EIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH
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The 34-year-old victim was shot eight times on Monday night outside of a smoke shop on Jamaica Avenue. As of Wednesday afternoon, he was listed in critical condition at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
Nonprofit’s Work Supports Rockaway Beach Coastal Restoration Project
By Michael V. Cusenza
Allan Little, a Far Rockaway resident who is deaf, is sitting next to a beach dune, digging into the sand with his bare hands, under the warm sun. He is planting vegetation to help make Rockaway Be ach more resilient to coastal storm erosion and flooding.
It is a far cry from Little’s previous job at McDonald’s, where he worked for 20 years in midtown Manhattan before the pandemic. Little, 62, said his life has a bit more purpose now because he is making a difference in his own community; plus, it keeps him active, moving, a nd out in nature.
He is not alone. Alongside him are other adults and children of all ages. They are all taking part in a dune restoration program being carried out by the nonpr ofit Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity (RISE).
R ISE’s work is supporting a more extensive coastal restoration project that i s being carried out by its longtime partner, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District. The Army Corps is collaborating with RISE and other groups to make Rockaway Beach more resilient to coastal storm erosion and flooding that has increased due to more frequent and stronger coastal storms.
They are doing this using a combination of hard features with natural and n ature-based solutions, such as dune creation and planting.
Jeanne DuPont, founder and executive director of RISE said, “The work th at Allan and the rest of our Dune Squad is performing is not only helping Rockaway Beach, but it is also making a positive impact on them and giving them a sense of pride. Allan is so excited about what he has been doing that he has even shared it with other deaf people. It’s also even encouraged his team t o learn sign language.”
The peninsula has been vulnerable to coastal storms for years, which have caused tremendous erosion and sand loss of the beach, making the community vulnerable to flooding. To reduce the r isk of flooding, the Army Corps, since the 1970s, has been replenishing this lost sand by dredging sand from the ocean and pumping it onto the beach to increase the height and width of the beach berm.
The berm is the flat area of the beach between the dunes and the ocean where beachgoers typically sunbathe. An enlarged berm acts as a buffer, protecting the s tructures and infrastructure behind the beach from the storm surges and flood damages.
The area has been battered by many natural disasters, including the historic Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
Sandy’s intense winds created an unexpected storm surge that created
14-foot-high waves that pushed sand and water up into the community.
Ahmed Radwan, project manager, New York District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said, “The Rockaway Beach community was bombarded by the water surge from all directions—the Atlantic Ocean side and the Jamaica Bay side— causing extensive beach erosion and flooding.”
As a result, Rockaway Beach lost millions of cubic yards of sand, which the A rmy Corps has replaced.
With stronger coastal storms occurring more frequently, another Sandyl ike storm is likely to happen again, so
According to Michael Oseback, a former project manager, New York District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, “Nature-based features are sustainable and attenuate typical flooding. These features may also allow the opportunity to strengthen the surrounding ecological environment.”
T hese natural and nature-based features are being implemented on portions of the project where work is being pe rformed in two areas: along the south side of the peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and along the north side of the peninsula on Jamaica Bay.
On the Atlantic Coast side, a large,
the Army Corps has been working in collaboration with its partners to develop long-term solutions to help make R ockaway Beach more resilient.
These agencies and organizations include the State Department of Environmental Conservation, City Department of Parks and Recreation, City Department of Environmental Protection, City D epartment of Transportation, Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, National Park Service, and RISE.
The dune restoration work being performed by RISE is supporting the Army Corps’ efforts to incorporate natural and nature-based features on the R ockaway Beach Coastal Restoration Project.
The Army Corps has published the collaboratively written report, “International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Features for Flood Risk Management”, that is used industrywide.
reinforced dune is currently under construction.
It is actually not a natural or naturebased dune, but a seawall that looks like a seven-mile dune, which will be covered with beach grass, shrubs, and perennials.
To create this, a 30-foot steel sheet pile wall was inserted twenty feet into the ground and capped with several feet of concrete. In front of the structure, two layers of heavy armor stone were laid. On top of everything, millions of cubic yards of sand were placed, and the sand will be planted with native vegetation and trees.
T he root structure of these plants and trees will hold the sand in place and stabilize it on the dune and it reduce erosion.
Rockway Beach resident Daniel Falt said, “It’s a sand dune with a skeleton inside.” He is also a former project manager, New York District, U.S. Army Corps of E ngineers.
According to the International
Guidelines, beaches and dunes are valuable to flood risk reduction because they d issipate wave energy, can trap sediments, have the potential to grow with r ising sea levels, and provide habitat for diverse species.
Dunes are areas of the beach where sand is elevated several feet to act as a buffer between the waves, wind, stormwater levels and the infrastructure landward on the beach.
In addition, 19 groins were constructed along the Atlantic Coast. T hese are structures that extend out perpendicular from the shore into the water and interrupt water flow and limit the movement of sand, to reduce the frequency of beach erosion.
As work continues on the Atlantic Ocean side of the project, plans are s tarting to be worked out for the low-lying coastal area of Jamaica Bay. A variety of f lood reduction measures, including natural and nature-based features, are being considered.
RISE’s office is located in the middle of the peninsula, between the ocean and the bay, where, according to DuPont, flooding is a regular problem and not just during coastal storms.
“When it’s high tide in Jamaica Bay,” she said, “the water comes up from the storm drains all along the entire length of the peninsula and floods the streets, including in front of our building. Cars can’t even get through. It’s really bad.”
Nature-based solutions are being considered for this area including the use of rock sills. Sills of rock would be placed parallel to the shore of Jamaica Bay to dampen wave energy and reduce shore erosion.
Other flood risk reduction features are being considered including a variety of wall structures (stone revetments, flood walls, and bulkheads). Stone revetments are walls that protect against e rosion caused by wave action, storm surge, and currents. Flood walls keep tidal water from entering a community, and bulkheads or retaining walls help to stabilize a shoreline.
DuPont indicated that he is confident of a positive future because there h as already been great progress on the project.
“The buses, trains, and subways are packed with beachgoers and people coming to see the piping plovers and terns in our new bird sanctuary and nature preserve. Not only are the beaches p acked, but our waters are brimming with humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, sharks, and manta rays,” she said. “It’s really amazing that in New York City we have a shoreline like this. It’s beautiful. Really beautiful.”
JoAnne Castagna, Ed.D., is a public affairs specialist and writer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District.
Photo Courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
JoAnne Castagna, Ed.D., is a public affairs specialist and writer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District.
After Arrest, Esposito Faces Further Scrutiny
By Michael V. Cusenza
With his recent arrest still garnering fresh headline ink, Ozone Park Residents Block Association President Saverio “Sam” Esposito this week faced more troubling questions.
The outspoken former member of Community Board 9 was nabbed on Saturday, July 20, and charged with petit larceny. According to police and published reports, on July 14, around 4:30 p.m., Esposito allegedly swiped a license plate off an automobile parked on 101st Avenue. He was issued a Desk Appearance Ticket and ordered to return to court on Friday, Aug. 9.
Esposito has railed against what he has characterized as a pervasive problem in South Queens: abandoned vehicles and autos with illegal or counterfeit tags.
“Over 1200 abandoned/illegal/unregistered/ uninsured/improper plates of vehicles are identified as being parked on our Ozone Park Streets, taking up valuable parking that residents are losing. We will continue to have these plates removed, cars
towed, and streets cleaned, regardless of who tries to stop or set us up,” he wrote on Facebook in a July 22 post.
“We cannot have wannabe vigilantes on our streets, trying to take the law into their own hands,” City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (ROzone Park) said in a statement. “We live in a city and a society with laws, and those laws need to be followed by everyone. If something illegal is happening, you tell the police and they will deal with it, but you don't create your own crimes to have legally parked cars removed from the street because you don’t like them being there.”
However, Esposito is purportedly the subject of more grave accusations. In a lengthy post on the popular Facebook forum “Howard Beach Dads,” a man wrote that Esposito “manipulated me into hating my family and putting the community above them. I missed so much time with my Dad, all for what? Driving around with him harassing people and small businesses. He took us to Florida, where he want [sic] to watch me have sex with other little boys. (I have the texts to prove it.)”
Later in the message, the man said, “Just a month ago, I saw him with what looked like a 13-year-old boy. I really do fear for that kid, and that’s part of the reason I’m finally going public. The other reasons being that the investigations from the NYPD have been dragging on for over two and a half years, still open, no updates.
“So now that everyone knows more than you did before reading this ask yourself if you will continue supporting him and his ‘organizations.’,” he concluded.
Asked by The Forum for comment, no official would—citing an open investigation.
File Photo
Sam Esposito Photo
Man Suffers Multiple Gunshot Wounds in Richmond Hill
By Michael V. Cusenza
A man remained in critical condition on Wednesday in Jamaica Hospital Medical Center after being shot eight times Monday night in Richmond Hill.
According to police and published reports, the 34-year-old victim was with a friend inside Sky High Exotic smoke shop on Jamaica Avenue between Lefferts Boulevard and 120th Street at approximately 10:30 p.m. when an argument erupted and eventually spilled out in front of the establishment.
The assailant reached into a crossbody bag, pulled out a handgun and began un-
loading at the victim’s friend. In an effort to protect his female companion, the victim—whose name was not made public as of Wednesday afternoon—absorbed eight slugs. At least four bullets pelted his torso.
The shooter and another man fled the scene on foot. They were observed running westbound on Jamaica Avenue, then southbound on Lefferts Boulevard.
The suspects remain at large. Anyone with information is asked to call the City Police Department’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, (888) 57-PISTA (74782). All correspondences are confidential.
Photo Courtesy of Google
The victim was shot on Monday night Sky High Exotic smoke shop on Jamaica Avenue.
Photo Courtesy of Google
The gunman fled the scene on foot, last seen running southbound on Lefferts Boulevard.
Forum Photo by Michael V. Cusenza
The victim was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
Councilwoman, Cops and Community Leaders Discuss Cityline Public Safety Decline
By Forum Staff
City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (ROzone Park), City Police Department brass, representatives of the Mayor’s Office, and community leaders met on Tuesday in Cityline to discuss ways to improve quality of life in the neighborhood that lies on the border of Brooklyn and Ozone Park.
The conversation was a productive, Ariola said, with law enforcement officials promising to begin rolling out new measures aimed at enhancing public safety in the District 32 community.
“For far too long, this area has fallen through the cracks when it comes to proper law enforcement,” the councilwoman noted. “This meeting is just one step of many when it comes to bringing safety and security to the people of Cityline. By working with the Mayor’s Office, the NYPD, and various local leaders, I am confident that we can hammer out solutions and make the neighborhood a
better, safer place for residents to enjoy.”
“We are in an area between three precincts, and it gets to where sometimes we ourselves don’t even know who to call,” said Khairul Islam, secretary of the Cityline Ozone Park Business Association. “There’s lots of crimes happening here, and the community is concerned, so as community activists we are trying every single day to make our community safer.”
Daniel Hill, communications director for the Cityline Ozone Park Civilian Patrol, added, “There have been a lot of crime spikes here in the area. One of the problems is that it’s split up into three different precincts, so what we’re seeing is someone will commit a crime in Queens and then cross the border and go into Brooklyn. So what we’re asking for today is better communications with the precincts and maybe even some kind of deterrent here in the Liberty Avenue Plaza, because there’s not enough of a police presence around in the neighborhood.”
The Pharmacist’s Corner
Presented by Frank Pantina, R.Ph
STROKES ACT F.A.S.T AND SAVE LIVES
This week we’d like to talk with you about a subject that has the potential to save a loved ones life and at the very least minimize the devastating results of having a stroke.
Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the United States and the fourth most common cause of death. A stroke occurs when blood flow through an artery to the brain is cut off either by a blockage or because the artery ruptures and bleeds into the brain tissue. More than 85 percent of strokes are because of blockage by a blood clot or plaque (a fatty, waxy substance that accumulates on artery walls).
Getting treatment within the first three hours after stroke onset is critical for minimizing permanent damage. That is why it is so important to act F.A.S.T.
Signs of a stroke should prompt F.A.S.T action.
The American Stroke Association developed this easy-to-remember guide to help identify the signs of a stroke.
F – Face drooping. Is one side of the person’s face drooping or numb? When he or she smiles, is the smile uneven?
A – Arm weakness. Is the person experiencing weakness or numbness in one arm? Have the person raise both arms. Does one of the arms drift downward?
S – Speech difficulty. Is the person’s speech suddenly slurred or hard to under-
stand? Is he or she unable to speak? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Can he or she repeat it back?
T – Time to call 9-1-1. If any of these symptoms are present, dial 9-1-1 immediately. Check the time so you can report when the symptoms began.
Consider downloading this free mobile app and learn about the warning signs of stroke, expedite a 911 call, alert your three assigned contacts in case of an emergency and have the nearest stroke centers at your finger tips developed by the Stroke Awareness Foundation: https://www.strokeinfo.org
Many risk factors under our control, while others are not. Physical exercise, controlling high blood pressure, eliminating salt, sugar and foods high in fat as well as not smoking are all among the easiest methods to try and prevent strokes.
Risk factors that we have no control over include race, gender—women are far more likely to have strokes than men- and family history. All of these factors can contribute to the incidence of stroke.
It is extremely important that you are aware of every proactive precaution available. Time is of the essence when dealing with strokes so take advantage of the wealth of information available on dealing with potential stroke occurrences.
Preparedness saves lives.
Until Next Week…
Raising Funds for Fallen Cop’s Family
The official campaign to raise funds for a fallen 102nd Precinct cop’s family is close to its stated goal. In a little over a month, fundthe -
first.com has raised $69,475 of the $75,000 goal that was set to be donated to the loved ones of Police Officer Emilia Rennhack, 30, who was killed in June by a drunk driver. Rennhack, on her day off, was inside Hawaii Nail & Spa in Deer Park, L.I. when Steven Schwally, 64, allegedly drove his SUV at a high rate of speed off Grand Boulevard and into the front window of the establishment. Yan Xu, 41, and Meizi Zhang, 50, both of Flushing, and Jiancai Chen, 37, a Bayside resident, also perished in the crash.
Emilia was married to 102nd Precinct Det. Carl Rennhack.
To donate, visit https://fundthefirst.com/campaign/tragic-loss-of-police-officeremilia-rennhack-xb5fbi.
Photos Courtesy of fundthefirst.com
Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola Leaders toured Cityline on Tuesday.
Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola Cityline civic member Khairul Islam said activists “are trying every single day to make our community safer.”
Area Residents Learn Lifesaving Actions at South Ozone Park Naloxone Training Event
By Forum Staff
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) last Wednesday hosted the fourth in a series of Naloxone (Narcan) training events in partnership with Acacia Network, an organization affiliated with J-CAP.
Over 60 people attended the session, which was held at AKAL Care – Social Adult Day in South Ozone Park with support from the Lions Club of Richmond Hill – South Ozone Park. Participants learned how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and how to respond using Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan. Upon completion of the course, participants received a certificate and a Naloxone kit.
“It is crucial for all members of our community to learn how to administer Naloxone. In the event of an opioid overdose, being equipped with this knowledge and tool can mean the difference between life and death,” Addabbo said. “By empowering ourselves with this information and skill, we can actively contribute to saving lives and combating the devastating impact of opioid addiction in our society.”
The training was led by Acacia Network representatives: Luis Laboy, the senior administrator of residential programs, and Dr. David Collymore, the chief medical officer.
They were joined by Eduardo Santiago, a certified recovery peer advocate, who helped demonstrate how to administer Naloxone to someone in a lying down position, and Arturo Hernandez, an outreach coordinator.
Laboy said signs of an opioid overdose include when a person stops breathing and their lips and fingertips start to turn blue. The first step is to check for responsiveness by rubbing one’s knuckles up and down the sternum of the
victim. If there is no response 911 should be called immediately; inform them that there is an unresponsive person and to send help.
Laboy emphasized that it is important to call 911 immediately because Naloxone only works for 30 to 90 minutes. It is a nasal spray administered by spraying the substance into one of the victim’s nostrils while pushing down on the device’s red plunger. The person should be revived right away but if there
is no response after 60 seconds, a second dose should be administered.
Laboy said after the person gains consciousness they may want to leave or get high again, however he stressed the importance of having the person wait to get medical attention because of Naloxone’s temporary activation time.
In addition, if the person takes too many opioids again after their episode they can overdose again. Laboy advised that if someone is going to take opioids that they not be alone. They should have Naloxone on them or have a friend with them that carries Naloxone just in case of an accidental overdose.
In 2022, 3,026 New Yorkers died of a drug overdose, a 12-percent increase from 2021 (2,696 deaths), and the highest number since reporting began in 2000, according to a data brief by the City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Opioids include OxyContin, fentanyl, methadone, and Vicodin. Naloxone can also reverse overdoses from street drugs like heroin. Naloxone is an antidote for opioid overdoses, and it can temporarily reverse the effects of opioids by binding to the same receptors in the brain. The nasal spray form of naloxone is a convenient and easy-to-use method of administration.
City’s ‘Haphazard Management’ of Asylum SeekerServices Contract Cost Taxpayers Millions: Comptroller
By Michael V. Cusenza
The Adams administration’s “haphazard management” of an asylum seeker-services contract wasted millions of taxpayer dollars, according to the findings of an audit released Tuesday by City Comptroller Brad Lander.
In May 2023, the City gave an emergency $432 million no-bid contract to DocGo, Inc., a mobile medical services company that was hired to provide temporary housing and assistance for asylum seekers— “despite having zero experience with that,” Lander said.
Last September, Lander declined to approve the pact with DocGo, citing numerous concerns in a letter to City Department of Housing & Preservation Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr.
“The agency’s contract submission to our office fails to describe how the $432 million price tag was reached. There was little evidence to show that this company has the experience to provide the services it has been contracted for. Contradictory information was provided regarding their fi scal capacity and serious questions were raised about the integrity and responsibility of this vendor and their subcontractors,” Lander said. “After thorough review, we are returning the contract to HPD and encouraging them to reconsider whether this vendor is appropriate for the services
described.”
However, Mayor Eric Adams and administration moved forward with the DocGo deal. Lander launched an investigation.
“Reviewing invoices and records, our auditors found a wide range of fi scal mismanagement and shoddy oversight—with each misstep revealing just how deeply the administration failed to vet the company or oversee its work,” said Lander, a 2025 mayoral candidate.
Lander listed “some of the most concerning findings” of the audit:
• Nearly 80 percent of the $13.8 million paid to DocGo for expenses incurred in May and June 2023 (the first two months of the contract) were inadequately supported or not allowed.
• DocGo overpaid security subcontractors by $2 million. This includes $583,274 in profit for security guards that were not authorized when the costs were
incurred.
• DocGo flouted the rules to hire unauthorized subcontractors. DocGo only submitted 29 percent of its vendors for review as required, and HPD did not review and approve a single one.
• HPD failed to ensure DocGo staffed hotels with the number of caseworkers and social workers specified in the contract. This failure may have denied asylum seekers the services and casework they need to get work authorization, move out of shelter, and get on their feet, Lander said.
• DocGo skimmed $400,000 in overhead for almost 10,000 unused hotels rooms.
• 80 percent of the 189 hotel rooms auditors visited in New York City and upstate had at least one deficiency, and some posed serious health and safety hazards— from leaking roofs to mold and infestations.
“The fi scal mismanagement coupled with the hazardous conditions and lack of case management are a sign of both poor leadership—and cruelty. Thousands of asylum seekers traveled thousands of miles to seek safety and support and instead were met with inadequate services, confusion, and infestations,” Lander added. “These audit findings make me relieved that the Adams administration is finally winding down its dubious $432 million no-bid contract with DocGo.”
Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo
Luis Laboy demonstrates how to identify an unconscious person who may be experiencing a drug overdose.
Photo
Comptroller Lander said the Adams administration “failed to vet the company or oversee its work.”
Ozone Park Olympian Wins Gold Medal
By Forum Staff
By Thursday, Ozone Park resident Lauren Scruggs had already etched her name in the history books, becoming the first Black woman to win an Olympic fencing medal when she snatched the silver in the individual fencing event last Sunday at the Paris summer games.
But she wanted more.
Scruggs and Team USA bested Italy on Thursday to earn a first-ever team gold medal in fencing.
“Fencing has largely, historically been a non-Black sport,” Scruggs, 21, said. “So I hope to inspire young Black girls to get into fencing and to think that they can have a place in the sport. I just hope that more people who look like me, little girls like me, feel they have a place in the sport.”
According to the NCAA, the Harvard student’s journey to this historic achievement began at the age of 7, inspired by her brother Nolen’s love for “Star Wars” and their mother’s encouragement to stick with fencing after she had paid for the equipment. Her commitment to the sport grew as she excelled. She won the 2019 and 2022 Junior World Fencing Championships in foil and the 2023 NCAA title.
In Paris, Scruggs said she leaned into her college fencing experience to make fencing history.
“Just the intensity … NCAA fencing requires a lot of heart. I was able to tap into some of that today,” she said after winning the silver medal.
Scruggs also noted that she was grateful for her upbringing in The World’s Borough, which instilled in her the confidence and toughness required to succeed at the highest levels of competition. All
of it was needed as she successfully navigated the Olympic individual foil bracket.
“I feel like you have to be super confident, just how you go about life there,” Scruggs said. “So I think I kind of brought some of that with me today. For each match, I locked in with my headphones and listened to my music and got super pumped. I was yelling at myself before I got on guard every touch. So just bring the energy has just always been something integral to my life.”
Ranked 11th in the International Fencing Federation's world rankings, she began her journey to silver with a hardfought 15-13 victory against Singapore’s Amita Berthier in the round of 32. Her next bout was a familiar face-off against her Harvard teammate, Jessica Zi Jia Guo of Canada, a rematch of the 2024 NCAA women's foil final that Guo won. This time, Scruggs triumphed over Guo 1511.
“Everyone was like, if you’re going to do it, this would be the perfect time to do it,” Scruggs said. “I guess that’s kind of what happened. I think I picked the right time to really lock in.”
However, Scruggs would eventually drop the individual gold-medal match to her U.S. teammate, the world No. 1-ranked and defending gold medalist fencer Lee Kiefer. The outcome still made history. Scruggs is now just the second female fencer in Harvard's history to win an Olympic medal, following Emily Cross, who won a women's foil team event silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Reflecting on her silver medal win at the age of 21, Scruggs expressed her aspirations for the future.
“I just want to see how good I can be with fencing,” she said. “Obviously, I’ve made it pretty far with this event. But hopefully, we can shoot for the stars.”
Photo Courtesy of Scott Taetsch/NCAA Photos
Scruggs won an NCAA championship in 2023.
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Rockaway Beach Man Charged with Shooting at Cops
By Forum Staff
A Rockaway Beach man has been arraigned on several charges after he allegedly fired at two NYPD police officers who were pursuing him in Edgemere, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Thursday.
Joel Kelly, 60, was arraigned last Wednesday night on a criminal complaint charging him with attempted murder in the first degree, 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 and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
According to the charges, on July 27, at approximately 12:07 a.m., Kelly visited his sister’s apartment on Beach 40th Street in the Beach 41st Street Houses. Shortly thereafter, she told him to leave.
At approximately 12:23 a.m., Kelly was seen outside his sister’s apartment building holding what appeared to be a pistol. He turned around and fired one shot, contin-
ued to walk and turned around again and fired a second shot.
An NYPD sergeant and a police officer then responded to the area after a report was made of shots fired. Kelly was seen by the officers walking north on Beach 51st The officers pursued Kelly who turned around, raised his arm while holding a pistol and fired in the direction of the two officers. The officers were not hit.
Kelly then fled and threw a firearm to the ground, which caused the magazine to dislodge from the gun. A 9mm pistol, which was a ghost gun, was recovered from
the scene.
Two 9mm spent shell casings, one live round and three bullet fragments were also recovered in the hallway outside of Kelly’s sister’s apartment.
“Attempts on the lives of police officers, who put themselves in harm’s way to protect New Yorkers, have no place in our city,” Katz said. “We will remain steadfast in our efforts to take illegal firearms, especially ghost guns, out of our communities.”
If convicted of the top count, Kelly faces a potential maximum sentence of up to 40 years to life in prison.
Borough Resident Convicted of Acting as a Covert Chinese Agent
By Forum Staff
Shujun Wang, an academic and author who helped start a pro-democracy organization in Queens that opposes the current communist regime in China, was convicted on Tuesday by a federal jury in Brooklyn on all four counts of an indictment charging him with acting and conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the U.S. Attorney
General, criminal possession identification and making false statements to law enforcement, federal prosecutors announced.
The verdict followed a seven-day trial before Hon. Denny Chin, sitting by designation. Wang’s co-defendants in the espionage and transnational repression scheme, Feng He, Jie Ji, Ming Li and Keqing Lu are officials from China’s Ministry of State Security. They remain at large.
Wang, 75, is a naturalized U.S. citizen of Chinese descent and one of the founders of the pro-democracy Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang Memorial Foundation, an organization located in Flushing whose members are well-known pro-democracy dissidents who oppose the current government of the PRC. But instead of promoting democracy in the PRC, Wang, at the direction of PRC government officials, used his position within the Memorial Foundation and his status within the Chinese diaspora community to collect information about prominent activists, academics, and dissidents, and reported that information to the PRC government.
As proven at trial, since at least 2006, Wang operated under the direction and control of his co-defendants, four officials of China’s MSS, which is responsible for the PRC’s foreign intelligence collection. At the MSS’s direction, Wang gathered information on people and groups that the PRC considers subversive, such as Hong Kong democracy protestors, advocates for Taiwanese independence and Uyghur and Tibetan activists, both in the United States and abroad. Wang conducted faceto-face meetings with MSS officials while on trips to the PRC, and used WeChat to receive orders from his
co-defendants and to send and receive written messages and files.
Wang often memorialized the information he collected in email “diaries” to be accessed by the MSS. These “diaries” included details about Wang’s private conversations with prominent dissidents, as well as the activities of pro-democracy activists and human rights organizations. Law enforcement recovered from Wang’s residence diary entries that he wrote to He, Ji, Li, Lu and other MSS officials. Additionally, in connection with his work for the MSS, Wang possessed telephone numbers and contact information belonging to Chinese dissidents.
Wang made materially false statements to federal law enforcement, falsely denying that he had contacts with PRC officials or the MSS. Over the course of three separate interviews, between 2017 and 2021, Wang repeatedly denied or downplayed his contact with individuals from the Chinese intelligence agency. In 2019, Wang was interviewed by federal law enforcement agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport after he returned from China. Wang falsely stated that he had no contact with anyone from the Chinese government and that he had no Chinese government contact information.
Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said that Wang “was willing to betray those who respected and trusted him. When confronted with his shameful conduct, the defendant lied to law enforcement, but today’s verdict revealed the truth of his crimes and now he will face the consequences.”
When sentenced, Wang faces up to 25 years in prison.
Photo Courtesy of Google
Kelly was allegedly seen firing shots outside his sister’s apartment building in the Beach 41st Street Houses.
Photo Courtesy of Alameda County Sheriff
A 9mm ghost gun, similar to the one recovered at the Edgemere scene.
Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of NY Shujun Wang
Mayor Touts New Tools to Create Accessory Dwelling Units
By Michael V. Cusenza
Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced multiple new tools to help homeowners create accessory dwelling units.
ADUs are defined as any secondary independent unit on the same property as a primary home, including backyard cottages and basement apartments with separate entrances. The new tools include a onestop shop portal to remove bureaucratic red tape and new a $4 million grant funding to support an ADU pilot program.
According to the University of California-Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation, ADUs have many advantages.
“They are cheaper to build than a classic single-family home, allow for flexible living arrangements for families, and can serve as a source of financial stability to homeowners, including and especially seniors living on fixed incomes,” Rocio Sanchez-Moyano and Carol Galante wrote in a study published in August 2016. However, Sanchez-Moyano and Galante noted, “zoning, excessive fees, and other regulatory barriers often limit a homeowner’s ability to build an ADU.”
Monday’s announcement arrived as the Adams administration aims to address the housing crisis with the “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” proposal, which includes legalizing ADUs.
Adams said that the Plus One ADU pilot program provides up to $395,000 in funding to qualified homeowners through the City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and grant funding from New York State Homes and Community Renewal to build or convert an ADU on their property. Additionally, the program provides homeowners with financial and technical support, including predevelopment and construction
resources. First launched in 2023, in its first two months, the pilot heard from more than 2,800 homeowners with nearly 80 percent of applicants reporting they were interested in improving their family’s finances or housing a family member with an ADU. The additional funding will allow up to 35 homeowners to add or convert a secondary home, as permitted under current zoning and building codes. To allow even more homeowners to ben-
efit from an ADU, City of Yes for Housing Opportunity would permit one- or twofamily homes in the five boroughs to add an accessory dwelling unit of up to 800 square feet, while adhering to building code and other city and state regulations.
The administration also announced plans to create a “one-stop shop” of resources to help New Yorkers add an ADU to their properties, including step-by-step guides to help homeowners navigate the ADU process. This resource will include, for the first time in NYC’s history, a library of pre-approved designs, which will streamline permit approvals for safe accessory homes and lower costs for homeowners. New York’s pre-approved ADU design library will follow proven models in cities like Los Angeles and Eugene, Ore.
The Adams administration is in the middle of public review for City of Yes for Housing Opportunity. The Department of City Planning estimates that the City of Yes plan could produce as many as 108,850 new homes over the next 15 years. In addition to the City of Yes plan, DCP is advancing several projects that, if adopted, would deliver more than 50,000 units over the next 15 years in Long Island City and Jamaica, the Metro North station area in the Bronx, Central Brooklyn, and Midtown South in Manhattan, Adams noted.
Rain Barrel Giveaway this Weekend in Ozone Park
By Forum Staff
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (DWoodhaven) and the City Department of Environmental Protection are teaming up to host a rain barrel giveaway on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church, located at 101-41 91st St. in Ozone Park.
To register for the giveaway, participants must live within the 15th Senatorial District and call his office at (718) 738-1111 to have their name, address and phone number put on the list. There is a limit of one barrel per household.
At the event, registrants must show photo ID to confirm their name and address in order to claim their barrel. Distribution will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Any
leftover barrels will be given to the public on a first-come first-served basis from noon to 1 p.m.
The 55-gallon plastic rain barrels attach to a rain gutter to collect and store excess water during periods of rainfall. That rainwater can then later be used to complete tasks around the house and outdoors, rather than using fresh water. The water collected in the rain barrels is not for drinking.
“Rain barrels are very useful tools that have a positive impact on residents,” Addabbo said. “With a quick and easy setup, the rain barrels can collect rainwater which can then be used for a wide range of tasks such as watering gardens, washing cars, cleaning windows and other chores. Residents with rain barrels attached to their homes not only preserve their drinking water, but they can also save some money on their water bills.”
Photo Courtesy of Google
The rain barrel giveaway is this Saturday at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church in Ozone Park.
Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo
“Residents with rain barrels attached to their homes not only preserve their drinking water, but they can also save some money on their water bills,” Sen. Addabbo said.
Photo Courtesy of Housing Wiki/Maintenance script
LENA METELEV REAL ESTATE
GROUP LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/10/24. 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, 187-24 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, NY 11366. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
CLAUDIA JETTE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/12/24. 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 ZENBUSINESS INC., 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
JJC COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/12/24. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.
JETTY-JANE CONNOR, 8510 34TH AVE, APT 613, QUEENS, NY, 11372, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
4 BEAST TOYS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/24/24. 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 ZENBUSINESS INC., 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of TJB BASKETBALL LLC Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State: 7/11/2024. Office location: Queens County. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: TIM BUCKLEY, 212-16 38TH AVENUE, FLUSHING NY, 13361, USA.. Purpose: all lawful purposes.
NEW YORK FACILITY MAINTENANCE, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/18/24. 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 ZENBUSINESS INC., 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
QC PRODUCTIONS LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/18/2024. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: JOHN CARL MURACO, 15910 95TH ST.,HOWARD BEACH, NY, 11414. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
BRX 1 LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/19/2024. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 37-20 58th Street, Woodside, NY 11377. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
Legal Notices
FENIX DESIGN CONSULTANTS
LFG, LLC, filed articles of organization with the NY Secretary of State on MARCH 10,2024. Office: QUEENS COUNTY. SARA NGAN is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. NY Secretary of State shall mail copy of process to SARA NGAN at 5-11 47TH AVENUE, APT 4Y, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
L. VEGA REALTY LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/25/2024. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 1679 Linden St, Ridgewood, NY 11385. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
CARING PATHWAY SERVICES,
LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 8/5/24. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 150-38 Union Tpke., Flushing, NY 11367, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
SPK CAPITAL HOLDINGS, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/05/24. 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 ZENBUSINESS INC., 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
10-17 47TH AVENUE LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/29/24. 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, 6043 Maspeth Avenue, Maspeth, NY 11378. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
EILEEN O’CONNELL STUDIO
LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/27/24. 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 UNITED STATE CORPORATION AGENTS, 7014 13TH AVENUE, SUITE 202, BROOKLYN, NY, 11106, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
MELANYX SKIN LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/01/24. 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 ZENBUSINESS INC., 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
AMPLIFIED AUTOMATION LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/01/24. 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 BRIAN HUMPHRIES, 212 MESEROLE STREET, 3A, BROOKLYN, NY, 11206,USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of 8227 Tryon Place LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State: 7/8/2024. Office location: Queens County. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 82-27 Tryon Place, Jamaica, NY 11432, principal business address. Term: until 12/31/2070. Purpose: all lawful purposes.
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF NISAA ADVANCING MATERNAL HEALTH EQUITY LLC NISAA Advancing Maternal Health Equity LLC filed Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/02/2024. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to the LLC at 30-06 29th Street, 2F, Astoria, NY 111022501. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF QUEENS.
NYCTL 2021-A TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN, Plaintiffs -againstUNITED HOLINESS CHURCH OF GOD, INC., et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein on May 31, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, 8811 Sutphin Blvd., in Courtroom # 25, Jamaica, NY on August 30, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Queens, County of Queens, City and State of New York, known and designated as Block 11947 and Lot 283 on the Queens County Tax Assessment Map. Said premises known as 109-12 SUTPHIN BLVD, JAMAICA, NY 11435 Approximate amount of lien $15,848.40 plus interest & costs.Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 709077/2023.
MARTHA A. TAYLOR, ESQ., Referee Phillips Lytle LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiffs 28 East Main Street, Suite 1400, Rochester, NY 14614
OZONE PARK MOVE-IN-READY!
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HOWARD BEACH SPACIOUS
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THIS BEAUTIFUL RAISED RANCH HOME IS TOTALLY UPDATED, FEATURING 2-BEDROOMS, A BRAND NEW BATHROOM, HARDWOOD FLOORING THROUGHOUT, A NEW HEATING SYSTEM, AND ATTIC STORAGE WITH PULL-DOWN STAIRS! WALK TO "A" TRAIN + Q-11 BUS.
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