THE FORUM NEWSGROUP | OCTOBER 6, 2022

CALL THE COPS

Pol Urges City to Send more

to Area Precincts

Pheffer Amato Requests More Cops for South Queens Communities

By Michael V. Cusenza

Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Am ato (D-Howard Beach) penned a for mal letter to City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell and made an official request for more police officers to be allocated to the local precincts. “...with

recruitment underway and the hopeful addition of new police officers, I am for mally requesting that additional or new officers be assigned to the 100th, 101st and the 106th precincts,” she wrote in her letter.

“I have personally seen the strain our police officers are currently going

through and believe all three precincts are understaffed,” Pheffer Amato wrote in her missive to Sewell. The assembly woman said she has heard from residents at not just the local precinct council meetings but from people throughout South Queens. “I am asking the commis sioner to assign more officers to South

Queens, as we need more police presence to ensure the safety of our residents and community,” she said.

Pheffer Amato personally promoted the recruitment opportunity during the recent onboarding season for the NYPD and received comments from several interested individuals. “The work the members of the NYPD do is beyond commendable and every single one of them deserves our praise and extreme gratitude. I am proud to support the NYPD and will continue to be a friend and advocate for them in every way,” Pheffer Amato said.

The 106th Precinct serves South Cen tral Queens, and includes Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Lindenwood, Howard Beach, and Old Howard Beach.

The 100th Precinct covers Arverne, Belle Harbor, Breezy Point, Broad Chan nel, Neponsit, Rockaway Park, Rockaway Beach, and Roxbury.

And the 101st Precinct services Far Rockaway and Bayswater.

Homeless Man Indicted in Violent Beating of Woman inside Howard Beach Subway Station

By Forum Staff

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Friday that Waheed Foster, 41, has been indicted on attempted murder and assault charges in last month’s savage, unprovoked attack of a woman exiting the subway at the Howard Beach/JFK Airport station.

Foster allegedly pounced on the victim and threw her to the ground before kicking and punching her repeatedly on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.

Foster, who is undomiciled, was charged in a seven-count indictment charg ing him with attempted murder, assault in

the first degree, three counts of assault in the second degree, and two counts of crim inal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

Katz said that, according to the charges, on September 20, 2022, between 5:15 a.m. and 5:45 a.m., the defendant struck the vic tim, Elizabeth Gomes, 33, on the head with a hard object as she was exiting the subway station. When Gomes attempted to flee, the defendant can be seen on surveillance video grabbing the victim and throwing her onto the floor, up against an unoccupied toll booth. Once on the ground, the defen dant allegedly kicked Gomes forcefully sev eral times in the face and body.

Furthermore, DA Katz said, video surveillance depicts a good Samaritan at tempting to intervene in the attack at which point the defendant chases him away and continues to attack the victim. The defen dant then allegedly walks away from the victim, leaving her lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

The victim was taken to a local Queens hospital where she underwent emergency eye surgery to repair a ruptured right globe. As a result of the injuries sustained from the attack, Gomes currently has lost vision in one eye.

District Attorney Katz said, “We have had enough. There are basic rights that

New Yorkers should have in this city, and one of them is the right to safety when commuting to work, using the subway to take our children to school, and knowing we can safely come home to our families.

In Queens, my Office will not tolerate those who choose to rob us of these free doms. As alleged, the defendant brutally attacked this victim, was interrupted by a good Samaritan trying to intervene, and then continued the attack relentlessly. In addition to assault in the first degree, my office has indicted this defendant on at tempted murder charges.”

If convicted, Foster faces up to 25 years in prison.

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia/Responsory Narcan is the antidote that reverses the dangerous effects of an opioid overdose.

File Photo City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell (at podium).

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia/Responsory Narcan is the antidote that reverses the dangerous effects of an opioid overdose.

Photo Courtesy of Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato tours the 23rd Assembly District with City cops.

Slain

By Michael V. Cusenza

Acting City Fire Commissioner Laura Kava nagh on Tuesday announced that Lt. Alison Rus so will be posthumously promoted to captain at her Celebration of Life ceremony on Wednes day, Oct. 5, FDNY officials said.

“Alison Russo was everything we look for in a leader in our department. A dedicated and ac complished veteran of 25 years, she responded to thousands of emergencies, mentored many new EMTs and Paramedics, cared deeply for the communities she served, and set an incredible example for others at Station 49 and at every sta tion she called home throughout her outstanding career. This posthumous promotion is a sign of our deep respect and admiration for all the cou rageous and selfless work she did throughout her career,” Kavanagh said. “We will never forget her.”

Russo was stabbed and killed Thursday afternoon while working at FDNY EMS Sta tion 49 in Astoria. At approximately 2:20 p.m., Russo was on duty in the vicinity of 20th Avenue and Steinway Street in Astoria near her station’s quarters. She was stabbed mul tiple times in an unprovoked attack. She was transported in critical condition to Mt. Sinai Queens Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

“We need time to mourn the preventable loss of EMT Alison Russo,” added City Council woman Joann Ariola. “The City must take action and recognize EMTs value as first responders. The governor needs to address bail reform laws and judges for turnstile justice. The city needs law and order.”

Russo is the 1,158 member of the FDNY to die in the line of duty.

Photo Courtesy of FDNY Russo was 24-year FDNY EMS veteran assigned to Station 49.

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Group Launches First Phase of Planned Citywide Initiative to Help Youth with Disabilities Transition to Careers

public high schools every year only to find themselves face to face with a gap where the services they depended upon to finish school had previously been. This new ini tiative, created by ICD while working with the nonprofit consulting firm The Bridges pan Group, is designed to bridge this gap by providing services that enhance college and career opportunities for youth with disabilities.

“This new initiative will help students with disabilities to better understand how to advocate for themselves and successfully navigate their way through the complex systems of services and supports available to them after they leave school,” said Joseph T. McDonald, ICD President of Development and Communications.

By Forum Staff

The Institute for Career Development (ICD) recently announced the launch of the initial phase of a planned citywide ini tiative to help youth with disabilities tran sition from school to career. Tens of thou sands of students with disabilities leave

The initial phase of this initiative consists of a pilot program in partner ship with Discovery High School in the Kingsbridge Heights section of The Bronx and Richmond Hill High School in Queens. With the start of the new school year, ICD now has on-site at each school a full-time “Navigator” available to work with any student who has an Individual ized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan to prepare the student to make the jump to college or vocational training and embark upon a career. The Naviga tors, whose services are available at no cost to students or schools, will guide students around obstacles and over hur dles as they work to build skills needed to launch fulfilling careers.

The Navigators are supported by ICD’s full-time Transition Services Man ager. She will split her time between school sites, amplifying the services pro

vided by the Navigators and operating as the primary point of contact for school staff and parents of program participants. ICD staff will also work with each school to develop employer partners within their communities to provide work experiences for their students.

“This new initiative will help students with disabilities to better understand how to advocate for themselves and suc cessfully navigate their way through the complex systems of services and supports available to them after they leave school,” said Joseph T. McDonald, ICD President of Development and Communications.

“It offers enormous potential to build the self-confidence, resilience, and agency that they will need to overcome the biases and barriers to employment that they will face as adults.”

“Richmond Hill High School is pleased to help launch this new initia tive,” added Neil Ganesh, Principal of Richmond Hill High School. “It offers long-term, holistic support to our stu dents through their high school years and beyond that we believe will lead to greater self-determination, better eco nomic mobility, and improved overall well-being.”

Photo Courtesy of Google

“Richmond Hill High School is pleased to help launch this new initiative,” said Neil Ganesh, Principal of Richmond Hill High School.

Photo Courtesy of ICD

Vital Info Hacked over Last 30 Days: Pol

By Forum Staff

Revealing that in, roughly, the last 30 days, American Airlines, DoorDash, Uber, and U-Haul, have all been hacked and ex perienced a serious data breach, U.S. Sena tor Charles Schumer called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ensure com panies are doing everything they can to protect consumer data as he also called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to fully investigate and go after hackers aiming to harm Americans and New Yorkers.

On Sunday, Schumer detailed that a March 2022 law gave the feds more over sight on many hacks and said more pub lic information for impacted consumers should be made available. Schumer said many consumers are clueless about these recent hacks and others that have preceded them. Schumer said he wants the feds to publicly disclose more details on recent breaches, and give impacted consumers more help and information. Schumer said these most recent hacks span a variety of U.S. industries and that we must be vigilant about where these hacks originate and the information they collect.

“In roughly the last 30 days, vital and personal information has been hacked at many major U.S. companies, compromis ing people’s privacy. Yet, if you ask most people about these hacks they don’t even know they occurred and the feds are say ing very little,” Schumer said. “In fact, for a lot of consumers, unless you have a ser vice—which often comes at a cost—you are not aware of these breaches and hacks. And in some cases, even if you do have a service that alerts you, information about where your personal information went, the origin of the hack and so much more is elusive.”

Schumer explained that in a March 2022 government funding package that was signed by the president, sweeping cy bersecurity legislation was enacted that

required many industries to quickly report data breaches and ransomware payments.

The new law, the Cyber Incident Reporting Act, according to Bloomberg, mandated that companies report hacks to the U.S. De partment of Homeland Security within 72 hours of discovery of the incident, and 24 hours if they make a ransomware payment.

FBI officials, according to the report, estimated that the bureau has visibility into a quarter of cyber incidents, resulting in a government-wide lack of information about the nature of many data breaches, the tactics of cybercriminals and the U.S. industries that are most vulnerable. The legislation, the report noted, positioned DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as a central hub for receiv ing private sector incident response reports from owners and operators of critical infra structure, sharing threat data and tracking the evolution of ransomware, a pernicious issue for American business that has been difficult to quantify. The feds have not said how they will use data gleaned from breach reports, but has been seeking to build its capabilities and work more closely with the private sector on a voluntary basis, Bloom berg noted.

On September 20, American Airlines confirmed a data breach and said an "un authorized actor" gained access to personal information of a small number of custom ers and employees through a phishing cam paign.

On August 28, DoorDash publicly re vealed that a sophisticated phishing attack left customers' personal information and partial payment information exposed to hackers.

On September 16, Uber revealed that their computer systems were breached and that they alerted authorities.

On September 21, U-Haul publicly re vealed that a data breach of their system exposed sensitive consumer data of more than two million clients over five months.

CHRONIC CONDITIONS CAN

If you wonder why you’ve become more sensitive to cold weather, you should be aware that certain chronic con ditions could definitely contribute to that.

If you or a loved one suffer from anemia, anorexia, blood vessel problems, such as Raynaud Phenomenon,chronic severe illness, general poor health, underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) or a problem with the hypothalamus

But you can adjust to stay warm dur ing the upcoming winter months and we’d like to tell you just how to do that.

Wear Smart Layers

We’ve all been told to keep warmer by dressing in layers but an important sug gestion that may go overlooked is that we have to be choosy about the layers. Don’t just pile them on. Choose fabric wisely. It should keep you warm but also not cause you to overheat. Use a base layer with moisture wicking fabric, a middle for in sulation and a top layer with water and wind protection.

More About the Fabric You Choose

Don’t pick cotton—especially to go right up against your skin. While it can be deceivingly warm, it absorbs moisture and when you sweat, that will make you feel cold. Instead look to wool and flannel.

Never Leave Home Without Them

Hat, scarf and gloves.. Nothing else needs to be said. Except that keeping ex

tras on hand in case they get wet is a great idea.

Stay Warm Inside

Staying warm inside the house is something you surely need to pay close attention to. It’s not just the chill of the outdoors that can lower your body tem perature. Most importantly remember to leave the bare foot experience for the sand on the beach not your house.

BYOB

Well not exactly. Although a nice nip of brandy can surely take the chill out, we are not talking about that B. It’s always a great idea to have a blanket on hand for any outdoor event where you may have to sit outside in the cold. Toss your favorite fleece in the back of the car so you never forget it.

There In addition to these suggestions, there are also many items available for purchase, such as hand and toe warmers that can be easily stored or carried around with you. If you are home, there is some thing very comforting about a hot water bottle on your feet. Microwaveable grain wraps also do the trick quite nicely; espe cially pleasing are those that have an aro matherapy component.

So please don’t sweat staying warm and always remember if you have questions we are happy to answer them for you.

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.

For a Cleaner Community

Led by the Cityline

Park

and City Councilwoman Joann Ario la (R-Ozone Park), at least 15 volunteers re cently stuffed more than 20 bags with trash in an effort to make the South Queens com munity cleaner.

Ariola allocated funds in the council budget for such communal beautification

events across the 32nd District.

“The funding I provided through the council will support the neighborhood cleanups and the group’s food pantry,” Ari ola said.

Photo

Photo

DOE Announces Changes to Admissions Process

By Forum Staff

City Schools Chancellor David Banks on Thursday announced changes to admis sions in public schools, beginning in the 2023-2024 enrollment cycle. Following six months of community engagement––in cluding more than 30 meetings with fami lies, students, parents, principals, commu nity and advocacy groups, Community Education Councils (CECs), and school counselors––these changes aim to reimag ine the middle and high school admissions experience by making these processes more family friendly, transparent, and fair.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY AND TRANS PARENT ADMISSIONS PROCESS

Admissions from early childhood through high school should be simple, easy, and intuitive for families. This process may be a family’s first interaction with our schools and it’s important we get it right. Based on extensive community feedback, we are updating the process to provide more information to families and help them make the right choice for their child.

Earlier Application Timelines, Earlier Offers – This school year, we are moving the middle and high school application time lines earlier in the fall to begin on October 12th for High Schools and October 26th for middle schools so that offers can be released in March for high schools and in April for middle schools. This timeline will give fami lies and schools more time to plan for the next school year. Additionally, we will release high school offers together with any specialized high school results in one offer letter.

Central Open House Calendar – We are launching an events calendar in MySchools so that families can find all admissions events and school open houses and tour in formation in one place. Families will be able to add events to their personal calendar and RSVP to events directly from MySchools.

Clearer Admissions Information – We will display more information about a stu dent’s chance of getting an offer to various programs. For example, we will share the number of waitlist offers a program has made in the past so families can better assess their chances of receiving an offer through the waitlist process.

Improved Virtual Audition Experience –The virtual audition and additional material submission experience will be improved by adding clearer instructions and submission confirmation.

School-Day SHSAT Administration –

After hearing overwhelming support from families we will continue to enable 8th grad ers in public schools to take the SHSAT dur ing the school day at their current school rather than traveling to sites on the weekend.

Waitlists Extended – Starting with stu dents entering middle and high school this fall, and moving forward, we have extended middle and high school waitlists to mid-Sep tember. This means that if any seats become available after the start of the school year, those seats are filled fairly and transparently.

Children who have completed fifth grade can apply to middle school, and most NYC middle schools serve children in grades 6–8. Many students attend their zoned middle school if they have one, and most students at tend middle school in their district. To find out if your New York City home address has a zoned middle school, call 311 or visit schoolsearch. schools.nyc and type in your home address. If your child doesn’t have a zoned school or you need help, reach out to your school’s counselor.

Learn about your zoned school and/or other schools in your district online with MySchools.

Children who have completed eighth grade or are first-time ninth graders can ap ply to high school. Parents and students can use MySchools to explore their school op tions, learn about open houses, and make a list of programs that interest your child.

For both middle and high schools, dur ing the application period, parents and stu

The high school application will open on October 12th, and the deadline to apply is Thursday, December 1st. Students will re ceive offers in early March.

Based on community and school feedback, for students and families interested in screened high schools that do not have their own schoolbased assessment, those schools will admit the top-performing applicants from across each middle school and citywide. Applicants to screened high schools will be in groups based on their final seventh-grade core course grades. Students will be admitted to screened programs in group order, starting with students in group one. If all students in group one have been ac commodated, students in group two will then be considered for available seats, and so on.

Students will be in group one if the aver age of their final seventh grade core course grades falls in the highest 15% of their school or citywide, and that average is at least a 90.

interested ninth grade students, will take the test on the weekend of November 19-20.

The full timeline of the middle and high school admissions process and key dates are included below:

October 6: SHSAT Registration Opens

October 12: HS Application Opens

October 26: MS Application Opens

November 17: SHSAT School Testing

November 19/20: SHSAT Weekend Testing

December 1: MS / HS Application Deadline

Early March: High School and Special ized High School Offers

April: Middle School Offers EXPANDING PROGRAMS AND SCHOOLS THAT MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS

Chancellor Banks and this Administra tion believe that there are academically bril

dents can submit their application one of the following three ways: Online with MySchools

Through your school counselor

Through a Family Welcome Center

MIDDLE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

BEGINS OCTOBER 26th

The middle school application will open on October 26th, and the deadline to ap ply is December 1st. Students will receive offers in April. Superintendents will part ner with school communities’ leadership, staff, and parents to thoughtfully determine if and where middle school screened pro grams should exist based on instructional and community needs. Where screening is allowed, students would be ranked based on a composite of their course grades from fourth grade. The number of academically screened schools will be limited and based on the needs of the community. Screens will be determined by the start of the Middle School Admissions process on October 26th.

Students will be in group two if they are not in group one, and the average falls in the highest 30% of their school or citywide, and that average is at least an 80.

Students will be in group three if they are not in groups one or two, and the aver age falls in the highest 50% of their school or citywide, and that average is at least a 70.

Students will be in group four if they are not in groups one, two, or three, and their av erage falls in the highest 70% of their school or citywide, and that average is at least a 65.

All other students will be in group five.

SHSAT REGISTRATION BEGINS

OCTOBER 6

Like last year, interested eighth grade stu dents can register for the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT). Taking this test is how students apply to the eight testing Specialized High Schools. SHSAT registration opens on October 6. Most NYC public middle schools will administer the SHSAT during the school day on November 17 for current students. Private, parochial, and charter school students, as well as any

liant children in every neighborhood, howev er many students have to travel for long hours to reach academically accelerated learning high schools. To fill the gap that exists in some underserved communities of color, three new accelerated learning academies will be opened – informed by community needs. The schools will be located in the South Bronx, Ocean Hill-Brownsville, and South east Queens, with a geographic priority for students from those areas. The schools will open by fall 2024. Engagement with families will begin to identify the potential for further expansion of high-quality options through out the city based on community interest.

Engagement with CECs on these schools will begin this fall. We encourage families to engage with their Superintendents to share their ideas for the types of programs and schools that they want to see in their com munities. Central offices will provide sup port and technical assistance to superinten dents around the development and launch of community-driven new, expanded and redesigned schools and programs.

Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office City Schools Chancellor David Banks

City Announces $7.1M in Funding to Expand Hours at Nine Recreation Centers Citywide

By Forum Staff

Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue on Monday announced that nine recreation centers across the five boroughs now have expanded operating hours.

The increase was made possible with $7.1 million in funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget. Sites with expanded hours will offer additional programming, includ ing New York City’s signature Saturday Night Lights program for city youth.

In Queens, the following recreation centers will now offer expanded evening and weekend hours:

• Roy Wilkins Recreation Center in Jamaica: Monday to Friday 6:00 AM –10:00 PM; Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Sunday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

• Sorrentino Recreation Center in Far Rockaway: Monday to Friday 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Sunday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Recreation centers with expanded op erating hours will also offer additional programming, including Saturday Night Lights, organized in conjunction with the New York City Police Department, New York City Department of Youth and Com munity Development, New York City De partment of Education, and the city's five

District Attorney’s Offices. Saturday Night Lights provides young people in under served neighborhoods with safe and en gaging activities and a productive place to gather during evening hours. Participating youth get free membership and access to

"Recreation centers and the program ming they offer change lives and ensure our young people are not left behind," said Adams. "Through our $7.1 million investment in expanded hours for recre ation center, we are providing New York

connect even more young people to this program.”

NYC Parks’ 36 recreation centers of fer indoor pools, weight rooms, basketball courts, media labs, dance studios, art stu dios, game rooms, libraries, and more. All recreation centers also offer a range of pro grams for people of all ages.

Citywide memberships for adults ages 25-61 are $150 annually. Memberships are $25 per year for veterans, seniors, and those living with disabilities and free for youth and young adults 24 and under.

the many programs and activities available at all recreation centers citywide.

Extended hours will also support other programs, including but not limited to vol leyball, board game tournaments, highintensity interval training, painting, double dutch, basketball, and strength training.

ers in all five boroughs positive program ming and a safe space to grow, learn, and build community. Saturday Night Lights is a hallmark of this administration's in vestments and our commitment to free, high-quality activities for our youth, and I'm proud that these expanded hours will

“Recreational centers provide safety, refuge, and a place to grow for the youth of our city,” said Assemblywoman Jenifer Raj kumar (D-Woodhaven). “Youth in extracur ricular activities are 57 percent less likely to drop out of school and 49-percent less likely to use drugs. Today, Mayor Adams expands recreation center hours, makes membership free up to age 24, and adds sports and arts programming, creating a nurturing environ ment for our children to flourish during the after-school hours. This is a game-changing opportunity for at-risk youth to become healthy in mind and body, succeed in school, and foster lifelong friendships, setting them on a path to success.”

Hours of operation for recreation cen ters across the city vary by location. Visit NYC Parks Recreation Centers page for more information.

Photo Courtesy of Google

Sorrentino Recreation Center in Far Rockaway.

Council Approves Crucial Bills on 311, Small Businesses, and Empty Storefronts

By Michael V. Cusenza

The City Council on Thursday voted in favor of legislation to increase 311 trans parency and accessibility, support small businesses, and create more accurate emp ty storefront registry.

The bills are:

Introduction 206-A, sponsored by Councilwoman Sandra Ung (D-Flushing), seeks to increase transparency regarding the wait times experienced by individu als who request an interpreter during their calls to the 311 Customer Service Center. It would require the Commissioner of DOITT to compile and make publicly available a monthly dataset including the wait times (in number of seconds) experienced by individ uals who request an interpreter during their calls to the 311 Customer Service Center.

Introduction 296-A, also sponsored by Ung, would require the development and updating of a protocol for identifying the languages spoken by callers to 311 in order to better facilitate requests for interpreta tion services. The bill would also require this protocol, and any subsequent updates to the protocol, to be posted to the 311 Customer Service Center website within 7 days after implementation and updating, respectively. The 311 Customer Service Center would additionally be required to report on the im plementation of and updates to the protocol.

Introduction 240-A, sponsored by

Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez (DBrooklyn), would require, that within 30 days of the effective date of a local law that an agency head determines would allow someone to request a new service from the agency, the agency head notify 311 of the possible need to add or update a service re quest category on the 311 platforms. This bill would also require reporting on such additions and updates, and would require 311 to create a publicly available dataset including information on submission of

correspondence from the public requesting the addition to, or updating of, 311 service request categories.

In addition, the council approved the following legislation addressing storefront vacancies and supporting small businesses in the post-pandemic era. The below legis lation would alleviate obstacles small busi nesses face when engaging with City agen cies by creating a business online portal and making more timely updates to a registry of current vacant storefronts.

Introduction 116-A, sponsored by Councilwoman Julie Menin (D-Manhat tan), would require the Department of Small Business Services to create an online portal that includes all permit and license applications, as well as related applicable information, needed to open and operate a small business of any kind in New York City. The portal, which would be required to be available in English as well as ten lan guages commonly spoken by New Yorkers with limited English proficiency, would also allow business owners to track the status of their permit and license application(s), and allow (or include a link that allows) busi ness owners to settle or pay outstanding balances on notices of violation. It would also require a survey of small businesses every three years to determine how the on line portal is working effectively and what improvements could be made.

Introduction 383-A, sponsored by Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Manhat tan), would clarify the dates by which a commercial landlord must notify the City if a space has become vacant before the next submission date. The City would then keep a more up-to-date registry of storefront vacancies that would be made available to the public. This bill serves as a continua tion of legislation the council passed at the request of then-Manhattan Borough Presi dent Gale Brewer, which created a citywide commercial premises registry.

Mayor Holds Public Hearing on Bills prior to Signing them into Law

By Michael V. Cusenza

Mayor Eric Adams on Friday held pub lic hearings for three bills that help pre vent opioid overdoses in nightlife venues, that would help reduce the flow of illegal firearms into New York City, and that des ignate Times Square as a zone where it is unlawful to carry firearms.

“Three important bills that are address ing real issues and crises that are unfold ing in our city. The opioid crisis has been inflicting pain and heartache on New York City for far too long. We have lost too many New Yorkers to overdoses. Too many families and communities have been torn apart, and COVID-19 has only made it worse,” Adams said. “While we are the first in the nation to open overdose prevention centers, they have been successful avert ing over 480 overdoses since opening. We can, and must do more to tackle this pub lic health crisis. That is what we're doing today with Intro 56-A. This bill is how we save lives. Intro 56-A requires the Depart ment of Health and Mental Hygiene to create a Nightlife Opioid Antagonist Pro gram to help prevent opioid overdoses in nightlife establishments. The program will permit nightlife establishments in the city to request and retain up to five opioid an tagonist kits, five at a time, free of charge,

to keep on premises. This is going to help those who are in need of this usage.”

However, as Hizzoner noted on Friday, “New York City is not just a place that’s tackling opioid cases. We are working hard to end gun violence and stop the scourge of illegal guns in our city.

“Intro 518-A requires the Mayor's Of fice of Criminal Justice, MOCJ, to coor dinate with the New York City Police De

partment to conduct a study on reducing the flow of firearms into the city. It should report Dec. 1, 2022, and annually on the trafficking of illegal firearms into New York City. We cannot fix what we don't continue to identify and report in a real way,” Adams said. “Finally, we turn to In tro 602-A. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court overturned New York's long stand ing gun license requirements, taking aim

at the safety of New Yorkers. The decision came down less than six weeks after 10 New Yorkers were shot and killed inside a Buffalo supermarket.

“Here in New York,” the mayor con tinued, “a place known with freedom, openness, and diversity, we will defend ourselves against these threats to our safe ty. Thanks to Gov. Hochul and the state lawmakers, new restrictions on carrying of concealed weapons in sensitive locations are now in place. Today, we are enshrin ing those restrictions into city law, pro tecting New Yorkers, tourists, and all who visit our city. The safety and security of 8.8 million people is my primary respon sibility. In working with the City Council, we have continued to make it New York's number one priority, and I cannot thank them enough.

“Millions of New Yorkers and tourists flock to Times Square to see Broadway shows, enjoy a good meal, and take photos of the neon billboards, and all the excite ment that Times Square brings. So Intro 602-A amends the administrative code of the City of New York to identify Times Square as a sensitive location zone where it is unlawful to carry firearms. Licensed gun carriers, others may not enter sensitive location zones with a gun unless otherwise specifically authorized by law.”

Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

Mayor Adams characterized the proposed pieces of legislation as “Three important bills that are addressing real issues and crises that are unfolding in our city.”

Photo Courtesy of Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit

The City Council voted on several pieces of legislation on Thursday.

Man Sentenced to up to 22 Years in Prison for Hit-andRun Crash that Claimed Middle Village Motorist

By Forum Staff

Ramon Pena, 39, has been sentenced to up to 22 years in prison for causing a deadly collision with a box truck on Metropolitan Avenue outside the Metro Mall on July 30, 2020, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz recently announced.

A 25-year-old motorist died as a result of the wreck.

Pena pleaded guilty to manslaugh ter in the second degree and leaving the scene of an incident on Sept. 13. Last week, Queens Supreme Court Justice

Kenneth Holder sentenced the defen dant to seven and one-third to 22 years in prison.

Katz said that at approximately noon on June 30, 2020, Pena stole a box truck from 101st Avenue in Jamaica and start ed driving the vehicle in an unsafe man ner through several neighborhoods in Queens and Brooklyn, striking approxi mately 20 parked and moving cars along the way.

An eyewitness reported seeing the box truck traveling upwards of 50 miles per hour, running red lights and driving on the

wrong side of the road.

At approximately 1 p.m., the defen dant was observed running a steady red light at the intersection of Rentar Plaza and Metropolitan Avenue in Middle Vil lage and slamming into the driver’s side of a black Honda CR-V, being driven by Hamlet Cruz-Gomez. The 25-year-old victim was transported to an area hos pital, where he was pronounced dead as the result of the injuries sustained in the collision.

Pena proceeded to jump out of the box truck and run into the nearby Metropolitan

Subway Station, where he was apprehend ed by the police.

“The defendant left a trail of destruc tion that culminated in a deadly collision when a young man was tragically killed as the result of the defendant’s reckless driv ing. Every individual who gets behind the wheel of a vehicle bears the moral and legal responsibility to do so safely. The sense less mayhem that the defendant caused is unacceptable,” Katz said. “He has now been held accountable for his actions and will serve time in prison as imposed by the court.”

Connecticut Man Sentenced in Death of Dirt Bike Rider on LIE

borough hospital for treatment of a bro ken left leg.

Katz said after the collision, police officers found Serrano and his vehi cle approximately two miles from the scene of the crash, partially parked on the curb and partially in the middle of the crosswalk at Maspeth Avenue and 61st Street. At the time of his ar rest, Serrano’s blood ethanol level was

0.16—two times the legal limit. Con necticut Department of Motor Vehicles records showed that Serrano was driv ing without a valid license.

“Rules of the road are not mere sugges tions, but laws that exist to help keep every one on the road safe,” Katz said. “The de fendant has now been held to account for not abiding by these laws and sentenced by the court for his actions.”

By Forum Staff

A Connecticut man has been sentenced to up to 12 years in prison for striking and killing a 19-year-old man riding a dirt bike on the Long Island Expressway in Septem ber 2021, Queens District Attorney Melin da Katz announced on Monday.

Jorge Serrano, 30, pleaded guilty to ag gravated vehicular homicide before Justice Ira Margulis on Sept. 16. On Monday, Mar gulis sentenced Serrano to an indetermi nate term of 4 to 12 years for aggravated vehicular homicide and a concurrent sen

tence of 2 1/3 to 7 years for vehicular as sault in the first degree.

According to court records, in the early morning hours of Sept. 11, 2021, Serrano was driving westbound on the Long Island Expressway when he struck a moped and a dirt bike also headed westbound. After striking the dirt bike, Serrano’s vehicle dragged the victim, Edwin Puma, approxi mately 100 yards on the highway causing his death. Serrano then drove away from the scene of the accident.

Additionally, the operator of the mo ped, a 23-year-old man, was taken to a

Photo Courtesy of Google

Responding cops pursued Pena into the Metropolitan Subway Station and apprehended him.

File Photo

“Every individual who gets behind the wheel of a vehicle bears the moral and legal responsibility to do so safely. The senseless mayhem that the defendant caused is unacceptable,” DA Katz said. “He has now been held accountable for his actions and will serve time in prison as imposed by the court.”

Photo Courtesy of Foursquare/Harris L. The crash occurred on the westbound Long Island Expressway service road near 84th Street.

Photo Courtesy of Google

After the collision, cops found Serrano and his vehicle approximately two miles from the scene of the crash, partially parked on the curb and partially in the middle of the crosswalk at Maspeth Avenue and 61st Street.

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Bayview MJ LLC, Arts of Org filed with SSNY on 08/12/22. Off. Loc.: Queens County, SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of pro cess to: The LLC, 133-12 84th St, Ozone Park, NY 11417. Purpose: to engage in any lawful act.

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: KON DOR MANAGEMENT LLC, 142-10B ROOSEVELT AVENUE, UNIT P24, FLUSHING, NY, 11354, USA.Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

ORASIS LASER LLC, Arts of Org. filed 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 NISSIRIOS, 200-20 44TH AVENUE, BAY SIDE, NY 11361. General Purpose.

ELEVENTH AUTOS LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/20/2022. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been desig nated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 17805 Edgerton Rd, Jamaica, NY 11432. Reg Agent: Yonatan Gazal, 17805 Edgerton Rd, Jamaica, NY 11432. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

M & V Restaurant LLC filed w/ SSNY on 8/25/22. Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 143-23 Barclay Ave., #5A, Flushing, NY 11355. Purpose: any lawful.

2724 JSI EMPIRE LLC filed w/ SSNY on 9/14/22. Office: 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. filed with the SSNY on 07/21/2022. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designat ed as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 14112 ELBERT SON ST. 3B, ELLMHURST, NY,11373. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.Arts of Org. filed 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 NISSIRIOS, 200-20 44TH AVENUE, BAYSIDE, NY 11361. General Purpose.

Legal Notices

ABUNDANT ROYALTIES, LLC.

Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/20/22. 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, 121-32 Lucas Street, Spring field Gardens, NY 11413. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

LOMBEIDA SALIM REALTY

LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/05/22. 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, 26-11 96th Street, East El mhurst, NY 11369. 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: CRYSTAL MOICES, 13923 227TH ST., QUEENS, NY, 11413, USA. General Purposes.

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

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

Notice of Formation of E-J / KAS SELMAN JV, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/31/22. Office 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.

Notice of Formation of A MUFFIN AND A BUG PRODUCTIONS LLC

Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/23/22. Office 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. filed with the SSNY on 08/31/22. 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, 94-22 225th Street, Queens Village, NY 11428. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.