THE FORUM NEWSGROUP | OCTOBER 5, 2023

Landmark Bill Ending Noxious Waste by Rail Emissions Signed into Law

for hours or days, subjecting residents to unbearable fumes for long periods of time.

Odors and emissions from waste by rail are affecting New Yorkers statewide: in the Saratoga County town of Mechanicville, residents experience “trash train days” where they cannot go outside due to the smell from waste trains idling. Assemblywoman Jennifer Lunsford, a co-sponsor of the bill who represents Monroe County, said emissions from waste by rail was the number one complaint from her constituents. She routinely fields 50 to 70 complaints per week.

By Forum Staff

Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and State Sen. Joe Addabbo’s bill which requires waste transported by rail to be covered with hard tarping to curb dangerous spillage and the emission of noxious gasses.

Rajkumar and Addabbo took the lead on the bill, which had languished in the Legislature for 13 years, and both passed it unanimously through their respective

chambers with bipartisan support. Constituents shared stories of unbearable odors and toxic emissions from waste on trains at all hours. One constituent living along rail tracks revealed he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Administrators at Christ the King Regional High School reported students unable to concentrate due to headaches and nausea from nearby waste by rail.

According to Rajkumar and Addabbo, the Waste by Rail industry continues to grow exponentially. Waste by rail is a bur-

geoning method of waste management that has increased 35 percent since 2020. With the expansion of this industry, rails in Rajkumar’s district have become a major thoroughfare for waste from Long Island. This waste is transported long distances upstate to available landfills, often in containers uncovered or covered only by a porous mesh tarp. The waste produces noxious gas, leachate, spilloff, and odors in the neighborhoods surrounding tracks. Sometimes the trains park by homes

Rajkumar and Addabbo recently hosted a celebration with Community Board 5 and Civics United for Railroad Environmental Solutions (CURES), a local group that has fought for years to end environmental and health hazards caused by rail in Queens.

“It is with our deepest gratitude that we express our appreciation to both Assemblywoman Rajkumar and Senator Addabbo on their monumental accomplishment on getting state legislation passed to containerize waste in rail cars. The victory we’re celebrating today belongs to them, it belongs to the residents, the civics, and Community Board 5,” CURES Chairwoman Mary Parisen Lavelle said.

Flash Flooding Deluges Parts of the Five Boroughs

By Michael V. Cusenza

New York City once again experienced biblical flash flooding starting from the early hours of Friday into Friday evening.

Since late Thursday afternoon through 3 p.m. Friday, Central Park recorded about 5.8 inches of rain, and John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) saw roughly 8.5 and 4.9

inches, respectively. Although not yet officially confirmed, the National Weather Service has preliminarily reported that JFK had its wettest day on record since Aug. 14, 2011.

This marks the second highest daily rainfall ever recorded at JFK, and the highest daily amount in a September, previously set by Hurricane Donna in 1960, per the National Weather Service. Both Central Park and LGA

measurements are top-10 amounts. Adams declared a State of Emergency on Friday due to the weather. Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency for all of New York City, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson region as heavy rain continued to fall throughout Friday.

“We’ve seen a whole lot of rain fall in a very short period of time, which caused many issues related to transportation

and power, but the good news is that the storm will pass, and we should see some clearing of waterways today and tonight,” Hochul said.

“I want to thank all New Yorkers who followed our guidance and stayed safe today, and I especially want to thank our first responders and city workers who stepped up to aid their fellow New Yorkers in need and keep our city going,” Adams added.

File Photo

State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr.

File Photo Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar

Photo Courtesy of MTA Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams declared States of Emergency due to the heavy downpours.

Photo Courtesy of MTA Rainfall totals exceeding eight inches were reported in Queens.

CBP JFK Seize Pill Press Die Sets from China

By Forum Sta

U. S. Customs and Border Protection officers at John F. Kennedy International Airport recently seized 14 pill press die sets from five separate shipments that arrived from China under “Operation Artemis.” These sets are used by drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) to make pills, many of which contain fentanyl and other dangerous drugs.

On Sept. 26, 2023, CBP’s National Targeting Center coordinated with CBP officers at JFK to identify and inspect five suspicious inbound shipments from China. Upon further inspection of the shipments, officers discovered pill press sets.

“The volume and frequency of these pill press die set seizures are alarming and clearly indicate that these DTOs are flooding our communities with these devices to produce deadly fentanyl pills; however, our CBP officers will not waver in their efforts to address the fentanyl crisis and dismantle the networks that are threatening the United States,” said Francis J. Russo, director of CBP’s New York Field Office.

e opioid epidemic in the United States is a growing crisis. ose who are dependent on prescription opioids may turn to illegal means to obtain the drugs. DTOs, motivated by large pro t potential, make counterfeit medications, o en containing fentanyl or fentanyl analogs, to meet the high demand for prescription drugs within the illegal drug market.

According to the DEA, in the U.S. market, counterfeit pills containing fentanyl sell at prices between $10 and $20 per pill. Using these numbers, a drug tra cker could generate $10 to $20 million in sales from one kilogram of fentanyl.

Pill presses are common industrial tools for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. Sometimes called a tableting machine, these mechanical devices compress powder into tablets by running the powder through a die mold that determines the shape and markings on the tablets. Pill presses vary in size and capacity, with desktop machines able to make approximately 1,800 pills per hour to industrial machines that can produce over a million pills in an hour.

CBP o cers seized the 14 pill press die sets and turned them over to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigations.

e die sets are used by drug tra cking organizations to make pills, many of which contain fentanyl and other dangerous drugs.

Photo Courtesy of CBP

equency of these pill press die set seizures are alarming and clearly indicate that these DTOs are ooding our communities with these devices to produce deadly fentanyl pills,” said Francis J. Russo, director of CBP’s New York Field O ce.

Op-Ed Why Columbus Day Matters

By Joann Ariola

It’s that time of year again – the time of year when we get ready to celebrate Italian-American heritage while the radical left ramps up their campaigns to tear down the men and women who shaped our country. Once again, just as we start gearing up to celebrate Columbus Day and the contributions of the many Italian-Americans in our nation’s history, my “progressive” colleagues are pushing forth another bill to remove statues of Columbus (as well as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other founding fathers) from public spaces throughout New York City.

Let me say this clearly: the radical left wants to rewrite American history. As long as I am able, however, I will continue to challenge this frivolous notion that history should be modified and made politically correct, and I will continue to advocate on behalf of those great men and women whose contributions created the greatest country in the history of this planet. This is why it is my great pleasure to inform all of you

about the upcoming Columbus Day celebration on Oct. 8.

Like last year, my office is partnering up with the Howard Beach Columbus Day Foundation to bring a Columbus Day event to Cross Bay Boulevard. Complete with Italian food, music, games, and more, we will be celebrating our heritage on Oct. 8 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. between 158th Avenue and 159th Avenue along Cross Bay Boulevard. Last year’s turnout was a great success, and I am looking forward to an even greater turnout this year.

Now, I’m sure there are some out there wondering – why Columbus Day? Why have we chosen this day to celebrate Italian-American heritage? To answer that, we need to take a little trip back to the 1892, when Italians were still viewed as a group of outsiders and criminals who had no place in this country. The year before, in 1891, eleven Italian-Americans were killed in New Orleans in what would be one of the largest mass lynchings in the United States. The killings sent shockwaves throughout Italian communities

nationwide, and in 1892 – the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ landfall in the New World –Italian American organizations were able to successfully petition Republican President Benjamin Harrison to create a one-time nationwide celebration of Columbus.

The following year, during the 1893 World’s Fair Columbian Exposition, Italian-American organizations were able to build upon their successes, and continued pushing to make Columbus Day something to be celebrated all across the country. In doing so, these organizations were working to demonstrate to the wider American audience that Italians belonged in the New World. After all, they argued, it was an Italian who actually made this land known to Europe in the first place.

As Italian-Americans were able to gain wider acceptance in the United States, they were able to lobby harder for Columbus Day to become a regularly celebrated annual holiday. These efforts were finally brought to fruition in 1934, when Congress agreed (thanks in large part to the efforts of New York

City Italian leader Generoso Pope) to make Columbus Day a federal holiday. Since then, Italian-Americans have viewed the holiday as a time to celebrate their rich history in the United States – a history that some of my radical colleagues would rather erase. Keeping this history – the history of my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents, and the history of the ancestors of many of The Forum’s readers as well – alive is something very important to me. And this is precisely why I hope to see all of you out there on Oct. 8. So that we can maintain our shared culture and traditions, and always remember the struggles that our forefathers endured to give us the lives in America that we enjoy today.

Ariola is a member of the City Council, representing the 32nd District.

Killer Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison

WHEN THE SWELLING GETS ROUGH…

Many people su er from swelling of the feet and ankles, and most report their conditions o en worsen in the summer. While there are many reasons for such swelling, some of them can be treated through the use of compression socks and/or medications and supplements, while others could signal serious medical problems involving the heart, lungs, kidneys or thyroid.

Make sure you investigate the source of the edema you are facing and work with your doctor and your pharmacist to relive the swelling and prevent it from recurring.

legs. Blood ows naturally from the legs to the heart. Exercises stimulates normal blood circulation.

--Raising the legs above the heart-promotes blood circulation to the brain

--Weight loss-obesity slows blood circulation in the entire body. Losing weight helps blood to circulate be er and can reduce in ammation in the extremities.

--Reduce salt intake and adopt a balanced diet

Finally you can try these two fairly successful home remedies:

By Forum Sta

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Kareem Flake was sentenced on Thursday to 22 years in prison for killing Destini Smothers, the 26-year-old mother of his two children, in November 2020. The victim’s remains were discovered four months later in the trunk of an abandoned car belonging to Flake.

Flake, 31, of Troy, N.Y., pleaded guilty in July to manslaughter in the rst degree. Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Aloise sentenced him to 22 years in prison to be followed by ve years’ post-release supervision.

According to the charges, Smothers was last seen in a car with Flake a er celebrating her birthday with friends at a Woodside bowling alley on Nov. 3, 2020. Smothers was reported missing days later.

On March 10, 2021, a Toyota Camry

that had been abandoned at the intersection of 134th Avenue and 151st Place in Springfield Gardens was being towed when the tow truck operator saw a flat tire on the vehicle. Upon opening the car’s trunk to look for a spare, he discovered Smothers’ decomposing remains. It was later determined that the Camry belonged to Flake.

An autopsy performed by the New York City Medical Examiner found that Smothers died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Flake was arrested on April 9, 2022, in Osceola County, Fla., and later extradited to New York.

“ e depravity of this man’s actions le Destini Smothers’ family to agonize for months about her whereabouts and her two young children to grow up without a mother,” Katz said. “I hope this sentence will a ord some peace to Destini’s loved ones.”

Swollen feet can be caused by excessive accumulation of uid in the tissues, generally painless, usually found in older people, overweight persons, pregnant women or a consequence of long periods in standing or si ing position.

Here are some of the actions that you can take to reduce the swelling:

--Put a pillow under your legs when resting to keep the feet in a higher position than the rest of the body

--Wear elastic stockings that your pharmacist can help you choose according to measurements and degree of compression

--Do not spend too much time seated or staying in the same position

--Exercise can reduce swelling of the

Applications with vinegar – alternation, one hot, another cold is an alternative treatment for leg swelling. Mix two equal parts of water and vinegar soak a towel, and apply for 7-10 minutes. Repeat 2-3 times.

--Boil 250 ml water, 1 / 2 tablespoon molasses 1 tablespoon anise. Keep it boiling until only a half of the mixture will remain. Drink this mixture in three or four rounds during the day as it can reduce swelling of the feet, provided it is not triggered by a chronic disease.

Remember if the swelling persists or is accompanied by other symptoms like shortness of breath or any discomfort in the chest, seek medical help immediately.

Until next week...

at 718-659-9500 or 718-880-1644

Ariola Lauds Lindenwood

Cleanup Effort

City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) this week noted that some spots around Lindenwood could use some xing up, “so we got in touch with our partners at the City Department of Sanitation to make it happen!

“If you have any unsightly locations near you that you might like us to address,” Ariola added, “please never hesitate to give our o ce a call at (718) 7381083!”

Presented by Frank Pantina, R.Ph

Photos Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola

Photo Courtesy of DA Katz

Upon opening Smothers’ car’s trunk to look for a spare tire, the tow truck operator discovered her decomposing remains.

Photo Courtesy of DA Katz

Upon opening Smothers’ car’s trunk to look for a spare tire, the tow truck operator discovered her decomposing remains.

NY AG Warns New Yorkers of Price Gouging on Essential Goods in Aftermath of Heavy Rainstorms

By Forum Sta

State A orney General Tish James on Friday issued a consumer alert warning against price gouging of essential goods and services in the a ermath of heavy rainstorms that caused ash ooding and signi cant damages in New York City, Long Island, the

Hudson Valley, and other parts of the state. A state of emergency has been declared in counties impacted by the heavy storms. New York’s price gouging statute prevents businesses from taking advantage of consumers by selling essential goods or services at an excessively higher price during market disruptions or emergencies. James urges

New Yorkers who see higher prices on essential goods and services, including ridehailing, to report the issue to her o ce.

New York law prohibits businesses from taking unfair advantage of consumers by selling goods or services that are vital to health, safety, or welfare for an unconscionably excessive price during emergencies. e

cludes essential goods and services that are necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of consumers or the general public. ese goods and services include food, water, gasoline, generators, ba eries, ashlights, hotel lodging, and transportation options.

When reporting price gouging to the O ce of the A orney General, consumers should:

• Report the speci c increased prices, dates, and places that they saw the increased prices; and,

• Provide copies of their sales receipts and photos of the advertised prices, if available.

“Heavy rain and ash ooding have devastated New York City and parts of the state and I am reminding businesses that they cannot use this storm as an excuse to jack up prices,” said James. “Families and neighbors should not have to pay extra for basic necessities as they are dealing with ooding, damages, and road closures. I urge New Yorkers to report any unreasonably high prices for essential items to my o ce. I also encourage New Yorkers impacted by the storms to follow local guidance to stay safe.”

“I am reminding businesses that they cannot use this storm as an excuse to jack up prices,” said NY AG James said.

price gouging statute covers New York state vendors, retailers, and suppliers, and in-

Price gouging violations can carry penalties of up to $25,000 per violation. New Yorkers should report potential concerns about price gouging to OAG by ling a complaint online or calling (800) 771-7755.

Mayor, Governor Announce $38M for Asylum Seeker Legal Services and Case Management

By Forum Sta

Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced more than $38 million in new state funding to bolster the city’s e orts to provide legal services for asylum seekers. e announcement comes on the rst day that the federal rule extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelans who entered the country before July 31, 2023 takes e ect. To coincide with the federal rule taking e ect Oct. 3, the city will begin assisting eligible Venezuelan asylum seekers submit their paper applications for TPS and work authorization, in addition to their fee waiver forms at the city’s Asylum Application Help Center, also partially funded by state resources.

In the coming weeks, the city and state will scale e orts at the Asylum Application Help Center, expanding case management and legal services to help more asylum seekers in the city’s care obtain work authorization, stabilize their lives, and provide for themselves so they can move out of shelter.

e city and state also plan to partner to expand access to legal and casework services by:

• Opening additional Application Help Center satellite sites across the city;

• Launching roving teams within the city’s emergency shelter sites to help asylum

seekers apply on the spot for TPS and work authorization; and

• Scheduling those who enter the shelter system and are eligible for TPS for appointments to immediately apply upon entering the city’s care.

“ roughout this crisis, New York City has led the nation in answering the call to support arriving asylum seekers, and that work continues again today in partnership with New York State,” said Adams. “We were proud to lead the call to ‘Let em Work’ and are grateful that the federal government heard us and has expanded the pathways to work for many of those in the city’s care. With the expansion of Temporary Protected Status taking e ect today, our teams are already hard at work helping them apply for work authorization, and this investment from the state will bolster those e orts to help thousands of migrants obtain work and eventually move out of shelter.”

“For more than a year, the State and City have worked side-by-side to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis we’re experiencing,” said Hochul. “A er months of coordinated advocacy from New Yorkers, the federal government has made thousands of migrants from Venezuela newly-eligible for Temporary Protected Status. Our job now is to ensure these individuals ll out all the ap-

propriate paperwork so they can a ain work authorization, nd a job, and exit taxpayerfunded shelter.”

Since the humanitarian crisis began, New York City has taken fast and urgent action — opening 210 emergency sites, including 17 other large-scale humanitarian relief centers.

e city has also stood up navigation centers to connect asylum seekers with critical

resources, enrolled thousands of children in public schools through Project Open Arms, and more. Earlier this spring, the City released “ e Road Forward: A Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis,” detailing how the city will continue to manage the in ux of asylum seekers and advocate for support from federal and State partners.

Courtesy of State A orney General James New Yorkers should report potential concerns about price gouging to OAG by ling a complaint online at h ps:// formsnym.ag.ny.gov/OAGOnlineSubmissionForm/faces/OAGPGCHome.

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia/heartfox

Photo Courtesy of Susan Wa s/O ce of the Governor “Our job now is to ensure these individuals ll out all the appropriate paperwork so they can a ain work authorization, nd a job, and exit taxpayer-funded shelter,” Gov. Hochul said.

Borough President Announces Return of Queens Tech + Innovation Challenge

a minimum of four online workshops hosted by QEDC, among other criteria, in order to apply. For the full list of eligibility requirements and instructions visit queensstartup.org.

After applying, entrepreneurs will be able to connect with QEDC advisors for one-on-one mentoring sessions and attend a variety of QTIC networking events in the coming months. In spring 2024, 15 finalists will be selected — three from each category — to participate in Pitch Day, with each finalist pitching their start-up to a panel of judges.

Five winners will be declared — one per category — and each victorious startup will be awarded with $20,000 in funding.

By Forum Sta

Coming off a successful inaugural season in which five winning local startup companies each received $20,000 in seed funding, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. on Tuesday announced that his Queens Tech + Innovation Challenge is returning for a second straight year.

Developed and presented in partnership with the Queens Economic Development Corporation, the QTIC is a

multi-month competition for Queensbased entrepreneurs in search of funding. The initiative includes entrepreneurial classes, one-on-one mentorship opportunities and networking events to help applicants develop their pitches, which will be heard by a panel of judges next spring.

The QTIC, sponsored by Resorts World NYC, will again be divided into five categories: Consumer Tech, Enterprise Tech, Sustainability, Community and Food-Based.

To participate in the QTIC, interested individuals must first complete an intake form and a two-page application between Oct. 3, and March 1, 2024. Along with the application, entrepreneurs must submit a video pitch of up to three minutes long, as well as a three-year financial projection. The intake form and application are not required to be completed simultaneously.

Interested individuals must be Queens-based entrepreneurs age 18 and older and will be required to attend

“I’ve never been more confident in Queens’ future as a true incubator of innovation and a global leader in tech. With the return of the QTIC, we’re taking a second giant leap toward realizing that immense potential by further investing some of the most ingenious minds in our borough,” said Richards. “If you have a bright idea for a new business that you want to grow here in Queens, I strongly encourage you to apply and utilize the tools at hand — and funding waiting to be won — to help you do just that.”

Photo Courtesy of QEDC

Last year’s QTIC winners included a local Malaysian gourmet pantry company, a bookshop that highlights authors of color, a waste management operations entity, an analytical so ware entity and a youth engagement platform.

File Photo

“I’ve never been more con dent in Queens’ future as a true incubator of innovation and a global leader in tech,” BP Richards said.

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Releases Anti-Asian Racism Report

e report assesses the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S. om 2019 through 2021, and the federal role in preventing and enforcing federal hate crime laws.

By Michael V. Cusenza

e U.S. Commission on Civil Rights recently released e Federal Response to Anti-Asian Racism in the United States report. Based on extensive research, expert and public testimony, the report assesses the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S. from 2019 through 2021, and the federal role in preventing and enforcing federal hate crime laws. Speci cally, it highlights that hate crimes against Asian Americans increased 149 percent in 2020 across 18 cities and provides recommendations for action.

is report examines three main areas: 1) national trends and data regarding the rise of hate incidents and hate crimes against members of Asian communities; 2) local and state law enforcement’s prevention and reporting practices regarding

hate crimes; and 3) federal e orts and policies that encourage greater participation in reporting hate crime incidents, as well as prosecution and enforcement e orts to prevent hate crimes.

“I am deeply appreciative to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) for examining the rise in anti-Asian racism for the rst time in its history, and for being responsive to the rise in anti-Asian hate that our community experienced when the COVID-19 pandemic started,” Meng said. “I also want to acknowledge my constituent, Commissioner Glenn Magpantay for all his hard work. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to him and all the U.S.C.C.R. commissioners for elevating this important issue. e report provides actionable steps that Congress can take to be er track and reduce hate crimes, and rea rms how we

must continue to make services bolstered through my COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act more language accessible.”

Among the eight commissioners on the Commission is Jackson Heights resident Glenn Magpantay, a borough-based civil rights a orney, professor of law and Asian American Studies, and LGBTQ+ rights activist.

“As the only Asian American Paci c Islander currently serving on the Commission, this report has a deep personal

connection to me,” said Magpantay. “I am the survivor of a hate crime for being gay from 25 years ago and the victim of a hate crime for being Asian from 25 months ago.

I'd also like to thank both Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and my hometown Representative Grace Meng, for recommending me to the Commission. I look forward to continuing working closely with both of their o ces, in my role as a commissioner to further promote civil rights for all.”

Transparency Needed as NYC Moves Forward with Difficult Budget Choices: DiNapoli

By Forum Sta

NYC is planning signi cant steps to reduce city-funded spending by as much as 15 percent in response to substantial budget gaps fueled by escalating costs in the years ahead. However, the City’s ability to cut spending is limited to what it has discretion and control over, according to a recently released report by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

e report urges the city to use greater transparency for nondiscretionary costs that it does not have direct control over to help the public, policymakers and its funding partners understand what’s at stake.

Given the size of the mayor’s plan to trim costs, the report cautions that certain services will likely be adversely impacted, and previously planned service expansions could be jeopardized. e city has bene ted in recent years from higher-than-projected revenue collections and slower growth in non-discretionary spending, but these favorable scal conditions may not last.

As of City Fiscal Year 2022, approximately 40 percent of the City’s spending was nondiscretionary. ese costs, which the city has li le ability to change, include pensions, fringe bene ts, Medicaid, debt service, public assistance and other legally or contractually-required payments. Nondiscretionary spending rose to $41.6 billion in FY 2022, an increase of $7.4 billion from FY 2015. As a share of total funds,

however, this spending has declined from 43 percent to 38 percent over the same time period, re ecting a slowdown in the annual growth in pension contributions as well as the state’s takeover of growth in the local share of Medicaid.

and sanitation, as well as cultural events, 3-K education services, and the Fair Fares program. DiNapoli estimates that the share of the FY 2024 budget that is controllable accounts for more than three-fifths of projected spending for

e report also identi es some expenses as “quasi controllable,” where spending may be legally or contractually required, but the city can potentially exert some control. However, current operational needs, or a lack of lower-cost alternatives, have historically prevented the city from avoiding unplanned city-funded costs. ese include services for asylum seekers, educational costs related to special education, charter schools, and transportation, the Family Homeless and Eviction Prevention Supplement Program, and overtime. e largest parts of that quasi-controllable spending, as a share of total spending, has risen from 5.5 percent in FY 2015 to 8.7 percent in FY 2023 and is expected to increase during the nancial plan period.

“While the City’s nancial condition entering this scal year was strong, unfunded programs and the unprecedented in ux of asylum seekers poses very real scal and operational challenges,” DiNapoli said. “ e City is limited in where it can make adjustments, and all stakeholders will bene t if it makes clear what can actually be changed and where cuts are likely to impact them.”

The declining share has allowed the city to allocate funding for services where it has greater control over spending, including those that are legally required. These include basic municipal services such as education, public safety,

that year (about $69 billion, excluding budgetary reserves). About 40 percent of the controllable spending is allocated to education and another third is split between social services and the uniformed agencies.

DiNapoli recommended that the City use its previous recessionary experience to assess its nondiscretionary and controllable costs and include actions it could implement to fully fund projected spending over the nancial plan period to achieve structural balance.

Courtesy of USCCR

File Photo

Congresswoman Meng said she is “deeply appreciative to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for examining the rise in anti-Asian racism for the rst time in its history.”

Photo Courtesy of Yonkers Democratic Party

“While the City’s nancial condition entering this scal year was strong, unfunded programs and the unprecedented in ux of asylum seekers poses very real scal and operational challenges,” Comptroller DiNapoli said.

NY AG Sues Fresenius Vascular Care for Subjecting Vulnerable Patients to Unnecessary Surgeries

By Forum Sta

State A orney General Tish James,

Georgia

A

orney General Christopher

Carr, and New Jersey A orney General Matthew Platkin on Tuesday led a complaint against Fresenius Vascular Care, Inc. (FVC), one of its New York-based executives, Gregg Miller, M.D., and several of their a liates for subjecting Medicaid recipients with endstage renal disease (ESRD) to unnecessary surgeries and defrauding the New York state Medicaid program. e defendants allegedly scheduled ESRD patients for appointments every three to four months purportedly to preserve their dialysis access sites. At these appointments, the defendants sedated the patients and performed invasive procedures on their veins and arteries, pu ing already vulnerable patients at a heightened risk of grave complications. In reality, most of these patients had no problems receiving dialysis and did not need these surgeries. Moreover, FVC’s parent company’s own research showed that the so-called “monitoring” surgeries they performed do not bene t ESRD patients and in fact can damage their ability to receive life-saving dialysis treatment.

Tuesday’s complaint, jointly led in federal court in Brooklyn with the a orneys general of Georgia and New Jersey, alleges that FVC knowingly subjected ESRD patients — including elderly people, people of color, and low-income individuals — to unnecessary and invasive procedures to increase its revenues. As alleged in the complaint, “Medical Directors were trained on the FVC philosophy: ‘simply increase revenue and decrease expense.’” FVC allegedly

falsi ed patient referrals, ignored relevant medical records, and falsi ed diagnostic reports to justify billing for repeated diagnostic and surgical procedures. ese procedures included stulagrams, which are radiological procedures in which dye is injected into the patient’s vein or artery to visualize the port and surrounding blood vessels, and angioplasties, in which wires and balloons are inserted into veins or arteries that have

e complaint further alleges that FVC knowingly operated a scheme to trap patients in a cycle of “clinically timed evaluations” that subjected them to these procedures every three to four months. e procedures carried grave risks such as oversedation, infection, ruptured blood vessels, and internal or external bleeding. e complaint alleges that FVC pressured its providers to adopt this scheme, by creating

penalties under the New York False Claims Act and other state laws, is the result of a joint investigation with the U.S. A orney’s O ce for the Eastern District of New York and the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units. e case was initiated by two doctors, who are pursuing claims on behalf of 16 additional states pursuant to those states’ false claims acts. e lawsuit was led under the qui tam provisions of the federal and state false claims acts, which allow average citizens to le civil actions on behalf of the government and to share in the proceeds of any recovered funds.

• Psilocybin mushrooms

• ree scales containing cocaine residue

• A Smith and Wesson .45mm pistol with six rounds of ammunition

• A Taurus .9mm pistol with a large capacity ammunition-feeding device containing 22 rounds

• A Taurus 410G revolver with ve rounds of ammunition

• A Zastava .223mm assault ri e with ve rounds of ammunition

• $1,052 in cash

• Six kilo presses

narrowed to restore the patient’s blood ow. As alleged in the complaint, due to FVC’s scheme, a 41-year-old ESRD patient in New York underwent at least 27 unnecessary angioplasties from December 2012 to May 2018 at a Fresenius Vascular Access Center in the Bronx and an 80-year-old ESRD patient in Brooklyn underwent at least 15 unnecessary angioplasties during the same time period.

contests to incentivize its sta to maximize the number of procedures done on dialysis patients and pushing doctors who questioned the scheme to quit. At one point, Dr. Miller allegedly told a physician who questioned whether the repeated procedures were necessary, “How can you expect to make money if you are sending 80 percent of the patients home?”

is lawsuit, which seeks damages and

At the time of the raid, 10-year-old boy was asleep in the bedroom he shared with his parents, Lewis and Jackson.

“Where there are drugs and guns, there is addiction, violence and death,” Katz said. “We cannot, and will not, relent in the war against lethal illegal drugs and weapons and will hold accountable drug tra ckers threatening the safety of communities.”

If convicted, each defendant faces up to 30 years in prison.

Pols Push to Reduce Barriers to Health Care Access

By Forum Sta

Congresswomen Grace Meng (DFlushing) and Young Kim (D-Calif.) announced on Monday that they introduced the bipartisan Health Communication Access and Resources for Everyone (Health CARE) Act to reduce barriers to health care access for patients.

e Health CARE Act would create a universal language access symbol as a consistent, simple, and low-cost way to let patients know that language services are available at a facility providing health care, health insurance, or related service. More than 25 million people in the United States are Limited English Pro cient (LEP) and face barriers when seeking health care options. Federally funded health and health insurance providers are required to make language services available but do not have a consistent way to show these services are available to patients.

e Health CARE Act would create a universal language access symbol as a consistent, simple, and low-cost way to let patients know that language services are available at a facility providing health

care, health insurance, or related service. More than 25 million people in the United States are Limited English Pro cient and face barriers when seeking health care options. Federally funded health and health insurance providers are required to make language services available but do not have a consistent way to show these services are available to patients.

“Health care is a basic necessity for functioning societies, and in a place like the United States, that is made up of di erent cultures, backgrounds, and languages, it is important that there are means of communication to reduce language barriers in health care se ings,” said Meng. “I am proud to help champion the Health CARE Act alongside Rep. Young Kim. is is a commonsense solution, that people from every district across the country will bene t from and I look forward to moving this bill along in the House.”

“Language barriers should not keep Americans from accessing health care. As someone whose second language is English and the representative of a diverse district with Americans of di erent backgrounds, I know rsthand how di cult it can be to ex-

press health care needs and know what resources are available,” Kim said. “I’m proud to lead the Health CARE Act to reduce language barriers and ensure Americans know what health care options are available to them, regardless of the language they speak. I thank Rep. Meng for joining me in this bipartisan, commonsense e ort to improve health care access in our communities and across the nation.”

“With over 25 million Americans dealing with limited English Proficiency it is crucial that we work to tear down the barriers across all fields but especially health care. For many first-generation households such as my own, we often find ourselves translating and supporting our parents through their health care process.

LIBRE is committed to increasing awareness of language services in federal funded health and health insurance programs. We strongly support the bipartisan Health CARE Act and commend Rep. Young Kim and Rep. Grace Meng’s leadership in making health care more accessible to immigrants in their language of choice,” said Isabel Soto, policy director at the LIBRE Initiative.

Photo Courtesy of Google e complaint alleges that Fresenius Vascular Care knowingly subjected end-stage renal disease patients to unnecessary and invasive procedures to increase its revenues.

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“Health care is a basic necessity for functioning societies, and in a place like the United States, that is made up of di erent cultures, backgrounds, and languages, it is important that there are means of communication to reduce language barriers in health care se ings,” said Rep. Meng.

G & M Cooking LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 7/18/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Gasper Chimbay, 53-12 103rd St., Corona, NY 11368. General Purpose

TianaxGlam LLC. Art. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/23/23. Office: Queens County. SSNYdesignated as agent of the LLC upon whom process aga inst it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy to: 86-54 208 St, Queens Vlg, NY 11427. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

2260 AVE LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 7/5/23. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 172-14 89th Ave., Jamaica, NY 11432. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of 200 East 127th Street Developers LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/15/23. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 36-35 Bell Blvd, Ste 101, lower level, Bayside, NY 11361. Purpose: any lawful activity.

N AND UP MARKETING LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 8/25/23. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 1N AND UP MARKETING LLC, 10909 113TH STREET, SOUTH OZONE PARK, NY, 11420-1120, USA.. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

101-42 99TH EQUITIES, LLC Art. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/18/07. Office: Queens County. SSNYdesignated as agent of the LLC upon whom process aga inst it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy to: THE LLC, 101-42 99TH STREET, OZONE PARK, NY, 11418. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

229 UPTOWN HOLDINGS LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/21/23. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 73-18 30th Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11370. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

CLEAR BRIDGE SOLUTIONS

LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/27/2023. 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, 14219 Barclay Ave, Apt 2A, Flushing, NY 11355. Reg Agent: Jonathan Pazmino, 14219 Barclay Ave, Apt 2A, Flushing, NY 11355. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Anna Sobel, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 7/18/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 24-45 27th St., Apt. 2B, Astoria, NY 11102. General Purpose

Legal Notices

SHEEP TECH LLC Arts. of Org.

filed with the SSNY on 06/19/2023. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: ELIJAH FARRELL, 162-16 144TH AVE, JAMAICA, NY,11434. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

LOUD MOUTH PRODUCTIONS

LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/25/2023. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: LOUD MOUTH PRODUCTIONS, LLC 10620 70TH AVE, UNIT 5C, FOREST HILLS, NY, 11375, USA. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Maxim Equity LLC filed w/ SSNY on 9/15/23. Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 35-35 149th St., #204, Flushing, NY 11354. Purpose: any lawful.

V.M.A ENTERPRISE LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/19/2023. 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, 5425 Flushing Ave, Maspeth, NY 11378. Reg Agent: Camelia Popa, 5425 Flushing Ave, Maspeth, NY 11378. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Formation of 10827 QB LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/23/23. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: c/o Cord Meyer Development LLC, 111-15 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills, NY 11375. 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. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice is hereby given that a License, number1356473 for liquor, wine, beer, and cider, has been applied for by the undersigned to sell liquor, wine, beer, and cider, at retail in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at PUEBLA PUEBLA BAR RESTAURANT, 42-18A Junction Blvd, Elmhurst, NY 11373 for on premises consumption.

Notice of Formation, 53 Ave Condo Holding LLC Art. of Org. were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/11/2023. Office Location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 14107 20th Avenue Suite 303, Flushing, NY 11357v Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

LLC EIGHT PILAR CANDLES

Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/11/23. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail copy of process to THAMAR ESTHER LOUISSAINT, 4240 212TH STREET, APT. 1 B, BAYSIDE, NY, 11361, USA. PURPOSE: Any lawful purpose.

LLC EIGHT PILAR CANDLES

Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/11/23. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to THAMAR ESTHER LOUISSAINT, 4240 212TH STREET, APT. 1 B, BAYSIDE, NY, 11361, USA. PURPOSE: Any lawful purpose.

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