THE FORUM NEWSGROUP | MARCH 21, 2024

HOUSE RACE?

Area Pols Anxious over Council Speaker’s Proposal to Build Affordable Homes on Aqueduct Site

“It is essential that decisions of such long-term magnitude and importance be made with due diligence and transparency, ensuring that the best interests of the community and all stakeholders are properly considered,” State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) and Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato wrote in a joint statement.

Area Pols Question Proposal to Convert Aqueduct into Affordable Housing

By Michael V. Cusenza

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’ State of the City address has certainly raised some eyebrows and the blood pressure of South Ozone Park residents and elected o cials.

Delivered last week at the Howard Gilman Opera House at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the speech unveiled proposals to increase housing production, expand homeownership, and deepen a ordable housing to levels that match the a ordability needs of New Yorkers.

Among the housing-related priorities and proposals emphasized by Adams was a re-envisioning of Aqueduct Racetrack and an adjoining City-owned lot to be repurposed for housing, homeownership, and community amenities. e Aqueduct, which is located in Adams’ 28th District, is temporarily being used by the New York Racing Authority in place of Nassau County’s Belmont Park, which is currently being renovated. Once completed in an estimated three-to-four years, horseracing will return to Belmont as the only facility to be used as part of a longer-term plan to consolidate downstate New York horseracing.

“ is plan presents a generational opportunity to redevelop the nearly 200-acre site of the Aqueduct Racetrack,” Adams said.

is proposal did not sit well with some elected o cials.

“On behalf of our constituents, we must express our concerns about New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’ statement in relation to the development of the Aqueduct Racetrack site, a 172-acre State-owned property,” State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven), chairman of the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, and As-

semblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (DHoward Beach) said in a joint statement.

“Due to the uncertainty of the specific location of the property mentioned by Speaker Adams, we believe it is crucial to recognize that decisions regarding any state land should be made by state authorities and in accordance with state regulations. The State Legislature has actually addressed this issue when it passed the Belmont Racetrack reconstruction legislation last year to create a community-based council to assist in deciding the future fate of the Aqueduct property, once the racetrack there closes. Speaker Adams’ vague

reference to the Aqueduct property is questionable since it has several owners, different jurisdictions and could possibly raise legal and procedural issues. We have seen other proposals for the Aqueduct Racetrack property that would create thousands of local union jobs, entertainment opportunities, parkland, in addition to thousands of workforce housing units.

“Furthermore, the timeline for the decision-making process may extend beyond the term of the current Speaker, leading to a lack of continuity and accountability for said process. It is essential that decisions of such long-term magnitude and importance be made with due diligence and transparency, ensuring that the best interests of the community and all stakeholders are properly considered. The future of this valuable property, most of which is state-owned, should be decided through a comprehensive and inclusive process that respects the jurisdiction and authority of the state and others. We look forward to working with the community, interested entities and our colleagues in government when the time arises to discuss the future use of the Aqueduct property.”

Ariola Smokes Out another Illegal Product-Peddling Shop

By Michael V. Cusenza

It was mighty neighborly of Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) on ursday to help shu er a convenience store located next door to her Ozone Park district o ce—and across the street from a City middle school—that sold illicit tobacco and cannabis products.

Ariola and the City Police Department’s Queens South Narcotics Squad collaborated on a nigh ime raid of the 101st Avenue

shop. Two people were arrested, and nearly 800 packs of untaxed cigare es and more than 30 pounds of marijuana were seized.

ursday night’s raid follows another law-enforcement operation earlier this month in which Ariola worked with authorities in targeting a similar outlet in Old Howard Beach. Cops raided and shu ered Howard Pu Convenience, a smoke shop on 102nd Street with a history of selling untaxed cigare es and unlicensed cannabis products.

“Another one down and nuisance abatement requested to get them shut down for good. One by one anyone and anything that is a danger to the safety of our constituents will be eliminated from District 32,” Ariola said, before imploring the State Legislature to pass the SMOKEOUT bill.

Introduced in January by State Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) and Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven), the stop marijuana over-proliferation and keep empty operators of unlicensed trans-

actions (SMOKEOUT) act would permit municipalities to enforce licensure requirements of retail dispensaries by closing retail locations which sell cannabis without a license; allows seizure of the instrumentality of the unlawful sales, including real estate.

e proposed legislation is being considered by the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Commi ee. It is currently in the Assembly Economic Development Commi ee.

Photo Courtesy of NY

Aqueduct Racetrack opened on Sept. 27, 1894.

Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola “One by one anyone and anything that is a danger to the safety of our constituents will be eliminated om District 32,” Councilwoman Ariola said.

Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola A man is taken into custody on ursday.

Driver Charged with Killing 8-Year-Old Boy

By Forum Sta

Queens District A orney Melinda Katz announced that Jose Barcia was arraigned on ursday for allegedly speeding across tra c and through a crosswalk while making a le turn, killing an 8-year-old boy and injuring his 10-year-old brother in East Elmhurst. e boys and their mother were crossing the street with a green light in broad daylight at the time of the fatal collision.

Barcia, 52, of Flushing, was arraigned on charges of criminally negligent homicide, failing to yield to oncoming tra c while making a le turn, disobeying speed restrictions, two counts of failing to provide the right of way to pedestrians, and two counts of failing to exercise due care.

According to the charges:

On March 13, at approximately 4:15 p.m., Barcia was driving a gray 2005 Nissan Titan westbound on 31st Avenue when he came to a stop at a steady red light at the intersection of 31st Avenue and 100th Street.

Video surveillance shows that when the light turned green, Barcia proceeded to make a le turn onto southbound 100th Street at an unsafe speed without yielding to oncoming tra c.

As Barcia approached the marked crosswalk, three pedestrians were crossing the street with the right of way and a walk signal in their favor: an 8-year-old boy, his 10-year-old brother, and their mother.

Barcia struck the two children. e 8-year-old was run over and pronounced dead at the scene.

e 10-year-old was transported to a nearby hospital with an injury to his wrist, as well as bruising and pain to his head.

Barcia stayed at the scene and was charged shortly a erward.

e investigation by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad and the Queens District A orney’s Vehicular Homicide Unit is ongoing.

“Driving carries with it a huge responsibility. This tragedy is as senseless as it is horrific. The rules of the road exist to safeguard everyone. A young life has been cut short and a family is in mourning because of the driver’s disregard for those rules,” Katz said. “My deepest condolences are with the loved ones affected by this heartbreaking incident.”

If convicted, Barcia faces up to four years in prison.

Photo Courtesy of Google

incident occurred at the intersection of 31st Avenue and 100th Street in East Elmhurst.

Photo Courtesy of Autoblog Barcia was driving a gray 2005 Nissan Titan, similar to the one pictured.

Councilwoman Ariola Hosts Thyroid Cancer Screenings

By Michael V. Cusenza

Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-ozone Park) partnered with Heartscan Services Inc. on Monday to bring free thyroid cancer screening to the men and women of the NYPD’s 100th Precinct in Rockaway Beach. e screenings were funded directly through discretionary funding provided by the councilwoman’s o ce.

“New York’s Finest lead extremely busy lives, and o en forego what should be regular medical screenings in order to continue serving the people of New York in the face of an ongoing manpower crisis,” Ariola said. “ at’s why we brought these screenings directly to them. Just a few minutes of screening during their break times can help prevent the development of what might be a lethal illness in the future.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, thyroid cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the thyroid. e thyroid is a bu er y-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple. e thyroid produces hormones that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight.

“Thyroid cancer is preventable if found early,” said Marilyn Martinucci,

CEO and President of Heartscan Services Inc. “Council Member Ariola has been supporting this preventative cancer program and because of her many lives have been saved.”

More than two dozen o cers received a screening during the March 18 event. Heartscan Services provides screening us -

ing non-invasive ultrasound at locations around the community, and will be hosting similar events throughout the year.

e next Heartscan event will be at Ariola’s Ozone Park district o ce (93-06 101st Ave.) on May 7, and will be in partnership with the City Fire Department’s Columbia Society.

• $300,000 for the Forest Hills American Legion Continental Post #1424 to make numerous building repairs that include fixing warped floors, exposed wiring, cracked walls and ceilings and improving access to its kitchen and bathroom for those with disabilities.

Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola Councilwoman Ariola at Monday’s thyroid cancer screening event.

Photo Courtesy of Google e next Heartscan event will be at Ariola’s Ozone Park district o ce on May 7.

Addabbo Spotlights Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month

By Forum Sta

State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) this week announced that, during Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month this March, he is working to ensure greater access to care for those a ected by the a iction.

Addabbo is a co-sponsor of legislation aimed at helping individuals and families with lifelong bleeding disorders by making sure they can receive timely access to care and treatments e ective in managing their disorder. ese bills include:

• S.1267 - Requires certain patient protections for plans and utilization review agents to follow when establishing a step therapy protocol.

• S.3400 - To reduce administrative requirements of health care practitioners that interfere with e orts to assure patients receive appropriate care by amending prior authorization and utilization, in addition to reviewing procedures imposed by insurance companies.

“Spreading awareness helps eliminate stigma and can result in more research for treatments and cures,” Addabbo said. “Individuals su ering from bleeding disorders may struggle to manage their symptoms, including frequent bleeding, prolonged bleeding, or easy bruising, leading to missed workdays, lower productivity, and higher medical costs. By raising awareness, we can make a di erence and help build a brighter future for all people impacted by bleeding disorders.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 1 in 100 New Yorkers have a bleeding disorder, but many are undiagnosed or lack proper treatment. A bleeding disorder is a condition where an individual’s blood cannot clot properly. ere are many di erent types and severities, and some people su er from

excessive bleeding for years before being diagnosed. Symptoms can range from unexplained bruising, prolonged nosebleeds, extended bleeding a er injuries, dental work, vaccines, blood work, or surgery to debilitating internal bleeding.

Step therapy is a type of utilization management where health plans require patients to “fail rst” on one or more alternative medications, sometimes for weeks or months, before accessing provider-prescribed medication. ese treatment delays can result in health declines, including long-term joint damage and increased hospitalizations. Legislation S.1267 addresses the growing use of step therapy by limiting health plans from requiring patients to fail on more than one alternative medication or to use alternative medicine for more than 30 days.

Pre-authorization requires patients or providers to obtain approval from the health plan before proceeding with covered treatment or service. e excessive use of these requirements creates additional administrative burdens, driving up costs while delaying care, o en leading to worsening symptoms. Legislation S.3400 establishes reasonable limits on the use of pre-authorization, including allowing a pre-authorization approval to remain in e ect for the length of a prescription (up to one year).

“I’m grateful for the advocates who came to Albany on behalf of the NYS Bleeding Disorders Coalition to bring much-needed a ention to the cause of inheritable blood and bleeding disorders and to share their lives, stories, struggles, and successes. I am proud to join their e orts as we celebrate Bleeding Disorders Month and work toward improving the health outcomes for patients with these conditions,” Addabbo added.

e Step erapy bill passed the Senate on Jan. 30, 2024, and is currently under consideration in the Assembly Insurance Commi ee. e other bill is awaiting action by the Senate Finance and Assembly Insurance commi ees.

With the change in seasons come a host of bodily changes especially to the eyes, ears, nose and throat.

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

is year allergies are proli c, even in patients who have never experienced them before. And for those who have, the misery seems to have expanded exponentially

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

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

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

Summer allergies can rear their ugly heads

in adults who have never had an allergy. ese are the cases where allergies are most o en misinterpreted as a summer cold.

Here are some tips to help you piece the truth together:

--Symptoms which persist beyond a couple of weeks are de nitely signals that you have allergies.

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

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

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

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

While there is no cure for seasonal allergies remember that the sta here at Crossbay Chemist can o er advice on treatment, medication or allergy shots, to provide relief and prevent progression.

Until next week...

Area Cops Hailed for Nabbing Notorious Dirt Bike Rider

Members of the elite Firearms and Tactics Unit of the 106th Precinct were commended over the weekend for catching up to an alleged criminal on Liberty Avenue whose chosen mode of transportation was an illegal dirt bike.

“Great job to the men and women of the 106th Precinct! We cannot allow these bikes to continue plaguing our streets!” City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) said.

Photo Courtesy of NYPD

Courtesy of Wikimedia/MyUpchar

Hemophelia is an example of a bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot property, according to the CDC.

City Council Votes to Declare Continuing Housing Emergency to Maintain Rent Stabilization Laws

By Forum Sta

The City Council on Tuesday voted to declare that there is an ongoing housing emergency to extend the Rent Stabilization Law from expiring on April 1, 2024, to April 1, 2027. To maintain New York City’s rent stabilization laws pursuant to state law, the Council must determine whether there is an ongoing housing emergency every three years, defined as a vacancy rate of less than 5 percent of the City’s rental housing stock. Findings from the 2023 Housing and Vacancy Survey show a citywide rental vacancy rate of 1.41 percent, the lowest this measurement has been since 1968, and a significant decline from 2021, when the net vacancy rate was 4.54 percent.

The council also passed legislation to require the Department of Education to report on the actual class sizes of all classes in DOE schools and programs. This bill would also require the DOE to report, on a district, borough, and citywide level, the number and percentage of students in special programs, disaggregated by program type, grade, race or ethnicity, gender, special education status, and English language learner status.

“The shortage of available homes in our city has contributed to an affordability crisis affecting all New Yorkers,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The results from the latest Housing and Vacancy Survey underscore how dire our housing crisis has become, especially for units at the most affordable rates. By passing today’s legislation, the Council will extend the Rent Stabilization Law to ensure rent regulation protections can continue in our city. I thank Chair Sanchez for her leadership and all of our colleagues for supporting this important legislation.”

Declaring Continued New York City Housing Emergency to Extend Rent Stabilization Laws

Introduction 653-A, sponsored by Council Member Pierina Sanchez, would extend the Rent Stabilization Law from expiring on April 1, 2024, to April 1, 2027, based on the declaration of an ongoing housing emergency from findings of the 2023 Housing and Vacancy Survey.

Resolution 256, also sponsored by Sanchez, would declare that there is a continuation of a public emergency that requires rent control in New York City beyond April 1, 2024.

“New York’s intersecting crises of rising evictions, record homelessness and housing unaffordability are only worsening,” said Sanchez. “The most recent housing vacancy survey highlights the lowest vacancy rate on record since the 1960s, showing a 1.4 percent vacancy rate, with nearly 90 percent of unassisted low-income households severely rent burdened. As the demand for housing continues to surge, and supply remains severely constrained, low-income and working-class New Yorkers are leaving in record numbers. In charting the path forward, we must increase housing supply to accommodate the city’s needed growth, invest in building upgrades and tenant protections so tenants can remain safely in their homes, and increase New Yorkers’

der, special education status, and English language learner status.

In 2022, the State Legislature passed legislation mandating that the Department of Education limit the number of students in classrooms across all of its K-12 schools, through a ve-year phase-in process beginning in fall of 2023. ough the DOE currently provides reporting on the average class size of all DOE schools and programs, reporting on actual class sizes would provide increased transparency.

“By requiring the New York City Department of Education to report actual class sizes three times a year and expand reporting on the number of students in special programs, we are taking a critical

ability to afford our homes so we can stay and contribute to our city’s vibrancy.

Sanchez continued: “Thus, our vote today on my Intro. 653 and Reso 256, which acknowledge the finding of a historically low vacancy rate of 1.4 percent, allow for the continuation of rent regulation in NYC, a necessary step in providing even a modicum of stability for nearly a million rent regulated city households.”

Tracking Public School Class Sizes

Introduction 45-A, sponsored by Council Member Rita Joseph, would require the Department of Education to report the actual class size of all classes in DOE schools and programs. This bill would also require the DOE to report, on a district, borough, and citywide level, the number and percentage of students in special programs, disaggregated by program type, grade, race or ethnicity, gen -

step towards ensuring equitable access to quality education for all,” said Joseph. “Int.45 will empower parents, educators, and policymakers with the information they need to advocate effectively for our children’s futures. Together, we are building a stronger, more accountable education system that leaves no student behind.”

Distributing Information on Low- or No-Cost Healthcare to Older Adults

Introduction 228-A, sponsored by Council Member Crystal Hudson, would require the City Department for the Aging to make information available to older adults about NYC Care, the NYC Health + Hospitals initiative to provide low- or no-cost primary health care to incomeeligible Big Apple residents. DFTA would be required to provide eligibility guidelines for the initiative, clarify it is not based on immigration status, and ensure information is available in paper form and

at all locations where DFTA services are provided.

“For our older neighbors, access to low or no-cost primary health care is a vital resource,” said Hudson. “However, too many of our neighbors—of all ages—are unaware of NYC Health + Hospitals’ NYC Care initiative, which was created to expand access to primary health care for all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status. e passage of Int. 228A will help us guarantee our older neighbors are equipped with the information they need to lead healthy lives and gain access to the myriad additional resources NYC Cares provides, including housing, legal, and food assistance. Int. 228A also represents another critical piece in our ght to make New York City the best place to grow older, and I am eager to continue working toward that end under the leadership of Speaker Adams.”

Clarifying Frequency of Reports on the Removal of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

from Public Space

Introduction 349, sponsored by Council Member Sandy Nurse, would clarify that required reports on the removal of individuals experiencing homelessness from public spaces, and the services offered and outcomes, are to be submitted on a quarterly basis.

“Today’s bill further clarifies that the City will be required to issue quarterly reports on homeless sweeps and other removals, the first of which is expected in May,” said Nurse. “Int. 349 is especially prescient as recent reporting has shown that more and more migrants are being forced to sleep on the streets and subways due to the Administration’s new rules restricting shelter stays. Now more than ever the Council needs greater transparency and accountability over the Administration to protect people’s human and civil rights, as well as to move us away from destructive policies that do nothing to place people in housing.”

Additionally this week, Justice Avenue Tower, LLC, in Councilman Shekar Krishnan’s (D-Jackson Heights) district, requested a cancellation of a Restrictive Declaration from 1973 prohibiting commercial uses on the site that would otherwise be allowed as-of-right. This will facilitate the conversion of community facility space to commercial use in a portion of a recently completed 18-story mixeduse building with 180 residential units, community facility space in the Central Queens Academy Charter School, ambulatory medical space, and 407 parking spaces in a multi-level parking structure.

Photo Courtesy of Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit

To maintain New York City’s rent stabilization laws pursuant to state law, the Council must determine whether there is an ongoing housing emergency every three years

City Launches New E-Bike Public Education Campaign

By Forum Sta

Mayor Eric Adams and City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday launched “Get Smart Before You Start,” a new multi-platform marketing campaign to educate New Yorkers on how to safely operate e-bikes.

e vast majority—76 percent—of cycling fatalities in 2023 involved ebikes, according to NYC DOT data.

e campaign will work in tandem with street redesigns and targeted enforcement to reduce injuries and fatalities. With nearly 6 percent of NYC adults reporting that they ride an e-bike or escooter once a week or more, the new campaign will use images and instructive audio to inform users how to properly accelerate, brake, and operate an e-bike at an appropriate speed. e campaign includes advertising on TV, radio, print and digital news outlets, as well as on social media, in subway ads, and on LinkNYC kiosks. In addition to advertising, DOT’s Safety Education and Outreach Unit will conduct direct community education to help newer riders know what to expect when they operate an e-bike.

In 2023, NYC DOT installed a record 31.9 miles of protected bike lanes and established the rst “double-wide” bike lanes to be er accommodate the increasing number of cyclists on Big Apple

streets. Bike ridership reached an alltime high last year, and agency o cials indicated that DOT is “commi ed to both improving infrastructure to be er accommodate e-bike users and expanding enforcement e orts against the most dangerous behaviors on the road.”

e million-dollar campaign is part of NYC DOT’s $280 million Vision Zero expense budget for the next scal year and the agency’s $7.7 billion 10-year capital plan for Vision Zero-related projects.

Building on the success of past Vision

Zero campaigns, this is the rst strategy in Vision Zero history to focus solely on e-bikes, which have seen a surge in popularity in recent years. e “Get Smart Before You Start” campaign follows a datadriven approach, with a creative concept based on comprehensive market research and guided by NYC DOT crash data showing that in 2023 traditional bike fatalities reached an all-time low and protected bike lane miles reached an all-time high. Last year also saw a record number of “single-bike” fatal crashes involving e-

bikes where no other moving vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist was involved.

NYC DOT also recently launched a six-month pilot program to test public e-bike charging infrastructure among delivery workers. Part of the Adams Administration’s “Charge Safe, Ride Safe” initiative, the pilot includes ve locations and more than 100 charging points. e pilot will inform NYC DOT and sister agencies’ e orts to expand safe and a ordable e-ba ery charging to all New Yorkers.

NYC DOT has consistently advocated at the state level for the authority to expand its automated enforcement programs. In 2022, the agency successfully worked with Albany legislators to expand its speed camera program to operate 24-hours a day, seven days a week. e expansion led to a drop in injuries crashes, and an average of 30-percent reduction in speeding during the hours when the cameras previously were not allowed to operate: on nights and weekends. is legislative session, DOT o cials said it is working with state lawmakers to both renew and expand its red light camera program and crack down on the few, incredibly reckless drivers who are repeatedly caught running red lights.

NYC DOT is also collaborating with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to expand bus-mounted camera enforcement to combat double parking and blocked bike lanes.

Photo Courtesy of NYC DOT

A prototype wider bike lane installed on Ninth Avenue in Manha an.

Borough Doctor Indicted on New Sex Abuse Charges

By Michael V. Cusenza

Queens District A orney Melinda Katz announced that Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng was arraigned on ursday on an indictment charging him with sexually abusing a patient at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens hospital in Flushing.

Cheng, 34, of Astoria, was previously charged in a 50-count indictment handed up in August 2023, accused of sexually abusing three patients in the hospital and drugging and raping three other women in his Queens home, as well as with lming each of the assaults. He had also been indicted in December 2022 for allegedly raping a female acquaintance in his apartment.

e latest indictment comes a er another victim came forward. In all, more than 60 charges have been led against Cheng.

While in Cheng’s residence, Apartment Victim 1 came across videos depicting her and other women being assaulted by the doctor. A erward, in December, Apartment Victim 1’s a orney approached the Queens District A orney’s o ce with this information.

A search warrant executed at Cheng’s home last year led to the seizure of numerous digital media storage devices containing videos of unconscious female hospital patients, as well as Cheng’s female acquaintances. Also seized were narcotics, including fentanyl, ketamine, cocaine, LSD and MDMA, as well as drugs used in health care se ings for sedation, such as propofol and sevo urane.

e borough gastroenterologist was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned ursday on charges of sexual abuse in the rst and

second degrees.

When he was arrested on Dec. 27, 2022, Cheng’s license to practice medicine was suspended by the state. He has been held without bail since then.

According to the newest charges:

A 48-year-old woman went to NewYorkPresbyterian Queens hospital in November 2021 with a condition that required a gastrointestinal procedure.

e victim was sedated during the procedure, a er which she awoke to nd Dr. Cheng digitally penetrating her.

Katz has characterized Cheng as “a sexual predator of the absolute worst kind.”

“What we have heard from the victims and seen in the videos is the shocking and horrifying exploitation of women at their most vulnerable. Taken together, the evidence details the repeated a acks of a sexual predator who time and again betrayed his sworn professional oath and the trust of women who were unable to defend themselves,” Katz said before urging women who believe they may have been victimized to contact her o ce’s Special Victims Bureau at (718) 286-6505 or SpecialVictims@queensda.org.

Videos of other women being sexually assaulted were also recovered with the conduct taking place in Cheng’s Queens apartment

and in Westchester County, Manha an, Las Vegas and in and around San Francisco and in ailand.

“ e crimes commi ed by this individual are heinous, despicable, and a fundamental betrayal of our mission and our patients’ trust,” a spokesperson for New York-Presbyterian said in a statement sent to Inside Edition Digital. “In December 2022, as soon as the District A orney made us aware of allegations of sexual abuse against this individual, he was immediately placed o duty, banned from hospital property, and terminated.”

If convicted, Cheng faces multiple 25-years-to-life sentences.

Regular Service Being Restored to F and M Lines: MTA

By Forum Sta

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday announced that track replacement work along the F line between 47 – 50 Sts – Rockefeller Center in Manhattan and 36 St in Queens will be completed by the end of the month. F and M lines will resume making regular stops in Manhattan and Queens beginning at 5 a.m. on Monday, April 1. This project improves reliability, mitigates leaks preventing future corrosion and deterioration,

and extends the life of existing infrastructure.

Crews removed existing tracks and constructed new concrete roadbed and track; installed 25,643 feet of new third rail with protection board, brackets and insulators; removed and replaced cables; installed new signals; repaired spalled concrete and cracks, and sealed active leaks.

e shu le that has been running between Lexington Av -63 St and 21 StQueensbridge will be suspended beginning

at 5 a.m. on Saturday, March 30 as part of the nal stage of the project. F trains will resume making all stops at 5 a.m. on Monday, April 1.

Customers are advised of the following service updates and alternatives:

• Starting at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, March 29, a free shu le bus will connect Roosevelt Island, 21 St- Queensbridge, and Queens Plaza, following the current Q94 overnight shu le route.

• This shuttle bus will run during daytime and overnight hours for the du-

ration of the weekend and is scheduled to operate approximately every 5 to 10 minutes.

• e F train will continue to operate via the E in both directions.

• From 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, March 29, M train service will operate between Metropolitan Av and Delancey StEssex St, and via the J to/from Chambers Street which will be the last stop.

• M trains will resume normal overnight/weekend service at 10 p.m. on Friday, March 29.

File Photo

DA Katz has characterized Cheng as “a sexual predator of the absolute worst kind.”

Photo Courtesy of Marc Hermann/MTA F and M lines will resume making regular stops in Manha an and Queens beginning at 5 a.m. on Monday, April 1.

Photo Courtesy of Marc Hermann/MTA MTA o cials noted that “critical track-replacement work” was needed on sections of both lines.

Sunnyside Man Sentenced to 16 Months in Prison for Laundering Bitcoin, Other Charges

By Forum Sta

Mustafa Goklu,

also known as “Mus-

tangy,” was sentenced on Thursday in federal court in Brooklyn by the Hon Pamela Chen to 16 months’ imprisonment for money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business as part of a scheme to launder Bitcoin that Goklu, 50, believed to be the proceeds of drug trafficking. The Sunnyside resident was convicted of those charges after a jury trial in October 2022.

In July 2018, Drug Enforcement Administration special agents identified an advertisement posted on the website “localbitcoins.com” where an individual with the username “Mustangy” offered to purchase up to $99,999 worth of Bitcoins (BTC), a type of digital currency also known as cryptocurrency, and convert them into U.S. currency for a fee. Law enforcement agents later identified Goklu as the individual using the username Mustangy. On July 11, 2018, a DEA special agent acting in an undercover capacity (the “UC”) began exchanging encrypted text messages with Goklu to arrange in-person exchanges of BTC to U.S. currency. The UC and

rest in April 2019. The UC indicated to the defendant on multiple occasions that the source of the BTC the defendant was exchanging was narcotics trafficking and that as part of the UC’s business he sold oxycodone, Adderall, and marijuana. The transactions occurred in Goklu’s parked Mercedes-Benz, at a coffee shop in Sunnyside, and at locations in Manhattan. The amounts exchanged at each transaction ranged from approximately $5,000 to $50,000 for a total of $133,000. During each transaction, the UC transferred BTC to Goklu’s cryptocurrency wallet, after which the defendant retained a seven or eight percent commission fee and provided the UC with the remaining amount in cash. The evidence introduced at trial also showed that the defendant was engaged in similar illicit Bitcoin exchanges with multiple other individuals.

the defendant subsequently met and engaged in seven transactions or attempted exchanges of BTC to cash over a ninemonth period, culminating in Goklu’s ar-

“Drug trafficking would be less pervasive and lucrative if money launderers like the defendant did not enable washing the illegal proceeds of the deadly trade,” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said.

Company Pleads Guilty to Reselling Chinese Goods as U.S.-Made

By Forum Sta

Aventura Technologies, Inc. pleaded guilty on Tuesday to commi ing mail and wire fraud conspiracy and illegal importation in federal court in Central Islip, federal prosecutors announced.

e guilty plea re ects Aventura’s longrunning, lucrative scheme to purchase Chinese-made security equipment (such as networked surveillance cameras) and resell it as U.S.-made, including to multiple agencies of the U.S. government, branches of the military and to customers overseas in the public and private sectors. e scheme began in 2006, ending in 2019 when charges were brought in this case. Aventura made more than $112 million in sales during that time.

In connection with its guilty plea, the company agreed to dissolve itself and to forfeit more than $3 million in seized assets, including Aventura’s headquarters and a seventy-foot yacht partially owned by the defendants, as well as more than 7,000 seized items of merchandise. All seven individuals charged in this case have pleaded guilty, including Aventura’s nominal President Frances Cabasso and its true chief executive, her husband Jack Cabasso.

In addition to Aventura’s fraudulent resale of Chinese-made goods, the com-

pany defrauded customers by falsely claiming that Frances Cabasso was in charge of Aventura in order to obtain access to valuable government contracts reserved for women-owned businesses. Frances Cabasso pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in connection with that scheme.

e individual defendants who pled guilty in the case were Frances Cabasso, Jack Cabasso, and senior executives Jona-

than Lasker, Christine Lavonne Lazarus and Eduard Matulik, as well as employees Wayne Marino and Alan Schwartz.

As admi ed in court, Aventura lied for over a decade to its customers, including the U.S. military, the federal government, numerous private customers in the United States, and public and private sector customers abroad. Between 2008 and November 2019, Aventura made upwards of $112

million, including over $20 million in federal government contracts, while claiming that it was manufacturing its products at its headquarters in Commack. In fact, since at least 2006, Aventura imported goods, primarily from the People’s Republic of China, then resold them as American-made or manufactured in a small number of other countries.

In the course of its investigation, the government intercepted and covertly marked numerous shipments from PRC sources to Commack. In some cases, cameras shipped from the PRC were pre-marked with Aventura’s logo and the phrase “Made in USA,” accompanied by an American ag. In many instances, the items were later resold to government agencies to whom the defendants falsely represented that the products were American-made.

For example: In March 2019, the U.S. Navy ordered from Aventura a $13,500 laser night vision camera that was speci ed as American-made on Aventura’s U.S. General Services Administration price list. In April 2019 at a shipping facility in Jamaica, a team led by Customs and Border Protection o cers intercepted a shipment from a PRC manufacturer to Aventura that contained a camera matching the Navy’s order, and surreptitiously marked it for later identi cation. Two weeks later, that same camera was delivered to Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn.

Mustafa Goklu File

Brooklyn U.S. A orney Peace

Photo Courtesy of Glenn Fawce

In April 2019 at a shipping facility in Jamaica, a team led by CBP o cers intercepted a shipment om a China manufacturer to Aventura that contained a camera matching a U.S. Navy order.

ALEX AMATO CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST PLLC, a Prof. LLC. Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 02/05/2024. O ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: e PLLC, 37-26 32nd St., #5J, Long Island City, NY 11101. Reg Agent: Alex Amato, 37-26 32nd St., #5J, Long Island City, NY 11101. Purpose: To Practice e Profession Of Registered Professional Nursing. Knp3 LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 1/31/2024. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 53-48 206th St, Bayside, NY 11364. General Purpose

MANULINK LLC Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/08/2024. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to ZENBUSINESS INC., 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. General Purpose

MLS FAMILY HOMES LLC, Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 02/14/2024. O ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: e LLC, PO Box 610511, Bayside, NY 11361. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

ATLANTIC SUN USA LLC Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/13/2024. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to LAKPA SHERPA, 2224 38TH ST., ASTORIA, NY, 11105, USA. General Purpose

Notice of Formation of TWLG 2.0 HOLDING CO., LLC Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/07/24. O ce location: Queens County. Princ. o ce of LLC: 58-38 Page Pl., Maspeth, NY 11378. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. o ce. e regd. agent of the company upon whom and at which process against the company can be served is Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

FAVKITS MEDIA LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/02/2024. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to ZENBUSINESS INC., 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. General Purpose

25-22 30th Avenue, LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 9/28/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Lucille A. Anzalone PLLC, 213-37 39th Ave, Ste 247, Bayside, NY 11361. General Purpose

LX 168 OPULENCE LLC, Art. Of Org, led NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 01/15/2024. O ce in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 16818 65th AVE, FRESH MEADOWS, NY 11365 Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Legal Notices

BOOBILINA, LLC Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 03/01/2023. O ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: JOSE ROMERO, 88-14 LIBERTY AVENUE, Ozone Park, NY 11416. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Quali cation of Koniag IT Systems, LLC. App. For Auth. led with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/19/24. O ce location: Queens County. LLC formed in Alaska (AK) on 10/17/19. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Cogency Global, Inc., 122 E 42nd St, 18th Fl, NY, NY 10168. AK address of LLC: 3800 Centerpoint Drive, Ste 700, Anchorage, AK 99503. Arts of Org led with Julie Sande, Commissioner of AK Dept of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, 550 W 7th Ave., Ste 1535, Anchorage, AK 99501-3587. Purpose: any lawful activity.

V’S PRIME MECHANICAL LLC, Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 12/05/2023.

O ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: e LLC, 97-06 101st Ave, Ozone Park, NY 11416. Reg Agent: Vincent Castellano, 97-06 101st Ave, Ozone Park, NY 11416. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

D FT DAY LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 1/21/2024. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to D FT DAY LLC, 84-70 98TH STREET.

WOODHAVEN, NY 11421. General Purpose

Notice of Formation of Professional Service Limited Liability Company Arts. of Org. of Amana Mental Health Counseling, PLLC led with Dept. of State of NY on January 30, 2024. O ce location: Queens County. Sec. of State designated agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 8330 AustinStreet, #150301, Kew Gardens, New York 11415, principal business address. PLLC does not have a speci c date of dissolution. Purpose: Mental Health Counseling. Filer: Lavelle & Finn, LLP, 29 British American Bl., Latham, NY 12110.

HARBOR WATERPROOFING SERVICES LLC, Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 11/27/2023. O ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: e LLC, 1102 Queens Plaza South, Long Island City, NY, 11101, USA. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

SSC PARTNERS LLC Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 03/08/2024. O ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: ZEN BUSINESS INC. 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY 12207. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

142-43 249TH LLC Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 03/14/2024. O ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: JOEL MOREAUX, 249-10 139TH AVE, QUEENS, NY, 11422, USA. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of formation of OTHER MINDS

PUBLISHING LLC Arts of Org led with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/05/24. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: ZEN BUSINESS INC. 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. Purpose: any lawful act.

SHEFFIELDERS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/13/2024. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: ZEN BUSINESS INC. 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY 12207. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

GLASS SKIN NYC LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/11/2024. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: ZEN BUSINESS INC. 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY 12207. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

30-16 ASTORIA LLC. Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 03/18/24. O ce: 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, 21-11 74th Street, East Elmhurst, NY 11370. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice is hereby given that a license number 1353635 for beer, cider, and wine has been applied for by the Shake Shack New York LLC DBA Shake Shack to sell beer, cider, and wine at retail in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 160-16 Jamaica Ave Jamaica, NY 11432 for on premises consumption.