City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (ROzone Park) on Monday at a Metropolitan Transportation Authority public hearing ripped the agency’s congestion pricing plan.
The Central Business District Tolling Program—commonly referred to as congestion pricing—was mandated by the State in April 2019 and modeled on urban congestion pricing programs around the world to reduce traffic congestion and raise needed revenue to improve public transportation. The program will charge vehicles a toll for traveling in Manhattan south of and inclusive of 60th Street, excluding through-traffic on the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive, West Side Highway, Battery Park Underpass, and roadway portions of the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connecting to West Street.
“Since day one of my time in office, I have been vehemently against the implementation of a congestion pricing toll in Manhattan,” Ariola said.
“Many of my colleagues are celebrating congestion pricing, saying it is a solution to traffic overcrowding. I believe that the fallout that will result from this toll, however, will be far more severe than backed-up traffic. This is something that places an undue burden on
residents of the outer boroughs, and forces them to pay an additional tax for their choice to travel to Manhattan. In a city where subway crime is constantly in the headlines, and many New Yorkers –especially women and the elderly –feel unsafe on public transportation, the car is really the only viable mode of access
to get to stores, restaurants, medical appointments, and entertainment venues on Manhattan Island.
“On top of this, many areas of the outer boroughs – and especially here in Queens – are considered to be transportation deserts. Residents often need to take several busses and trains to get where they need to
go if they relied solely on public transportation. It can take residents in some parts of my district nearly two hours to get from their homes to Washington Square Park, for example, while the same drive can take a mere 45 minutes in their car.
“All of this will also have direct effects on the businesses that currently exist within the congestion pricing zone. As residents opt for other choices outside of Manhattan, local merchants will struggle to deal with the loss of revenue. Additionally, people seeking to avoid paying the tolls within the congestion zone will inevitably opt to park their vehicles on the blocks adjacent to the zone’s borders. This will, without a doubt, lead to increased overcrowding and new struggles for space in areas that already have problems with adequate parking.
“Congestion pricing will be a disaster for everyone in this city, and the problems it seeks to rectify pale in comparison to the problems it will cause. This is why I believe that we need to abandon this endeavor, and go back to the drawing board to find solutions that can truly work for all New Yorkers,” the councilwoman concluded.
Monday’s hearing was the final of four organized by the authority. According to the MTA, a total of 399 speakers across the four days addressed MTA leaders and board members about congestion pricing.
In observance of March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month and March 12 as Gambling Disorder Screening Day, State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) will be hosting a virtual discussion via Zoom on March 12, 2024. The event aims to educate the public on problem gambling, provide information on available support services, and foster connections with organizations that can help.
The discreet meeting will allow participants to remain anonymous and will be presented in collaboration with the New York Council on Problem Gambling and Resorts World NYC Casino, with support from the National Council on Problem Gambling. The primary goal of the discussion is to promote a better understanding of gambling addiction as a medical issue that requires examination as a disease, emphasizing the importance of education and support in addressing this issue.
As chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Racing, Gaming, and Wagering, Addabbo recognized the two-year anniversary of mobile sports wagering in New York State on Jan. 8, 2024. Through January 7, the total mobile sports wagering handle reached $37.2 billion and generated a total net revenue to education of $1.6 billion.
Addabbo said he understands the positive revenue impact of gambling but is also
aware of the unintended consequences it can bring. He is committed to addressing these issues by increasing funding for problem gambling programs. Recently, he introduced legislation to ensure that the program funding is at least 1 percent of tax revenue or $6 million, whichever is greater. Additionally, this month, Addabbo’s committee will pass four bills related to problem gambling during Problem Gambling Awareness Month. These bills include requirements for gambling advertisements to include warnings about addiction, expanding the prohibition of individuals under 21 from gambling, and directing the gaming commission to regulate predatory sportsbook bonuses in mobile sports betting.
The discussion will also be interactive as esteemed guest speaker, Prof. David Nutt, director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences at the Imperial College of London, and one of the world’s leading experts on addiction, according to the BBC and the University of Bath, will display brain scans
that show illuminations of certain parts of the brain before, during, and after placing a bet. He showed this experiment on a news program of the BBC demonstrating by using an individual in an MRI machine whose brain function was monitored while playing a virtual version of roulette.
Two million adults in the U.S. meet severe gambling criteria each year, according to the National Council on Problem Gaming and another 4 to 6 million American adults have mild or moderate problems. 4.3 percent of adult residents in New York State are experiencing problems related to their gambling activity (over 600,000 adults), according to the NYCPG.
Other topics of discussion at the event will be voluntary self-exclusion, signs of addiction, screening for gambling disorder, S.E.E. It – Support Educate and Engage to Reduce Gambling Harm, which is the NYCPG’s theme this year and “Every Story Matters,” which is the National Council on Problem Gambling’s theme this year, so recovering addicts will share their stories of hope.
Addabbo is encouraging individuals to join him on March 12, 2024, for this important virtual discussion, as he seeks to work with others to raise awareness and provide support for individuals affected by problem gambling.
The Zoom information is below.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86791905 653?pwd=TFN4RVZNVlZETEp2UG5Q ZlhVNmtVUT09
Meeting ID: 867 9190 5653
Passcode: 874928
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday announced the locations of 12 outdoor pop-up events and five outreach events in partnership with the MTA’s Mobile Sale Vehicles to engage with customers in person and gather feedback on the latest version of the Queens Bus Network Redesign beginning Monday, March 25. Since the release of the Proposed Final Plan in December 2023, the MTA has met with and presented to community boards, elected officials, community institutions and other stakeholders. Details of future events including five open houses will be announced at a later date.
With the release of the Proposed Final Plan in December 2023, the MTA also launched the Future Trip Planner, which allows customers to input a start and end location and see an overview of their trip with the bus route changes in effect. The Future Trip Planner is populated with data from the schedules written for the Proposed Final.
The Redesign Team will be out in communities across Queens at the dates listed below from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. In case of inclement weather, events may be rescheduled so customers are advised to check the project webpage before heading out to an event.
• Monday, March 25: 165 St Bus Terminal, underneath the canopy of the bus bays.
• Tuesday, March 26: Flushing-Main St 7, on the central mezzanine of the subway station.
• Wednesday, March 27: Queens Center Mall, the northwest corner of Queens Blvd and Woodhaven Blvd.
• Tuesday, April 2: Jamaica-179 St F, on the central mezzanine.
• Wednesday, April 3: Myrtle-Wyckoff Pedestrian Plaza outside of L, M subway station (between Gates Av & Palmetto St).
• Wednesday, April 3: Rockaway ParkBeach 116 St A, S subway station main entrance.
• Monday, April 8: Diversity Plaza near Jackson Heights 74 St-Roosevelt Av E, F, M, R, 7 subway station (between Broadway & 74 St).
• Tuesday, April 9: Woodhaven Blvd southbound bus median outside the Rockaway Blvd A subway station (in front of PC Richard & Son).
• Monday, April 15: Queens Village LIRR Station, at the corner of Springfield Blvd and Amboy Ln.
• Tuesday, April 16: Union Tpke and Utopia Pkwy, on the southeast corner.
• Wednesday, April 17: Lefferts BlvdAirTrain Station, near the Q3, Q10, and B15 bus stops.
• Wednesday, April 17: Queens Plaza South and 28 St, on the southwest corner of the intersection.
In partnership with the MTA’s Mobile Sales team, the Queens Bus Network Redesign team will be on-site at five Mobile Sales locations this spring to meet with bus customers, talk about the Proposed Final Plan and routes proposed in their neighborhood, and collect feedback.
Monday, April 8 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Ditmars Blvd and 23 Av in Astoria.
• Tuesday, April 16 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Rochdale Community Center.
• Thursday, April 18 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Allen Community Senior Citizens Center in Jamaica.
• Friday, May 3 from 1 p.m.-3 p.m.: Rego Center Mall, outside Marshall’s.
• Monday, May 13 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Bay Terrace Shopping Center, Bell Blvd and 24 Av.
In addition to meeting with the Queens Bus Network Redesign team, the following services are offered at the Mobile Sales Vehicles:
• Get help with a Reduced-Fare application
• Transfer MetroCard balances (Full fare and Reduced-Fare)
• Exchange a damaged Reduced-Fare MetroCard for a temporary replacement
• Report a lost/stolen Reduced-Fare MetroCard
• Ask our team about any MetroCard-related issues
• Sign up for OMNY
By Forum Staff
City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (ROzone Park) on Monday worked closely with the City Department of Sanitation to organize a graffiti cleanup along Atlantic Avenue in Ozone Park. In total, six locations were cleaned of the unsightly street art.
“Keeping our neighborhoods clean is vital for a good quality of life,” Ariola said.
“When I took office, I made a commitment to my constituents that everyone in District 32 would enjoy the kind of quality of life that every tax-paying New Yorker deserves but rarely sees. That means removing unsightly graffiti from streets throughout the district.”
“When we get rid of graffiti from a building, we aren’t just removing a layer of paint,” Ariola added. “We’re preserving the beauty of our communities, and instilling a sense of pride in where we live. When
our neighborhoods are clean and free from blight, we all feel more connected to it, and we feel better about the places we call home.”
The following locations were cleaned during the March 4 initiative:
• 78-02 Atlantic Ave
• 81-20 Atlantic Ave
• 89-18 Atlantic Ave
• 90-02 Atlantic Ave
• 90-10 Atlantic Ave
• 97th Street and Atlantic Avenue
“We applaud the excellent work of our councilwoman and the DSNY in getting this accomplished,” said Community Board 9 Chairwoman Sherry Algredo. “It is great to have community partners who really care about our neighborhoods.”
Other locations were visited, and DSNY is awaiting the green light from the business owners to begin beautifying their buildings.
Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday opened applications for restaurants to apply for and participate in Dining Out NYC — the city’s permanent outdoor dining program. The online application portal will serve as an easy access point for restaurants to apply to participate in the program, understand the guidelines that the program establishes, and download sample blueprints from the Dining Out NYC Set-Up Menu for how an outdoor setup will need to look.
Dining Out NYC draws on lessons learned from the temporary outdoor dining program created during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saved 100,000 jobs across the city but led to quality-of-life issues as a subset of restaurant owners were unable to maintain loosely-regulated outdoor dining setups, Adams said.
“We’re getting outdoor dining right, getting sheds down, getting trash off our streets, and fundamentally changing what it feels like to be outside in New York City,” said Adams. “The portal we’re opening today will make it easy for restaurants to participate in Dining Out NYC, build setups that work for diners, owners, neighbors, and our city, and continue to hire workers and serve satisfied customers. We’ve locked in the best parts of the pandemic program and done away with the worst, and I can’t wait to dine out this summer!”
A restaurant currently participating in the temporary program must apply to be a part of the permanent program by August 3, 2024 to continue operating throughout the approval process. Restaurants participating in the temporary program that do not apply by August 3 must remove their current outdoor dining setups.
Through an extensive outreach cam-
paign, the City Department of Transportation is notifying all restaurants currently participating in the temporary program to submit applications through the online portal for the permanent program. All restaurants, even those that did not participate in the temporary program, are welcome to apply for Dining Out NYC. A restaurant's outdoor dining setup must comply with the program's design requirements within 30 days of their application approval. On this timeline, the first approved Dining Out NYC setups will hit New York City streets in the summer of 2024.
The Dining Out NYC Set-Up Menu will serve as a valuable resource for restaurants, offering guidance on outdoor dining regulations and blueprints for setup options. Under Dining Out NYC, outdoor dining setups will use lightweight materials that are easily movable and visible on the street, and the setups will preserve clear paths on sidewalks and emergency roadway lanes, as well as continue to provide accessibility for people with physical disabilities. Restaurants will secure tables, chairs, and other furnishings within their setups during nonoperating hours. The setups themselves will include anti-rat mitigations and will be able to withstand inclement weather.
In conjunction with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the city retained WXY, a planning, urban design and architecture studio, and SITU, a research, design and fabrication firm, to develop four prototype roadway cafe setups. Each prototype is tailored to a different diverse street context and showcases the envisioned aesthetic of Dining Out NYC. The Dining Out NYC Set-Up Menu outlines best practices utilized by the different prototypes, and the plans for each prototype are available for download.
Cardiovascular (CV) disease is a major American health concern. It is responsible for 1 out of every 3 deaths in this country. ¬There are over 2 million strokes and heart aacks reported every year. Hypertension (high blood pressure) and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) are primary contributing CV health risks. ¬These conditions adirect more than 80 million Americans each year. Along with the huge loss of life comes the tremendous financial burden resulting from cardiovascular disease. Because of the crush imposed by cardiac diseases on the economy, Medicare, Medicaid and private payers, have really applied the push for health-care teams to manage disease collectively and efficiently. ¬e role of the pharmacist here is very clear: ensuring cardiac patients are compliant with their meds thereby preventing hospital readmissions. Cardiac medications include many types of drugs including Lipid-Lowering Th¬erapies like statins and cholesterol absorption inhibitors, Blood Pressure Meds like Beta Blockers, Diuretics and ACE inhibitors and ¬Thyroid meds like Levothyroxine. ¬ese are just a few of the myriad of meds that a cardiac patient can face. With new drugs constantly turning up, physicians are realizing the value of pharmacists'' expertise in medications– it
is an essential piece in saving the lives of patients. At your local pharmacy there exists a real opportunity to learn about your meds. Not only what they do for your conditions, and safeguarding that you always have the ample supply you need, but whether you’re on the right one, at the appropriate dose. Another component monitored by your pharmacist is the possibility of any potential drug interactions between your particular medications. The role of the pharmacist as a member of your cardiac health-care team is recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) which both recommend a team-based approach, which includes pharmacists, in the treatment of hypertension. Community pharmacists are making a huge difference by provide services like blood pressure screenings, as well as offering advice to patients on many lifestyle issues, such as diet and exercise. You can turn to us with any difficulty you’re experiencing, even when trying to stop smoking. Th¬e bottom line is that your pharmacist is in an ideal position to help manage blood pressure and cholesterol medication therapy. Talk to us and take the opportunity to get heart healthy!
For your family’s prescription needs, please call CROSS BAY CHEMIST at 718-659-9500 or 718-880-1644
157-02 Cross Bay Blvd. in Howard Beach: Mon-Fri 9am-9pm. Sat-Sun 9am-7pm. or 96-05 101st Ave. in Ozone Park: Mon-Sat 9am-7pm. Sunday: Closed.
City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) hosted the second annual District 32 Senior Prom at Lenny’s Clam Bar on Tuesday, bringing together senior residents from across the district for an afternoon of music, food, and fun.
“It was so great to see our seniors out singing and enjoying the day,” Ariola said. “It’s so important for our seniors to get out and be active in their golden years, and events like this one help to ensure that our elders can get out and have fun.”
“I want to really thank Brina Ciaramella for being a sponsor for the festivities and Lenny’s Clam Bar for being such amazing hosts,” Ariola added. “And thank you to Don Anthony for the music!”
As a high point of the event, the councilwoman crowned two of the guests, Carol and Tom (pictured with Ariola), as Prom King and Queen. The couple has been married for 63 years. Here’s to many more!
City Comptroller Brad Lander on Monday blasted Mayor Eric Adams’s Fiscal Year 2025 Preliminary Budget.
In January, Adams released the City’s balanced $109.4 billion Preliminary Budget.
“Rather than the Adams administration’s unpredictable approach to the budget process, sound management and strategic investments are required to face the City’s fiscal challenges, confront the affordability crisis, and ensure strong economic growth in the years ahead,” Lander said.
According to Lander, here’s how the Adams administration screwed up the latest Preliminary Budget:
Lack of transparency in City finances
There are two ways in which the Adams administration’s approach has unhelpfully muddled the budget process. For starters, there’s been a lot of unnecessary budget whiplash in the last few months.
Last June, at the time of the FY 2024 budget adoption, the Administration presented the FY 2025 budget gap at $5.1 billion. In November, it increased that projection to $7.1 billion, even after one round of proposed cuts. Then just a few weeks later, in January, the FY 2025 budget was presented as balanced.
These shifts are caused in part by the administration’s swinging cost estimates for asylum seeker services. Last June, it projected the cost at $3.91 billion. Just two months later, it increased that projection to $10.82 billion. More recently, it got lowered to $9.09 billion. We've got to get this under control.
Secondly, the significant underbudgeting of many predictable expenditures, particularly special education Carter Cases and uniformed overtime, further clouds the picture. This pattern of underbudgeting expenses is a routine part of the City’s budgeting—and it’s not a good practice. Additionally, the Mayor has not been clear on which Federal Stimulus funded programs will continue at current levels or face reductions as these funds expire.
Where does this leave us? All in all, the Comptroller’s Office projects a budget gap of $3.30 billion in FY 2025 – with more outyear gaps on the horizon.
Stronger fiscal management will reduce the need for big cuts
How should the City approach these budget gaps?
We shouldn’t respond with shortsighted, drastic cuts to vital City services and programs like CUNY, libraries, alternatives-to-incarceration, and more. Instead, we should work harder to cover outyear budget gaps through stronger fiscal management.
We can achieve long-term savings by reeling in areas of overspending, like uni -
formed overtime. We can reduce pricey Carter Case settlements by providing better special education services in our public schools, as my office has previously suggested. By making agencies responsible for car crash claim and settlement payouts (as recommended in our report on traffic collisions), we could further increase our savings.
We can also save money with stronger management of emergency procurement. In a report released last week, my team found that the Adams Administration's haphazard approach to emergency contracting (and its failure to compare or control prices) resulted in City agencies overpaying MILLIONS of dollars to staff asylum seeker services. We compared the City's top 4 emergency contracts for staffing asylum seeker facilities, like welcome centers and HERRCs, and found drastic discrepancies in pricing. In one comparison, compensation ranged from $58 to $201 for the same service.
Finally, rather than evicting asylum seekers and families from shelter just 30 or 60 days after they’ve arrived, we should invest in legal services, case management, and assistance to obtain work authorizations. This is the most cost-effective, compassionate approach to helping immigrants get on their feet, move out of shelter, and find employment.
Affordable housing should be the No. 1 priority this year
Everywhere across the City, rent remains incredibly high, burdening New Yorkers. Unfortunately, the FY 2025 Preliminary Budget does not do nearly enough to finance the production and preservation of truly affordable housing—one of the most powerful tools the City has to stabilize neighborhoods and protect low-income and working families from displacement.
We urgently need a deal in Albany that increases housing supply across income
levels, with a focus on affordability, good cause protections, and housing vouchers to help people escape homelessness and secure permanent housing.
We also need much larger City investments in deeply affordable, communitycontrolled rental and limited-equity cooperative homeownership housing. All the while, we must ensure that the Department of Housing Preservation and Development has additional resources to clear its backlog of affordable housing projects, develop and train new staff, and expand the City’s social housing footprint (as covered in our recent report, Building Blocks of Change).
Our short-term budget decisions must not short-change New York’s future. With sound management and strategic investments, we can tackle outyear budget gaps, confront the affordability crisis, and ensure strong economic growth in the years ahead.
The City Office of Management and Budget overall tax forecast is now more closely aligned with the Comptroller’s Office’s. The Comptroller’s Office expects more modest job growth in coming years than OMB. Payroll growth in New York City has mostly been occurring in lower-paying sectors, such as health services. In the higher-paying service industries, there have been employment reductions that are expected to last at least a few years. NYC’s limited housing supply, particularly at affordable levels, acts as a constraint on population and job growth.
With that history and context, the Comptroller’s Office projects that the City will end the current fiscal year in June with a small surplus of $214 million. However, where OMB projects a balanced FY 2025 budget, the Comptroller’s Office projects a gap of $3.30 billion in FY 2025 (3.0 percent of total revenues).
In the longer term, structural underbudgeting, as well as some other expen -
diture re-estimates, are compounded by two significant risks: the unpredictability of spending for asylum seekers mentioned above, and the State’s mandate to reduce class size, which remains unbudgeted. Because of these uncertainties, as well as the lack of transparency and data on the costs of services to asylum seekers, the Comptroller’s Office restates the City’s gaps and surpluses both with and without these two costs.
Excluding these costs, the Comptroller’s Office projects gaps of $8.58 billion in FY 2026 (7.9 percent of total revenues) and a comparable $8.61 billion in FY 2028 (7.5 percent of total revenues). Including estimates of asylum seeker costs and class size mandate increases, the restated gaps grow to $10.54 billion in FY 2026 (9.6 percent of total revenues) and reach $13.50 billion in FY 2028 (11.7 percent of total revenues).
Closing these gaps will require strong fiscal management, which should include reining in the ballooning costs of uniformed overtime and special education Carter Cases, and making agencies responsible for claim and settlement payouts, as already recommended in the Comptroller’s Office analysis of collisions. As this Office has advocated for before, the City’s fiscal health would be better served by planning and implementing efficiency and cost savings in each budget modification to achieve structural and long-term results without cutting core services. The Office also continues to recommend establishing a formula for deposits in the City’s long-term reserves, which still do not have sufficient funding to weather the length of an average recession.
The Preliminary Budget also included an update to the City’s Capital Commitment Plan totaling $88.46 billion from FY 2024 through FY 2028, a decrease of $5.88 billion (6 percent) compared to the September Capital Plan over the same fiscal years, and a decrease of $11.6 billion over a 10-year horizon. The Plan does not reflect needs for the School Construction Authority, borough-based jails, and the portion of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway owned by the City, which may require an increase in debt-incurring capacity, as was included by the Governor in the State FY 2025 Executive Budget. A detailed analysis of these issues is forthcoming shortly.
Nor does the Plan include sufficient funding to adequately expand the City’s affordable housing stock. As this Office regularly highlights, housing affordability remains one of the most critical issues facing New Yorkers and should be prioritized in the capital plan. These investments in housing, infrastructure, and schools are critical to allowing New York City to continue to be a place where New Yorkers of diverse income backgrounds can live, work, and thrive.
By Forum Staff Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Makeda McDonald was arraigned Tuesday on an indictment charging her in connection with a high-speed collision on the Cross Island Parkway that killed her cousin and left her aunt gravely injured.
McDonald, 28, of Philadelphia, was arraigned on a four-count indictment charging her with criminally negligent homicide, reckless driving, driving in excess of the maximum speed limit and operating a vehicle at unreasonable speed.
According to the charges:
On April 8, 2022, at approximately 3:15 a.m., McDonald was driving a black 2017 Mercedes GLA 350 southbound on the Cross Island Parkway during a rainstorm.
The roadway’s posted speed limit was 50 mph. McDonald was driving approximately 123 mph as she approached a split in the highway with exit ramps for the eastbound Southern State Parkway and the westbound Belt Parkway. She failed to maintain her lane, entered a grass median separating the exit ramps and struck a guardrail, launching the vehicle air -
borne.
The car rolled over several times before striking an overhead light pole and the gantry supporting an overhead road sign, coming to a final rest on its roof.
The backseat passenger, the defendant’s cousin, Moesha McLaughlin, 24, of Rosedale, was pinned inside of the vehicle. She was extracted and taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead as a result of her injuries.
The front passenger, the defendant’s aunt, Nyasha Turnbull, 32, of Rosedale, was found seated upside down with her seatbelt on. She was extracted and trans -
ported to a hospital with injuries to her lung, arm, shoulder, pelvis and liver.
McDonald turned herself in Tuesday at the 105th Precinct stationhouse.
“Disregarding the rules of the road often has devastating consequences. A life has been cut short and a family left heartbroken because the defendant, as alleged, drove at nearly two-and-half times the speed limit,” Katz said. “My office will continue to prioritize cases of vehicular crimes to ensure that dangerous drivers are held accountable.”
If convicted, McDonald faces up to four years in prison.
21 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE PEST CONTROL B USINESS
By Forum Staff
A group of nonprofit organizations, elected officials, and area business owners announced Tuesday they would commence a new series of monthly community cleanups on Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills, taking place from March through at least the end of the 2023-24 school year.
The grouping includes Metro Village of Forest Hills, Community Board 6, Assem-
blyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills), Councilwoman Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills, State Sen. Joe Addabbo (D-Woodhaven), the Forest Hills Green Team, and Forest Hills Stadium, and was formed at the culmination of a series of cleanups organized by separate groups throughout 2023.
The first effort is scheduled to begin Saturday, March 9 at 10 a.m., with volunteers meeting outside Aigner Chocolates at 103-02 Metropolitan Ave. in Forest Hills.
Those looking for more information are advised to email metrovillagefh@gmail.com or contact Hevesi, Schulman, or Addabbo’s district offices.
“Metro Village of Forest Hills is so grateful to be part of a neighborhood where community members, leaders, and elected officials are dedicated to working together to improve the community. We look forward to participating in this ongoing beautification project and are hopeful that community members of all ages will get in-
volved, including my 5-year-old son, Jacob. We want the streets of Metropolitan Avenue to reflect the beauty inside the shops,” said Rachel Kellner, founder of Metro Village of Forest Hills.
“I look forward to getting outside with my office team and working with our partners to make sure our communities are clean and hygienic,” Addabbo added. “This is a great opportunity to build friendships and have a hand in ensuring we can be proud of our neighborhoods.”
To bring more attention to the fight to save a key federal program that ensures internet access for many throughout Queens, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) announced on Tuesday that a borough resident who relies on the initiative will be her guest for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on Thursday night.
The Affordable Connectivity Program, which Meng helped to pass through Congress in 2021, is a crucial initiative that has provided thousands in Queens – and across New York City – with monthly discounts on their broadband service and savings on internet devices. The program is set to run out of money as early as this coming April, leaving thousands of local residents struggling to pay for the fast and reliable internet access they need.
Meng will bring constituent Briteny Xu to the President’s speech. She is a medical student studying osteopathic medicine at New York Institute of Technology whose family depends on the ACP for critical broadband access. She requires the internet every day to
attend online lectures and complete assignments. In addition, her grandparents who live with her also rely on the household’s ACP-subsidized service to get online.
“Thank you, Congresswoman Meng, for your leadership in working to save the ACP and for having me as your guest at this year’s the State of the Union address,” Xu said. “My family and I have been enrolled in this program since 2022, relying on it for dependable Wi-Fi ever since. With our daily dependence on the internet, I believe that affordable access to the internet should be considered a necessity for all Americans.”
Xu, 24, was born, raised and still resides in Queens. She graduated from Hunter College before enrolling at New York Institute of Technology. Her grandfather is 85 years old, and her grandmother is 80.
Enacted as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the ACP provides qualifying households with a monthly discount of up to $30 on internet bills, as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 on a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer (with a copay between $10 and $50). Since launching,
over 22.5 million households have signed up to receive the monthly ACP discount. This includes more than 62,000 households in Meng’s congressional district in Queens, saving approximately $27.4 million a year. Those benefiting nationwide are millions of college students, veterans, seniors, and families with school-aged children.
The ACP is no longer accepting applications, and enrolled households have received wind-down notices on the imminent end of the program. However, an estimated 36,000 more in the Congresswoman’s district would qualify for the program should it be extended.
To ensure Americans who need it can still receive ACP benefits, Meng has cosponsored the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act that would provide $7 billion to support the program. The bill is pending before the House Appropriations Committee, of which the Congresswoman serves as New York’s senior member. Meng last year also signed several letters urging congressional leaders and relevant congressional committees to extend anywhere from $6 to $7 billion for the ACP.
On Sunday, March 3, City Councilman Jim Gennaro (D-Hillcrest) hosted a street co-naming ceremony honoring the life and legacy of former Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz. Gennaro was joined by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz; State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky; State Sen. Leroy Comrie; Assembly Member Sam Berger; Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato; and members of the Simanowitz family at the street co-naming ceremony in which the intersection of Main Street and 75th Avenue was co-named “Michael Simanowitz Way” after the long-time public servant.
Gennaro authored the bill to co-name the street after he was approached by Berger with the request. Berger also worked with Simanowitz family and community leaders to identify a street, garner the necessary support and presented it to Community Board 8. The motion to rename the street in Simanowitz’s honor passed unanimously through both the community board and the council last year.
Simanowitz dedicated more than two decades of his life to public service, having served as chief of staff to former Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn for 15 years before succeeding his predecessor in 2011.
Prior to his election, Simanowitz served as the commanding officer for the 107th Auxiliary Police Unit, earning the rank of Deputy Inspector. As an auxiliary officer, he helped in the rescue efforts following Sept. 11, as well as during the Northeast Blackout of 2003.
As member of the Assembly, Simanow-
itz sponsored and passed a law that required minors to have parental consent before getting a body piercing, and another that banned the use of unclaimed bodies as cadavers in medical or mortuary schools without the written consent of a spouse or next of kin, or unless the deceased had registered as a body donor.
“Despite trying to keep a relatively low profile, Michael Simanowitz was well known and beloved by the community,” Gennaro said. “I am proud to have introduced the legislation to coname this intersection last year. It is my hope that anytime someone comes down Main Street and 75th Avenue, they are reminded of the great legacy he leaves behind. It is an honor to be here today, alongside the Simanowitz family and colleagues, to pay tribute to a local legend. I thank Assembly Member Sam Berger for coming with me to this request and making this his top priority since assuming office.”
“Assmebly Member Simanowitz was a tireless advocate for his community and for Queens as a whole, and it was a privilege to serve alongside him in my previous role as Borough President,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. "It is a pleasure to be here as the borough’s District Attorney to see this honor bestowed upon such an incredible person. Michael cared deeply for his community and for the great State of New York. Generations will now see his name at the intersection of 75th Avenue and Main Street – a fitting tribute to his legacy built on his decades of service.”
Simanowitz died at the age of 46 in 2017 due to cancer, likely related to Sept. 11 rescue efforts.
On Monday, Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro announced a $600,000 grant from The Rockefeller Foundation and other donors to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City with funds earmarked for the Immigrant Peer Navigator Program, an asylum seeker relief project.
The Immigrant Peer Navigator program is a first of its kind six-session New York City orientation that will connect 250 long time immigrant New Yorkers to 250 recently arrived asylum seekers. Long time immigrant New Yorkers with similar immigration experiences will serve as mentors to newly arrived asylum seekers to give them tips on surviving and navigating life in the five boroughs, including finding work, housing, and providing community connections.
“We are thrilled to launch the Immigrant Peer Navigator Program, an innovative approach to meet the needs of arriving asylum seekers and continue to foster connections within New York City’s immigrant community,” Castro said. “Our long-standing partnerships with community organizations have been critical to deliver essential services to immigrants across the city, and we’re excited to tap into these networks to
build community connections and support between longtime immigrants and newly arrived asylum seekers.”
The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs began working with nine immigrant serving community-based organizations to identify and select the participants of the programs based on preset requirements and match them with mentors. Each participant will receive a $599 stipend and a MetroCard over the course of the program. The organizations selected represent a diverse group with an extensive reach to immigrant New Yorkers across the five boroughs. Each organization provides cultural and linguistic services to immigrant New Yorkers. The following organizations are participating in the program:
lum seeker. The requirement for the mentee is to be a recently arrived asylum seeker who resides in the five boroughs, including at a city-based shelter. Each participant must participate in the program from start to finish to receive the stipend.
• African Communities Together
• African Services Committee
• Aid for Life
• Catholic Charities
• Fundavenyc
• La Colmena
• Mexican Coalition
• Mixteca
• New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE)
The requirements for a mentor include being a community member, a member, current or former client of the organization. The mentor will also need to be an immigrant to the Big Apple who understands the challenges newly arrived asylum seekers face, and who is willing to share personal experiences as an immigrant having to survive in NYC. Additionally, the mentor will need to communicate in the same language as the assigned asy-
“Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York is proud to be part of this impactful new program, which will connect newly arrived immigrants with immigrant New Yorkers who have been able to find housing and make a living for themselves and their families. Through our Day Laborer Program and other facets of our Immigration-related work, we have seen first-hand how this has become a major challenge for those that are new to our city,” said Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. “Guidance and mentorship are among the most valuable sources of support for new arrivals. Now, thanks to Mayor Adams Administration, the Immigrant Peer Navigator Program will support the formation of these connections and help to welcome and integrate new arrivals into the fabric of our city.”
Notice of formation of BARONGI CAPITAL LLC Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/09/24. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: STEPHEN BARONGI, 1543 146 PLACE, WHITESTONE, NY, 11357. Purpose: any lawful act.
DREAM-AWAKEN LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/24/24. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: DREAM-AWAKEN LLC, 58-12 QUEENS BLVD., SUITE 2 #1073, QUEENS, NY, 11377, USAthe LLC, 26-45 213th Street, Bayside, NY 11360. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of formation of MELVILLE MONTESSORI LLC Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/29/24. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: THE LLC, 8026 GRENFELL ST., KEW GARDENS, NY, 11415, USA. Purpose: any lawful act.
J & P Depot Second LLC filed 10/23/23. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail to: 73-03 244th St., Douglaston, NY 11362. Purp: any lawful.
RamTec Services LLC filed 1/29/24. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail to: 3616 Astoria Blvd., #4D, Astoria, NY 11103. Purp: any lawful.
Notice of Formation of FLUSHING MAIN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/05/24. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 41-60 Main St., #208B, Flushing, NY 11355. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Wai Ying Lam at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Property management.
Notice of formation of DREEM HOMES LLC Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/25/24. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: DENY MINAYA, 93-09 212TH PLACE, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY, 11428, USA. Purpose: any lawful act.
Unretro Media LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 1/13/2024. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Shane Mahase, 12621 Inwood St, Jamaica, NY 11436. General Purpose
MLS FAMILY HOMES LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/14/2024. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, PO Box 610511, Bayside, NY 11361. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
ATLANTIC SUN USA LLC Arts of Org. filed 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. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/07/24. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office 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. office. The 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. filed 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
Notice of Qualification of Koniag IT Systems, LLC. App. For Auth. filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/19/24. Office 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 filed 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. filed with the SSNY on 12/05/2023. 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, 97-06 101st Ave, Ozone Park, NY 11416. Reg Agent: Vincent Castellano, 97-06 101st Ave, Ozone Park, NY 11416. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
ALEX AMATO CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST PLLC, a Prof. LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/05/2024. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The 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 The Profession Of Registered Professional Nursing. DRAFT DAY LLC, 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 DRAFT DAY LLC, 8470 98TH STREET. WOODHAVEN, NY 11421. General Purpose
MANULINK LLC Arts of Org. filed 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
Knp3 LLC, Arts of Org. filed 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
25-22 30th Avenue, LLC, Arts of Org. filed 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, filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 01/15/2024. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 168-18 65th AVE, FRESH MEADOWS, NY 11365
Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
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