Queens Chronicle 04-16-26

Measures strive to address systemic disparities; fed official eyes challenge City releases draft racial equity plan

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

Mayor Mamdani on April 6 released the city’s’s long-awaited Preliminary Racial Equity Plan, what the city said is its first governmentwide framework aimed at addressing systemic disparities.

The plan, mandated by a 2022 voterapproved City Charter amendment, outlines more than 200 goals, 800 strategies and 600 performance indicators spanning areas such as housing, healthcare, economic opportunity and infrastructure, according to the city.

It is paired with a “True Cost of Living Measure,” which officials say quantifies what New Yorkers need to meet basic needs and achieve economic stability.

The city’s research found that 62 percent of New Yorkers, or 5.04 million people, do not meet “their true cost of living,” compared with roughly 18 to 20 percent identified as poor under traditional measures.

The True Cost of Living Measure “shows that this is not a crisis affecting a small minority of New Yorkers,” Mamdani said in a statement. “It is a crisis touching the vast majority of our city.”

He continued, “But we know this crisis is not felt equally. Black and Latino New Yorkers — who have been pushed out of this city

for decades — are bearing the brunt. ... These reports make one thing clear: we cannot tackle systemic racial inequity without confronting the affordability crisis head-on, and we cannot solve the cost-of-living crisis with-

out dismantling systemic racial inequity.”

The median net worth of white households, according to data from the city, is approximately $276,900 — nearly 15 times greater than that of Black New Yorkers, at $18,870.

The city also said Black New Yorkers have the lowest life expectancy of any racial or ethnic group, at 76.1 years compared with 81.8 years for white New Yorkers.

Key goals from the preliminary plan include expanding access to capital for underserved businesses; connecting New Yorkers in high-unemployment communities to quality jobs; helping young people build generational wealth; applying a racial equity framework to all new housing proposals; ensuring that every New Yorker has access to a primary care physician by 2034; and reducing truck-related pollutants in communities of color that are disproportionately affected by warehousing activity.

Through May 6, the Mamdani administration is gathering public feedback on the plan before releasing a finalized version in July.

The public can submit feedback online at bit.ly/MOERJRacialEquity.

The release of the preliminary plan follows years of delays that led the New York City Commission on Racial Equity to sue former Mayor Eric Adams in 2025 for failing to produce it in the required time.

Under the City Charter, CORE is tasked with identifying racial justice priorities, while the mayor is responsible for publishing preliminary and final plans aligned with

continued on page 16

CONZA | MCNAMARA

J. CONZA,

EDWARD R. MCNAMARA, ESQ.

Harvard University, A.B.

St. John’s University School of Law, J.D.

Mayor Mamdani on April 6 at a press conference in Brooklyn announced the long-awaited release of the city’s Preliminary Racial Equity Plan and True Cost of Living Measure, efforts to establish a framework to address systemic disparities. PHOTOBYEDREED/NYCMAYOR’SOFFICE

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Stretch from Myrtle Avenue to Park Lane South was finally repaved Smooth rides return to Forest Park Drive

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

The stretch of Forest Park Drive between Myrtle Avenue and Park Lane South has recently felt more like an obstacle course than a roadway — a bumpy ride riddled with potholes that slowed traffic and left drivers swerving for smoother ground.

Now the battered roadway has finally been repaved.

The work, carried out by city Department of Transportation crews in partnership with the Parks Department, got underway the evening of April 8 and continued on late nights throughout the weekend.

The road was milled in March, and there is usually a few weeks’ delay between milling and paving. In the case of Forest Park Drive, the agency had to resolve a basins and ponding matter with the Department of Environmental Protection before resurfacing began.

The Forest Park Drive repaving project was made possible through funding earmarked by Councilmember Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) in the city budget. The funding is set to be delivered in two phases.

The first, which went into effect this month, was $325,000 allotted in fiscal year 2026. A second allo-

“We will make those rough rides a thing of the past.”

— Councilmember Joann Ariola

cation of $600,000 is set to go into the fiscal year 2027 budget, Ariola’s office said, and would repave the rest of Forest Park Drive, between Woodhaven Boulevard and Metropolitan Avenue, starting this fall.

“The people who live around

Forest Park have had to deal with bumpy roads and pothole-damaged vehicles for far too long, and I am thrilled to see this project finally getting done,” Ariola said in a statement, thanking partners at the DOT and Parks. “Together, we will

make those rough rides a thing of the past and give residents here the quality of life they deserve — a quality of life that starts with smooth streets.”

DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn said, “Paving season is in full swing

across the five boroughs because New Yorkers deserve safe and smooth streets. We thank Council Member Ariola for her generous support and NYC Parks for their continued collaboration in delivering a Forest Park Drive that looks and feels good as new.”

Jacqueline Langsam, the Queens borough commissioner for the Parks Department, also thanked Ariola for the funding and said, “Forest Park Drive is a vital artery that connects Queens communities and shows off the beauty of our incredible park. Together with our partners at DOT, we’re making this road safer and easier to use for all New Yorkers.”

The repaving of Forest Park Drive comes in the midst of the DOT’s efforts to fill potholes throughout the city that emerged due to severe winter weather and freeze-thaw cycles.

New Yorkers are encouraged to report potholes by calling 311, using the mobile app or visiting nyc.gov/ FixMyPothole.

The city has had four “pothole blitz” weekends, a partnership between the DOT and Mayor Mamdani, so far this year. Crews have repaired more than 102,000 potholes since the mayor took office on Jan. 1, the DOT said. Q

Mamdani announces 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. operation schedule for ‘most seats’ 2-K program to

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

Most of the city’s first 2,000 2-K seats available this fall will operate on a full-day and full-year schedule, Mayor Mamdani announced April 9 at a press conference in Brooklyn.

The program will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 260 days a year, eclipsing the traditional 180-day school calendar.

The city’s 3-K and pre-K programs, according to the Department of Education’s website, usually run for six hours and 20 minutes per day and follows the public school calendar, running typically from September through June.

“For many families working nine to five, an eight to three program isn’t going to cut it. For too

long, parents have been forced to choose between their livelihood and their children, or to drain their savings just to make it through the workday. That ends now,” Mamdani said in a prepared statement.

“Universal child care must meet the real lives of working people. That begins with full-year, full-day 2-K.”

In January, Mamdani, with Gov. Hochul, announced a state allocation of more than $1.2 billion to support early-childhood care and education, including $73 million for the first set of free 2-K seats. The program is planned to provide free childcare for 2-year-olds to any family who needs it, regardless of ZIP code, income or immigration status.

In Queens, 2-year-olds in School District 27, which encompasses

have 10-hour days all year

Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Howard Beach and the Rockaways, as well as parts of Lindenwood and northern Springfield Gardens, will be the first to get free seats, the city announced in March.

State Sen. Roxanne Persaud (D-Brooklyn, Queens), who was in attendance at the press conference, said, “Child care is an important step in elevating families out of poverty, elevating families so that communities are better.”

She continued, “No parent should say, ‘I cannot do [this] because I do not have daycare, I cannot do [that] because I do not have daycare.’”

Families in eligible school districts will be able to apply for 2-K seats from June 2 through 26. Q

Mayor Mamdani, center, on April 9 in Brooklyn announced that the city’s 2-K program will run 10 hours a day, 260 days a year. PHOTOBYEDREED/NYCMAYOR

The stretch of Forest Park Drive that runs from Myrtle Avenue to Park Lane South was recently repaved thanks to a funding allocation from Councilmember Joann Ariola. PHOTOBYKRISTENGUGLIELMO

Group gets updates on area crime; welcomes six members to the panel 102’s cops address concerns from CB 9

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

Those living within the confines of the NYPD’s 102nd Precinct might have noticed the absence of a familiar face.

Det. Nick Salamone, a longtime officer in the Community Affairs Division, transferred to the NYPD’s Technical Assistance and Response Unit, according to Community Affairs Officer Christopher DiMarco, who addressed the crowd at Community Board 9’s meeting Tuesday night at Borough Hall. Officer Rohitbir Singh is Salamone’s replacement.

The two cops, alongside Sgt. Stacy Zaun-Alequin and Det. Mandeep Cheem, of the 102’s Q-team, discussed neighborhood concerns with board members.

On the fatal shooting late last month at Hangar Bar in Kew Gardens, DiMarco told the group that the threat was not started within the board’s district.

“It was something from an outside precinct, gang-related, that ended up in the 102,” DiMarco said. “The victim was an unintended tar-

PHOTOBYKRISTENGUGLIELMO

get of this shooting.”

He said the police believe they know who the perpetrators are, but it is still being investigated.

Chair Sherry Algredo asked if the command knew how many cops they would lose to beach detail during the summer, as some officers typically get sent to the 101st and 100th precincts during that time.

“We haven’t got any word yet,” DiMarco told her. “The 101st Precinct in Far Rockaway is trending to be more violent than the 102 Precinct, which is why we send the cops there. ... That’s not my decision to make. Hopefully we stay here, but we never know. Most likely we’ll be sent to one of those precincts.”

Board member Andrea Crawford

asked about cars dangerously racing. She said that although they start in East New York, outside of the precinct’s jurisdiction, cars race off the Jackie Robinson Parkway onto Park Lane South, then onto Metropolitan Avenue, and back to the Jackie.

“This is a circle of hell that just goes on all night long, and it’s really picking up,” Crawford said, adding that the drivers are doing doughnuts in Forest Park.

“Somebody is going to get killed — other than the ones racing,” she said.

DiMarco stressed that the incidents should be reported by calling 311 or the precinct.

“Hopefully with that, we can stop one of them and ID them, find out where they’re coming from and where they’re meeting up. We have units on this job that do try to intersect these types of meets before they happen.”

In other board news, the group welcomed six new members: Maria Caba Marmol, Jennifer Guzman, Adam Maraj, Carina Nieves, Brent Robles and Rebecca Tull.

“We look forward to continuing

Robbery suspect still at it: cops

More incidents attributed to perp; three with accomplice

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

Cops are still searching for a man they say is now responsible for six robbery incidents in South Queens within the confines of the NYPD’s 106th Precinct, including three with a partner.

Police had previously linked the suspect to two late-night armed robberies in March, both targeting commercial establishments. In the first, around 12:30 a.m. on March 21, cops said the man displayed a firearm inside a Liberty Avenue fast-food restaurant but fled empty-handed on a bicycle.

About a week later, at roughly 3 a.m. on March 28, he struck again at a Lefferts Boulevard business, this time making off with $3,500 before fleeing, again by bike. No injuries were reported in either incident.

On April 10, cops identified four additional incidents.

Police said on April 4, at around 3:15 a.m. in front of 132-02 Liberty Ave. in South Richmond Hill, a 55-year-old male was approached by an unidentified individual who displayed a firearm and forcibly removed a necklace from the victim. The perpetrator then fled the location southbound on 132nd Street, cops said, and the victim refused medical attention at the scene.

A day later, at 11 p.m. inside of a deli at

127-01 111 Ave. in South Ozone Park, a 45-year-old male store employee was approached by two unidentified individuals.

The duo displayed a firearm, cops said, and forcibly removed $400 from the victim before fleeing northbound on 127th Street.

On April 6, at 10:15 p.m., in front of what cops said was reported as 120-20 121 St. in

South Richmond Hill, though no such address appears to exist, a 40-year-old male riding a two-wheeled vehicle was approached by two unidentified individuals who displayed a firearm. The NYPD did not clarify the type of two-wheeled vehicle.

The suspects forcibly took the vehicle from the victim before fleeing southbound on 121st Street, cops said.

Then, on April 7 at around 12:30 a.m., a 22-year-old deli employee at 121-02 Rockaway Blvd. was approached by the two suspects. Cops said the duo again displayed a firearm and forcibly removed $2,000 before fleeing southbound on 131st Street.

No injuries were reported in the latest three incidents.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS (8477), or, for Spanish, 1 (888) 57-PISTA (74782). One may also submit tips by going to crimestoppers.nypdonline.org; or by texting 274637 (CRIMES) and entering TIP577; or by going to @nypdtips on X.

All tips are strictly confidential. Q

our work as a nice, big team,” Algredo told the group.

The board also voted to send a recommendation to oppose the opening of a cannabis dispensary at 119-07 Jamaica Ave. in Richmond Hill, largely due to its proximity to a planned elementary school at 120-08 and 120-20 Jamaica Ave.

Ted Anastasiou, the attorney representing the applicant, Open Dove, LLC, told the board that his client was unaware of the school being built nearby.

“The dispensary itself is going to be unmarked,” Anastasiou said, adding that there will opaque glass so people cannot see into the premises.

“The business owner has been from the community, has real estate interest here, has convenience stores here and has never been cited for an illicit dispensary,” Anastasiou said. He also said his client wants to support the area workforce and ensure employees at the business are sourced from the community.

The board’s opinion is purely advisory, and the state Office of Cannabis Management has the final say in licensure. Q

Mankilledin

RHstabbing

One man is dead and a woman injured after a stabbing on Sunday in Richmond Hill, within the confines of the NYPD’s 102nd Precinct.

Cops said that at around 2:30 a.m., officers responded to a 911 call of an assault inside 101-11 86 Ave.

Upon arrival, officers observed Miguel Perez, 41, of 126th Street, with a stab wound to the torso, and a 32-year-old woman with a slash wound to the right arm, cops said.

EMS responded to the scene and transported both victims to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where Perez was pronounced deceased.

Police said the woman, whose identity was withheld, is in stable condition.

There are no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577TIPS (8477), or, for Spanish, 1 (888) 57-PISTA (74782). One may also submit tips by going to crimestoppers. nypdonline.org; or by texting 274637 (CRIMES) and entering TIP577; or by going to @nypdtips on X. All tips are strictly confidential. Q — Kristen Guglielmo

Community Affairs Officers Christopher DiMarco, left, and Rohitbir Singh, alongside Sgt. Stacy Zaun-Alequin of the NYPD 102nd Precinct’s Q-team, addressed crime concerns from members of Community Board 9 on Tuesday.

State electeds scramble to find new path to provide healthcare About 450,000 to lose health coverage

by Naeisha Rose Editor

The passing of the Trump administration’s Big Beautiful Bill has led to fewer federal dollars flowing to the Empire State’s Essential Plan, a zero-premium and lowcopayment healthcare program. The plan provided coverage to legal immigrants and people with low incomes and was expanded in 2024 to cover New Yorkers who made up to 250 percent of the national poverty level, which was nearly two times higher than the Medicaid limit.

With fewer subsidies due to President Trump’s bill, also known as HR 1, Gov. Hochul had to scramble to maintain some form of coverage for New Yorkers or about 1.8 million would have lost their healthcare come July 1.

HR 1 is expected to result in the state losing $10 billion to $13.5 billion in annual funding when all provisions of the law are fully implemented by 2032, according to the New York State Bar Association.

On March 11, Politico confirmed that the state received partial federal approval for the plan from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services if it agreed to roll back its expansion, which meant about 450,000 people, more than 2 percent of New Yorkers, will no longer have coverage as it will go

back to only covering people of lower incomes and legal immigrants, the latter who make up the bulk of recipients.

By dropping 450,000 from the health plan, the state will be able to tap into a $9 billion surplus that it was able to collect

through past federal aid equal to 95 percent of the tax credits enrollees otherwise would have received if they bought insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchange. That means there will be coverage for about 1.3 million who remain on the program for

about two to three years until the surplus runs out, according to the outlet.

The Chronicle reached out to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst about what that would mean for its patients and the hospital itself.

A spokeswoman for the NYC H+H network said it would serve all patients regardless of ability to pay or health insurance status.

“If a patient does not have health insurance, our financial counselors will help them determine if they are eligible for insurance,” said the spokeswoman. “If they aren’t eligible for health insurance, they can sign up for NYC Care, the health care access program.”

Other area hospitals declined to comment on the situation.

The Community Service Society of New York, which is advocating for everyone to remain covered, believes the cost would be $2.2 billion, according to Syracuse.com.

The CSS is the architect of a rescue plan, sponsored by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale) and state Sen. Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx), who are health committee chairs for their respective chambers.

Gustavo’s bill, S.9589, would amend the social services law to ensure continuity of

continued on page 16

Queens

Session

Make Summer Count at Queens College

Gov. Hochul had to roll back the expansion of the Essential Health Plan by dropping 450,000 from its coverage after Trump’s HR 1 bill resulted in fewer subsidies for the program.

EDITORIAL AGEP

Paladino’s paramount rights

The quote “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” sums up freedom of speech as well as anything the American Founding Fathers said, though it was written by an Englishwoman 130 years after they launched their revolution to secure our rights.

Often misattributed to the 18th-century philosopher Voltaire — whose works and beliefs were indeed key to the rebellious colonists’ thinking — the statement actually was penned by his biographer Evelyn Beatrice Hall in 1906 to summarize her subject’s attitude toward freedom of speech.

Yet the idea remains as vital to the American Experiment, now celebrating its 250th anniversary, and all free Western thought, as it ever has.

Which brings us to City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino. After terrorists murdered 15 Jews at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia last December, Paladino took to social media with some offensive language about Muslims. We certainly do not want our elected leaders to use such abhorrent, divisive language as she did on X, calling to expel Muslims

from Western nations. After all, Queens is the melting pot of the world and, all things considered, we live in general harmony here.

But in the end, though we vehemently disagree with Paladino’s comments, and even worse ones in posts she retweeted, we even more vehemently agree with Voltaire as summed up by Hall.

Incoming Council Speaker Julie Menin asked Paladino to take down the tweet she wrote, and she did. That should have been the end of it. But progressives on the City Council, all too willing to police speech, were not satisfied. They want Paladino expelled. Ethics charges, and a lawsuit Paladino launched to block them, are both pending.

As staunch supporters of the First Amendment, we strongly oppose any action against Paladino. She is allowed to express her opinion, however extreme it may be. She shouldn’t be fined, sanctioned and certainly not expelled for it. And we have little doubt some in the Council have said worse about President Trump with no pushback.

Voltaire would approve.

Can’t afford to lose Tier 6

Taxpayers across New York State should be thankful that Albany instituted the Tier 6 level of public employment back in 2012, back when Gov. Cuomo was new and determined to save money.

Since Tier 6 was implemented, reducing pension benefits and raising the retirement age from 55 to a more real-world 63, the city and state alike have saved billions of dollars. The reforms were necessary then, when times were tight, and are even more so now, when times are tighter.

Yet ever since Tier 6 became law, public employee unions and their servants in the state Legislature have been looking to reverse it. And their push may finally see success now, as Gov. Hochul and

lawmakers who keep moving leftward hammer out a budget.

Some of these legislators appear to put their fellow government employees above their other constituents. And many would personally reap financial benefits if Tier 6 were ended. That makes their drive to upend the hard-fought reforms even more distasteful.

Back when the older employment tiers were created, public workers’ salaries were much lower. Most of them do important work, and wanting to increase their benefits seems like a nice idea. But it’s just too costly. Many get these benefits for decades after retiring.

Tier 6 must remain in place to help both city and state remain in the black in the years to come.

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Dear Editor:

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

New

breakfast club

Scramble those eggs! Don’t forget to throw in the shells. That’s the only thing on our foreign policy menu. The dangerous mess in the Middle East is one-part unneeded military aggression, one-part strategic lapse and onepart misplaced allegiance. We’re starving our allies and serving hors d’oeuvres to our adversaries. It’s an economic and political feast for Russia, Iran and China.

Next course is a blockade. Step by step the situation becomes more precarious and volatile. Add a little lethal puffer fish because the rhetoric being thrown around only poisons our relationships with everyone, including the Pope.

Truly, the threat of our devastating intervention was a much more powerful force for change than any action we recently executed. We, the People, are not behind this policy. Though its members are tactically performing brilliantly, neither is the military, which values thoughtful, well-advised and well-conceived objectives.

We’re inheriting the aftermath of this disastrous meal in our sleepless nights, anxiety-soaked dreams and our transactions at our gas stations.

NEQ Indivisible didn’t wait for May 1 to speak up against these dangers. On April 7, members showed up with an assortment of giant signs, saying “No War,” “No ICE” and “Let America Vote” at the Bell Boulevard Long Island Expressway overpass. Many commuters

honked their agreement. They’re doing it again next Wednesday and every Wednesday after that at the Cloverdale Boulevard LIE overpass. No one seems to be eating what the current administration is serving.

Debra Michlewitz Bayside

Can’t trust BP on CBs

Dear Editor:

I was just rereading the prescient Feb. 26 editorial from the Queens Chronicle, “CB members should attend,” which quoted from the web page of the office of Borough President Donovan Richards:

“Should a member apply for reappointment at the conclusion of their term, meeting attendance will play a significant role in Borough President’s decision on their candidacy.”

Clearly attendance meant nothing to the borough president, since he reappointed seven members of Queens Community Board 13

who averaged three or more absences during their last tenure, in the two years since thei r appointment in April 2024, while he declined to reappoint the only 2024 appointee with perfect attendance.

Also, the oath of office the borough president will ask his appointees to recite this month, in which they swear to follow the laws of the city and state of New York, will be meaningless, since noncompliance is condoned and rewarded by his office.

Clearly the borough president values those who sit silently and refuse to confront violations of law rather than whistleblowers who come to every meeting to fight for their communities. How can the Queens Borough President’s Office be trusted to investigate CB 13 when it is part of the problem?

David S. Pecoraro Rosedale

The writer is a former member of Community Board 13 who applied for reappointment and was denied.

Dear Editor:

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

Bugged out

Now that winter is over, the darling sweet 15 pairs of scurrying legs that can scare the bejesus out of me are again finding their way into my home. Yes, the arrival of the formidable house centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata, seems to coincide with the arrival of spring.

They must have some internal clock timed with the vernal equinox as sure enough, when astronomical spring has sprung, these behemoths have the audacity to invade my humble abode.

Dangerous court decision

Dear Editor:

(An open statement to the public)

Miss an article or a letter cited by a writer?

Want breaking news from all over Queens?

My bathtub seems to be a place these cute beasties like to hang out. How the hell they get there, I don’t know. I suspect from under the drain, though I’ve read some supposed experts who say they can’t. I’m not privy to know what goes on in our Jacuzzi pipes.

The sentencing of former NYPD Sergeant Erik Duran to three to nine years in prison for manslaughter is the culmination of a tragedy on multiple levels. A life was lost, a family is grieving. Nothing can change that, and they deserve our sympathy. At the same time, this case raises serious concerns about the future of policing in New York City.

Find the latest news, past reports from all over the borough and more at qchron.com.

On Aug. 23, 2023, Sergeant Duran made a split-second decision in a fast-moving and dangerous situation, believing he was acting to protect his fellow officers. While the court ultimately determined that decision was not legally justified, the imposition of a prison sentence sends a deeply troubling message to law enforcement officers across our city.

Kevin Costner can dance with wolves, but I prefer not to bathe with centipedes!

Mark Lane Douglaston

End war spending now

Dear

Editor:

Tax season is a good time to remember that, after President Trump promised to eliminate our obscene national debt, his foreign wars have resulted in a huge increase, over $2 trillion in just 14 months in office, a recipe for disaster.

Meanwhile, the proposed 2027 U.S. budget shows a whopping 42 percent increase in spending for foreign wars, while cutting human needs, health and human services, education, housing and urban development, according to the Office of Management and Budget.

The absurdity of the Epstein/Iran war is epitomized by the Trump administration’s decision to ease sanctions on Iran and Russia, allowing both countries to rake in huge profits, while we Americans pay more for everything at home.

American taxpayers get less while the president and his family and insiders are lining their pockets, including a whopping $10 billion Trump is trying to get out of the IRS in a lawsuit. He will be known as the most corrupt president in history. Our tax dollars fly Vance around the world to campaign for fascist Viktor Orban in Hungary; our founding fathers would be appalled.

Trump plans to spend $550 million on White House residence renovations, while Americans can’t afford health insurance, groceries, gas, etc. Also, over $1.3 billion in fines have been forgiven from Medicare fraudster CEOs who didn’t pay their fines after being convicted of stealing. None of this money will be paid back because they were pardoned in exchange for campaign contributions. Then, canceling a French company’s wind power project and having to refund its $1,000,000,000 licensing fee is a wildly irresponsible move.

Stop the wars, stop the grifting; bring the war money home.

Robert Keilbach Queens Village

Police officers are asked every day to make life-or-death decisions in real time, often under chaotic and unpredictable circumstances. When those decisions — even if made with the intent to protect others — carry the risk of imprisonment, it creates hesitation where decisiveness is required. And officers who are hesitant to act cannot effectively do their jobs and keep us safe.

We believe in accountability, and that no one is above the law. But we also believe in fairness, context, and common sense. There is a meaningful difference between malicious intent and a misjudgment made in the line of duty. This decision risks discouraging proactive policing, undermining morale, and making it more difficult to recruit and retain the brave men and women who serve in uniform.

New Yorkers deserve both safety and justice. Achieving both requires policies and decisions that reflect the realities of policing, not just the benefit of hindsight. We stand with the law enforcement community in recognizing the challenges they face every day and urge a more balanced approach going forward.

Phil Wong

NYC Councilman for the 26th District

Maspeth

Frank Morano

NYC Councilman for the 51st District

Staten Island

Darlene Mealy

NYC Councilwoman for the 41st District

Brooklyn

David M. Carr

NYC Councilman for the 50th District

Staten Island

Inna Vernikov

NYC Councilwoman for the 48th District

Brooklyn

Susan Zhuang

NYC Councilwoman for the 43rd District

Brooklyn

The writers constitute the New York City Council Common Sense Caucus.

Correction

Due to a production error, the April 9 letter “Shoot, let people vote” misstated the writer’s location. Glenn Hayes is in Kew Gardens. We regret the error.

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Night of Mystery and Intrigue Saturday, May 30th at 5:30PM $40 per person, no walk-ins. Limited seats. Call 718-843-6218

Expert says establishment support, voter turnout will determine victor ‘Proxy battle’ on the left in NY-7 contest

by Stephanie G. Meditz Editor

The race for New York’s 7th Congressional District is crowded, but at its core is a showdown between adjacent political entities.

To Brian Browne, a political science professor at St. John’s University, the contest to replace U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-Brooklyn, Queens) is “extremely competitive and ideologically close.” Factors such as endorsements are more likely to determine the winner than actual policy differences, Browne said.

NYC Democratic Socialists of America, while Reynoso’s include the Queens Democrats, the Working Families Party and Velázquez herself.

Also running is City Councilmember Julie Won (D-Long Island City), who entered the race late.

“This race is best understood as a proxy battle between two progressive power centers in New York City politics, and another case study in the making for what direction the local Democratic Party is headed,” he said in an email.

City & State first reported that the Queens Democratic Party in February “quietly” backed Reynoso. He has since gone public with the endorsement, but the story says he presents himself as more progressive than the moderateleaning primary candidates the party usually supports.

party primaries,” Browne said.

Reynoso’s reputation as a governing progressive rather than a DSA insurgent also works in his favor, Browne said — he has appeal for many primary voters who may not identify with what has become known as Western Queens’ “commie corridor.”

Annabel Lassally, Reynoso’s campaign manager, said his team was “so proud” to welcome the Queens Dems to his growing coalition.

The candidates in question are Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and state Assemblymember Claire Valdez (D-Sunnyside), both of whom have secured high-profile endorsements. Among Valdez’s supporters are Mayor Mamdani and the

In Browne’s view, Reynoso seeking the party’s endorsement is about “trying to have the best of both worlds.” With its backing comes key support with petitions, campaign literature and more, he said, but the endorsement carries less weight than it once did.

“I think Reynoso is simply being pragmatic, and pragmatism can prevail over ideological purity tests that often paralyze political performance, particularly among progressives in

“Their endorsement reflects Antonio’s long record of challenging entrenched power and delivering for working families, and we look forward to working with them to protect our democracy and take down Donald Trump,” Lassally said in an emailed statement.

No love was lost between the Queens Dems and Valdez, who said in a statement that she was elected to the Assembly without the party’s backing and will do the same for Congress.

Browne thinks the DSA wave of organizing and engagement that sent Mamdani to City Hall could be pluses for Valdez.

Former Queens College political science professor Michael Krasner said whether that “amazing turnout machine” works for her will be something to watch.

“This would counter the grassroots power of Working Families,” Krasner said via email.

Another point of interest is how Won factors in — she has support from lawmakers including Councilmember Shanel Thomas-Henry (D-Corona), state Sen. John Liu (D-Bayside) and Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Flushing).

On the Queens Dems’ endorsement of Reynoso, Won said in a state-

Mayor still pushing free buses

Lobbying Albany to back signature campaign promise

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

It there was one issue in the mayor’s campaign that was as much a lightning rod as it was a candidate Mamdani talking point, it may have been his call for free public buses.

As of now, what that would cost is unclear. With a multibillion-dollar deficit in the city’s budget forecast, the mayor has been lobbying in Albany.

In a recent interview with Politico, Mamdani said both houses of the state Legislature included language, if not funding, supporting the program in their one-house budgets.

Gov. Hochul and legislative leaders have problems of their own with what will be a record-high state budget already more than two weeks past deadline as of the Chronicle’s deadline.

Mamdani’s office told the Chronicle this week that he is not deterred, and is not yet giving up on getting the funding this year.

“Mayor Mamdani is committed to delivering fast and free buses by the time he leaves office, full stop,” a spokesman said in an email. “His First Deputy Mayor is in active discussions with the Governor’s office regarding fare-free buses. In the meantime, the Mamdani administration will continue to work with our partners at the

state and local level to make commutes faster and our transit system more affordable for all New Yorkers.”

Another sticking point is that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is a state agency and not answerable to City Hall.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber also has expressed his disapproval of the proposal, given so many unknowns, including but

not limited to total actual costs; keeping buses numerous enough and safe enough to handle any large increase in ridership; and the unknown impact on subway ridership, and by extension, subway revenue.

ment that she is grateful to her team for getting her on the ballot “without cutting any corners.”

“I have always petitioned independently to ensure transparency into a system that was designed to make sure a non-insider, like me, could never make it on the ballot,” she said.

Key to the race will be turnout in Queens, Browne said, especially among young renters and post-2018 primary voters. He expects Valdez to have an advantage in Long Island City, while Woodside and Sunnyside give Reynoso a slight edge. Ridgewood and Maspeth are likely battleground areas, in his view. Q

Pet food drive through 5/29

State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) is teaming up with The Lovely Beans and Puppy Kitty NYC, based in Richmond Hill and Middle Village, respectively, to launch a pet food drive at his district offices.

New cans and bags of dog and cat food can be dropped off through May 29 at 66-85 73 Place in Middle Village or at 84-16 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven.

Once the drive wraps, the collected donations will be distributed across the city to support animals in need, Addabbo’s office said, helping further each group’s mission to save homeless, sick and abandoned pets.

Those struggling to feed or care for their pet may reach out to the rescues at thelovelybeans@gmail.com or info@puppykittynyc.org.

“Our goal is to help as many animals in need as possible and remind us that pet care is a long journey, not a momentary act,” Addabbo said in a statement. “If we commit to it, we must honor the trust animals place in us and spare them the pain of abandonment that no creature deserves.” Q

Q

Lieber has expressed far more interest in expanding programs to help low-income residents afford mass transit through reduced fares.

Assemblymember Claire Valdez, left, and Brooklyn BP Antonio Reynoso have both secured high-profile endorsements in the NY-7 race. But Councilmember Julie Won, a late entry, is still a factor.

Mayor Mamdani’s push for free city buses looks like a long shot this budget season. But the administration still is lobbying Albany for the cash. PHOTOBYMICHAELGANNON

By Cynthia J. Conza, Esq.

What happens when an owner of a cooperative apartment dies? Owning a cooperative apartment is different than owning a house or a condominium, as a cooperative apartment is not real property. Instead, cooperative residents own shares in a non-profit corporation that owns the building, and each owner has a proprietary lease for a particular apartment. Each owner doesn’t actually own their unit, just the shares in the cooperative corporation.

This unique arrangement creates a number of challenges for an estate representative when an owner passes away. As the ownership interest is personal property in the form of stock in the cooperative corporation, the shares will be controlled by the decedent’s estate and must be disposed of according to the decedent’s will, or if there was no will, the laws governing intestacy. This means the estate representative must go through the probate process to obtain authorization from the Surrogate’s Court to act on behalf of the estate. This

Estate Planning Fundamentals: Cooperative Apartments

process can be long, especially in New York City which has some of the busiest courts in the nation.

Another challenge for an estate representative seeking to sell a cooperative apartment is virtually all cooperatives require approval of any transfer by the cooperative’s Board of Directors. The Board has the right to approve, or reject, both a purchaser and also the purchase price. The law in New York grants a significant amount of discretion to a Board in approving or rejecting a transfer.

One strategy to avoid the lengthy probate process is for an owner to transfer the cooperative stock to a revocable trust. Upon the owner’s death the trustee can then transfer the apartment without having to apply to the Surrogate’s Court, which can avoid the delays of probate.

Please feel free to contact me at cynthia@conzamcnamara.com or (718) 845-5555 if you would like to discuss further.

Golden grooves at Oak Ridge

Nearly 100 seniors in Council District 32 took to the dance floor April 14 at Oak Ridge in Forest Park for the annual Senior Prom hosted by Councilmember Joann Ariola, above left. The event saw plenty of fun and food. Cuisine was provided by Russo’s on the Bay, Villa Russo and Gino’s Pizzeria. Drinks were sponsored by Resorts World New York City and dessert was baked by Ariola’s staff, above.

“Studies say that 1 in every 3 adults over the age of 50 experience social isolation, and this can lead to all kinds of negative things — not just on their mental state, but on their physical states as well,” Ariola said in a statement. “Through events like these, we can help our older neighbors break away from this isolation, meet new people, and just have fun!”

Photos and goodie bags were courtesy Brina Ciaramella and Esquire Realty, and Nick the Balloonatic and Howard Beach Discount Store took care of decorations and supplies. Music was funded by Ariola, who allocated money to the Queens Culture and Arts Network. Steven Maglio and his orchestra filled the room with the sounds of Frank Sinatra’s hits, and the space was provided by the city Parks Department and the Forest Park Trust. Susan Agin, executive director of QCAN, said, “The celebration truly came alive with the timeless music of Sinatra, beautifully performed by Steven Maglio and his band. I can’t remember ever having this much fun in high school — it was an evening to remember!”

— Kristen Guglielmo

HB Kiwanis scholarships

The Kiwanis Club of Howard Beach is supporting higher education by awarding scholarships to students living in the 11414 ZIP code. Applicants must be high school seniors who will continue their education at an accredited college or university in fall 2026. They must demonstrate academic excellence and financial need, and have a record of community service and extracurricular activities.

This year’s programs will feature three $2,500 awards, as well as two $1,000 scholarships, benefiting five total honorees. The application, along with more information, can be found online at howardbeachkiwanis.org.

The completed application with supporting documents, including recommendation letters, should be sent to the Kiwanis Club of Howard Beach Scholarship Fund, at PO Box 140235 in Howard Beach, NY 11414. Those with questions may call (917) 745-2713.

The club’s scholarship committee will review all materials and make decisions by late May. Scholarships will be presented at the end of June at Lenny’s Clam Bar. Q

Kiwanis celebrate service at annual dinner

The Kiwanis Club of Howard Beach hosted its 64th annual dinner dance on Sunday, drawing a lively crowd to Russo’s on the Bay, at 162-45 Cross Bay Blvd., for an evening of community, cuisine and charity. Neighbors and supporters gathered for drinks, dinner and dancing, all in support of a good cause, with proceeds benefiting both

the club’s community initiatives and St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital in Bayside.

For more information on the Kiwanis Club of Howard Beach and its work, one may go to howardbeachkiwanis.org.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the club’s annual awards, recognizing standout contributors to the community.

Among the honorees was the club’s past president, Stephen Sirgiovanni. Joseph Trotta received the Clement Vicari Award, while the Sullivan & Galleshaw law firm, based in Ozone Park, was presented with the Community Service Award. Retired Brigadier Gen. Pasquale Alesia earned the club’s Patriot Award. — Kristen Guglielmo

Deal to close after seller gets space at the redeveloped Parkway Hospital site Forest Hills Jewish Center to be sold

by Stephanie G. Meditz Editor

The Forest Hills Jewish Center is selling its longtime Queens Boulevard home to developers for $39 million, records from the state Attorney General’s Office say.

The limited liability company 106QB Development, which a document dated April 6 says is indirectly controlled by Rudolph and Iosif Abramov of RJ Capital Holdings, is in contract to buy the property at 106-06 Queens Blvd. Partners at Top Rock Holdings also hold indirect equity interests in 106QB.

Under a 2021 agreement, the property was set to be sold to a different buyer, namely JU Forest Hills Development. But that entity assigned its rights and obligations to 106QB last year, records show. Three down payments that had been made, totaling $3.9 million, were released in 2022.

The FHJC’s new home will be at The Perennial at Parkway Condominium, the site of the former Parkway Hospital, at 70-35 113 St. The congregation will occupy its current address until certain build-out work at the new facility is complete, the document says.

Construction at The Perennial started last fall and is slated for completion at the end of next year. The redevelopment will turn the former hospital into an eight-story, 145-unit intergenerational affordable housing property, and the FHJC is slated to tenant its community space.

The deal will close a year after the new facility is delivered to the FHJC, records from the Attorney General’s Office show. They say also that the sale’s net proceeds will fund an endowment for current and future congregation members, to sustain and enhance the FHJC’s programming.

The sale has been in the making for several years. FHJC leaders have long said the old building’s best days are behind it, and that it has often needed costly repairs.

Per state law, religious corporations cannot sell, mortgage or lease property for more than five years without approval from the court or attorney general.

The future of the former FHJC site is unclear, but talks of a potential mixed-use tower there date back years. On Top Rock’s

website, a page under the “portfolio snapshot” tab says the firm is preparing to develop the location for retail and residential use. RJ Capital’s site also lists a proposed mixed-use development there.

The FHJC, RJ Capital and Top Rock Holdings did not respond to requests for comment by press time.

“I’m sure the community will miss the loss of that center,” said Leslie Brown, president of the Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce, listing amenities such as the facility’s pool and early childhood programs.

Brown said its new home will be “nice,” although the location is not as prominent as Queens Boulevard.

“I’m sad to see it go, but I understand,” City Councilwoman Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills) said via phone, noting how long the sale has been in the works. She intends to speak with the developers about their plans for the site, and she said it’s “very important” to her that the center’s programs stay intact at its new home.

“The Forest Hills Jewish Center has been part of this community for generations, and it means a lot to see them secure a future that keeps that presence right here in the neighbor-

450K to lose health coverage

continued from page 8

coverage for those who will be dropped from their plan in July. Paulin’s companion bill number is pending.

The bill has been sent to the Senate Health Committee and has support from Queens electeds such as Sens. Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven), Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), Kristen Gonzalez (D-Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn), John Liu (D-Bayside), Jessica Ramos (D-Jackson Heights), Roxanne Persaud (D-Brooklyn, Queens), James Sanders Jr. (D-South Ozone Park) and Toby Ann Stavisky (D-College Point) and 27 others from throughout the state. Q

hood,” state Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) said in a statement.

He said his office will watch to make sure the Queens Boulevard redevelopment reflects the area’s needs and character, but “this is a real win.”

Community Board 6 Chair Salua Baida and Land Use Chair Peter Beadle said they are sad-

dened by the move, but glad the FHJC will stay in the area and excited to welcome new housing and commercial space near Austin Street.

Others were not so keen. Area historian Michael Perlman has led a yearslong crusade to preserve the building — he said it represents the Art Moderne and International styles of architecture, and has connections to the Holocaust.

Perlman has urged the city Landmarks Preservation Commission to designate the site as a landmark. The Historic Districts Council in 2019 wrote to the LPC in support of his bid, saying the “architecturally rich complex” embodies the spirit of midcentury Judaism and “appears much the same today” as it did in the late 1940s.

The LPC said in 2020 that the FHJC “appears to merit further consideration” for designation. Perlman also told the Chronicle that, over the years, another congregation had expressed interest in leasing and acquiring the property.

“An architecturally, culturally, religiously, & artistically significant place of worship should not be demolished for a banal building that can rise anywhere,” Perlman wrote in an application to include the center in the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2021 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Q

Preliminary racial equity plan

continued from page 2

the city’s budget cycle.

According to internal documents obtained by City & State, the Mamdani administration made strategic edits to the plan’s language, avoiding explicit references to “diversity, equity and inclusion,” to avoid legal challenges from the federal government under President Trump, who has moved to dismantle DEI progams throughout the country.

Still, the rollout drew federal scrutiny.

Harmeet Dhillon, an assistant U.S. attorney general, publicly questioned the plan on social media shortly after its release, signaling potential pushback.

“Sounds fishy/illegal,” Dhillon wrote on X. “Will review!”

City Council Speaker Julie Menin (D-Manhattan) in a statement seemed to implicitly condemn the Mamdani administration’s removal of mentions of DEI from the preliminary plan.

“Let me be clear: diminishing or erasing equity-centered frameworks is not the path forward,” Menin said. “The Council stands firm in our responsibility to confront and correct the systemic injustices created by longstanding racial and economic disparities, and to ensure that equity remains a guiding principle in how we govern, legislate and serve.”

She said the Council remains committed to working in partnership to ensure the plan’s goals translate to meaningful outcomes and encouraged New Yorkers to engage in the public comment period.

Elsewhere in the city, reactions were mixed but largely positive.

“Inequity has been embedded in the foundation of our city and nation since their inception; dismantling it requires a collective effort,” said Afua Atta-Mensah, the city’s chief equity officer and commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice, in a statement. “This plan outlines measurable goals and actionable strategies to advance racial equity, promote justice and create lasting change.”

City Councilmember and Deputy Speaker Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans) on X wrote, “A good example of collaborative governance on both sides of City Hall. Glad the Racial Equity Plan has finally been released.”

But not all members of the city’s legislative body were on board.

Councilmember Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) said of the plan on X, “The mayor made it clear that he was going to go after white communities during his campaign, and this seems like his first step toward making that goal a reality.”

Councilmember Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone) took to the platform to write, “The entire racial grievance grift is so nakedly ridiculous at this point that I’m actually amazed even this group of craven marxist reprobates are willing to be so forward about it in 2026. Their race-based discrimination plans are also wildly unconstitutional, so I look forward to the federal lawsuits this is sure to provoke.” Q

In a $39 million deal, the Forest Hills Jewish Center is set to be sold to a limited liability company linked to RJ Capital and Top Rock Holdings.

PHOTOBYMICHAELGANNON/FILE

State Sens. Joe Addabbbo, left, and Leroy Comrie support a Senate bill that would help provide coverage to people who lose their heealth coverage in July.

Rinaldi uses Hevesi’s image in AI deepfake

New fabricated content comes after the incumbent accused him of fraud

by Stephanie G. Meditz Editor

Shortly after Jonathan Rinaldi was accused of fraud by state Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills), who he is looking to unseat, his X account posted an AI-generated deepfake video using the lawmaker’s image.

The video, which was posted last Thursday, appears to depict Hevesi smiling and making disparaging statements about himself. His AI-generated image can be seen telling Forest Hills homeowners that he has been stealing from them.

The post was made after Hevesi filed a criminal complaint in the Queens District Attorney’s Office, alleging that Rinaldi fraudulently changed the assemblyman’s voter registration to the Working Families Party. Had the change gone undetected, Hevesi could have been ineligible for the Democratic primary, for which Rinaldi changed his own party to challenge the incumbent.

Rinaldi denies involvement in the switch to Hevesi’s affiliation.

“My dad went to jail for stealing money and taught me how not to get caught,” the lawmaker appears to say in the video, referencing his father, former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who went to prison for corruption in 2011.

It goes on to say, “I’m Andrew Hevesi, and you will vote for me no matter what,” with the assemblyman’s surname mispronounced.

This story was first reported by the Queens Daily Eagle.

The Eagle reported that the AI disclosure required by state law was originally missing from the video. After the paper sent Rinaldi an inquiry, his account commented

“Ai” under the post, and only then did he respond. But the video is hardly the only fabricated content on his social media pages. He has posted images of false news stories purporting to be published by real outlets, as well as clips in his own image that include a watermark from the OpenAI app Sora.

Rinaldi said via email that the AI

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video is satirical political commentary.

“What’s actually misleading to voters is when politicians support policies that drive up costs and then present themselves as champions of affordability,” he said. “That contradiction deserves to be called out.”

Calling his opponent a “a liar and a fraud,” Hevesi said he is glad the DA is investigating behavior that “crosses the line into overt criminality.”

“He may think that this is a game and laws don’t apply to him, but he’s going to find out very quickly that they do, and he will be held accountable,” Hevesi said in a statement.

Hevesi also is a co-sponsor on a bill introduced by Assemblyman Clyde Vanel (D-Queens Village) that aims to ban the use of “materially deceptive media” in political communication. It is in the Codes Committee as of March 31, and it expands on language that put existing disclosure rules in place. There does not appear to be a Senate version yet.

“We’re still trying to ban the use of deepfakes when it comes to politi-

cal advertisements,” Vanel told the Chronicle. “What can happen is, depending on what the content is of these ads, it can be very disparaging to the person or people or to communities or what have you ... it’s not providing a public good by having deepfakes.”

Vanel said also that AI imagegenerating programs are getting better and better, posing a problem when the average person may not be able to tell what’s real.

He is trying to find ways to identify deepfakes for different types of media, he said, but he noted that the task will be increasingly difficult as

technology improves.

Vanel maintained that there are more benefits than harms tied to AI, but he said people should appreciate human-made material over AI-generated content.

“The technology, in and of itself, is not a bad thing,” he said. “It’s the misuse, the misappropriation of someone’s name and likeness to fool the public on something that they do not believe or that they did not do.”

Vanel has another bill that would make it a felony to unlawfully disseminate fabricated photos, videos or audio recordings of another person without their consent. Q

Jonathan Rinaldi, left, posted an AI video in election opponent Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi’s image. Assemblyman Clyde Vanel, right, hopes to ban deepfakes in political ads. PHOTOVIAFACEBOOK/JONATHANDAVIDRINALDI,LEFT;FILEPHOTOS

Lawmakers to be big winners in pension reform

More than a third would benefit from rolling back cost-cutting

by Claudia Irizarry Aponte THE CITY

This article was originally published on April 15, 5:00 a.m. EDT by THE CITY

Sweeping reforms to New York’s pension system long sought by public sector unions appear likely to be part of the final state budget, with Gov. Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) and State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester) all publicly backing fixes to what is known as Tier 6.

A controversial reform approved in 2012, Tier 6 slashed pension benefits for public employees hired after April of that year and raised their retirement age to 63, up from 55 for teachers and 62 for other civil servants.

More than half of public employees in New York now belong to Tier 6, according to the state Comptroller’s office.

The United Federation of Teachers has spearheaded the campaign to unwind some of those measures, including rolling back the retirement age for Tier 6 teachers to 55 after 30 years of service, allowing workers to include overtime earnings to help set pension rates and increasing the state’s contributions to pensions. The reforms are estimated to cost taxpayers $1.5 billion annually.

Hochul spoke in favor of reforming Tier 6 at a massive rally hosted by the union last month.

“Instead of taking the average of five years, we’re taking the average of your three consecutive years,” Hochul said at a UFT rally in Albany on March 8. “We’re taking a shorter vesting period from 10 years down to five. And also, I’m fighting for a fairer pension plan because it’s essential that we continue recruiting people.”

But among the teachers, train operators, sanitation workers and

State lawmakers Jamaal Bailey, Jessica Ramos, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Gonzalez Rojas, Claire Valdez and Jamaal Bailey, clockwise from left, are all in the Tier 6 pension plan. PHOTOSBYBENFRACTENBERG/THECITY;EXCEPTABOVECENTER/CLAIREVALDEZ/FILE

other civil servants in Tier 6 stands a lesser-known group of employees: State lawmakers who have power to push reforms.

Like all New York State employees, lawmakers belong to the state’s pension system. And a growing number of them have been affected by the 2012 changes. Roughly a third of lawmakers currently serving in the state Legislature belong to Tier 6, according to a list that THE CITY obtained from the state comptroller’s office via a public records request.

Out of 213 legislators across both the state Senate and Assembly, 74 are in Tier 6, including 11 Republicans.

According to multiple sources and news reports, the biggest obstacles to nailing the state budget — including the UFT’s proposed changes to Tier 6 — are Hochul’s efforts to weaken the state’s sweeping 2019 climate laws and car insurance reform, both of which are opposed by members of her own party.

“Everybody knows. It seems to be stalling everything,” said Michael Mulgrew, the UFT president. Still, he said, the governor understands that Tier 6 is hurting the workforce and making it more difficult for the state and local governments to recruit workers.

THE CITY spoke to several lawmakers who belong to Tier 6. Though they all said their priority is to the civil servants they represent, they said their pension status has helped inform their position on the issue.

Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas (D-East Elmhurst)) said that as a Tier 6 member she is “fully aware I have to work longer to get less benefits” upon retirement.

Claire Valdez (D-Sunnyside), also a Queens Assembly member who is running for New York’s 7th Congressional District, said that her status as a Tier 6 member gives her “solidarity” with the civil servants she represents.

“While I am supportive of these

JFK rebuilding meeting 4/16

The JFK Redevelopment Advisory Committee will host a public meeting with updates on the airport’s reconstruction from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 23.

The meeting will take place at the Golden Terrace Banquet Hall at 120-23 Atlantic Ave. in Richmond Hill.

The council is chaired by U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. Registration is encouraged but not required. Registration is available at tinyurl.com/47rkceer.

The airport is in the midst of a $19 billion rebuild.

The council works with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to expand community outreach efforts and develop community-focused programs to provide meaningful opportunities for local and diverse businesses, MWBEs, students and jobseekers.

The Port Authority operates John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International and New York Stewart International airports. Q — Michael Gannon

measures of 2012

reforms, it really is because workers deserve excellent benefits. That’s the only way we’re going to attract a really qualified workforce that’s going to be here for the long haul and help make our state and city run effectively,” she added.

The list of lawmakers in Tier 6 includes some prominent Democrats, including state Sens. Jamaal Bailey (D-Bronx), the chair of the Bronx Democratic Party, and Jessica Ramos (D-Jackson Heights), a chair of the Senate’s Labor Committee who ran for mayor last year and is facing a spirited primary to her left from González-Rojas. (Bailey and Ramos did not return THE CITY’s request for comment, but Ramos said on the campaign trail last year that she supports changes to Tier 6.)

Tier 6 also includes nearly all Democratic Socialist of America members elected to the state Legislature in recent years, including Valdez and Sen. Jabari Brisport (D-Brooklyn), a former public school teacher.

Tier 6 was enacted with bipartisan support in the state legislature in an effort spearheaded by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The changes ultimately enacted were controversial from the start, but ultimately more moderate than what Cuomo, then in his first term as governor, said was necessary at a time of fiscal uncertainty and rising pension costs.

In the end he compromised, raising the retirement age to 63 for new hires, banning the use of overtime pay to pad pensions and increasing the employee contribution rates into the state pension system by three percentage points to 6 percent for the highest earners. New York City was poised to save $21 billion over the next 30 years, state and local officials said at the time, part of an overall $80 billion in projected

If you’re a baseball fan who claims to bleed Mets or Yankees pinstripes, the New York Blood Center is offering a chance to take yourself out to the Subway Series next month.

Through Saturday, April 25, all presenting blood donors within the NYBC’s tri-state area donor centers automatically will be entered into a drawing to win four tickets to one of the games on either May 15 or May 16 as the New York Mets host the New York Yankees at Citi Field. There will be 10 winners chosen to win four free tickets each.

savings.

Tier 6 has saved taxpayers in state and local governments outside of New York City $1 billion annually since it was enacted, according to a 2021 estimate from the Empire Center for Public Policy, a conservative think tank.

But unions have said the changes amounted to new hires working longer and contributing more to earn a reduced pension.

The push to “fix” Tier 6 also counts a prominent former state lawmaker among its supporters: Mayor Mamdani, who was elected to the state Assembly in 2020, endorsed the effort on the campaign trail last summer and pointed out he himself is in that tier.

Brisport, who told THE CITY he’s “very supportive” of the changes to Tier 6, said he’s been heartened by the governor’s support for the issue — but he’s been frustrated by the slow pace of movement on an agreement on pension reform and the state budget in general.

“For my knowledge, there hasn’t been much movement on it,” he said. He added that the projected $1.5 billion annual price tag underscores the need to raise taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers, which the governor has been reluctant to do.

Hochul insisted that Tier 6 reform is a live issue as recently as last week, though she hasn’t specified which of the UFT’s proposals she actually supports.

“Tier 6 is on the table,” she told reporters in New York City on April 9. “Over half the workforce is now Tier 6, and they have a different dynamic than the people who came before them.” Q

THE CITY (www.thecity.nyc) is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to hard-hitting reporting that serves the people of New York.

The promotion is valid at all the NYBC’s area donor centers and community blood drives, with the exception of the Bronx Donor Center.

The winners will be emailed their tickets via Ticketmaster to their email address on file with the NYBC.

The website nybc.org allows donors to select from and register for blood drives and donation centers in or near their ZIP codes for convenience. There also is plentiful information and frequently asked questions for first-time donors. Q — Michael Gannon

by Stephanie G. Meditz

There’s never a bad day to respect the planet, but that doesn’t make Earth Day celebrations any less fun.

From volunteer opportunities to hands-on learning sessions, there are ample events coming up in Queens where attendees of all ages can get in touch with nature and give back to their forever home.

Community gardens run by NYC Parks’ GreenThumb program are hosting public volunteer events throughout April to make Earth Day a monthlong celebration.

The Tree of Life Organic Garden in Jamaica is running a volunteer day at noon on April 21, in partnership with GreenThumb and Gotham Greens. Guests will help lay down woodchips and

Tend

You are here

to our home at Earth Day events across Queens

compost, clear weeds and tend to the chicken run, Parks’ website says. For Tree of Life gardeners, attendance counts as an optional volunteer opportunity.

In Astoria, Two Coves Community Garden is seeking help reenergizing the site after the long winter. Attendees of the volunteer event, at 10 a.m. April 25, will plant seeds and partake in a general spring cleanup.

No registration is required for either event, and all are welcome. Those interested in more group volunteer opportunities may email gt.volunteer@parks.nyc.gov.

The Forest Park Trust has two free celebrations this weekend, where attendees can participate in arts and crafts, planting activities and more. The

installment at Highland Park, on the RidgewoodBrooklyn border, will take place at noon April 18, at Jamaica Avenue and Elton Street. The Forest Park event is at 11 a.m. April 19, at Sobelsohn Playground in Richmond Hill.

At 1 p.m. on Earth Day, April 22, the Urban Park Rangers are hosting a free hike and litter cleanup at Powell’s Cove Park in College Point.

Astoria’s Socrates Sculpture Park will host its fifth annual Earth Month Convergence from 12 to 5 p.m. April 18 and 19. Workshops at the youthled gathering will focus on land stewardship, food justice, ancestral knowledge and more. Attendance is free with RSVP, at earthconvergence.org.

The city Department of Transportation is

on page 21

King Crossword Puzzle

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

David Horowitz first looked to the left in LIC

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

Philip Horowitz was born in Imperial Russia on April 16, 1904 and fled to the United States during the anti-Jewish pogroms. He married Blanche Brown in September 1935. They were both longstanding members of the Communist Party and strong supporters of Joseph Stalin. They worked at the nowclosed Seward Park High School in Manhattan teaching English and stenography, respectively.

They moved to 39-20 46 St. in Long Island City. On Jan. 10, 1939 they were blessed with a boy, David Joel Horowitz. They moved to larger quarters at 39-07 44 St., where he was raised.

GOOGLEMAPSIMAGE;INSETPHOTOBYJOHNE.MANARDVIAWIKIPEDIA

David graduated Columbia in 1959 and then earned a master’s in literature at Berkeley in 1961. He moved to England and worked in the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation. By the 1970s he had become close friends with Huey P. Newton, the founder of the Black Panthers, and worked

Residents

to help poor children in Oakland. Horowitz later rejected Marxism and progressivism to become a neoconservative. He edited several magazines, wrote books and started his own publications and organizations to get his view across. He was married four times and died on April 29, 2025, in Colorado. Q

B SPORTS EAT

Playing it safe with Soto

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

The Mets held their breath when their $50 million per year player, Juan Soto, felt calf tightness rounding second base last Friday in San Francisco during a Mets win against the Giants. The team immediately had Soto undergo an MRI, which happily revealed no serious issues.

Manager Carlos Mendoza wisely did not play Soto the remaining two games in the City by the Bay. A cross-country flight did not help matters, and the Mets decided to err on the side of caution by placing him on the 10-day injured list. A press release issued by the Mets stated the time for full recovery for a calf strain is in the two- to three-week range.

Mauricio had a walk-off single last Tuesday for a 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in extra innings to open the last Mets homestand. Mauricio has only one option season left. The Mets must decide if he is a part of their future. If not, they need to trade him, or risk putting him on waivers and getting nothing in return.

Scheduling outdoor sporting events in early spring is a dicey proposition. Give the Mets credit for changing the starting times of two games scheduled with the Diamondbacks from 7:10 to 4:10 p.m. because of the cold and windy conditions.

Organizers told the Chronicle they are planning similar rallies in each of the five boroughs in the near future.

— Michael Gannon

Members of Co-ops and Condos United of New York had a rally Wednesday afternoon at the Hilltop Village Co-op in Queens Village to push back on unfunded mandates such as Local Law 97; increasing taxes; and other laws and policy issues that penalize co-op and condominium owners. Among the CCU’s priorities are pressing for laws and regulations that treat condos and co-ops as distinct building types, rather than lumping them in with landlordowned or single-family homes.

While it is always better to have Juan Soto in your lineup than not, it is a lot better for him to miss time in the early part of the season when the weather is often cold and/or damp. The absence of Soto gives Brett Baty a chance to play in the outfield. The same can be said for defensive wiz Tyrone Taylor, who hit a big three-run home run in San Francisco to salt away a Mets victory. Taylor struggled at the plate in 2025. One reason for that was he did not get enough at-bats to be productive against bigleague pitching.

The Mets called up their onetime top prospect, Ronny Mauricio, to take Soto’s place on the 26-man roster. The move paid dividends as

What I don’t understand is why the Mets schedule all early-spring Saturday games for 4 p.m. instead of the more beneficial 1 p.m. start time. Not only is the weather warmer for the nine innings, but it makes life easier for families to attend those games. For older fans, traveling to and from games is safer with more daylight. It was a nice gesture on the part of the Mets to have St. John’s University Red Storm men’s basketball guard Dylan Darling toss the ceremonial first pitch before the April 8 game. It was Darling’s driving shot that just beat the buzzer to get the Red Storm a 67-65 win over the Kansas Jayhawks to get them into the Sweet 16. He deservedly got a nice

from the Flushing faithful.

The childhood home of former Marxist turned neoconservative David Joel Horowitz at 39-07 44 St. in Long Island City, as it looks today.

Percussia returns to Maple Grove April 26

by Michael Gannon senior news editor

Don’t tell members of Percussia that audiences don’t want to hear new music from long-established groups.

In its “Portals of Light” concert, set for April 26 in the Brownson Center at Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, the chamber music quintet will perform works that the group has commissioned for itself, including the world debut of “Portals of Light” by composer Tom Nazziola. The concert is scheduled for 4 to 5 p.m.

The performance is free, though the Friends of Maple Grove ask that all wishing to attend RSVP on its website, friendsofmaplegrove.org, so they will know how many guests to expect. A reception will follow the concert

“We’ve been together for more than 20 years,” said percussionist Ingrid Gordon, founder of the group that also includes percussionist Frank Cassara, harpist Susan Jolles, flutist Margaret Lancaster and violinist Lev Zhurbin.

Soprano Melissa Fogarty also will perform.

Nazziola’s piece was sponsored by a grant from Chamber Music America.

“We started aggressively commissioning composers,” Gordon told the Chronicle. “We have a large body of original works, pieces that were especially written for the group. And we usually like to debut one or two every season.”

Gordon said the Jackson Heights group was pulled together based on musicians she saw and heard perform.

“It was sort of my effort to find musicians I found really compelling, people I wanted to play with.” Nazziola, a percussionist as well as a composer, also had been on her radar for some time.

Gordon had attended the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester.

“Tom is a graduate of the same program,” she said. The CMA grant that paid Nazziola’s commission was created to help groups that lost funding after federal budget cuts to the National

Sunday, April 26.

Endowment for the Arts.

Other commissioned selections on the set list for April 23 include “Play of Hands” by Grammy-winning artist Pedro Giraudo and Seth

Bedford’s “Canciones Para Medusa.”

There also will be a sneak peak at Cassara’s work-in-progress “Broadway Boogie Woogie,”

which was commissioned with a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts.

Gordon said Giraudo, who specializes in tango music, performs regularly in Jackson Heights.

“I saw him play in person and I love tango music,” she said. “So I asked him if he would write us a piece.”

Percussia has been performing in the Brownson Center’s Celebration Hall for the last few years, with Gordon being introduced by a friend who moves some of the group’s larger equipment.

“It’s one of our favorite places in Queens to play,” she said. “It looks good and it sounds good, which is a rare combination. They seem to have deep roots in the community and they have a large fan base. It’s always a big turnout.”

Maple Grove Cemetery is located at 127-15 Kew Gardens Road in Kew Gardens.

Additional information on this and other events can be found on the Friends of Maple Grove website. Q

For Earth Day, steward the planet all month long

continued from page 19

bringing back its citywide Car-Free Earth Day celebration at 10 a.m. April 25. The program, which launched in Manhattan in 2016 and has since expanded to all five boroughs, closes certain streets to vehicles and offers free activities focused on climate change, sustainability and more.

Citi Bike also will offer free, unlimited 30-minute rides that day for 24 hours.

Queens’ biggest celebration will be on

Crossword Answers

Woodside Avenue, between 75th and 78th streets, in Elmhurst. For a full event map, one can visit nyc.gov/carfreenyc.

The Queens Botanical Garden also has Earth Day events all month long. Up next is a Spring Bird Walk with the NYC Bird Alliance at 9:30 a.m. April 18, followed by a chance to meet the garden’s beekeeper at 11 a.m. and a tapestry-weaving workshop using natural fibers at 1 p.m. The latter was sold out as of publication.

Other upcoming events include volunteer opportunities with the QBG’s compost staff and farm team April 19, a spring garden tour April 25 and a walkthrough of the QBG’s indigenous plants April 26, led by Shane Weeks and Tecumseh Ceaser of the Metoac Indigenous Collective. One can visit queensbotanical.org/earthmonth for a full list and ticket information.

The Queens County Farm Museum in Floral Park will hold a volunteer service day at 11 a.m. April 22, where visitors will give back to the planet with activities from mulching trails to clearing brush. Hayrides and giveaways also will be offered. More info is at queensfarm.org/event/earth-day.

Several kids’ craft events are coming up at the Queens Public Library, including at Flushing’s Mitchell-Linden branch and the one in Queens Village, both at 4 p.m. April 20; and the Richmond Hill location at 11:30 a.m. April 22. The Central Library in Jamaica will have a science lab at 11 a.m. April 18, where kids can

explore recycling, conservation and more. Adults can join in on the fun, too. The QPL’s Bayside branch will host a workshop at 4 p.m. April 22, where attendees can learn the basics of growing plants in pots. Materials will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Q

The Jackson Heights-based chamber music group Percussia, composed of Ingrid Gordon, front center, Lev Zhurbin, left, Frank Cassara, Susan Jolles and Margaret Lancaster, will perform at Maple Grove Cemetery at 4 p.m. on

COURTESY PHOTO

Volunteer opportunities are among the events that the Queens Botanical Garden has planned to recognize Earth Day. On the cover: The astronauts on Artemis II gave us a new look at the beauty of our planet. PHOTOS COURTESY QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN / FILE AND, COVER, BY REID WISEMAN / NASA

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Notice is hereby given that an On-Premises Food & Beverage Business-Liquor License, NYS Application ID: NA-0370-26-107871 has been applied for by Renee’s Hospitality LLC to sell liquor, beer, wine and cider at retail in an on-premises Food & Beverage Business-liquor establishment. For on premise consumption under the ABC Law located at 43-22 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside, NY 11104.

Notice is hereby given that an On-Premises Restaurant-Liquor License, NYS Application ID: NA-0340-25-120113 has been applied for by SSP America Inc, Inc and SSP America JFK LLC to sell liquor, beer, wine and cider at retail in an on-premises Restaurant-Liquor establishment. For on premise consumption under the ABC Law located at JFK International Airport Terminal 4, Space CB22 & CB23 Jamaica NY 11430.

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., as Trustee for Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-1, Plaintiff, AGAINST Sabrina Edery, as Administratrix of the Estate of Ann Lewitinn; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 22, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435, on the second floor in Courtroom 25 on April 24, 2026, at 10:00AM, premises known as 431 Beach 45th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, Block 15968 Lot 96. Approximate amount of judgment $480,940.23 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 703588/2015. Michael A. Cervini, Esq., Referee, LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC, Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff, 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624, (877) 430-4792. Dated: February 26, 2026

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., as Trustee for Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-1, Plaintiff, AGAINST Sabrina Edery, as Administratrix of the Estate of Ann Lewitinn; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 22, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435, on the second floor in Courtroom 25 on April 24, 2026, at 10:00AM, premises known as 431 Beach 45th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, Block 15968 Lot 96. Approximate amount of judgment $480,940.23 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 703588/2015. Michael A. Cervini, Esq., Referee, LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC, Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff, 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624, (877) 430-4792. Dated: February 26, 2026

Legal Notices

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR PARK PLACE SECURITIES, INC. ASSET-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2005-WHQ3, -against- DAVID LINN, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens on March 4, 2024, wherein WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR PARK PLACE SECURITIES, INC. ASSET-BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2005-WHQ3 is the Plaintiff and DAVID LINN, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the QUEENS COUNTY SUPREME COURT, 88-11 SUTPHIN BLVD, COURTROOM 25, JAMAICA, NY 11435, on April 24, 2026 at 10:00AM, premises known as 144-04 70TH ROAD, FLUSHING, NY 11367; and the following tax map identification: 6657-7. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE BOROUGH OF QUEENS, COUNTY OF QUEENS, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 713419/2020.

Scott H. Siller, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing.

*LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/ CLERK DIRECTIVES.

NOTICE OF SALE

Supreme Court County of Queens The Bank of New York Mellon FKA The Bank of New York as Trustee for the Certificateholders

CWALT, Inc. Alternative Loan Trust 2005-36 Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-36, Plaintiff AGAINST Juan Pimentel, Leidy M. Pimental, Alexis Cordero, et al, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 14, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Queens County Courthouse, 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Second Floor Courtroom 25, Jamaica, NY 11435 on May 8, 2026 at 10:00 AM premises known as 133-12 129th Street, South Ozone Park, NY 11420. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Queens, City and State of New York, BLOCK: 11787, LOT: 42. Approximate amount of judgment is $696,327.70 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 705485/2024. This sale may be subject to the US Dept of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Real Estate Reporting Rule. In such event, all purchasers are required to provide the information needed for proper reporting in accordance with the terms of sale. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction. com or call (800) 2802832. Frances Yetta Ruiz, Referee FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street, Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-025057-F01 89657

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS, NYCTL 2021A TRUST, AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN FOR THE NYCTL 2021-A TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. 103 26-28 123RD LLC, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated on January 29, 2026 and entered on February 6, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, on the second floor in Courtroom 25, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435 on April 24, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., premises known as 10326 123rd Street, Richmond Hill, NY 11419. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, Block 9559 and Lot 20. Approximate amount of judgment is $38,215.35 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 720161/22. Bruce S. Povman, Esq., RefereeBronster, LLP, 156 West 56th Street, Suite 703, New York, New York 10019, Attorneys for Plaintiff

PARALITOS LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/06/2026. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Nikolaos Grigorios Kavnoydias, 23-31 28th St., Astoria, NY 11105. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Formation of POKENOBI LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/16/2026. 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: ZENBUSINESS INC, 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY 12207. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF SALE

Supreme Court County of Queens U.S. Bank National Association, Not In Its Individual Capacity But Solely As Trustee For Merrill Lynch First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2007-2, Plaintiff AGAINST George Defendini, Defbear 91 39 85th Street LLC, et al, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 9, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Queens County Courthouse, 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Second Floor Courtroom 25, Jamaica, NY 11435 on May 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM premises known as 91-39 85th Street, Woodhaven, NY 11421. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Queens, State of New York, BLOCK: 8979, LOT: 48. Approximate amount of judgment is $871,953.38 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 708974/2023. This sale may be subject to the US Dept of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Real Estate Reporting Rule. In such event, all purchasers are required to provide the information needed for proper reporting in accordance with the terms of sale. For sale information, please visit XOME at www. XOME.com or call 844-4009663. Joseph N. Armao, Referee FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-096101-F00 89341

Notice of Formation of PROSLOT BOS LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/20/2026. 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, 5031 211th STREET, BAYSIDE HILLS, NY 11364 Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

EQUAL HOUSING. Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, familial status or disability in connection with the sale or rental of residential real estate. Queens Chronicle does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect housing discrimination call the Open Housing Center (the Fair Housing Agency for the five boroughs of New York) at 212941-6101, or the New York City Commission of Human Rights Hotline at 718-722-3131.

The Queens Chronicle reserves the right to alter wording in ads to conform with Federal Fair Housing regulations.

Apts.For Rent

East Williamsburg, 16 Morgan Ave, #1R. 1BR/1bath, $2,850/mo. Spacious & bright, home office, HW flrs, EIK. Heat & hot water included. Avail April 15. Call Gaetano Cirone (347) 844-2561. Capri Jet Realty

Notice of Formation of 5634 WALDRON LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/05/2026. 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: 5634 WALDRON LLC, 56-34 WALDRON STREET, CORONA, NY 11368. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of CONNECTA SOLUTIONS LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/17/2026. 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: Giovanny Ospina, 3031 42ND STREET, APT 2, ASTORIA, NY 11103 Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Williamsburg, 418 Grand St, #2. 2BR/1bath, $3,500/mo. HWF, tons of natural light, tile floors, queensized BRs. No Pets, Avail NOW. Call Agata Landa (914) 255-7284. Capri Jet Realty

Williamsburg, 778 Metropolitan Ave, #1. 2BR/1bath. $5,000/mo. Newly renov. In unit washer/dryer, HW flrs, huge BR, SS appli, dishwasher, backyard. Avail May 1. Call THeo Eastwind (718) 536-7787. Capri Jet Realty

Broad Channel, Sat 4/18 12pm-1:30pm, 19W 13th Rd. Newly renov turnkey waterfront home, 2 BR, 1.5 bath. Open concept. Pvt float & boat ramp. C21 Amiable II, 718-835-4700

Howard Beach, Sat 4/18, 1:30pm-3:30pm, 161-24 84 St. Updated 4BR. Living area w/HW flrs, cathedral ceilings & 4-season room. C21 Amiable II, 718-835-4700

Having a garage sale? Let everyone know about it by advertising in the Queens Classifieds Call 718-205-8000 and place the ad!

Notice of Formation of DUSTY DAWN LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/10/2026. 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: SHALINE SUSAN CAREY, 9032 187TH STREET, HOLLIS, NY 11423. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of FHL INOQ LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 08/21/2025. 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, 23-01 41ST AVENUE, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

ADMINISTRATION CITATION File No. 2021-61/A SURROGATE’S COURT - QUEENS COUNTY CITATION

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

By the Grace of God Free and Independent TO Public Administrator of Queens County, Hugh McIntosh THE HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN AND DISTRIBUTEES OF ALICE

DIXON, the decedents herein, if living and if any of them be dead, to their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, legatees, executors, administrators, assignees and successors in interest whose names are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry, be ascertained A petition having been duly filed by Kinsey Bartlett, Assistant Secretary of Compu-Link Corporation as attorney-in-fact for WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, not individually but solely as trustee for FINANCE OF AMERICA STRUCTURED SECURITIES ACQUISITION TRUST 2018HB1, domiciled at 3900 Capital City Blvd, Lansing, MI 48906. YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before The Surrogate’s Court, QUEENS County, Jamaica, NY on amay 21st, 2026, in Courtroom 62 at 9:30 in the forenoon of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate ALICE DIXON lately domiciled at 196-12 104TH AVENUE, SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412 in the County of QUEENS, New York, granting Limited Letters of Administration to Unknown Heirs, distributees of decedent and if they fail to qualify, then to the PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF QUEENS COUNTY, and if they are permitted to renounce, Hugh McIntosh or distributees of the decedent, and if they fail to qualify, then to the Public Administrator of QUEENS County, and if they are permitted to renounce, then to Melissa D. Mohan, Esq., nominee of the petitioner, upon duly qualifying, AND, that the authority of the representative under the foregoing Letters be limited as follows: For the limited purpose of accepting service of process in the residential foreclosure action currently pending in the Supreme Court of QUEENS County under index number 725744/2021; HON. Cassandra A Johnson, Dated, Attested and Sealed, March 25, 2026, (Seal) Janet Edwards, Chief Clerk, Name of Attorney for Petitioner: Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, Tel. No. (516) 280-7675 Address of Attorney: 900 Merchants Concourse, Westbury, NY 11590. NOTE: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to appear it will be assumed you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney-at-law appear for you.

Notice of Formation of GAN STAMFORD HOLDINGS LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/13/2026. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o 220-46 73rd Ave., Bayside, NY 11364. Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of HOUSE CALLS BY MONIQUE MELLO NURSE PRACTITIONER IN FAMILY HEALTH PLLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/12/2024. NY office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the PLLC to: THE PLLC, 52-30 39TH DRIVE # 2M, WOODSIDE, NY 11377. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of IVY AVENUE LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/01/2026. 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: TINA NGUYEN, 3450 43RD ST., #1R, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101 Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of JZCOLLECTZ LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/23/2026. 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: JIUEN ZOU, 13417 60TH AVE., FLUSHING, NY 11355. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Supplemental Summons and Notice of Object of Action Supreme Court Of The State Of New York County Of Queens ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE INDEX #: 724801/2024 Selene Finance LP Plaintiff, vs Dolores Gannie, United States Of America On Behalf Of The Secre tary Of Housing And Urban Development, Department Of Housing Preservation And Development, Thomas F. Malone If Living, And If He/She Be Dead, Any And All Persons Unknown To Plaintiff, Claiming, Or Who May Claim To Have An Interest In, Or General Or Specific Lien Upon The Real Property Described In This Action; Such Unknown Persons Being Herein Generally Described And Intended To Be Included In Wife, Widow, Husband, Widower, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assignees Of Such Deceased, Any And All Persons Deriving Interest In Or Lien Upon, Or Title To Said Real Property By, Through Or Under Them, Or Either Of Them, And Their Respective Wives, Widows, Husbands, Widowers, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assigns, All Of Whom And Whose Names, Except As Stated, Are Unknown To Plaintiff, City Register Of The City Of New York, County Of Queens, People Of The State Of New York, United States Of America On Behalf Of The IRS John Doe (Those unknown tenants, occupants, persons or corporations or their heirs, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, assignees, creditors or successors claiming an interest in the mortgaged premises.) Defendant(s). MORTGAGED PREMISES: 11902 Sutphin Boulevard Jamaica, NY 11434 To the Above named Defendant: You are hereby summoned to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not ser ved with this Supplemental Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this Supplemental Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Supplemental Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Queens. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. TO Thomas F. Malone Defendant In this Action. The foregoing Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. Karina E. Alomar of the Supreme Court Of The State Of New York, dated the Eleventh day of March, 2026 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens, in the City of Jamaica. The object of this action is to foreclosure a mortgage upon the premises described below, dated June 26, 2006, executed by Dolores Gannie to secure the sum of $470,554.00. The Mortgage was recorded at CRFN 2006000496709 in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County on August 31, 2006. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed October 6, 2009 and recorded on November 17, 2009, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2009000377239. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by a corrective assignment executed November 30, 2012 and recorded on December 6, 2012, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2012000479655. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed July 28, 2022 and recorded on December 20, 2022, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2022000454773. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed August 17, 2022 and recorded on December 20, 2022, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2022000454774. Said Mortgage was subsequently modified by a Loan Modification Agreement executed by Dolores Gannie on September 30, 2023 and recorded November 1, 2023 in CRFN 2023000283920 in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed August 23, 2022 and recorded on May 8, 2024, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2024000117436. The property in question is described as follows: 11902 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11434 HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The state encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Department of Financial Services at 1-800-342-3736 or the Foreclosure Relief Hotline 1-800-269-0990 or visit the department’s website at WWW.DFS.NY.GOV RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME AT THIS TIME. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO STAY IN YOUR HOME DURING THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME UNLESS AND UNTIL YOUR PROPERTY IS SOLD AT AUCTION PURSUANT TO A JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AND SALE. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO REMAIN IN YOUR HOME, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROPERTY AND PAY PROPERTY TAXES IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAW. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner’s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. § 1303 NOTICE NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSIN G YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this Foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. DATED: March 16, 2026 Gross Polowy LLC Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s) 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221 The law firm of Gross Polowy LLC and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. 89509

Construction Laborer Apprentices Sought

The Local 1010 Joint Apprenticeship Committee will conduct a limited recruitment for 10 Skilled Construction Craft Laborer Apprentices. Applications will be available from April 20 through May 1, 2026 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at:

Local 1010 JAC

17-20 Whitestone Expressway, 3rd floor Whitestone, NY 11357

Applications must be returned to the same office during the above business hours until 1:00 p.m. on May 8, 2026. All applications must be obtained and submitted by the applicant in person. The applications will be available until May 1, 2026 or until 80 applications have been distributed, whichever happens first. Only 80 applications will be distributed, on a first-come basis.

Applicants must be:

• at least 18 years old; and

• physically able to perform the work required of a Skilled Construction Craft Laborer and endure strenuous exertion and exposure to the elements.

Applicants should note:

• no specific education level is required; however, a higher level of education may increase the applicant’s score and placement on the rank list.

• proof of education, if any, must be submitted at the time of the interview to be considered.

• a minimum physical condition test will be scheduled at the time the completed application form is submitted.

• the minimum physical conditions test will consist of:

- wheeling a wheelbarrow loaded with 150 pounds to a flat distance of 300 feet;

- lifting a 90-pound cement bag and carrying it to a distance of 100 feet,

- carrying framing wood for a distance of 100 feet,

- digging a one square foot hole to a depth of one foot; and

- mixing sand and cement, as instructed.

For further information, applicants should contact the 1010 JAC at (718) 886-3310.

Local 1010 JAC is committed to provide equal employment opportunity to all people without discrimination because of race, gender and/or gender identity or expression, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, partnership status, pregnancy or child birth (including related medical conditions), genetic information, reproductive health decision making, marital or parental status, alienage or citizenship status, domestic violence victim status, unemployment status, or on any other legally protected basis.

Parks ban due to World Cup safety

Most gatherings won’t get permits from June 11 to July 19, said agency

by Naeisha Rose Editor

New permits for most park gatherings for 50 or more people will be denied across the city from June 11 to July 19 due to the sheer volume of events related to both the Fédération Internationale de Football Association World Cup and the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The Parks Department rule says that special large-scale events where 50 or more are expected, or that require the construction of stages and other structures, continued use of a site for several days, amplified sound and the performance of music, require the NYPD to be on site. With the New York New Jersey World Cup games and the country’s 250th anniversary celebration overlapping this year, there will be a significant realignment and deployment of city personnel.

According to FIFA, the games are June 13, 16, 22, 25, 27 and 30 and July 5 with the final match on July 19 at MetLife Stadium at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, NJ, which is near the city.

Asked if NYPD officers will be redirected to New Jersey to help with the World Cup games, a spokesman said the NYPD will share details about security preparations ahead of FIFA. At a Community Board 9 meeting on April 14, an NYPD official said a memo was sent out asking for volunteers to cover the sporting event.

The Chronicle also reached out to City Hall about the USA 250 Times Square ball drop, which originally was to be but now will not see the crowds gather as part of the ban.There was no response ahead of press time.

The purpose of the temporary ban is to deploy city resources more effectively during the events and control overtime costs, said Parks.

Shortly after taking office, Mayor Mamdani alleged in January that due to mismanagement by his predecessor, Eric Adams, there was a $12 billion hole in the city’s budget.

There has been back and forth between

Mamdani’s administration and the City Council, which has since said it found $6 billion to close part of the budget gap without increasing city property taxes, a plan the mayor pushed forward as an alternative to closing the gap if Gov. Hochul did not raise taxes on corporations, millionaires and billionaires.

Councilman Ty Hankerson (D-Jamaica), chair of the Council’s Committee on Parks and Recreation, said via email last week that the cleanliness and safety of parks cannot be compromised.

“Right now, the Parks Department does not have the staffing this moment requires, and that is a direct result of the city still failing to meet the one percent funding commitment,” said Hankerson. “Asking Parks workers to carry the pressure of a global event like the World Cup, in addition to other large events, without that support is not responsible, and it puts both our parks and the public at risk.

“The city must give the department the resources to do the job properly. That starts with the mayor honoring his one percent commitment in the next budget so our parks system stays ready.”

Since 2022, Councilman Shekar Krishnan (D-Jackson Heights), the former Parks chair, has been advocating for 1 percent of the city’s budget to go toward the agency, especially after Covid-19, when the public heavily utilized parks during the pandemic, albeit with distancing guidelines. Krishnan argued that green spaces in other major cities are often 1 to 2 percent of their municipalities’ budget.

Putting 1 percent of the city budget toward parks has long been a goal of activists.

Parks did note that the temporary rule only applies to large-scale gatherings and people hosting smaller ones that don’t require the NYPD’s presence, those who received permits last year and demonstrators are not affected by the rule. People who have events prior to June 11 and after July 19 are also not impacted. Q

City immigrant rights updated

The city on Monday released an updated, one-page fact sheet on immigrant rights, posting it online in 10 languages.

The document, available at tinyurl. com/5csdzbae, focuses on protections immigrants enjoy in the workplace and at home under the city Human Rights Law. It is divided into two main sections, labeled Employers Cannot and Landlords Cannot.

It says, for example, that employers cannot “punish workers for speaking their own language” or “threaten workers about calling the police because of their immigration status.” Landlords, meanwhile, cannot “fail

to make adequate repairs or provide equal services to tenants because of their immigration status, nationality, or religious beliefs,” among other things.

The city touted the updated posting as coming out during Immigrant Heritage Week, which runs from April 13 to 19.

The fact sheet may be read and downloaded in English, Spanish, Urdu, Korean, Arabic, Haitian Creole, French, Russian, Chinese, Polish and Bengali. Anyone with questions about their rights may call (212) 416-0197.

Q — Peter C. Mastrosimone

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