THE FORUM NEWSGROUP | MAY 26, 2022

VOL. 21 • NUMBER 19 • MAY 26, 2022

FOOD BLIGHT Mayor Declares State of

Emergency amid Nationwide Infant Formula Shortage

See story on page 2

The order will empower the City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to prevent price gouging for formula.

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia/ParentingPatch

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 21 • Number 19 • MAY 26 2022 | 1

Mayor Declares State of Emergency in NYC amid Nationwide Infant Formula Shortage

Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

“Our message to struggling mothers and families is simple: Our city will do everything in its power to assist you during this challenging period,” Mayor Adams said.

By Michael V. Cusenza Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday signed an Emergency Executive Order declaring a state of emergency related to the shortage of supply in infant formula. The order will empower the City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) to prevent price gouging for formula.

The effort comes as the nation grapples with a shortage of infant formula, stemming from a voluntary recall and temporary closure of a facility by Abbott Nutri-

tion, one of the largest formula providers in the country.

“The nationwide infant formula shortage has caused unimaginable pain and anxiety for families across New York — and we must act with urgency,” said Adams. “This emergency executive order will help us to crack down on any retailer looking to capitalize on this crisis by jacking up prices on this essential good. Our message to struggling mothers and families is simple: Our city will do everything in its power to assist you during this challenging period.”

Nationwide, over 40 percent of large re-

Photo Courtesy of Joanna Graham/Mayoral Photography Office

“As the national baby formula shortage is playing out locally, we are using the tools available to us to protect consumers and working families,” Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer said.

tailers are out of stock of formula, including 43 percent of retailers in the tristate area, according to the most recent data estimates.

“As the national baby formula shortage is playing out locally, we are using the tools available to us to protect consumers and working families,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “The actions we are taking with this emergency declaration and executive order sends a clear message to any unscrupulous actors that may try to take advantage of this situation: not in New York City.”

Last week, President Joe Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to direct suppliers of formula ingredients to prioritize delivery to the manufacturers of formula.

Biden also announced the creation of Operation Fly Formula, which directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to import formula from abroad, provided it meets U.S. health and safety standards.

New Yorkers who are overcharged for formula can file a complaint with DCWP online at nyc.gov/dcwp or by calling 311 and saying “overcharge.”

Schumer, Meeks Reach out to Army Engineers, City Regarding Possible Rockaway Beach Closure

By Michael V. Cusenza Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Greg Meeks (D-Jamaica) recently penned a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and City Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue urging them to engage the community prior to initiating groin construction on Rockaway Beach.

“It is imperative that both the East Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet Coastal Storm Risk Management project is completed, and the concerns from residents

Sen. Chuck Schumer

and businesses are heard,” the pols wrote.

Earlier this month, Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach), and Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) wrote a letter to Schumer, Meeks, and Donoghue calling on them to postpone construction—which would include the closure of several beaches on the Rockaway peninsula, from Beach 92nd Street to Beach 116th Street, from Memorial Day weekend to the end of July—until after the summer, to allow small businesses to get the seasonal

Photo Courtesy of DHS

2 | MAY 26, 2022 • Number 19 • VOL. 21 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

commerce they rely on every year.

“This area is the commercial and economic engine of the neighborhood during the summertime, and attracts millions of visitors from across the five boroughs and beyond,” the three Queens elected officials wrote.

In their missive to the Army Corps and Donoghue, Schumer and Meeks said, “As our offices have repeatedly stated, we expect both the Army Corps and NYC Department of Parks and Recreation to be maximally responsive to the Rockaway community, as well as flexible in accommo-

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia/Magnus Manske

dating legitimate concerns about potential disruptions from any proposed beach closures. We cannot underscore enough the importance of connecting with communities, like the Rockaways, early and often on projects impacting their livelihoods and quality of life. While the completion of these groins to protect the Rockaways shorefront in advance of this year’s hurricane season is absolutely necessary, so too are the concerns of the residents and local businesses owners, who are the heart of the Rockaway community.”

Rep. Greg Meeks

Gifted &Talented Applications Available May 31 sites indicated with an asterisk (*) were selected based on interest, geography, ease of transportaApplications for the expanded kindergarten tion, historical access to the program, and commuand third grade Gifted & Talented programs will nity feedback. open next Tuesday, May 31, Mayor Eric Adams Kindergarten and Schools Chancellor David Banks announced P.S./I.S. 119 Glendale Tuesday.

P.S. 153 Maspeth Elem The City Department of Education’s Office of P.S. 229 Emanuel Kaplan Student Enrollment is hosting virtual information A.C.E. Academy for Scholars at the Geraldine sessions on May 24, May 26, and June 1 with live interpretation in Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, French, Ferraro Campus P.S. 021 Edward Hart Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and P.S. 032 State Street Urdu. Through these sessions, families will learn P.S. 079 Francis Lewis about Gifted & Talented program types, eligibility, P.S. 165 Edith K. Bergtraum and how to apply, and they will have the opportuP.S. 209 Clearview Gardens nity to ask questions.

P.S. 115 The James J. Ambrose School For kindergarten nominations, pre-K program P.S. 133 Queens leadership and staff were provided guidance — P.S. 188 Kingsbury including curiosity and approaches to learning, P.S. 203 Oakland Gardens as well as guidance that reminds teachers that P.S. 108 children who demonstrate gifted behaviors often P.S./M.S. 042 R. Vernam* come from diverse backgrounds and have differP.S. 121 Queens ent abilities — in alignment with the National P.S. 174 William Sidney Mount Association for Gifted Children in advance of the P.S. 220 Edward Mandel nomination process. All educators were provided P.S. 176 Cambria Heights with coaching to answer any questions about the P.S. 118 Lorraine Hansberry* nomination tool and assessment criteria. CurP.S. 085 Judge Charles Vallone rently, 89 percent of all pre-K programs have P.S. 122 Mamie Fay submitted their nominations, and DOE staff are P.S. 150 Queens working with programs to resolve any pending P.S. 166 Henry Gradstein nominations.

The 30th Avenue School (G&T Citywide) Using grades in the four core subject areas — Third Grade English language arts, mathematics, science, and P.S. 088 Seneca* social studies — the top 10 percent of second P.S. 007 Louis F. Simeone* graders at each school will be invited to apply for P.S./I.S. 087 Middle Village* the third grade Gifted & Talented program. This P.S. 024 Andrew Jackson* method ensures that district programs are repreP.S. 376* sentative of the district’s population and that the P.S. 056 Harry Eichler* DOE is using multiple measures to determine eliP.S. 183 Dr. Richard R. Green* gibility.

P.S. Q086* As part of the previously announced Gifted & P.S. 140 Edward K Ellington* Talented program expansion, this process was flexP.S. 251 Queens ible and responsive to the needs and voices of famP.S. 092 Harry T. Stewart Sr.* ilies and communities. Now — for the first time P.S. 151 Mary D. Carter* ever — students in every district will have at least P.S. 171 Peter G. Van Alst* one entry point into this program in both kindergarten or third grade, with the possibility for adRegistration for these events can be found onditional programs particularly in third grade based line at https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/ on community interest.

Queens Kindergarten and third grade Gifted & enroll-grade-by-grade/kindergarten/elementaryTalented entry program sites listed below. The new school-events.

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Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. PS 183 in Rockaway Beach is a third grade Gifted & Talented entry program site.

Photo Courtesy of Google

New York State Senator District 15

District Offices: 66-85 73rd Place 159-53 102nd Street Howard Beach, NY 11414 Middle Village, NY 11379 718-738-1111 718-497-1630 718-322 5760 FAX 718-497-1761 FAX

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 21 • Number 19 • MAY 26 2022 | 3

Family Fun in the Sun at Charles Park

By Michael V. Cusenza

Photo Courtesy of Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic

“Kids had a blast at our first Gnomes and Nature painting day at Frank Charles Park,” according to the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy.

Howard Beach families this weekend took advantage of the pristine conditions and warm temperatures by gathering at Frank Charles Memorial Park for the first Gnomes and Nature Painting Day. Sunday’s event was hosted by the Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic and sponsored by City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) and the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy.

“What do gnomes, paint and nature have in common?

FUN! Kids had a blast at our first Gnomes and Nature painting day at Frank Charles Park,” the conservancy posted to its Facebook page. “May these magical gnomes bring good luck to gardens.”

Civic leaders added about Sunday’s success, “Thank you to everyone who attended and everyone who helped!

We will see you back the park on June 18 for our community painting event as we continue the revitalization of Charles Park.”

Photo Courtesy of Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic

The event was hosted by the Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic and sponsored by City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) and the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy.

4 | MAY 26, 2022 • Number 19 • VOL. 21 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

Photo Courtesy of Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic

Families had fun in the Sunday sun painting gnomes at the federal green space.

Photo Courtesy of Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic

Civic and conservancy members, along with Councilwoman Ariola (second from r.), stop for a pic on the beautiful spring day at Charles Park.

Pols Announce Climate Change Resolution

By Forum Staff Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. joined with City Councilmembers Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn), James Gennaro (D-Hillcrest), Shahana Hanif (D-Brooklyn), Carmen De La Rosa (D-Manhattan), Jennifer Gutiérrez (DQueens and Brooklyn), and Kevin Riley (D-Bronx) on Thursday to introduce a City Council resolution in support of the draft Climate Action Council Scoping Plan, calling on the Climate Action Council (CAC) and Gov. Kathy Hochul to fully implement the clean energy and zero greenhouse gas emissions reduction standards of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

Three years after the historic passage of the CLCPA, which is nationally regarded for having the strongest greenhouse gas reduction requirements in the country, including a commitment for New York to achieve a net-zero carbon economy by 2050 and a 100 percent zero emission electric sector by 2040, the CAC is now holding statewide hearings at it prepares to develop a final scoping plan that will guide the regulatory, legislative, and budgetary actions the state will take in order to reach these goals. However, with powerful fossil fuel companies spending millions to undermine the state’s climate and environmental justice mandates, the future of the CLCPA and New York’s clean energy agenda is in jeopardy, the pols said.

The purpose of this legislative resolution, called “Climate Plan to Protect New York” is to demonstrate that the authoritative voice of the Council — as representatives of over 8 million city residents — is behind the full implementation of the CLCPA and to call on the CAC and Hochul to ensure that its clean energy, climate justice and climate change policy targets are met. In recent years, the council has passed climate laws, a ban on gas hookups in new buildings. This resolution calls for similarly forceful actions statewide.

With nearly 70 percent of New York City’s power being produced by fossil fuel combustion, and low-income and communities of color bearing an inequitable burden of pollution, the elected officials said that the introduction of this resolution is intended to send a loud message: Climate change is a clear and present threat to the health and sustainability of our communities and the state must keep its promise by meeting the clean energy goals of the CLCPA. Resolution Key Provisions: • Decarbonizing New York City’s building stock will require an aggressive push toward large-scale building electrification, and widespread equitable access to air source and geothermal heat pumps, and energy efficiency upgrades and retrofits; • The Scoping Plan should include recommendations in support of all newly constructed buildings being all-electric by 2024, full electrification of building stock statewide, and the cessation of marketing and incentives for gas and fuel oil; • No new or repowered fossil fuel power plants should be permitted in New York; • The recommendations of the State’s Climate Justice and Just Transition Working Groups and frontline environmental justice leaders must be incorporated into the final recommendations for the Scoping Plan, including: year-by-year targets for transitioning to zero emissions electricity, widespread transportation electrification, and enhancement of transit, smart growth, and reduced vehicle miles traveled through bike and pedestrian infrastructure expansions.

“Fully implementing and funding the historic Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act will not only ensure New York’s place as a global leader on sustainability and renewable energy, it will save lives and protect our communities from future storms,” Richards said.

Photo Courtesy of Borough President Richards

Borough President Richards said that the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act will “save lives and protect our communities from future storms.”

The Pharmacist’s Corner

Presented by Frank Pantina, R.Ph

MEDS FOR YOUR PET: Don't just hand them out...

People always come into the pharmacy asking questions about giving animals over the counter (OTC) people meds.

No one wants to see their beloved pet suffer, but we need know that giving them NSAIDs or acetaminophen (Tylenol and oth¬er brands, which are not NSAIDs) out of our medicine cabinets may not be safe for dogs or cats, and doses vary widely.

Some OTC human pain relievers can be toxic–even deadly–in pets. Never give your animal something you take unless speaking with your vet first.

Similarly, pet owners shouldn't assume that a medicine good for one animal is nec¬essarily safe for another.

Rule number 1--Communicate with your vet.

Before giving your animal an NSAID: --Make sure you know what the medica¬tion is being prescribed for, how much to give and how long to give it.

--Discuss possible side effects and symp¬toms, especially those that require an imme¬diate call to the vet.

--Tell your veterinarian if the pet has a history of gastrointestinal problems, such as stomach ulcers, or surgery on the stom-

ach or intestines.

--Tell your veterinarian if your pet is on any other medications or supplements.

If your pet is on medication, make sure you ask your vet these questions: -Why is my pet on this medication and how long do I need to give it?

-How do I give the medication to my pet? Should it be given with food?

-How often should the medication be giv¬en and how much should I give each time? If it is a liquid, should I shake it first?

-How do I store the medication?

-What should I do if my pet vomits or spits out the medication?

-If I forget to give the medication, should I give it as soon as I remember?

-What if I accidently give too much?

-Should I finish all of the medication?

-Could this medication interact with oth¬ers?

-What reactions should I watch for?

-When do we comeback?

- Will you be calling me to check on my pet’s progress, or should I call you?

If you follow these simple rules, you and you best friend should enjoy a long healthy life together.

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.

Hundreds Recycle E-Waste at Forest Park Over 200 residents came out on Sunday to recycle their electronic waste via the Lower East Side Ecology Center at the Forest Park Bandshell Parking Lot at State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr.’s (D-Howard Beach) Spring E-waste Recycling event, cosponsored by Councilman Bob Holden (D-Middle Village) and Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (DWoodhaven).

If you missed this Ewaste recycling event, Addabbo’s Howard Beach and Middle Village offices are still accepting small electronics to be collected and recycled with the City Department of Sanitation EcycleNYC program. For more information about this program, call Addabbo’s office at (718) 738-1111.

Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 21 • Number 19 • MAY 26 2022 | 5

Pols Urge AG to Ensure Community-Based Groups are Prioritized for Grants to Combat Hate Crimes rick Garland to prioritize specific eligibility requirements for the newly created $5 million grant for Community-Based Approaches to Advancing Justice that was established through the Fiscal Year 2022 spending bill.

As community-based organizations have been critical in supporting victims and their families through the surge in hate crimes and incidents during the pandemic, this money will ensure that resources are flowing directly to the communities most impacted by such acts, the elected officials said.

The services highlighted in the lawmakers’ letter to Garland for priority consideration are: • Providing in-language victim/ Photo Courtesy of U.S. House of Representatives family support services: This encourages Rep. Grace Meng many different groups an increased ability to be successful in gaining access to legal,

By Forum Staff mental health and medical care services.

• Supporting data collection and reCongresswoman Grace Meng (DFlushing) and Sen. Maisie Hirono (D-HI) porting of anti-Asian bias incidents: Would recently called on Attorney General Mer- help further promote organizations that ac-

Sen. Maisie Hirono

Photo Courtesy U.S. Senate

tively help both law enforcement and those who wish to report hate crimes.

• Neighborhood safety programs: Would help organizations that provide de-escalation trainings, safety ambassador

programs, mental health, first aid and selfdefense training.

“One-year after the signing of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, our communities continue to process and recover from the trauma of being scapegoated for the spread of COVID-19. That is why we are urging Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice to prioritize grants to community organizations that are providing specific services for the communities who have been most impacted,” Meng said. “I have been in awe of the steps community organizations have taken to help the most vulnerable in our communities recover from and combat hate crimes and incidents. We must fight to ensure that our federal spending is flowing directly back into the community to provide care and support that is accessible.”

Meng and Hirono introduced the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act in March of 2021, and President Joe Biden signed it into law on May 20, 2021.

Hochul Announces Support for Package to Combat Rise in Domestic Terrorism

Photo Courtesy of Darren McGee/Office of the Governor

Governor Hochul signed the series of executive orders last week.

By Forum Staff Governor Kathy Hochul recently unveiled a comprehensive package to combat the steady rise in domestic terrorism and violent extremism, strengthen and close loopholes in state gun laws and crack down on social media platforms that host and amplify content that promotes and broadcasts violent, lawless acts and endangers our communities.

Among these measures, Hochul has issued two Executive Orders. The first Executive Order is designed to fight the troubling surge in domestic terrorism and violent extremism frequently inspired by, planned on and posted about on social media platforms and internet forums.

The Executive Order calls on the Division of Homeland

Security and Emergency Services to establish a new unit, dedicated solely to the prevention of domestic terrorism, within the Division’s Office of Counter Terrorism. This new unit will focus on threat assessment management, disbursing funding to localities to create and operate their own threat assessment management teams and utilizing social media to intervene in the radicalization process. It will also educate law enforcement members, mental health professionals and school officials on the recent uptick in domestic and homegrown violent extremism and radicalization, as well as create best practices for identifying and intervening in the radicalization process.

The Executive Order also calls on the State Police to establish a dedicated unit within the State Intelligence Center (NYSIC) to track domestic violent extremism

6 | MAY 26, 2022 • Number 19 • VOL. 21 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

through social media. The unit will develop investigative leads through social media analysis, with a specific focus on identifying possible threats and individuals motivated by radicalization and violent extremism. Finally, the Executive Order calls on every county to perform an exhaustive review of its current strategies, policies and procedures for confronting threats of domestic terrorism.

The second Executive Order will require State Police to file for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) under New York State’s Red Flag Law whenever they have probable cause to believe that an individual is a threat to themselves or others.

Hochul also issued a referral to the Office of the Attorney General to investigate and study the social media platforms that were utilized by the Buffalo shooting suspect to broadcast, promote, and facilitate violence, espouse hate, and legitimize replacement theory. Findings from the investigation will be used to enhance and build on the State’s strategy for combating hate and violent extremism.

As part of the package, Hochul is also pushing a series of legislative measures designed to help law enforcement investigate and prevent gun-related crimes. The governor is proposing new legislation to close the "other gun" loophole by revising and widening the definition of a firearm, making more guns subject to various preexisting firearm laws.

Hochul is also working with the Legislature to pass two bills to address and streamline the investigation of gun-related crimes. The first would set forth a process to require semiautomatic pistols manufactured or delivered to licensed dealers in New York to be microstampingenabled. Microstamping is an innovative ammunitionmarking technique that marks bullets and cartridge cases with a unique fingerprint each time a firearm is discharged.

This allows investigators to link bullets and casings recovered at crime scenes to a specific gun and potentially other crimes. The second piece of legislation would strengthen gun reporting protocols by requiring all law enforcement agencies to report the recovery of any crime gun within 24 hours of their discovery.

Man Gets 5 Years in Prison for Trans Threat

Photo Courtesy of Google

The transgender woman was threatened in an incident that occurred on 162nd Street in Jamaica.

By Forum Staff A Jamaica man has been sentenced to five years in prison for pointing an illegal firearm at a transgender woman in September 2021, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Monday.

Quame Truitt, 24, pleaded guilty earlier this month to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree before Queens Supreme Court Justice Frances Wang. On Monday, Wang sentenced Truitt as a violent predicate felon to five years in prison, to be followed by five years’ post-release supervision.

According to the court records, on Sept.

5, 2021, the woman was walking along 162nd Street in Jamaica just after 6 p.m. when she encountered Truitt. When the

two were near one another, Truitt reached toward his waist and told the victim, “You don’t belong here.”

Truitt then pulled a pistol from a bag and pointed it at the victim. The woman got away from the defendant and found a police officer in a nearby patrol car and alerted him of what had happened. She also provided the police officer with a description of the man who pointed a gun at her.

Truitt was apprehended a short time later and police recovered the firearm in an area trash can.

“The defendant threatened a transgender woman just because she is a transgender woman. The diversity of Queens County is our greatest strength and we will not tolerate acts of violence based on someone’s race, gender or appearance,” Katz said.

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 21 • Number 19 • MAY 26 2022 | 7

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DCP Releases Report on Waterfront Access, Ways to Better Connect More New Yorkers to the Shoreline

By Forum Staff Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick on Friday released “Assessing New Yorkers’ Access to NYC’s Waterfront,” a report that chronicles which waterfront communities offer good public access to the shore and those where access is more limited—and an update to DCP’s Waterfront Access Map. The map, which features profiles and helpful information on all of New York City’s waterfront public open spaces, and the report together emphasize the City’s commitment to making public access to the waterfront much more equitable, Garodnick said.

The report and map were released on 5/20 as part of DCP's annual celebration of NYC’s 520-mile-long shoreline, highlighting City efforts to better connect New Yorkers to our expansive waterfront.

Using detailed walkability and transit analyses, the report found nearly three million New Yorkers live within a half-mile of the waterfront and that approximately two million of them live within walking distance of a waterfront park or open space.

The remainder, about 800,000 people, do not. The report also found that more than 80 percent of the city’s 8.5 million residents are just a 30-minute bus or subway ride away from the waterfront.

The report was done to support efforts

by DCP, other city agencies, and open

File Photo

According to the DCP report, more than 80 percent of the city’s 8.5 million residents are just a 30-minute bus or subway ride away from the waterfront.

space advocates to expand access to the waterfront—and especially to close accessibility gaps in historically underserved communities. Expanding public waterfront access means more space for New Yorkers to exercise, relax, and interact with nature, and, more generally, be healthy.

The report highlights recent waterfront open space that successfully expanded public access in underserved areas, such as the North Shore of Staten Island and

the Bronx’s Harlem River waterfront, and highlights how DCP’s Comprehensive Waterfront Plan addresses long-term strategies for expanding waterfront public access across the city. Achieving equity in access to the waterfront requires addressing physical barriers, such as highways, that have cut off communities from their own shorelines for decades.

“New York City’s waterfront is one of our best assets – a source of fun, relaxation,

transportation, work, and much more. Every New Yorker should be able to reach and enjoy our shoreline and experience all it has to offer,” Garodnick said.

First released in 2018, DCP’s Waterfront Access Map offers New Yorkers easily accessible information about the many access points to the waterfront and across all five boroughs. The map highlights public parks and open space created along the waterfront since 2018, such as West Farms Park in The Bronx and Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn. The map also includes 300,000 square feet (or over seven acres) of recently certified Waterfront Public Access Areas—required publiclyaccessible space along the waterfront that is built and maintained by private developers of medium to high-density buildings.

It provides details on where and what type of amenities are available—so how to locate boating and in-water recreation opportunities, volleyball courts or fishing spots—and which transit options, such as bike, ferry, or subway routes, are near the publicly accessible shoreline of your choice. It allows the public to easily filter the data by features, like outdoor art exhibit or a dog run. It also offers information about how these open spaces were created and how they are maintained.

For more information, visit nyc.gov/ dcp.

Mayor, Governor Launch ‘New’ New York Panel on Future of Area Economies

By Forum Staff

Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday launched a “New” New York blue-ribbon panel to examine the future of New York City and the region’s economy, to be led by co-chairs Robin Hood CEO Richard Buery and former Sidewalk Labs CEO Daniel Doctoroff.

The “New” New York panel — one of the proposals Adams first announced in his “Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery” plan in March — will develop actionable strategies for the resurgence and resilience of the city’s commercial districts. The initiative also builds upon Hochul’s 2022 State of the State agenda and Fiscal Year 2023 State budget.

The “New” New York panel’s recommendations will focus on how and where people work as well as the mix and use of space in key employment centers, with a goal of minimizing vacancy, catalyzing vibrancy, and bolstering the tax base. It will also inform New York City’s path to an inclusive economic recovery with increased opportunities for New Yorkers to thrive in family-sustaining jobs.

The panel will identify high-impact ideas to spur the equitable recovery of the New York City region by addressing the

changing needs of workers, residents, and companies stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the longstanding and systemic challenges of underserved workers and entrepreneurs. Comprised of a broad and diverse cross-section of civic leaders and industry experts, the panel is charged with creating a shared city-state agenda for investments, legislation, development projects, infrastructure, and longterm, transformative initiatives. The panel is expected to convene in June and present recommendations before the end of 2022.

The panel will focus on transforming the city’s job centers, including Midtown Manhattan, and other neighborhoods to support the ways people will live and work in the future. It will also identify key industries of the future, areas for regional cooperation especially related to infrastructure, and robust talent development opportunities to position local workers for careers in those industries.

The panel is expected to focus its efforts across three sets of goals: (1) investing in placemaking, (2) growing future industries, and (3) supporting our people. Specific goals will be developed by the panel, and additional panelists will be announced in the coming weeks.

“While our city continues to add jobs at a faster rate than the rest of the coun-

try, we have more work to do to ensure all New Yorkers can access family sustaining careers,” Adams said. “The experts on our ‘New’ New York panel will identify actionable strategies to build a more equitable economy, reimagine our central business districts, and prepare our city to lead in the industries of the future.”

Hochul added, “It is critical that we find new, innovative solutions to move New York’s economy forward as we continue to build back better than ever from the COVID pandemic. The ‘New’ New York panel is laying the groundwork today to usher in a brighter tomorrow, and their expertise will help support bold initiatives in every corner of the state.”

Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

“The experts on our ‘New’ New York panel will identify actionable strategies to build a more equitable economy, reimagine our central business districts, and prepare our city to lead in the industries of the future,” Mayor Adams said.

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 21 • Number 19 • MAY 26 2022 | 9

Flushing Man, Four Chinese Intelligence Officers Charged with Spying

Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace announced the indictment last week.

By Forum Staff An indictment was recently returned in federal court in Brooklyn charging Shujun Wang, a U.S. citizen and Flushing resident, and four officials from China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), with conspiracy and other charges related to an espionage and transnational repression scheme. The four MSS officers are Feng He, also known as “Boss He,” Jie Ji, Ming Li, also known as “Elder Tang” and “Little Li,” and Keqing Lu, also known as “Boss Lu.”

File Photo

Wang was previously arrested on March 16; he will be arraigned at a later date. He, Ji, Li, and Lu remain at large.

Wang, 73, is a well-known academic and author who helped start a pro-democracy organization in Flushing that opposes the current communist regime in China. However, as alleged, since at least 2011, Wang has used his position and status within the Chinese diaspora and dissident communities to covertly collect information about prominent activists and human rights leaders on behalf of the MSS and PRC. He, Ji,

Li, and Lu acted as Wang’s handlers, directing Wang to target specific individuals and groups that the PRC considers subversive, such as Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, advocates for Taiwanese independence, and Uyghur and Tibetan activists, and obtain information on particular topics and matters of importance to the MSS. As alleged in the indictment, Wang communicated and provided information to the MSS, including to He, Ji, Li, and Lu, by using encrypted messaging applications and emails, as well as during face-to-face meetings in the PRC. Wang often memorialized the information he collected in email “diaries” to be accessed by the MSS. These “diaries” included details about Wang’s private conversations with prominent dissidents, as well as the activities of pro-democracy activists and human rights organizations. A search of Wang’s residence incident to his arrest revealed approximately 163 “diary” entries Wang wrote to He, Ji, Li, and Lu and other MSS officials.

For example, in one series of communications on or about Nov. 22, 2016, Ji instructed Wang to interface with a particular attendee at an upcoming pro-democracy event and to “accomplish the task” assigned by the “Boss,” referring to Lu. Ji noted that

the attendee of interest had contacts with “Tibetans, Uyghurs and Mongolians” and wished Wang good luck at getting “good results.” In another exchange on or about Nov. 16, 2016, Wang informed Li that he “just finished chatting” with a prominent human rights activist, noting that he asked the “necessary questions” and received “candid” answers. Li responded “great” and with a thumbs-up emoji, instructing Wang to write it in a “diary.” At least one Hong Kong democracy activist and dissident that Wang reported on to the MSS, identified as “Hong Kong Dissident #1” in the indictment, was subsequently arrested by the PRC. In addition to this conduct, the indictment alleges that Wang transferred to the MSS and possessed telephone numbers and contact information belonging to Chinese dissidents, as well as made materially false statements to federal law enforcement, falsely denying that he had contacts with PRC officials or the MSS. “Today’s indictment exposes and disrupts an operation by the PRC that threatens the safety and freedom of Chinese nationals residing in the United States on account of their pro-democracy beliefs and speech,” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said.

Man Charged with Murder, Sex Trafficking Women in Queens and Brooklyn

By Forum Staff A 10-count indictment was unsealed Tuesday in federal court in Brooklyn charging a Brooklyn man with the 2017 murder of one woman and with sex trafficking eight women, according to prosecutors.

This indictment is believed to be the first use of the federal statute criminalizing murder in the course of sex trafficking, officials said.

According to the indictment in this case and other court filings, since at least 2003, Somorie Moses, 45, allegedly forced women and girls, including minors, into prostitution for his benefit using violence, threats of violence, and psychological manipulation. After meeting his victims, Moses used false promises of love and marriage to initiate sexual relationships with them before demanding that they work as prostitutes and turn over the money they earned to him. Moses used brutal beatings, rape, torture, and threats to coerce his victims to work in prostitution in Brooklyn and Queens and to comply with his orders. Moses pressured many of his victims into getting his first name, “Somorie,” tattooed on their bodies.

As alleged, Moses used extreme violence to force his victims to work in prostitution for his benefit. For example,

Photo Courtesy FBI

“Words do not adequately convey the depravity of the long list of actions Moses allegedly took to torment and terrorize women so he could traffic them for money,” said FBI NY Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.

when one victim refused to engage in prostitution, Moses used a taser against her until she complied. On another occasion, Moses slashed a victim’s arms and back with a razor and beat her with a belt before pouring lemon juice on her wounds, leaving her permanently scarred. When another victim did not do as Moses ordered, he beat her with an

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extension cord and threatened to rub salt in her wounds. When another victim told Moses she did not want to work as a prostitute, he put a shotgun in her mouth and threatened to kill her and her child.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 13, 2017, Moses allegedly murdered Leondra Foster, one of his many sex trafficking victims, by beating her until she died.

The following morning, using a knife and a saw, Moses dismembered Foster’s body inside their shared apartment in Brooklyn, New York. Four days later, on the morning of Jan. 17, 2017, Moses brought Foster’s torso and limbs to the Bronx for disposal at a sanitation site. Foster’s head, hands and feet — including a foot with the name “Somorie” tattooed on it — were subsequently recovered by law enforcement inside the deep freezer of Moses’s apartment.

“Words do not adequately convey the depravity of the long list of actions Moses allegedly took to torment and terrorize women so he could traffic them for money,” said FBI NY Assistant Director-inCharge Michael Driscoll. “He's accused of storing a woman's head in his freezer after he killed her. Imagine how hard it is for his victims to come forward—but they have and should be commended for their bravery. They will help us bring Moses to justice for his alleged crimes, and will keep him from harming another human being.”

If convicted of the murder charge, Moses faces life imprisonment, and is eligible for the death penalty.

The government’s investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about crimes perpetrated by Somorie Moses is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI, and reference this case.

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THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 21 • Number 19 • MAY 26 2022 | 13

Legal Notices GEM HUNTING TRADING LLC Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY)4/15/2022. Cty: Queens.

SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to GEM HUNTING TRADING LLC, 88-04 CORONA AVE, 1 FL, ELMHURST, NY, 11373, USA**. General Purpose.

86-13 94th Street LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/18/2022. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Warner Wai Jit Moy, 86-17 94th St., Woodhaven, NY 11421. General Purpose.

SIKDER TAXI 2 LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 4/18/2022. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 88-39 HOLLIS COURT BLVD, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY, 11427. Purpose: Any lawful activity.‍ THE WALKER GROUP VENTURES, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 03/08/22.

Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to WAYNE BROWN, 130-16 228TH STREET, LAURELTON, NY, 11413, USA. General Purpose.

JANEL CAMPBELL NP IN FAMILY HEALTH, PLLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/18/21. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to THE PLLC, 112-16 176TH STREET, JAMAICA, NY, 11433, USA. General Purpose.

Notice of formation of EIGHT NYC HOLDINGS LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/21/22. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to:4148 68th St., 3/F, Woodside, NY 11377.

Purpose: any lawful act.

Easy Movements L.L.C., Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 4/6/2022. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Imran Imtiaz Khan, 111-34 130th St., South Ozone Park, NY 11420. General Purpose

Notice of formation of Young Ambitious Enterprise LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 04/07/2022. Office located in Queens. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC 240-17 143rd Ave Rosedale NY 11422. Purpose: Any lawful purpose

Notice of formation of EE GLOBAL LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 04/25/2022. Office located in Queens. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY Shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC to JOSE FARJARDO, 15021 107TH AVE., FL-1, JAMAICA, NY, 11433. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of AI-TOP LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 07/25/2021. Office located in Queens.

SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY Shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC to 1335 Bell Blvd Bayside, NY 11360. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

DONCH LLC, Arts of Org filed with SSNY on 03/15/22. Off. Loc.: Queens County, SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: TJorge Meneses, 45-18 Pearson Street, Long Island City, New York, 11101. Purpose: to engage in any lawful activity.

MMJ Homes LLC, Arts of Org filed with SSNY on 04/21/22. Off. Loc.: Queens County, SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: The LLC, 133-12 84th St, Ozone Park, NY 11417. Purpose: to engage in any lawful act.

32-52 45TH STREET LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/26/22.

Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 31-16 30th Avenue, Suite 304, Astoria, NY 11102. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

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ALL RED BLUE MECHANICAL LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/18/22. Office: Queens County.

SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to THE LLC, 31-37 102nd Street, 1 FL, East Elmhurst, NY 11369, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

POOLSIDE EATS LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/10/22.

Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 30-53 36th Street, Astoria, NY 11103.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Benelli Properties LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 4/1/2022. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 155-28 102 St., Howard Beach, NY 11414. General Purpose.

SNT TAXI LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/19/2022. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Mohammed Z. Hossain, 40-16 Crescent St. 54, Long Island City, NY 11101. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

15849 Owners LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/25/2022. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Dragisa Fljankovic, C/O Ragno & Ragno, Esqs., 95-09 101st Ave., Ozone Park, NY 11416. General Purpose.

BABA ESTATE 1 LLC filed Arts. of Org. with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/2/2022. Office: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: The LLC, 71-05 Myrtle Ave., Glendale, NY 11385. Purpose: any lawful act.

Notice of formation of ANGESSY HOME IMPROVEMENTS LLC. Art. Of Org. filed with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/23/22. Office in Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 9608 42ND AVE CORONA, NY, 11368. Purpose: Any lawful purpose CONFIDENT KIND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT ZONE PT AND OT, PLLCLLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/21/21.

Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the Heather Hurley-Cook, 34 Sherman Ave., Rockville Center, NY, 11570, USA Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of limited liability company (LLC) Peanut Loves Bug LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (SSNY) on May 13, 2022. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. Address to which SSNY shall mail a copy of process: 46-30 Center Blvd., Unit 901, Long Island City, NY 11109

For the best service and prices for classified ads and legal notices Call The Forum 718-845-3221

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