THE FORUM NEWSGROUP | DECEMBER 28, 2023

VOL. 21 • NUMBER 52 • DECEMBER 28, 2023

THANK BLUE Area Pol Lauds Cops for Decline in Crime

See Stories on Pages 2

Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) this week thanked “our brave men and women” of the NYPD “for keeping us safe.”

File Photo

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 21 • Number 52 • DECEMBER 28, 2023 | 1

Despite Robust Opposition, Council Votes to Pass Contentious Public Safety Bills

By Michael V. Cusenza The City Council recently voted to pass legislation that would ban solitary confinement in city jails, and approved a controversial bill that would require cops to document virtually every public encounter.

Introduction 549-A, sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, would ban solitary confinement in city jails. All people in city custody would have at least 14 hours of out-of-cell time in shared spaces.

The new disciplinary process established by this bill would allow separation from the general population only in instances where a person engages in a violent incident in custody. Solitary, even only for a few days, leads to significantly heightened risk of

there and dangerous to those who work there,” Fortune Society President and CEO JoAnn Page added in a statement. “Solitary confinement does not make anyone in the jail safer and instead causes immediate and lasting psychological harm that ultimately resulted in the deaths of some of our fellow New Yorkers, even years after release.

Subjecting anyone to the torture of solitary confinement is a practice that should have been banned long ago. In the name of Khalief Browder, Layleen Polanco, their loved ones, and the countless others who have suffered through solitary confinement, Fortune heralds this long overdue day. We urge the mayor to sign this bill into law.”

The Fortune Society has advocated on criminal justice issues for over five decades

“The result of these bills passing will lead to nothing short of anarchy in NYC,” Councilwoman Ariola said.

death by accident, suicide, violence, overdose, and other causes. Research shows that people placed in solitary confinement are over seven times more likely to selfharm and six times more likely to commit fatal self-harm. Solitary confinement has also been shown to induce acute anxiety, depression, psychosis, and other impairments which may seriously reduce one’s capacity to reintegrate upon release. In New York City, these disastrous effects are felt almost exclusively by Black and brown people, who make up over 90 percent of all people in city jails, Williams said, later designating solitary confinement “inhumane, and its presence in our city is indefensible.”

“The Fortune Society applauds the City Council for standing for the humanity of people in our city jails by passing Intro.

549 and outlawing solitary confinement.

For too long, and increasingly so over the past two years, Rikers has been a stain on our city—deadly to those who are held

and is nationally recognized for developing model programs that help people with criminal justice histories to be assets to their communities.

Introduction 586-A, also sponsored by Williams along with Councilwoman Alexa Aviles (D-Brooklyn), would require the City Police Department to publicly report on all police-civilian investigative stops. Currently, the NYPD is only required to issue reports on “Level 3” or “reasonable suspicion” stops, where an officer has the legal authority to search and detain someone. In 2001, the New York City Council enacted a local law requiring the NYPD to report data on its practice known as “Stop-Question-andFrisk,” which are Level 3 encounters. In the fall of 2006, the New York Civil Liberties Union learned that the NYPD had failed to follow the law and provide the City Council with stop-and-frisk reports. After the Department finally released the data under pressure in February 2007, it was revealed

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that stops had grown from about 97,000 in 2002 to more than 500,000 in 2006. The data gathered from these reports showed that Black and Latino individuals were subject to being stopped by the NYPD at disproportionately high rates, accounting for over 80 percent of all stops.

The way NYPD used stop-and-frisk was deemed unconstitutional by a federal court in 2013. Since the decision, the federal court-appointed monitor has repeatedly found the department to be underreporting stops and continuing to conduct unlawful stops. By requiring data reporting for “Level 1” and “Level 2” stops, this law would create a more consistent and uniform reporting standard to address underreporting and close data gaps through im-

Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola

proved transparency.

“Effectively producing public safety based on results, not hysteria, means getting critical information about whether and how policing reforms are being implemented on the ground in our communities,” Williams said. “New Yorkers have a right to know this information, and elected officials have an obligation to create policies based on it to ensure community safety and prevent injustices. Through simple reporting on NYPD stops, we can prevent the kinds of bias-based policing we’ve seen in the past, build trust in often over-policed areas, and continue the work that began a decade ago amid the height of stop, question, and frisk.

We should all be working together for better policing and safer streets, and we can only do that if we have transparency about how police and civilians interact in our streets.”

According to council leadership, Intro.

586 went through extensive negotiations with Mayor Eric Adams’ administration

and NYPD. The NYPD offered several changes of which nearly all were incorporated, including an additional reporting requirement.

“Accountability and transparency are essential to improving public safety, as they are a foundation of sound policing and building the community trust necessary to make our neighborhoods safer,” said Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, a proponent of the so-called “How Many Stops” bill. “Greater access to data on policing has contributed to New York City becoming safer for decades, and the improvements delivered by this bill can yield that same progress for New Yorkers now. Intro.

586 is not about capturing officers’ casual conversations and interactions to assist the public, despite rampant misinformation being spread about the bill. This legislation provides basic data and transparency on investigative stops that intrude in people’s daily lives, and creates a uniform standard of reporting to replace the current inconsistency that has contributed to severe underreporting and data gaps. These investigative stops, which disproportionately target Black and Latino New Yorkers, should no longer occur in the shadows without data to help improve public safety. The reporting required by the bill can be done simply with the smartphones issued to officers by the department, along with its advanced technology. Transparency cannot be feared in a democracy, particularly for policing, because it is fundamental to a democratic society. Our public policy discussions should reflect that value rather than be derailed by a misrepresentation of facts that seeks to incite and weaponize fear.”

The Council Common Sense Caucus led the vigorous opposition to Intros. 549 and 586, characterizing the two bills as significant threats to “the safety and security of New York City’s streets and jails.”

“The Public Advocate, tucked away on a secure army base, is out of touch with what our cops and correction officers face to keep us safe. These bills are a disaster that will diminish public safety on the streets and in our jails,” said Councilman Bob Holden (DMaspeth), co-chairman of the caucus.

“New York City’s law enforcement agencies are already woefully understaffed, and the legislation up for vote today will further strain the already scarce resources available to them,” Councilwoman Joann Ariola (ROzone Park) said last week. “These bills will only make this city a more dangerous place to live, and will prevent our police and corrections personnel from doing their jobs effectively.”

Ariola, a member of the Common Sense Caucus, later added on social media, “The legislation on the table right now would leave patrol officers swamped with paperwork, and would prevent corrections officers from enforcing long punitive action against violent inmates. The result of these bills passing will lead to nothing short of anarchy in NYC.”

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Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

Five of the serious crime categories tracked by the NYPD—including murders, reported rapes, and burglaries—declined in 2023, each down by 10 percent compared to 2022.

Crime is down — Thank op-ed: You Police Officers!

By Stacey Pheffer Amato This season speaks to a sense of unity, togetherness, and is the oppor tunity to express gratitude for what we have in our lives.

A s your A ssemblywoman, I am thankful for all of you and w ish you the absolute best in the coming year; but I am also thankful for the brave men and women who keep our communities safe. During a recent conversation w ith the 106th Precinct, which patrols our community of Ozone Park , Lindenwood, Howard Beach and Hamilton Beach, I was told some great news—crime is down! That is welcome news and cer tainly something all of us can be grateful for and celebrate.

Ever y month my office attends the Precinct Council Meetings. This is a great place to learn what’s going on, hear crime statistics, and impor tant safety tips right from the Commanding Officers, the Community Affairs Officers, and the Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs).

It also gives residents the chance to talk directly to the police. One thing that has been mentioned is that throughout New York City, five of the serious crime categories tracked by the NYPD declined, which includes murders, rapes and burglaries, each down by 10 percent. In addition, the City had a 5.6-percent drop in overall crime. In the 106th Precinct, grand larceny is down over 10 percent, and burglaries are down 4.7 percent year-to-date. Shootings are down over 62 percent year-to-date and robberies are down over 7 percent! That is great news and I truly thank our brave men and women in blue who are keeping us safe.

I’m sure all of you thank the police too!

A s your State elected official who r e p r e s e n t s y o u i n A l b a n y, I f o u g h t o f f any calls to def und or harm the police. This year I was responsible for a 24-percent increase in the budget for t h e Ne w Yo r k S t a t e Po l i c e . I a l s o w o r k e d in tandem w ith several different district attorneys and police officers on cont i n u i n g t o a m e n d t h e b a i l l aw s w h i c h included remov ing the ex isting standard that had required judges to make pretrial decisions based on the “ least r e s t r i c t i v e m e a n s .” A n a d d i t i o n a l s t e p I was proud to suppor t was to grant judges more discretion in setting bail, while also ex panding the categor y of c r i m e s t h a t j u d g e s c o u l d s e t b a i l f o r. To further help individual NYPD officers, my legislation to ensure that members of the NYPD would be able to borrow from their pension was enacted through t h e S t a t e b u d g e t i n e a r l y M ay. P r i o r t o this, I was shocked that cer tain members of the NYPD were prohibited from borrow ing from contributions made to t h e i r o w n p e n s i o n f u n d . Ne a r l y e v e r y other pension fund allows this - and I w a n t t h e N Y P D t o h av e e q u i t y a n d t h e options they deser ve.

A s we celebrate the holiday season, let’s give thanks to the NYPD, but also to all members of the FDNY, our EMTs, our amazing volunteer firefighters, and our men and women in uniform, all of whom help us in times of crisis. They are heroes.

They keep us safe, and when they need something , I roll up my sleeves and find a way to help.

Phef fer Amato is the assembly woman for the 23rd A ssembly Distr ict.

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THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 21 • Number 52 • DECEMBER 28, 2023 | 3

Ariola Updates Constituents on Latest Regarding Floyd Bennett Field Case but unfortunately the City is looking to drag this out and make it as long of a process as possible,” Ariola said.

“On Jan. 18, we now have a definitive date for in-person arguments when the judge will have to hear us. No more delays from the City—this has gone on for far too long, and I am looking forward to finally having our day in court next month.”

City and State leaders have identified Floyd Bennett Field as a location to place migrant families.

By Michael V. Cusenza City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) recently delivered an update regarding court proceedings in the case brought by Ariola and Assemblywoman Jaime Williams (D-Brooklyn), along with several other elected officials and community leaders, which has petitioned the Court to disallow the use of federal park land at Floyd Bennett Field in the Gateway National Recreation Area to house a camp for migrants.

The first day of courtroom hearings regarding the case was a produc-

Attorney and 10th State Senate District candidate Michael O’Reilly noted, “The schedule set forth by the Court is absolutely normal, and the defendant’s motion to dismiss is completely expected… The judge has now granted us an opportunity to respond to the defendant’s baseless attempt to prematurely dismiss our case. We will have our day in court.”

File Photo

tive one, according to Ariola, as lawyers from both sides met and laid out the timelines going for ward. During the Dec. 20 hearing , City and State lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the case. The plaintiffs now have until Jan. 4 to respond to these latest attempts at dismissal; and in-person arguments will move for ward on Jan. 18. An attempt by the City and State to push the hearing back further into Februar y was also defeated on the floor by plaintiff attorney John Ciampoli.

File Photo “I know a lot of people were hoping “No more delays from the City—this has gone on for far too long, and I am looking forward to finally having our to have a resolution to this issue today,

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day in court next month,” Councilwoman Ariola said.

Flood Victims Can Apply for Disaster Loans

Photo Courtesy of NYC Emergency Management

For more information and to apply, visit the SBA Disaster Loan Portal at https://lending.sba.gov/.

By Forum Staff Eligible residents and businesses in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island affected by the significant flash flooding event on Sept. 29, 2023, may now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The filing deadline to submit applications is Feb. 2, 2024 for physical damage, and Sept. 4, 2024 for economic injury.

For more information and to apply, visit the SBA Disaster Loan Portal at https:// lending.sba.gov/.

What types of disaster loans are available?

Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment.

Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.

Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.

Assessing and repairing future flood damage: • When surveying flood damage in a building look out for mold, any newly formed cracks along the wall, and signs of foundation damage including bulging walls.

• Heavy flooding can have a significant effect on the structural stability of outdoor structures such as decks, porches and retaining walls. Take extra precaution near these outdoor structures, due to the potential for collapse.

• Flooding can also cause the soil around buildings to shift. Be cautious of sink holes forming on your property, especially

near septic systems. Avoid areas around large trees if the surrounding soil is soft.

• Owners who want to reoccupy residences damaged by flooding should first hire a New York State-licensed Registered Architect or Professional Engineer to assess the building's safety. If the building is not safe to occupy, the owners should seek alternative housing arrangements while repairs are made. Owners should take pictures of all damage and flood impacts and keep receipts for all repairs if they intend to apply for disaster assistance or to make an insurance claim.

• Extensive repair work in a building may require the services of a registered contractor as well as NYC Department of Buildings-issued work permits. Electrical wiring repairs will require the services of a licensed electrician. Gas plumbing system repairs will require the services of a licensed plumber. Check the license status of these construction professionals here: nyc.gov/site/buildings/property-or-business-owner/know-your-construction-professional.page • Before starting any major repairs at your building, contact a construction professional or the Department of Buildings.

• To make repairs, owners need to work with an engineer or architect who has the necessary City-authorized permits.

The City advises residents to obtain two or three quotes from different contractors before beginning the work, which can vary widely in price depending on various field conditions. If an owner needs assistance with applications for permits, they should contact 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115).

• Licensed Master Plumbers performing emergency work to address a hazardous situation, restore essential services, and maintain sanitary conditions, have the ability to file an Emergency Work Notifications with the department online at nyc. gov/site/buildings/industry/laa-emergency-notice.page, which allows them to start repairs immediately with no wait time from the Department of Buildings. The plumber can then submit the paperwork for any required permits with the department after the job is already completed.

The Pharmacist’s Corner

Presented by Frank Pantina, R.Ph

URINARY INCONTINENCE: YOUR PHARMACIST CAN HELP Urinary incontinence (UI), the involuntary leakage of urine, is a difficult condition for many patients to face and discuss. An estimated 10 to 30% of men and women are affected nationally. The numbers are believed to be even higher however, because of the unwillingness in many patients to acknowledge or address the situation.

Patients who suffer with UI symptoms can develop poor self-rated health, depression, and mobility disability. And in addition to the varied psychological burdens on patients with UI, there are also significant financial taxation on these patients. UI can be transient and reversible, or it can be established and chronic. There are four main types of UI–stress, urge, overflow, and functional incontinence.

Incontinence differs and is categorized according to individual types based on the symptoms. Stress incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine on effort or physical exertion or on sneezing or cough.”

Urge incontinence is the “complaint of involuntary leakage accompanied by or immediately preceded by urgency.”

Overflow incontinence is related to an obstructed urine flow and/or bladder underactivity where an individual has a full bladder but is unable to completely void at time of urination, which later leads to leakage. Functional incontinence, unlike the other forms of incontinence, occurs when an individual has issues getting to the rest room due to an external factor (i.e. dementia, immobility, etc.), but is not associated with urinary tract dysfunction.

While these conditions are most found in the senior population, other patients who are much younger may be affected due to neurological diseases like prior stroke, high body mass index (BMI), recurring

urinary tract infections (UTIs), and positive metabolic screening, which factors in triglycerides. What causes UUI/OAB is unknown, however in patients with this condition, control is not well regulated.

The main muscle of the bladder, contracts involuntarily even if the bladder is not full, resulting in the urge to urinate. Your pharmacist can really offer you help in the management of OAB/UUI. We have the ability to explain and discuss nonpharmacological interventions and pharmacological therapy. The first-line of therapy is always behavioral intervention, and on that front, pharmacists can provide education and abundant resources for patients to use. Kegel exercises, done daily, can improve symptoms of urinary incontinence within weeks to a few months by building strength in pelvic muscles. Counseling can be provided to explain these exercises and how to do them. Pharmacists can also provide a medication review and identify medications that could cause or exacerbate urinary incontinence. If pharmacotherapy is warranted, pharmacists can assist in product selection based on age, adverse drug events profile, dosage form, dosage adjustments, and cost, as well as assess lifestyle and pharmacotherapy adherence on follow-up visits. Pharmacists can provide a vital role in recommending therapy and providing direct care in patients diagnosed with OAB or UUI. There are a host of products available at your local pharmacy, including pads, washes, cream and other preparations. We will help you create a changing schedule to prevent skin breakdown. Discreet help is always available, so please don’t hesitate to ask.

Until next time

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Dangerous ‘Dirty Diaper’ Discovered at Airport Transportation Security Administration officers at LaGuardia Airport last week removed a diaper from a man’s carry-on bag when it triggered an alarm in the security checkpoint X-ray unit.

TSA officers discovered 17 bullets that had been artfully concealed inside the otherwise clean, yet bizarrely employed infant undergarment.

The passenger, a resident of Arkansas, first told officials that he did not know how the bullet-filled diaper came to be in his bag. He later posited that his girlfriend must have put it in his bag.

TSA officers notified the Port Authority Police, who cited the traveler with unlawful possession of the 9mm ammunition.

Photo Courtesy of TSA

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Post-Pandemic NYC: Report Finds City is Getting Older, Wealthier as Cost of Living Rises

Courtesy of the State Comptroller’s Office

By Forum Staff Population shifts during and after the COVID-19 pandemic are changing the face of New York City and highlight significant policy implications moving forward, according to a recently released report by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

In the decade before the pandemic, the city’s population grew 7.7 percent, outpacing the nation’s 7.4 percent growth, even as many continued to leave. The 629,057 new New Yorkers in that decade was greater

than Miami’s total population of 442,241 in 2020. Brooklyn and Queens led the way with 9.2 percent and 7.8 percent growth, respectively, with the population in all five boroughs increasing overall more than it did in the previous decade.

Virtually all of the population growth (99 percent) was natural increase — more births than deaths — and it was slowing year by year as 2020 approached. Despite the overall net population increase, people were also leaving the city, largely for other parts of New York and New Jersey. Looking

just at domestic migration within the country, including to elsewhere in New York, one million more people left the city than moved to it, which mostly offset any gains from international migration to the city.

When the pandemic hit, it wiped out nearly three-quarters of the decade’s population gains. The city’s population shrank by 5.3 percent from 2020 to 2022. The number of people leaving the city for other parts of the state or the country spiked in 2021, with a net loss of 313,358 people.

More than 1-in-3 New Yorkers is foreign born. These immigrants comprise the majority of the population in Flushing, Jackson Heights and other city neighborhoods. From 2017 through 2021, international migration into the city fell sharply due to restrictive federal policies and pandemic travel restrictions, just as it did nationally. In 2022, however, as the pandemic subsided, net international migration to the city was more than double the previous year with 54,307 new New Yorkers, the most since 2016.

In the wake of the pandemic, the city’s populace is overall older and wealthier, with a rebounding population of international migrants and declining shares of White and Black New Yorkers.

From 2019 to 2021, the percentage of households in the city earning over $100,000 fell for the first time in more than a decade to 35.2 percent. That statistic rebounded to a record high of 39 percent in 2022, however, as the pandemic waned. In addition, the median wage of those who moved into the city that year was $51,000, which was 13.3 percent more than in 2021.

The cost of living also rose as the pandemic subsided, making the city increasingly more expensive for lower income New Yorkers, who left in greater numbers in 2022. The median wage of those who left the city in 2022 was $49,000, which was 18 percent less than those who left in 2021.

Among those who left the city in 2022, 64 percent were non-White, which was higher than the 58 percent in 2021 and the 62 percent in 2019 and 2018. From April 2020 to June 2022, the population of all major racial and ethnic groups declined after a decade of increases, but did so at varying rates. White and Black populations in the city fell 6.7 percent and 6 percent respectively — greater than the overall population decline — while the declines in Hispanic (5 percent) and Asian (2.5 percent) New Yorkers were smaller.

Mayor Touts Accelerated Removal of Sidewalk Construction Sheds and Scaffolding

By Forum Staff

Earlier this year, DOB released technical guidance to help the industry understand revised rules and processes.

DOB also issued a Request for Proposal to design firms looking for less obtrusive pedestrian protection, and is currently reviewing proposals received. Additionally, new rules went into effect allowing for art on sidewalk sheds and other temporary construction equipment.

The Adams administration is currently working with the City Council on legislation to allow for a wider variety of colors,

improve oversight over shed construction and maintenance, and enhance enforcement strategies. In the coming months, the City plans to file more criminal court cases against property owners who have failed to make repairs to their buildings and kept sidewalk sheds in place for years.

In the 20th century, 409 Edgecombe Ave. was an important site for Black political organizing, serving as a home to the NAACP and its executive secretaries, Walter White and Roy Wilkins, as well as W.E.B. DuBois and Thurgood Marshall.

Mayor Eric Adams and City Department of Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo on Friday took down the Big Apple’s longest-standing sidewalk shed at 409 Edgecombe Ave. in Manhattan—a City landmark—which had been up for 21 years.

The safe removal of the shed comes after the City filed a criminal court case against the building’s property managers for their repeated failure to repair the building. Through the “Get Sheds Down” plan, Adams noted that his administration has expedited the removal of sidewalk construction sheds and scaffolding while reimagining the future of pedestrian protection in Gotham.

Since Adams launched the “Get Sheds Down” plan in July 2023, there are over 500 fewer actively permitted sidewalk sheds in the city—sheds that had covered nearly 11 miles of NYC sidewalks. Additionally, since the plan was announced, the city has removed 75 long-standing sheds (sheds that have been up for over five years) from the streets.

For decades, the rules governing construction sheds have incentivized property owners to leave them up for long periods of time instead of completing the critical façade work that Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office is often the reason that the shed is re- Last week, workers took down the Big Apple’s longest-standing sidewalk shed at 409 Edgecombe Ave. in Manhattan, which had been up for over two decades. quired.

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The shed was first erected in 2002 because of a local law requiring regular façade inspections for buildings over six stories. An engineer hired at the time by the owners found unsafe conditions around the brick and terra-cotta stone façade. For approximately 20 years, the property owner failed to make repairs, instead allowing the sidewalk shed to remain in place without work on the building progressing. In 2019, the City filed criminal charges against the building’s management company to compel them to move forward with the longdelayed repairs. The repair work began in earnest after charges were filed and were recently completed.

“Today marks an historic victory in Mayor Adams’ ‘Get Sheds Down’ campaign, a transformative initiative to beautify our streets,” Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) said. “After 21 years, the sidewalk shed at 409 Edgecombe Ave. is finally coming down, allowing us to admire the classic Neo-Georgian style of this stunning pre-war building. So far, we have removed 500 sheds totaling 11 miles in length through the proactive campaign to expedite removals under ‘Get Sheds Down.’ This translates to more sunlight and increased foot traffic to streetlevel businesses. It also means fewer spots for bad apples to congregate. ‘Get Sheds Down’ is reclaiming our streets from the nearly 10,000 sidewalk sheds hiding the charm of our city.”

Meng Secures $551K for Nonprofit to Help Alleviate Social Isolation among Older Adults in Queens

Photo Courtesy of DOROT

DOROT has a long track record of building partnerships and bringing its intergenerational programs to new communities from the West Side of Manhattan to the East Side, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Westchester, New Jersey and now The World’s Borough.

By Forum Staff On Thursday, DOROT, the nonprofit dedicated to combating social isolation and loneliness among older adults, announced unprecedented programming funds secured

by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) to boost intergenerational and peer activities by bringing an array of in-person and virtual workshops, discussion groups, and cultural opportunities, including programs in Mandarin, Russian and Spanish to residents of the 6th Congressional District in Queens.

“When I learned about DOROT, I knew I wanted to find a way to bring its innovative program model to my district,” Meng said. “I am thrilled that our older adults will be able to take advantage of the social community that DOROT builds through its in-person and online programs, and that everyone

from teens to people 60-plus will enrich their lives through meaningful volunteer work and vibrant social community.”

As part of the grant, DOROT has hired two multilingual community outreach employees to connect with older adults and volunteers in Meng’s district. The outreach staff and DOROT project leaders have already created partnerships with community centers, public high schools, and local nonprofits in the district that work with older adults. Programs have begun with Commonpoint Queens and several organizations serving the Chinese American community.

“The U.S. Surgeon General recently issued a first-ever report describing the epidemic of loneliness in this country,” said Mark Meridy, executive director of DOROT. “The problem is particularly difficult for

Photo Courtesy of DOROT

Congresswoman Meng and DOROT Executive Director Meridy celebrate the boost in funding.

older adults who often have fewer opportunities to connect with community and build social connections. That’s why this initiative is such an opportunity for DOROT, because it will allow us to bring our unique program model to Queens, offering engaging activities that connect older adults to each other and to people of all ages. We are immensely grateful to Congresswoman Meng for championing the needs of older adults in her community and on Capitol Hill.”

DOROT, which is the Hebrew word for “generations,” grew dramatically during the pandemic and now serves 5,835 older adults, a 65-percent increase compared to pre-pandemic levels. In the last fiscal year ( July 2022 – June 2023), the agency grew an additional 3 percent over Fiscal Year 2022. This was made possible by the efforts of 6,962 volunteers (9 percent more than in FY 2022) who dedicated 47,459 hours of service.

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With NYC Still Mired in Migrant Crisis, Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Trumpets ‘Key 2023 Wins’

By Michael V. Cusenza Despite a migrant crisis that shows no signs of slowing down, and no indication from Washington that desperately needed federal aid to help the Big Apple address the crushing issue is on the way, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Manuel Castro on Thursday released a list of “key wins” for immigrant New Yorkers. A comprehensive list of accomplishments and services delivered for the immigrant community will be released in MOIA’s 2023 Report on the City’s Immigrant Population and Office Initiatives, Castro also noted Thursday.

Report highlights include: Releasing Informational Videos to Assist Asylum Seekers Navigate the Federal Immigration Process: In response to more than 150,000 migrants arriving to New York City, MOIA created informational videos to assist asylum seekers when navigating the federal immigration process. The instructional videos covered topics such as: “ice checkins, immigration documents, and going to court.”

Creating the Asylum Seeker Legal Assistance Network: In the absence of a national strategy to support asylum seekers with their legal needs as they enter the country, MOIA launched the Asylum Seeker Legal Assistance Network (ASLAN), a $5 million investment to expand non-profit organizations’ capacity to provide immigration legal

Photo Courtesy of Caroline Rubinstein-Willis/Mayoral Photography Office

Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro

assistance for newly arrived asylum seekers.

Through this network the contracted partners provided a combination of orientation sessions, legal screenings, application assistance, pro se assistance clinics, self-help materials, and other services.

Funding the Asylum Seeker Resource Satellite Sites: To continue to support asylum seekers with in-person social service, MOIA extended funding to the asylum seeker resources satellite sites. The satellite sites are in all five boroughs and provided services including job readiness training, comprehensive case management, and im-

migrant rights workshops in multiple languages.

Funding the Haitian Response Initiative: To continue to support Haitian community members, MOIA extended $1.3 million in funding to the Haitian Response Initiative.

The Haitian Response Initiative consists of seven Haitian-led nonprofit organizations rooted in the Haitian community that provide community members with social and support services, and a Citywide immigration legal service provider that provides legal assistance to community members and capacity building trainings to CBOs.

Hosting a National Convening to Discuss the Asylum Seeker Response: MOIA hosted a national convening of over 23 cities to discuss how to advocate for additional federal support for the asylum seeker humanitarian crisis. Advocacy points included providing cities with more financial resources, expediting work authorizations for additional recent arrivals, and enacting a national decompression and resettlement strategy.

Unveiling Immigrant Heritage Plaza: Originally known as “Public Place” within Bowling Green Park, MOIA renamed the historic space “Immigrant Heritage Plaza.”

The plaza was renamed to honor all immigrants who built New York City, beginning with the first historically recorded immigrant who arrived, Juan Rodriguez. In addition to the receiving a commemorative plaque, the space will be used for immigrant related events.

Releasing an Immigrant Resource Road Map in Over 50 Languages: To ensure immigrant New Yorkers have information on city resources, MOIA released an immigrant resource road map in over 50 languages. The roadmap included a list of city resources and protected rights for all New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status.

Kicking Off We Love Immigrant NYC Campaign: As part of our annual immigrant heritage celebration, MOIA launched the “We Love Immigrant NYC” campaign. The campaign aimed to highlight over 20 immigrant neighborhoods across the city.

Driver Indicted in Fatal Long Island Expressway Crash

By Forum Staff

Police officers responding to the scene saw that Honda Accord had suffered extensive damage and was facing in the wrong direction. Cameron Mency, 23, a passenger in the Honda, was observed lying in the left lane of the highway approximately 90 feet from the car. She was unresponsive.

Officers also observed Nash near the bumper of the vehicle attending to Giselle

Carchi, his 22-year-old fiancée, who was unconscious.

Two other passengers in Nash’s car—his sister Tiffany Cox, 36, and Crystal Ramos, 22—were both lying next to the driver’s side of the vehicle.

All four women were rushed to local hospitals. Mency sustained extensive head and body trauma and was later pronounced dead. Carchi underwent multiple surgeries

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Friday that a grand jury has indicted Reginald Nash in connection with a high-speed, three-car collision last month on the Long Island Expressway that left one of his passengers dead and two others unable to walk.

Nash, 24, of Roosevelt, L.I., has been charged in a 15-count indictment with aggravated vehicular homicide; aggravated vehicular assault; manslaughter in the second degree; vehicular manslaughter in the second degree; vehicular assault in the first degree; two counts of vehicular assault in the second degree; three counts of assault in the second degree; operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; operating motor vehicle while under influence of alcohol; reckless driving; operating a motor vehicle with a tinted window; and speeding.

According to the charges: On Nov. 19, at approximately 4:30 a.m., Nash was driving a 2021 Honda Accord eastbound on the Long Island Expressway when he crashed into a cushion separating the highway from the Greenpoint Avenue exit. After hitting the barrier, the Honda Photo Courtesy of East Coast Roads spun and struck a Toyota. The Toyota, in Nash was driving a 2021 Honda Accord eastbound on the Long Island Expressway when he crashed into a cushion separating the highway from the Greenpoint Avenue exit. turn, spun and hit a Kia.

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to her back and has since been discharged.

She is currently unable to walk because of her injuries. Ramos sustained head and body trauma and underwent surgery for a fractured tibia and is wheelchair bound.

Cox also sustained head and body trauma.

She was subsequently discharged.

Nash allegedly had a blood alcohol content of .12 percent, exceeding the legal threshold of .08 percent. The vehicle’s tinted front driver’s side window allegedly had a light transmittance of 3 percent, below the legal threshold of 70 percent.

A search warrant was executed for the vehicle’s black box which indicated the car was traveling at approximately 89 miles per hour five seconds prior to the collision and that the brakes had not been engaged.

“When drivers make the selfish choice of getting behind the wheel after drinking, they not only put their own lives at risk, but they endanger their passengers and anyone sharing the road with them as well.

When such reckless behavior is coupled with speeding, tragedy is often the result,” Katz said. “We cannot reverse what happened in this case, but we will make sure that there is accountability for the senseless loss of life and the pain and suffering inflicted.”

If convicted, Nash faces up to 25 years in prison.

Astoria Man Indicted in Deadly Stairwell Shove of Neighbor

The building at 44th Street and 28th Avenue where the fatal confrontation took place.

By Forum Staff Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz on Friday announced that Kevin Ogara was indicted by a grand jury for allegedly pushing his 60-year-old neighbor down a stairwell in their Astoria apartment building last month, causing fatal injuries.

Ogara, 58, has been charged with manslaughter in the first and second

Photo Courtesy of Google

degrees, and criminally negligent homicide.

According to the charges and video surveillance footage: On Nov. 3, at approximately 6:51 p.m., Rene Montalvo Peredo, 60, who appeared to be highly intoxicated, approached Ogara’s 4th-floor apartment, which was directly above his own, and entered through the unlocked door.

Montalvo Peredo immediately left the

Photo Courtesy of DA Katz

DA Katz said Montalvo Peredo “was ruthlessly shoved down a flight of stairs to his death.”

apartment followed by Ogara, who pushed him. The men engaged in a discussion.

Montalvo Peredo turned his back to Ogara, lifted up his hands, and walked toward the staircase.

Ogara followed Montalvo Peredo to the top of the stairs and pushed him.

First responders found Montalvo Peredo unresponsive on the stairwell landing.

He was taken to a local hospital with a skull fracture, cerebral edema and a hypoxic

brain injury. He died three days later on Nov. 6.

“We will argue that the victim was walking away from the defendant when he was ruthlessly shoved down a flight of stairs to his death. Attacked from behind, the victim was unable to defend himself. We will be standing up for him in court and seeking justice on his behalf,” Katz said.

If convicted, Ogara faces up to 25 years in prison.

Con Men, Far Rockaway Corporation Plead Guilty in Scheme to Steal Houses

By Forum Staff

ments he collected after illegally taking over properties and leasing them out. The money will go to the heirs of the legitimate property owners. Carbone’s license as a notary was also revoked.

R.C. Couture Realty must pay a $100,000 fine.

Hill is also expected to face up to three years in prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 30.

In some instances, the deeds were transferred more than once among the defendants and entities connected to them, resulting in 14 deeds for nine homes.

In two additional cases that were part of the charged scheme to defraud, Carbone and Hill had already agreed to relinquish deeds to the legitimate owners.

And in another case, the duo had already sold a home on 148th Street in Jamaica to a third party. The District Attorney’s Office will file a motion to apply a state statute and restore that deed to its rightful owner, sparing the victim the time and expense of additional legal proceedings in civil court.

According to the charges and plea agreements:

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Wednesday that Russell Carbone and Terrell Hill pleaded guilty to a wide-ranging scheme to steal residential properties by filing forged deeds with city officials. As part of the plea, the court voided deeds to seven homes in Queens and two in Nassau County so they could be returned to their rightful owners, Katz noted.

Carbone and Hill worked together to target homes where the owners died and their heirs had not taken title to them. To help find the properties, Hill, a landscaper, would alert Carbone, a disbarred attorney, to homes that appeared abandoned. Most had gone into foreclosure.

Carbone, 69, of Far Rockaway, and Hill, 40, of West Hempstead, pleaded guilty to scheme to defraud in the first degree and six counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree. RC Couture Realty Inc., a corporation run by Carbone and his wife, Galyna Couture, 61, pleaded guilty to criminal possession of stolen property in the first degree and six counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree.

In addition to forfeiting the ill-gotten deeds, Carbone will pay $56,960 in resPhoto Courtesy of Google titution. The money represents rent pay- R.C. Couture Realty, Inc., a corporation located on Beach 9th Street, must pay a $100,000 fine.

Between Nov. 8, 2019, and Feb. 14, 2023, Hill and Carbone forged signatures on property records to transfer to themselves the ownership of multiple properties.

The signatures were notarized with fraudulent notary stamps that Hill ordered from Amazon in the names of actual notaries. Carbone also used his own, legitimate notary stamp on some documents.

The fraudulent documents were filed with the City Department of Finance.

In the case of the home on 116th Road in Jamaica, Hill called a Bronx woman in November 2019 about possibly selling the house, which she had inherited with her brother. Following the phone conversation, Hill introduced the victim to his “business partner,” Carbone, who met the woman at a local coffee shop to discuss the sale. The woman declined the purchase offer.

A deed transferring title to the property was filed nonetheless on March 12, 2021, indicating that RC Couture Realty, Inc. and Terrell Hill each owned a 48-percent interest in the property and the victim and her sibling each owned a 1-percent share.

Hill and Carbone forged the siblings’ signatures on the deed transfer documents, which were stamped with a fraudulent notary stamp and Carbone’s legitimate stamp.

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Legal Notices WE VEST LLC. Filed 10/27/2023.

Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 8810 136TH ST, RICHMOND HILL, NY 11418. Purpose: General.

PHOENIX MOON PRODUCTIONS LLC LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/17/23. 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, 6625 103RD ST APT 7L, FOREST HILLS, NY, 11375, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

122-40 135th AVENUE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/10/23.

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 STEPHEN HARRIS 135-39 118TH STREET, SOUTH OZONE PARK, NY, 11420, USA.. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

FUN OPPORTUNITY ABROAD LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/07/23. 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 ANN ELIZABETH MARTIN, 8405 PENELOPE AVE, MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY, 11379, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

MARS INSIGHTS AND COACHING, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/09/23. 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 MARIA MARSHALL, 3536 76TH STREET, 607, JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY, 11372, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

SWP PROPERTIES, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/13/23.

Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall maicopy of process to the LLC, 2508 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of FOREVER SGP LLC Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/28/23.

Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: FOREVER SGP LLC, 41-25 KISSENA BLVD STE 107, FLUSHING, NY, 11355, USA..

Purpose: any lawful act.

HIGHLY ELEVATED NYC LLC. App. for Auth. filed with the SSNY on 11/15/23. Originally filed with the Secretary ofState of Delaware on 11/14/23.

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, 7817 84th Street, 2nd Floor, Glendale, NY 11385. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of KJK CAPITAL LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/27/23. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: 65-39 183rd St., Fresh Meadows, NY 11365. Purpose: any lawful act.

Notice of Formation, 53 Ave Condo Holding LLC Art. of Org. were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/11/2023 Office Location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 141-07 20th Avenue Suite 303, Flushing, NY 11357 Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

8511 34AVE2G LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/06/2023. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Kin W Tsui, 14609 61st Rd, Queens, NY 11367. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

5 HADDEN PL LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 11/28/23.

Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to 94-14 40th Dr., Elmhurst, NY 11373, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

23119 145TH AVENUE, LLC App. for Auth. filed with the SSNY on 10/16/23.

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 ANDERSON REGISTERED AGENTS, 7014 13TH AVENUE, SUITE 210, BROOKLYN, NY, 11228, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

DUCTWORK PRO LLC. App. for Auth. filed with the SSNY on 12/04/23.

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 DUCTWORK PRO LLC, 8217 60TH AVE, MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY, 11379, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

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BENTF CONSULTING LLC LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 11/27/23. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to BENJAMIN FENNEY, 4815 11TH STREET, PHB, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY, 11101, USA.. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of CLINCO PROPERTIES LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/06/23. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Law Offices of Anthony S. Cannatella, 53 Orchard St., Manhasset, NY 11030. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Z NYC GROUP PROPERTIES LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/30/2023. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: THE LLC 19-31 DITMARS BLVD, ASTORIA, NY, 11105, USA. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Calvary Auto Group LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 12/11/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 2540 Shore Blvd, Ste. 20F, Astoria, NY 11102. General Purpose

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16 | DECEMBER 28, 2023 • Number 52 • VOL. 21 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP