Queens Chronicle South Edition 04-02-20

C M SQ page 1 Y K SOUTH QUEENS EDITION Serving Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, City Line and JFK Airport

YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER VOL. XLIII

NO. 14

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

QCHRON.COM

PHOTO BY MICHAEL SHAIN

Army Corps racing to build hospital at Aqueduct

PAGE 4; FFU FULL ULL VIRUS CCOVERAGE OVEER R AGE PAGESS 2-18 2-18, 22 22, 2266 AAND ND 31 There will be no spring racing at Aqueduct Race Track in South Ozone Park; instead the Army Corps of Engineers is coming out of the gate to build a 1,000bed hospital there to treat nonacute cases of COVID-19 and other maladies. Across Queens, the death toll is rising, food pantries are closing down, elections are being delayed and usually bustling streets are silent as the coronavirus tightens its grip on the city.

THEY LOVE THEIR STUDENTS

TERRIBLE TOLL AT THE MTA

VIRTUAL REALITIES

Howard Beach teachers parade past homes

Virus kills eight in one week

Online diversions near and far await families stuck at home

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020 Page 2

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Two elections for one seat June 23?

It’s possible, as state delays boro prez vote and U.S. prez primary

by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief

T

he next election for Queens borough president may turn out to be twice as nice.

Gov. Cuomo on Monday declared that the April 28 special election to fill the post for the rest of this year will instead be held June 23, along with the Democratic primary for president. Primaries for state legislative races were already set for June 23 — but so were primaries for borough president.

Come again?

The April 28 borough president election was to be a nonpartisan affair, with candidates running on their own party labels. The winner would assume office and serve for the rest of 2020.

Then on June 23, candidates would run in primaries seeking party nominations for the general election Nov. 3. The winner of that contest would serve for the year 2021, filling out the remainder of the term won by former Borough President and now-District Attorney Melinda Katz in 2017.

Then another primary and general election would be held in 2021 for a new borough president who will serve his or her own fouryear term starting Jan. 1, 2022.

Complicated enough for you?

But now the April 28 election has been

moved to June 23. And what remains unclear — even to some of those involved in the campaigns — is whether the borough president primaries originally set for that day will be held at all.

It’s possible they won’t be, and that whoever wins the nonpartisan special election will serve as borough president through the end of 2021.

Or it’s possible that the special election and the primaries will be held on the same day. If that happens, a Democratic voter, for example, would vote once for a beep to serve the rest of this year and then again for a nominee to run in November in hopes of serving from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2021.

The candidates in the special election are Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria), former Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, retired NYPD Sgt. Anthony Miranda, retired Queens Executive Assistant District Attorney James Quinn, Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton) and businessman Dao Yin. Spokespersons for the Governor’s Office and the city Board of Elections did not respond to multiple requests for information by press time.

The media were not the only ones left in the dark.

One campaign source said that while “nothing is set in stone ... we don’t believe there will be a primary; obviously it wouldn’t

Queens residents may get to vote for their favorite candidate for borough president twice on June 23, as many also cast ballots for the DemoFILE PHOTO cratic nominee for U.S. president. be on the same date.”

“We too are still trying to figure that out,” said another campaign source when asked if the primary and general election would still be held. “We do know this is not a different special election, it’s just the same special election.”

Both sources said they believe that in the end, election officials will follow the recommendation of the Campaign Finance Board that there be no primary or general election, and that the winner of the special vote June 23 serve through the end of 2021.

“The problem is we just don’t know a lot,” one source said.

Along with the borough president race, a special election to fill the Southeast Queens seat of former 31st District Assemblywoman and now-Judge Michele Titus was moved from April 28 to June 23. So was the Democratic primary for U.S. president (there is no Republican primary because only President Trump qualified for the GOP ballot).

The CFB itself is unsure what will happen with the borough president race and any other special elections moved to June 23.

“It is unclear whether the primary/general elections for those races will be held,” spokesman Matthew Sollars said in an email.

“CFB recommends only holding special elections for those seats. Under that scenario, the special election winners would take office once the results are certified by the BOE and hold office until December 31, 2021. If the primary/general elections are held for these seats, the primary would also be held on 6/23.

So, two elections run on the same day, potentially with different ballots available to different sets of voters.”

Asked whether it will be the mayor or governor who ultimately decides whether to hold multiple elections, Sollars said, “That is a good question. Sorry to say that I don’t have a Q good answer for you.”

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C M SQ page 4 Y K

Temporary hospital coming to Aqueduct U.S. Army Corps to build 1,000-bed facility; Big A spring racing canceled

by Michael Gannon Editor

The Army Corps of Engineers will be constructing a temporary 1,000-bed hospital facility on the grounds of Aqueduct Raceway in South Ozone Park.

Speaking at a news update on Saturday, Gov. Cuomo, fresh off a phone call with President Trump, announced that the site is one of four that will see a hospital erected in each of the city’s outer boroughs.

The others, according to a transcript of the briefing on Cuomo’s official website, include the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, CUNY Staten Island and the New York Expo Center in the Bronx, adding an additional 4,000 beds to the state’s capacity.

The state also is planning similar sites in Westchester, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“They are appropriate and suitable to bring in large-scale medical facilities,” Cuomo said. “They’re 100,000 square feet, 120,000 square feet. They’re open, they have electric, they have climate control, et cetera. So, this is going to be a big advantage.

This will add another 4,000 beds and there is one in every borough in New York City, which was important to me. Every borough knows that they have a facility and they are getting the same treatment that everyone else is getting.”

The facility will treat nonacute patients including those with or without COVID-19. The determination on which patients will be sent there will be made when the site opens.

New York Racing Association President and CEO Dave O’Rourke said the agency stands ready to help out during the crisis in any way it can.

“The governor’s ability to quickly marshal all available resources is saving lives and inspiring action both here in New York and across the nation,” O’Rourke said in a prepared statement. “Now that Gov. Cuomo has secured the federal approval,

Aqueduct Race Track, where people can be tested for coronavirus, above, soon will be the site of a temporary 1,000-bed hosPHOTO BY MICHAEL SHAIN pital overflow facility.

Aqueduct Racetrack will serve as a safe haven for those recovering from this virus. We recognize that we all must work together as a community to meet this challenge and emerge stronger for it.

NYRA also joins the governor in extending our deepest gratitude to the first responders, medical professionals and volunteers who continue to operate on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19.”

Aqueduct hosted a Red Cross mobile kitchen and staging area

in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

The Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan opened Monday to receive nearly 3,000 non-COVID-19 patients in order to relieve the burden on city hospitals.

The 1,000-bed Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort also docked in Manhattan on Monday. It is expected to take patients who are not suffering from the virus.

Cuomo said the state is gearing up based on current projections that the apex of the emergency can be expected to slam New York State roughly between April 10 and 17.

He said officials are stocking up on ventilators with a projected need for up to 30,000; and are considering training National Guard personnel to operate manual bag valve masks. The masks can help a patient when no mechanical ventilator is available but also are labor-intensive.

“We have only 14 to 21 days [to the apex] so it’s not a significant amount of time, but do everything you can to get ready now,” Cuomo said Saturday. “... I’m not going to wait for day 13 to say ‘Oh my gosh, we need 30,000 ventilators. It’s over.’”

As for the impact on thoroughbred racing, Aqueduct’s winter meeting, which was scheduled to run through this past Sunday, was suspended last month. The NYRA said its spring meet, which was scheduled to run from April 2 through 19 at the Big A, has been canceled with an eye on bringing racing back at Belmont Park once it is safe for employees and patrons to do so.

The Wood Memorial, Aqueduct’s annual prep race for potential Triple Crown candidates, was originally scheduled for Saturday, April 4 and has been postponed until an undetermined date.

The Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown, right now is scheduled for June 6. The Kentucky Derby, traditionally on the first Saturday in May, has been moved to Sept. 6. No new date has been set for the Maryland-based Preakness Stakes, origQ inally scheduled for May 16.

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Deliveries of free food on tap for needy residents of South Queens The Ozone Park Residents Block Park, & Woodhaven,” the civic group, Association advises everyone in need headed by Sam Esposito, said in an who lives in Community Districts 9 and announcement.

“We need to reach as many people as 10 to visit facebook.com/groups/ozoneparkvoice for help getting food donated we can to get the food that is desperately needed. We are also providing servicby FreshDirect.

Those seeking help just have to fol- es where we can pick up lists and go shopping for the peolow the instructions ple. We DO NOT to get the donated w a nt t h e m t o go food that FreshDioutside. rect donated. The elp is available for “The Ozone Park company is donating 400 boxes of groceranyone in Community R e s i d e n t s B l o c k Association is coories per d ay for Districts 9 and 10. dinating and running Q ueens resident s, the operation & the the civic said.

Cityline Ozone Park “T h is Facebook group is only for validated information Civilian Patrol is going to do the pickfor our communities. We have now ups and deliveries.

“In the last 2 weeks we have helped opened up our group to ALL residents & businesses in Cityline Brooklyn, many people. Getting food to the peoHoward Beach, Kew Gardens, Ozone ple, medical supplies to the local hospiPark, Richmond Hill, South Ozone tals, NYPD, NYFD, & the local resi-

H

dents. But we are not reaching the masses and we need your help.

“Please direct everyone to the Facebook group, this is the best way to get all the needed information in real-time.

The alternative is to email us at ozpkrba@aol.com. The last resort, with no email address, is to call us at 718-6410405 in this order.”

The block association and civilian patrol are working with a number of other community groups, residents and officials in order to get the food to people. Those are Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven), CB 9, attorney Mike Scala, the Bangladeshi American Com mu nit y Development & Youth Ser vices, the Ozone Park K iwanis Club, the Richmond Hill South Ozone Pa r k Lio n s C l u b, t h e S o u t hwe s t Q ueens Rot a r y Club, the Ja maica Rotar y Club and the Living Word Q Christian Fellowship.

Beep extends board terms Acting Borough President Sharon Lee announced Monday that the term for 2020 Queens Community Board appointees will begin May 31 instead of April 1, and last through March 31, 2022.

Current board members whose terms would have expired on March 21 will continue serving for an additional 60 days.

Lee said, “Following a robust and extended application period,” that she will issue the 2020 appointments to the borough’s 14 boards.

She thanked the boards for remaining operational and continuing to serve constituents during the pandemic.

“At times of crisis and great uncertainty, any semblance of short-term predictability, continuity and steadiness is invaluable,” Lee said.

On Feb. 4, Lee announced a six-week extension to the Jan. 31 application deadline. As of the March 13 deadline, her office had received 501 applications, including 246 from those who had never previously served on a Queens community board, and 255 from those who had prior experience or were reapplying at the conQ clusion of their 2020 term.

C M SQ page 5 Y K

Our country is facing an unprecedented challenge with COVID-19. Already, the lives of far

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Nearly a third of city food pantries closed Organizations call on gov’t funding to ensure all New Yorkers are fed

by Katherine Donlevy Associate Editor

As a result of the economic strain caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, more than 32 percent of New York City’s food pantries have closed down. As unemployment jumps and is expected to do so for an indefinite number of coming weeks, the pantry system is calling for the city and state governments to commit $50 million in emergency aid to make sure New Yorkers don’t go hungry.

“We definitely expect this to continue,” Jilly Stephens told the Chronicle. The CEO of City Harvest, the city’s largest food rescue organization, said that as of March 31, 71 food pantries in the city had closed their doors, a number she says will only continue to rise.

“They’re struggling for all sorts of reasons,” said Stephens. “They’re having a hard time buying the food they need ... the increase in patron numbers is going up.”

Stephens raised concerns that as pantries close, users will have to travel farther outside their community to find adequate supplies, which would put tremendous stress on remaining pantries as well as violate stay-athome mandates.

“Most of the people that we’re serving don’t have anything anyway, not just now,” said Stephens, who stated that city food pantries were servicing tens of thousands of

Food pantries across the city are closing due to lack of funding to feed hungry New Yorkers, and organizations are calling on the city and state governments to commit a combined $50 million PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON to keep the resources open and available during the outbreak. struggling individuals before the outbreak, numbers that will continue to rise. “This community doesn’t have the ability to [wait]. It’s a dire situation.”

City Harvest, along with Met Council, the city’s largest Jewish charity, are rallying for the City Council to commit $25 million from its budget, as well as $25 million from

the federal government, toward keeping city food pantries open. The funds would go toward buying groceries, the prices of which have spiked during the pandemic due to their high demand, as well as delivering them to vulnerable New Yorkers who cannot risk leaving their homes in search of a meal.

“We could be only days away from the

collapse of the food pantry system,” Chief Executive Officer of Met Council New York City David Greenfield said in a prepared statement. “Food pantries are in dire need and we need help now or else tens of thousands of our most vulnerable New Yorkers won’t have access to food. Almost a third of New York City food pantries are already closed and the blunt truth is many may not last the week without help. We need Albany to act to save the system.”

Greenfield and Stephens are calling on community members to reach out to local state and federal legislators and City Council members and urge them to pass the funding on behalf of those in need.

“We’re working 24/7 and we’re seeing some very generous support from people around the country, but we need the government to step in,” said Stephens. “This is a fantastic city filled with creativity and resilience ... We need to come together and get this city fed.”

The Department of Education is providing three free meals to students every day, and one can obtain the meal from any public school, not just the facility he or she attends.

Additionally, the city emergency food assistance hotline is available for any individual searching for the nearest food pantry or kitchQ en at 1 (866) 888-8777 or at 311.

PHOTOS COURTESY PS 146 PTA AND 207 PTA / FACEBOOK

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Howard Beach teachers miss their ‘families’

Remote learning took a new twist this past week in Howard Beach as two schools’ administrators, teachers and staff took time out to see their students and show their love for them, all while practicing social distancing.

First on Thursday, March 26, the crew from PS/MS 146, The Howard Beach School, gathered at noon by the school, then proceeded with a car parade around the old side of Howard Beach. As each car passed horns were honked, teachers and staff rolled down their windows and waved and yelled hello to

all the families gathered at their respective houses. Principal Mary Keegan, top, waved to everyone through her sunroof.

PS/MS 207, The Rockwood Park School, held its teacher parade on Monday, March 30 at 10:30 a.m., similarly lighting up faces all over the new side of Howard Beach with a line of cars stretching for blocks. Students made signs, above, to show their teachers how much they care. Teacher Kristen Lorento, right center, displayed a powerful sign on the side of her car as she drove through Rockwood Park.

Both schools brought out their mascots as well, as the 146 Blue Hawk, Howie B., left, rode in the back of a pickup truck and the 207 Bulldog, right, stretched to get some air out of a sunroof.

The events marked the first time in memory that tons of car honks in South Queens gave the neighborhood a sense of community and fulfillment, as the families and the teachers try to see each other in this new normal we live in today.

— Gregg Cohen

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‘They dedicated their lives to serving the public’ MTA takes a tragic hit from coronavirus, with eight deaths in just one week

Seven of the eight MTA workers who have died of the coronavirus are, clockwise from top left, Scott Elijah, Peter Petrassi, Oliver Cyrus, Caridad Santiago, Patrick Patoir, Ernesto Hernandez and PHOTOS COURTESY TWU LOCAL 100 EXCEPT TOP LEFT AND RIGHT, FACEBOOK PHOTOS Warren Tucker. The eighth is Victor Zapana.

by Max Parrott

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Chronicle Contributor

The death toll among Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers rose drastically to a total of eight

by Tuesday morning, less than a week after the agency announced its first casualty.

On Monday afternoon, the MTA announced the deaths of Scott Elijah, Caridad Santiago, Ernesto Hernandez, Victor Zapana and Warren Tucker — five transit workers who showed symptoms of COVID-19.

The announcement was shortly followed by the death of Patrick Patoir, which was reported by Transit Workers Union Local 100.

“We are heartbroken at the passing of five heroic members of the New York City Transit family. Scott, Caridad, Ernesto, Victor and Warren were all inspiring and valued colleagues, well-loved and well-respected by their co-workers. They dedicated their lives to serving the public and keeping New Yorkers moving,” NYC Transit Interim President Sarah Feinberg and Acting MTA Bus Company President Craig Cipriano said in a prepared statement.

The MTA has been forced to cut back service this week across its buses, subways and commuter rail lines as more of its workers call in sick with COVID-19. CEO and Chairperson Patrick Foye, who has

tested positive himself, said as of 1984 Lebanon — he was an exTuesday morning that 582 colleagues Marine — and he came home to die at the MTA are now confirmed to by the virus,” said his mother, Barbahave the coronavirus. In an appear- ra Patoir-Singh.

Patoir leaves behind his wife, ance on “The Brian Lehrer Show,” Foye said that 40 percent of train Marcia, and four children.

“He was my best friend. He was a trips were canceled on Monday as the MTA was unable to staff trains great mentor to all the kids in the neighborhood. We have children in with full crews.

After the TWU Local 100 warned the neighborhood that are crying out the MTA for weeks about the need to and hurting,” said Marcia. “And he provide transit workers with more was very dedicated to his job.”

Scott Elijah, a masks, the agenpastor of the cy an nou nced Bethany African Fr iday that it hildren are ‘crying Methodist Episwou ld ma ke 75,0 0 0 mask s out and hurting’ over copal Church in Yon ke r s who available to at least one loss. supported himemployees. self as a transit The Queens Chronicle has compiled a list of tran- worker, died of COVID-19, accordsit workers who have died due to ing to TWU on Sunday.

Elijah was a 15-year veteran of the COVID-19 so far to remember their MTA who worked with the Comlives and work.

Patrick Patoir, a 33-year employee bined Action/Emergency Response of the Car Equipment Department, Unit, based in Long Island City.

He had recently graduated from died on Monday.

Patoir spent the past six years Alliance Theological Seminary.

“This is just horrible news. He working at Pitkin Barn in East New York, Brooklyn, after more than 25 was a great man. A family man. A years at the Coney Island Overhaul strong union brother. The entire shop, in the same complex where Track Division is in mourning,” said brot her Wendel l work s a s a Local 100 Track Division Chairman Carlos Albert. machinist.

Caridad Santiago, 43, who worked “Patrick was happy. Always smiling. Always funny. He was an excel- as an MTA cleaner for 13 years in lent father and husband. He survived the Bronx, was discovered dead by

C

her 16-year-old daughter on Sunday afternoon after exhibiting COVID symptoms.

“She was a wonderful mother, loved by everyone. We are all praying for her family to get through this time of grief,” said Stations Division Vice President Lynwood Whichard.

The New York Post reported that it took over 24 hours for a medical examiner to show up to Santiago’s residence to declare her dead.

“She shouldn’t be in there for that long,” her husband, Ernesto Salaam, told the Post. “She’s an MTA worker, she works for the city.”

Santiago had recently updated her Facebook profile picture to note that she was an essential worker who can’t stay home.

Ernesto Hernandez, 58, was a bus operator for 15 years, most recently working out of the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot in Brooklyn.

Transit Authority Surface Vice President JP Patafio described Hernandez as a “man who was loved and respected by his co-workers and hard worker. His death is a shock to us all.”

Victor Zapana was a Stations Department supervisor and subway system worker for almost 30 years.

Warren Tucker, known as “Big Tuck” by his co-workers, was a bus mechanic at the MTA Bus Co., assigned this year to the Central

Maintenance Facility in East New York. Tucker had worked for the MTA for five years.

“All of MTA is in mourning,” Division Vice Chair man Mike Capocci said about Tucker’s death.

“He was such a sweetheart. This is such a shame.”

Oliver Cyrus, 61, a bus operator out of the Manhattanville Depot died on Thursday, March 26.

Local 100 Vice President Richard Davis, who knew Cyrus around 21 years, said that a somber mood fell over the depot after his co-workers heard the news.

“The workers at Manhattanville are all very upset,” Davis said.

Cyrus had emigrated to New York from Guyana and lived in Brooklyn.

Peter Petrassi, a 49-year-old conductor, was the first transit worker to die from coronavirus.

Petrassi, a Queens man, worked out of transit operations in Long Island City. The New York Post reported that Petrassi was diabetic and had checked into a hospital March 20. The MTA announced his death last Thursday.

“My uncle Peter was the most kind loving adventurous food enthusiastic person I have ever met. I will always remember him as someone who put other people before himself,” his nephew Dylan Petrassi Q posted on Facebook.

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P Hunger looms as a real danger EDITORIAL

W

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ith the coronavirus crisis slamming the economy, people are going to go hungry — maybe on a level this country hasn’t seen since the Great Depression.

Initial jobless claims filed for the week ending March 21 reached nearly 3.3 million, by far the highest number ever since such records started being kept in 1967. The previous high was 695,000, filed for the week ending Oct. 2, 1982.

The Federal Reserve estimates the unemployment rate could hit 32 percent due to the virus and the business shutdowns imposed to slow its spread. The highest rate in the depths of the Depression, the one reflected in those pictures of bread lines you saw in your history books, was 24.9 percent. This could actually be worse, a possibility that’s all the more stunning when you consider that in the long, long ago days of February, the unemployment rate was 3.5 percent.

And as more people find themselves needing food assistance, there are fewer places offering it. At least 71 food pantries, more than 32 percent of those in the city, have shuttered already, according to Jilly Stephens, the CEO of City Harvest, the city’s largest food rescue organization.

And the trend is only expected to continue.

“We could be only days away from the collapse of the food pantry system,” said David Greenfield, the CEO of Met Council New York City.

The two organizations are calling for the City Council to commit to $25 million in new spending to rescue food pantries, and therefore their increasing clientele. Another $25 million would come from the federal government.

That’s a drop in the bucket considering the $2.2 trillion financial rescue package just passed by Congress and signed by President Trump ($2.2 trillion is nearly a hundred thousand times $25 million).

The United States has not dealt with anything like the coronavirus in nearly a century (the Spanish Flu of 191820 killed 675,000 people in the U.S., when our population was less than one-third of what it is now). This is an allhands-on-deck situation. While the city, state and U.S. governments are the only entities with the resources to save our food pantries, every little bit helps in fighting hunger. Companies from mom-and-pop restaurants to grocery store chains are helping feed the needy, and we hope everyone gives whatever assistance he or she can afford.

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Build a Rikers hospital Dear Editor: If closing the Rikers Island prison goes ahead as planned, and considering the challenge New York is facing with the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the shortage of medical facilities, personal protective equipment, personnel and other resources, it would be wise to use some of the available land on the island to build a modern state-of-the-art hospital.

Glenn Hayes Kew Gardens

Freeze all rents Dear Editor: Re your March 26 editorial, “We can’t lift our new restrictions until it’s safe to do so”: The restrictions imposed by Gov. Cuomo include a 90-day moratorium on tenant evictions, home foreclosures and mortgage payment deadlines. But that’s not enough. We need a statewide freeze on rents, particularly for low- and middleincome tenants in rent-regulated apartments.

Many New Yorkers now struggle to pay rents at current rates and can’t afford an increase. Tenants in rent-controlled apartments face a 7.5 percent annual hike under current law. The state’s Division of Housing and Community Renewal must ban all rent hikes for the remainder of 2020.

Rent control began in New York during World War II. We are now on a wartime footing © Copyright 2020 by MARK I PUBLICATIONS, INC. All rights reserved.

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Spring break had to go

K

udos to Gov. Cuomo, who’s been getting a lot of them lately, for ordering online learning to continue during what would have been spring break.

Kids have been off from school for long enough, and no matter what is being taught through distance learning, they’re not quite getting the lessons they would in the classroom. They also need structure, and their parents need them to have it. And with the world pretty much shut down, no one’s going to be traveling anywhere — even some of our fellow states don’t want New Yorkers visiting. So just as it was right to close the schools themselves, it’s right to keep students’ online education going.

It’s unlikely they’ll be back in school before the fall.

The teachers union supports skipping spring break, though not all of its members do (we would hope that most do). Dermot Smyth of the United Federation of Teachers in Queens got it right when he said on Facebook, “We will do it because we will stand with all families who right now struggle under one roof to keep each other engaged, and we will do it because right now, in this moment, it’s the right thing to do.” That’s the spirit.

E DITOR

requiring extreme measures to protect tenants.

Landlords should be spared any increases in property taxes, utility and water bills to balance the burden. I hope Queens’ Albany legislators, including Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal and Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr., follow up on this issue.

Richard Reif Kew Gardens Hills

No vote by mail … yet Dear Editor: In the March 26 issue a reader proposed that due to the coronavirus crisis, elections be conducted by mail (“Let’s vote by mail,” Letters).

In theory that practice is plausible. It could allow elections to take place without workers and voters in close contact at the polls, give business to a struggling Postal Service and relieve Board of Elections employees of a long, tedious day.

But in practice it will not be a success. The

process is too susceptible to fraud and corruption, will give voting rights to undocumented aliens and deceased voters, and require an enormous amount of paperwork.

It has worked in Oregon, where there is a much smaller population and fewer illegal aliens, and paper storage will not be cumbersome. New York is not the place for it, at least not until stricter voting requirements are administered and enforced.

Edward Riecks Howard Beach

No school; love the guv Dear Editor: Gov. Cuomo now has said that all schools throughout the state will remain closed thru April 15, and that at that point, he would reevaluate the situation, and should it be necessary to extend the closures to April 29, he would consider doing so. However, he declared

C M SQ page 11 Y K

a 90-day state of emergency on March 20 in response to the worsening COVID19 pandemic. Before considering reopening schools across the state, he should re-evaluate the 90-day state of emergency order that he invoked.

How could thousands of students, teachers, administrators and other school personnel be able to return to their schools as long as the state of emergency is still in effect? Many parents very well might not want to send their children back if the state is still under an emergency.

The governor needs to look at this situation again very, very carefully before he makes any decision to allow schools to reopen. His leadership during this crisis has been nothing short of stellar! He is doing an excellent job! Thank you for your leadership, governor!

John Amato Fresh Meadows

E DITOR

Death on Trump team’s hands Dear Editor: In 2018 Trump fired the entire Pandemic Response Team — the deaths and sicknesses and our being totally unprepared are on his hands and all the enablers who voted for him.

Blame this one on the left. Even Fox fired one of its reporters for lying about this.

Stew Frimer Forest Hills

Trumpist anti-Fauci tweets

We see through Trump

We’ve given up our rights

Dear Editor: In the spring of 2009, the United States experienced the spread of the A1H1NI Virus, more commonly referred to as the “swine flu.”

The virus had spread to the U.S. from an outbreak in Mexico. President Obama didn’t label it the “Mexican Virus,” nor did people in other countries refer to it as the American Swine Flu. We now have a president who derisively and sarcastically calls the current coronavirus the “Chinese Virus” and one of his aides tabbed it the “kung flu.” Very funny!

The sad part about all of this is that we all know why he’s doing this. We all can see through this pathetic, dangerously incompetent individual. Nov. 3 can’t come soon enough for me.

Robert Vogel Bayside

Dear Editor: Communist Russia’s armed forces, nuclear arsenal and 70-year obsessive ideological propaganda offensive could not change the American psyche like the microscopic bug called COVID-19 has done in a few months.

It is mind-boggling to see so many people trading, even relinquishing, constitutional and privacy rights for the promise of conditional ephemeral security. It is disheartening to see so many who espoused fiscal constraint willing to bring us to the brink of bankruptcy by sanctioning additional trillions of dollars of debt. I submit we are now all socialists.

It is incomprehensible that to assist American citizens in this pandemic, Congress would pass a bill filled with unrelated wasteful spending. Despite its being filled with money for museums, trains and international aid, the Senate unanimously approved the package.

We are in a state of emergency and our fear compels us to look to the government for solutions. As our rights dwindle away and we surrender our freedoms to the government, no matter how compelling the reason might be, we can never get them back. No government willingly relinquishes power.

The America transforming before our eyes is unrecognizable from the country I grew up in. That is not tragic. It is downright terrifying.

Ed Konecnik Flushing

Trump must issue orders

He doesn’t know Elmhurst Dear Editor: Trump’s childhood homes are roughly seven miles and light years away as far as the neighborhood of Elmhurst goes.

Since when does he think he knows the pattern of windows in Elmhurst Hospital?

This man would roll up the windows of his limo and hold his nose as he drove down Broadway past the hospital.

Ray Hackinson Ozone Park

When and Where to Seek Care NYU Langone experts want you to know how to stay healthy and when to seek medical care given the outbreak of COVID-19 in New York.

If You Have Cold Symptoms For cold symptoms without a fever—runny nose, congestion, sore throat, minor aches and pains —consider staying home until you feel better.

If You Have Flu-Like Symptoms For fever, headache, cough, muscle aches and joint pains—stay home and consult an NYU Langone provider remotely using Virtual Urgent Care.

Same day Virtual Urgent Care appointments are available: 7am to 11pm Monday through Friday 8am to 8pm Saturday and Sunday Schedule an appointment using the NYU Langone Health app or by visiting nyulangone.org/virtualurgentcare

When to go to the Emergency Room If you have a fever and cough and difficulty breathing, it is important that you do not wait to get care. Call 911 or seek immediate medical attention at your nearest emergency room.

Prevention is the Best Treatment These tips will help you stay healthy: • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds using soap and water or use an alcohol-based handrub.

• Always cover a sneeze or cough with a tissue or by using your arm.

• Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes without washing your hands first.

For more information about COVID-19, visit nyulangone.org/coronavirus or cdc.gov/coronavirus

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Dear Editor: The COVID-19 has thrust the globe into World War III! Trump is now a “wartime” president. He must use his authority and invoke the Defense Production Act — now! Order manufacturers to rapidly produce badly needed medical supplies to save lives, and help kill this evil invader!

Trump should also order our country into a two-week lockdown mode to help stop the spread of this pandemic. For the past month, he has been using GOP President Calvin Coolidge’s motto: “The business of government is business!”

Anthony G. Pilla Forest Hills

Dear Editor: When all is said and done, it remains clear beyond any doubt President Donald Trump’s interest in getting re-elected is more important than resolving the coronavirus. This is evidenced by Trump’s failure to publicly reject Republican right groups who have retweeted thousands of times attacking Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the well-respected director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who has the professionalism to stand up to Trump’s distaste for relying on scientific expertise. They are tweeting falsehoods that Dr. Fauci’s interest is more with Hillary Clinton than Trump and cannot be trusted. One anti-Fauci tweet sad, “Sorry liberals but we don’t trust Dr. Anthony S. Fauci.” This is an example of the Trumpism “Lock her up.”

In the face of the health and economic disaster facing all Americans, one would expect a sitting president to put politics on hold to assure all Americans his interest to ensure their welfare is his prime responsibility. As aforesaid, Trump does not understand this nor does he care.

Benjamin M. Haber Flushing

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Page 11 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020

LETTERS TO THE

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020 Page 12

C M SQ page 12 Y K

Banks still open, but reducing operations Some shut down branches, others switch to drive-though and ATM

by Katherine Donlevy

the only bank to initiate such precautions — many across the city have altered operations Banks across the city are temporarily to slow the spread of the virus.

TD Bank has also closed select branches, closing the interior of select branches in an effort to decrease close contact between reduced hours, shut down service on Suntheir patrons and workers to slow the spread days at all locations and canceled interior operations, but recently decided to continue of COVID-19.

“We’re only open for drive-through and regular operations through the driveATM services,” said a Queens County Sav- through where the glass panel provides proings Bank teller at the Kew Gardens loca- tection between patrons and tellers.

“Things are changtion, one of the few to ing every day,” a repshut down its inside e s e nt at ive of t h e operations. Some of e’re trying to maintain rDouglaston bra nch the bank’s branches, s a id . “ We’r e s t i l l mostly supermarket social distancing for doi ng ever y th i ng branch locations, have th rough ou r d r iveclosed altogether, but everyone’s safety.” through and you can have kept ATMs open — Capital One Savings Bank rep speak to a teller, but if to ensure that customyou’re not coming in a ers have the ability to car you have to be careful.” access cash during the pandemic.

Before TD Bank decided it will no longer In addition to closing down some of its sites, Queens County Savings Bank, part of continue interior operations, it had been the larger New York Community Bank, has reserving the first hour of service to seniors also shortened the hours its remaining only, a service the representative said the branches are staying open. For patrons need- business can continue to offer, but he suging to attend to business other than cash gested making an appointment beforehand.

“We’re asking that you use digital bankwithdrawl or deposit, or who may not have access to an ATM, “they’ll have to visit ing if you can at this time,” he continued.

Capital One Savings Bank is one of the another location,” according to the teller.

Queens County Savings Bank is hardly few organizations that has not shut down its Associate Editor

“W

Many banks are reducing hours and closing select branches in an effort to enforce social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak. Capital One is one of the few to keep interior operations FILE PHOTO running, though with some restrictions. interior operations at this point, though it has limited what services are available.

“You can still come inside and speak to an ambassador. All services are performed at the window, and we’re limited to what we can do — we closed down our tables,” a representative said, referring to the areas designated for patrons to sit down with branch ambassadors.

The Capital One representative said that all

of its branches have remained open despite many of the locations’ websites saying they are closed, but each is subject to temporary closing if crowds become too large.

“Our branches are all open for customers to come in, but there will be instances where if it gets too crowded we will close the door,” said the representative. “We’re not closed, but we’re trying to maintain Q social distancing for everyone’s safety.”

Katz tests positive for the coronavirus District attorney is quarantining and working from Forest Hills home

by David Russell

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Associate Editor

District Attorney Melinda Katz is feeling “OK” after learning last Saturday that she tested positive for the coronavirus.

“I feel like I’m lucky to have my kids to be quarantined with and I get to do school with them every morning and run the office,” she told the Chronicle Tuesday.

Katz had experienced a fever, coughing and a little nausea. She went to the doctor for a test and had to wait six days for the result.

“It’s a lot of time to go by not knowing but I treated it as I would hope everybody is treating themselves, which is the assumption that you are positive and you don’t want to give it to anybody else,” Katz said. “Even if you’ve been around nobody or anybody, you have to really just respect people’s social distancing.”

She had already been quarantined for nearly a week when the results came in.

Her sons, Hunter and Carter, don’t have any symptoms.

“I think they, like every child in the City of New York, are stir crazy,” Katz said. “My children miss school. They miss seeing their friends, they miss socializing. I think that it’s a very difficult time for families. I think the children miss the structure of the day.”

And the top prosecutor in the borough is running a 700-person office. ADAs have been vid-

District Attorney Melinda Katz is quarantining at home after testing positive for the coronavirus.

She is working from home, as the office is handling arraignments via videoconference to pracFILE PHOTO tice social distancing procedures. eoconferencing arraignments, while an Appellate Division argument was done via Skype.

Defendants appear on video screens from within the confines of central booking if they are healthy, or the Red Hook Community Court, if they are sick.

If a defendant is currently being held, the next court date will be scheduled for at least 30 days from now. For defendants not being held, their court dates will be scheduled for 90 days from now.

“This is unprecedented times,” Katz said.

“At a time when we are working to reform the criminal justice system and then have the extraordinary circumstance of a pandemic, it has taken organization, it has taken collaboration between all sides in what is historically an adversarial process.”

Rikers Island has been hit by the outbreak of the virus, as have other jails around the city.

Hundreds of inmates have been released from jail facilities since the outbreak hit, and Ross MacDonald, the chief medical officer for Correctional Health Services, tweeted Monday that the focus remains on releasing as many vulnerable people as possible.

Katz said the office and city are going through many lists to see who could be released because of health issues, focusing on people who only have a little time left on a sentence and who don’t pose a threat.

“I think we need to figure out though, as a city, how we can house defendants in a safe and healthy way,” she said, adding that it’s an obligation to both defendants and corrections officers.

Katz said she is concerned about residents isolated at home with no support system and is also urging people who live near seniors to reach out to help them.

“I think we need to remember as a city, we are tough, we are New Yorkers and we get Q through hard times,” Katz said.

C M SQ page 13 Y K Page 13 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020

The LIC community is strong and we will pull through this together.

Thanking everyone who is lending a helping hand!

The Kirby, Pfohl, & Quigley Families and all of us at Plaxall For more information on where to donate and how to help, visit:

www.facebook.com/licrelief For the latest news visit qchron.com

Elmhurst deals with coronavirus crisis Hospital is ‘epicenter’; makeshift locations will alleviate the burden

by David Russell

roughly one-third of the city’s nearly 45,000 cases.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has There have been nearly 45,000 coronavirus cases in the city and NYC Health + drawn national attention, with President Hospitals/Elmhurst has been called the Trump commenting last Sunday.

“Body bags, all over, in hallways,” he “epicenter” of the crisis, even seeing 13 said. “I’ve been watching them bring in deaths in one 24-hour period.

“When you lose 13 patients, hearing trailer trucks — freezer trucks, they’re some of them are dying in the emergency freezer trucks, because they can’t handle the bodies, there room while waitare so many of ing to f ind bed them. This is space, t h is ca n his is a tidal wave and it hit essentially in my soon turn out to c o m m u n i t y, i n be what we’re seeElmhurst in a real way.”

Queens, Queens, ing in other counNew York.” tries like Italy and — Councilman Francisco Moya Makeshift hosSpain except that pitals have popped it’s going to be right here in our backyard,” Councilman up around the city to alleviate the pressure Francisco Moya (D-Corona) told the on the healthcare system, including the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Chronicle last Thursday.

Eric Wei, the vice president and chief Flushing and the Jacob Javits Center in quality officer for NYC Health + Hospitals, Manhattan.

Acting Queens Borough President Shasaid Tuesday at a press conference that over the past two weeks the volume of people ron Lee cited the deaths in a statement last going to the site is actually down “but the Wednesday imploring people to stay home.

“The loss of lives is jarring, and we must people coming in are so much more ill and do everything in our power to prevent and so much more critically ill.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, there have prepare for future surges on the horizon,” been more than 83,000 cases and nearly she said, calling any boredom caused by 2,000 deaths in the state. Queens has staying at home “a luxury.” “For anyone Associate Editor

“T

PHOTO COURTESY NYS SENATE

For the latest news visit qchron.com

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020 Page 14

C M SQ page 14 Y K

Thanks for everything!

Lisa George, center, office manager for state Sen. James Sanders Jr., delivered a sumptuous repast from the senator’s office to the men and women of the NYPD’s 102nd Precinct in Richmond Hill on March 27.

Officer Shan France of the 102nd Pre-

cinct, left, helped accept the donation from George and Jarnail Singh, owner of Richi Rich Palace, also in Richmond Hill.

Sanders’ office also delivered meals to the 103rd Precinct in Jamaica and the 113th Precinct in South Jamaica.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has been described as being the epicenter of the coronavirus PHOTO BY MICHAEL SHAIN crisis. Makeshift hospitals are being constructed elsewhere. still in denial about how dire the situation is, use this as an alert not for panic, but for making the right choices now.”

Lee praised employees at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, saying “Frontline workers and medical professionals are moving mountains around the clock with extraordinary acts of heroism, using all tools and resources available to save each and every single life. Queens is deeply grateful.”

One of the dead, an Uber driver named Anil Subba, died last Tuesday at the hospital, according to the New York Post. He checked into the hospital about two weeks ago. Subba had stopped driving during the first week of March after transporting a sick passenger from JFK Airport to Westchester County. According to his Facebook page, Subba was originally from Nepal.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Anil Subba and send our condolences to his family who depended on him and could not even be with him in his final days due to this cruel virus,” said Independent Drivers Guild spokeswoman Moira Muntz said in a prepared statement. She said poor federal screening and quarantine procedures at airports put drivers at unnecessary risk.

“Where were the quarantine shuttles with drivers in protective gear like we saw transporting cruise ship passengers? The government and the app companies must step up and do better by these hardworking men and women and deliver emergency compensation,” Muntz said.

In addition to being above capacity inside, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has seen long lines outside for testing.

Moya was born at the hospital, later worked there as the director of business development and still has friends who work at the site.

“It’s really tough to hear their voices and the sound of desperation,” he said.

Moya said the hospital is “bursting at the seams” and spoke about the importance of equipment. “We are at war with this disease,” he said, adding that doctors and nurses are “fighting a war without the appropriate equipment right now.”

Moya, who donated 1,000 masks to the hospital last Monday, said additional doctors and nurses have been sent there, taken from other hospitals not experiencing a high volume of COVID-19 patients.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Israel Rocha told the Chronicle last Tuesday that he was concerned about a supply shortage in the coming weeks.

“What he’s saying is very accurate,” Moya said. “This is a tidal wave and it hit Elmhurst in a real way.”

He said the majority of patients are Latinos and that many work in hospitality, unable to work remotely during the crisis.

Moya also said there are a lot of undocumented immigrants living in houses with other people. “When they don’t have access to health care, when they don’t have the access to properly go get tested, people are walking around in these households with people that are infected, it spreads and now you’re seeing those lines because it’s really out of desperation that they want to know what to do,” he said.

State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) also spoke about the importance of staying at home, in light of the Elmhurst deaths. “As more people test positive for the coronavirus, more of our hospitals’ beds will be taken up and the city’s death toll will rise because we just don’t have the means to handle the increased number of patients that will need medical care,” he said in a statement last Thursday, adding that residents should adhere to social distancing policies to reduce the Q spread of the virus.

C M SQ page 15 Y K Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020 Page 16

C M SQ page 16 Y K

QC welcomes first ‘The war we are Asian-American prez battling right now’ Meng hosts COVID phone town hall

by Katherine Donlevy Associate Editor

by Katherine Donlevy Associate Editor

Frank Wu will serve as president of Queens College beginning July 1. PHOTO COURTESY QC and chancellor of UC Hastings.

“Professor Wu’s resume speaks for itself, and I am proud to see the first Asian American appointed president of a college in Queens,” said state Sen. and Chairperson of the Higher Education Committee Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing) said on the announcement. “I look forward to meeting with Professor Wu in the coming days to discuss ways the state can help ensure Queens College continues to provide accessibility and a top quality Q education for its student body.”

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Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) hosted a telephone town hall to answer constituents quesFILE PHOTO tions concerning COVID-19. sick and recover on your own doesn’t mean you can go outside, or go to parties, or get in large groups outside your home ... it’s not something we know enough about for someone to stake their health or the health of their neighbors on.”

The issue of limited medical supplies for hospital workers was raised, and Meng said that those with any form of personal protection equipment who are willing to donate can do so through at nyc.gov/coronavirus.

She encouraged constituents not to hoard masks, despite the comfort they may bring, and instead to donate them to the frontlines. “[Medical professionals] are the soldiers in the war that we are battling right now,” Meng said. “Obviously we are in short supply right now. Professionals are asked to wear masks for a week and that’s not the usual healthy protocol that is followed.”

Meng brief ly spoke about the recently passed $2 trillion economic stimulus package designed to mitigate the effects of the outbreak, part of which includes $1,200 to individuals making less than $75,000 a year. She said the checks should be distributed in about three weeks, and alluded to a fourth package that is being drafted by House Democrats. Q

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In an effort to ease constituent concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) hosted a town hall over the phone March 30 that allowed worried individuals to directly ask medical professionals and government representatives their most pressing questions.

The idea of implementing drive-through testing in the city like it has been in New Rochelle and on Long Island was repudiated

by Department of Health representative Dr. Madhury Ray early in the conference call because health facilities are operating under the assumption that everyone has been exposed to COVID-19.

“There is widespread community transmission in New York City,” said Ray. “At this point in the pandemic, testing doesn’t actually change the way doctors will treat you with some small exceptions. We aren’t thin k ing about d r ive-th rough testing because it’s not really useful.”

Ray said that one could obtain testing for the virus, test negative and contract it on the way home, negating the reasoning for the testing in the first place. She assured participants, however, that medical officials are instead treating every sickness as if it is COVID-19 and reminded them that most people will recover without additional medical treatment.

On whether animals could contract the virus from humans, Ray said that there have been reports of certain animals testing positive, but there is not enough evidence that the transmission between humans and animals is possible. Also speaking on how medical professionals know very little information on how the virus operates, Ray said there is a belief that an individual can develop immunity once he or she already had contracted the virus, but not a certainty.

“We don’t know whether you could get it again, although it does seem unlikely at this time,” said Ray. “But just because you get

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Queens College announced March 30 that Frank Wu will serve as its 11th president, following his appointment by The City University of New York’s Board of Trustees, effective July 1.

“I am honored to be coming to Queens College, a campus that represents education as the engine of the American dream for individuals and families now more than ever,” Wu said in a prepared statement. “I am here because my parents were immigrants who came as students.

That opportunity must continue to be offered and expanded.”

Wu is the first Asian American to serve as a president of any CUNY college in Queens County. He earned a BA in writing from Johns Hopkins University, as well as a JD from University of Michigan Law School, and has completed two seminars at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. He previously served two years directing Howard University’s law school clinic, a decade at Gallaudet University, as dean of Wayne State University Law School in Detroit and as dean

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Page 17 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020

For the latest news visit qchron.com

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020 Page 18

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Shades of purple across Queens DOH map reflects percentage of patients testing positive for COVID

by Katherine Donlevy Associate Editor

The Department of Health has released a map depicting the rate at which patients are testing positive for COVID-19 across the city, but even Mayor de Blasio admits that the daily updated data doesn’t provide much.

“This information only tells you part of the picture because the testing patterns have been so inconsistent,” de Blasio said at the map’s March 27 announcement. “We’re going to keep digging down to figure out if there are any particular areas that need particular strategic approaches.”

The map divides the boroughs by ZIP code, each of which is filled with a color coordinated to the area’s positive case percentage. In Queens, the Bayside, Douglaston and Little Neck areas are filled with a pale shade of purple, meaning they have between 44 and 51 percent of patients testing positive, while the West Queens, Jamaica and Southeast Queens areas host some of the most concentrated known cases in the city — a deep purple color shows that between 58 and 77 percent of patients tested positive for COVID-19.

A March 28 Daily News story noted

the difference between the zones may be attributed to a class gap, with poorer areas showing higher positive testing rates than wealthier, but de Blasio attributes the difference to greater concentration of hospitals.

“That’s part of what’s going on in Queens for sure with Elmhurst, whether there’s fewer hospitals that people are going to, but we’ve got to get to the bottom of any deeper trends that we can act on and we will keep doing that and then keep reporting the facts as we know them,” he said Friday.

NYC Health + Hospitals/ Elmhurst has become the epicenter of the virus in recent days, reporting 13 deaths in 24 hours last Wednesday. At the announcement, de Blasio said NYC Health + Hospitals sent 64 additional registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and physicians as well as 45 ambulatory staff members to Elmhurst.

The following day, an additional 105 nurses were sent as well as a promise to continue directing necessary supplies to the hospital.

Other ZIP codes in the borough fall somewhere in between the pale or deeply purple zones — the Maspeth, Middle Village and Ridgewood area dons a lav-

ender color for 51 to 58 percent. Forest Hills is the only ZIP code in the borough to boast a blue shade, meaning 25 to 44 percent of tests came back positive.

“This map tells us about testing behavior. It doesn’t tell us anything about how the virus is being transmitted,” said Commissioner of the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Dr. Oxiris Barbot, who explained that NYC has widespread community transmission — New Yorkers are more likely to contract COVID19 from one another than from travel.

Barbot stated that the map shows the variability in how providers choose who receives testing based on who most urgently needs it — individuals who are not getting better and who have chronic, underlying illnesses.

“I wouldn’t make anything more of the map other than it reflects testing behavior of providers,” she said. “It doesn’t tell us anything about community transmission because we know that there is widespread community transmission in all the five boroughs and what will help prevent or help slow the spread of this virus is again New YorkQ ers adhering to staying indoors.”

A map released by the Department of Health on March 27 reflects the percentage of patients testing positive for COVID-19 in New York City. The map dissects boroughs into ZIP codes and is updated at the NYC DOH end of each day.

Tennis center will be hospital US Open site to help alleviate pressure on healthcare

by David Russell

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Associate Editor

The Billie Jean King National Center in Flushing will be converted into a 350-bed hospital as the coronavirus crisis continues, Mayor de Blasio announced Tuesday.

“We’d all like to go back to the times when things are normal and people are out here playing tennis ... but we also know that this crisis will not go on forever,” he said.

The new hospital is expected to reach its capacity over the next three weeks, with the beds helping to relieve some of the need at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst.

“And every time I’ve heard any projection, ‘Oh, it’s going to be over soon, don’t worry about it,’ I always say, ‘No, that’s not the truth.’ And it’s a danger to tell people something’s going to be easier than it really will be,” de Blasio said.

The space is “exactly what we need,” said Eric Wei, vice president and chief quality officer for NYC Health + Hospitals.

“We need to look outside of the four walls of our hospitals, not just tents in front of our hospitals,” he said.

Wei said the Elmhurst hospital had intubated 42 patients in the previous four days, “way more than normal” for even a level 1

Danny Zausner, managing director of the US Tennis Association, speaks about the tennis center being converted into a hospital and the outlook of the tournament going according to schedule. NYC MAYOR’S OFFICE SCREENSHOT / YOUTUBE trauma center.

“I’ve practiced emergency medicine for a long time and I am seeing things that I could

never have imagined in terms of what this virus can do,” he said.

Wei said the Hospital for Special Surgery said it would take orthopedic-related EMS runs to Elmhurst. A call was being set up with City Hall and the FDNY on how to put it into place. Memorial Sloan Kettering in Manhattan has offered to take Elmhurst’s cancer patients and there is also capacity at Roosevelt Island Medical Center as the system makes space for COVID-19 patients.

The US Open is slated to begin with qualifying rounds on Aug. 24, with the main draw to start one week later.

“We still plan accordingly but it seems so trivial in light of what’s going on in the city and the state and the government right now,” said Danny Zausner, managing director of the US Tennis Association.

“We will continue to plan every single day as if the US Open is being hosted and hopefully we’ll be in a position in five months from today to see players actually practicing on the courts right behind us and playing in Arthur Ashe Stadium and all the other courts on the site,” he said.

De Blasio added, “From your lips to God’s ears. That would be a nice part of our Q comeback, wouldn’t it?”

Charity keeps police safer The NYPD and New York City Police Foundation on Tuesday announced the purchase of 150,000 masks, 150,000 gloves and 150,000 packets of hand sanitizer for police officers serving during the virus pandemic.

The supplies — which cost $500,000 and were supplied by the procurement and branding firm Winbrook — were purchased by the Police Foundation thanks to its donors and are expected to ship in the coming days. Sony is also immediately donating masks, on top of the 150,000 that were bought.

“This equipment will help keep our officers physically safe,” Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said in a prepared statement. “But beyond that, it sends them a clear message — that their unwavering commitment to protecting people is deeply appreciated.”

“When things are at their toughest, New Yorkers always step up to the challenge,” NYCPF Chairman Andrew Tisch said.

Even in unprecedented times, police “answer the call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” said Susan Birnbaum, the NYCPF president. “The NYPD’s commitment to the city and its residents is unwavering and Q it’s essential we support them.”

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How COVID-19 affects Social Security services

by Nilsa Henriquez • Applying for benefits.

We recognize that you may have questions • Setting up or changing your direct deposit. about how the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) • Changing your address, if you get benefits. will affect Social Security services.

• Getting proof of your benefits.

The first thing you should know is that we continue to pay Social Security and SSI benefits.

We strongly encourage you to try our conveAlso, beware of scammers who may try to trick nient and secure online services before calling you into thinking the pandemic is us. Please be aware that our call stopping your Social Security paywait times are much longer than ments. This threat is not true. isit ssa.gov normal. Save time and go online.

Don’t let the scammers fool you.

For more information, please We want to share other visit our COVID-19 page at www. important information about our services during ssa.gov/coronavirus. There you can find out this pandemic. what limited services we can provide by phone, To protect you and our employees, and help and important information about deadlines we stop the spread of COVID-19, we cannot accept are extending to ease the burden on you and visitors in our offices at this time. We provide medical providers during this pandemic. You many services online and limited, critical ser- can also subscribe to get an email or text mesvices via phone and email. During the pandem- sage notification when we update the page so ic, we are dedicating available staff to serve you stay informed. people in most critical need of our services.

Please share our COVID-19 page with your P Need help from Social Security? Many of friends and family. our services are available online at ssa.gov/onliNilsa Henriquez is a Social Security Public neservices, including: Affairs Specialist located in Queens.

V

Beware of calls about your Social Security account

by Nilsa Henriquez Social Security and its Office of the Inspector General continue to receive reports about fraudulent phone calls from people claiming to be Social Security employees.

These scammers try to trick people into providing personal information or money, and often threaten their victims with arrest. Don’t be fooled.

Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money. Real Social Security employees also will not: • Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended.

• Contact you to demand an immediate

payment.

• Ask you for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

• Require a specific means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card, or cash.

Nilsa Henriquez • Demand that you pay a Social Security debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe.

• Promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money.

If you receive a suspicious call or are unsure of the identity of someone who claims to be from Social Security: • Hang up.

• Do not give money or personal information.

• Report the scam to our Office of the P Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov.

Nilsa Henriquez is a Social Security Public Affairs Specialist located in Queens.

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PRIME TIMES : 60 PLUS

Multiple meds pose a risk for seniors With multiple doctors and specialists, a variety of dosage instructions and an alternating schedule of refills, managing a medication regimen can be daunting for anyone, especially seniors — but heeding a few hints can help.

A recent survey conducted by Home Instead, Inc., found that nearly one-fifth of seniors taking five or more prescription medications daily have experienced challenges, including keeping track of which medications they have taken and when.

This type of medication management uncertainty can lead to devastating consequences — from an adverse drug interaction to the need to move to a nursing home.

Newborn babies endure quite a bit in the first few days and months of their lives. Routine immunizations help newborns overcome these obstacles, and as newborns get older they receive vaccines to prevent measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis and chicken pox.

A common misconception suggests that vaccines are only for the young. But the protection provided by some childhood vaccines can wear off. In addition, some people may be at risk for certain vaccine-preventable diseases due to lifestyle, existing health conditions and age. As a result, it’s important for adults to make sure their vaccines are up-to-date. Those who are unsure of

This can be a difficult subject for families to discuss. In many cases, seniors have been managing this aspect of their lives on their own for many years and may not be fully aware of potential pitfalls.

To help families have this critical conversation, Dr. Jane Potter, a noted geriatrician, offers these tips and resources to help seniors stay safe and prevent a potentially life-threatening mishap.

• Have a family member accompany seniors to the doctor to ask questions and ensure that they understand all the medications they are prescribed and why.

• Create a list of current prescription medica-

tions, over-the-counter medications and any vitamins the senior is taking. Share this list with all medical professionals involved in the senior’s care and keep it updated with any changes.

• Make one doctor the gatekeeper to manage medications and discuss any potential problems with a medication, such as the inability to swallow a pill or a change in a senior’s appearance or demeanor.

• Use medication organizers, such as a pillbox or printed medication tracker. Consider ordering medications from a pharmacy that provides prepackaged doses to help people stay on track.

• Be on the lookout for any red flags, such as a full pill bottle, which may mean the medication is not being taken. If this does occur or you have any other concerns about the medication regi-

Recommended vaccines for adults their vaccine status should discuss it with their doctors. The following vaccines are recommended for people of various ages.

• Influenza: An annual flu shot is highly recommended. Doctors and health officials indicate that getting the flu vaccine is the single-most effective way to prevent seasonal flu or reduce the duration and severity of the illness.

• Tdap: This vaccine contains strains of tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). All three are implicated in serious illnesses or death,

according to WebMD. Just about every person, young and old, should receive the Tdap vaccine.

Every adult should get if if they did not receive it as an adolescent. Then a Td booster shot for tetanus and diptheria every 10 years is sufficient.

• Shingles: People who have been exposed to varicella (chicken pox) in their youth are at risk for shingles as they grow older. Nearly one out of three people in the United States will develop shingles in his or her lifetime. Adults who are 50 and older should get the vaccine, which is admin-

Managing multiple medications can be difficult PHOTO COURTESY NAPS but help is available. men, contact the doctor.

To learn more about these recommendations and resources or to view a free solutions guide, P visit LetsTalkAboutRx.com.

— NAPS istered in two doses.

• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23): This vaccine protects against serious pneumococcal diseases, including meningitis and bloodstream infections. It is recommended for all adults age 65 and older.

• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV 13): This protects against serious pneumococcal disease and pneumonia. Adults 65 years or older who have never received a dose of PCV13 should discuss PCV13 with their physicians.

Vaccines protect the very young, but many are P still vital to health in adulthood.

— Metro Creative Connection

NEW YORKERS:

STAY HOME TO STOP THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS

For the Times: latest news visit qchron.com Prime 60 Plus

New Yorkers working together and staying home can slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in New York City. When you go out for essential needs, work or to get fresh air, keep distance between yourself and others and take the following precautions.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS • Keep at least 6 feet between yourself and others.

• Wash your hands with soap and water often.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing.

• Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.

• Monitor your health more closely than usual for cold or flu symptoms.

IF YOU ARE SICK • Stay home.

• If you have a cough, shortness of breath, fever, sore throat and do not feel better after 3-4 days, consult with your doctor.

• If you need help getting medical care, call 311.

• NYC will provide care regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.

Text COVID to 692-692 for real-time updates or visit nyc.gov/coronavirus.

Call 311 to report harassment or discrimination. Call 888-NYC-WELL, text "WELL" to 65173 or chat online at nyc.gov/nycwell to connect with a counselor.

PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE • Stay home if you have lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer or a weakened immune system.

• Stay home and call, video chat or text with family or friends who have one of these conditions.

REDUCE OVERCROWDING • Stay home.

• Telecommute if possible.

If you do go out: • Stagger work hours away from peak travel times.

• Walk or bike.

• Do not gather in crowds.

Bill de Blasio Mayor Oxiris Barbot, MD Commissioner

*Messages and data rates may apply. Check your wireless provider plan for details.

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C M SQ page 21 Y K Page 21 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020 Page 22

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Scenes from a very quiet neighborhood Little life on the streets of Forest Hills as most people remain at home

by David Russell Associate Editor

The marquee of the Regal Midway in Forest Hills says “Temporarily Closed,” though that could apply to many buildings in the area.

With elected officials and doctors telling residents to stay home in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus, only to go out for quick exercise or buying groceries, the streets have cleared out.

Thursday It’s 3 p.m. on a sunny day but nobody is going in or out of Queens Metropolitan High School. There’s a long line at the Wendy’s drive-though, as people look for fast food.

Most of the businesses in the area are closed. Angie’s Market, a supermaket at the former Sizzler site at 100-27 Metropolitan Ave., is getting customers. But farther down, it’s very quiet. Cinemart Cinemas is closed as residents have to turn to television and streaming services.

On 71st Avenue right off Metropolitan, 71 Ave. Mart is open. It’s an essential business but the only one open on the block, and business has slowed down.

“It sucks,” a worker t old t he C h ron icle.

“Usually I’m used to having a lot of traffic, people walking by, customers enjoying the nice weather coming in for some ice cream, but none of that. People are literally scared at home.”

He added that another reason for slower business is that “A lot of people don’t have money in their pocket. Without money in your pocket, you can’t come to a grocery store that you normally shop in.”

Things are quiet on Austin Street as well,

with clusters of stores closed.

The T-Bone Diner, in operation since the 1930s with its great location right at the 71st Avenue train station, is empty.

“People, they stay home,” said George Plevrites. “They’re scared they’re going to catch something. You can’t blame them.”

Friday It’s almost 70 degrees on a Friday night and Austin Street is virtually silent. Instead of bars and restaurants being crowded and residents talking about the Mets Opening Day win against the Nationals from the day before, things are slow. A few eateries have a few customers taking out.

Martha’s County Bakery is the exception, with a line outside. A view from the Long Island Rail Road platform shows very few vehicles and a smattering of pedestrians.

Even on a beautiful night with rain in the forecast for the weekend, many residents are remaining indoors.

Movie theaters, among many other businesses, are closed as residents are told to stay home during the coronavirus crisis. Basketball rims have been removed from many parks at the order PHOTOS BY DAVID RUSSELL of Mayor de Blasio.

Saturday There isn’t much foot traffic on Yellowstone Boulevard on a drizzly m o r n i n g . D u n k i n’ Donuts has temporarily closed, though a sign tells customers that Dunkin’ is still runnin’ on Parsons Boulevard in Jamaica. There are two convenience stores open, though one of them will close Sunday night, with the hope of opening again in a few weeks.

Vitelio’s Supermarket is open, as is Mike’s Pizzeria and a liquor store. And there is a laundromat.

A worker told the Chronicle the store is getting customers from other laundromats that chose to close during the virus scare.

“In a sense it’s good we’re getting business

but the problem is it leads to crowding,” the worker told the Chronicle.

Lack of social distancing hasn’t been a problem yet though the worker said the store could put in a rule telling people to stay outside, adding that customers often leave while clothes are being cleaned anyway.

Customers have told the worker they’re burning through their credit cards, and it’s only been two weeks since the scare has changed people’s day-to-day lives. Others have expressed thankfulness, saying, “Now that the other places are closed, I have no other choice.

I’m glad you people are here.”

The business also provides home delivery, though drop-off methods have changed in select buildings, with some saying delivery people can’t go upstairs and that a customer instead has to come down. Others have temporary shelving in lobbies, with open racks to put deliveries on.

Sunday Forest Hills is not groovin’ on a Sunday afternoon.

Russell Sage Playground is open but nobody is there, a combination of being told to stay home, some light rain and the rims being removed for anybody who was thinking about playing basketball, as per an order of Mayor de Blasio.

Queens Boulevard is largely silent. The roadway is nearly empty, with only a few vehicles passing by. There is a line outside Walgreens at 104-25 Queens Blvd., with customers outside practicing social distancing. Fast Break is open and also has customers distanced from each other.

MacDonald Park is empty, with no one out for a walk or a jog. Nobody is playing chess or relaxing on a bench.

It’s been a quiet weekend and it’s not going Q to change for the foreseeable future.

A walk down Metropolitan Avenue sees a block full of stores closed. Queens Boulevard saw few vehicles on the road despite it being 1 p.m. on Sunday as residents are clearly taking the advice from elected officials and medical experts to practice social distancing and to stay inside when they can.

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April 2, 2020

Page 23 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020

ARTS, CULTURE C & LIVING

Online diversions near and far await families stuck at home

by Katherine Donlevy Despite Gov. Cuomo not knowing how long his executive order mandating New Yorkers mostly to stay inside their homes will last, there’s no reason to fear going stir-crazy or developing cabin fever or dying of boredom — there’s plenty of things to do while staying isolated that will keep you and your family’s bodies and minds engaged.

The worst part about the stay-at-home order is that it was initiated the day after the first day of spring, right before the warm weather was expected to roll around. Make sure you’re still getting fresh air by going on solitary strolls through nearby parks, or by bike-riding, both of which are still allowed under the “New York on PAUSE” executive order as long as you stay at least 6 feet away from other individuals.

Gardening can be a great way to bring the outdoors home, even if you live in a place that doesn’t include a greenspace, such as an apartment or condo. Many grocery stores carry potted plants that one can purchase along with other isolation supply stockpiles, while others may also carry flower and vegetable seeds so one can enjoy the process from the beginning.

The Queens County Farm Museum recently began digital programming that brings the farm to its visitors with content that ranges from plants and ecology to livestock videos and photos to city history, as well

as recipes, craft and cooking tutorials, how-to’s for being at home and story time for kids. Dubbed # Barncam, the programming can be accessed every day at 4 p.m. through the farm’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

Looking to go farther than the borough of Queens? The Cincinnati Zoo offers a livestream through its Facebook page every day at 3 p.m. that highlights the zoo’s animals as well as activities that can be done from home. Similarly, the Georgia Aquarium has set up a 24/7 Ocean Voyager livestream for several of its animals, such as the African penguins, piranhas, southern sea lions and beluga whales, which is available on its website, georgiaaquarium.org. continued on page 26

For the latest news visit qchron.com

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020 Page 24

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SPORTS

BEAT

No Noah this year

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

The optimism of Mets fans took a hit even before the first pitch of the delayed 2020 season when the team announced last Tuesday that hard-throwing righthander Noah Syndergaard would miss the 2020 season and perhaps even a chunk of 2021 to recover from Tommy John arm surgery.

The old cliche about never having too much starting pitching was proven true again.

Credit has to be given to Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen for signing two free agents during the past offseason, Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha, for the purpose of providing depth to the starting rotation.

For some reason, though, Van Wagenen remains reticent about removing the very dependable Seth Lugo from the bullpen and giving him a shot in the starting rotation. Lugo has made no secret that he covets any opportunity to start and that while he has been a good soldier he is not as happy as he’d like to be.

In many ways, Lugo is a victim of his own success as he was one of the only dependable arms that former Mets manager Mickey Callaway could rely on to get out of late-inning jams without damage. Callaway had to turn to Lugo because both his setup man and closer, Jeurys Familia and Edwin Diaz, respectively, were atrocious, while bullpen colleagues Justin Wil-

son and Robert Gsellman were both hurt for a good chunk of the 2019 season.

If Lugo doesn’t get a chance to start for the Mets then it’s a safe bet that he’ll bolt as a free agent after the 2022 season. No one will blame him if that happens.

Many observers have long felt that Syndergaard would eventually need career-saving Tommy John surgery because of his pitching motion, which creates serious arm stress. He missed most of the 2017 season because of both biceps tightness and a torn lat muscle in his right arm and apparently did not make the necessary adjustments after that to ensure durability.

Given what has been going on with COVID19 and the obvious need for hospital resources to be used strictly for that and other emergency purposes, my mouth dropped when I read the Mets press release a week ago that stated Syndergaard would have the surgery two days later at Manhattan’s Hospital for Special Surgery.

The Mets media relations department, aware of the bad optics, did not send out a press release about Syndergaard after that, but both ESPN and SNY reported that he did have the surgery in Florida as opposed to having it here.

My guess is that Hospital for Special Surgery executives were well aware of the media grief they would receive and nixed Syndergaard’s clearly elective surgery.

Q If that was the case, good for them.

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The public sale shall occur as an online auction via www.storagetreasures.com on 4/21/2020 at 12:00 pm.

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King Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1 Uncategorized (Abbr.)

5 Web address 8 Portent 12 Maleficence 13 Menagerie 14 Scruff 15 Reading material 17 Matures 18 World-weariness 19 Salty solutions 21 Fix, in a way 24 Raw rock 25 Knighted woman 28 Nuisance 30 Kennedy or Koppel 33 Carte lead-in 34 Newton or Stern 35 Anger 36 Gasoline stat 37 Dilbert’s workplace 38 Check bar codes 39 Born 41 Fourth dimension 43 Marketplaces of old 46 Got up 50 Story 51 Belgian surrealist Rene 54 Ear-related 55 Individual 56 List-ending abbr.

57 -- moss 58 Workout venue 59 Sources for sauces

DOWN 1 Viral Internet phenom 2 Terrible guy?

3 Autograph 4 Contract section 5 Submachine gun 6 Reagan or Howard 7 Leopold’s co-defendant 8 Broadcasting 9 Attractive 10 Duel tool 11 Loch -- Monster 16 Speed along

20 Campus mil. org.

22 Church section 23 Leavening agent 25 Water barrier 26 Jungfrau, for one 27 Mississippi bloom 29 Munro pseudonym 31 Historic period 32 Hideaway 34 Concept 38 Episodic TV show

40 Put up 42 Scratch 43 On 44 Fence opening 45 Urban pall 47 Maestro Klemperer 48 Go no farther 49 Congers, e.g.

52 Whatever number 53 Jewel

Answers on page 26

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

Bush 41’s man in DC grew up in FoHi Gardens

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

John Saleh Sununu was born in Boston Mass., on March 21, 1909 shortly after his father, Alexander, emigrated to the U.S. from the Greek Orthodox Community of Palestine.

Victoria Dada, born in the Greek Orthodox section of San Vincente, El Salvador, married John in Mexico on Sept. 24, 1938. U.S. Census records list him as a “merchant.”

They were blessed with a son they named John Henry Sununu on July 2, 1939. They set up home in an apartment building at 4 Dartmouth St. in Forest Hills Gardens. They continued to prosper, purchasing a gorgeous 2,364-square-foot home on a 4,426-squarefoot lot at 129 Continental Ave. in 1947 from original owner John F. Sinnott, an insurance underwriter, who built it in 1925.

John’s high school was The LaSalle Military Academy. His 1957 graduation yearbook photo read: “One of their finest leaders scholastically and militarily with a bright successful future.” Receiving his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from MIT in 1966, he taught at Tufts University from 1966 to 1982.

After entering politics, Sununu became

The childhood home of John Sununu at 129 Continental/71st Avenue in Forest Hills as it looks today. GOOGLE MAPS IMAGE; TWITTER PHOTO, INSET governor of New Hampshire in 1983. In 1989, he was named White House chief of staff to President George H.W. Bush. His downfall came when he pushed the president to appoint David Souter to the Supreme Court, calling him a “home run” for conservatives.

Souter instead sided with the liberal justices on the court. Reportedly at the president’s request, Sununu resigned in December 1991.

Today Sununu’s childhood home looks the same from the exterior as it did then and is Q valued at approximately $1.5 million.

C M SQ page 25 Y K

If you can’t come to NYSCI, it’ll come to you

by Michael Gannon editor

The fun and amazement of the New York Hall of Science doesn’t have to stop just because the building is temporarily closed.

And with new, free at-home science apps and activities available online at nysci.org/ home/nysci-home-resources, you don’t even have to tell your younger children that they’re actually learning.

“All activities exemplify the museum’s ‘Design, Make, Play’ approach to learning, which encourages open-ended exploration, imaginative learning, personal relevance, deep engagement and delight,”NYSCI states in a press release on the initiative.

The activities include those for all ages and those broken down into pre-K, elementary, middle and high school levels.

Calendar Special Notice The Queens Chronicle will not be publishing What’s Happening — our Community Calendar for the time being. We look forward to resuming publication as soon as possible.

Programs for younger children include age-appropriate math but also creative activities. Those clicking on the “Picture Dots” link will find activities for children ages 3 to 8 that incorporate dots, colors, shapes and music to create stories.

Older grades can partake in video games, activities incorporating physics, fractions, geometry and pattern recognition and even the “Transmissions: Gone Viral,” an interactive, web-based graphic novel that could have relevance today, as it was inspired by the 1999 West Nile virus epidemic.

There are tutorials for artistic and creative activities such as creating glue masks, book binding, acrylic paint marbling and a do-ityourself project in which children can create their own light sabers.

Many of the links come with guides for parents and instructors.

NYSCI’s Explainer TV channel, according to the Corona-based museum, includes videos of interviews with scientists, experiments and projects that can be conducted in the home, including but not limited to “how to Make Ice Cream in a Ziplock Bag” and creating bracelets from soda can tabs — though one thing not to try at home is the

Page 25 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020

boro

A young future scientist explores “Picture Dots,” an interactive STEM activity being offered for free online by the New York Hall of Science in Corona. PHOTO COURTESY NYSC “Awesome Fire Experiment,” which is, in fact, awesome and deals with physics, the laws of gases, atmospheric pressure and other scientific principles.

The learnXdesign programs include

hands-on activities to challenge children to create with common household items. They include building with duct tape, making inflatable sculptures and crafting flying Q machines.

CAN’T GET OUT TO PICK UP A COPY OF THE QUEENS CHRONICLE? STAY SAFE! QUEENS Queens’ Largest Weekly Community Newspaper Group ©2020 M1P • QCHR-077656

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Our digital edition is available every Thursday on our website, qchron.com.

Throughout the week go to qchron.com for daily updates on Queens news and the coronavirus.

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020 Page 26

C M SQ page 26 Y K

Who says staying home can’t be fun? continued from page 23 Various other institutions have set up virtual tours, including the Boston Children’s Museum, the British Museum, the Louvre and Yellowstone National Park, which allow the user to take his or her time scrolling through the site digitally. Even Mars isn’t out of reach — a tour of the planet’s surface, created by real photos captured by NASA’s Curiosity rover, is virtually accessible at accessmars.withgoogle.com.

Crossword Answers

Flushing Town Hall recently launched “Flushing Town Hall at Home!,” a video series that allows families to enjoy the organization’s programs without leaving the living room. Every Tuesday and Friday at 7 p.m., prior live performances ranging from concerts to acting will be live streamed through the organization’s Facebook profile.

Additionally, daily online activities are available as part of the “Global Arts for Global Kids at Home” series. Participants can enjoy videos of music and dance followed by an activity they can try at home, and are also encouraged to post short video clips of themselves trying the dance and activity.

Keeping kids active in a confined space sounds difficult, especially when their electronics are within constant reach, but GoNoodle manages to marry the two ideas.

The free app combines virtual games and classes that incorporate activity in its programs by asking players to avoid sharks by waving their hands, or by clearing weeds in a garden by jumping and sweeping their arms and more. GoNoodle is accessible for iOS, Android, AppleTV, Fire and Roku.

Actor Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf from “Frozen,” has been taking to Twitter to

Use this time in quarantine to bring the outdoors inside and practice your green thumb, or virtually visit a faraway destination, like the Georgia Aquarium, though livestreaming. On the cover: There are programs online that appeal to adults and chilQUEENS COUNTY FARM MUSEUM PHOTO / TWITTER, LEFT; GEORGIA AQUARIUM SCREENSHOT dren alike. livestream story time to his young fans.

Dubbed #GadBookClub and typically occurring at 7 p.m., the video series is a good chance to get kids interested in reading while giving parents their own break.

Lastly, pretend you aren’t inside the house and camp out in the living room for a

night. Choose to set up a tent if you have one, or create a pillow fort out of bedsheets and couch cushions, and hang up Christmas lights across the ceiling in place of night-sky stars. You can even enjoy s’mores, the traditional camp snack, by toasting marshmalQ lows above the stove burners.

Arts groups worry, and the rent is due Theaters, galleries and studios had to close; reopening still up in the air

by Michael Gannon

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Editor

Ask Richard Mazda how the coronavirus crisis has hit the arts community in Queens and he can give you a thorough, detailed analysis.

But ask the founder of The Secret Theatre in Long Island City about the most pressing problem staring theaters, studios and artists in the face, and he is succinct.

“Today is the 31st of March,” Mazda said in a telephone interview. “Tomorrow, everybody’s rent is due.”

Mazda said he and more than 30 others, mostly from the performing arts community, discussed just how they might be able to deal with rent in the coming months in a pair of conference calls last week.

“We’re entering uncharted territory,” he said.

He said, for example, that while the rent is in fact due, the businesses had no choice but to close their doors under orders from Gov. Cuomo. Even tweaks to unemployment compensation and new emergency provisions in the recently passed federal bailout may not be enough for individuals in the arts.

“If you had a contract to perform in a Broadway show and it was canceled, you can show loss of income,” Mazda said. “If you were going to work off of Broadway for a sti-

The Secret Theatre in Long Island City and other arts organizations are worried about how they FILE PHOTO BY STEVE MALECKI will pay the rent, shut down under orders from the state. pend — say $500 — and the show is canceled, you’re out that money and you may not be able to prove that. Not everyone gets a W-2 form; some are [Form] 1099 workers. Some are under the table.”

And he said in terms of small theater companies, the Broadway community, just across the East River, has not generally been supportive of its equivalent of professional base-

ball’s minor leagues, something Mazda believes is short-sighted.

“I don’t know of a lot of people who just parachute down into a Broadway career.”

He also said supporting artists and the arts in time of need makes economic sense, given the direct ripple that arts patrons have on surrounding restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques and other businesses and some of

the skilled trades.

He pointed the Chronicle to a 2019 study from the National Endowment of the Arts which states that “the value-added to [the U.S.] gross domestic product by arts and cultural production is nearly five times greater than that of the agricultural sector” in 2016.

While Cuomo’s actions suspend residential and commercial evictions for 90 days due to inability to pay rent, state Sen. Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria) has introduced a bill that would both delay and forgive some commercial and small business rents that are lost to the outbreak.

It includes mortgage forgiveness provisions for some of the affected property landlords.

State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) is listed as a co-sponsor, and there is a companion bill in the Assembly.

Gianaris argues that Cuomo’s order still allows back rent to accrue and requires it to be paid.

“Thousands, if not millions, of New Yorkers are on the financial brink,” Gianaris said in a press release. “We often say many New Yorkers are just a paycheck away from poverty. The time has come where the paychecks have stopped coming. We need to take urgent and critical action now to suspend and forgive rents for people who are in need of assistance Q during the pandemic.”

C M SQ page 27 Y K

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Legal Notices 119-16

LIBERTY

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LLC,

Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/19/2020. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 119-16 Liberty Ave, Jamaica, NY 11419. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

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Page 29 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020 Page 30

C M SQ page 30 Y K SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Index No.: 24950/2011 Borough: Queens Block: 11014 Lot: 45, Action to Foreclose Mortgage on Property Situated in QUEENS County, CIT Bank, N.A. f/k/a OneWest Bank N.A. f/k/a OneWest Bank, FSB, Plaintiffs -against- Robyn Turner as Heir and Distributee of the Estate of Bennye Everett Turner; Denise Turner a/k/a Ruby Denise Turner as Heir and Distributee of the Estate of Bennye Everett Turner; New York State Department of Taxation and Finance; United States of America (Eastern District); Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; New York City Environmental Control Board; New York City Parking Violations Bureau; New York City Transit Adjudication Bureau; RAB Performance Recoveries LLC; Unknown Heirs and Distributees of the Estate of Bennye Everett Turner; and “JOHN DOE 1 to JOHN DOE 25”, said names being fictitious, the persons or parties intended being the persons, parties, corporations or entities, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the mortgaged premises described in the complaint, Defendants.

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TO THE ABOVE DEFENDANTS: 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 served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiff’s attorneys within twenty (20) days after the service of the Summons exclusive of the day of service or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. In case of your failure to appear, or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in this Complaint. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING 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: New York, New York, March 13, 2020, BRONSTER, LLP, Attorneys for Plaintiff, By: Adam P. Briskin, Esq., 156 West 56th Street, Suite 1801, New York, NY 10019, 212-558-9300

14-16 BURMA MEMBER LLC. Arts of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/23/20.

Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 28-12 Steinway Street, Astoria, NY 11103. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

85 Ralph Ave PPS, LLC Filed 4/25/14 Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 38-50 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361. Purpose: all lawful

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS INDEX NO. 711377/2019 Plaintiff designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Mortgaged Premises: 3312 111TH STREET, CORONA, NY 11368, Block: 1725 Lot: 16 U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET INVESTMENT LOAN TRUST MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2003-BC11, Plaintiff -against- GWENDOLYN WILLIAMS; SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE(S) OF THE WILLIAMS FAMILY TRUST if living, and if she/he/they 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 the following designation, namely: the 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; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the Subject Property described in the Complaint, Defendants. To the above named Defendants 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 served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York) in the event the United States of America is made a party defendant, the time to answer for the said United States of America shall not expire until (60) days after service of the Summons; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $260,000.00 and interest, recorded on November 18, 2003, at Instrument number CRFN 2003000460276, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York, covering premises known as 3312 111TH STREET CORONA, NY 11368. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. QUEENS County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING 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 the mortgage company will not stop the 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: January 2, 2020 RAS BORISKIN, LLC Attorney for Plaintiff BY:GLENN W. CAULFIELD, ESQ., 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, NY 11590, 516-280-7675

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Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Notice of Formation of APAC entities LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/23/2019.

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: APAC ENTITIES LLC, 11447 TAIPEI CT, COLLEGE POINT, NY 11356.

Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF FORMATION of Elite Video and Sound LLC. Arts of Org filed with SSNY on 2/18/2020.

Queens County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy to Elite Video and Sound LLC, 30-70 44th St., Apt. 2L, Astoria, NY 11103.

Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice of Formation of Camagu Creations LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/21/2019. 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: ASHLEY ST JULES, 115-92 227TH STREET, CAMBRIA HEIGHTS, NY 11411. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

GKSK Property LLC filed

Notice of Formation of Dr Kafui Kouakou Consulting LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/31/2019. 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: DR. KAFUI KOUAKOU, 18444 GRAND CENTRAL PKWY, JAMAICA, NY 11432.

Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of KIDS DELI LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/18/20. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: 150-39 14th Ave., Whitestone, NY 11357. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

w/ SSNY on 2/5/20. Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: c/o Grace Kim, 2185 Lemoine Ave., Unit 1P, Fort Lee, NJ 07024. Purpose: any lawful.

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Real Estate 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.

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C M SQ page 31 Y K

City commissioner sees ‘promising things’ in federal relief package

by Michael Gannon Editor

Gregg Bishop, commissioner of the city’s Department of Small Business Services, took questions from small business owners in Southeast Queens regarding what the city, state and federal governments can and soon may be able to do as they try to survive the COVID-19 shutdown.

Bishop spoke with members of the business community and elected officials for more than 45 minutes on March 26, one day after the U.S. Senate passed the $2.2 trillion bailout package and one day before the House of Representatives did. President Trump signed the legislation into law later that day.

The commissioner gave frank answers in a conference call set up by the office of Cou ncilman Donovan R ichards (D-Laurelton).

The only aspect that created a few glitches was the call’s popularity — Richards said nearly 200 people joined in.

“We weren’t expecting this many people,” the councilman said.

Bishop said his office, through its website, will continue to be an information source, having set up entire pages on his department’s website, nyc.gov/site/sbs/index.page, for business owners’ questions related to

City Small Business Services Commissioner Gregg Bishop took questions from small business owners last week. PHOTO COURTESY NYC SBS COVID-19 issues.

He told callers that he wants the SBS website to be a clearinghouse for information on loans, grants and programs as quickly as information comes out of the city, state and federal governments in the coming months.

Bishop said he saw some hopeful signs in the federal relief package. He also touted two

programs recently started by his office.

The Small Business Continuity loan fund is for operations with 99 employees or fewer that have been in business for at least six months and can demonstrate sales decreases of at least 25 percent related to the outbreak.

The NYC Employee Retention Grant program is geared to much smaller businesses, with four or fewer employees.

“That can cover up to 40 percent of your payroll costs up to $27,000,” Bishop said.

The commissioner elaborated on a point made earlier in the call by state Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-South Ozone Park) about some businesses for which loans won’t work.

“A lot of businesses are overleveraged and more loans may not be the answer,” he said.

Bishop said the pre-application and application forms are available on his department’s web page, as all of the city’s Business Solutions Centers are closed for the time being.

“Our entire staff is working remotely now,” he explained.

One businesswoman cited a news report on how many already have begun the application process.

“What if that fund runs out?” she asked.

Bishop acknowledged the concern.

“These programs were created in a different world,” he conceded, saying that now he

is looking at both programs to serve as a bridge for city businesses until more details begin to emerge out of Washington, DC. One small manufacturer said her business bought most of its materials from China.

While it was not exactly the topic of the forum, Bishop said the country and business in general might conceivably recalibrate the idea of being so reliant on one nation for manufacturing.

While the relief bill passed in the Republican-led Senate passed by vote of 96-0, it passed the House in a voice vote.

Bishop said he did see things in the Senate version that he liked which survived House passage. Those including some business loans that under certain criteria, could come with delayed payments and even partial forgiveness.

While Gov. Cuomo decried the bill for not providing the state government with enough funding lawmakers disagreed.

“The Bill is not perfect, but it is essential that we act now,” U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn), said last Friday after the House vote. She said it will bring more than $40 billion into the state, “not just for the state and city but directly to our hospitals and healthcare workers and small businesses, particularly Q for employee retention.”

Page 31 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 2, 2020

Small biz chief has hopes with bailout

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C M SQ page 32 Y K

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