THE FORUM NEWSGROUP | OCTOBER 13, 2022

COLUMBUS DAY ON CROSS BAY Howard Beach Celebrates Italian Heritage on Boulevard

Thanks to Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) and the Howard Beach Columbus Day Foundation, area residents once again celebrated Columbus Day on Cross Bay Boulevard. Also this week, Ariola delivered remarks at a reception celebrating Italian heritage at Gracie Mansion.

Howard Beach Celebrates Columbus Day on Cross Bay

By Michael V. Cusenza

A cherished Howard Beach tradition returned to the proud South Queens en clave this weekend as hundreds of families gathered on Cross Bay Boulevard to mark

Columbus Day and celebrate their Italian heritage.

“What an amazing day celebrating Columbus Day on Cross Bay Boule vard in Howard Beach! Thank you to all of the businesses who participated

and made this event possible! Thank you to the Howard Beach Columbus Day Foundation for organizing this extraordinary day!” City Council woman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) tweeted.

“Today we celebrate the contributions of millions of Americans of Italian de scent,” she continued, “and the beginning of the cultural exchange between Europe and the Americas that shaped the modern world and led to us all being here today.”

Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola

Even our Bravest had a great time on Sunday.

Photo Courtesy of Councilman Holden Ariola joined Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth; holding microphone) Monday at the Columbus dinner dance by the Associazione Culturale di New York.

Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola Hundreds a ended Sunday’s festivities on Cross Bay Boulevard.

Photo Courtesy of Assemblywoman Phe er Amato Assemblywoman Stacey Phe er Amato (D-Howard Beach) delivers remarks at the Cross Bay bash.

Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola Everybody got in the Italian holiday spirit!

Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola Councilwoman Ariola delivers remarks at Gracie Mansion’s Columbus Day reception.

QueensLink Supporters Hold Rally in Rockaway

By Michael V. Cusenza

Elected o cials, community groups, and tran sit advocates on Sunday gathered on the Rockaway Beach Boardwalk at Beach 92nd Street to rally for more transit options in Queens.

Proponents of the QueensRail are devoted to the reactivation of the Rockaway Beach Rail Line either as part of the Long Island Rail Road or, more likely, the City subway system. e defunct spur was put into service in the late 19th Century under the control of the LIRR and connected Rockaway and southern Queens with Rego Park, provided area residents with expedient access to other parts of the city, and 40-minute commutes to Midtown Manha an from the Rockaway Peninsula. In the early 1960s, parts of the railroad service were con densed, sectioned o , and it eventually closed in 1962.

e rail movement absorbed a crushing blow last month when Mayor Eric Adams announced a $35 million investment for design and construc tion of the Metropolitan Hub in Queens—phase one of a new multi-phase, long-discussed greenway and park project called QueensWay.

According to Adams, this phase of the proj ect will transform a vacant, city-owned corridor in Forest Hills into a ve-acre park with 0.7 miles of greenway, providing residents with new open space, improved access to recreational amenities, outdoor education opportunities for students, and a safe transportation corridor connecting people to schools, businesses, and 10 bus lines. e New York City Economic Development Corporation will manage the construction of the Met Hub in collaboration with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks). e funding includes $2.5 million from the City Council.

File Photo

Proponents of the QueensRail are devoted to the reactivation of the Rockaway Beach Rail Line.

Photo

Maspeth Man Indicted in September Stabbing

According to the charges, on Monday, Sept. 19, at approximately 2:40 a.m., the defendant became in volved in a dispute with the victim Freddy Jimenez at a bus stop near the intersection of 69th Street and Roo sevelt Avenue. The defendant stabbed the victim mul tiple times with a knife then left the scene. Police later recovered a knife from a backyard nearby.

Continuing, said DA Katz, Jimenez was transported by emergency medical service personnel to Queens Hospital Center and died later that morning from his injuries.

District Attorney Katz added, “As alleged, the defen dant viciously took the life of another man over little more than a heated exchange of words on the street. We will not tolerate violence infiltrating our daily in teractions and destroying of our sense of public safety in Queens County. He has been indicted and now faces justice in our courts.”

If convicted, Osorio faces 25 years to life in prison.

By Forum Sta

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Tuesday that Olmedo Osorio has been indicted for allegedly stabbing a 55-year-old man to death dur ing a dispute across from a Woodside bar last month.

Osorio, 46, was arraigned Tuesday before Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant on an indictment charging him with murder in the second degree, tampering with physical evidence and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. Pandit-Durant ordered the defendant to return to court on Nov.

Photo Courtesy of Google

Jimenez was rushed to Queens Hospital Center and died later that morning om his injuries.

Photo Courtesy of Google

Osorio stabbed Jimenez to death at this bus stop near the intersection of 69th Street and Roosevelt Avenue.

Gun Violence Bills Signed into Law

By Forum Sta

Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday signed two bills aimed at tackling the scourge of gun violence in New York City and ensure that the city is safer for all, especially in light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.

The first of the bills helps to track data from illegal gun trafficking with in New York City, while the second bill designates the new boundaries of the Times Square sensitive location, which prohibits the concealed carry ing of firearms within the sensitive zone, even by permit.

“Millions of New Yorkers and tourists flock to Times Square to see Broadway shows, enjoy a good meal, and take photos of the neon bill boards, and we will not allow them to live in fear or distrust that someone is walking around with a gun ready to harm them,” said Adams. “Today, with the signing of Intro. 602, we enshrine into law that Times Square is a gun free zone, and Intro. 518-A will help us address the flow of illegal guns into our city. We will continue to work with our partners on the City Council to dam the many rivers feeding the sea of gun violence and keep New Yorkers safe.”

Intro 518-A requires MOCJ to co ordinate with the NYPD to conduct a study and issue an annual report to the mayor and City Council speaker on the trafficking of illegal firearms into New York City. The report — re quired to be submitted no later than December 1st of this year and an nually thereafter — will include in formation on each firearm seized or surrendered to the NYPD, such as the date and location the firearm was

seized, the type of firearm, whether the firearm was connected to a crime, and other information relevant to tracking the trafficking of illegal fire arms. Additionally, the study and re port will include a review of the ways firearms are illegally transported into New York City, and recommendations on how municipalities, states, and the federal government can better collab orate to prevent the transportation of illegal firearms, as well as other rec ommendation on efforts to reduce gun violence.

Intro. 602-A defines the boundar ies of the Times Square sensitive lo cation, in accordance with the state’s recently passed Concealed Carry Im provement Act. The legislation also authorizes the NYPD to promulgate rules to implement the bill, includ ing rules applicable, as appropriate, to those with a concealed carry license who live or work in the area commonly known as Times Square.

“The U.S. Supreme Court’s harm ful decision to strike down New York’s century-old gun laws places New York ers at risk of increased gun violence,” said City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “After our partners in the State Legislature passed sensible legislation to limit the areas where a person can carry a weapon, the Council complet ed its duty to define the Times Square area, one of the ‘sensitive locations’ where strict firearm regulations are enforced. This bill and Council Mem ber Abreu’s legislation to study and report on the trafficking of illegal fire arms represent important efforts to prevent an exacerbation of the gun vi olence crisis. We remain deeply com mitted to addressing the root causes of this crisis and pursuing solutions and investments that keep our communi ties safe.”

The

Corner

FOOD ALLERGIES Understanding Them

Food allergies or food intolerances af fect nearly all of us at some time. People having unpleasant reactions to food o en wonder if it had something to do with what they had to eat.

One out of three people believe food allergies have something to do with an other family member having the same allergy. In reality though, numbers show only about 5% of children and 4% of teens and adults have family related allergies.

e di erence between clinically sup ported food allergies and what people think is causing the problem is maily be cause of reactions brought on by what we call a food intolerance.

Lactose intolerance is something we've all heard about and seen many products that deal with the condition.

It’s important to know the di erence between intolerance and a true allergic reaction.

A food allergy is an abnormal response to food triggered by the immune system.

e immune system is not responsible for symptoms of a food intolerance, even though these symptoms can resemble one another. Being allergic to milk is very dif ferent from not being able to digest it due to lactose intolerance.

relatively small percentage of peo ple with true alergies to certain foods,

have to identiy the allergies beacuse it could save their lives. People who have true food allergies must prevent these al lergic reactions because they can cause devastating illness and, in some cases, be fatal.

An allergic reaction to food can af fect the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, the respiratory tract, and, in the most serious cases, the cardiovascular system.

Reactions can range from mild to severe, including the potentially life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis. In the U.S., food allergy symptoms send some one to the emergency room every three minutes.

Mild symptoms may include one or more of the following: hives, Eczema,redness of the skin or around the eyes,i tchy mouth or ear canal,nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, nasal congestion or a runny nose, sneezing, slight dry cough, odd taste in mouth and uterine contractions.

If you experience any of these symp toms you should discuss them with your pharmacist or physician right away.

Remember, being prepared for an al lergic reaction can o en mean the di er ence between an unpleasant experience and a life threatening situation.

Until next week…

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.

Cops, Community Honor Slain Detective

Fellow Finest, family, and friends gath ered at 118th Street and Jamaica Avenue on Saturday to honor Det. Brian Simonsen by co-naming that part of 118th Street “Detec tive Brian Simonsen Way.”

Simonsen was shot and killed on Feb. 12, 2019, by friendly re in the line of duty a er two crooks tried to rob a Richmond Hill cell phone store.

Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography O ce

Photo Courtesy of

Officials Visit Flooding Sites in Forest Hills

made last month to Mayor Adams which was echoed by Schulman.

ey also toured and surveyed hard hit and vulnerable locations including the Fairview apartment building at 61-20 Grand Central Parkway, Kessel Street and Selfridge Street and several parts of Yellow stone Boulevard.

“ e lives of so many constituents were turned upside down by the unprecedented ooding and extensive damage from Ida with several Queens residents losing their lives in the storm,” said Meng and Schul man. “Many local homeowners also sus tained damage during recent ooding that impacted our borough. Combating this problem must be a top priority for our city. e threat of future oods will continue, which is why we are again calling for im

mediate action. We thank Commissioner Aggarwala for meeting and surveying sus ceptible spots with us, and look forward to working with him to address this urgent is sue.”

Meng also joined Councilwoman San dra Ung (D-Flushing) and DEP o cials ursday night in Flushing for a town hall meeting about the problem where she re newed her call for the city and state to use money from the federal infrastructure bill – signed into law late last year – to upgrade sewers and catch basins in Queens. In ad dition, Meng highlighted the importance of her House-passed legislation that would authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to spend up to nearly $120 million to work with the City of New York in upgrading en vironmental infrastructure in the borough.

By Forum Sta

Congresswoman Grace Meng (DFlushing) and Councilwoman Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills) recently joined New York City’s Chief Climate Of ficer and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala in Forest Hills to visit areas impacted by recent flooding after the law makers requested that he and his agency help combat the problem in The World’s Borough.

Last year, Queens was devastated by the remnants of Hurricane Ida which caused unprecedented ooding and damage, and local residents endured more oods last month when heavy rainfall hit New York.

During the visit, Meng, Schulman and Aggarwala discussed the problem of ood ing in the area. ey also discussed poten tial strategies and solutions including the two legislators calling for the city to look into implementing a voluntary buyout pro gram for homes that are at risk of severe ooding during storms, a request Meng

Districting Commission Votes to Submit Revised Plan to City Council

By Forum Sta

e City Districting Commission on ursday voted 13-1 to submit the 51 new ly drawn City Council district maps to the council. ese maps were revised from the preliminary plan published by the commis sion in July and a proposed revised plan in September that was not approved by the commission.

e maps represent a response to over 12,500 submissions o ered by New York ers in person or via Zoom during more

than 35 hours of public hearings; by email; and by regular mail.

A new plan is drawn by the Districting Commission every ten years following the U.S. Census. e Commission is made up of 15 members appointed by the Mayor and the City Council. e Commission drew this plan following the requirements under the U.S. Constitution, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (V ), state law, and the City Charter of New York. e challenge in drawing these plans this year was the city’s explosive population

growth to 8.8 million according to the 2020 Census: the city grew by 630,000 people –the equivalent of the entire population of the city of Memphis. Fi y- ve percent of this new population is Asian. Twenty-four percent is Hispanic.

At the same time the population of non-Hispanic Blacks in the city decreased by 84,000 while the white population de creased by 3,000 people overall.

To re ect these major new population changes and bring the new districts in line with the new 5% deviation state law, the Re vised Plan has a range of 168,560 to 177,204 persons (the previous law had a 10% per missible deviation.)

Now, the population in these Council Districts cannot deviate from a range of 5% deviation from 172,882, the ideal district population. e maps were revised from the preliminary plan, creat ing a Staten Island-Brooklyn “cross-over” in District 50, to more balance the other 48 districts in population, and ve borough dis trict allocations throughout the city.

To ensure that the Revised Plan is in compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Commission has engaged Dr. Lisa Handley, a national expert on Racial Bloc Voting Analysis (RBV). Her analysis has shown that the Revised Plan continues to provide minority voters with

“New York is still growing, ever changing, and our urban democracy is alive and well,” said Chairman Walco .

an opportunity to elect their preferred can didates. Black, Hispanic and Asian voters maintain their voting strength; and Asians, as the fastest growing minority group in the city, have the opportunity to elect their candidates of choice, in a new drawn dis trict 43 in Brooklyn.

Commission Chairman Dennis Walco noted: “Overall, the redistricting process has revealed New Yorkers’ diversity, dyna mism and public participation, despite the pandemic and socioeconomic challenges. New York is still growing, ever changing, and our urban democracy is alive and well.”

e Revised Plan and video of the meeting of the Districting Commission will be available for viewing on its website: nyc.gov/districting.

Photo by Rep. Meng Councilwoman Schulman speaks during last week’s the ood-site tour

Photo Courtesy of Google e vulnerable Fairview apartment building on the Grand Central Parkway.

File Photo

City Economy Benefits from Playoff Baseball Games

By Forum Staff

Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday an nounced that the 2022 Major League Baseball postseason is expected to generate a minimum of $93 million in economic activity for New York City — stimulating local businesses, creating jobs and economic opportu nity for New Yorkers across the five boroughs, and continuing to drive the city’s economic recovery.

According to Adams, each home playoff game played by the Yankees and the three already played by the Mets in the Wild Card series is pro jected to generate more than $15 mil lion of economic impact, and — with both teams playing multiple home playoff games for the first time since 2006 — the 2022 postseason could be particularly beneficial to the city’s economic recovery.

“Just like New York City, playoff baseball is back,” said Adams. “Each time someone spends money in a res taurant, a stadium, a retail store, or a hotel, we make sure a dishwasher, a chef, a bartender, a waiter, or thou sands of other workers are employed — and the 2022 MLB postseason will support local businesses and local jobs by generating close to $100 mil lion in economic activity for the city. I want to thank the Mets and Yankees

for their partnership in New York City’s comeback, so let’s play ball and continue to ‘Get Stuff Done’ for our city’s recovery.”

each of the three Mets postseason home games already played this year were expected to generate an eco nomic impact of $16.9 million.

“Congrats to the Mets on a great sea son, and good luck to the Yankees.”

“Postseason baseball is back in New York City, and with that comes a huge boom to our economy,” said NYCEDC President and CEO An drew Kimball. “We have already seen the enormous economic impact the Mets home playoff series had and are looking forward to a long playoff run from the Yankees and the economic benefits to New York City that come with it.”

“October baseball is here, and with it comes millions of dollars in economic activity — a grand slam for small businesses, workers, and fans in every borough,” added City De partment of Small Business Services Commissioner Kevin D. Kim. “Con gratulations to the Yankees and Mets on what has already been a historic season!”

A new analysis from the New York City Economic Development Corpo ration (NYCEDC) found that each upcoming Yankees postseason home game is expected to generate an eco nomic impact of $21.5 million. A similar NYCEDC analysis found that

“In New York City, baseball means business. And with each postseason game — and may there be many — the impact for local businesses and our economy grows,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer.

NYCEDC’s analysis accounts for ticket sales, spending from over 30,000 visitors for each playoff home game from outside of New York City, and additional earnings for sea sonal employees at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, as well as other fac tors. These impacts stimulate growth in the local economy, creating op portunities and jobs for New Yorkers and spending that is reinvested in the City of New York.

Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography O ce

“[T]he 2022 MLB postseason will support local businesses and local jobs by generating close to $100 million in economic activity for the city,” Mayor Adams said.

NYC Tech Boom Partially Offset City’s Pandemic Job Losses: DiNapoli

By Forum Sta

Jobs in New York City’s technology sector grew over the course of the CO VID-19 pandemic, while most other economic sectors suffered job losses, ac cording to a report released Wednesday by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. The report found that tech sector employment in New York City increased by 33.6% (43,430 jobs) from 2016 to 2021 to reach a record high of 172,570 jobs. The city’s private sector lost 3.3% of jobs during this same period.

While other industries struggled, New York City’s tech sector expanded during the COVID pandemic as people became more reliant on technology during the lockdowns and the shi to working from home. As total private sector employment declined by 12.6% (494,810 jobs) in 2020, the tech sector grew by 9.4% (14,340 jobs), the largest growth since 2012.

Amid the pandemic, tech jobs also grew in other “nontech” businesses (such as in retail trade) that employ tech workers like so ware developers or computer pro grammers. When combined with the jobs in nontech sectors, the city had a total of 281,100 tech jobs in 2021, 58% higher than in 2011.

Where Are the Jobs: Nearly 90% (150,400) of the tech sector jobs in the city were located in Manhattan, followed by 7.6% (13,160 jobs) in Brooklyn, where the borough saw tech employment in

crease by 42.6% from 2016 to 2021. Tech industry jobs increased slightly in Queens and declined in the Bronx and Staten Is land.

• Subsectors: Computer systems design is the largest subsector of tech in New York City, accounting for almost 40% of tech sector employment in 2021. e

fastest growing tech subsector in the past ve years was so ware publishers, includ ing app developers, whose employment more than quadrupled.

• Who Works in the Sector: With an average age of 38, New York City’s tech sector has one of the youngest workforces when compared to the average of 41 years

in the rest of the private sector. Workers in the tech sector are also overwhelmingly college educated. However, the sector is less diverse than the rest of the city’s private sector workforce. In 2020, over half (54%) of tech workers identi ed as White or Cau casian, much higher than the share of 40% among all other workers. Less than 29% of tech workers were women, a much lower share than the rest of the overall workforce share of 47%.

• High Pay: In 2021, the average sal ary in tech reached $228,620, almost dou ble the average ($117,810) of the total pri vate sector in New York City. e average salary in tech had the second largest growth in the past ve years out of all sectors with over 2,000 employees.

• Impact on Real Estate: By 2020, technology, advertising, media and infor mation business rms accounted for onequarter of total real estate leasing in the city, a rate that more than doubled since 1990. Fears of an economic recession have slowed tech leasing in the rst eight months of 2022.

While the pandemic provided a signi cant boost to the tech sector, rapid growth experienced in 2020 began to slow nation wide and locally in 2021, a trend that has continued in 2022, DiNapoli said. As rms navigate challenges amid a looming reces sion, the city must continue to monitor trends in tech employment to understand the future direction of the sector and its oc cupations.

First ‘City of Yes’ Public Meeting Set for Oct. 17

By Forum Sta

e Department of City Planning (DCP) announced Wednesday that it will hold the rst public information session on the mayor’s “City of Yes” proposals on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.

e proposals seek to modernize and rationalize zoning rules to help the City re cover more quickly from the pandemic, to create a greener city, to support small busi ness growth, and to incentivize the creation of housing, at all levels, in all City neigh borhoods, DCP o cials noted.

Queens communities were changed forever a er Superstorm Sandy.

“

e City of Yes proposals are designed to speed up our recovery, and to create a healthier and more a ordable city, so we are excited to begin the public conversa tion. We are starting this process early, while we are still dra ing the plan, in order to ensure robust community engagement. We hope people turn out to share their views,” said Dan Garodnick, Department of City Planning director and chairman of the City Planning Commission.

e “City of Yes” initiative includes three zoning text amendments that will up date New York City’s zoning rules as part of Adams’ vision for a more inclusive and equitable city. e proposals include:

• Zoning for Zero Carbon (ZZC) aims to modernize the zoning regulations in support of our climate goals. e chang es would focus on supporting a renewable energy grid, making our buildings clean and e cient, support for electric vehicle charging and micro-mobility options, and reducing waste and stormwater.

• Zoning for Economic Opportu nity (ZEO) is focused on providing our small businesses with the exibility needed to for them to change and grow, especially as the city recovers from COVID-19. e proposals would remove unnecessary and outdated limitations on small businesses and ensure that our storefronts are occu

pied, and our neighborhoods remain lively spaces.

• Zoning for Housing Opportunity (ZHO) is a direct response to our City’s housing crisis. is inclusive, citywide approach to expanding and diversifying the housing supply, will ensure that every neighborhood does its part to help meet housing needs and provide equitable ac cess to housing for all New Yorkers.

To learn more about “City of Yes,” visit https://www1.nyc.gov/site/planning/ plans/city-of-yes/city-of-yes-overview. page.

Photo Courtesy of DCP

Photo Courtesy William Alatriste/NYC Council Dan Garodnick

Photo Courtesy of State Comptroller DiNapoli

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli

Sunnyside Man Convicted of Laundering Bitcoin and Operating Unlicensed Money transmitting Business

By Forum Sta

A jury in Brooklyn federal court has convicted Mustafa Goklu, also known as “Mustangy,” of money laundering and op erating an unlicensed money transmitting business as part of a scheme to launder the purported Bitcoin proceeds of drug traf ficking, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

As proven at trial, in July 2018, DEA special agents identified an advertise

ment posted on localbitcoins.com where an individual with the username “Mus tangy” offered to purchase up to $99,999 worth of bitcoins (“BTC”), a digital cur rency also known as cryptocurrency, and convert them into U.S. currency for a fee. Law enforcement agents later identified Goklu as the individual using the user name Mustangy. On July 11, 2018, a DEA Special Agent acting in an undercover capacity (the “UC”) began exchanging encrypted text messages with Goklu to arrange in-person exchanges of BTC to U.S. currency. The UC and the defendant subsequently met and engaged in seven transactions or attempted exchanges of BTC to cash over a nine-month period, culminating in Goklu’s arrest in April 2019. The UC indicated to the defendant on multiple occasions that the source of the BTC the defendant was exchanging was narcotics trafficking and that as part of the UC’s business he sold oxycodone, Adderall, and marijuana. The transac tions occurred in the defendant’s parked Mercedes-Benz, at a coffee shop in Sun nyside and locations in Manhattan. The amounts exchanged at each transaction ranged from approximately $5,000 to

$50,000 for a total of $133,000. During each transaction, the UC transferred BTC to Goklu’s cryptocurrency wallet, after which the defendant retained a seven or eight percent commission fee and pro vided the UC with the remaining amount

in cash. The evidence introduced at trial also showed that the defendant was en gaged in similar illicit Bitcoin exchanges with multiple other individuals. When sentenced, Goklu faces up to 25 years in prison.

Borough President Touts $2M for Free Mental Health Services

By Forum Sta

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. an nounced Tuesday a new $2 million partnership with ther apy platform Be erHelp to bring free mental health ser vices to Queens residents.

Announced at Elmcor Youth & Adult Activities’ Co rona headquarters one day a er World Mental Health Day on October 10, the partnership with Be erHelp — the nation’s leading virtual mental health therapy provider — will see up to $2 million worth of the organization’s ser vices split among 10 di erent community-based organiza tions (CBO) from across Queens.

Each CBO will receive $175,000 worth of services to make available across their networks, with the remaining $250,000 being distributed to constituents at the discre tion of the Queens Borough President’s O ce.

“ e past few years have been extremely di cult for

all of us in Queens, as we work to recover from the CO VID-19 pandemic and the crises around housing, an economic downturn, food insecurity, racial injustice and more. To all those struggling, you don’t have to struggle alone,” said Borough President RICHARDS. “Now, more than ever, we need to support one another. I couldn’t be prouder to partner with Be erHelp to bring its expertise and badly-needed therapy services to Queens and the CBOs who upli so many families every day.”

“We’re incredibly honored to partner with Queens Bor ough President Donovan Richards to make mental health services more accessible to Queens residents and the com munity-based organizations that support them," said Bet terHelp President and founder Alon Matas. "Our mission is to make therapy accessible to all, and this partnership is a big step in that direction for the Queens community.”

e CBOs — serving a wide array of geographic, demo graphic and professional communities, including those who

have been historically overlooked — that will be recipients of free mental services courtesy of Be erHelp include:

· Elmcor Youth & Adult Activities in Corona

· Forest Hills Jewish Center

· Glow Community Center in Flushing

· Jackson Heights Bangladeshi Business Association

· LIFE Camp, Inc. in Jamaica

· Rockaway Development and Revitalization Cor poration in Far Rockaway

· Sunnyside Community Services

· United Federation of Teachers

· Urban Resource Institute

· Urban Upbound in Long Island City

Tuesday’s announcement comes two weeks a er Rich ards hosted his inaugural Queens Wellness Day in Flush ing, which saw hundreds of community members par ticipate in meditation and healing sessions, as well as a comprehensive health resource expo.

“When we think about our communities, in particular low-moderate income communities that have tradition ally shied away from health and wellness needs due to the misperception that you are weak, when in fact you are strong because the rst step is o en the hardest step when recognizing you need help,” said Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corporation President and CEO Kevin Alexander. “Time and time again we have seen when there is a crisis, we collectively downplay the need of mental health and wellness services, and that is why we are ex cited about the opportunity Queens Borough President Donovan Richards is initiating through a partnership with Be erHelp is o ering to communities across Queens. RDRC will continue to use critically needed tools such as this initiative to improve the quality of life for all Queens residents.”

Photo Courtesy of U.S. A orney’s O ce, Eastern District of NY

Mustafa Goklu

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia/Seppi333 Adderall

Photo Courtesy of Google

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O SIS LASER LLC, Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 09/09/2022. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to NICH OLAS NISSIRIOS, 200-20 44TH AV ENUE, BAYSIDE, NY 11361. General Purpose.

2724 JSI EMPIRE LLC led w/ SSNY on 9/14/22. O ce: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: Jubar Chowdhury, 91-07 25th Ave Unit 690386, East Elmhurst, NY, 11369, USA. Purpose: any lawful.

SAJ8 LLC Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 07/21/2022. O ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been des ignated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: e LLC, 14112 ELBERTSON ST. 3B, ELLMHURST, NY,11373. Purpose: Any Lawful Pur pose.Arts of Org. led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 09/09/2022. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to NICHOLAS NIS SIRIOS, 200-20 44TH AVENUE, BAY SIDE, NY 11361. General Purpose.

ABUNDANT ROYALTIES, LLC. Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 07/20/22. O ce: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 121-32 Lucas Street, Spring eld Gardens, NY 11413. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

LOMBEIDA SALIM REALTY LLC. Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 07/05/22. O ce: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 26-11 96th Street, East El mhurst, NY 11369. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of E-J / S SELMAN JV, LLC. Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/31/22. O ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 46-41 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City, NY 11101. Purpose: any lawful activi ties.

Legal Notices

VISHO MARKET LLC filed w/ SSNY on 9/21/22. Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for pro cess & shall mail to: Beshoy Magdy Fawzy Basta, 6804 79th St., Apt 2R, Flushing, NY 11379, USA. Purpose: any lawful.

HEDWIG PUBLISHING LLC Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 03/08/2022. O ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: LEGALINC CORPO TE SERVICES INC.1967 WEHRLE DRIVE, SUITE 1 #086, BUFFALO, NY, 14221, USA. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

AMIR 115TH STREET LLC, Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 10/04/2022. O ce loc: Queens Coun ty. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: e LLC, 86-30 108th Street, Rich mond Hill, NY 11418. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Formation of A MUFFIN AND A BUG PRODUCTIONS LLC

Arts. of Org. led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/23/22. O ce loca tion: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Dana Chan, 168-09 33rd Ave, Flushing, NY, 11358, USA. Purpose: any lawful activities.

ACROPOLIS RENOVATIONS

LLC. Arts. of Org. led with the SSNY on 08/31/22. O ce: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 94-22 225th Street, Queens Village, NY 11428. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

KONDOR MANAGEMENT LLC

Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/26/2022. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: KONDOR MANAGE MENT LLC, 142-10B ROOSEVELT AVENUE, UNIT P24, FLUSHING, NY, 11354, USA.Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

TRANQUIL DREAMS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 9/25/2022. Off. Loc.: Queens Co. SSNY desig. As agt. upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: CRYS TAL MOICES, 13923 227TH ST., QUEENS, NY, 11413, USA. General Purposes.

ROSE CASTLE LLC Arts. of Org. led with SSNY on 8/26/2022. O . Loc.: Queens Co. SSNY desig. As agt. upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: e LLC, 156 Maple Ave. Westbury, NY 11590. General Purposes.