of State of Florida on 01/11/2016.

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 Zelenitz, Shapiro & D’Agostino, P.C., 138-44 Queens Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Briarwood, NY 11435. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

14 MARCH 12, 2020 • Number 11 • VOL. 20 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

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THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 20 • Number 11 • MARCH 12, 2020 | 15

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Sale Dates

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Wed

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March

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16 MARCH 12, 2020 • Number 11 • VOL. 20 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

10/ 10 $