THE FORUM NEWSGROUP | FEBRUARY 23, 2017

VOL. 16 • NUMBER 8 • FEBRUARY 23, 2017

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

South & West

VULTURE CLUB

Page 3

Area Pol Sets up Mobile Cancer Screening Event to Honor Late Friend

Page 4

City Leads Coalition in Petitioning Court to Continue Hold on Trump Travel Ban

See Story on Page 12

Four Charged in Separate ‘Build it Back’ Fraud Schemes that Netted Crooks $300K in Superstorm Sandy Relief Funds

Page 7

Queens DA, NYPD Warn Public about Immigration Scams

Photo Courtesy of NYC Build it Back

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 16 • Number 8 FEBRUARY 23, 2017 | 1

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Alleged Karina Killer Remains on Rikers Island Judge adjourns Chanel Lewis case to April 3

By Michael V. Cusenza The accused killer of Karina Vetrano did not appear in court on Tuesday for a scheduled hearing and the case was adjourned until April 3.

Chanel Lewis, 20, has been on Rikers Island since his arraignment earlier this month, when he was charged with second-degree murder and remanded to Department of Correction custody.

The routine hearing, which was attended

by Vetrano’s parents and Lewis’s father, was part of a wild week surrounding the sensational case. Supporters of Lewis set up two crowdfunding pages in an effort to help the accused and bolster his defense – but both were shuttered by the companies that host such online fundraising accounts.

GoFundMe and Fundly recently canceled both pages that had been organized in support of Lewis. According to New York Daily News report, GoFundMe said the page on its

Photo Courtesy of Law Offices of Scott J. Limmer

Inside Queens Criminal Court this week, Hon. Stephanie Zaro adjourned the case of accused Karina Vetrano killer, Chanel Lewis, to an April date.

site violated the company’s terms of service, which do not allow for the raising of funds for “the defense or support of anyone alleged to be involved in criminal activity.” Fundly took down the account that was set up on its site after the page received a lot of complaints.

Neither page had garnered a significant amount of donations.

The Karina Vetrano Memorial Reward Fund, hosted by GoFundMe, has raised more than $290,000.

Lewis has been charged with murder in the strangulation death of Vetrano as she jogged alone on a trail in Spring Creek Park near her Howard Beach home last August.

According to the charges, Vetrano, 30, was

jogging alone in the park at approximately 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, when she was confronted by Lewis who attacked and strangled her. Vetrano’s body was discovered by her father later that day lying in a marshy area, approximately 15 feet from a trail near 161st Avenue and 78th Street in the notorious green space.

“This is truly a very sad case in which a beautiful and talented young woman senselessly lost her life. Thanks, however, to the persistence of the hard-working detectives of the NYPD, assisted by members of my staff, the person allegedly responsible for her brutal murder finally has been brought to justice,” said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. “I extend my deepest condolences to the Vetrano family, particularly Karina’s parents, Phil and Cathie, and thank them for their vigilance throughout this lengthy investigation and assure them that the law enforcement community will work tirelessly to ensure that justice is done in this case.”

Ulrich, Ozone Park Students Collaborate on Mural Honoring Veterans and Their Families

By Forum Staff

City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) recently joined Robert H. Goddard High School students for the unveiling of a mural the budding artists painted in honor of veterans and their families.

The project, developed in partnership with the Creative Art Works program, was funded by Ulrich and aims to empower public school students through the visual and multimedia arts.

“It is an honor to support this great initiative, which will benefit both our students and our community. Less than half of all New York City public schools offer an arts program and I am proud to help fill void,” Ulrich said. “I’d like to thank each of the artists for this beautiful gift to the community, which will serve as an important reminder of the many sacrifices made by our brave men and women in uniform.”

Photo Courtesy of Councilman Ulrich’s Office

Councilman Eric Ulrich ( far r.) recently joined Goddard High School artists for the unveiling of “For Our Tomorrow.”

The mural, entitled “For Our Tomorrow,” consists of five large canvases that honor the diversity, sacrifice, and courage of veterans and their families who “gave up their today for our tomorrow.” The original canvases will be on display at the St. Albans Community Living Center – a U.S. Depart-

ment of Veterans Affairs facility on Linden Boulevard. A reproduction of the mural will also eventually be on permanent display underneath the Belt Parkway overpass on 84th Street in Howard Beach.

“We think it is important to honor our veterans from all branches of the military be-

cause they gave up their privileges so we could keep ours,” the students added. “It is also important to pay respect to the families of our veterans because it is not easy to let go of a loved one. It takes a lot of courage to voluntarily put yourself in a situation even though you are aware of the risks and dangers.”

The artwork was created by 15 students as part of an after school-program that included an apprenticeship component, according to Ulrich’s office. Apprentices were guided by professional teaching artists from the initial concept development through the presentation to the final brush stroke and public unveiling.

“I am so proud of each Goddard student who dedicated their talent, skills, and time to the mission of creating a veterans mural that celebrates the commitment and sacrifice of our soldiers,” said Principal Joseph Birgeles. “I thank Councilman Ulrich for bringing this program to our school.”

Pheffer Amato to Host Mobile Breast Cancer Screening Clinic in Rockaway in Honor of Late Friend

By Forum Staff Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) plans to honor her late friend next month by hosting a free mobile breast cancer screening clinic at the woman’s Rockaway Park dance studio.

The American Italian Cancer Foundation’s Care Clinic will be parked outside Mrs. Elaine’s School of Dance (112-20 Beach Channel Dr.) on Friday, March 24, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Elaine Freeburg, a local dance instructor and studio owner affectionately known as “Mrs. Elaine,” died last year of sudden-onset breast cancer, according to Pheffer Amato.

“My hope is that, by providing a means for women to detect breast cancer early, we can prevent as many tragedies as

too soon. This is a disease that can usually be detected early, and when it’s detected, the outcomes are better. I encourage as many women as possible to come out on March 24th to get screened. It’s free, and it’s a great way to ensure your health!”

Candidates who wish to participate must sign up by Friday, March 3, and: be female, aged 40+ with health insurance; or female, aged 50+ with or without health insurance be currently living in NYC File Photo not have had a mammogram in the past 12 months The screenings will be provided free of charge by the American There are no co-pays or deductibles for use of the clinic, Italian Cancer Foundation. said Pheffer Amato. To sign up, call the assemblywoman’s possible,” the assemblywoman said. “Dedicating this screen- office at (718) 945-9550; or the American Italian Cancer ing is my own small way of helping honor the legacy of a self- Foundation at (877) 628-9090.

For more information, visit americanitaliancancer.org. less, beloved member of our community who was taken way THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 16 • Number 8 FEBRUARY 23, 2017 | 3

City-led Coalition asks Court to Keep Hold on Trump Travel Ban

Courtesy of Mayor’s Office

New York City and 33 other cities and municipalities on Friday filed an amicus brief in federal court to support the plaintiffs who are seeking an extension of the temporary court order preventing enforcement of the President’s Executive Order restricting travel from seven majority-Muslim countries.

By Michael V. Cusenza A New York City-led coalition of municipalities across the country has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of NY to support the plaintiffs in Darweesh v. Trump, who are seeking an extension of the temporary court order preventing enforcement of President Donald Trump’s Travel Ban. Late last month, Trump signed the Executive Order: “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States.”

This presidential action bars refugees from entering the United States for the next 120 days; and precludes all immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen – from entering the U.S. for three months.

The plaintiffs in Darweesh v. Trump brought legal action after being detained and threatened with deportation despite holding valid visas to enter the United States. The federal government has sought to lift the hold, but amici cities say this would deeply harm millions of residents by interfering with local economies, immigrant integration and public safety efforts.

“I witnessed firsthand at JFK Airport the impact this travel ban had on mothers, children and ordinary individuals who were treated with suspicion simply because of the country they were born in, and despite the fact that they had all undergone extensive vetting procedures prior to entry into our country,” said Nisha Agarwal, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. “Cities are where immigrant families, from all walks of life and all corners of the globe, live, work and love, while being an integral part of the fabric of city life. With this brief, New York City – in concert with cities and municipalities across the country – affirms that our strength comes 4 FEBRUARY 23, 2017 • Number 8 VOL. 16

from our diversity, our ability to protect all of our residents, upholding our laws and staying true to our values.”

According to the brief, which was filed last Thursday, the Executive Order: Will damage the economic life and social fabric of amici cities, which depend on openness to immigrants and visitors. The court, according to the coalition, should recognize the significant and irreparable harm caused by the Executive Order – including separating families, prohibiting travel by professors and students, and stranding residents abroad. Virtually every aspect of city life would be affected, including in New York City where welcoming immigrants and visitors is the centerpiece of its economy and a common thread running through all its residents’ daily lives.

Contains no constitutionally required due process. Not a single procedural safeguard is included for any of the individuals caught in the Order’s sweeping net. “Stripping the procedural rights of particular groups harms the civil rights of all, by weakening key links in the chain of legal protections that hold our democracy together,” the brief said.

Does not make us safer. While the Executive Order is purported to be a tool in the fight against terrorism, the coalition noted, nationally respected leaders and security experts have cautioned that it actually undermines that effort. It projects bias and hostility towards broad swaths of the population with no connection to terrorist activities. Adopting a national policy that discriminates based on religion and national origin will make it more difficult for cities to eliminate discrimination and hate crimes, which have increased dramatically since the November election. The atmosphere of fear and intimidation created by the Order could chill cooperation with local law enforcement among immigrants and minorities.

• THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

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St Barnabas Celebrates 25th Pastoral Anniversary Saint Barnabas Church in Old Howard Beach will celebrate the 25th anniversary of ordination of their pastor, the Rev. William Eric Baum, on Sunday, February 26 at 4:00 p.m. The Rev. Dr. Robert Alan Rimbo, Lutheran Bishop of New York will be the special guest preacher. Pastor Baum is the second longest tenured pastor in the 95 year history of Saint Barnabas Church.

During his 25 year pastorate, he has also served for 16 years on the Executive Committee and Synod (Diocesan) Council of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America;

Dean of Southwest Queens Lutherans; Chair of the Synod’s Dialogue on Ministry with Gay & Lesbian People; Chair of the Synod’s Committee on Congregational Viability; Chair of a Synod Strategic Planning Committee; Chair of the Synod’s Constitution Revision Committee; Co-chair of the Lutheran & Roman Catholic Dialogue of Brooklyn & Queens; and three-time elected Voting Member of the Lutheran National Assembly. Pastor Baum is the Chaplain of the West Hamilton Beach Fire Dept. & Ambulance Corp., and an enthusiastic sponsor of Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops. Forum Photo Courtesy of St. Barnabas Church And, for many cold winters he L to R: Rev. William Baum, Bishop Robert Alan Rimbo and City Councilman Eric Ulrich manned the penalty box and score- shown here gathered at the 2013 rededication of St. Barnabasduring

Suozzi Succeeds Meng on Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus

Photo Courtesy of YouTube/Friends of Suozzi

U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi is now co-chairman of the caucus that Rep. Meng helped launch in 2014.

By Michael V. Cusenza U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (DQueens and Long Island) has been named co-chairman of the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus, Suozzi’s predecessor on the panel, Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing), announced this week.

Meng, who will continue as a member of Quiet Skies, has served as co-chairwoman since she helped launch the caucus in 2014. The group, according to Meng, works to find solutions to the problem of aircraft noise, and is composed of members of Congress from across the country whose constituents are adversely affected by the issue.

“It has been an honor to serve as co-chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus and I am pleased to pass the torch to Rep. Suozzi who has been active on this issue since Day 1,” said Meng. “I will remain an active member of the caucus, and will continue to lead the fight in com-

bating the excessive airplane noise that exists over Queens.”

Meng also congratulated Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DD.C.), who will serve as co-chairwoman of the caucus, as well as new vice chairmen: Reps. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) and Mike Quigley (D-IL).

“I look forward to building on Representative Meng’s work and bringing all local stakeholders together to try and reduce airplane and helicopter noise so that Queens and Nassau residents can have some peace and quiet,” Suozzi said.

Meng and fellow elected Queens officials on the city, state, and federal levels have been working for years on measures to mitigate excessive aircraft noise—which she has said she believes increased significantly in 2012 due to the Federal Aviation Administration’s implementation of new flight patterns over the borough.

board as an Off-Ice League Official for the New York City Cyclones of the Long Island Amateur Hockey League. Pastor Baum is the recipient of the 9/11 Community Service Award of the Southwest Queens Interfaith Council, and the President’s Award from Lutheran Social Services of New York for Hurricane Sandy Recovery Service. Pastor Baum is the husband of one, father of two, and guardian of Northford, the Eastern box turtle. He is married to the Rev. Brooke L. Swertfager, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Manhattan. The couple have two tall sons and a lovely daughter-in-law. The family is full of avid hockey players and fans.

Gala Celebrates the Memory of Valentina Allen

By Forum Staff

The Howard Beach community again came out in force–more than 300 of them, decked out in their finest red attire– to honor the memory of Valentina Allen, who captured the hearts of so many during her struggle with heart disease.

Russo's on the Bay hosted the gala event for the second time since Valentina's passing, raising over $25,000 to be donated to the cause of helping children afflicted with the same type of illness that took Valentina's life two years ago.

The event was held February 15th, which marked her 4th birthday.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) where Valentina spent so much of her life in treatment. The monies go to the Child Life program to help families, who like the Allen's take up residence at the hospital where their children are undergoing treatment. Another portion of the funds are dedicated to research programs to create new therapies for babies as yet unborn.

Team Valentina has, to date, raised over $350K for CHOP. In attendance at the event were two of the physicians on staff at CHOP, Dr. Rossano and Dr. Naim, who thanked the family and the community for all they have done to help so many families while keeping the memory of Valentina alive.

Event organizer, Phyllis Inserillo, praised the community and all of those who donated their time and talent so gener-

Photo courtesy of Elena D'Este Photography Valentina's parents Ryan and Danielle and sister Victoria are all smiles about the new baby girl they will be welcoming into their hearts and home this May.

ously to make the evening a suc- dozens of raffle prizes and gifts to cess. Local band Current Affair, help make the evening a tremenphotographer Elena D’Este and dous success. local merchants who donated

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 16 • Number 8 FEBRUARY 23, 2017 | 5

Pair of Perps Snatch Victim’s Chain on E Train at Richmond Hill Stop

By Michael V. Cusenza City Police Department investigators recently reached out to the public for help in locating two suspects wanted in connection with a robbery aboard an E train in Richmond Hill earlier this month.

According to police reports, on Sunday, Feb. 5, around 4:20 a.m., the first perpetrator approached the 23-year-old victim from behind as the train stopped and the doors opened at the Jamaica/Van Wyck station and grabbed the chain from his neck, causing the chain and an angel pendant to fall onto the victim’s chest. The second perp then removed the chain and pendant – val-

ued at a total of $300 – from the victim’s chest and exited the train and the station.

The first perp fled to parts unknown, cops said, while the victim continued on the subway and later reported the incident to police.

Authorities have provided a description of only the second perpetrator. He is simply described as a bearded black man who was wearing eyeglasses and “a distinctive beanie cap” during the attack, according to investigators.

A surveillance photo and video shows the second perpetrator exiting the subway system at the Jamaica/Van Wyck station, cops said.

Anyone with information is asked to

call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, (888) 57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit info by logging onto NYPDCrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All correspondences are strictly confidential.

The NYPD Crime Stoppers Program, which began in 1983, offers rewards up to $2,000 for anonymous information provided to the hotline or website that leads to the arrest and indictment of a violent felon.

Photo Courtesy of NYPD

Cops noted that one of the suspects was wearing “a distinctive beanie cap” during the course of the robbery.

Schumer Urges USDA to Bring Back Online Animal Cruelty Database

By Forum Staff U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)has called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reverse its decision to remove inspection reports on animal facilities and related animal cruelty information from its website. The USDA, Schumer noted, annually inspects approximately 9,000 licensed facilities, including dog- and cat-breeding facilities, laboratories and more. Over the past decade, the agency has provided the public with information on compliant and non-compliant licensees by posting inspection reports on its website. The Senate minority leader and his colleagues wrote to Acting Deputy Secretary of the USDA Michael Young and asked that public access to animal welfare records be restored immediately.

Photo Courtesy of Sen. Schumer’s Office

Schumer said that, under the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is hiding critical information that helps prevent animal cruelty and tracks “puppy mills.”

“When it comes to protecting animals and potential pets, the Trump administration’s USDA has just dropped the ball by doing away with access to information that safeguards vulnerable animals and outs abusive puppy mills,” Schumer said. “Until now, pet owners, animal welfare advocates and others have relied on the USDA’s data to expose the evils of puppy mills and other inhumane treatment, but now this information is hidden, and that’s bad news for animals and the advocates who protect them.

Public access to inhumane animal treatment at puppy mills, research labs, circuses, zoos and more is paramount to prevention, but suddenly, the USDA, under the new administration, has chosen to erase these online records from the public eye. The USDA’s decision to sweep this information under the rug and suspend its longstanding tradition of transparency means animal abuse could go unnoticed. I’m calling on the USDA to reverse its decision and continue to post animal welfare records online.”

Under the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act, according to Schumer, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service inspects licensed facilities like commercial dog and cat breeding facilities, laboratories, zoos, circuses, airlines, Tennessee walking horse shows, and other for-profit animal businesses. For more than 10 years the USDA has posted its inspection reports and other related information on its website, however, recently the USDA removed this online database. The USDA’s animal welfare database has been known to provide the public with data otherwise hidden about animal exploitation.

These records have helped bring justice to any animals that may have been abused, Schumer noted.

“Public access to information can guide consumer decision making and plays an important role in deterring regulated entities from violating the law,” the senator wrote in the missive to Young.

Brooklyn Man Convicted of Killing Long Island City Resident

By Forum Staff The Office of Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown was named as special prosecutor in the case of a 25-year-old Brooklyn man guilty of fatally shooting a Long island City man inside a parked vehicle on a South Beach, Staten Island, street in January 2015.

District Attorney Brown said, “In rendering its verdict, the jury found the defendant guilty of murder for walking up to a parked vehicle late at night and firing three shots at the vehicle’s occupant who had nowhere to run. As a result of his actions that night, the defendant now faces the prospect of being locked away for the rest of his life.”

The defendant was identified as Eduardo Morales, 25, of Borough Park, Brooklyn.

Morales, who has been held without bail Photo Courtesy of Google since his arrest in February 2015, was con- According to testimony, Marcos Huallpa was sitting inside his vehicle parked on this Staten Island road when he victed of second-degree murder following a was shot at least twice and killed.

6 FEBRUARY 23, 2017 • Number 8 VOL. 16 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

two-week jury trial.

According to trial testimony, as Marcos Huallpa, 46, of Long Island City, Queens, was sitting inside his vehicle parked in front of 188 Sand Lane at approximately 10:15 p.m. on January 20, 2015, Morales approached the vehicle and fired three shots, striking Huallpa at least twice and causing his death. Huallpa was transported to a local Staten Island hospital where he was pronounced dead. According to trial testimony, continued District Attorney Brown, Morales’ fingerprint was recovered on the getaway vehicle and he was apprehended three days later in Queens County in possession of the murder weapon, a .380 caliber Bersa Thunder.

Morales is scheduled to be sentenced on March 8, at which time he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

Human Rights Commission Reports 60-Percent Increase in Discrimination Inquiries in 2016

By Forum Staff The City Commission on Human Rights recently announced a nearly 60-percent increase in discrimination inquiries in 2016, receiving 8,330 reports in 2016 compared to 5,296 reports in 2015.

The administration characterized the jump as an indication that more New Yorkers are recognizing the commission “as a credible venue for justice.”

The CHR also increased total damages and civil penalties again in 2016, awarding $1,244,136 in damages to victims of discrimination and ordering $208,000 in civil penalties payable to the City for a total of $1,452,136 in damages and penalties in 2016.

“I’m incredibly proud of the Commission’s work this year fighting discrimination and getting justice for aggrieved New Yorkers — but our work is far from over,” said Carmelyn Malalis, commissioner and chairwoman of the NYC Commission on Human Rights. “Now more than ever, it is imperative that every per-

Photo Courtesy of NYC Commission on Human Rights

CHR Commissioner and Chairwoman Carmelyn Malalis said she’s “incredibly proud of the Commission’s work” in 2016.

son in this great city stands up for the values that make us New Yorkers – that no matter where you come from, what you believe, who you love, or where and how you worship, you deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.

No one should be discriminated against for be-

ing who they are and the commission is using every tool at its disposable to make sure everyone in this city is protected.”

Additionally, the commission increased the number of investigations it opened in 2016, filing 883 new cases last year compared

to 824 new cases in 2015, building on a 30 percent increase in cases filed from 2015 to 2014.

The CHR also reported that it increased the number of cases it closed in 2016, shuttering 436 last year, compared to 354 cases closed in 2015, a nearly 25-percent increase.

“In our current climate of fear and xenophobia, New York City is committed to protecting our most vulnerable communities from discrimination in every form,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “No matter where you come from, how you worship, or who you love, New York City will protect your rights. As a city we are stronger because of our diversity, and that is something we will always fight to protect.”

Once again, disability discrimination claims made up the largest percentage of filings in 2016, composing roughly 20 percent of all claims, according to the commission. Racial discrimination claims made up 14 percent of all filings, followed by gender discrimination claims at roughly 12 percent. Criminal history and national origin discrimination claims each made up roughly 9 percent of all claims.

Busy Bandit Pleads Guilty to Burglarizing 9 Borough Homes

By Forum Staff A Queens man has pleaded guilty to a burglary charge in connection with a series of residential break-ins throughout the borough in the last months of 2016.

District Attorney Brown said, “... the defendant has admitted to brazenly breaking into several homes across a wide swath in Queens County. The defendant not only invaded the victim’s personal and private spaces, but he ransacked their homes and stole their possessions.” Identified as Juan Cuervo, 54, of 56th Avenue in Maspeth, the Cuervo was arrested on 80th Street near Grand Avenue in Elmhurst.

Photo Courtesy of Google

defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary. Cuervo is facing nine years in prison to be followed by five years’ post release supervision when he is sentenced on March 17.

According to the charges, between September 15, 2016, and December 7, 2016, the defendant burglarized nine different homes in several Queens neighborhoods, including Elmhurst and Flushing, Queens.

In each incident, the defendant ransacked the residences and stole property, including a camera, silver coins, jewelry and cash.

Officials Warn Public about Phony ICE Agents and Scams

By Michael V. Cusenza The Queens District Attorney’s Office and City Police Department on Friday warned New Yorkers about immigration scams and reiterated that one’s immigration status should never be a deterrent from seeking assistance from law enforcement or achieving justice in Queens courts.

According to DA Richard Brown and Police Commissioner Jim O’Neill, there have been reports of individuals impersonating Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Queens and demanding money from victims with threats of deportation if they do not comply.

“Be wary of this scam and others,” Brown and O’Neill noted.

“An actual law enforcement agent will never demand money or threaten deportation in exchange for payment. If you are approached by someone claiming be a law enforcement agent of any kind who demands to see paperwork to determine your immigration status, ask them for photo identification if your safety permits.”

The law-enforcement leaders also implored New Yorkers to report these schemes, regardless of your residential situation.

“If you or someone that you know has been the victim of such a crime, do not let your immigration status stop you from

to report immigration fraud.”

The OIA’s Affairs’ hotline number is (718) 286-6690, and its hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

“The Queens District Attorney’s Office and the New York City Police Department have a sworn duty to assist all victims of crimes,” Brown and O’Neill added. “We are fully committed to protecting all those who live, work and visit our community regardless of a person’s immigration status, nationality or language spoken and we will combine our efforts to vigorously prosecute anyone who targets people because of their background.”

In other immigration enforcement news, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer recently demanded that ICE release information about the raids that happened earlier this month.

“I am troubled by the lack of transparency and potential due process violations surrounding ICE’s most recent enforcement Photo Courtesy of actions,” Schumer said. “That is why I’m calling on ICE to reU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lease information about the location of the raids and details of Some individuals impersonating ICE agents in Queens demand money the people who were arrested. from victims with threats of deportation if they do not comply.

“I have always supported smart immigration enforcement seeking help,” said the prosecutor and the top cop. “In an emer- that helps to keep our country safe,” he continued, “but raids gency, call 911 to report such a crime – or any other type of targeting law-abiding immigrants and treating those with traffic crime – to the New York City Police Department. You can also violations the same as murderers and robbers will only achieve call the Queens District Attorney’s Office of Immigrant Affairs the opposite.”

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 16 • Number 8 FEBRUARY 23, 2017 | 7

Slowing Economic Growth, Uncertainty of Trump Presidency will Impact City Budget: Comptroller

By Forum Staff The City financial plan will be affected by the slowing economic growth of the five boroughs and rising fears of federal cuts under a Donald Trump White House, according to Comptroller Scott Stringer, who recently presented his analysis of NYC’s Preliminary Fiscal Year 2018 Budget.

“Our economy is strong, but with the pace of growth slowing and with uncertainty surrounding the Trump White House mounting, we have to prepare for whatever comes our way. I believe that we must prepare for the challenges ahead,” Stringer said. “Mayor De Blasio has presented a Preliminary Budget that contains a number of laudable new initiatives, which I support. Yet, as we face challenges ahead, we will have to grow our budget cushion and a more vigorous agency savings program will be necessary.”

Stringer’s analysis covered several aspects of the City's Preliminary Budget and the state of NYC’s economy, including: The rate of economic growth is expected to slow for New York City during the Financial Plan period (2017-2021) • The current economic expansion since the Great Recession will go on record as one of the strongest, Stringer said. The City has created 635,000 jobs since 2009, totaling a

Courtesy of Comptroller Stringer’s Office

According to Stringer’s analysis, the spending of agencies such as the Department of Homeless Services routinely exceeds the budget.

historic high of nearly 4.4 million jobs, and unemployment rates are down in all five boroughs.

• Over half of new jobs have been in industries such as retail, leisure and hospitality, and healthcare, where wages are generally low.

• Real earnings for high-income sectors saw dramatic rises between 2009 and 2015.

Lower paid workers, in contrast, saw much smaller gains, with workers in the healthcare

and education super-sector, who earn on average just $52,000, seeing no gains in real earnings at all.

• This year and next, the Comptroller’s Office expects growth to be sustained at better than 2 percent, due to a predicted artificial stimulus through potential tax cuts and proposed infrastructure spending.

• If President Trump implements his threats regarding trade and immigration restrictions, a more drastic slowdown should

be expected in the years to come, Stringer noted.

Federal budget cuts could seriously harm New York’s ability to protect its most vulnerable citizens, who rely on numerous programs funded with federal aid • The City relies on $7 billion annually in federal aid to help fund a wide range of city programs and services.

Repealing the Affordable Care Act could have a devastating impact on 1.6 million newly enrolled New Yorkers and the NYC Health + Hospitals system. NYC Health + Hospitals is in the midst of Transformation Plan to address budget gaps that reach $1.8 billion by 2021, which could be derailed by ACA repeal.

The continuing rise in homelessness spending shows the need for a clear strategy with measurable and transparent milestones • Citywide spending on homelessness has nearly doubled to $2.3 billion in FY 2017 from $1.2 billion in FY 2014. Spending on citywide homeless services is projected to increase by $460 million over last year, the comptroller noted.

• Those dramatic rises are driven in part by the cost of commercial hotels, Stringer said; spending for which reached $102 million in calendar year 2016.

Council Speaker Uses State of City to lay out ‘Ambitious Agenda that Empowers Our Communities’

By Michael V. Cusenza

City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito last Thursday delivered her third and final State of the City address: a 10-point treatise, titled “Who We Are,” on what she called NYC’s “core values” of diversity, inclusion, fairness, and equality.

“We must make sure all New Yorkers are on equal footing–and that we are providing a pathway for all New Yorkers to be heard and to succeed,” the speaker said inside the King Theater in Brooklyn. “This is who we are.”

Mark-Viverito’s 10 points were based in proposals to: • Protect Our Immigrants • Double Down on Criminal Justice Reform • Support Women’s Reproductive Rights • Improve Educational Outcomes for All Students • Strive for Racial and Gender Equity in New York City • Address Food Insecurities for All New Yorkers • Strengthen Small Businesses through Innovative Reforms • Protect and Support Tenant Rights • Invest in Our Public Housing Residents • Collaborate with Municipal Legislative Leaders across the Country “Instead of succumbing to the current forces

Photo Courtesy of the Speaker’s Office

Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said, “We must make sure all New Yorkers are on equal footing.”

attempting to silence the most vulnerable and diminish America’s core values, we are laying out an ambitious agenda that empowers all of our communities,” she said. “New York City finds strength in diversity, innovation in inclusion and justice in fairness–that’s how we overcome the odds and keep moving forward. Because that’s who we are.”

For 2017, Mark-Viverito said, the Council is proposing a comprehensive package of legislation that “will further strengthen our commitment to keeping the City’s immigrants and all New Yorkers safe, secure and prosperous,” including limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement efforts by: prohibiting law enforcement from acting as immigration officers; blocking access to certain areas of City property; blocking access to Department of Education 8 FEBRUARY 23, 2017 • Number 8 VOL. 16 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

schools, students, and records.

Additionally this year, Mark-Viverito said the Council is proposing “a wide-ranging slate of reforms to continue to promote fairer outcomes in our criminal justice system, reduce pre-trial incarceration rates, and support community-based justice” by: clearing low level, nonviolent summons warrants; sealing certain older criminal records; decreasing admissions to Rikers Island by reducing bail processing time; supporting true diversion programs; and raising the age of criminal responsibility to 18.

“We are a city that embraces our differences and celebrates diversity, and we will teach our children the same,” Mark-Viverito said as she delved into her vision for improving educational outcomes for all students, including “providing educators with the resources they need to dis-

cuss diversity and equality in a culturally competent manner; engaging students in dialogue about the ill effects of cyber-bullying; addressing school planning, siting, and overcrowding, so that students can receive the individualized attention they need to learn and grow; and advocating for comprehensive sexual health education, so that our children have the knowledge they need to lead healthy lives.”

The speaker also addressed what many elected officials and civic leaders call the backbone of the City’s economy: the small business.

“We must continue to support our small businesses and eliminate barriers that hinder their success,” Mark-Viverito said.

According to the speaker, supporting the City’s small businesses promotes economic growth and employment opportunities for New Yorkers. Through the 2014 Small Business Relief Package, the Council implemented reforms to reduce the number and cost of violations for small businesses and expand outreach and education. Within a year, fines assessed against small businesses declined from $32.5 million to just over $15.7 million, and the number of violations issued declined from 19,409 to 11,923.

Going forward, Mark-Viverito noted, the Council will introduce a package of legislation to support innovative ways to reform the way businesses satisfy civil penalties, while ensuring greater compliance with the City’s laws and generating benefits for the City as a whole.

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THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 16 • Number 8 FEBRUARY 23, 2017 | 9

EDITORIAL

When Social Media Invites In Trouble We have on many occasions dedicated this space to discuss social media and the sometimes unrestricted sword it yields.

Always a welcome and readily accessible vehicle for communicating with outof-touch friends and family members, it's an easy way to share photos, memories, and make plans for milestone reunions.

It serves as a reminder of birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions we might otherwise forget.

But with the same voice as many who sing it's praises--many being defined as the nearly 73% of Americans who use it daily– we speak about it's potential dangers.

Arguably, social media, be it Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and a host of slightly less popular social streams, has been incorporated to spread the word about neighborhood crime. Local police precincts have themselves taken to Twitter, posting a variety of information to the public. They share important neighborhood arrests, post information about suspects being sought and offer general information to the community at large that can serve to help keep their homes, possessions and even their children and loved ones safe.

While surfing through a popular local site just the other day, we noticed a few indi-

viduals who posted their home surveillance video of individuals on and around their property, who were clearly "up to no good".

They commented on the fact that they would have to call the cops about it. Later While we see the usefulness of such actions in keeping neighbors alert and aware of their immediate surroundings, we are also aware that this reporting on social media should never take the place of first reporting any instance of threat to person or property to the police.

But one of the hidden dangers of social media, as we see it, is becoming so reliant upon it that we fail to exercise the use of other means of communication with the outside world that have been in place for a lot longer than social media.

Again, we are not suggesting that this means of alerting your neighbors is not a good way to get the word out, however we hope to send the message that the practice of excluding police from this equation is both short sighted and very dangerous.

So while we encourage you to share experiences with your neighbors, before logging on to your computer, phone or laptop, pick up the phone and use the conventional means of reporting crime. CALL THE POLICE. Another warning along the same parallels is that we need to be aware that everyone looking at our accounts or "pages" is not another concerned neighbor or friend. It is certainly a proven fact that the Internet attracts many criminals.

A woman in Chicago recently posted a video of thieves on her driveway who stole her car. A neighbor commented on the clarity of her camera system, to which the woman replied that she was going to install the same type of cameras around her entire house instead of just the ones that covered her driveway and front door right after she got back from her week long vacation.

We suppose you can guess the ending of that story. While away with her family, an opportunistic individual who saw the post, used the information to plot a video free burglary of the woman's home, cleaning out her jewelry, silverware and many family heirlooms.

Just please think before you log on.

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First Citywide Ferry Service Vessel Hits Water

The Citywide Ferry Service is set to launch this summer.

By Michael V. Cusenza The first of a 19 sea vessels slated for the Citywide Ferry Service recently hit the water outside Horizon Shipyard in Alabama, according to an online magazine for commercial marine professionals.

The aluminum catamaran ferry was slowly transported by cranes last Monday and gently placed in the water – “like an egg in a basket” – perpendicular to the dock, WorkBoat reported.

This marks another milestone for the Ferry Service, which, according to the City Economic Development Corporation, is still on schedule to launch this summer.

In November, officials from the company that will operate the Ferry Service, Hornblower, and the EDC announced the completion of the first vessel. Specs and features for each ferry include: • Capacity for 150 passengers along with space for bikes, strollers and wheelchairs.

• ADA Local Law 68/2005 accessibility

Rendition Courtesy of NYCEDC

and compliance.

• Boats are 26 meters long, offering passengers more space than more traditional ferries.

• Ferries are primarily built out of aluminum, which is light weight and increases fuel efficiency. The fleet of 19 vessels will be built with the equivalent of over 77 million cans of aluminum • Use of ultra-efficient T3 Engines to reduce emissions.

• Innovative hull design to limit wake and maximize fuel efficiency.

• Wi-Fi available throughout the vessel.

• Heated decks that increase each vessel’s resiliency and durability, especially during the cold, snowy winter months.

Construction on the first new Citywide Ferry Service landing officially began late last month at Beach 108th Street and Beach Channel Drive in Rockaway Park.

The Rockaway, Astoria, and south Brooklyn routes are scheduled to launch this year,

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

Seasonal Sneezing: Allergies on the Rise With any change in season comes a host of changes to our bodies, especially for our eyes, ears, nose and throat.

And if you think that the sneezing, watery eyes, and scratchy throat are just signs of the proverbial 'summer cold,' experts from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI ) say you might have to think again.

While many folks think that allergies only strike in the spring and fall months, we're here to remind those of you anxiously awaiting the onset of summer that allergies are very common in the summer and actually often last throughout the year.

The villains here are grass pollens and mold spores -- the most common of the allergy triggers during the summer, with mold turning out to be more of a problem than pollen.

Mold spores are ubiquitous--simply put, they are EVERYWHERE! And if you've been fortunate enough to coast through life thus far without having been burdened with allergies, well that's something else you might not want to take for granted.

Summer allergies can rear their ugly heads in adults who have never had an allergy. These are the cases where allergies are most often misinterpreted as

a summer cold.

Here are some tips to help you piece the truth together: --Symptoms which persist beyond a couple of weeks are definitely signals that you have allergies.

--When your symptoms become progressively worse however, it is more likely that you have a cold.

--Itchy eyes, throat and nose -- along with sneezing -- usually indicate allergies.

If you suffer from asthma, you are considered more likely to have allergies-nearly three quarters of people with asthma have an allergy to accompany an already bad situation.

Most people tend to pass off both summer colds and allergies as conditions that are not serious, but if left unattended they can cause serious problems, the most common being sinus infections. Anyone who has ever had one of those surely wishes they hadn't.

While there is no cure for seasonal allergies remember that your local pharmacist can offer advice on treatment, medication or allergy shots, to provide relief and prevent progression.

Until next week...

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with the Rockaway route set to connect to the Brooklyn Army Terminal and Wall Street.

With 19 vessels operating at 21 landings across four boroughs, Citywide Ferry will carry an estimated 4.6 million trips per year on six routes – providing, according to EDC, a transit option for traditionally underserved

communities and where job and housing are growing rapidly. The existing East River Ferry will be fully integrated into Citywide Ferry, EDC noted, which will reduce the cost of that service to $2.75 from $4, the same cost of a subway ride.

Senators Urge Trump to Preserve Federal Funding for National Arts and Humanities Programs

By Forum Staff

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on Friday led a bipartisan letter signed by 24 senators to President Donald Trump urging the administration to keep federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For more than 50 years, the NEA and NEH “have provided vital support and resources to endeavors in the arts and humanities across the country,” Gillibrand said. The senators cited the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report that determined that the arts and humanities sector is a $704 billion industry, accounting for 4.2 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

“The National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities have proven invaluable in the growth of our cultural institutions that our families and children enjoy, learn, and experience,” Gillibrand said. “Their reach extends to communities in every corner of the State of New York and across the country. The criti-

Sen. Gillibrand led the bipartisan letter that was signed by 24 senators.

cal work of these agencies includes funding research, preserving our culture and history, strengthening museums, and bringing artistic projects to life, while adding tremendous value to the national economy. Support for national arts and humanities initiatives define who we are as a nation and are pivotal in the

Photo Courtesy of Sen. Gillibrand’s Office

advancement of our education and economy.”

City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (DSunnyside), chairman of the Council Committee on Cultural Affairs, added, “I strongly oppose any plan to cut funding to the NEA. The arts help us communicate the unsayable, envision a brighter future, and connect to

one another in ways that almost nothing else can. Arts and culture are vital to creating the American spirit. Defunding the NEA would irreparably cripple the soul of our country. I stand with Senator Gillibrand in support of the arts.”

In the missive to Trump, the senators noted that the ideals of the NEA and NEH “are enshrined in our Constitution as a fundamental tenet of American civil society. Article I, Section 8 explicitly empowers the United States Congress to promote the ‘Progress of Science and useful Arts.’ The importance of federal support for these activities inherently aligns with the founding principles of this country.

“Federal support for the arts and humanities is essential to our education system, economy, and who we are as a nation,” they concluded. “We hope you will keep this in mind as you consider proposals that support these fundamental American institutions.”

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 16 • Number 8 FEBRUARY 23, 2017 | 11

By Michael V. Cusenza

Four Arrested in Scheme to Defraud Build it Back Program

Four New Yorkers, including one borough resident, have been charged with fraudulently submitting applications to the City’s Build it Back program resulting in the theft of nearly $300,000 in Superstorm Sandy relief funds, and a broader scheme by one of the defendants to steal more than $1 million in property from a deceased Rockaway homeowner, according to the Department of Investigation and Queens District Attorney’s Office.

In conjunction with the arrests, DOI issued a report on BIB and the Rapid Repairs program, documenting the findings of an interim investigation examining contractor invoices and field audits, which have resulted so far in savings of approximately $40 million in taxpayer funds, DOI Commissioner Mark Peters said last week.

George Bonitsis, 67, of Brooklyn; John Holl, 73, of East Meadow, Long Island; and John Phelan, 54, of Syosset, L.I., have each been arraigned on criminal complaints charging them with second-degree grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree.

Rockaway Park’s Donata Rea, 58, has been charged with first-degree grand larceny; second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument; and offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree.

According to authorities, Bonitsis allegedly filed a false application with BIB in an attempt to have his secondary residence in Breezy Point rebuilt by the City. Bonitsis allegedly submitted an application in July 2013 to receive BIB assistance for a property on Bedford Avenue in Breezy Point, representing the property as his primary residence, according to the complaint.

Photo Courtesy of William Alatriste/New York City Council

City Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark Peters.

Construction on the site was halted after DOI commenced its investigation—however, Bonitsis had already received construction repairs valued at $125,802 in November 2015. The investigation found that Bonitsis’s primary residence was held in Brooklyn.

Holl allegedly filed a false application with BIB to repair a home in Breezy Point that he falsely claimed was his primary residence. According to the criminal complaint, he applied for BIB assistance for a property on Doris Lane in September 2013, representing the property as his primary residence. The application was approved in June 2016, and as a result, Holl fraudulently obtained $86,560 for reconstruction of the property, when, in fact, the investigation showed his primary residence was held in East Meadow, authorities said.

Phelan allegedly filed a false application with BIB to repair his and his mother’s

secondary residence in Breezy Point. According to the criminal complaint, Phelan was listed as a co-applicant with his mother on a BIB application submitted in October 2013 for a property they co-own on Reid Avenue. Only Phelan’s signature appears on the BIB application, investigators said, which claimed the property was his and his mother’s primary residence. The application was approved in June 2016, and as a result, Phelan fraudulently obtained $66,371 for reconstruction of the property.

The investigation found Phelan’s and his mother’s primary residences were actually held in Syosset and Maspeth, respectively.

And Rea allegedly filed a false application with BIB in connection with a larger scheme to take money from the estate of an elderly woman who died in 2011. According to the agency, as a result of DOI’s monitorship of BIB, investigators exposed Rea’s broader scheme to fraudulently as-

sume ownership of homes owned by the deceased. This scheme resulted in Rea fraudulently obtaining benefits from the decedent in excess of $1 million.

“The defendants are accused of using one of the worst natural disasters to ever strike New York in recent history to unjustly enrich themselves by applying for public funds to which they were not entitled,” said Queens DA Richard Brown.

“In one egregious example, a defendant allegedly stole the identity of a dead Queens woman – who wound up being buried in an unmarked grave on Hart’s Island when no next of kin could be found –to assume control of her properties in Queens and Florida, resulting in her illegally collecting tens of thousands of dollars in rent, raiding and clearing out the woman’s bank accounts, falsifying documents and collecting money from the Build It Back program and attempting to sell one of the properties for $800,000. I thank DOI Commissioner Peters and his staff for exposing the fraud associated with this worthy recovery program meant to assist needy New Yorkers, and the Office of the Queens County Public Administrator Lois M. Rosenblatt and her staff for their cooperation and assistance in the investigation.”

According to DOI, the investigations were initiated through audits conducted by the agency’s Integrity Monitors and from tips received from the City’s Housing Recovery Office.

“DOI’s investigations are ongoing and aimed at ensuring aid rightfully goes to families who are still trying to rebuild almost five years after the devastating storm,” Peters added.

Stringer Blasts GOP for Vote to Roll Back Rule Allowing Cities to Start Retirement Savings Accounts

By Michael V. Cusenza City Comptroller Scott Stringer recently ripped House of Representatives Republicans for voting to overturn the U.S. Department of Labor’s rule “Savings Arrangements Established by States for Non-Governmental Employees,” which allows cities like New York to establish retirement savings accounts for those without access to qualified retirement plans, like 401(k)s and IRAs. “What the Republican House did…undermines economic security for tens of millions of Americans,” Stringer said. “We have a serious retirement security crisis in this country, and the GOP is now actively exacerbating that crisis with this roll-back. We developed the NYC Nest Egg to help 1.5 million privatesector New York City workers save for their golden years, because retirement planning is commonsense. This vote is devoid of it. It’s File Photo a paper-thin attempt to turn back the clock The Comptroller’s Office released “The New York City Nest Egg: A Plan for Addressing Retirement Security in on progress. It’s wrong for New York, and it’s New York City” last year.

12 FEBRUARY 23, 2017 • Number 8 VOL. 16 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

wrong for America.”

Established earlier this year, the new Department of Labor regulation ensures that cities can create retirement savings programs without liability or burdensome requirements.

Mayor Bill de Blasio last February led a rally featuring Stringer and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and a coalition of business, labor, and other leaders to support NYC’s push to become the first City in the country to create a retirement savings program for private-sector employees.

“All New Yorkers should have access to resources that will help them better plan for their future and provide peace of mind,” said Mark-Viverito.

And last October, Stringer released “The NYC Nest Egg: A Plan for Addressing Retirement Security in New York City,” with the goal of ensuring that every resident would have access to a workplace retirement savings plan without creating liability for taxpayers.

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Legal Notices GAVIN JACK LLC Art. Of Org. Filed Sec. of State of NY 9/19/2016. Off. Loc.: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY to mail copy of process to The LLC, c/o Trop Spindler LLP, 19-02 Whitestone Expressway, Suite 103, Whitestone, NY 11357. Purpose: Any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Formation of Rich 108 LLC. Art. of Org. filed Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/29/2016. Office location: Queens County.

SSNY Designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: The LLC,114-42 Taipei Court, College Point, NY 11356. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of the 35TH DEVELOPMENT GROUP LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/3/17. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: 133-47 Sanford Ave., C1E, Flushing, NY 11355. Purpose: any lawful act.

Notice of Formation of 533 MAIN STREET LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/06/17. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 30-56 Whitestone Expwy., Whitestone, NY 11354. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of BLEU FITNESS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/09/17. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to THOMAS CHUNG, 20-12 COLLEGE POINT BLVD., COLLEGE POINT, NY, 11356. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice is hereby given that a license, serial number 1299914 for Restaurant Wine License has been applied for by SUNNY RESTAURANT, INC. to sell beer and/or wine at retail in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 25-25 PARSONS BLVD., FLUSHING, NY 11354, QUEENS County for on premises consumption.

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Notice of Formation: SIMPLY BETTER 236, LLC Arts of Org filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) 9/27/2016. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail process to the UNITED STATES CORPORATION AGENTS, INC. 7014 13TH AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NY 11228. Purpose: General

Notice of Formation of USA KING LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/06/17. 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, 172-39 HIGHLAND AVENUE 4H, JAMAICA ESTATES, NY, 11432. Purpose: any lawful activities.

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JECTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC Art. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/01/16. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process toTHE LLC, 19720 99TH ROAD, HOLLIS, NY 11423.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Ying Cheung Realty LLC, App for Auth filed with SSNY on 12/07/16, Cert of Frmn filed in NJ on 02/14/06. 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: 1319 New York Ave., Union City, NJ 07089. The off add required to be maintained in the jurisdiction of its frmn is: 1319 New York Ave., Union City, NJ 07089. The name and add of the Sec. of State in its jurisdiction of org where a copy of its art of org is filed is NJ Sec of State, PO Box 002, Trenton, NJ 08625. Purpose to engage in any lawful act.

HOWARD BEACH 96 STREET, LLC. Art. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/13/16. 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, 162-24 85th Street, Howard Beach, NY 11414.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation: 37 Ave East West LLC Arts of Org filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) 11/03/2016. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail process to the LLC, 47-36 161st ST Flushing, NY 11358.

Purpose: General WE SCRUB WE CLEAN CLEANING SERVICES, LLC Art. of Org. filed with the SSNY

on 8/11/16. 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, 89-00 170H STREET, UNIT 8D, JAMAICA, NY,11432.

Taveras Checo LLC, a domestic LLC, filed with the SSNY on 11/16/16. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Zoraida Taveras, 37-88 103rd St., Corona, NY 11368. General purpose.

The Eagle NY Properties LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/6/17. County: Queens. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to The LLC, 9523 Liverpool St., Jamaica, NY 11435. General Purpose.

Flosscare Worldwide LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/1/16. County: Queens. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to The LLC, 81-52 Little Neck Pkwy., Floral Park, NY 11004. General Purpose.

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45-15 25TH AVE LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/11/2017. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Marco Vicari, 45-11 25th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11103.

Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

14 FEBRUARY 23, 2017 • Number 8 VOL. 16 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

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Legal Notices Oummih 3853 LLC Arts of Org filed with NY Sec of State (SSNY) on 11/18/16. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 21-27 23rd Ave, Astoria, NY 11102. General Purposes.

Notice of Formation of Horizon 31J, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY

(SSNY) on 12/23/16. 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 The LLC, 193-38 Keno Avenue, Hollis, NY 11423. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Element Services LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/7/16.

County: Queens. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to The LLC, 37-57 85th St., Jackson Heights, NY 11372. General Purpose.

QI QI 2017 LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 1/3/17. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Zhi Keng Jiang 51-15 Junction Blvd 1F Elmhurst, NY 11373. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Tax Service A1 LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/22/15. County: Queens. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to The LLC, 10304 39th Ave., Fl. 2, Ste. 102, Corona, NY 11368. General Purpose.

Notice of Qual. of 4 INVESTORS GROUP LLC, Authority filed with the SSNY on 01/23/2017. Office loc: Queens County. LLC formed in NJ on 03/01/2015. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may Liquid Bread Rockaway Beach LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY be served. SSNY shall mail process to: (SSNY) on 12/5/16. Cty: Queens. SSNY Humberto Gonzalez 309 3rd St., Union desig. as agent upon whom process against City, NJ 07087. Address required to be may be served & shall mail process to 101-19 maintained in NJ: 309 3rd St., Union City, Rockaway Beach Blvd., Rockaway Beach, NY NJ 07087. Cert of Formation filed with 11694. General Purpose.

NJ Dept. of Treasury, Div. of Rev, Comm.

Recordings, 225 W. State St., PO Box 308, Notice of Formation of SV PENINSULA Trenton, NJ 08625. Purpose: Any Lawful LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY Purpose.

(SSNY) on 11/23/16. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 40-06 Warren Street, Elmhurst, NY 11373. Purpose: any lawful activity.

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THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 16 • Number 8 FEBRUARY 23, 2017 | 15

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