Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York State Department of Transportation and New York City Department of Transportation have released the Final Environmental Assessment for the Central Business District Tolling Program and a draft “Finding of No Significant Impact,” prepared by the Federal Highway Administration.
Friday’s release of the documents begins a 30-day period in which they are formally available for public review online. Those who prefer hard copies may view them at locations listed on the website. After the 30 days elapse, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will make its final decision, completing its review of the potential environmental effects of allowing the Central Business District Tolling Program. Following entry into a tolling agreement with the Federal Highway Administration, tolling could begin up to 310 days later, during which contractors would design, build, test and activate tolling equipment.
During that period, a six-member Traffic Mobility Review Board (TMRB) would develop recommended toll rates along with any potential discounts, crossing credits and/or exemptions. The recommendation would be presented to the MTA Board acting in its legal capacity as the board of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, the MTA agency that would collect the tolls. Following the filing and publication of a proposed tolling structure and a public comment period, the MTA would hold a public hearing before any tolling structure is adopted.
Together, the MTA and two departments of transportation are committing $207.5 million over five years for mitigation measures largely focused on environmental justice (EJ) communities and populations. This includes a $47.5 million set aside for a new low-income discount and $5 million for additional monitoring of traffic, air quality, and transit station elements.
As reflected in the Final Environmental Assessment, the mitigation measures would address potential adverse effects in environmental justice communities. New commitments in the Final Environmental Assessment include:
A low-income driver discount program would provide a 25-percent discount for low-income frequent drivers on the full CBD E-ZPass toll rate after the first 10 trips in each calendar month (excluding the overnight period)Taxis and for-hire-vehicles may not be tolled more than once a day
Regional mitigation measures
Provide a discount of at least 50 percent on the peak toll for trucks and other vehicles from at least 12 a.m. to 4 a.m.
Expand NYC DOT's Clean Trucks Program to accelerate the replacement of old diesel trucks to lower-emission vehicles
Expand NYC DOT's Off-Hours Delivery Program
Place-based mitigation measures
Retrofit refrigeration trailers (TRUs) at Hunts Point Market from dirty diesel to clean hybrid diesel
Expand electric truck charging infrastructure
Renovate parks and expand vegetative barriers along highways in EJ communities
Install air filtration units in schools near highways
Expand the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's asthma case management program in schools and establish a new asthma center in the Bronx
The TMRB may recommend policies related to discounts and exemptions that go beyond the commitments in the EA.
These commitments are an expansion from the commitments earlier outlined such as prioritizing the electrification of bus depots located in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan EJ communities, providing a tax credit for low-income CBD residents with adjusted gross income less than $60k and eliminating the $10 E-ZPass tag deposit fee.
Across the 28-county area studied in the environmental review, the assessment finds that of those who commute to work in Manhattan's Central Business District (CBD), only 11 percent drive and 85 percent use public transportation. By reducing congestion and creating revenue for public transportation, the program would benefit millions of people every day. Through the new package of mitigations, the program will also significantly invest in air quality in environmental justice communities.
Less traffic congestion. New York is among the most congested cities in the United States. Congested streets slow down
buses, delay delivery services, raise the cost of doing business, and degrade our quality of life. The Environmental Assessment estimates a roughly 15-20 percent reduction in the number of vehicles entering the Central Business District, or about 110,000 to 143,000 fewer vehicles daily, about as many as enter Manhattan on the Brooklyn Bridge today.
New York City buses serve a greater share of low-income and minority households compared to other modes of transportation, including subways. Local bus speeds have declined 28 percent in the Central Business District since 2010 and Select Bus Service in Manhattan is 19 percent slower than Select Bus Service in other boroughs. While ongoing MTA initiatives such as the bus network redesigns have shown improvement in speeds, congestion pricing would not only improve travel times for bus service, but also paratransit service.
A more equitable, accessible transit system. The program would generate net revenues sufficient to leverage $15 billion for the MTA's 2020-2024 Capital Program which includes transformational projects. The MTA’s transit system, and particularly the bus network, promotes equity by serving low-income and minority communities. The funding would allow the MTA to progress on its aggressive timeline of completing accessibility improvements, along with performing necessary state-of-good repair work to the more-than-a-century old transit system.
A healthier, more sustainable future. Congestion pricing would improve overall regional air quality with one of the most comprehensive plans the region has implemented to support a greener future. The environmental assessment found in all tolling scenarios an overall decrease in vehicle-miles traveled in the Central Business District and region overall, and that the program would encourage some commut-
ers to shift from their vehicles to transit.
Over the course of the environmental review process, the Project Partners held 19 early outreach sessions, of which nine were focused on environmental justice communities, 10 meetings with Environmental Justice Technical Advisory and Stakeholder Working Groups, and six public hearings after the release of the draft Environmental Assessment in August 2022. Nearly 950 speakers participated in early outreach sessions and public hearings, combined. Additional meetings were held separately for elected officials, community boards, transit and environmental advocates, and other interested parties.
The MTA and two departments of transportation received and responded to more than 22,000 individual comments and more than 55,000 form submissions. There were more than 25,000 views cumulatively of online videos of the public hearings.
The Environmental Assessment's Study Area
Incorporating and documenting all public input, the Final Environmental Assessment analyzes the impact of Central Business District Tolling on traffic congestion, transit, air quality and numerous other environmental indicators in 28 counties across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The Study Area contains 22 million people, including 12.3 million residents residing in environmental justice communities, and five Tribal Nations.
The Environmental Assessment assesses impacts to traffic and public transportation for a regional transportation network with 28.8 million journeys per average weekday, 61,000 highway linkage points, 4,600 traffic analysis zones, 44,267 bus stops or transit stations, 4,170 transit routes, and more than a dozen public transportation providers in addition to the MTA, including NJ TRANSIT, PATH, ferries, and regional bus systems including Westchester County Bee-Line, NICE, and Suffolk County Transit.
There’s plenty of opposition to the congestion pricing program. Last week at a rally outside City Hall, several City Council members let it be known that tolling is not the road to take.
“The MTA needs to reel in their spending before they pass on costs to ordinary New Yorkers. One recent NYU study, for example, found that the MTA spent nearly twice as much on consultants for the Second Ave Subway than it did on actually digging the tunnel itself,” Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) said. “And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This kind of reckless spending needs to be checked— a cash grab like congestion pricing will only continue to fuel their destructive, expensive, wasteful practices.”
By Forum Staff
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) recently announced that he has co-sponsored a bipartisan bill (S.3170A), known as “Kyra’s Law,” to protect children from parents or guardians who intend to harm them. This legislation mandates judges to consider past accusations of abuse or domestic violence to ensure that the child's safety is a priority when deciding on custody or visitation.
“Kyra’s law is the direct result of tireless advocacy by Kyra’s mother, Jacqueline Franchetti, and many supporters of her efforts,” said Sen. Addabbo after meeting with Jacqueline in his Albany office.
Kyra’s Law would mandate court officials to take part in new training for handling cases regarding domestic violence and child abuse. The goal of the legislation is to keep children away from potentially dangerous parents by requiring courts to consider the health and safety of the child before making any decisions related to visitation or custody.
Courts would need to consider past and present abuse committed by the parent against the child, violence committed by the parent to their partner or other children in the home, and if the child is actively fearful of the parent and their behavior. The bill would also require courts to hold an evidentiary hearing to enter findings of domestic violence, child abuse, or child sexual abuse before making any final determination.
The Kyra Franchetti Foundation was created by Jacqueline Franchetti in memory of her 2-year-old daughter Kyra, who was shot to death while sleeping by her biological father, who then set his house on fire and killed himself during an unsupervised, court-approved visit.
Kyra’s father had a history of emotional
and verbal abuse to Jacqueline during their relationship, so when she became pregnant, Jacqueline left him. After Kyra was born, he reappeared, seeking custody. Throughout two years of custody hearings, the court received numerous notifications that Kyra’s father was angry, violent, and suicidal, while he continued to harass, threaten, and stalk her. Jacqueline’s pleas for help and his dangerous behaviors were ignored as the forensic evaluator recommended joint custody.
Kyra’s Law also works to prevent courts from assuming that a child’s negative relationship with one parent has been caused by another and to discontinue the practice of restricting a child’s time spent with one parent in order to improve the relationship with another.
“As a father of two daughters, it’s heartbreaking to learn that the experts and authorities involved in this case failed to protect Kyra by choosing to ignore the pattern of abusive behavior presented to them, ultimately granting Kyra’s father unsupervised visitation that ended in a tragic, yet avoidable, loss of life. We need to pass this legislation and enact Kyra’s law to make sure no other child has the same fate as Kyra, and no other family has to deal with a similar tragedy,” Addabbo concluded.
The Kyra Franchetti Foundation works to raise awareness about the risk of family violence, especially to children, inside and outside New York’s divorce/family court system. They seek to change the way issues of violence and abuse are addressed in family courts so that child safety is put above all else. To learn more about the Kyra Franchetti Foundation, visit their website at https://kyrafranchetti.org.
If you or someone you know is in an abusive situation and a child is endangered, please call the NYS Domestic Violence 24Hour Hotline at 1-800-942-6906 or 711 for Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) scored a victory for members of the New York State Police, Fire Retirement System and the New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System by having her bill included in the State budget the other week. Members of those pension systems, like police officers, correction officers, firefighters, court officers and other uniformed officers were given the full ensurement that any condition of impairment of health caused by a disease of the heart, resulting in disability, shall be presumptive evidence that such disability was incurred in the performance and discharge of duty.
The legislation, A.5201, was needed due to the lack of clarity in the existing law, along with conflicting court rulings on heart disease disability. “This was an unacceptable problem and I was happy to partner with some amazing unions and members to get this over the finish line. It is intolerable to think that our first responders and uniformed officers, the heroes of our community, had to jump through hoops to get their disability pension. That is now over and any
uncertainty in the law is now abated,” Pheffer Amato said.
Police Conference of New York State (PCNY), the largest police organization in NY which serves as the umbrella organization for all law enforcement unions, thanked Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato for delivering for the men and
women within law enforcement.
“When Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato became the chairwoman of the Governmental Employees Committee it was clear that she would have a positive effect. She sought out to do right by police officers and their families across the
State; and she delivered The hard work police officers do is being recognized and the law now says if you have a heart problem, the State will take care of you, like you took care of its residents.,” said Michael O’Meara, 2nd Vice President of PCNY.
With the change in seasons come a host of bodily changes especially to the 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.
This year allergies are prolific, even in patients who have never experienced them before. And for those who have, the misery seems to have expanded exponentially
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.
By Forum Staff
The State Senate recently approved legislation to strengthen crime victims’ rights, protections for survivors and expand SNUG programs, Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) announced on Tuesday.
In addition to passing legislation, the Senate secured $13 million for state victim and witness assistance, $5 million in grants for assistance to survivors and victims of domestic violence, and $4.5 million for rape crisis centers in the 2023-2034 state budget.
“Fighting crime is a top priority in Albany, so these bills will help to improve protections, services, and compensation for victims, expand access to sealed records for prosecutors, and expand critical SNUG programs,” Addabbo said. “This legislative package is vital to ensuring victims have the necessary support to heal and recover from their trauma. By strengthening victims’ rights and holding offenders accountable for their actions, we can continue restoring public safety in our communities.”
The legislation passed by the Senate includes:
• S.936 (Addabbo co-sponsor) – Requires statewide housing authorities to grant domestic violence survivors the same preference as granted to other prioritized populations.
• S.303 - Expands the definition of “welfare” in order to enable victims of crime to receive reimbursement for personal property that was lost, damaged, or stolen. The reimbursement or replacement of property will assist the victim in regaining stability and maintaining a reasonable standard of living.
• S.3340 - Requires reporting of extreme risk protection orders to the statewide, computerized registry of orders of protection and certain arrest warrants.
• S.1901 - Enacts Emma's Law, which
provides for victim statements at the sentencing of a defendant for a misdemeanor.
• S.1951 - Removes the current 10-year period from the crime of persistent sexual abuse.
• S.3071 (Addabbo co-sponsor) - Allows prosecutors to access orders of protection issued in association with sealed prior domestic violence cases if the offender commits a new domestic violence offense.
• S.3236 - Adds to the definition of a victim of a sexual offense by including a victim of unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate image.
• S.5916 (Addabbo co-sponsor) – Provides clarification that claims filed against governmental entities under the Adult Survivors Act do not require filing a notice of claim or a notice of intention to file a claim.
• S.2364 (Addabbo co-sponsor) – Establishes an operation SNUG program to provide educational, youth justice, gang prevention, social work, street outreach, and more programs and services that aim to reduce, prevent, or respond to gun violence.
• S.214A - Expands eligibility for victims and survivors of crimes to access victim-compensation funds by removing the mandatory law-enforcement reporting requirement, providing alternative forms of evidence that show a qualifying crime was committed, and the confidentiality of certain records.
• S.5502 - Provides additional rights to crime victims and requires the court or district attorney, at sentencing or at the earliest time possible, to provide the victims of said crime with an informational sheet explaining their rights.
“I hope the Assembly will act swiftly to pass these important bills so they can be delivered to the Governor and signed into law. Constituents are counting on us to enact these measures to help address the rise in gun violence and return some stability to the lives of crime victims,” Addabbo added.
While many think 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 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
If you have asthma, you are 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 the staff here at Crossbay Chemist can offer advice on treatment, medication or allergy shots, to provide relief and prevent progression.
Until next week...
For your family’s prescription needs, please call CROSS BAY CHEMIST at 718-659-9500 or 718-880-1644
or
in Howard Beach: Mon-Fri
City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) partnered with the City Department of Sanitation and the Rockaway Beach Civic Association on Saturday to host a compost giveaway near the new Rockaway Beach Amphitheater at Beach 95th Street and Shore Front Parkway.
“The DSNY has rolled out a tremendous composting program right here in Queens, and events like this allow our communities to be the beneficiaries of that program,” said Ariola, pictured here with District 32 Constituent Liaison Robby Schwach (l. to r.), Rockaway Beach Civic Association President Bridget Klapinski, Ariola, DSNY Bureau of Community Affairs Director Joan Byrne-Daly, and Rockaway Beach Civic Association Treasurer Grace Miller. “Not only are we removing thousands of pounds of waste from our landfills, but we are helping New Yorkers to plant their gardens which help to beautify our city and provide healthy food to our residents.”
In total, the event saw 176 forty-pound bags of compost given out to nearly one hundred area residents, as well as to three community gardens and a local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. Photo
City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday announced up to $30 million toward a Request For Proposal (RFP) to create and sustain high-quality public spaces, like plazas and Open Streets, and support community partners in neighborhoods across the five boroughs.
The investment will support a new, expanded “Public Space Equity Program” to provide an innovative, wide-ranging set of tools and services in over 100 public spaces in under-resourced neighborhoods that do not otherwise have the means to support such locations. This represents a 233 percent increase from the original scope of 30 plazas receiving financial and maintenance resources through DOT’s public space equity efforts, first announced in 2015.
“Every neighborhood deserves safe, accessible, and vibrant plazas and Open Streets. This new funding recognizes the increased value of our streets as public space and this administration’s commitment to equity,” Rodriguez said.
DOT currently provides a range of resources to plazas and Open Streets through the DOT’s OneNYC Plaza Equity Program (OPEP) and Open Streets program. To achieve the goal of equitable public space throughout the City, DOT currently provides horticultural care, maintenance services, financial subsidies, and a host of technical assistance tools to public space partner organizations. Through a new RFP, DOT will be able to better meet the needs
of the diverse variety of public spaces the agency now creates in addition to plazas, like Open Streets, Street Seats, and Shared Streets.
The new Public Space Equity Program will provide additional resources to support all the new types of public spaces and partners in New York City. The program will provide operational and maintenance support for a broader set of gateways and street designs, horticulture care, workforce development options, enhanced accessibility, streamlined inspections and reporting, technical assistance, community engagement services, partner networking and organizational development, grant writing,
programming, and funding to support equitable, inclusive, community-driven public space. The program will focus on partners and locations in higher areas of need, with the agency continuing to work with local organizations that can directly support Open Streets where possible.
DOT will also convene several summits with all Open Street partners later this year to foster community and growth among participating organizations. The meetings will allow location partners to share experiences and discuss day-to-day operations with their peers and DOT. The summits will build on previous partner meetings both advocates and DOT helped organize
in recent years. The first summit will be held on May 25 to discuss how to run an inclusive public space, covering themes of both physical and digital accessibility.
The agency remains committed to both expanding the Open Streets program with new locations while delivering permanent upgrades to existing locations. DOT is also implementing new Open Street Parking Regulations this year at 19 sites to help ensure streets are clear for successful activations.
Open Streets with permanent upgrades completed or planned in 2023:
Berry Street, Brooklyn
Beverley Rd, Brooklyn
N 15 St, Brooklyn
Underhill Avenue, Brooklyn
Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn
W 9th Street, Brooklyn
Sharon Street, Brooklyn
W 22nd Street, Manhattan
Broadway, Manhattan
W 103rd St, Manhattan
Dyckman St, Manhattan
34th Avenue, Queens
31st Avenue, Queens
Open Streets with funded capital transformations in the planning process*:
34th Avenue, Queens
Woodside Avenue, Queens
Willis Avenue, the Bronx
Underhill Avenue, Brooklyn
Minthorne Street, Staten Island
Dyckman Street (Quisqueya Plaza), Manhattan
Broadway, Manhattan
*Projects represent more than $300 million in capital commitments
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Monday announced that crews will be performing track replacement on the M line for eight weekends beginning on Friday, May 19.
The MTA is replacing 1,665 feet of track between Fresh Pond Road and Forest Avenue which has reached the end of its useful life.
“Replacing tracks and switches will improve the customer experience and enable us to provide faster, cleaner and safer service for decades to come,” said NYC Transit President Richard Davey. “I want to thank customers for their patience while we complete this crucial work.”
For these eight consecutive weekends, M weekend service will be suspended, and a free shuttle bus will provide alternative service between Metropolitan Av and Myrtle Av. Customers can transfer to and from the bus and the J train at Myrtle Av (Broadway) and between the bus and the
L train at Myrtle/Wyckoff.
These service changes will be in effect between 9:45 p.m. Friday and 5:00 a.m. Monday on the following weekends:
May 19 – May 22
June 3 – June 5
June 9 – June 12
June 16 – June 19
June 23 – June 26
June 30 – July 4
July 7 – July 10
And between 9:45 p.m. Friday and 5:00 a.m. Tuesday through Memorial Day weekend:
May 26 – May 30
Customers are encouraged to sign up for the MTA Weekender, a weekly newsletter sent every Friday to inform customers of weekend service changes throughout the transit system.
For real-time service updates and information, customers can use the following options:
MYmta app – Customers who use the comprehensive MYmta smartphone app will see real-time travel information for all MTA services all in one place. mta.info– The “Service Status” box at new.mta.info is always the definitive source for the latest status for each line.
Live Subway Map – The Live Subway Map shows the real-time position of trains, planned service changes at any given time, highlights accessible stations, and much more.
WhatsApp – Customers can chat with NYC Transit via WhatsApp. Riders can receive customer service support in their native language through the help of Google Translate.
For those who prefer to contact the MTA by telephone, information is available by dialing 511. Connecticut customers should call 877-690-5114. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the MTA at 511.
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) and his fellow elected officials — Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (DWoodhaven), Assemblyman Steven Raga (D-Maspeth), Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), Councilwoman Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills), and Councilman Robert Holden (D-Maspeth) — celebrated the School Crossing Guards from the 102nd, 104th, 106th and 112th Police Precincts.
The School Crossing Guards were invited to the Woodhaven Manor on Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven for a lunch and each guard received a citation from each of the elected officials, recognizing them for the work they do every day in protecting their communities.
“What a great way to honor all of our local School Crossing Guards, who oftentimes may go unrecognized in their communities,” Addabbo said. “It was a privilege to partner with my colleagues in government to celebrate these amaz -
ing individuals who have been School Crossing Guards for years — some of them for over 30 years! I want thank Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, Assemblyman Steven Raga, Councilwoman Joann Ariola, Councilwoman Lynn Schulman, Councilman Robert Holden, and their representatives for their participation and providing each School Crossing Guard with citations, as well as the Woodhaven Manor and its amazing staff for hosting this fantastic event.”
swiftly lead to improved security of our country’s mail. New Yorkers and the American public deserve it.”
By Forum StaffAfter calling on the United States Postal Service to do more to address the rise in mail theft, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (DFlushing) announced on Tuesday that the agency has agreed to do so.
Over the past year, Meng has urged the Postal Service to combat the problem in Queens after she received many complaints from constituents who have been victims of mail theft. These include thieves stealing
and altering their checks for thousands of dollars and taking their personal information that has resulted in financial fraud. The Congresswoman sent letters to postal officials last July and December to demand action, and as a result, the agency will replace tens of thousands of keys used by letter carriers, install high security collection boxes and implement other important upgrades.
“The spike in mail theft has impacted too many people in our borough and across the country and it’s time for the Postal Service to crack down harder on
this despicable crime,” said Meng. “I thank the agency for listening to our pleas and implementing a plan to stop these robberies from occurring. I also thank postal officials for increasing efforts to combat the increased attacks against letter carriers. Everybody deserves to receive their mail and those who deliver it are entitled to be safe. I will be watching and monitoring these improvements rolled out by the Postal Service, and hope that they will
Several years ago, the Postal Service retrofitted blue collection boxes in Queens with mail slots after Meng, in 2018, urged the agency to address ‘mail fishing’ in the borough. The problem occurs when criminals place string connected to a sticky material into the collection boxes, and ‘fish’ out the envelopes. The narrower slots make it more difficult for thieves to steal the mail that is inside.
Meng also introduced legislation last month to strengthen the Postal Service’s ability to go after criminal organizations driving the theft of mail, and she is organizing a roundtable to shed light on local mail theft.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Paul Verite was indicted and arraigned on Monday on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and other crimes for allegedly repeatedly injuring his female Boston Terrier to the point the puppy could neither walk nor stand. A necropsy and review of medical records revealed that the puppy, named Espy, suffered excruciating pain before dying.
Verite, 50, of Clyde Street in Forest Hills, was arraigned in Queens Supreme Court on an indictment charging him with aggravated cruelty to animals and overdriving, torturing or injuring an animal. Justice Cimino ordered Verite to return to court
on June 14. If convicted, he faces up to two years in prison.
According to the charges, on multiple occasions between September 16, 2022 –when Espy was 10 weeks old — and November 1, 2022, Verite took the puppy to Austin Veterinary Care and Blue Pearl Animal Hospital. Each time, Espy required treatment for a variety of unexplained and suspicious injuries, which included a scleral/subconjunctival hemorrhage, torn toenail, suspected traumatic brain injury, head contusion, and bruising suspected to be from blunt force trauma.
During Espy’s final medical visit when she was 16 weeks old, a veterinarian at Austin Veterinary Care began treating the dog for a potential seizure and observed the dog
was failing to respond. Suspecting Espy was suffering from a traumatic head injury, the veterinarian referred Verite to Blue Pearl Animal Hospital for emergency care.
Espy arrived at Blue Pearl Animal Hospital in critical condition and was determined to be unable to stand or walk. Further examination revealed that Espy was suffering from bilateral flail chest, swelling and bruising on her abdomen and scleral hemorrhaging on both eyes and was in critical condition. It was further determined that there was no guarantee Espy’s condition would improve with surgery. Verite opted to euthanize Espy.
A necropsy was conducted by a forensic veterinarian who also reviewed prior medical records. It was determined that
Espy suffered multiple injuries, including multiple blunt force traumas to her ribs. Of Espy’s 26 ribs, 21 were fractured, with over half fractured in more than one place. Espy’s broken ribs presented in different stages of healing indicating that Espy had suffered multiple blunt force injuries prior to her death. These injuries caused Espy to experience excruciating pain before her death.
“The brutality inflicted upon Espy is as sickening as it is heart-wrenching. The defendant will be held to account for the pain and suffering he is alleged to have caused this defenseless creature over the course of her short and tortured life,” Katz said.
If convicted, Verite faces up to two years in prison.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Friday that Jeffrey Morel was arraigned on attempted murder and other charges in connection with a shooting in Far Rockaway that sent bullets flying into a nearby yeshiva and parked cars.
Morel, 31, of Brookhaven Avenue in Far Rockaway, was arraigned Thursday on charges of attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree,
criminal possession of a firearm and three counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree. Queens Criminal Court Judge Marty Lentz ordered Morel to return to court on May 15.
According to the charges:
• Video surveillance footage showed that on May 1, between approximately 6:54 a.m. and 7:05 a.m., a man entered an apartment building at 9-10 Dinsmore Ave., approached Morel and pointed what looked like a gun at him. Morel was then seen leaving the building and running into the intersection of Dinsmore Avenue and Beach 9th Street near the Talmud Torah Siach Yitzchok yeshiva.
• The second man was captured on video leaving the building and entering the intersection. Morel pointed a gun at him and fired multiple shots. The target can be seen pointing what appeared to be a gun at Morel.
• Two bullet holes were later found in a window at the school. A bullet hole was discovered in the front panel of a Toyota parked nearby and bullet holes were found in the windshield and driver’s side door of a Honda.
• Police found bullet fragments and one fired bullet inside the school as well as a bullet fragment on the ground in front of the window.
• Police recovered five .40 caliber shell casings from the ground where Morel was seen on video holding the gun. One .45-caliber shell casing and a bullet fragment were found on the ground where the second man was standing. One fired bullet was also found at the intersection.
“It is extremely fortunate that this brazen shooting did not lead to any injuries to students, teachers, innocent bystanders or the defendant’s intended target. We will not tolerate this type of lawlessness on our streets and the defendant will be held to account,” Katz said.
If convicted of the attempted murder charge, Morel faces up to 25 years in prison.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Nathaniel Johnson was extradited to Queens from Boston where he was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned Tuesday on murder and other charges in the stabbing death of a 37-year-old man – and assault on the victim’s sister – after Johnson’s wife got into a verbal dispute with them in Astoria in June 2020.
Johnson, 57, of Long Island City, was arraigned on charges of murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree, manslaughter in the first degree, assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder ordered the defendant to return to court on July 12.
According to the charges:
– On June 7, 2020, at approximately 6:30 a.m., Johnson’s wife, Tangerina Johnson, summoned him to a store near the intersection of 8th Street and Astoria Boulevard.
– Approximately 10 minutes before Johnson called her husband, she argued with Romeo Bartley, 37, and his sister Amalia Bartley, 34.
– When Nathaniel Johnson arrived,
Ms. Bartley was in a bodega withdrawing money from an ATM and her brother stood nearby outside. Video surveillance footage shows Johnson approach the bodega brandishing a knife as his wife, pointed out Mr. Bartley.
– Johnson rushed forward and stabbed Mr. Bartley in the chest then punched and kicked the victim after he fell to the ground. When his sister left the ATM, Nathaniel Johnson punched her multiple times in the face then stabbed her twice in the back.
– Both victims were taken to the hospital for treatment. Mr. Bartley later died due to his injuries, which included puncture wounds to the heart and lung. Ms. Bartley was able to identify the defendant from an array of photos.
Tangerina Johnson was previously convicted by a jury of murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon and sentenced to 18 years to life in prison.
“Ruthless. Coldblooded. Brutal. That
is the only way to describe what is seen on the video and what the defendant is alleged to have done to the young father of five children,” Katz said. “The defendant will now be held to account.”
If convicted, Johnson faces 50 years to life in prison.
week. Experience in a Physical Therapy Office setting required. Please send resume to: Nickandcarlqpt@aol.com
Original filed with Clerk 4/27/2023
Plaintiff Designates Queens County as the Place of Trial
The Basis of Venue is that the subject action is situated Queens County Premises:151-35 84th Street, Unit 3M,Howard Beach, NY 11414
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWABS INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-1, Plaintiff, -against-
MARYANN MORAN, if living, and if he/she be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or generally or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE BUILDERS APARTMENT CORPORATION CONDOMINIUM, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE HERITAGE SOUTH CONDOMINIUM; MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS TRUST COMPANY; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; and JOHN DOE AND JANE DOE #1 through #7, the last seven (7) names being fictitious and unknown to the Plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or parties, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the mortgaged premises described in the complaint,
Defendants. TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of
appearance, on the Plaintiff’s Attorney(s) within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); the United States of America may appear or answer within 60 day of service hereof; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. That this Supplemental Summons is being filed pursuant to an Order of the Court dated April 14, 2023.
TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Tracy A. Catapano-Fox, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Queens County, entered April 19, 2023 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Queens County Clerk’s Office.
THE OBJECT OF THE ACTION is to foreclose a mortgage recorded in the Office of the City Register of the City of New York on October 21, 2005 at Instrument #2005000589292, covering premises k/a 151-35 84th Street, Unit 3M, Howard Beach, NY 11414 a/k/a Block 11431, Lot 4312.
NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME
If you do not respond to this Summons and Complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.
YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWABS INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-1 AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: Uniondale, New York April 26, 2023 Respectfully submitted, Pincus Law Group, PLLC.
By: George J. Weissinger, Esq. Attorneys for Plaintiff
425 RXR Plaza Uniondale, NY 11556
516-699-8902 #100422
Notice of Formation of 1074 39th PROPERTIES LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/02/23. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: the Company, 35-01 Vernon Blvd. Astoria, NY 11106 Purpose: any lawful activities.
Notice of Formation of 3904 FORT HAMILTON PROPERTIES LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/02/23. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: the Company, 35-01 Vernon Blvd. Astoria, NY 11106 Purpose: any lawful activities.
Notice of Formation of 3908 FORT HAMILTON PROPERTIES LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/06/23. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: the Company, 35-01 Vernon Blvd. Astoria, NY 11106 Purpose: any lawful activities.
Notice of Formation of Corvidian CPA Services, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/22/23. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Northwest Registered Agent LLC, 418 Broadway, Ste N, Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: Practice the Profession of Public Accountancy.
Notice of Formation of GMF Holdings Group LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/13/23. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: the Company, 25-04 40th Ave., Long Island City, NY 11101. Purpose: any lawful activities.
Notice of Formation of KAS STUDIO SERVICES LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/02/23. 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, 5254 66TH STREET #1, MASPETH, NY, 11378, USA. Purpose: any lawful activities.
Notice of Formation of LIGHTWORKS LASER CLEANING LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/09/2023. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: LIGHTWORKS LASER CLEANING LLC, 54-40 ARNOLD AVE, MASPETH, NY, 11378, USA. Purpose: any lawful activities.
Notice of Formation of S.J.H. ENTERPRISES LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/28/2023. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: S.J.H. ENTERPRISES LLC, P.O BOX 200800, SOUTH OZONE PARK, NY, 11420, USA. Purpose: any lawful activities.
41-20 49TH STREET LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/17/23. 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, 41-20 49th Street, Apartment 2R, Sunnyside, NY 11104. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of Michelis ZC Investor LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/3/23. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 42-15 235th St, Douglaston, NY 11363. Purpose: any lawful activity.
MRFA Studio LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 4/3/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Registered Agent Solutions, Inc., 99 Washington Ave., Ste. 1008, Albany, NY 12260. General Purpose
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF NY Analytics LLC filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 2 April 2023. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 25-46 32nd Street, Apt B, Queens, NY 11102. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Rocky Bay LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 3/5/2020. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Steven Manesh Esq., 22317 Hempstead Ave., Queens Village, NY 11429. General Purpose
SO KLEAN AUTO DETAILING LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/11/23. 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, 4135 45th Street, Apartment 6C, Sunnyside, NY 11104. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
C. KLEIN, CPA, PLLC. Filed 3/7/23 Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 136-61 41st Ave. #319, Flushing, NY 11355 Purpose: Public Accountancy
C. S Han Acupuncture PLLC filed w/ SSNY on 4/25/23. Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 162-31 Depot Rd., 2nd Fl, Flushing, NY 11358. Purpose: Acupuncture.
Elite Piping Solutions LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 4/17/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 21-59 45th St., Astoria, NY 11105. General Purpose
Notice of Formation of Sons United, LLC. Articles of Org. filed with NY Sec. of State (SSNY) on 03/08/2022. SSNY is designated agent of LLC for service of process. SSNY shall mail process to: Sons United, LLC, 84-55 162nd Street, Jamaica, NY 11432. Office location: Queens County. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Sky Blue Malba LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 3/29/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 16 Point Crescent, Whitestone, NY 11357. General Purpose
YOLSA 7 VARIETIES LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 4/07/23. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to JACQUIE YOLETTE LAFOREST, 8820 85TH ST. 2ND FLOOR, WOODHAVEN, NY, 11421, USA. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of formation of Charles Warner Digital LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on March 07, 2018. Office located in Queens County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC. 98-25 Horace Harding Expressway #12G, Corona, NY 11368. Purpose: any lawful purpose.
FRESH ON TOP LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 4/14/23. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Karl Garcia 4317 220th St Queens NY 11361. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
HK KINGDOM LLC Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 1/10/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to HENRY FERRERAS, 13201 ROOSEVELT AVENUE, SUITE 818063, FLUSHING, NY, 11354, USA. General Purpose
Notice of formation of TASTEMAKER STUDIO LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 04/21/2023. 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: The Limited Liability Corporation 6933 218 th Street, Oakland Gardens, NY, 11364 USA.. Purpose: any lawful purpose.
ATCO MATT FOOTING LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 3/18/23. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to ANGEL CARDENAS, 3728 100TH STREET FL1, CORONA, NY, 11368USA. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
JONADOSH BOXING PROMOTION
LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/11/2023. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: JONATHAN OLUWASHEYI ODUSHOLA, 14838 236TH STREET, ROSEDALE, NY, 11422. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
Notice of Qualification of CTC Triangle (USA) EC LLC. Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/13/23. Office location: Queens County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/22/22. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 103 Foulk Rd., Ste. 202, Wilmington, DE 19803 Attn: Pamela Jasinski, also the address to be maintained in DE. Arts of Org. filed with the DE Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: any lawful activities.
MOST DANGEROUS GAMES LLC.
Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/30/23. 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, 4122 24TH ST APT 6E, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY, 11101, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
PRESTIGE HOME CONTRACTORS
LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/10/23. 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, 214-83 Jamaica Avenue, Queens Village, NY 11428. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
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