THE FORUM NEWSGROUP | SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

Adams Lauds Administration’s Effort to Build ‘A Little More Housing in Every Neighborhood’

By Michael V. Cusenza

Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday launched an admittedly ambitious effort to tackle the City’s persistent and severe housing shortage and enduring affordability crisis by enabling the creation of “a little more housing in every neighborhood.”

As the lack of available homes drives up rents and pushes more New Yorkers into the shelter system, Adams boasted that his “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” proposal would help the New Yorkers who have built the Big Apple afford to stay here by creating an additional 100,000 homes — enough to support more than 250,000 New Yorkers — over 15 years and more than 250,000 family-sustaining jobs. Additionally, Adams said, the plan would provide $58.2 billion in economic impact to the city over the next 30 years.

The steps Adams proposed on Thursday would be the most significant pro-housing reforms ever to the City’s baroque zoning code and a step towards his “moonshot” goal of delivering 500,000 new homes to New Yorkers over the next decade.

The new initiative represents the third of three citywide zoning changes that will be presented to all five borough presidents, all 59 community boards, and the City Council as part of Adams’ vision for Gotham as an inclusive, equitable “City of Yes.” As the majority of New Yorkers spend more than one-third of their income on rent, and fewer than 1 percent of apartments listed under $1,500 monthly rent are available for new tenants, the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity marks the first time a mayoral administration has proposed unlocking more housing on a citywide basis — offering a roadmap for every community to do its part to address this citywide crisis, Adams said.

For decades, increasingly complex and restrictive zoning has impeded the creation of new housing and magnified inequities among communities across the city, with just a few neighborhoods producing the majority of the city’s new homes and some neighborhoods even losing homes overall, Adams said. New housing production has slowed to a crawl — from an average of nearly 37,000 new homes approved every year in the 1960s to barely 8,000 annually in the 1990s and, most recently, approximately 20,000 homes approved each year in the 2010s. The proposed zoning changes in the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity will reverse those trends and unlock much-needed new housing in every neighborhood across the city, Adams crowed on Thursday.

Highlights of Hizzoner’s historic housing proposal include:

Ending Parking Mandates for New Housing

Across much of New York City, decades-old regulations require certain fixed numbers of parking spaces to be built alongside new homes — driving up costs

and ultimately blocking housing by making many projects infeasible. These government mandates add an estimated $67,500 per underground parking space in construction costs and require valuable space to be reserved for cars instead of additional homes for New Yorkers.

This proposal will eliminate requirements that new homes come with new parking spots. Parking would not be barred from new developments, but this plan would get zoning regulations out of the way so developers could make decisions consistent with the market and their potential residents.

Universal Affordability Preference

The Universal Affordability Preference policy would bring permanently affordable homes to neighborhoods citywide. Building on the successful Affordable Independent Residence for Seniors program — which allows affordable senior housing to be about 20 percent larger than other types of housing — this policy would extend that preference to all types of affordable housing. Had Universal Affordability Preference been in place since 2014, New Yorkers could have benefitted from an additional 20,000 income-restricted homes where an additional 20,000 city families would be guaranteed to spend no more than 30 percent of their income on rent.

Shared Living

Around the world, cities have lowered housing costs by allowing modest apartments where residents share some common facilities, like kitchens and bathrooms, the mayor noted. New York was once full of options like these — but, over time, regulations have made this kind of housing all but impossible to offer. This proposal would adjust current rules that mandate larger unit sizes, allow more smaller-sized apartments to reduce the need for single adults to live with roommates, and re-legalize homes with shared kitchen or bathroom facilities while maintaining strong building

code and livability standards.

Town Center “Main Streets” Zoning

Increasingly restrictive zoning has made it illegal to construct the kinds of commercial corridors that make neighborhoods across New York City vibrant and distinct. Along these corridors, the “town centers,” or “Main Streets” of respective communities, this proposal would allow between two and four stories of residential development over ground-floor commercial space to encourage mixed-use communities and foster naturally affordable types of housing.

Transit-Oriented Development

Connecting new housing to accessible public transportation can ease congestion, cut harmful carbon emissions, and reduce car ownership — fostering a safer, cleaner, and more prosperous city. But in many parts of New York, current zoning forbids even modest apartment buildings. This proposal would allow apartment buildings between three and five stories on large lots near transit stops in places where they will blend with the existing neighborhood. These small multifamily buildings are already a part of New York’s fabric — making up more than one in five homes in one- and two-family neighborhoods — but have been banned by increasingly restrictive zoning in recent decades.

Accessory Dwelling Units

Backyard cottages, garage conversions, and basement units have delivered enormous benefits to homeowners across the country — allowing seniors struggling to stay in their neighborhood on a fixed income or young people stretching to afford a first home a way to earn extra income. This proposal would legalize an additional dwelling unit of up to 800 square feet on one- and two-family properties across the five boroughs, adding new housing that fits into neighborhoods, while providing space for multigenerational families, health aides, or local workers.

Converting Empty Offices into Hous -

ing

Turning vacant commercial space into homes offers a win-win for New Yorkers looking for new homes and the city’s economic recovery — creating housing more efficiently in already-existing buildings, while maximizing use of otherwise-underused space and enlivening neighborhoods, Adams said. Today, arbitrary restrictions dictate that depending on the year a building was constructed, conversion may or may not be possible. Thursday’s proposal would update the year of construction to 1990 for flexible conversion regulations, extend geographic eligibility to anywhere in the city that zoning permits housing, and allow conversion to more types of homes, including supportive housing. Through these changes, commercial space could be converted to create an additional 20,000 homes over the next decade.

Maximizing Campuses

Large campuses across the city have underused space that could be used to house New Yorkers. The creation of new homes could fund repairs to existing buildings, revitalize institutions, and help address the city’s housing crisis. But complex and outdated rules stop campuses from adding new buildings if, for example, an older building is above a height limit — even if the older building is allowed under the rules in place when it was built. This proposal would ease approvals for new buildings on campuses that reflect the context of the surrounding buildings — allowing properties ranging from multi-building housing developments to religious institutions to create new housing and support the revitalization of their communities.

Today, we are proposing the most prohousing changes in the history of New York City’s zoning code — changes that will remove longstanding barriers to opportunity, finally end exclusionary zoning, cut red tape, and transform our city from the ground up,” Adams added.

Courtesy of Department of City Planning

New housing production in NYC has slowed to a crawl.

Area Man Convicted of Attempted Murder of Boy

By Forum Staff

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Thursday that a Richmond Hill man has been convicted of attempted murder for picking up a 6-year-old boy and slamming him into the pavement head first.

Laurence Gendreau, 39, was convicted by a jury last Wednesday of attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, grand larceny in the fourth degree and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree. The Hon. Ira Margulis set sentencing for Oct. 12.

According to the charges and trial testimony:

On Oct. 10, 2019, at approximately 4:45 p.m., a 6-year-old boy was standing outside his grandparents’ Kew Gardens home along with his older brother waiting for a pizza delivery. Gendreau, who was walking by, suddenly charged at the child, yelling at him. He lifted the boy over his head and slammed him down onto the pavement.

As the child was motionless on the ground, Gendreau fled. The boy’s brother ran inside and alerted his family. His grandfather chased after Gendreau and flagged down a police officer. Gendreau was stopped near Lefferts Boulevard and Metropolitan Avenue.

The boy was

rushed to the hospital where he was treated for a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and a collapsed lung. He has since recovered.

Earlier that same day, at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Union Turnpike in Kew Gardens, Gendreau approached an 83-yearold woman, sat next to her and then grabbed an iPad from her hands. The stolen iPad was recovered from Gendreau at the time of his arrest following the attack on the boy.

“This senseless and brutal attack left a young boy seriously injured and a community shocked. We all deserve to feel safe in our homes and while walking the streets of our neighborhoods. The criminal justice system worked and we were able to take a dangerous man off the street,” Katz said. Gendreau faces up to 25 years in prison.

Photo Courtesy of Google

Gendreau was taken into custody near Lefferts Boulevard and Metropolitan Avenue.

Photo Courtesy of iPhone Wiki/DanTheMann15

On the same day as the assault, Gendreau swiped an iPad from an elderly woman.

Addabbo, J-CAP Organize Training Course to Help Prevent Opioid Overdose Deaths

By Forum Staff

State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) next month will partner with the Jamaica Community Adolescents Program (J-CAP; part of the Acacia Network) to a host a free Naloxone training and certification at the Shops at Atlas Park, located at 80-00 Cooper Ave. in Glendale, on Tuesday, Oct. 17, starting at

5:30 p.m. Participants will learn how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and how to respond using Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan. Upon completion of the 20-minute course, participants will receive a certificate and a Naloxone kit.

Opioids include heroin, OxyContin, fentanyl, methadone, Percocet and Vicodin. Opioid overdose is the leading cause

of accidental death in the United States. There were 80,411 reported opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2021, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. When someone is experiencing an opioid overdose, witnesses only have 4-6 minutes to respond. It takes an average of 7-10 minutes for EMS to arrive. However, administering Naloxone at the onset of an overdose is a potentially lifesaving measure that may prevent death and allow more time for professional medical help to arrive.

Naloxone quickly reverses an over-

dose by blocking the effects of opioids. It can restore normal breathing within 2 to 3 minutes, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

“Learning how to use Naloxone and having it on hand is a simple and effective way to potentially save the life of a friend or loved one,” Addabbo said. “I am proud to be working with J-CAP and the Shops at Atlas Park to bring this fast, simple, yet important program to the community.”

Call Addabbo’s district office at (718)738-1111 to RSVP.

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia/Intropin

Upon completion of the free 20-minute course, participants will receive a certificate and a Naloxone kit.

File Photo

“Learning how to use Naloxone and having it on hand is a simple and effective way to potentially save the life of a friend or loved one,” Sen. Addabbo said.

LEARNING ABOUT SAD

‘One Man Crime Wave’ Charged in Two Shootings

By Michael V. Cusenza

An indictment was unsealed on Tuesday in federal court in Brooklyn charging Abel Mora, a member of the violent Trinitarios street gang, with two separate shootings in Queens and Brooklyn on Aug. 13. Mora, 22, was arrested Tuesday morning and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon.

As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, the charges stem from two shootings allegedly committed by the defendant on Sunday, Aug. 13, within a span of nine hours. At approximately 1:05 p.m. in Far Rockaway, Mora exchanged gunfire with individuals inside of a vehicle as they chased each other throughout a residential neighborhood in the vicinity of New Haven Avenue and Beach 13th Street. The shooting, which was captured on video, arose from a fight that broke out between an occupant of the vehicle and Mora’s associate. Residents of the neighborhood, including children, ran for cover to escape harm.

The second shooting occurred at approximately 9:18 p.m. outside of 3441 Fulton Street in East New York, Brooklyn. Mora allegedly shot a victim and robbed him of his backpack. Video surveillance capturing this incident showed that Mora committed the crime outside of a busy convenience store with customers and children present inside and outside the location. Immediately following the shooting, Mora fled to Etna Street with the stolen property, where he was picked up by an associate on a scooter. The victim survived. A total of ten 9mm Luger cartridges were possessed by Mora in the two shootings.

Law enforcement officers on Tuesday

recovered a loaded 9mm firearm with a 17-round magazine inside Mora’s Far Rockaway residence.

At the time of the shootings, Mora had a prior felony conviction for assault.

“As alleged, this defendant was a oneman crime wave, who engaged in a broad daylight gunfight in Queens, then robbed and shot someone in Brooklyn later that same day,” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said. “This office will continue working tirelessly to dismantle gangs and reduce gun violence by prosecuting violent offenders who put the safety of communities in our district at extreme risk.”

If convicted, Mora faces up to 15 years in prison on each of the two counts.

“Gang members like Mora continue to plague our city with his blatant disregard for the safety of our community and his reckless indifference to human life. It is only through our local and federal partnerships that we are able to put a stop to these violent repeat offenders,” said FBI NY Assistant Director-in-Charge James Smith. “This case is another example of how the FBI and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to keeping the streets of New York City Safe for everyone in our community.”

Peace also thanked the City Police Department—specifically the men and women of the 75th and 101st precincts— “for their outstanding work and assistance in this investigation and prosecution.”

City Police Commissioner Edward Caban called Tuesday’s indictment “a result of the tight focus the NYPD and our law enforcement partners maintain to identify and remove from the streets the individuals who are most significantly driving crime and violence in New York City neighborhoods.”

This week we’d like to talk to you about seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. It’s a type of depression related to changes in seasons. (SAD) begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, draining your energy and making you feel moody. These symptoms often resolve during the spring and summer months. Less often, causes depression in the spring or early summer and resolves during the fall or winter months.

Treatment for may include light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy and medications.

SAD is nothing to brush off. If you can’t keep your mood up or your motivation steady, get help.

Don't brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the "winter blues" or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own. Take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year

In most cases, seasonal affective disorder symptoms appear during late fall or early winter and go away during the sunnier days of spring and summer. Symptoms may start out mild and become more severe as the season progresses.

Signs and symptoms may include:

• Feeling listless, sad or down most of the day, nearly every day

• Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed

• Having low energy and feeling sluggish

• Having problems with sleeping too much

• Experiencing carbohydrate cravings, overeating and weight gain

• Having difficulty concentrating

• Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty

• Having thoughts of not wanting to live

People with bipolar disorder are at increased risk of seasonal affective disorder. In some people with bipolar disorder, episodes of mania may be linked to a specific season. For example, spring and summer can bring on symptoms of mania or a less intense form of mania (hypomania), anxiety, agitation and irritability. They may also experience depression during the fall and winter months.

It's normal to have days when you feel down. But if that happens for days at a time and you’re not motivated to do things you enjoy, see your doctor. This is urgent if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed, you start to drink alcohol for comfort or relaxation, or you feel hopeless or have suicidal thoughts.

please call

Attention: All Con Ed Customers

Con Edison is updating its billing systems and as a result all customers will receive a new account number by Oct. 10, City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) reminded her constituents this week.

Customers who pay utility bills directly through their bank will need to contact their bank and provide the updated Con Edison account number.

Presented by Frank Pantina, R.Ph

Photos Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of NY Images show Mora allegedly shooting the victim outside of a busy Brooklyn convenience store.

Adams Announces Additional Resources for Asylum Seekers

By Forum Staff

Mayor Eric Adams on Friday announced additional policies to help asylum seekers in the City’s care take the next steps in their journeys.

According to Hizzoner, the City “has made every effort” to continue serving the more than 116,000 asylum seekers who have arrived in the five boroughs since last spring. However, with an average of between 300 and 500 people still arriving in the five boroughs asking for shelter each day, and more than 60,000 migrants currently in the City’s care, the Big Apple is full — having responded without all the substantial State or federal support needed to manage a national crisis. Over the past two months, the City has distributed approximately 13,000 60-day notices to adult asylum seekers with intensified casework services to help these individuals reach their final destination and transition to alternate housing.

As the City still seeks further and timely support from federal and State partners, adult asylum seekers who have not secured alternative housing after their current 60-day notice has expired, and who subsequently return to the Asylum Seeker Arrival Center, will receive a placement with an additional 30-day notice coupled with further intensified casework services. Additionally, beginning today, all adult asylum seekers applying for shelter at the arrival center for the first time will receive a 30-day notice paired with intensified casework services. Each asylum seeker given notice will have touchpoints with case workers over their 30 days to discuss their options and plan their next

steps.

Since the humanitarian crisis began, the City has opened 210 emergency shelters, including 17 total largescale humanitarian relief centers; enrolled thousands of

children in public schools through Project Open Arms; and launched the Asylum Application Help Center to help thousands of migrants with their asylum applications. Earlier this spring, the City released “The Road Forward: A Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis,” detailing how the City will manage the influx of asylum seekers and advocate for support from federal and State partners.

“For over a year, New York City has stepped up while waiting for the substantial help necessary from federal and state partners to comprehensively address this crisis and support the tens of thousands of asylum seekers in our care, and today’s announcement is another step in our efforts to help asylum seekers take the next step in their journeys,” said Adams. “We appreciate the support we have received so far from our state and federal partners, but with more than 60,000 asylum seekers still in our care and without additional help, we will be forced to continue making difficult decisions.”

Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom added, “For more than a year, New York City has acted to respond to what is a global humanitarian crisis,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “We have now reached a point where we are full and must take action to move people seeking asylum more quickly through our shelter system. The accelerated pace of stay in our shelter system will be paired with intensive case management to help people seeking asylum speed up their ability to achieve independence.”

New Yorkers can Use City-Funded Rental Assistance Vouchers across State: Mayor

By Forum Staff

Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced further innovations to the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) rental assistance program that will expand access to housing for New Yorkers with housing vouchers. While the City continues to face a serious housing shortage with a recordhigh shelter population totaling more than 113,000, CityFHEPS voucher holders will now be able to utilize their voucher to obtain permanent, affordable housing not only within the five boroughs but also in any county or locality across the Empire State.

New York City’s severe housing shortage has been one of the greatest impediments to the administration’s efforts to connect New Yorkers experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity to stable, affordable housing, as less than 1 percent of apartments with rents below $1,500 are currently available for new tenants — the lowest in 30 years. As a result, thousands of households with housing vouchers are currently living in shelter, unable to find permanent, affordable housing.

As the Adams administration enters the second year of responding, largely alone, to a global humanitarian crisis, and the federal government declines to imple -

ment the national decompression strategy Adams has urged for months, solutions such as the one Adams announced on Tuesday are critical to the City’s efforts to quickly move more New Yorkers from shelter into permanent housing and make additional space available for tens of thousands of asylum seekers, as well as the large population of longtime homeless New Yorkers.

Boosting the number of households able to move out of city shelters and into permanent housing has become increasingly urgent as more than 116,000 people seeking asylum in the United States have come through the city’s care seeking shelter since spring 2022, with hundreds more arriving each day, often without existing support systems and in need of temporary housing assistance. Though the city has continued to lead on this national crisis without the proper support necessary from its partners, this unprecedented influx has severely strained the city’s capacity to provide a temporary place to stay for those who need it. Before this crisis began, the New York City Department of Homeless Services shelter census was approximately 45,000 people, down from a previous peak of about 61,000. Today, the total number of individuals in the city’s care, including both longtime unhoused New Yorkers and asylum seekers stands at

more than 113,000 — more than doubling in just over a year.

“Our shelters are far past capacity, but thousands of households still remain left stuck without any affordable housing options across the five boroughs. Now is the time to create new options for permanent affordable housing for New Yorkers by expanding CityFHEPS even further than this administration did earlier this year,” Adams said. “These reforms will give long-

time New Yorkers the ability to move out of our city’s shelter system to other parts of the state with more affordable housing options, while simultaneously opening up space in our city’s shelter system for the approximately 10,000 migrants who continue to arrive in the city seeking shelter month after month. We hope our partners across the state will greet these longtime New Yorkers with open arms and good job opportunities.”

Photo Courtesy of NYC

Earlier this year, the City released “The Road Forward: A Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis,” detailing how the Adams administration will manage the influx of asylum seekers and advocate for support from federal and State partners.

Photo Courtesy of Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office “Now is the time to create new options for permanent affordable housing for New Yorkers,” Mayor Adams said.

Pols Set to Host Free E-Waste Recycling Event at Forest Park

• Video-game consoles and accessories;

• Cell phones, pagers, PDAs;

• Stereo equipment;

• Landline phones/answering machines;

• Extension cords

Items that will NOT be accepted are:

• Batteries of any kind;

• Floppy disks/VHS tapes/CDs/ DVDs/cassette tapes;

• Smoke detectors;

• Medication;

• Any hazardous materials or paint;

• Household appliances

By Forum Staff

The fall free electronic waste recycling event is back.

On Sunday, Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven), City Councilman Bob Holden (DMaspeth), and Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) will host the Lower East Side Ecology Company at the Forest Park Bandshell parking lot where

staff members will be collecting old and broken electronics to be properly recycled.

Electronics that will be accepted during the event are:

• Computers (laptops and desktops, servers, mainframes);

• Monitors (CRT and flat screen)

• Handheld devices (smartphones, tablets, MP3 players, e-readers, etc.);

• Network devices (routers, hubs, modems, etc.);

• Peripherals (keyboards, mice, cables, cords, chargers, etc.);

• Components (hard drives, CD-ROMs, circuit boards, power supplies, etc.);

• Printers, scanners, fax-machines, etc.;

• TVs, VCRs, DVRs, DVD and Blu-ray Players;

• Digital Converter Boxes, Cable/Satellite Receivers;

• Audio-visual equipment (cameras, microphones, etc.);

“When electronics are not properly recycled, they can end up in our landfills causing harmful chemicals to get into the soil which are quite harmful to the environment and to us,” Addabbo said. “By recycling your e-waste, you help to clean up the environment and create a healthier planet now and for future generations. I understand that it can be difficult to know when and where to dispose of your old electronics, which is why we hold this event twice a year centrally located at Forest Park so residents have the opportunity to join us and get rid of their e-waste right in their community.”

For more information about this event, contact Addabbo’s office at (718) 738-1111.

File Photo

The bi-annual free electronic waste recycling event will take place this Sunday, Oct. 1, at the Forest Park Bandshell parking lot.

File Photo

“By recycling your e-waste, you help to clean up the environment and create a healthier planet now and for future generations,” Sen. Addabbo said.

here's what they're saying

Nana's Google reviews make us smile:)

Steven VZ Jordan Temkin

What an amazing experience!

The food was mind blowing, drinks were delicious, decor was classy, and the service was great!

Wake up! There's a great breakfast/lunch here!

Kellie Newman

What a great addition to the neighborhood! The food and service are top notch. If you haven't tried it yet, I recommend you do so right away.

Lioneta Osorio

Went here for breakfast last month and it was phenomenal! The lemon ricotta pancakes were mouth watering. Definitely recommend.

Reserve your table today!

Went for brunch and everything tasted clean and had really good flavor! The breakfast burito with the avacado smash was great. Highly recommend!

Martha Young

Had a fabulous brunch at Nanas yesterday The food is outstanding, the staff is professional and friendly, and the restaurant itself is beautiful I highly recommend trying this place ! I will definitely be back!!

Ro Dunn

Was here for an amazing brunch. So many courses, and each one better than the next!

Lemon blueberry ricotta pancakes, broccoli mushroom quiche, eggs Benedict, sausage so delish, couldn't stop eating. Waitstaff so attentive and efficient Beautiful space, sun shining in the huge front windows on this particular day. Spacious and inviting. Can't wait to go back for lunch!

Borough President Touts Jobs and Resources Fair for Veterans

By Forum Staff

Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. will host a jobs and resources fair for Queens veterans at Borough Hall on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Richards announced Tuesday.

All military veterans are invited to attend this event, which will feature multiple organizations that connect Queens veterans with jobs, career training opportunities, housing assistance, mental health and substance abuse treatment and other services they have more than earned through their selfless service to our nation.

In attendance will be the Department

of Citywide Administrative Services, which is seeking to fill positions in City government. Also in attendance will be the Council for Airport Opportunity — which is placing workers in jobs at LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports — along with job placement agencies that work with veterans, such as Workforce1 and American Corporate Partners.

The fair will also include presentations from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on preventing veteran suicides and how veterans can access benefits under the PACT Act — the 2022 federal law that expands health care and benefits for vet-

erans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. Additionally, members of The Hope Program will offer a presentation about its job training initiatives for veterans, while representatives of the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University will discuss its efforts to help veterans improve their mental health.

In addition, representatives from several CUNY colleges will be in attendance to share information about the services the colleges provide to their student veterans. Richards will offer remarks during the event along with James Hendon, commissioner of the City Department of Vet-

erans’ Services.

“Queens is the proud home of more veterans than any other borough, and we deeply thank all of our veterans for their distinguished service to our country,” Richards said. “Americans enjoy liberty and security thanks to the sacrifices made by our military veterans. That’s why it’s important we host a Queens Veterans Jobs and Resources Fair to connect our borough’s veterans with organizations committed to helping them live happy and productive civilian lives.”

Those interested in attending the event are asked to RSVP by visiting queensbp. org/RSVP.

Borough Doctor Settles Federal Health Care Fraud Claims for $1.3M

By Forum Staff

Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace announced on Thursday a settlement agreement with Flushing-based physician Arun Arora. The settlement agreement addresses allegations that Arora violated the federal False Claims Act by billing Medicare for critical care services to residents of nursing homes when, in fact, he provided only routine care.

Arora provided care to residents of nursing homes. That care was, for the most part, routine care, such as regular medical checkups. The government contends that, rather than billing for his services as routine care, Arora billed Medicare for critical care services. Critical care services involve imminent life-threatening deterioration of the patient’s condition. Medicare reimburses

health care providers at a higher rate for critical care services than for routine care. By billing for critical care services when he provided only routine care, as the government contends, Arora received extra payment for care that he did not provide.

Under the terms of the agreement with the federal government, Arora will pay $1.3 million for conduct that took place in the years 2019 to 2023.

In addition to the payment to resolve the government’s fraud claims, Arora has entered into a separate Integrity Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The Integrity Agreement imposes a number of obligations on Arora, all of which are meant to ensure that he complies with Medicare rules and regulations going forward.

“Our Medicare program, which provides health care services to the elderly, works only if its funds are expended properly,” Peace said. “When health care providers overbill the program, Medicare cannot ensure that services are going to the people who need them most.”

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no admission of or determination of liability, Peace added.

Photo Courtesy of Borough President Richards

“Queens is the proud home of more veterans than any other borough,” Borough President Richards noted.

Photo Courtesy of Google/Jim Ryan

The fair will be held in the Helen Marshall Cultural Center at Queens Borough Hall.

File Photo

Dr. Arora allegedly received extra payment for care that he did not provide.

Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of NY

“When

health care providers overbill the program, Medicare cannot ensure that services are going to the people who need them most,” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Peace said.

Search Warrant Nets Cache of Drugs and Guns

with six rounds of ammunition

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

• A Taurus 410G revolver with five rounds of ammunition

• A Zastava .223mm assault rifle with five rounds of ammunition

• $1,052 in cash

• Six kilo presses

By Forum Staff

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Thursday that five people have been arraigned on drugs and weapons charges after a search warrant executed at their Queens Village home uncovered a stockpile of guns and drugs with a street value of more than $200,000.

Ancil Hazelwood, 48, Courtney Jackson, 32, Malik Lewis, 43, Domonique Sierra, 37, and Jessica Smythe, 28, were arraigned late Wednesday night on a complaint charging them each with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first, second, third, fourth and fifth degrees; one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree; four counts of criminal posses

sion of a weapon in the second degree; two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree; criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree; and endangering the welfare of a child.

According to the charges, at approximately 4:40 a.m. on Sept. 20, police executed a court-authorized search warrant on the home shared by the defendants which revealed:

• 2,387 grams of cocaine with traces of fentanyl

• 1,676 grams of heroin with traces of fentanyl

• A quantity of crack cocaine

• Psilocybin mushrooms

• Three scales containing cocaine residue

• A Smith and Wesson .45mm pistol

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 traffickers threatening the safety of communities.”

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

Pimp Pleads Guilty to Murder and Sex Trafficking Eight Women

By Forum Staff

Earlier this month, in federal court in Brooklyn, Somorie Moses, also known as “Somorie Barfield,” “Sugar Bear,” “Bear” and “Daddy,” pleaded guilty to sex-trafficking eight women and to the 2017 murder of one of the women, Leondra Foster.

According to court filings and admissions made in court, since at least 2003, Moses forced women and girls, including minors, into prostitution for his benefit using violence, threats of violence, and psychological manipulation. Moses used false promises of love and marriage to initiate sexual relationships with his victims before demanding that they work as prostitutes and turn over the money they earned to him. Moses pressured many of his victims into tattooing his first name, “Somorie,” on their bodies.

Moses used brutal beatings, rape, torture, and threats to coerce his victims to work in prostitution in Brooklyn and Queens. When one victim, identified at the Sept. 15 guilty plea proceeding as Jane Doe 1, refused to engage in prostitution, Moses used a taser against her until she complied. Another victim, identified as Jane Doe 2, was slashed on her arms and back with a razor by Moses who also beat

her with a belt before pouring lemon juice on her wounds, leaving her permanently scarred. When a victim identified as Jane Doe 7 told Moses that she did not want to work as a prostitute, he put a shotgun in her mouth and threatened to kill her and her child.

On Jan. 13, 2017, Moses murdered Leondra Foster, one of his sex trafficking

victims. That same day, using a knife and a saw, Moses dismembered Foster’s body inside their shared apartment in Brooklyn. Four days later, on the morning of Jan. 17, 2017, Moses transported Foster’s torso and limbs to the Bronx for disposal at a sanitation site. Foster’s head, hands and feet — including a foot with the name “Somorie” tattooed on it — were subsequently recov-

ered by law enforcement inside the deep freezer of Moses’s apartment.

“With today’s guilty plea to every count in the indictment, Moses is held fully responsible for preying on women and girls, forcing them to become prostitutes, and then brutally murdering and dismembering one of his many victims,” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said. “While the defendant’s total admission of guilt cannot undo the terrible harm he has caused, we hope it will bring a measure of closure to his victims who suffered the defendant’s extreme cruelty and brutality, and to the family of Ms. Foster.”

City Police Commissioner Edward Caban added, “Today’s guilty plea brings finality to a case of reprehensible sexual exploitation, brutal assault, and murder. I commend and thank our dedicated NYPD detectives, along with our partners in the FBI and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, for their commitment to investigating and prosecuting this important case.”

When sentenced, Moses faces a mandatory term of imprisonment of 15 years, and up to life in prison. This prosecution is the first use of the federal statute criminalizing murder in the course of sex trafficking, Peace noted.

Photo Courtesy of DA Katz

Cops recently recovered a stash of guns and drugs in a Queens Village home.

Photo Courtesy of Facebook/Kamla Millwood “We cannot, and will not, relent in the war against lethal illegal drugs and weapons and will hold accountable drug traffickers threatening the safety of communities,” DA Katz said.

Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

NYPD Commissioner Caban characterized the case as one of “reprehensible sexual exploitation, brutal assault, and murder.”

Legal Notices

Notice of Qualification of 319 West 38th Street LP. Fictitious Name in NY State: 319 West 38th Street L.P. App. for Auth. filed Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/7/23. Off loc: Queens County. LP formed in DE: 4/13/22. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o The LeTap Group, 39-34 21st St, Long Island City, NY 11101, jpatel@theletapgroup.com. DE address of LP: c/o National Registered Agents, Inc., 1209 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801. Name/address of each genl. ptr. available from SSNY. Cert. of LP filed DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: any lawful activity.

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.

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.

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

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.

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