Queens Chronicle South Edition 12-21-23

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. XLVI

NO. 51

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2023

QCHRON.COM

CIVIC DIALOGUE

SAFER STREETS

GHOST STORIES

Borough prez hosts roundtable

Conduit project finally complete

‘A Christmas Carol’ — and a spinoff — shine on stage

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PAGE 4

SEE qboro, PAGE 27

POWER HOUR Educators and parents debate mayoral control

PHOTO, RIGHT, BY PETER C. MASTROSIMONE / FILE

PAGE 6

Mayoral control, the policy that gives the chief executive power over city schools, ols is set to expire in June 2024 and will be subject to renewal renewal. The State Education Department conducted a hearing in Jamaica Monday, at which members of the public gave testimony on their opinions on the policy, with some openly critiquing Mayor Adams’ handling of the education system.

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023 Page 2

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BP forum hits on hate crimes, Israel-Hamas

by Naeisha Rose

F

Associate Editor

rom the World’s Borough to the Middle East, very little was left off-topic at a virtual media roundtable held by Borough President Donovan Richards on Monday.

Nearly two weeks after his third anniversary representing Queens, Richards shared during the Dec. 18 forum how he has allocated more than $90 million in capital funds in 2023.

Schools received over $31 million, parks received $20 million, $14.4 went toward healthcare institutions and nearly $7.5 million were allotted to libraries and cultural centers.

“This year we are focusing in our high schools in particular where we have seen pure disinvestment,” Richards said. “I walked into August Martin High School and their auditorium, their lunchroom, their gymnasium and the technology they were using was just not sufficient. We want to make sure schools like that were prioritized this year.”

The borough president said an announcement will be made at a later time relating how the money will be distributed for educational institutions.

The war in the Middle East was part of the discussion because it sparked protests at Hillcrest High School in Jamaica Hills last month and because of the rise of hate crimes.

“Hillcrest High School — most of you heard of the incident,” Richards said, referring to when videos surfaced of hundreds of students at a pro-Palestine riot in the school’s hallways

Education, development at forefront after they learned a health ber, who was ousted after teacher attended a pro-Israel controversy surrounding her rally based on photos from pro-Palestine reposts on her Facebook page. The incisocial media, with someone dent resulted in 25 law of a Jewish background in a enforcement officers arriving school region that is largely at the educational institution.

Jewish but hasn’t had some“We are working with them one from that background in internally, and we are going some time, the borough presito have more to say on some dent said the role will be strategies that need to happen filled based on vetting, candiacross all school bodies.” dates’ experience in the eduThe borough president Borough President Donovan cation realm and whether or hopes for school forums Richards at a media roundtable. not they have a child in the where students can learn and BP OFFICE SCREENSHOT / YOUTUBE public school system. have discussions about the “We are not going to select Middle East, but said the city Department of somebody based on race or religion,” Richards Education is stymying that. said. “The chancellor also has a myriad of rules “I know the chancellor is looking to correct that we have to follow as well ... We do look to it,” Richards said. “But there needs to be see if there is anything that we identify that healthy dialogue within the school bodies so would be problematic. In the case of the young that we don’t see kids acting out of ignorance lady, there was nothing on her social media to on their campuses ... We need to do a lot more make us question who she was. A lot of times education.” we also get recommendations. We also try to In Queens North precincts, there was a 22 give new voices the opportunity to sit on a lot percent increase in hate crimes year-to-date. In of the appointments that we make ... We are Queens South, there was a 65 percent increase looking to make sure there is representation in hate crimes, according to statistics from the everywhere, but we are also cognizant that we NYPD. are selecting the best candidate.”

When asked by the Chronicle about replacWhile the borough president was disaping a Community Education Council 28 mempointed by the lack of discourse surrounding

education and talks on the war in the Middle East at schools, he did want to emphasize veteran housing at Creedmoor in Queens Village, because he believes more work needs to be done in providing homes to those who fought for the United States.

Of the 2,873 housing units proposed on the approximately 58 acres of underutilized space on the south campus of the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, 165 were designated for veterans.

Last week, the Chronicle spoke with members from some of the borough’s civic groups, and many did not believe the number of units allocated for veterans was significant enough; they also felt transportation and other infrastructure issues were not quite addressed.

When asked by the Chronicle about the lack of transportation at Creedmoor and its sewer system, the borough president said he is in talks with the MTA about its bus route redesign plans in hopes that it would direct as many people as possible toward the Long Island Rail Road.

People who drive into Manhattan from Eastern Queens are spending an hour and a half on the road, the borough president said.

“The idea is to make sure that the bus redesign plan connects here ... with the City Ticket ... it’s a discounted ride,” Richards said. “In a perfect world, we would build out the subway system further into Eastern Queens. God willing it will be done in somebody’s lifetime, but it probably won’t be done continued on page 16

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Victory Field lights, pot bring strife to CB 9 Team petitions for cause, and board shoots down 12 weed license apps

by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

A battle over the state of lighting at Woodhaven’s Victory Field was the theme of the public forum at last Wednesday’s Community Board 9 monthly meeting.

The first resident to speak told the board he heard about a proposal to get stadium lights installed at Victory Field in Forest Park, which he strongly disagreed with. He said the lights would be “unbearable” at night to nearby residents, and the noise would be a nuisance. He also suggested the lights would attract crime.

The team petitioning for the lights is Formativas Barcelona BC-NYC, led by Executive Director Pablo Rubio.

“We have been practicing at Victory Field over the last six or seven years, until there was a call made by the Parks and Recreation Department,” he said. He told the board that the agency asked him to remove the two light towers his group rented to play at night, or risk losing their permits.

Rubio then started an online petition in favor of both temporary and permanent lighting at the site.

“We collected — in less than three weeks — 800 signatures,” Rubio told the board, with a printout of the petition on hand. Rubio argued that the lights would lessen crime in the immediate area, and shared the benefits

A large portion of Community Board 9’s December meeting was spent addressing pot shop license applications, with applicants pleading their case to the group. PHOTO BY KRISTEN GUGLIELMO of active play for children, lamenting that due to the lack of lights, outdoor time is limited.

Members of the youth soccer team were in attendance, alongside some parents, all of whom stood up for Rubio and applauded.

At one point, the resident against the lights and Rubio started speaking over each other while the latter had the microphone, causing the team to join in and jeer. Chairperson Sherry Algredo had to call order to the group.

Following Rubio’s allotted two minutes, various members of the team and their parents took turns at the microphone, pleading

their case to the board. Some speakers even got overwhelmed with emotions and moved to tears. The team stood up in support of every speaker on their side.

Algredo asked a parent if she had sent an email to the board about the matter, and the parent angrily responded, “Yes, I addressed this three years ago. We’ve been addressing this since then. ... And nothing has changed since three years, other than we’ve been threatened to lose the permits.”

One child stood up in front of the board and gently said, “Please put the lights back so

we can go back home.”

Algredo told the team the board will set a meeting to discuss the issue further.

In other board news, the Ad Hoc Cannabis Committee, led by Regina Santoro, recommended against all 12 cannabis license applications it received, despite multiple applicants in attendance pleading their case, some bringing lawyers to speak for them.

“It’s just not the time for us,” Santoro said, citing the surplus of illegal smoke shops and lack of guidance from the Office of Cannabis Management as reasons for the negative reviews. “... We cannot vote on it because we are not prepared.”

Every board member voted with the decisions of the committee except for Andrew Taranto, who abstained from each vote.

While community boards can make recommendations on applications, they do not have final say in the matter.

Additionally, the board voted against the City of Yes for Economic Development proposal, which would have removed restrictions on where businesses could set up shop and alter zoning rules.

At the meeting’s end, Algredo thanked the board for a successful year and for their support following her “controversial” election.

“I just want to say thank you all, because doing this is not easy,” the chair said. The Q evening culminated in a holiday social.

Conduit project has finally concluded

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Long-awaited safety upgrades come to dangerous area around 79th Street

The safety project at North and South Conduit avenues is officially complete, the city Department of Transportation announced Thursday.

by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

After years of safety concerns and two fatalities since 2018, including the death of Ozone Park resident Kimberly Ortega, 24, in 2021, the community can finally breathe easier as the safety project on North and South Conduit avenues is now complete.

The Depar t ment of Transpor t ation installed a new concrete pedestrian walkway

and traffic signals on both sides of the Conduit at 79th Street. The newly paved walkway enhances safety and accessibility, formalizing a “desire line” worn into the grass across the wide median between North and South Conduit avenues.

The project builds on the agency’s prior safety efforts along the Conduit, a major arterial street that connects Atlantic Avenue and Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn to the Belt

Parkway and JFK Airport.

DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the project’s completion in a Dec. 14 press release.

“Every New Yorker deserves to be able to cross the streets outside their homes safely — and this project helps Ozone Park residents do just that,” said Rodriguez. “The new sidewalks and signals will help save the lives of those who are already crossing the Conduit at

DOT PHOTOS

this location. We thank the area’s elected officials and community partners for their support of this important safety enhancement, especially the Ozone Park Block Association, the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic Association, the Ozone Tudor Civic, the Linden Center Shopping Mall, and Our World Neighborhood Charter School.”

With the Conduit deemed a Vision Zero continued on page 24

C M SQ page 5 Y K Page 5 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023

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Mayoral control comes under fire at hearing

Concerned Queens parents, students and teachers call for changes to policy

by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

“At the end of the day, what we need is a system that is responsive to communities, educators, administrators and, most importantly, our students.”

The words of Thomas Sheppard, the Bronx Community Education Council presidents’ member, were the main theme of the evening at Thomas Edison High School in Jamaica on Monday, where the state Education Department conducted its hearing on mayoral control.

The policy, set to expire in June 2024, enables the chief executive to appoint the city schools chancellor and a majority of the members of the Panel for Educational Policy, which oversees the city Department of Education. The SED is in the process of conducting a “comprehensive review and assessment” of the policy, holding hearings at which the public is invited to testify.

Queens parents, educators and even students attended the event to either praise or criticize the mayoral control policy.

The first at the microphone was none other than Schools Chancellor David Banks, reading from a prepared statement.

“While no system is perfect, I can attest that the work my team and I have done over the past two years would not have been possi-

understand, has a background of being a police [officer], meaning that he doesn’t have any prior experience in this field.”

The student lamented the budget cuts to schools, and said he questions Adams’ ability due to “lack of knowledge and lack of care” for the system.

Cardozo High School special education social studies teacher and UFT delegate Travis Malekpour, at his turn to speak, addressed Banks’ earlier words.

“First, I want to correct Chancellor Banks.

We do not have mayoral accountability, just mayoral control, reminiscent more of monarchy than democracy. If there were accountability, he would not have ran out of the room after testifying. Words and actions matter.”

Malekpour recalled how Banks attended a ribbon cutting for Cardozo’s new annex back in September. Later that month, the building flooded and Malekpour got into a car accident on the way home from work due to the Schools Chancellor David Banks was one of many speakers testifying at the Queens mayoral poor conditions caused by a storm.

“When Mayor Adams overlooked a stateSED LIVESTREAM SCREENSHOT control hearing at Thomas Edison High School in Jamaica. wide emergency, I don’t see that as accountble without our current governance structure. saying that without it, “the progress we are ability,” he said.

At a PEP meeting on Zoom, Malekpour Mayoral accountability empowers us to act making will grind to a halt.” quickly and decisively, whether the crisis is a His examples of the policy’s success said he “learned a bunch of people with their pandemic or the fact that about half our stu- included the distribution of one million Covid cameras off on Zoom say yes to whatever dents don’t read at grade level.” tests during January 2022’s Omicron surge the mayor wants, and no for whatever they Banks went on to praise mayoral control, and the NYC Reads program, which he said do not want. I realized right then and there “will change the trajectory of hundreds of that I had witnessed what political puppeteering looked like.” thousands of kids.”

He closed with the statement, “I do not He said the prior system was “dysfunctional, rife with division, indecision and political choose anything reminiscent of those who ruled by divine right. I choose community. I posturing.”

“Instead of accountability and action, we choose democracy. Those in favor, say ‘aye.’”

Plenty of audience members responded had finger-pointing and bureaucratic paralysis, all to the detriment of our kids,” Banks with an affirmative “Aye.” Sheppard, from the Bronx, was one of the said.

State. Sen Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) final speakers of the evening.

“I’ve heard people say this ain’t about Eric also testified, bringing light to both sides.

“We need to amend mayoral control and Adams,” he said, “But for me, it is exactly fix it. ... We have to have some person be about Eric Adams.”

He recalled sending a text message to both responsible for the system, but we need to have transparency and accountability — and the mayor and chancellor on Jan. 1, 2022, congratulating them and informing them of we must have both.”

Smitha Milich, a member of the Alliance parent concerns regarding schools reopening for Quality Education and self-proclaimed on Jan. 3.

The chancellor, according to Sheppard, product of the NYC public school system, said they would set up criticized the current a Zoom call the folstructure. lowing day. Sheppard “ Si nc e m ayor a l do not choose anything said he sat around c o nt r ol h a s b e e n enacted ... every mayreminiscent of those who “like a fool waiting for that call.” or’s leadership style ruled by divine right.”

When he followed has continuously shut up w it h t he duo, out the voices of par— Travis Malekpour, educator release. Over the past few years, the Sheppard said the ents, students, teachamount of constituent visits and cases response he received ers and taxpayers,” increased, her office said, and a larger Milich said, adding that many parent leaders was, “Don’t worry about it. We got it.” space was needed.

“And then what? ” Sheppard said. “I on CECs have expressed frustration in the Attendees at the ceremony included parent councils’ inability to make meaningful watched 150,000 people get sick in three Community Board 10 Chair Betty Braton, impacts on the system due to lack of legal weeks.” retired CB 6 District Manager Frank GullusThe SED is accepting written electronic authority, with the exception of school cio, and Addabbo himself, who presented testimony through Jan. 31. The next in-person zoning.

Pheffer Amato with a key to her new office, Even some students got in on the action. A hearing will be held in Brooklyn on Jan. 11. symbolically transferring the space to her.

For more information on future mayoral junior at Thomas Edison High School took The office will officially open on Jan. 2. the microphone to say, “From my view, I control hearings in other boroughs or to view — Kristen Guglielmo believe that the right people should receive the recording of the Queens hearing, visit Q the right jobs. Mayor Adams, from what I nysed.gov.

PHOTO COURTESY NYS ASSEMBLY

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Pheffer Amato gets new digs Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato unveiled her relocated second office in a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Sunday.

The office, which was previously located on Cross Bay Boulevard, was moved to 15953 102 St. in Howard Beach — the site of state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr.’s former office.

“The people of Howard Beach, Hamilton Beach, Lindenwood and Ozone Park deserve the absolute best, and that’s what my office is continuing to offer them in our new space,” said Pheffer Amato in a press

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A winter wonderland of toys in Ozone Park

Community Board 9’s giveaway made possible by neighborhood collaboration

by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor

“What better way to serve the community than doing a toy distribution?” said Community Board 9 Chairperson Sherry Algredo.

The Winter Wonderland toy giveaway saw families lining up at Queens Community House’s Beacon Community Center in Ozone Park last Saturday for treats, fun and, of course, plenty of toys.

Board Chairperson Sherry Algredo told the Chronicle the plan for the giveaway was a joint effort between herself and the group’s Education Committee co-chair, Alexandria Sumpter-Delves.

The two reached out to friends in the community to organize and make it happen. Sumpter-Delves, who works with Queens Community House, secured the space at the Beacon Center, part of QCH, at MS 210 in Ozone Park.

Toys were first-come, first-served with no registration needed. Upon entrance, kids were given a bag to fill with various goodies.

Councilmembers Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills) and Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) and officers from the NYPD 102nd Precinct all supported the cause, donating both resources and time.

Other donors included the Jamaica Rotary Club, EmblemHealth, which donated 50 toys, and the River Fund, which gave 400 apples,

Community Board 9’s Winter Wonderland toy giveaway was a success, with over 400 families PHOTO COURTESY SHERRY ALGREDO receiving toys and other goodies. juice boxes, chips and water.

Richmond Hill’s Caribbean Cabana restaurant created a game with its staff — owners Angela Singh and Pamela Ramsewack agreed to match donations by their employees, and in total they all donated 116 toys.

Members of CB 9 also collaborated to gather donations and materials.

The giveaway even had a mascot in the form of a snowman, donated by the “From Our Hearts” radio show hosts Ken Rampersaud and Radhika Olarte.

“Everybody celebrates winter,” Algredo said of the character choice. “We wanted to be accommodating to the community that we serve, which is very diverse.”

The chair said she and Sumpter-Delves even relied on family to help.

“I had my husband, David, run all over, shopping and dropping off boxes,” she said, adding that Sumpter-Delves’ family was also heavily involved, with her son as the snowman mascot. “We made it a family affair.”

Other volunteers included Zoila Bofill, Seth Welins, Marilyn Custodio, Jeiry Reyes and Deyla Gamarra.

By the two-hour mark, families were having to be turned away due to lack of resources, but Algredo said a neighboring toy giveaway by Romeo Hitlall of the Richmond Hill South Ozone Park Lions Club was willing to have people directed its way.

“I feel so, so proud of this community,” said Algredo.

A parent sent her a photo of her child sculpting with Play Doh received at the giveaway.

“That’s what it’s all about,” she said.

At CB 9’s December meeting, SumpterDelves said, “We did a wonderful toy drive in which 447 young people went home with a holiday gift. About 200 parents were very happy. ... We look forward to doubling that in Q the future.”

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Page 9 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023 Page 10

C M SQ page 10 Y K

P Creedmoor plan needs reworking EDITORIAL

D

ubbing area residents as stakeholders and promising you’ll work with them and take their views seriously doesn’t mean all that much when you go ahead and just do what you were going to do anyway.

That seems to be what happened with the Empire State Development Corp. and the 14 Eastern Queens civic associations that have banded together over plans to redevelop 58 acres of the Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital campus in Queens Village. Following the recent release of the state’s plan, the civics put out a joint press release last week lamenting the planned housing density, lack of enough parking, expected strain on area roadways, overtaxing of the sewer system, and so on.

The usual, you say — that’s what civics always claim!

Correct. And in this case, they’re absolutely right. We’re talking about some of the most active, and most knowledgeable, community preservationist types in Queens.

Aside from the main Creedmoor building and North Shore Towers and Country Club right at the very edge of Queens, most buildings in the area are quite low-slung.

The civics want to keep it that way, and we see no reason to argue. They want housing no higher than three stories,

AGE

but the ESD wants some as high as eight stories. The agency would put 2,873 units in 110 buildings on those 58 acres. Compare that to Glen Oaks Village, not far away, which has 2,904 apartments in 134 two-story buildings on 110 acres. The Creedmoor project would be twice as dense.

The suburban aesthetic of Eastern Queens is only buttressed by its relative lack of public transportation. There’s no subway, just the Long Island Rail Road and some buses.

Some complain; many want it to stay that way. Neither public transit nor the roadways could easily absorb as many new residents as the state envisions at Creedmoor.

And the ESD would not put nearly enough parking around the buildings. Only 35 percent of rental units would have reserved parking. But people in Eastern Queens drive.

Who will be moving in is also a concern. Thirty-five percent of rental units would be supportive housing, which is for people who are homeless and have at least one “disabling condition,” such as mental illness or drug addiction.

Yes, the state should help house people in such situations, but 35 percent? What kind of neighborhood will this be?

We hope the state will go back to the drawing board. If not, our civic friends are no strangers to the courtroom.

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Holidays as poetry Dear Editor: Holidays remind me of hot chocolate, of forgiving people, or hot air balloons, of rainbows, of ice. Of deciding to smile in the rain, in storms of words. In deciding to create a song out of nothing, words still like starlight. Being born again, in joy, in hope, in peace in silence like kites soaring across worlds. Words.

And if you don’t like my words, I know you’ll be unhappy anyway even if I don’t sing.

So I sing. Loud. Across languages across faces across Christmas across coal.

Born again, like sparrows calling in the night.

Eva Tortora Staten Island

Keep low-density zoning Dear Editor: Re “CB 11 votes down mayor’s City of Yes,” Dec. 7, multiple editions: Community Board 11 voted against the flawed City of Yes plan. That vote against the City of Yes plan is a positive step in preserving one- and two-family zoning as we know it.

The preservation of one- and two-family zoned neighborhoods within NYC is of the most importance. What is disturbing in the report are Councilwoman Linda Lee’s statements: “hope for the best and prepare for the © Copyright 2023 by MARK I PUBLICATIONS, INC. All rights reserved.

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Veto anti-cop bills

A

lways looking to tie up cops with more paperwork, a majority of the City Council voted on Wednesday to force police to fill out reports for some of the most benign interactions with people. The reason, as was made clear during this week’s hearing on the bill, is because, its advocates believe, police approach Blacks and other minorities more often than they should.

Luckily for the safety of our city, the bill will not require officers to fill out a form every time someone asks for directions or a photo. But it will every time cops ask civilians which way they saw a suspect run or whether they have seen the missing person in a given photo.

How can you expect the police to do their jobs tied down in such a manner? We suspect the answer is you don’t — that the goal is to make things tougher for the police.

Another bill passed Wednesday would prevent correction officers from putting jail inmates in solitary confinement. That means they’ll be harder to control, and it could be that more will die — they’re often put there so their enemies can’t get to them. COs need that option.

Mayor Adams opposes both bills. He should veto them.

E DITOR

worst” and “We need to advocate, we need to raise our voices, and also on top of that we need to negotiate.”

We should not be hoping, we should be positive, be working, advocating for our neighborhoods. As for negotiating, there should be no negotiating for our one- and two-family zoning.

That zoning is something our communities strived long and hard for and it should not be changed. It is the reason people sacrificed and worked long and hard to purchase homes in those neighborhoods. The one- and two-family neighborhoods of NYC are gems of the city and should be preserved and protected. We should put our elected representatives on notice that any change to our one- and two-family zoning is totally unacceptable and that they are expected to do everything in their power to protect it, not negotiate it away.

Joe Lubomski Bayside Hills The writer is zoning chair of the Bayside Hills Civic Association.

Disagree? Then you’re wrong!

Dear Editor: Remember small talk? You’d chat easily with anyone about the weather and by the end, you’d agree that it was too hot/cold/rainy, whatever.

You’d walk away smiling, feeling good about connecting with someone over practically nothing. Those days are gone.

Now we tread lightly when someone talks to us. We’re afraid of saying the wrong thing and triggering a tirade on wars, personalities or politics. Why are so many people yelling? Well, they’re angry and upset about something and they want you to know all about it. Unfortunately, they often don’t know what they’re talking about though they sure think they do. They are convinced they have all the answers and are equally sure you have none.

Recently I saw a piece of graffiti warning, “Don’t believe everything you think.”

Good advice. I taught communication courses and worked in television. Two things I

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Oakland Lake needs relief Dear Editor: Oakland Lake in Oakland Gardens-Bayside is an idyllic, beautiful park admired by myriad New Yorkers every day in all seasons of the year. The surrounding forest is welcoming in its picturesque facade. The three-fifths-of-amile paved path around the lake is pleasing to amble by foot. The lake itself shimmers in its serenity with amphibian life. The birds call this place their home. The workers and volunteers diligently maintain the splendor of this site.

And yet in all of Oakland Lake’s glory, there are no comfort stations and no drinking-water fountains. Why? I graciously request that our local leaders, as well as the general public in Queens, address this issue and respond. Oakland Lake is one of the truest Queens venues that is full of harmony and joy!

David E. Amsterdam Flushing

Funding 11 vital schools

Bus plan lacks key info Dear Editor: The MTA’s Queens bus plan release lacks the single piece of information that would permit anyone from making an intelligent analysis.

That information is a detailed, stop-by-stop, route-by-route operating schedule.

The plan is making a trade-off between longer walks to bus stops versus faster bus speeds.

Anyone would like to know whether extra time spent walking to a bus stop will be compensated for by reduced travel time on the bus.

Point-to-point running times are lacking in the 588 pages of the MTA’s “Proposed Final Plan.” Without such information, how is anyone to know whether or not the MTA “got it right”?

Stephen Bauman Flushing

MTA: Money Thrown Away Dear Editor: Re Allan Rosen’s Dec. 14 letter, “MTA inefficiency, waste”: MTA really stands for Money Thrown Away. Here are two egregious examples.

One: The agency spent $772 million on an OMNY program to replace MetroCards, which is $130 million over budget and four years behind schedule (New York Post, May 29, 2023). Why should MetroCards, which have served riders effectively for the past 30 years, be replaced? OMNY should be called OMINOUS because it excludes riders who don’t have smartphones or credit cards.

Two: The MTA budgeted $3.8 billion to build three new stations for Manhattan’s Second Avenue subway line; $655 million of that cost went to consultants for design work that could have been done by MTA staffers at a much lower cost, as the Post noted (Feb. 6, 2023). The agency often hires expensive consultants for work that can be done cheaper in-house.

Instead of congestion pricing, the MTA needs consultant decongestion. Stop hiring hustlers who charge a high fee to look at a client’s watch and give them the correct time.

Richard Reif Kew Gardens Hills continued on next page

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Stephen Roser is the pastor of Howard Beach Assembly of God Church The shadowy picture of baby Jesus temptation to stretching tiny, chubby hands toward simply give up. the Virgin Mary is the most inspiring He is merciful Christmas decoration that I have seen this because, through His own sufferings, He year. It adorns the front lawn of one of our can sympathize with ours. He is faithful neighbors and serves as a powerful reminder because He endured to the end. The human of the complete humanity of the One whose nature of Christ enables Him to have birthday we celebrate. compassion for us far more than if He were We struggle to think of Almighty God as only God, and this is a great encouragement fully human – learning to walk, playing with for us to pray directly to Him for help. Our other children – because it almost seems relationship to Him can be personal, and irreverent, but in truth the Incarnation is He Himself will impart to us the strength, God’s supreme message to us of His amazing grace. Christ became a human being mainly forgiveness, and joy that we need on life’s to suffer, with His earthly trials culminating journey. He was made like us in temptation in death, to qualify Him to serve as a so that we can be made like Him in victory. merciful and faithful High Priest.

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Dear Editor: As we celebrate the holidays and look forward to the new year, our entire Lexington School for the Deaf community extends its gratitude to our elected leaders. We appreciate the governor and Legislature for recognizing the needs of our school, students, their families and our highly trained and qualified teachers and staff. The critical resources included in the final enacted 2023 state budget are helping our children, and the children at the rest of the 4201 schools across the state succeed.

Lexington is one of the 11 members of the 4201 Schools Association, which represents schools across the state serving students who are deaf, blind and severely physically disabled.

Established in 1864, our school aspires to be an exemplary education, service and research institution for the deaf and hard of hearing. We provide programs and support services for deaf students ages 0 to 21 and hard-of-hearing students ages 0 to 3.

Our whole-child approach ensures students have every opportunity to develop and grow, prioritize their health and wellness, and engage in extracurricular activities, athletics, and academic and social clubs. The use of Thinking

Maps is a prime example of cognitive skillbuilding at Lexington. They’re used across the curriculum to help students learn to define in context, classify, sequence, see analogies and demonstrate cause and effect.

Since the home-school connection is important to the success of every student, Lexington offers parents and guardians services to support their child, including our family liaison, the Parent Staff Association, American Sign Language classes and workshops.

The comprehensive education and additional services available to students are dependent on state support. We look forward to continuing to work together with our electeds in 2024 to ensure our children continue to learn and thrive in a language-rich environment. We thank Gov. Hochul and the Legislature for continuing to fund the 4201s.

Russell O. West CEO and Superintendent Lexington School & Center for the Deaf East Elmhurst

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learned: People believe what they want to believe and no one ever wants to admit being wrong. Add to that, now people are passionately divided about what’s true at all. They can’t agree on facts — the who, what, where, why and how of every story. We don’t know where our information is coming from or whom to believe so we grab whatever fits our feelings. When information can’t be trusted, it’s a factual free-for-all. And when that happens, there is nothing left but the shouting. These are confrontations, not conversations. Not exactly a lot of common ground there.

It is not surprising the Word of the Year for 2023, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is “authentic.” The word of the year last year was “gaslighting.” Anyone see a trend? We need to listen more, learn more and lower the volume. You’re not right because you’re louder.

Dennis O’Brien Forest Hills

E DITOR

Page 11 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023

LETTERS TO THE

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023 Page 12

C M SQ page 12 Y K

Boro chain retailers drop by 3.3 percent Phone stores, pharmacies were big contributors to the 2023 decline

by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

This was not a good year for chain stores throughout New York City, a new report shows, and Queens was no exception.

In its 16th annual ranking of national retailers in New York City, the Center for an Urban Future found a 3.3 percent decrease in the number of chain stores in Queens in 2023. All five boroughs saw declines, the study shows, and the city’s number declined by 3.1 percent.

Avid readers of the Chronicle will not be surprised to learn that chain pharmacies — including Rite Aid and CVS — contributed significantly to the borough’s 59-chain store decline in 2023, accounting for 17 of those closures, according to Jonathan Bowles, executive director of the Center for an Urban Future. Eleven of those were Rite Aids; the company filed for bankruptcy in October.

Pharmacy closures in the World’s Borough were second only to cell phone stores, including T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T, 28 of which closed this year (T-Mobile accounted for 13 of those).

Asked for his take on the drop in chain stores, Ted Renz, executive director of the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District, pointed to the increasing popularity of online shopping, particularly large retailers

Phone stores and chain pharmacies, including the CVS store at 97-01 63 Road, closed in high PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON / FILE numbers in Queens this year. like Amazon. He acknowledged, however, that that is not necessarily unique to 2023, and said chain restaurants are somewhat immune to that. In fact, he said, a Pizza Hut is set to open on Myrtle Avenue soon.

Tom Grech, executive director and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, suspected retail theft played a significant role. Pointing to companies like Walgreens and Macy’s,

LETTERS TO THE continued from previous page

For the latest news visit qchron.com

Thanks for the truth

Dear Editor: I applaud the Chronicle for bringing very important issues and information to us every several days.

Thanks for letting us know about January, February and March being the most prevalent times for fires (“Fire safety at the holidays,” by Mayor Adams, Opinion, Nov. 30, multiple editions). Thanks for letting us know what precautions to take to prevent devastating fires.

I appreciate your views against anti-Semitism and it is refreshing that you put a spotlight on the truth, not like TV and radio stations that preach anti-Israel positions and social media stirring up the fires against Jews.

I also read with interest “Queens, Con Ed clean up after the storm” (Dec. 18, qchron. com). Yes, there were power outages and yes, flooding was dangerous, compromising the morning commute. Many workers did not go to work and nursing homes and assisted living residences were short-staffed.

Our city is not prepared for such major events. The mayor is all talk and no action.

Kudos to the Chronicle. Happy holidays to all staff and thank you for bringing light to my world through your information.

Cynthia Groopman Little Neck

he said, “They’re spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a month to try to prevent in store theft — and that’s a big part of the reason why they’re leaving.”

But the loss of revenue theft causes in itself is not the only factor, he said. “Having customers and employees be subjected to that kind of condition, it’s really hard to hire people in the first place,” Grech said. “Then

when you have to be a combatant, it makes it even worse.”

But chain stores’ inability to succeed does not mean that small businesses are necessarily struggling in the same places. While in some cases, vacant storefronts that once housed chain shops have remained empty, other times, they have been replaced by small businesses.

“There are storefront vacancies in a number of Queens neighborhoods, particularly in spaces where large-footprint drug stores used to be,” Bowles said via email. “But several of the closed chains have been replaced by restaurants; weed stores (which we don’t count as national chains); healthcare-related uses, like dental offices and pediatric care centers (which also aren’t counted as national chains), and, in some cases, by independent retailers.” Both have been true simultaneously across Queens, including in Springfield Gardens, Astoria, Ridgewood and Rego Park.

In Flushing, says Dian Yu, executive director of the Downtown Flushing Business Improvement District, small businesses have often thrived where chain stores have not.

While Starbucks has been an exception, that’s especially true for restaurants, he said.

“There’s cheaper local food that’s more catered to their tastes and to their wallets,” Q he said.

E DITOR Man indicted for

Ceasefire conditions

Dear Editor: To achieve its goal of destroying the military capability of Hamas, Israel cannot avoid unintentionally causing civilian casualties in Gaza because Hamas is so deeply embedded in and under all aspects of civilian infrastructure. To further obstruct the Israel Defense Forces’ efforts to protect civilians, many Hamas fighters eschew uniforms to make themselves indistinguishable from civilians.

Amid the mounting civilian casualties in Gaza, the U.S. is urging Israel to scale back its military operations. Britain and Germany are calling for a sustainable ceasefire.

Israel can inform the international community that it will accept a ceasefire in Gaza under the following two conditions.

One: All of the hostages must be released before a ceasefire can begin. Two: The purpose of the ceasefire will be to negotiate the disarmament of Hamas and its expulsion from Gaza.

After conditions one and two have been satisfied, the ceasefire will become sustainable. At that time, the U.S., the European Union, the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Arab League and Israel can begin to negotiate the future governance and reconstruction of Gaza.

Theodore Sheskin Flushing

voter fraud in R. Hill

by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

A Floral Park man on Tuesday was indicted and arraigned on charges related to voter fraud in the August 2022 primary elections, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced. Abdul Rahman, 32, had run an unsuccessful campaign to become a judicial delegate in Assembly District 38 just two months before, per New York City Board of Elections records.

According to a press release from Katz’s office, Richmond Hill resident Jordan Sandke attempted to cast his ballot on Aug. 23, 2022, but was told he could not do so because an absentee ballot had already been requested in his name. An investigation found that an absentee ballot had been requested in his name on Aug. 1, and designated Rahman to pick up the ballot on his behalf. But Sandke said he had not filled out the application nor signed one, and had not authorized Rahman to get his ballot — he did not even know who Rahman was. Nineteen others would step forward and say the same, Katz said.

The DA’s Office further alleges Rahman dropped off 118 absentee applications at the

Queens Board of Elections on Aug. 8, all of which designated him to pick up ballots on the voters’ behalf. Thirty-two of them were approved and picked up the next day.

Though the DA’s Office did not say what race the alleged fraud occurred in, only state Senate and congressional candidates were on the ballot that cycle; in Richmond Hill, there was no congressional Democratic primary, just a state Senate one between state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr., Albert Baldeo and Janpreet Singh.

The indictment comes months after the Chronicle reported on a nearly identical scheme alleged in the Council District 20 Republican primary, in which at least 25 absentee ballot request forms voters say they did not ask for designated one of eight people to get those ballots. Five of those designees were associated with the James Pai campaign; a lawsuit filed by Pai’s opponent, Dany Chen, was thrown out less than a business day before the trial was to begin.

The 140-count indictment against Rahman includes charges of forgery, illegal voting and falsifying business records, among others. If convicted, Rahman faces seven Q years in prison.

C M SQ page 13 Y K

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Standoff over police scrutiny

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The City Council and Mayor Adams are set to have a showdown over police oversight, with the former eyeing a series of bills the latter has no interest in signing.

Foremost in the standoff is Int. 586, which would require NYPD officers to file reports on more interactions with the public than are mandated now. Cops would have to report “the race/ethnicity, age and gender of the civilian approached by the police, the factors that led to the interaction, and whether the interaction led to a summons or use of force incident,” under the bill. That would include “Level 1”

interactions, in which the person spoken with is not suspected of anything, such as when an officer asked someone, “Did you see which way he went?” after a crime, or “Have you seen this missing person?”

Sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the bill has 30 sponsors in the Council. It is driven by the belief that police approach Blacks and other minorities more than warranted. Opponents say it will bog down police and diminish public safety. The Council passed it Wednesday; Q Adams has said he will not sign it.

— Peter C. Mastrosimone

C M SQ page 15 Y K

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Work on Willets Pt. housing underway As part of redevelopment, officials break ground on first 880 units

by Stephanie G. Meditz Chronicle Contributor

With the roar of the No. 7 train overhead, shovels hit the ground on Seaver Way Wednesday to begin work on the first of two buildings of affordable housing as part of Phase 1 of the Willets Point Redevelopment Project.

Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Councilman Francisco Moya (D-Corona), Related Companies CEO Jeff Blau and state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Whitestone) were among the first to ceremonially break ground on the site.

“We are seeing right here in the city, the future of our city, a future where all New Yorkers can afford to live and grow. That is what New York City is all about, the tradition of breaking ground,” Adams said.

Phase 1 will include 1,100 affordable housing units split across two residential buildings, a new 650-seat public school and retail space. The first 880 units of housing are slated for completion in 2026, Torres-

Springer said. Wednesday’s ceremony comes after roughly two years of environmental remediation work on the site, which concluded in May. Moya said 15 percent of the 880 will be earmarked for formerly homeless families, and 40 percent of them are set aside for those with an AMI at or below 60 percent. He said he worked to ensure housing would be available to those with Area Median Income levels below 30 percent to ensure these units’ affordability, “the lowest AMIs [he has] ever seen on [a] project in this area.” The affordable housing units will have built-in laundry facilities, bike storage and a courtyard. They will also be LED Gold certified.

In addition to new buildings, the construction will feature key infrastructure improvements, such as building new streets and sewers, planting trees and implementing proper drainage. During the remediation phase, developers elevated the site out of the floodplain, given its proximity to Flushing Bay, high water table and consequent tendency to flood.

Phase 1’s second building of

Mayor Adams and political leaders on Wednesday morning broke ground on the first 880 units of 2,500 affordable housing slated for Willets Point over PHOTO BY STEPHANIE G. MEDITZ the next few years. affordable housing will include 220 units reser ved for low-income seniors; the groundbreaking date on that has not yet been set.

Officials have touted the project as the city’s largest 100 percent affordable housing project in 40 years.

“Here in Queens County, we understand that we’re not going to

talk our way out of the housing crisis, but we’re going to build our way out of it. We are not the city of ‘no’ here, we are setting the template and the blueprint to being the City of Yes,” Richards said, making a nod to the mayor’s City of Yes plan, which seeks to overhaul the city’s existing zoning systems in the name of efficiency and

Chronicle toy drive a success Hundreds of donations this holiday, thanks to you

by Sophie Krichevsky

Santa’s helpers this holiday season.

The Chronicle owes a great Buddy the Elf says that the best way to spread holiday deal of gratitude to our many cheer “is singing loud for all to partners in this year’s drive, including the offices of state hear.”

Though that may be a close Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr., Assembly m a n E d B r a u n s t e i n , second, we at the Chronicle Councilman Bob Holddisagree: Putting smiles on the faces Chronicl en and the Goldfish s n e e Sw i m Scho ol i n of needy children ue Glendale, each of all over Queens is which collected ou r prefer red donations as part method. of the effort.

A nd , t ha n k s The ACE Acadto our many genemy for Scholars erous readers and 2 7 th l in Ridgewood colsupporters, we did A n n u a lected plenty of toys just that: The Chronfor the drive, as well, as icle collected hundreds of gifts in our 27th annual toy did the Sutton Place residential drive, which came to a close on building in Manhattan, which dropped off 12 large bags of Monday.

Donations will be sent to toys. Greg Modica and the team Dove House, Kings Inn Shelter at R PM Baseball gathered in East Elmhurst, the Boule- donations and personally delivvard Family Shelter in Elm- ered them to the Boulevard hurst and the Acacia Network’s Family Shelter.

Many thanks go out to those two locations in Ozone Park, as well as more than a dozen other who contributed toys, including families seeking support from Judy Fell of Forrest Hills, Rose-

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’s

Q

Associate Editor

Chronicle Publisher Mark Weidler, left, Assemblyman Ed Braunstein, right, and Amber Yoon, Braunstein’s director of community relations, with some toys donated in this year’s drive. PHOTO BY JESS MUELLER / NYS ASSEMBLY marie DiCriste of Maspeth, Keonor Miller of Glendale, Rober t Giglio of Elm hurst, Howard Beach resident Frances Perelli, Middle Village resident Christine Mleczkowski and the Taminet Democratic Club and Powhatan Democratic Club,

both of which are based in Astoria.

This year’s drive would not be possible, however, without the efforts of the Chronicle’s very own Stela Barbu, who, as office manager, organized the Q donation push down to a T.

economic prosperity.

Torres-Springer said Phase 2 of the project, which will include 1,400 additional affordable housing units, a New York City Football Club soccer stadium and a 250-key hotel, is currently undergoing the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. The application was approved by Community Board 7 earlier this month and heard by Richards just last week; now, it awaits the green light from Richards, the Department of City Planning and the City Council.

Once that is completed, the stadium is projected to begin construction in late 2024 and host games in 2027.

She hopes for full housing and hotel completion by 2030.

The redevelopment in its entirety is projected to generate a total of $6.1 billion and create 1,550 permanent jobs, as well as 14,200 construction jobs.

“Today’s groundbreaking is not just only initiating the construction of a startup project, it’s creating stability and security for the working class community that is struggling to make it through, struggling to put a roof Q over their heads,” Moya said.

BP Roundtable continued from page 2 in my lifetime.”

As for the area’s sewers, Richards said he anticipates that an environmental impact statement will help tell the state what is needed there. On Dec. 6, Empire State Development, the economic wing of the state, said that an environmental review process is expected in the coming year.

The Willets Point Redevelopment Project, which includes a 25,000-seat soccer stadium and 1,400 units of affordable housing units, was another economic initiative touched upon by Richards.

“As we talk about Phase 2, we want to see a plan that incorporates street vendors,” Richards said. “That is something that we are very serious about.”

He said that he wants big stadium projects like Willets Points to be a boost to local businesses, like the concessionaires in Corona Plaza, who should be able to capitalize on the revenue generated from the development.

In October, Richards played hardball with the city by leveraging his office’s required approval of new street maps in return for agreements that will allow street vendors to return to the plaza following a legal crackdown. A deal was made with the Mayor’s Office in November that allowed 14 vendors to utilize the Q space.

C M SQ page 17 Y K

Page 17 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023 Page 18

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JFK Hilton hotel to become housing More than 300 affordable units anticipated in South Jamaica

by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

The JFK Hilton will soon be the Baisley Pond Park Residences now that the city closed a deal on Monday to convert the South Jamaica hotel into affordable housing with the help of a nonprofit and a real estate group that focuses on creating multifamily homes.

The cost for the city to partially acquire and develop the property is projected at $167 million. Located at 144-02 135 Ave., the space will be transformed into 318 permanent units for low-income and formerly homeless New Yorkers, according to the office of Mayor Adams.

“Digging our city out of this severe housing shortage will require every tool in our toolbox, and our administration helped win an important fight to add this hotel conversion,” Adams said in a statement. “Advancing this plan ... is a sign that we can think outside of the box and take advantage of the opportunities in front of us. I want to thank our partners in Albany for making it possible to turn empty hotels into affordable homes and our development partners who will deliver on the promise of this idea for hundreds of New Yorkers.”

The development partners, which include the nonprofit RiseBoro Community Partnership and Slate Property Group, a real estate lender and operator primarily focused on the

A rendering of the Baisley Pond Park Residences gardens in South Jamaica. adaptive reuse of property for family housing, acquired the property for $64 million.

MSquared, a women-owned real estate development and impact-investing platform, will also be a part of the project.

“Our city faces an urgent need for quality affordable housing and Baisley Pond Park Residence is a great example of how we can utilize new strategies and funding sources to address this crisis head-on,” said Alicia Glen, founder

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and managing principal of MSquared, in a statement.

MSquared provided a key $4.4 million predevelopment loan. The city will get $48 million from the state’s new Housing Our Neighbors with Dignity Act program. The remaining capital is being provided through a $50 million senior loan from the city Housing Development Corp., which is being serviced by Chase, and the project is funded with an allocation of

501(c)(3) bonds from HDC. There will be 192 shelter residents with CityFHEPS vouchers in the homes, according to city Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park.

Aracelia Cook, president of the 149th Street South Ozone Park Civic Association, said she is excited about the prospect of affordable housing in the Southeast Queens area.

“We definitely need more permanent housing,” Cook told the Chronicle. “Instead of just another hotel to be a center for migrants.”

Earlier this year, the hotel was closed permanently and later it was used as a shelter for asylum seekers, prompting a protest.

“We need a more permanent housing solution,” Cook said. “They spoke to us about their vision and we are looking forward to partnering with them.”

Cook said RiseBoro and Slate Property have been talking to members of her civic since April and she is glad to see that the deal is finally done.

The hotel, which is a half-mile from JFK Airport, will have full kitchens, ADA-compliant bathrooms, community rooms, a computer lounge, fitness room and on-site laundry. The landscape architecture firm, OSD, has also designed a stunning indoor/outdoor garden space for residents. Rent will range from $784 continued on page 26

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Historic reparations legislation signed

Hochul knew bill may be unpopular, but thought it was the right thing to do

by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

Six months after the state Legislature passed the bill for a reparations commission, Gov. Hochul signed it into law at the New York Historical Society on the Upper West Side on Tuesday.

This comes less than two weeks after state Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-South Ozone Park) led a symposium at York College in Jamaica, about his bill, S1163A, and the Assembly version, A7691.

The state Senate bill and its counterpart made it through both chambers in June with votes of 41-21 and 106-41, respectively.

The law says that a state community commission is to be formed to study the impact of reparations and create remedies for African Americans who are descendants of slaves. Once an analysis into the generational impacts of slavery and segregation in New York is completed, the commission would formulate an approach to compensate for the damages.

“I have nine stitches in my head from three incidences of where I just didn’t know my place,” Sanders said sarcastically at the bill signing. “I still don’t know my place, but I don’t want any more.”

Sanders thanked God and then Hochul, along with other elected officials and the Rev. Al Sharpton, who have been advocating for the legislation.

“I’d be remiss if I did not say that I’m here because of my sharecropper father and my domestic worker mother,” Sanders said. “We fled a tyranny, we fled a terror, we fled an unjust government that was working on terrorism and I am an immigrant — I’m a first-generation — we fled the South. We fled all of those folks who were doing horrible things to us.”

He later dedicated his speech to the people of Seneca Village, a mixed-race neighborhood of predominantly free Black people and immigrants of Irish and German descent who lived and prayed together before the town was destroyed by wealthy elites to make way for Central Park, a green space with the grandeur of those in Europe, according to CBS News.

The city used eminent domain and said it was using the land to build park space that would combat unhealthy urban conditions,

State Sen. James Sanders Jr., left, and the Rev. Al Sharpton were there for the signing of a repaNYS SCREENSHOTS / X rations bill by Gov. Hochul on Tuesday. according to the Central Park Conservancy.

There were 225 residents, two-thirds Black in 1855, and it was one of the few places where African Americans could escape racial discrimination in Manhattan.

African Americans and the AME Zion Church bought land on what is now Central Park as far back as 1825, and by the 1830s, there were at least 10 homes on some of the 200 lots.

By the 1850s, the village comprised 50 homes, three churches, burial grounds and a school for Black students. Because of its remote location, it was a refuge for Black people. Of the 100 Black New Yorkers who were eligible to vote in 1845, 10 lived in Seneca Village. In 1857, approximately 1,600 people were displaced, but compensated for their homes, but many argued their land was being undervalued, according to the conservancy.

“It was 1853, the New York State Legislature passed a bill, saying they were going to put Central Park up there,” Sanders said. “The Legislature said, ‘we are going to get rid of those people.’”

Sanders said the residents of Seneca Village were middle-class people.

“They had more Black homeownership,” Sanders continued. “Imagine if we had let that happen. Imagine if we let that happen in America. They were driven out, forced to go elsewhere and were never paid what they should

have gotten for theirs. They were also an integrated community. They had an integrated church that had a little bit of everybody in 1853.

They were more integrated than most churches are here today on Sunday morning.”

The people of New York sit in the shadows of Seneca Village, he added.

The senator said he could see the “new New York.”

“It’s a place where the color of your skin is no more important than the color of your eyes,” he said. “It’s a place of where you will be judged by the content of character, not your melanin.”

Sharpton thanked Hochul for being courageous in signing the bill.

“I know her political advisors told her it was too risky, but she did it because it was right,” the reverend said. “She said, ‘It’s going to be unpopular to some, but I’m going to do what is right.’ Some of the media is going to act like she gave us a billion dollars, but that is not what this is. This is the beginning of healing the scars.

We can never be one state unless we heal scars.”

While the ancestors of others were on Wall Street, Black folks were being sold on boxes like soap, continued the reverend.

“Nobody sponsored us, we had to fight ...” said Sharpton. “The battle for Civil Rights was not below the Mason Dixon line. The largest port of slave trade was in Charleston, North

Carolina and Wall Street, New York ... This starts the process of taking the veil off of Northern inequality.”

Hochul said there was a slave market on Wall Street for more than a century.

“People bought and sold people with careless disregard,” she said. “Even though it closed when slavery was abolished in New York in 1827, our state remained a dominant player in the illegal slave trade ... Former slaves, and their children, and their childrens’ children across our nation have been haunted for generations by racism and disenfranchisement. Millions of people, even though free on a piece of paper, were still trapped by Jim Crow.”

Blacks and brown people were stripped of their rights to participate in democracy, stalked by the Klan, impacted by real estate redlining and hit with other for ms of economic repression.

“All were designed to keep Black and brown Americans from reaching that first rung on that ladder to success and many where kicked down when they finally got there,” Hochul said. “It’s an ugly truth, but as patriots, as Frederick Douglass said, ‘We must bear witness.’”

Sanders said that Dec. 19 will be etched in the annals of New York State history.

“This commission marks a crucial step towards acknowledging that pain, understanding its present consequences, and finally taking action to build a more equitable Q future,” he said.

Corrections The Dec. 14 story “Residents don’t care for Creedmoor plan” misstated how many signatures a petition against the Creedmoor plan had amassed as of last Wednesday. It was more than 4,100. It also misstated the title of Corey Bearak, who is the Land Use Subcommittee on Creedmoor chair for Community Board 13, and was incorrect about who co-wrote an op-ed on the project with Bearak. The co-author was Bryan Block, the CB 13 chairman.

The Dec. 14 story “Public libraries facing more cuts” misstated which library is open on Sundays but not Saturdays. It is Kew Gardens Hills. Sunday service there will continue.

Q We regret the errors.

Smoke shop bandit steals cigs and weed

by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

Police are asking for the public’s help in finding the assailant responsible for stealing more than $2,100 in cash from a smoke shop on Dec. 8.

The suspect is described as a man with a dark complexion, approximately 18 to 25 years old, with a thin build and 5 feet, 8 inches tall.

He was last seen wearing gray sweatpants, had a ring on his right-index finger and had on a black hoodie and ski mask, authorities said.

On the morning of the robbery, the culprit

The assailant was armed with a weapon entered Sammy Tobacco King at approximately 9:50 a.m. brandishing a black firearm at an employee and then jumped over the counter demanding cigarettes and cash, according to a Dec. 13 police report.

After threatening the worker, the man stole $1,360 and $808 worth of cigarettes and marijuana products, respectively. He also grabbed an undetermined amount of cash before leaving the store, located at 170-01 Jamaica Ave.

in Jamaica. He fled on 171st Street toward 90th Avenue on foot, said the NYPD. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS (8477), or, for Spanish, 1 (888) 57-PISTA (74782).

The public can also submit tips by logging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577, or by going to the @nypdtips account on Q Twitter. All tips are strictly confidential.

The suspect in the Sammy Tobacco King PHOTO COURTESY NYPD smoke shop robbery.

C M SQ page 21 Y K

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Ariola wants advance notice on lost parking Bill would require 15 days’ warning when spaces are facing removal

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) wants Council members’ offices and community boards to get at least 15 days notice from the city any time parking spaces are going to be permanently or even temporarily eliminated.

And while the legislative process can be complicated, Ariola believes that should not be the case with her Intro. 922.

“What I want people to understand is that this is an absolute commonsense bill,” Ariola told the Chronicle Tuesday. “People should not have to wake up one morning and a movie shoot is being done in front of their business or their homes. They should not at some point find bike racks have been placed outside their restaurant and this is taking away their parking spots.”

Along with things like bike racks and rideshare cars taking spots away for good — “And don’t forget bike lanes and bus lanes,” — Ariola’s measure also requires specific notifications any time parking will be temporarily displaced for things like construction and television or movie shoots.

The bill’s nine co-sponsors include Queens Councilmembers Bob Holden ( D - M a s p e t h) a n d V i c k i e P a l a d i n o (R-Whitestone).

Councilwoman Joann Ariola wants the city to notify community boards and Council offices at least 15 days before street parking is removed for things like bike-docking stations, above, or PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON temporarily lost for construction or movie and television production.

Betty Braton, chairwoman of Community Board 10, told the Chronicle she had not discussed the bill specifically with Ariola, but likes the idea.

“That would be something that would help,” Braton said. “Lots of time there are changes on parking spaces and the community doesn’t get advance notice of it. Not always, but sometimes. It would be helpful to

always have that kind of notification. Anything that adds to the information the community has is a good thing.”

Ariola said that is her exact intent.

“It’s necessary because we’re seeing bicycle racks and rideshare locations popping up in our communities without any discussions with the community boards or the local Council member and we have no say in it.

“Once it has been designated and there are rideshare cars and bike racks taking up our parking spots, we don’t have any say on removal.

“The 15-day notice would have to come from the agency taking away the spots, more than likely the [city] Department of Transportation, so that the community board and the Council office can weigh in and have a conversation on whether or not the locations are appropriate for where they’re looking to place them. It’s much easier to stop it before it happens.”

Ariola said the portions dealing with temporary disruptions for things like television and movie production are vital to her newly redrawn district, which includes a large portion of Glendale, which hosts a lot of shoots.

“We get a lot of that in Glendale and in the Rockaways,” she said.

The bill now is with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, though Ariola said it will be more fully addressed by the Council after Jan. 1.

“The only blowback I’m getting is from the agencies that don’t want to write the reports,” Ariola said. She added that she is anticipating bipartisan support, saying this Council has demonstrated a strong track record for securing adequate notification Q from city agencies.

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continued from page 4 first priority and through the partnership with our local civics and community leadPriority Corridor due to a high number of ers we were able to elevate our needs to the pedestrian fatalities, the DOT also added highest level,” said Assemblywoman Stacseveral safety improvements in the area in recent years, including a reduced speed ey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway Park).

“The two tragic deaths at this location limit, new speed cameras and new pedeswere two too many, and we honor their trian head-start signals at major crossings, memories through this new sidewalk and a the agency said.

Recognizing that the Conduit’s multiple traffic signal.”

Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone lanes of fast-moving traffic have long Park) said she had been advocating for served as a barrier to pedestrians trying to travel to and from Ozone Park and Linden- Conduit safety upgrades for years, going back to her membership on Community wood, the DOT and the Departments of Board 10 and presidency of the civic group Parks and Recreation, Environmental Prothat represents the area. tection, Housing Preservation and Devel“With these traffic safety measures in opment and City Planning applied for fedplace, we can hopefully avoid any more eral funding through the Reconnecting preventable tragedies like the ones that Communities and Neighborhoods grant have already devastated this neighborhood program to make comprehensive infrain the past,” she said. structure upgrades along “The Ozone Park Resthe corridor, the agency idents Block Association said. is proud to have led the The latest effort is he two tragic fight to improve a bad appreciated. One Ozone crossing that took the Park resident, Julia Mondeaths at this life of Ozone Park resiteverde, told the Chronilocation were dent Kimberly Ortega on cle, “I’ve been seeing the 4, 2021,” said work going on, but I two too many ...” March Sam Esposito, president didn’t think it would be of the block association. completed so soon.”

— Assemblywoman “We want to thank the Monteverde is a freStacey Pheffer Amato Mayor’s Community quent shopper at the LinAffairs unit and all the den Center shopping divisions of DOT for their quick work to plaza, frequently grabbing take-out from Hook and Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar and help prevent any more fatalities.”

In a statement to the Chronicle, state going to Dunkin’ Donuts for her morning Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) said, coffee and bagel.

“Crossing the street over there can be a “The completion of the pedestrian safety upgrade along North and South Conduit nightmare, so I hope these upgrades can Avenue in Queens is a significant step fortruly stop future accidents,” she said.

A number of elected officials and com- ward for the safety and well-being of our community. The installation of new sidemunity leaders praised the improvements.

“The historically dangerous Conduit walks and a traffic signal at the intersection of Conduit and 79th Street not only corridor has been in desperate need of a redesign for years,” said Queens Borough honors the memory of those we have lost President Donovan Richards in the DOT’s but also ensures the protection of all pedespress release. “It’s why my office, the trians who utilize this vital crossing. “... I commend the DOT for their proacoffice of Brooklyn Borough President tive efforts in formalizing a safe pedestriAntonio Reynoso and many concerned an pathway and furthering the Vision local residents came together this year to Zero initiative along Conduit Avenue. I push for new street safety measures, and it’s why I’m thrilled to see the creation of also appreciate the vocal residents who advocated for safety measures to be taken this new pedestrian crossing.”

Q “The safety of my constituents is my at the site.”

C M SQ page 25 Y K Page 25 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023

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QLIR-070488

Hotel to become housing units PHOTO BY STEVE FISHER

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023 Page 26

C M SQ page 26 Y K

Photo contest!

It’s peak time for the Queens Chronicle’s 16th annual Holiday Photo Contest! Shoot for both a prize and the recognition that comes with seeing your photo published atop a page full of entries, and at qchron. com. Take pictures of anything that reflects the season — joyous children and families, lights, miniature villages, snowy landscapes, whatever it might be. Our main requirement is that the photos be taken in the borough this season. We have just a couple more guidelines; you can find them at tinyurl.com/db2cdpyc.

Prizes may vary, so keep that flexibility in mind when entering! All winning shots, and many others, get published in print and online.

Send your high-resolution digital photos to peterm@qchron.com, saying “contest” somewhere in the subject line, or mail prints to Queens Chronicle Photo Contest, 71-19 80 St., suite 8-201, Glendale, NY 11385. The deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 2.

— Peter C. Mastrosimone Good luck!

continued from page 18 for studios to $1,493 for a two-bedroom unit, according to the city.

Cook said that young people can’t afford the apartment units being built in Downtown Jamaica and starting at $3,000.

“Young people don’t meet the income requirements for those homes,” she added.

“The costs don’t mirror the income people are making.”

Cook is also looking forward to the services provided by RiseBoro.

“They are going to have counseling, childcare and something similar to a Meals on Wheels program,” she said. “I know a lot of people were skeptical that it was going to be another shelter, but we got clarification that it is permanent housing and this is chipping away at the problem of a lack of affordable housing.”

David Schwartz, principal of Slate Property Group, said the project is a model that points the way to rapidly bring new apartments online years faster than ground-up construction.

“Working with our non-profit and government partners, we have cracked the code of converting former hotels into permanently affordable homes,” Schwartz said in a statement.

By selecting a hotel with compatible layouts and making only selective changes to internal walls, Slate will be able to complete construction in 21 months, compared to 36

months for conventional ground-up construction, according to the Mayor’s Office.

Scott Short, CEO of RiseBoro Community Partnership, said he was thrilled to be a part of the city’s first hotel-to-home conversion.

“Creativity is necessary to fill New York City’s need for affordable housing and, with Baisley Pond Park Residence, all parties involved have met that challenge,” Scott said in a statement.

The project, designed by Aufgang Architects, will have all major building and mechanical systems replaced for an all -electric heating and cooling system to help reduce carbon emissions. Solar panels will also be installed on the rooftop and the homes will have energy-efficient Energy Star appliances, making it Enterprise Green Communities-certified, according to the city.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica) said in statement that the hotel conversion was a critical step forward to creating housing in the Big Apple.

“To ease our city’s growing housing and affordability crisis, it is imperative that we utilize every tool at our disposal to build and preserve housing, with a focus on maximizing affordability,” she said. “While this is the first hotel conversion project facilitated by the Housing Our Neighbors with Dignity Act program, I am hopeful that it will Q not be the last.”

For the latest news visit qchron.com

WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A

Ken MacKenzie, ’62 Met, was 89 O n a b a s eb a l l team that has become a cross-cultural synonym for ineptit ude, Ken MacKenzie had a unique distinction: He was the on ly MacKenzie pitcher, having gone PHOTO BY JD 5-4, with a winning MCCARTHY VIA record on the 1962 WIKIPEDIA Mets.

MacKenzie died on Dec. 14 at 89.

A native of Gore Bay in Canada, MacKenzie was a graduate of Yale University, where he played baseball and hockey. The southpaw broke into the majors with the Milwaukee Braves in 1960. Wikipedia states that his contract was sold to the Mets one day after the 1961 expansion draft.

“His signing with us makes him the lowest-paid member of the class of Yale ’56,” said Manager Casey Stengel, according to the New York Post.

He also played for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros through 1965. His career record was eight wins — all with the Q Mets — 10 losses and five saves.

— Michael Gannon

HAPPY HOLIDAY!

C M SQ page 27 Y K

December 21, 2023

Page 27 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023

Ghost AR ARTS A ARTS, RTS, R RTS TS, S CULTURE CU ULTUR LT URE & LIVING LT LIV VING ING

stories

by Mark Lord

The enduring popularity of Charles Lord Dickens’ classic taleby “AMark Christmas as Carol” cannot be denied.

His original novella, a ghost story tory that that tells of Ebenezer Scrooge’s miserly ways and his ultimate redemption, first appeared in 1843 and has since been adapted for film, television, radio, opera, ballet and musical theater, enchanting countless generations.

Each year around this time, different versions seem to pop up all over. This year is no exception, with several productions being staged by theater companies in Queens, including, for multiple performances each, The Secret Theatre and Titan Theatre Co. Richard Mazda, The Secret’s artistic director, wrote an original adaptation last year that was so

successful, he’s bringing it back for another goround. But Mazda promises some “fun surprises” that will enchant even those who saw the previous rendition.

Titan’s version, entitled “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” and written in 1995 by Tom Mula, veers even further from tradition, telling the story of what happened to Scrooge’s old business partner after he is condemned to a hellish eternity.

Both Mazda and Titan’s artistic director, Lenny Banovez, share the belief that it is the redemption aspect of the story that makes it so endearing.

“Scrooge, in the beginning, has no good will at

all,” Ma Mazda said. “He’s taken on a journey and byy the t end he has learned that it costs nothing to t give someone a smile.”

Banovez said that “if we could all go back Banov through the story of our lives, I think everybody would take that opportunity.” Interestingly, he feels the ghostly aspects of the story make it even more suitable for Halloween time than the Christmas season.

The Secret production, which Mazda directed and in which he also plays the leading role of Scrooge, brings back some of the cast members from last year’s show, including 17-year-old Mia Jacquez, who plays the Ghost of Christmas Present, one of a series of apparitions with whom Scrooge interacts.

“It’s a really beautiful story,” Jacquez said. continued on page 29

For the latest news visit qchron.com

‘A Christmas Carol’ — and a spinoff — shine on stage

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023 Page 28

C M SQ page 28 Y K

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

King Crossword Puzzle Before the gun, Goetz was a toddler in Elmhurst

ACROSS

1 TiVo precursor 4 Wide 9 America’s uncle 12 Consume 13 Heart line 14 La-la lead-in 15 Gym machine 17 And so on (Abbr.)

18 Nabokov novel 19 Bowling lanes 21 Packs tightly 24 Go yachting 25 Yale grad 26 Author Umberto 28 Aegean island 31 Building wings 33 Farm female 35 Steakhouse order 36 Rice recipe 38 PC key 40 Chaney of horror films 41 First lady of scat 43 Bistro furniture 45 Telepathic 47 Sushi choice 48 Hostel 49 Heavy burden 54 Memo letters 55 Deadly virus 56 Schlep 57 Air safety org.

58 Philly hoopster 59 Director Lee

DOWN

1 Animal doc

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

2 Train unit 3 Hwy. 4 Villain 5 Woo 6 “... -- quit!”

7 World record?

8 Texas city 9 Sheet metal producer 10 Bohemian 11 Apple computers 16 Small batteries

20 Tale teller 21 Army transport 22 “That’s -- need to know” 23 1,000-year spans 27 Have debts 29 Bassoon’s kin 30 Taxpayer IDs 32 Pretzel topper 34 Getty of “The Golden Girls”

37 Fireplace flickerers 39 Salad type 42 Suspect’s excuse 44 Crunchy sandwich 45 Peeve 46 “May It Be” singer 50 Bagel topper 51 Slangy suffix 52 Sister 53 Silly Putty container

Answers on next page

Bernhard Willard Goetz was born in Germany on April 18, 1906. At age 22 he came to America, on May 21 1928. He became a citizen in September 1932. He married Gertrude Karlsberg in August 1935.

They had two girls and a boy, the last in their 40s: Bernhard Jr., on Nov. 7, 1947, in Kew Gardens Hospital.

The family lived at 74-08 45 Ave. in Elmhurst but in 1941 moved into a brand-new home at 48-30 Poyer St. In 1950 they went to Rheinbeck, NY, opening up a dairy farm and a book-binding business. Bernhard Jr. earned a bachelor’s degree from NYU in 1969 in electrical and nuclear engineering.

He started his own business in NYC but was robbed in 1981. Illegally, he obtained a gun.

On Dec. 22, 1984, 39 years ago this week, Bernie Goetz tried to act the part of the law without legal authority to do so by shooting four youths whom he felt he was in danger of being robbed by when they asked for money. One suffered a spinal cord paralysis.

Thereafter known as the subway vigilante, Goetz was found guilty only of weapons

The early-childhood home of subway vigilante Bernhard Goetz at 48-30 Poyer St. in Elmhurst, as it looked in 1950 when he lived there. INSET MARILYN CHURCH VIA LIBRARY OF CONGRESS possession, though he also was found liable in civil court and had judgments placed against him. He is still the subject of debate, mentioned in the news from time to time, while spending his own time between New Q York and Florida.

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Wishing you a Wonderful Holiday Season

Gregory W.

MEEKS

Congressman - Fifth District of New York @GregMeeksNYC Paid for and authorized by Friends for Gregory Meeks

C M SQ page 29 Y K

by Kristen Guglielmo associate editor

The holidays are nearly here and finding the perfect gift for your loved ones has become a race against the clock. If you’re caught in the whirlwind of last-minute shopping, fear not — there are plenty of thoughtful gifts available on short notice that those in your life are sure to appreciate.

For a gift that keeps on giving, consider a subscription service for ongoing enjoyment. Binge-watchers or film junkies might enjoy a streaming service subscription. For a home chef, try a meal kit delivery service.

If your loved one has a niche interest, there is almost certainly a subscription service for it and a quick internet search can provide clarity on the endless options.

Books are timeless presents that can be chosen based on the recipient’s interests.

Opt for a bestseller or a novel by a favorite author, or even a favorite celebrity’s memoir. If your loved one enjoyed a book-tofilm or television adaptation, consider buying the original text as a gift.

A customized item showcases thoughtfulness and adds a personal touch. Monogrammed mugs, custom-made jewelry or a carefully curated scrapbook are unique gifts that demonstrate attention to detail.

Did you forget to buy a present for someone on your list? Or have no clue where to PLANNTHAT.COM IMAGE begin? Here are some quick gift ideas anyone would appreciate.

Websites like Etsy allow optimal customization on handmade gifts, and some sellers even offer express shipping. For the truly last-minute gift, go for digital customizable prints, such as animated portraits, which will arrive in an instant.

Practical and appreciated, tech accessories like phone stands or stylish phone cases make great last-minute options, as do cozy home décor items like scented candles or decorative pillows.

In the realm of relaxation, spa or beauty products are always well-received. Pamper your loved ones with bath bombs, scented lotions or a luxurious spa gift set. Stores like Target and Ulta have plenty of premade sets, but you can also customize one on your own for an extra personal touch.

If shopping for a useful gift, portable car chargers and air compressors are items vehicle owners are sure to appreciate.

If you’re on a budget, go to stores like

Five Below or Dollar Tree — both have multiple locations in Queens — and peruse the aisles. Pick up a gift basket and fill it with goodies like candy and sweets and it’s sure to be a hit — especially with kids.

Alternatively, consider the gift of knowledge with classes or workshops. Many platforms offer one-time courses in a variety of subjects, allowing your loved ones to learn something new and exciting. Options can include digital activities like workshops for coding or writing, or in-person classes for things like pottery or yoga.

Gift cards remain a reliable and versatile option, allowing recipients to choose exactly what they want — especially if you’re not quite sure what they like. Often times, even local small businesses offer gift certificates. Whether it’s for a favorite store, a popular restaurant or an online retailer, a well-chosen gift card demonstrates consideration for the recipient’s tastes.

If all else fails, head over to Amazon and go to the Last Minute Deals category.

Prime shipping will guarantee a fast arrival.

Remember: It’s the thought that counts.

Even if you find yourself shopping at the 11th hour, these last-minute gift ideas can be both easily accessible and meaningful, bringing joy to your loved ones this holiday Q season.

Page 29 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023

Easy last-minute gift ideas for the holiday season

Dickens’ beloved redemption song, live onstage

Crossword Answers

The cast of the Titan production, under the direction of Alyssa Van Gorder, features company regulars Lloyd Mulvey, who appears as Marley, and Robert Meksin, who plays Scrooge. They are joined by newcomers Marc D. Lyons and Simran Pal Kaur, each of whom plays multiple roles.

“I’m excited to be a part of this show because I have enjoyed learning the other side of the traditional ‘Christmas Carol’ story,” Lyons said.

Luke Santy provides the Titan show — live onstage — the sound effects that help tell the story. Live music is also on tap.

Songs and special effects also play major roles in the Secret production, according to Mazda, who said the joyous ending will find audiences singing along with the performers, song sheets in hand.

Remaining performances at The Secret Theatre (38-02 61 St., Woodside) are on Dec. 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29 and 30 at 7 p.m., Dec. 23, 30 and 31 at 3 p.m. and Dec. 24 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $30; $20 for seniors;

A curtain call brings a joyful dance for the cast of “A Christmas Carol” at The Secret Theatre. At left, the Ghost of Christmas Present. On the cover: “Jacob Marley’s ChristPHOTOS BY REIKO YOO YANAGI mas Carol” by Titan Theatre Co., at Queens Theatre. and $18 for children. For more, call (718) 433-9030 or visit secrettheatre.com.

Remaining performances of Titan’s production are at Queens Theatre (14 United Nations Ave. South, Flushing Meadows Corona Park) on Dec. 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 23 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $27.

For more, call (718) 760-0064 or visit queenstheatre.org.

The Queensborough Performing Arts Center in Bayside is showing a national touring company’s performance of “A Christmas Carol,” at 7 p.m. tonight, Dec. 21, only. For Q information, visit qpac.qcc.cuny.edu.

For the latest news visit qchron.com

continued from page 27 “It connects people of all ages.” And she loves “the joy that comes with the idea behind it, to love the time you have.”

For Titan, this production holds some key distinctions. It’s the first time in years the company is not presenting its highly acclaimed more traditional version of the story. Perhaps more significantly, the show is the group’s first fully staged production since it was shut down by the Covid pandemic.

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023 Page 30

C M SQ page 30 Y K

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trol Law at 13621 37th Ave., Flushing, New York 11354-4110.

Applicant: DUNHUANG LANZHOU BEEF NOODLES INC.

10555 87th STREET LLC, Arts of Org. fi led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/13/2023. Cty: Queens.

SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 89-11 107th Ave, Ozone Park, NY 11417.

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Org. fi led with Sec. of State of Org. fi led NY Sec. of State SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF (SSNY) 11/21/23. Offi ce in QUEENS, NYCTL 2019-A TRUST, NY (SSNY) 11/17/2023. Cty: Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK Queens. SSNY desig. as agent MELLON AS COLLATERAL of LLC upon whom process AGENT AND CUSTODIAN FOR upon whom process against may be served. SSNY shall THE NYCTL 2019-A TRUST, may be served & shall mail mail copy of process to The Plaintiff, vs. ONE THREE SEVEN process to Francia Chatman, LLC 15253 10th Ave. Ste 211, 24 HOLDINGS LLC, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a 14799 Edgewood St., Rosedale, Whitestone, NY 11357. Purpose: Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated February 23, 2023 Any lawful activity.

NY 11422. General Purpose and duly entered on March 10, Notice of Formation of 2023 and a Short Form Order 248TH STREET, LLC. Arts. of Org. fi led with the SSNY Burganvilla NY, LLC. Articles dated June 9, 2023 and duly on 11/17/23. Offi ce: Queens of Organization fi led with the entered on June 12, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will County. SSNY designated Secretary of State of New York sell at public auction on the as agent of the LLC upon SSNY on 12/11/2023 in Queens outside steps of the Queens whom process against it may County. SSNY has been desCounty Supreme Court, 88-11 be served. SSNY shall mail ignated for service of process.

Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY copy of process to the LLC, SSNY shall mail copy of any 11435 on January 5, 2024 at 183 Roslyn Road, Roslyn process service against, 108-29 12:15 p.m., premises known as Heights, NY 11577. Purpose: 173rd Street, Jamaica, NY, 11433 137-24 231st Street, Laurelton, NY 11413. All that certain plot, for any lawful purpose.

Any lawful purpose. piece or parcel of land, with 3309 KHAN LLC. Arts. of Notice of Formation of the buildings and improvements Org. fi led with the SSNY on Caminos Unidos LLP Articles of thereon erected, situate, lying Organization were fi led with the 11/08/23. Offi ce: Queens Secretary of State of New York and being in the Borough County. SSNY designated as (SSNY) on 10/12/2023. Offi ce and County of Queens, City and State of New York, Block agent of the LLC upon whom location: Queens County. SSNY 13172 and Lot 50. Approximate has been designated as agent process against it may be of the LLP upon whom process amount of judgment is served. SSNY shall mail copy against it may be served. SSNY $33,426.59 plus interest and of process to the LLC, c/o shall mail a copy of process to: costs. Premises will be sold Shahanara Khan, 2215 35th UNITED STATE CORPORATION subject to provisions of filed AGENTS, INC, 7014 13TH AVENUE, Street, Astoria, NY 11105. SUITE 302, BROOKLYN, NY 11228. Judgment Index #724281/2020.

The Referee shall comply with Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. the Eleventh Judicial District’s Notice of Formation of Notice of Formation of 360 ACHIEVO COVID-19 policies concerning CHRISTINA CASPER NUTRITION LLC LLC Articles of Organization were public auctions of foreclosed fi led with the Secretary of State Articles of Organization were fi led properties. These policies, with the Secretary of State of New of New York (SSNY) on 08/18/2023. along with the Queens County Offi ce location: Queens County. York (SSNY) on 11/18/2023. Offi ce Foreclosure’s Auction Rules, location: Queens County. SSNY has SSNY has been designated as can be found on the Queens been designated as agent of the LLC agent of the LLC upon whom Supreme Court - Civil Term upon whom process against it may process against it may be website. William Driscoll, Esq., be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of served. SSNY shall mail a copy of Referee. Bronster, LLP, 156 process to: THE LIMITED LIABILITY process to: THE LIMITED LIABILITY West 56th Street, Suite 703, COMPANY, 6960 108TH ST., COMPANY, 9201 LAMONT AVE New York, New York 10019, APT 15, FOREST HILLS, NY 11375.

APT 3C, ELMHURST, NY 11373.

Attorneys for Plaintiff Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

LEGAL NOTICE

BY PUBLICATION is hereby given to Mohammad Islam (“Islam”) and Ahmad Bostani a/k/a Arman Rezayar Bostani a/k/a Ahmad Reza Bostani a/k/a Ahmadreza Bostani (collectively referred to as “Bostani”), that Judgment has been entered jointly and severally against you and in favor of Commonwealth Land Title insurance Company in the amount of $437,288.01, plus interest at the statutory rate of 9% per annum from the date of entry of the Judgment. The Judgment was filed, recorded and entered by the Queens County Clerk on November 22, 2023 and resulted from a certain lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Queens, entitled Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company v.

Mohammad Islam, et al., Index No. 702988/2015. This Judgment is fully enforceable against you, and the Sheriff may seize your money, wages, property or other assets to pay all or part of the Judgment. If you seek information about the legal process but cannot afford an attorney, you may call the Help Center at the Supreme Court at (718) 298-1024, or visit Room 100 in the Courthouse. Copies of all papers are available by contacting the attorneys for Commonwealth: Fidelity National Law Group, 103 Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 213, Roseland, New Jersey 07068, (973) 863-7017.

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023 Page 32

C M SQ page 32 Y K SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF QUEENS. TLOA MORTGAGE, LLC, Plaintiff -against- SON’S OF BHUMAK INC., et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 26, 2023 and entered on November 8, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the courthouse steps of the Queens County Supreme Court, located at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY on January 5, 2024 at 12:30 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the County of Queens, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the westerly side of 125th Street, distant 133.38 feet northerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the westerly side of 125th Street with the northerly side of 101st Avenue; being a plot 100.12 feet by 40.04 feet by 100.12 feet by 40.04 feet. Block: 9465 Lot: 18 Said premises known as 97-26 125TH STREET, RICHMOND HILL, NY Approximate amount of lien $580,076.87 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 703931/2019.

WILLIAM T. DRISCOLL, ESQ., Referee, The Camporeale Law Group PLLC, Attorney(s) for Plaintiff, 585 Stewart Avenue, 770, Garden City, NY 11530 {*QUEENS CHR*}

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS, HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2007-WM1 ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, Plaintiff, vs. SABRINA EDERY, AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ANN LEWITINN, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 25, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the outside steps of the Queens County Supreme Court, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435 on January 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., premises known as 13-52 Dickens Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, Block 15665 and Lot 38. Approximate amount of judgment is $905,788.55 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 703799/2021. The Referee shall comply with the Eleventh Judicial District’s COVID-19 policies concerning public auctions of foreclosed properties. These policies, along with the Queens County Foreclosure’s Auction Rules, can be found on the Queens Supreme Court - Civil Term website. Austin I. Idehen, Esq., Referee, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff

THE CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DIVISION OF BRIDGES CONSULTANT PROGRAMS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The City of New York has Request for Proposals available for qualified Consulting Engineering Firms interested in the following Proposed Contract.

Project or Contract Title: Request for Proposal – REI Services in Connection with Replacement of East 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge over Belt Parkway, Borough of Brooklyn Contract No. HBKA23308 PIN: 84124BKBR633 Expected Contract Term: 728 Consecutive Calendar Days starting from the date of the Notice to Proceed.

Description of Services Required: The services to be procured is the REI Services in Connection with Replacement of East 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge over Belt Parkway, Borough of Brooklyn

This Procurement is subject to participation goals for MinorityOwned Business Enterprises (MBEs), as required by Section 6-129 of the New York Administrative Code. The M/WBE goal for this project is 30%.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) is released through PASSPort, New York City’s online procurement portal. Responses to this RFP must be submitted via PASSPort. To access the RFP, vendors should visit the PASSPort public Portal at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ mocs/systems/about-go-to-passport.page and click on the “Search Funding Opportunities in PASSPort” blue box. Doing so will take one to the public portal of all procurements in the PASSPort system. To quickly locate the RFP, insert the 84124P0006 into the Keyword search field. To respond to the RFP, vendors must create an account within the PASSPort system if they have not already done so.

Release Date: December 20, 2023 Pre-Proposal Conference: December 28, 2023, at 10 AM Submission of Request for Proposals are due on or before 2:00 PM on January 22, 2024

Notice of Formation of ESSENTIAL FIRST AID LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/26/2023. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: THE LIMITED LIABLITLTY COMPANY, 6930 62ND ST APT 4F, RIDGEWOOD, NY 11385.

Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of HI SWEET NYC LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/03/2023. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, 2279 19TH ST, ASTORIA, NY 11105. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail to: 89-42 Doran Ave., Glendale, NY 11385. Purp: any lawful.

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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Notice of Formation of HARRIS-ANIZAN HOLDINGS LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/08/2023. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, 13539 118TH ST, SOUTH OZONE PARK, NY 11420. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Cafe LLC fi led 11/16/23.

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A Pre-Proposal Conference (Optional) has been scheduled for Howard Beach/Rockwood Park.

December 28th, 2023, Time: 10:00 AM through Zoom. Proposers Brick/Frame Hi-Ranch on 40x100, who wish to attend the virtual meeting can access by using the Link 3 BRs, 2 Baths, Original Hi-Ranch Converted to Colonial With Mint provided in the “Prepare RFX” Section - SETUP Tab - Pre-Proposal/ Howard Beach Furnished Room Kitchen, Granite & S.S. Pre-Bid Conference Section in PASSPort.

of Formation of Notice of Formation of IH West Emet Solutions, LLC, fi led Notice GATEWAY SUFFICIENTCYS LLC Harlem Manor Views LLC. Arts. articles of organization with Articles of Organization were fi led of Org. fi led with Secy. of State the NY Secretary of State with the Secretary of State of New (SSNY) on 1/13/21. Offi ce on Nov. 1, 2023. Offi ce: York (SSNY) on 11/08/2023. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY location: Queens County. SSNY has designated as agent of LLC Queens County. Service of been designated as agent of the upon whom process against process designation: United LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall States Corporation Agents, it may be served. SSNY shall mail mail process to: c/o Infi nite Inc. 7014 13th Avenue, Suite a copy of process to: THE LIMITED Horizons, LLC, 142-05 Rockaway LIABILITY COMPANY, 11144 144TH Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11436. 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. ST, JAMAICA, NY 11435. Purpose: Purpose: any lawful purpose. For any lawful purpose.

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Notice of Formation of PARADIES LAGARDERE @ JFK T5 2023, LLC Arts. of Org. fi led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/18/23. Offi ce location: Queens County. Princ. offi ce of LLC: 2849 Paces Ferry Rd., Ste. 400, Atlanta, GA 30339. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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SUMMONS Supreme Court of New York, Queens County GITSIT SOLUTIONS LLC, Plaintiff -against JAMES R. MILLER AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF EILEEN A. WENZEL; JANE MILLER AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF EILEEN A. WENZEL; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF EILEEN A. WENZEL; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EASTERN DISTRICT); “JOHN DOE” AND “JANE DOE” said names being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, Defendants. Index No. 716186/2022 Mortgaged Premises: 64-52 58th Road Maspeth, New York 11378 Block: 2753 Lot: 256 To The Above Named Defendant(s): YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. If you fail to appear or to answer within the aforementioned time frame, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECTIVE of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a Mortgage to secure $540,000.00 and interest, recorded in the Queens County Clerk’s Office on September 4, 2008 in CRFN 2008000352461, covering the premises known as 64-52 58th Road, Maspeth, New York 11378. The relief sought herein is a final judgment directing sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Queens County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is located. 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. FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160, Garden City, New York 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff.

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS INDEX NO. 706683/2023 Plaintiff designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property Mortgaged Premises: 90-02 215TH STREET, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11428 Block: 10648, Lot: 27 U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS COLLATERAL TRUST TRUSTEE OF FIRSTKEY MASTER FUNDING 2021-A COLLATERAL TRUST Plaintiff, vs. JEAN PAUL PAREJA, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF IVAN BORSIC; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF IVAN BORSIC, 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; BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; “JOHN DOE” AS “JOHN DOE #1”; “JANE DOE” AS “JOHN DOE #2”, “JOHN DOE #3” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last ten 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 premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you. 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 $356,000.00 and interest, recorded on July 06, 2005, in CRFN 2005000379613, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York, covering premises known as 90-02 215TH STREET, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11428. 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: December 8th, 2023 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC, Attorney for Plaintiff, Orit Avraham, Esq., 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, NY 11590. 516-280-7675

Page 33 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS INDEX NO. 722148/2022 Plaintiff designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property Mortgaged Premises: 49-06 ENFIELD PLACE , BAYSIDE, NY 11364 Block: 7490, Lot: 58 THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2006-OA6 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-OA6 Plaintiff, vs. HYE SUN CHANG, if living, and if she/ he 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; RCS RECOVERY SERVICES, LLC; BNB BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; WILLIAM WOO, “JOHN DOE #2” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last eleven 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 premises, described in the complaint, Defendants To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you. 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 $623,000.00 and interest, recorded on January 11, 2006, in CRFN 2006000018332, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York., covering premises known as 49-06 ENFIELD PLACE, BAYSIDE, NY 11364. 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: December 12th, 2023, ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC, Attorney for Plaintiff, Matthew Rothstein, Esq., 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023 Page 34

C M SQ page 34 Y K Notice of formation of Safety Blanket Homecare Agency Limited Liability Company. Articles of Organization fi led with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 8/28/23. Offi ce located in Queens County. SSNY has been designated for service of process.

SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC at 13844C Queens Blvd., Unit 213, Briarwood, NY 11435. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of SOZA LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 07/27/2023. Offi ce 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: SOZA LLC, 139-26 228TH STREET, LAURELTON, NY 11413. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

WINDHAM HOME LLC, Arts. of Org. fi led with the SSNY on 12/06/2023. Offi ce 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, 37-14 55 St., Woodside, NY 11377.

Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

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SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS INDEX NO. 713690/2022 Plaintiff designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property Mortgaged Premises: 11330 199TH STREET, SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412 Block: 10993, Lot: 320 MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC Plaintiff, vs. ERECH SWANSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF WILDA SWANSTON; SARAH SWANSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF WILDA SWANSTON; ERNEST SWANSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF WILDA SWANSTON; EDWIN A. SWANSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF WILDA SWANSTON; SAMARA SWANSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF WILDA SWANSTON; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF WILDA SWANSTON, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specifi c 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; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; QUEENS COLLEGE SPECIAL PROJECTS FUND; MICHAEL “DOE” (REFUSED LAST NAME) AS JOHN DOE #1; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #2; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #3; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #4; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #5, “JOHN DOE #6” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last seven names being fi ctitious 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 premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a defi ciency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.

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 $420,000.00 and interest, recorded on May 19, 2004, in Instrument Number 2004000315670, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York, covering premises known as 11330 199TH STREET, SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412. The relief sought in the within action is a fi nal 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: October 23rd, 2023 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC, Attorney for Plaintiff, William Knox, Esq., 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675

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SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS INDEX NO. 702456/2020 Plaintiff designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property Mortgaged Premises: 87-47 98TH STREET, WOODHAVEN, NY 11421 Block: 9286, Lot: 109 AMERICAN ADVISORS GROUP, Plaintiff, vs. CARMEN L. SANTANA, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF JOSEPHINE ROMAN; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES TO THE ESTATE OF JOSEPHINE ROMAN, 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; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; MARIA CORSINO; JULIO “DOE” (REFUSED LAST NAME); JORGE “DOE” (REFUSED LAST NAME); MARIELLA “DOE” (REFUSED LAST NAME); VINNY “DOE” (REFUSED LAST NAME), “JOHN DOE #6” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last seven 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 premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you. 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 $938,250.00 and interest, recorded on October 04, 2016, in Liber CRFN 2016000348211, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York, covering premises known as 87-47 98TH STREET, WOODHAVEN, NY 11421. 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: November 27th, 2023 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC, Matthew Rothstein, Esq., 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675

C M SQ page 35 Y K

BEAT

Mets will miss Mauricio

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

Mets fans have become all too accustomed to devastating injury news about their favorite team’s players. They had to grit their teeth again last Tuesday when the media relations department informed everyone top prospect Ronny Mauricio had torn the ACL in his right knee playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic two days earlier and would require surgery. The conventional wisdom is Mauricio will miss most, if not all, of the 2024 season.

The news immediately made the Flushing faithful think back to last March when they learned baseball’s best closer, Edwin Diaz, would be lost for the 2023 season after injuring his knee during a celebration by Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. In retrospect, Diaz’s freakish injury set the tone for 2023 for the Mets.

An argument can be made that he should have bypassed the WBC because he was being paid $20 million by the Mets to perform for them, and not assume a needless injury risk. Mauricio, however, has only played two months at the bigleague level. He showed offensive prowess, but needs to learn the strike zone better as he swung at countless bad pitches. The Mets also wanted him to get experience at the various infield and outfield positions. In short, Mauricio was doing what he was supposed to do by playing in the Dominican Professional Baseball League.

Mauricio’s injury means Brett Baty and Mark Vientos will compete for the starting third base job. While both players have long been considered jewels in the Mets farm system, both struggled in 2023, barely finishing with batting averages above .200. Their fielding was shoddy as well. Both were demoted to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets because of subpar play. Hopefully the struggles provided lessons for 2024.

Vientos, along with starting pitcher Jose Quintana, were present at the annual Mets holiday party at Citi Field for kids in Queens elementary schools. I asked both players about the significant deferred income portion of Shohei Ohtani’s contract with the Dodgers. Vientos admitted he did not know much about deferred compensation, but would speak with his agent, former Mets General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen, about it. Quintana said he wouldn’t make it a feature of his next contract.

Baseball players must pay income taxes to the various jurisdictions where their teams play. It will be interesting to see if the Dodgers or Ohtani will remit the proper amounts to states when his annual $68 million annuity starts in 10 years.

One must wonder whether Ohtani will relocate to a nontax state like Florida to avoid giving California more tax revenue. Expect lawsuits to be Q filed down the road.

See the extended version of Sports Beat every week at qchron.com.

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Page 35 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 21, 2023 Page 36

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