This Is Queensborough - March 2021

this is...

March 2021 . Volume 17 . Issue 3

RAVENSWOOD TO

RISE

COMPANY AIMS TO CONVERT ONE OF THE CITY’S DIRTIEST POWER PLANTS TO A SOURCE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY “IF WE CAN DO THAT HERE, WE’VE NOT ONLY DONE SOMETHING VERY GOOD, BUT WE HOPE TO BE A REPLICABLE MODEL FOR ALL TO TRANSITION”

THE ENERGY ISSUE

• FUTURE-PROOF YOUR BUSINESS • THE SILVER LINING FROM THE COVID PANDEMIC • INCENTIVES TO UPDATE YOUR TRUCK FLEET

RISE LIGHT & POWER CEO CLINT PLUMMER

EMU Health and NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital Bring World-Class Medical Care to Queens EMU Health, a multi-specialty outpatient facility in the Glendale section of Queens, and NYU Langone Orthopedics announce the addition of Ivan Fernandez-Madrid, MD, to the facility’s medical staff, beginning in February 2021.

A leading orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Madrid brings extensive expertise in hip and knee reconstruction, including the use of innovative new technology like robotic-assisted surgery and partial replacements. He is fellowship trained in Sports Medicine and specializes in minimally invasive surgery of the knee and shoulder.

“At NYU Langone, we are dedicated to providing not only the highest level of world- class medical care, but also to improving access to specialty care where people live and work,” says Madrid, a clinical associate professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Langone. “I’m excited to expand these much-needed services in Queens.”

“With over 2.5 million people living Queens, we are located in the 21st century epicenter of New York City,” says Chief Clinical Executive Ms. Efrat Yaish, PA, C. “Demand for high quality health care continues to rise and the need for excellent, local options is extremely important for patients who cannot easily travel to Manhattan. We are thrilled to offer the additional level of care our relationship with NYU Langone will bring to our facility and the people of Queens.”

Adds Daniel Lowy, founder and CEO of EMU Health, “When I established EMU

Health, it was imperative to make a positive difference in my community. My team and I are excited by the opportunities our relationship with NYU Langone will provide to those in need.”

EMU Health is a four-year-old multi-specialty outpatient medical facility under article 28, consisting of an ambulatory surgery center (AAAHC accredited) and physician practices. Since its inception, the facility has striven to make world-class medicine locally available to Queens residents, and NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital is a world-renowned facility ranked among the top 10 in the country for orthopedics, rheumatology, and rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital received Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, an honor given to only 8 percent of hospitals. NYU Langone’s doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals provide the highest-quality medical and surgical care for the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of orthopedic, musculoskeletal, rheumatic, and neurological conditions, as well as other related diseases and injuries.

About Dr. Ivan F. Madrid Dr. Madrid has been in practice for 20 years in New York City. He came to New York from Michigan in 1985, graduating from Columbia College in 1989. He graduated from SUNY Downstate medical school in 1995 and did his orthopedic residency training at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital. After, he did a fellow-

ship in Sports Medicine at Wayne State University and has been in continuous practice at NYU Langone since 2001.

He will be joined at EMU by Charlene Brown Bryan, NP. Charlene has worked as a floor and OR nurse since 2007 and has worked as a nurse practitioner in orthopedics since 2014. She is currently obtaining her Doctor of Nursing Practice and will graduate in May 2021. She is an integral part of the practice assisting in diagnosis and non-operative management of orthopedic conditions. She assists with injections including cortisone, viscosupplementation, platelet rich plasma and stem cells and manages perioperative care. Both Dr. Madrid and Charlene are fluent in Spanish.

March 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 3

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR LEADING ON ENERGY POLICY There’s a great deal happen- goal of a carbon-free electricity ing in energy in New York, system, they increase grid stabiland the Queens business com- ity and reduce the frequency of munity is ready and costly, even life-threatwell-informed to play ening blackouts. a leading role in these Stories like these transitions. affirm why it’s such At the end of 2020, an important time to Astoria became home be a part of the Queens to ConEdison’s newest Chamber of Comenergy storage system merce, where we have and the largest utilia business commuty-owned energy stornity invested in these age battery facility in changes but also hold the state. Queens saw TOM SANTUCCI the long-standing traanother win early this CHAIRPERSON ditions of being good year, with indepenneighbors. dent power producer LS Power In this issue, I hope you take a announcing plans to build an moment to learn more about how even larger capacity battery sys- your building or business can tem at their Ravenswood power benefit from the expertise of your plant in Long Island City. fellow Chamber members in the On just these two projects, energy sector.

Queens helps the state meet over Without question, 2020 was a quarter of its 2025 energy stor- incredibly challenging for Queens age goals. Not only do these proj- businesses and residents alike, ects create well-paying jobs and move our state toward the 2040 CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

CHANGING WORLD OF ENERGY Four years ago, the Queens Force.”

Chamber of Commerce dedicated The committee is tackling an entire issue of this magazine to member problems and developenergy and increasing awareness ing a transparent and transactional on the need for improvements in approach to providing energy soluthe built environment. tions from Queens Chamber firms.

There has been significant progFor the past year, these energy ress since that time, and notably “All-Stars,” led by co-chairs Marmajor city and state shall Haimson and initiatives and regulaJay Solly, have held tory changes. Rather weekly working calls than be reactive to this, to triage new business the Queens Chamber development, update of Commerce had on industry changes, attracted and fostered hone messaging to practitioners in energy Chamber members and environmental and assist the Chamsectors with a laserber in seeking regubeam focus on getting latory guidance from timely, accurate infor- THOMAS J. GRECH city agencies. mation to our mem- PRESIDENT & CEO In mid-May 2020, bers. as New York City preComing from an energy firm pared for Phase II reopenings, this background, I have been so pleased team helped the Chamber host a over these past few years to see the complimentary webinar entitled growth of the Queen Chamber’s “COVID-19 Business Readiness” Energy & Environmental Committee and their “Gold Standard Task CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

You see the opportunity. We see the potential.

Turn to Ridgewood’s commercial real estate team for the competitive options and local expertise you need to support a smooth, fast process and long-term success.

Multi-family, mixed-use, office and retail properties

Up to 75% financing available

Acquisition and refinancing

Connect with a local real estate pro at www.ridgewoodbank.com/team.

Credit approval required. © 2021 Ridgewood Savings Bank.

All rights reserved.

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

QUEENS QUICKLY

CON ED CUSTOMERS EMBRACE SOLAR

Con Edison customers continued their rapid adoption of solar energy in 2020, despite the economic and logistical challenges the coronavirus pandemic posed.

Customers in New York City and Westchester County completed 5,542 arrays during the year.

The panels customers placed on their roofs last year have the capacity to produce 44.77 megawatts of power.

“The pandemic caused a pause in construction and the recession created apprehension among people who wanted to invest in their homes and businesses,” said Lenny Singh, senior vice president of Customer Energy Solutions. “But it’s a tribute to our customers that they continued to choose clean, renewable solar energy.”

Con Edison customers have now completed more than 35,700 projects with the capacity to produce 322 megawatts. Those projects avoid 300,000 tons of carbon emissions and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by more than 64,000 cars.

It’s a lot of clean electricity. The panels customers have installed have the capacity to produce enough power to run more than 4 million 42-inch LED TVs. Among the five boroughs of New York City and Westchester County, Queens has the most customer solar arrays at 11,334. Customers in Queens completed the most projects (2,064) last year. That borough also added the most capacity, 13.35 megawatts.

A typical residential customer with a 6-kilowatt solar array can generate enough power to provide up to $700 in annual savings, helping reduce a bill by more than 60 percent.

Con Edison encourages customers to consider solar energy and tries to make the installation

process faster, easier, and less expensive.

The company recently began offering solar installers and their customers a device called Smart ConnectDER, which allows a customer to avoid the cost of upgrading the home’s circuit breaker panel and excessive electrical boxes on the side of the house.

The device can save a solar customer upwards of $1,000 and is available following a successful pilot program in 2019. Customers or installers who are interested can send an e-mail to ConnectDer@coned.com.

The company also sought and received state Public Service Commission approval to shorten the process for customers with solar projects up to 5 megawatts. Until this year, customers applying to interconnect these projects had to pay for a detailed engineering review that could take up to three months.

This new process has shortened the interconnection timeline for dozens of projects.

The company has also enhanced a software program that streamlines communication and project inquiries between developers, applicants and Con Edison’s Distributed Energy Services Group.

CHAMBER CREATES TECH COUNCIL The Queens Chamber of Commerce last month launched the Queens Tech Council, which consists of major tech companies and startups, as well as business, government and community leaders.

Council members include representatives from Google, Facebook, Amazon, Pursuit, LIC Partnership, Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, Crown Castle, Cornell Tech, and The Business Incubator Association of New York State.

“With our rich diversity, transportation infrastructure, world-class colleges and universities, and thriving arts and culture scene, Queens is an attractive option for tech, from startups to the world’s most recognizable companies and everything in between,” said Chamber President and CEO Tom Grech. “The Queens Tech Council will focus on making sure tech companies have everything they need to grow and thrive, and that all Queens businesses have the tech resources required to remain competitive in an increasingly global marketplace.”

The Council will focus on building an economy that embraces innovation and promotes tech adoption, from existing giants in established industries to startups working on cutting-edge applications.

This means ensuring Queens is producing the talent that companies look for, that Queens-based tech companies are able to get the resources and capital they need, and that businesses in traditional industries are able to adapt to the changing economy, successfully integrate new technologies, and upskill their workforces to remain competitive and thrive in the years to come.

The announcement comes as the borough and the city as a whole attempt to recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. The pandemic has accelerated the pace of digital adoption and technological change, leaving broad swathes of the city behind and exposing the true cost of ignoring the city’s structural inequalities.

At a moment when people are re-imagining what New York City can and should be, and recommitting themselves to ensuring that it remains a preeminent global city, the Queens Tech Council is positioned to seize a unique opportunity to build a Queens that embraces the possibilities and industries of the future, and positions all of its residents to thrive.

“The Queens Tech Council has the potential to lift many people, businesses and even neighborhoods out of this economic crisis,” said Hope Knight, president and CEO of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation.”

TABLE OF CONTENTS Complying With COVID-Related OSHA Regs .......................................5

Stay Connected With the Queens Chamber in March ......................................17

Promotions, Announcements & Appointments .......................................6

Get to Know Four Members of the Chamber Staff ............................................18

FOCUS ON ENERGY: Renewable Energy is a Competitive Edge ..8

Chamber Welcomes New Members ........................................................................21

FOCUS ON ENERGY: Chamber’s Gold Standard Task Force .........10 FOCUS ON ENERGY: Future-Proof Your Business ...........................11 FOCUS ON ENERGY: Converting Your Old Truck Fleet ................12 COVER STORY: Clint Plummer of Rise Light & Power ..................14 4

PUBLISHER Walter H. Sanchez

MANAGING EDITOR Shane Miller

MARKETING DIRECTOR John Sanchez BQE Media, 45-23 47th St., 2nd Floor, Woodside, NY 11377 Phone: (718) 426-7200 Fax: (347) 507-5827

March 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 3

FOCUS ON ENERGY

EMBRACING DEMAND SIDE ENERGY MANAGEMENT

BY MATTHEW MCCUE

Clean Energy, Carbon Neutrality and Smart Cities have gone from lofty goals to reality and New York is leading the way for the United States.

The road map to reach these goals, albeit complex, is really starting to take shape with the confluence of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Greener, Greater Buildings Plan, New York State’s Reforming the Energy Vision and New York City’s Local Law 97.

The result of all this is going to reduce carbon emissions in New York City 80 percent by 2050 while creating 100 percent renewable energy to power New York by 2040.

For over a decade, New York City’s built environment has been on a B-line towards energy efficiency. LED lighting and Variable Frequency Drives are so effective and have become so commonplace those energy efficiency measures have been written into the current New York Energy Conservation Code. Buildings have slashed their energy bills on the implementation of these measures alone.

Whether you were a progressive building owner who jumped on the energy efficiency bandwagon early or were a late adopter, energy efficiency is now deeply ingrained in the fabric of New York City.

So much so, per Local law 33/95 all buildings over 25,000 square feet are now given an Energy Efficiency Rating from A to F based on the ENERGY STAR Benchmark calculation of your building. Buildings are required to display the Energy Efficiency Rating within their entrances for all to see.

As if positive peer pressure in the most competitive real estate market in the world was not enough to influence efficiencies, Local Law 97 was passed two years ago requiring all buildings over 25,000 square feet in New York City to be carbon efficient as well.

The road map for energy and carbon efficiency has now turned into an ultra-marathon.

How much more energy efficient can a building get and where does carbon efficiency play into all of this? Buildings may be able to meet their Local Law 97 2025 carbon emission threshold, but how is one going to reach the more stringent 2030 threshold and beyond?

The answer to these questions is going to be a well-developed and executed game plan of energy management, demand-side energy management, a renewable energy strategy and electrification. We are seeing it already with the efficiency of cars.

Electric automobiles are becoming more prevalent on the road today, and some automakers are phasing out their gas-fueled models all together. Buildings are currently in that same transition.

Fossil fuel-run boilers and steamrun chillers are being replaced with electric HVAC equipment as the most effective way to meet Local Law 97 thresholds. Although good for the environment, what does that additional electricity load mean for New York’s grid? See Demand Response and Demand Side Energy Management.

A building operator’s Demand Side Energy Management strategy is going to be critical in years to come, as the decarbonization through electrification movement in New York City takes hold. More electric load means more stress on the grid, which means buildings need to manage that load via Demand Response programs to assure resiliency.

The upside to all of this is a watchful eye on resiliency and Demand Response programs will pay buildings to curtail energy to prevent brownouts and blackouts.

Many buildings are factoring in the Demand Response revenue into the economics of their decarbonization projects.

For example, buildings are replacing carbon intensive steam chillers with electric chillers, which can add anywhere from 500 kW to 2,000 kW worth of electric load to a building. Participation in Demand Response by ramping

down their electric chiller or transition to a standby steam chiller can earn meaningful revenue for a building.

Demand Response revenue earned from this curtailment can now be used to shorten the ROI horizon of these decarbonization measures and become a nice yearly cash flow once the project is paid for.

To help fortify the resiliency of the grid, there is a burgeoning market of competitively priced, easy to implement building automation and controls companies that are now equipping buildings in New York with smart building infrastructure.

This allows owners and operators the ability to run their building at the right temperature set points to assure energy efficiency and tenant comfort while enabling buildings for Demand Response.

With the click of a button, a building can reduce its energy load when a Demand Response call is given.

Automation and controls will also provide buildings the capability to perform Peak Demand Management. Peak Demand Management is a practice where a building works with its Demand Response provider to curtail energy use when the grid is at its highest peak.

That highest annual peak of the year in New York sets the Demand Charge on energy bills. The lower the energy use during that peak event the lower ConEd Demand

Charge will be for your property.

Similarly, Local Law 97 is going to credit buildings for their time of energy use as well.

That piece of the law is not fully fleshed out yet, but when it is, controlling a building’s energy usage when the grid is at its highest peak will count towards Local Law 97 compliance. The adoption of this technology is going to be key for grid stability in New York.

It is going to be one of the core strategies to manage the additional electric load brought to the grid effectively.

New York City is not going to reach its “80 by 50” goals without a heavy lift from renewable energy. Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision has pledged New York will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy by 2040.

Local Law 92 & 94 are going to help get New York City there.

These laws are requiring all buildings over 25,000 square feet to have solar panels and/or a green roof on the top of their buildings.

This will be a slow rollout, but all new construction and roof retrofits are required to have solar or green roofs installed per these laws.

Solar on every roof in New York City will be a big help in the production of clean energy. New York ISO has even developed a Demand Response Program called CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

but the tremendous opportunity before us as we rebuild and recover is the chance to do things right.

Now expansive and widesweeping laws like the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act can be implemented in a doable timeline and with equity in mind, as our state ramps-up clean energy production to reach 70 percent renew-

able energy generation by 2030.

Queens businesses will play a significant role in that, including the state’s commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind power by 2035.

When Albany says they’re creating more than 150,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector and the City of New York estimates they will need an additional 25,000 “green jobs” workers, it’s fair to say that this transition is no passing trend.

5

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org Email your announcement or promotion to info@thisisqueensborough.com

PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS Perez returns to mayor’s CAU team Mayor Bill de Blasio today appointed 40-year Queens resident Roberto Perez as the new commissioner of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit (CAU).

With his decades of experience and deep connections throughout New York City, Perez will support the Vaccine for All equity efforts in hardest-hit communities and help deepen the bonds between police and residents.

Perez is returning to CAU, where he served as a deputy commissioner at the beginning of the de Blasio Administration.

“This year is about building a recovery for all of us in New York City, and PEREZ Roberto is going to help lead that effort in neighborhoods across the city,” said de Blasio. “I’ve known Roberto Perez for years, and I’ve seen firsthand how deep his relationships are with communities across this city.”

Perez is a native New Yorker. His professional experience includes nearly a decade in government positions where he has cultivated an extensive array of relationships and strategies to bring awareness to critical issues in front of elected officials and community leaders.

Perez’s prior position was at the Department of Education, where he was senior executive director of Intergovernmental Affairs.

As CAU commissioner, Perez and his staff of 20-plus are tasked with connecting city resources to community members, especially those living in the communities most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s an honor to come back to CAU to lead a group of talented and committed city workers who are the face and voice of this administration in each part of this city,” said Perez. “One of the mandates of government is to be accessible to people, and we will continue following that mandate every day.”

David joins team at Con Edison Richard David was named director of Regional and Community Affairs for Con Edison Company of New York in Queens.

Prior to Con Edison, David was assistant vice president for nonprofits at Kasirer, LLC, where oversaw the government fundraising, legislative agenda and community relations for New York

6

City health, cultural and education organizations.

Before that, he was a chief of staff at the Administration for Children’s Services, where he implemented key reforms to the agency’s contracting and training procedures.

He also previously served as executive director at the Department of Consumer Affairs, and vice president at the Economic Development Corporation where he managed funding for the construction of community projects across the five boroughs.

For over ten years, David DAVID served on his local community board in Queens, where he lives. He has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the Wagner School at New York University, and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Hunter College.

David joins team at Con Edison Two city-run hospitals in Queen have new leadership.

NYC Health+Hospitals appointed Helen Arteaga Landaverde as the new CEO of Elmhurst Hospital and Neil J. Moore as the new CEO of Queens Hospital Center in Jamaica.

Arteaga, a longtime Corona resident, has worked for Urban Health Plan, a network of community health centers, for 15 years. She most recently served as assistant ARTEAGA vice president of the Queens Network and Executive Initiatives since 2015.

A member of the board of directors for NYC Health+Hospitals since 2016, Arteaga also held various positions in the Northwell Health System. She earned her master’s in public health from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from New York University.

She completed a fellowship with the National Hispanic Leadership Institute and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in September 2010. She is currently completing her doctoral degree at the CUNY School of Public Health.

Arteaga, whose father was a community activist, worked with Paloma Hernandez, president and CEO of Urban Health Plan, to open Plaza del Sol Family Health Center in Corona in 2009.

The site was dedicated in her father’s memory five years later.

“As a provider of care to close to one million people in one of the most linguistically and ethnically diverse communities in the United States, Elmhurst is positioned to create access to quality health care that can help change outcomes for residents of this culturally rich borough,” she said.

Moore worked in the city’s public health system for more than a decade at hospitals in Harlem, East Flatbush and BedfordStuyvesant. He most recently served as principal of LIEN Healthcare Solutions, a consulting firm that provides services to startups.

Before that, he worked as the president and CEO of the MOORE University of Maryland Capital Region Health, leading that health system through financial and operational challenges by building a new medical center in Prince Georges County.

Moore earned his master of public administration from Long Island University and master of business administration in finance from New York Institute of Technology. He also received his bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph College in Brooklyn.

“I’m looking forward to working with the fearless hospital workers that have carried the hospital through some of the toughest days of this pandemic,” he said, “and continue together towards completely fighting back this virus, vaccinating our neighbors and further strengthening our beautiful Queens community.”

Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140 Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370-1131 Entire Contents Copyright 2021 by Queensborough. All letters sent to the QUEENSBOROUGH should be brief and are subject to condensation. Writers should include a full address and home and office telephone numbers, where available, as well as affiliation, indicating special interest. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of the QUEENSBOROUGH. The publishers will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to the QUEENSBOROUGH within five days of publication.

Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. BQE Media assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold the QUEENSBOROUGH and its employees harmless from all cost, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement.

Produced by BQE Media 45-23 47th Street, 2nd Floor Woodside 11377• 718.426.7200 Send articles & photos to:

queensboroughmagazine@queensledger.com

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

FOCUS ON ENERGY

RENEWABLE ENERGY & A YOUR COMPETITIVE EDGE

As the U.S. economy struggles to find balance in the midst of a pandemic, the business world is slowly reawakening. It may be too early to say how far-reaching the economic disruptions of this crisis will be, but for the commercial real estate (CRE) market, one thing is certain: Change is already underway.

As employees and companies are now well adapted to the workfrom-home culture, and will likely remain so for some time, CRE has been experiencing a restructuring.

The good news is, there is opportunity in this shift. While the pressure to return to business-as-usual can be monumental, this is not a time for throwback thinking.

The year 2020 was a watershed one in many ways, but for the CRE industry it’s been particularly challenging. Even as people return to the office, many have taken to the work-from-home life and prefer it.

Longer term, many CRE owners will have to figure out new ways to utilize and manage their spaces now that they could possibly see fewer occupants. Companies who take a forward-thinking approach to managing their portfolios will be more resilient in the end.

In this bold new world, CRE owners and investors have a choice: Batten down the hatches and hope for a return to “normal,” or reassess their portfolios and adapt to a new reality.

Those who choose the latter path have an opportunity to optimize the use of their properties, while increasing profitability and supporting the move to a more resilient clean energy economy.

WHERE DISRUPTION OCCURS, OPPORTUNITY AWAITS As any economist knows, disruptions can present great opportunities. Already the industrial market is experiencing a boon due to the pandemic’s acceleration of e-commerce.

Even before the pandemic, the energy industry was in the midst of a $5 trillion transition as ownership of the distribution and transmission network has been changing

8

hands from centralized to distributed power.

After years of cost reduction, renewable energy is finally competitive with natural gas. Even as oil prices have declined during the pandemic, renewable energy sources that produce electricity have continued to grow, and the need for energy storage has become even more apparent.

TURNING PROPERTIES INTO RENEWABLE ASSETS Commercial and industrial real estate has been at the forefront of the energy efficiency movement.

The industry has taken a hard look at how inefficient buildings can be and implemented sophisticated energy analytics to squeeze as much value as possible out of existing building stock.

New buildings are being designed to LEED and WELL-Building standards that increase the use of daylighting, automated lighting controls and natural spaces.

Now, with the improved business case of renewables like solar and storage, CRE owners of all kinds can take part in the distributed generation of energy, which can vastly increase the value of entire portfolios.

ENERGY PAYS YOU Integrating onsite solar and energy storage assets on your roof, grounds or parking lot improves property resiliency and adds to your bottom line while enhancing your brand’s reputation for sustainability.

But maintaining a solar system is not a core competency for most real estate developers. Fortunately, there are many approaches to building onsite solar.

Savvy real estate investors are learning they can be part of the movement to build back a better economy by turning their rooftops, parking lots and underutilized land into distributed power plants, with no upfront costs and no long-term maintenance concerns.

With a system owned and operated by a highly qualified energy

partner, commercial real estate owners receive regular lease payments (rent) which they can use to cover expenses or property improvements, such as the cost of a new roof.

Incremental revenue from these systems can even help fund strategic new property acquisitions, further increasing profitability while supporting corporate ESG objectives.

In the current environment, those who are working to thrive, not merely survive, will challenge old assumptions. The CRE industry has an unprecedented opportunity to catalyze their competitive advantage with onsite renewable energy, and be part of an economic recovery that is better, stronger, and more resilient than ever before.

The QCC Energy & Environmental Committee is implementing real and sustainable change. With the evolution of the Gold Standard Energy Task Force, the Chamber is enabling its members and other Queens constituents to take advantage of the opportunities to save money, add enterprise value, and comply with NYC energy standards.

The Renewable Energy Task Force, chaired by Sol Alliance, is engaging with local businesses, property owners, and other organizations to connect people to the benefits of technology like solar, battery storage, EV charging, and other solutions – without getting into the energy business.

Sol Alliance aligns people with Task Force team members that are true subject matter experts and best-in-class tradesmen and service providers.

Catalyze is an independent power producer with a technology platform that helps commercial real estate owners reduce costs, increase net operating income, and enhance growth and resiliency strategies for their portfolios.

With NYC’s rapid transition to clean energy, Sol Alliance and Catalyze utilize advanced analytics to pinpoint how real estate owners can capture new value and turn

complexity into simple long-term lease and profit-sharing income.

Energy is the new tenant on the block, generating incremental value and reducing the impact of the built environment on the planet.

DEMAND RESPONSE CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

the Distributed Energy Resources Participation Model, which will allow buildings with solar and batteries the ability to dispatch energy back to the grid in the event of a Demand Response call.

Not only will this provide resiliency, but the energy being injected back to the grid will be clean energy and not carbon intensive energy made from peaking power plants. Additionally, that dispatched energy will be sold back to the grid at a premium, which will turn this new Demand Response program into a nice revenue stream.

These are exciting times to be part of the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Energy & Environmental Committee’s Gold Standard Task Force. We can work with our fellow New Yorkers to reach their energy and carbon reduction goals, and in doing so comply with the Local Laws and lower operating expenses while making New York a healthier and more resilient place to live.

Matthew McCue has worked in New York City’s Sustainability, Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Market for over a decade. Matt is the NYISO account executive for CPower Energy Management and a member of the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Energy & Environmental Committees Gold Standard Task Force. On page 10, McCue explains why there might be a silver lining to the adjustments we all have had to make living in a postCOVID world.

March 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 3

MASPETH FEDERAL, CHAMBER TEAM UP TO HELP SMALL BIZ ‘ADOPT A SMALL BUSINESS’ PROGRAM HELPS OWNERS AFFECTED BY PANDEMIC Maspeth Federal Savings has been helping the small business community navigate business loans and mortgages for decades. Now, during this critical time for many small businesses, the forward-thinking community bank is taking their support a step further.

The community bank is spearheading a new initiative, in partnership with the Queens Chamber of Commerce, to help small businesses improve their marketing, networking, and access to resources.

Through the “Adopt a Small Business” program, Maspeth Federal Saving will cover the first-year Queens Chamber of Commerce membership dues of local small businesses; a $375 value. The small businesses then have access to resources such as incubator programs, workshops, networking, and assistance when applying to grants, including the Payroll Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).

“We knew our resources and connections could provide much needed support to smaller businesses in our communities. We are proud to work together on this initiative, and we encourage other organizations to join this effort and become an advocate during this time of need,” said Christina Zanca, Vice President and Marketing Director of Maspeth Federal Savings.

Maspeth Federal Savings, a longtime member of the Queens Chamber, announced plans to sponsor 10 small businesses in the Queens neighborhoods of Maspeth, Ridgewood, Rego Park, Fresh Meadows and New Hyde Park.

“Impactful” and “innovative” were two words used by Queens Chamber President and CEO, Tom Grech, to describe this initiative. Grech was also excited to report that over 300 businesses have been “adopted” by other Queens Chamber members.

The first business to benefit from the new program is Continental Pastry on Grand Avenue in Maspeth; the longtime Maspeth bake shop known for their famous “everything pretzels” and “black and white” cookies.

The ‘This Is Queensborough’ team

love WHERE YOU

visited Dean Fierek, owner of Continental Pastry, to discuss how his business has fared through the pandemic, and what this program means to him and his staff.

“Since our business is 90% wholesale, revenue has taken a major hit,” Fierek explained. “Since our inception in 1972, the large majority of our business has been with food service providers, events, schools, country clubs, and airlines,” Fierek said, who has a team of five employees at Continental Pastry.

Since Fierek’s business has never focused on retail, he realizes that it will be an uphill battle to develop a marketing plan to effectively connect with the local community. After finding out that Continental Pastry was going to be the first business in the Small Business Mentorship Program, Fierek was elated.

“Maspeth Federal has always been supporting the local business community and providing the help and guidance I need during this time means everything to our team here at Continental Pastry,” Fierek said.

Jill Nicolois, Assistant Vice President and Marketing Manager with Maspeth Federal, said the Queens Chamber’s resources will go a long way to help keep small businesses viable, especially during difficult times.

“It’s an investment in the community,” Nicolois added. “We’re introducing them to the Queens Chamber and hoping that they find the value and establish some relationships and connections that improve their ability to do business.”

live LETS BEAUTIFY JAMAICA TOGETHER ZARA'S PHILANTHROPY Involvement on community boards richmond hill hs computer lab Voices of Jamaica features community events Fundraising

Luxury Apartments in Jamaica, Queens 166-07 Hillside Avenue Jamaica, NY 11432 718.291.3331 • application@zararealty.com

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

FOCUS ON ENERGY

SILVER LINING FROM GOLD STANDARD LESSONS FROM A YEAR OF CHALLENGES TO HELP YOUR BUSINESS IN 2021

BY MATTHEW MCCUE The Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Energy & Environmental Committee’s Gold Standard Task Force, led by Marshall Haimson and Jay Solly, has been hard at work in Queens rebuilding from COVID, managing energy costs and decarbonizing buildings to make for a healthier and stronger borough.

They say adversity brings the best out of people, and there has been no truer case of this than in 2020 with the Chamber’s task force.

This talented group of subjectmatter experts, advocates, and practitioners dug deep to keep businesses, schools, and hospitals operational while developing best practices and optimizing building infrastructure translating to lower operating expenses and improving health for the built environment in Queens.

The year began with many asking, “How are we going to reopen the economy? What are the procedures and protocols necessary to assure a COVID free environ-

Matthew McCue is an account executive with CPower Energy Management and an energy efficiency leader on the Chamber’s Gold Standard Task Force.

10

ment?”

Mark Csontos, director of Engineering at Gil-Bar Industries, and James Rignall, vice president of Sales at Safety Facility Services, were on the frontlines working internally with their engineering staff and seeking guidance from the CDC and ASHRAE to develop specific protocols on disinfecting office spaces to hospitals.

Rignall said he has disinfected over 500,000 square feet of space in Queens this year.

“My clients were really concerned for the safety and wellbeing of their employees and clients,” he said. “However, once my clients developed their COVID Readiness Game Plan with safety facility and adhered to a consistent daily disinfection and social distancing protocols, the new normal started to settle in around the office space.

“It is a small price to pay for the piece of mind knowing you have been vigilant about keeping your work environment free of COVID infections,” Rignall added.

“Combining disinfecting protocols with a clean air strategy was the combination for success for our clients at Gil-Bar in 2020,” continued Csontos. “There is a lot of information out there for people to consume on Indoor Air Quality [IAQ]. Buildings are a case-bycase basis, but in general, Gil-Bar adopts ASHRAE 61.1 and 62.2 standards for IAQ. “The initial strategy of flushing the building with 100 percent outside air has been tempered to 70 percent ventilation with proper MERV filtration and UV lighting,” he added. “Gil-Bar’s clients have seen the most positive results in their VOC count with this method.”

These efforts aren’t only about safety, the ancillary benefit to these stringent IAQ protocols is not only for health, but also wellness and productivity at work.

This has been a terrific side

effect of what the industry is going through currently that will prove highly beneficial in years to come for a more productive workspace.

Denco Energy Management was doing the same for schools and hospitals in Long Island and New Jersey.

“On one side of it, we are doing our best to get the teachers and children back to school safely,” said CEO Dennis Cody. “Our Empowered Water Solution was the perfect blend of safe, chemical-free disinfectant that could be trusted to kill COVID, while keeping the cost of the solution at a minimum and students safe.

On the other side of it, we were asked to find ways to cut costs anyway we could for the hospitals we were working with,” he added.

“They were hit with many additional costs including PPE and overtime that put serious constraints on budgets. Denco was able to find a balance of Energy Conservation Measures and Demand Response revenue to help the hospitals where they needed it the most: their bottom line.”

When Stephen Owen, partner at Sol Alliance was asked about 2020 and the solar market, he replied, “An interesting phenomenon happened when the world came to a halt. It gave people time to catch up and triage their business practices as well as their property and facilities management, and that has enabled people to identify and implement capital projects that add sustainable value for their enterprise.

“The market turned to solar development as a unique and relatively easy way to increase their net operating income and reduce their tax liability, and the adoption rate has never been stronger,” Owen added. “That, along with Local Laws 92, 94 and 97, have created strong tailwinds for the solar and battery energy storage market currently.”

Sol Alliance, in partnership with Premier Solar Solutions, is in the process of completing 48 rooftop

solar projects in Queens for Zara Realty.

“It’s great to see Zara so committed to bringing clean energy to Queens,” Owen said. “They are fantastic neighbors of the community and doing their part in creating a carbon free New York for us all to live in.”

On the topic of good neighbors, Frank Macchio, chief real estate officer of New York Community Bank, worked with the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Energy & Environmental team in retrofitting his bank branches with LED lighting.

Macchio decided to focus on Queens and Brooklyn first.

“It made sense for us to start in those areas as those are most critical to New York City,” he said.

ConEdison has robust incentives in those areas because that is where the electric grid is the most stressed. New York Community Bank jumped at the opportunity to permanently remove kilowatt demand through LED retrofits, which provided a healthy dose of resiliency back to Brooklyn and Queens.

Maria Fields, co-founder and president of JouleSmart Solutions, is no stranger to the world of capital improvements and grid resiliency.

JouleSmart partnered with the Greater New York Automobile Dealer Association this past year to provide their members with an “Infrastructure as a Service,” offering upgrades to a building’s lighting, HVAC and controls with no customer capital investment required.

This turnkey, managed solution accesses Con Ed and NYSERDA incentives and delivers performance that reduces expense and hassle related to facility operation.

“The solution is a good fit for businesses like car dealerships that are looking for ways to lower their operating expenses and carbon emissions,” said Fields. “Advanced CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

March 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 3

FOCUS ON ENERGY

FUTURE-PROOF YOUR BUSINESS

BY MARIA FIELDS & PATRICK O’NEILL The facilities that house our businesses are so central to their health. After all, they bring together colleagues and customers, and in doing so form community.

At the same time, these buildings come with headaches and expenses that distract and draw owners away from their prime investment focus: business strength and growth.

Recent years have only added issues to the shoulders of business principals. COVID has brought health risks and changing requirements for keeping businesses open.

States and cities globally are creating energy and carbon standards, often backed by rating systems, reporting requirements and fines that give them real teeth to push businesses to adopt upgrades in support of collective climate goals.

Energy costs are rising and also changing, with economics increasingly tied to when and where energy is used. In short, facility management is increasingly a key part of business management.

MODERN TECH TO THE RESCUE

The good news is that advanced building technology is here to help.

Developments in IoT devices, cloud connectivity and analytics bring powerful capabilities to even small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), Capabilities, by the way, that large commercial and industrial sites have used to their advantage for more than a decade.

SMBs, which are central to Queens commercial districts, have lagged in adopting this technology.

The result leaves these businesses siloed and their owners/managers lacking in modern approaches to managing their facilities.

Why the gap? Because SMBs have unique needs. Facility management is typically one role among many that owner/principals track. Limitations in data, insight and control often make facility

management in SMBs more reactive than proactive.

Technology advancements open up the possibility of installing advanced building systems, along with lighting and HVAC upgrades to optimize building function including energy use and indoor air quality.

But purchasing decisions can be complicated. How do you vet technology, integrate it and manage it without drawing on scarce resources? And how to pay for it?

COVID RAISED THE STAKES

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is now top of mind for many due to COVID. Public health mandates have taken a blunt approach to safety concerns through shutdowns and occupancy restrictions, and customers have voted with their feet by steering clear of some settings.

Scientific guidance backs a range of measures tied to HVAC operation and occupancy management, including adjusting HVAC operation to reduce airborne concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and adding filters and UV-C lighting to remove viral particles.

But without data to track that concentration, these measures are flying blind, often resulting in increased energy expense with unknown outcomes on safety.

Although the COVID emergency will eventually be behind us, it will leave behind an awareness of the vulnerability we face to future pandemics and the role of indoor air quality on health and cognitive function.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Key to supporting SMBs is the realization that solutions are most helpful when delivered as a managed service backed by data, control and expertise. JouleSmart Solutions (a founding member of the QCC Energy & Environmental Committee) has partnered with mCloud Technologies to provide AssetCare, a fully managed solu-

tion that puts the power of data, technology and artificial intelligence to work to support business owners in managing their facilities.

How does it work? Through the use of smart thermostats and indoor air quality sensors, mCloud monitors and manages indoor air quality and temperature levels, to deliver a safe and comfortable environment for customers and employees while effectively minimizing energy usage.

A dedicated LiveOps team of experts uses this data, backed by analytics, to keep a watchful eye on the health and performance of HVAC systems, identifying and alerting business owners to potential problems before they become costly issues.

This combination, termed AssetCare, acts as an outsourced facilities manager that, if anything, serves a greater need for smaller businesses than for large ones. The result can be delivered as a managed service that requires no capital investment, truly taking things off the plate of busy business owners.

This package future-proofs your Queens business in tangible ways, all tied to the power of technology: • Measured IAQ provides a proof

point that businesses are reopening in a way that reduces the risk of infections, ensures compliance with regional guidelines, and reassures customers and staff they are in a safe environment.

• NYC LL 97 relies on measured results, systems that monitor performance set businesses up for compliance.

• Advanced building technology enables buildings for demand management/demand response. Energy demand accounts for an increasing portion of utility economics, a trend that is likely to continue.

Technology can arm businesses to stay ahead of, and even benefit from these trends.

In short, technology can provide you the proof point to your investors, customers, and local community that you are achieving sustainability excellence. Queens businesses have a tremendous resource in working with the Queens Chamber’s knowledgeable business members, don’t hesitate to contact us in 2021.

Maria Fields is president of JouleSmart Solutions and Patrick O’Neill is president of mCloud Technologies.

A SILVER LINING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Building Technology modernizes our clients’ approach to managing their facilities, including Demand Management and Capacity Tag Management for on bill savings and participation in Demand Response to unlock an additional revenue stream for their assets.

“JouleSmart has partnered with mCloud Technologies to include documented improved Indoor Air Quality including COVID mitigation,” she added, “assuring a safe reopening for their clients’ employees and customers.”

“You can feel the new world emerging from 2020, and it’s encouraging to see all the great things the Queens community is doing to become more efficient, resilient and environmentally friendly,” said Marshall Haimson.

“It cannot be stated enough how hard 2020 was for us all, but the work we are doing through the Queens Chamber’s Gold Standard Task Force has provided great insight on how Queens has accepted the challenge of adversity to become an even stronger and healthier place to live.”

11

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

FOCUS ON ENERGY

PROGRAM TAKES AIM AT POLLUTING TRUCKS

BY LIDIA HENDERSON

The New York City Clean Trucks Program is a program to reduce diesel exhaust emissions by replacing older, heavy polluting diesel trucks with new electric or EPAemission compliant alternative fuel (compressed natural gas, diesel-electric hybrid, and plug-in hybrid electric).

The program is a unique environmental initiative offered by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to promote sustainable transportation and a cleaner environment in NYC. Through the offer of rebates, the program incentivizes local commercial fleets to transition away from diesel trucks.

Truck owners may secure funding anywhere from $12,000 to

$185,000 per truck replacement, depending on fuel type and truck class size.

The NYC Clean Trucks Program targets businesses that move goods and commercial truck operators located in or providing service within a half-mile of program-approved Industrial Business Zones (IBZs).

These IBZs are thriving, highperforming manufacturing and industrial zones ratified by the city in 2006 to protect existing manufacturing districts, foster economic development, and encourage industrial growth citywide.

However, due to the heavy manufacturing and industrial uses in IBZ areas, communities surrounding IBZs suffer disproportionate levels of vehicle and industrial emissions,

causing local public health hazards and environmental issues.

Also known as environmental justice (EJ) communities, these areas have historically been subject to higher levels of diesel exhaust emissions from idling engines, intensive truck infrastructure, and dense highway networks.

Air pollution remains a leading environmental threat to the health of New Yorkers. Levels of air pollution continue to cause serious health problems, contributing to hospital admissions and deaths from both heart and lung problems.

It is estimated that harmful particulate matter contributes to more than 3,000 deaths and over 6,000 emergency visits and hospitalization for cardiovascular and respiratory disease each year in the five boroughs.

By prioritizing truck replacement

Lidia Henderson is program and communications manager for Empire Clean Cities. projects for businesses operating in IBZs, the NYC Clean Trucks Program aims to address this public health concern and provide a solution for reducing levels of diesel pollutants in EJ communities.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

Award-winning producer of print and promotional products Corporate • Hospitals • Schools • Industry

THE RIGHT PRODUCT, FOR THE RIGHT PRICE, AT THE RIGHT TIME. United Print Group

Apparel, tote bags, blankets, drink-ware, golf products, awards, gift sets, tech accessories, fitness and health, displays and signs, and much more.

Build your brand > visit unitedpg.com

45-23 47th Street, Woodside, NY 11377

718.392.4242

Fax: 718.392.4650

unitedpg.com

customerservice@unitedpg.com

Commercial & Janitorial

CLEANING SERVICES New York Crystal Cleaning provides professional cleaning services, sanitizing and maintenance regimens for commercial and residential buildings!

We work with: Medical Facilities, Financial Institutions, Schools, Gyms, and many more businesses in Queens, Long Island, & NYC!

WE USE CDC & EPA-REGISTERED DISINFECTANTS

TWO STEP DISINFECTION PROCESS

We offer morning, afternoon, and evening hours to accommodate your schedule and keep your business safe and hassle free!

718.565.2114 • info@nycrystalcleaning.com • newyorkcrystalcleaning.com

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

COVER STORY

MOVING RAVENSWOOD TO RENEWABLE

BY BENJAMIN FANG

Since the 1960s, the Ravenswood Generating Station has helped New York City keep the lights on, providing more than 20 percent of the city’s generating capacity.

Now, six decades later, the Long Island City company is helping the state transition to renewable energy.

The facility, which sit on 28 acres of the East River waterfront, have changed hands a few times over the past few decades. In 2017, LS Power Group, a New York-based energy asset manager and developer, acquired the site and began to modernize the station.

Last year, LS Power rebranded Ravenswood Generating as Rise Light & Power, to convey the sense of a new vision and commitment to a clean energy future.

“We recognized the city needs a transformation in its energy system,” said Clint Plummer, CEO of Rise Light & Power. “Otherwise, it’ll be

a contributor to the problem, not the solution.”

Plummer was hired last February to run the company and oversee the station’s transition to renewable energy. He has 15 years of experience in the industry, starting in the renewable energy business in 2007.

He was part of the founding team at Deepwater Wind, the company that constructed the first offshore wind farm in the United States. Though the project consisted of only five wind turbines off the coast of Rhode Island, Plummer said it took six years to get all the necessary permits and approvals and another two years for construction. The wind farm, which was first proposed in 2008, was finally operational by 2016.

Deepwater Wind, which was later acquired by Ørsted in 2018, then worked on other offshore wind projects on the east coast, including in New York, Connecticut, Maryland and New Jersey.

Plummer was recruited in 2019 by

LS Power to run what would become Rise Light & Power. He said he saw it as an interesting challenge and something he wanted to be a part of, considering that his family lives in New York.

“Ravenswood represents this amazing opportunity to transition sites that have the infrastructure. This platform is very important,” he said.

“I believe Ravenswood will be the first of many facilities that will go through this transition.”

After LS Power Group purchased the station in 2017, the company retired 14 of its outdated engine generators. It plans to retire the other three by 2023. According to Plummer, these peaking units are smaller, less efficient and don’t have tall stacks that push emissions further away, resulting in higher levels of local pollutants.

In its place, Rise Light & Power is developing more than 300 megawatts of battery storage, which Plummer said is one of the largest in the country. That project is currently in the permitting process and is expected to be completed in 2024.

The company has received positive feedback from the community for shutting down its outdated fossil fuelbased generators. Plummer noted that northwest Queens, which is home to many power plants, has long been apprehensive about the Ravenswood Generating Station.

He also acknowledged that Black and brown communities who live in the area have long suffered from environmental injustices because of the siting of these facilities. He said shutting the generators down will have a much bigger impact than just changing the company’s name.

“The name change is fully consistent with decommissioning these older generating units,” he said.

“It’s the ethos behind what we’re doing that has people excited.”

Plummer added that they’re proud to be the only large generator in New York City that is shutting down old units while not proposing new fossil fuel-fired generators to replace them.

He believes that over time battery storage will become more costefficient, which will also be beneficial

to their investors and financial partners in the long term.

“We’ve seen this in many markets around the world,” he said. “It’s harder to do this in New York City, but the rate of advancements in technology, along with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s leadership driving this, is going to have a transformative effect.”

In 2019, the New York State Legislature passed, and Cuomo signed, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the nation’s leading climate bill that, among other goals, targets 70 percent renewable energy by 2030 and 100 percent by 2040.

For companies like Rise Light & Power, the ambitious new law creates a “big, audacious goal” for the energy industry to meet. The company’s projects, from the battery storage facilities to others in the works, are all in response to the CLCPA and other legislation and regulations.

“In the absence of those clear policy signals, it’s doubtful that others would be pursuing the investments we’re pursuing,” Plummer said. “Because the state has created this clear vision and clear endpoints, we can work towards that.

“Governor Cuomo has shown unmatched leadership in advancing clean energy,” he added. “It’s because of that leadership that we have those laws.”

One of the projects Rise Light & Power is developing, which the company announced in January, is a 1,200 megawatt transmission line connecting renewable energy from upstate New York to New York City, terminating at the Ravenswood Generating Station.

The transmission line, called the “Catskills Renewable Connector,” will traverse the East River, the Hudson River and the Harlem River roughly 120 miles north of Long Island City to connect with the transmission system upstate.

According to Plummer, the upstate power grid is based on hydro, wind and solar energy that has been built out over decades. In New York City and Long Island, the power grid is “much less clean.”

March 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 3

COVER STORY “It’s a tale of two grids,” he said.

“The reason these two grids have not meshed is it’s difficult to connect via transmission lines.”

Plummer said while he was vice president of Deepwater Wind, the company became comfortable with submarine, high-voltage submission, which is what Rise Light & Power plans to do with this project.

Once operational, the transmission line can deliver 15 percent of all energy used in the city, Plummer said. He said it would reduce the need to operate existing fossil fuel-fired generators, which would have a “big impact” on the cleanliness of the air.

If the project is implemented, more than two-thirds of the power coming from the Ravenswood Generating Station will be renewable. Though the exact environmental benefits are still unknown, the company expects the results to be significant in terms of reduction in local emissions and improvements in air quality.

Plummer also touted the project’s economic benefits. He said it will

catalyze development of new wind and solar projects across the state. It would also put more New Yorkers to work and create a larger tax base, boosting the state’s economy and recovery.

As for local job creation, Plummer said the company is in the process of nailing down partnerships with labor and ensuring that there is a “just transition of job requirements.”

Rise Light & Power is still early in the approval process, but anticipates submitting major permit applications either later this year or early next year.

However, the project is facing competition from the proposed Champlain Hudson Power Express, a buried transmission line that would connect hydro and wind power from Montreal and eastern Canada to Queens, and by extension, the entire downstate energy market.

Comparing the two proposals and making the case for his company’s transmission line, Plummer noted that the Canadian project started developing years ago, so they have

an “engineering head start.” But he said their site has proximity and connections to some of Con Edison’s largest substations, and will require fewer upgrades.

He argued that the Catskills Renewable Connector will take less time to connect to the grid once the project is in service, so the time to get to market is about the same. And the Champlain Hudson Power Express is more than 300 miles long and their line is 120 miles, so Plummer said it would cost much less to build their project.

A big difference, he said, is that the Canadian transmission line is expected to charge New York ratepayers in excess of $660 million per year for at least 24 years. He said that would amount to a “significant transfer” of money from New York to Canada.

“If you’re going to spend that money, it’s better to invest that in New York State,” Plummer said, “where we’ll use those dollars to not only build the transmission line,

but also build wind, solar and other renewables with union labor.”

He noted that it’s entirely up to state officials to decide which project moves forward. It’s even possible for the state to choose both.

With the new battery storage project, the transmission line and other projects on the horizon, Plummer said he hopes Rise Light & Power will show that a former fossil fuel-fired power plant can become a catalyst and hub for clean energy development.

He hopes to achieve this goal with strong support from the local community, elected officials, regulators and consumers alike.

Plummer said he wants Rise Light & Power to become a trusted partner in the community.

“If we can do that here and we can move Ravenswood from being the largest fossil fuel-fired generator in New York City,” he said, “we’ve not only done something very good, but we hope to be a replicable model for all to transition.”

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

FOCUS ON ENERGY

TOGETHER, WE REDEFINE RESILIENCE

BY JAY SOLLY As neighbors line-up their carts six feet apart for today’s food distribution, I can tell it’s going to be a busy day, a queue in the cold already wrapping around the block.

Checking the pallets of USDA relief boxes on our first floor at The Bushwick Generator, quick mental math affirms that I’m going to have to turn some people away, sadly, again.

It’s been like this since last April, as our sustainability nonprofit spent 2020 on the front lines of food relief in New York City.

The word “pivot” was sorely overused last year. In candor, while we did not start as a food nonprofit, I do not think we “pivoted,” as food access and community resilience were core to the mission of Sustainable United Neighborhoods (SUN).

Due to COVID-19, we lost a major NYSERDA subcontract from “force majeure.” SUN leveraged what resources we could muster and our status as a 501c(3) nonprofit to rapidly respond to community needs in a once-in-acentury pandemic.

In the spirit of community collaboration, we cast a wide net to bring food, PPE, and any other relief to our neighbors.

We worked with World Central Kitchen, the 9/11 Day Foundation, Queens Chamber, NYCHA tenants associations, City Harvest, LULAC, Queens Together, the Blaque Resource Network, and Wonton Foods. You name it, if they could help us procure food or get it to people, we worked with them.

And we didn’t care about politics or district lines either, as we coordinated with elected leaders like State Senator Jessica Ramos in Queens and were referred to FarmLink by State Senator Michael Gianaris.

Our local partner, Assemblywoman Maritza Davila, chair of the Assembly/Senate Puerto Rican & Hispanic Task Force, met with

16

Pictured from left to right are Jay Solly, Barbara Pangilinan, Nicky Wei, and Matt McCue, members of SUN’s board & advisory council Republican farmers upstate to tour their facilities and thank them for the tons of produce and groceries we received and packaged for Queens and Brooklyn.

In three months, SUN moved 205,000 prepared meals from

World Central Kitchen, who we encouraged to source from local restaurants. We moved thousands of tons of produce and groceries throughout the boroughs.

By the end of 2020, SUN received and delivered over $3.5 million of donated in-kind food relief with only $10,000 in government funding. We leveraged 140 unique volunteers in a pandemic, who gave over 13,000 hours of service at an estimated community

benefit valued at $325,000.

What was at first an ad hoc effort resulted in SUN volunteers and partners feeding nearly a halfmillion New Yorkers.

I personally took no salary in 2020, got very little sleep, and learned some of the most powerful lessons in my 40-plus years of life. Chief among them was that “Together, We Redefine Resilience.”

Listening to our neighbors and our most vulnerable families, it became clear that while they appreciated the food relief in the moment, we needed to have a wary eye to food security for tomorrow.

More and more clamored for sustainable food practices and the ability and opportunity to grow and establish local food sources.

I, along with my colleagues on the Queens Chamber’s Energy & Environmental Committee, envision a New York City where health, happiness, and quality of life are not

predetermined by ZIP code. The data points to chilling outcomes; in parts of Brooklyn and Queens, life expectancy is eight to 11 years lower than in the Financial District or Turtle Bay. Even before the pandemic, healthy food access was a challenge. Our neighborhoods struggle with obesity, adult diabetes, and heart disease, all avoidable hospitalizations that can be addressed through food.

Unfortunately, the built environment isn’t helping either, with some neighborhoods in Queens averaging around 100 square feet of supermarket space per 100 people. Even in densely urban New York City, this places some neighborhoods squarely in the category of “food deserts” with very little access to fresh produce and healthy, affordable food options.

These neighborhoods are more commonly “food swamps,” where CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

March 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 3

FOCUS ON ENERGY

TIME FOR TO ‘PLAY BALL’ ON ENERGY

BY MARSHAL HAIMSON In the past, if someone asked me if it was too late to benefit from Energy efficiency or solar projects, I would answer, “If this were a baseball game, the first inning hasn’t even begun yet. We’re still trying to agree on the rules of the game and the colors of the uniforms.”

It has become clear to me in recent months that two significant developments in NYC’s “energy “ballgame” have made that answer obsolete: • In May of 2019, New York City enacted the Climate Mobilization Act, the most ambitious set of climate laws in the world.

By law, about 50,000 buildings in the city are required to meet stringent carbon emission targets of 40 percent reduction by 2030, and 80 percent by 2050, through a combination of solar, other renewables, and energy-efficiency projects.

The Department of Buildings (DOB) has been charged with finalizing the rule book for this game, and they are also the umpires. Failure to submit annual energy usage reports, false reporting, or exceeding emissions targets will lead to significant fines and penalties from DOB. • The COVID-19 crisis has pushed large numbers of small and large building owners to the financial brink. To survive, they must find ways to lower their operating expenses, and especially their energy costs.

The good news here is that highquality energy efficiency and solar projects are superior investments: large ROI’s of 10 to 30 percent (or more); payback periods that are relatively short; payout periods that are relatively long; yields that are predictable, measurable, and verifiable; cash flows that can often be guaranteed and insured; and are often cash-flow positive from day-one and significantly raise the

value of the underlying real estate asset.

Energy projects also offer opportunities to upgrade aging and outmoded HVAC systems, indoor air-

and safely.

The Queens Chamber’s Energy and Environmental Committee is taking a leading role in helping our members and businesses at large

bers, not gut feel factor); large life-cycle savings or yield (vs. short-term simple payback); overall investment returns (not just the incentives); guarantees and insurance (protecting the cash-flows); and engaging the strongest project development teams that are available (energy professionals, contractors, financiers).

In that vein, the Chamber and our committee advocate to and engage with the DOB regularly. We are seeking these “umpires” to better define these new rules. We have initiated direct dialogue with DOB, and we will share their final rules with our members.

We strongly believe that the “energy ball game” is officially underway, and that every business and building owner should evaluate their long-term energy strategy and choose their “line-ups” before the best players are taken.

It’s time to “play ball!”

THE NEW CLIMATE LAWS ARE SO AMBITIOUS THAT THEY ARE SPARKING AN “ENERGY GOLD RUSH” IN THE METRO AREA AND EXPOSING BUSINESS AND BUILDING OWNERS TO LOTS OF NEW RISKS. quality systems, operating controls and roofing.

The new climate laws are so ambitious that they are sparking an “Energy Gold Rush” in the metro area and exposing business and building owners to lots of new risks.

Literally billions of dollars are in place to help with project development and financing. Energy-risk management and legal professionals will play a key role in implementing these new laws effectively

play competitively in the city’s new “energy ball game.”

In the meantime, our Gold Standard Task Force continues to help individual buildings and business owners to mitigate their risks and maximize returns from energy projects.

We advise the building owners we work with to focus strictly on upgrading aging or outmoded equipment (paid for in whole or part by energy-savings or project yield); solid-projects (hard num-

SUSTAINABLE UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

low-cost, highly processed fast food options dominate the retail landscape.

In this “Great Recovery” postpandemic, New York City can tackle these health and food access challenges through a profound reexamination of urban land use, specifically through urban farming that leverages the open space and property footprints at area NYCHA developments.

Advancing this logical initiative will directly aid the estimated 1 million people that call NYCHA properties home.

SUN is presently working with two NYCHA resident associations to develop such an approach. With close engagement with NYCHA residents, it is SUN’s intent that through family heirloom seeds,

expert knowledge of subsistence farming techniques carried by immigrant families, and regular and active youth engagement, these farms will enjoy a remarkable productive capacity.

These working farms on one to two-acre lots will function as a subsistence resource for residents, providing a resilient, dependable supply of healthful, organic, and culturally relevant food at no cost to the recipients.

With a city that embraces this change and residents joyful to participate, in less than a generation SUN would seek a greener, more biodiverse city for all of us.

Our city government certainly can help advance this. Before the pandemic, a bill was introduced in the City Council for the creation of a city Department of Urban Agriculture.

An agency-level approach to food security is vital to New York’s recovery, and SUN supports Speaker Corey Johnson reexamining this legislation.

In the meantime, SUN will work to secure more food to turn less away in 2021, as we push for the implementation of a multi-generational program that feeds and empowers all New Yorkers, genuinely creating sustainable, united neighborhoods.

Jay Solly is co-chair of the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Energy & Environmental Committee and is the co-founder & CEO of Sustainable United Neighborhoods, a NYC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. If you or your business are interested in helping New Yorkers, visit sunbrooklyn.org/getinvolved

17

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

FIRST-PERSON ACCOUNT

HOPE STILL LIVES IN QUEENS

BY DR. R. LETTS, DBA, & T. BARBUTO The year 2020 has been a difficult year for all of us, one that will forever be etched in our collective psyche.

But it has also shown us that being a responsible citizen isn’t about what you do locally, but what you can do globally as well.

Throughout the first wave of the pandemic, most of us felt helpless, uninformed, and unprepared to do anything to stop an unseen threat.

Many of us still feel that way, and it is difficult to ask without sounding like an alarmist, but how prepared are we for another emergency of a similar magnitude?

Through our shared effort we can all overcome COVID-19. The challenges brought by the pandemic have been difficult, but there is hope.

For the ones who have overcome their challenges - the essential workers, first responders, and those who are still pushing through - don’t give up.

The theme moving forward should be selflessness on a global scale. Being a productive citizen now means caring about people thousands of miles away whom you have never met.

The site mirrorofhope.today was

created to provide clear and accurate information on everything COVID19 related, including things that you can do to protect yourself and your families.

The Mirror of Hope Project is also a creative outlet where anyone can post their creative projects that raise awareness around COVID19 related causes.

The Mirror of Hope is the means to help everyone by providing information and showing them that other people haven’t given up hope. By the end of this pandemic we will all emerge greater, stronger, and more informed.

The year 2020 was rough for all of us, but 2021 provides a glimmer of hope that the worst is behind us and we all have a brighter COVIDfree future to look forward to.

The World’s Fair was held in Queens in 1964, and there was a lot of hope for the future about the direction of our technology and collective consciousness.

Almost 60 years later our technology and collective consciousness still had us unprepared for something like COVID-19. The most logical and obvious question is, how did we get here?

If we were to examine how we got into this perplexing situation,

Dr. R. Letts, DBA, and T. Barbuto are management consultants & researchers at Cleonmaye Corp. Contact them at contact@cleonmaye.com.

18

the answer would be clear that there were a lot of things we could have done differently. The good news is that we still can.

We are asking residents of Queens and all over the world to participate, volunteer, and submit something to

the site you are hopeful for. Your submission could be something from the past, present or future, all that we ask is that you share one thing.

Together we can defeat COVID19.

THRIVING IN A PANDEMIC? YES!

BY CASSANDRA O’HEARN There we were, a relatively young nonprofit humming along at the start of 2020, planning our entrepreneurship forums, lining-up NYSERDAfunded green jobs training, and working with area BIDs to help their store owners lower their utility bills.

We had just finished our 2nd Annual Brooklyn Green Summit at Borough Hall in late January. By early March, our non-essential staff had begun a work-from-home protocol and home-bound volunteers were sewing our nurse-designed masks.

In response to the pandemic, nonprofit Sustainable United Neighborhoods (SUN) has been able to rapidly and successfully pivot our mission to meet the needs of Brooklyn and Queens communities.

Through partnerships with both local and international organizations, SUN has met the urgent needs of the community through regular food distribution and socially distanced community organizing.

By maintaining strong relationships both with community members and local civic leaders, SUN has played an integral role in connecting local residents with the resources they need most.

In spring and summer of 2020, SUN partnered with Chef Jose Andres’ international relief organization, World Central Kitchen, to bring locally sourced, prepared meals to residents in Brooklyn and Queens.

Through its close ties to local representatives and community stakeholders, SUN rapidly established last-mile distribution in a pandemic environment to get resources to communities that needed them most, forming a critical connection between interna-

tional relief organizations, regional farmers and local residents.

Our collaborations incorporated guidance and assistance with the Queens Chamber, allowing for greater partnerships with emerging food relief groups such as Queens Together and expanding relationships for Queens-based outreach with the Blaque Resource Network and the Queens chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

While the pandemic has brought many challenges, especially for local community organizations, it also provides a time for reflection and innovation on how to rebuild the economy through a more sustainable model.

The work that SUN has done over the last year provides a successful business model for local organizations looking to rebuild in a way that benefits the community and is economically sustainable.

By having a constant presence “on the ground” and coordinating where possible with local representatives, SUN is able to accurately assess the needs of the community in a way that larger relief organizations struggle to do.

In addition, by actively seeking out a diverse funding structure, SUN has been able to not only remain in business, but thrive under the current conditions. Even after the repercussions of the current crisis have passed, the model of bringing much needed resources to underrepresented communities is one that is likely to be impactful for decades to come.

Cassandra O’Hearn is assistant director of Development for Sustainable United Neighborhoods.

March 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 3

FIRST-PERSON ACCOUNT

UPA: SUPPORTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

BY PHILIP MALTAGHATI True neighborhoods enjoy a sense of community built on years of mutual trust. Bonds created among committed neighbors and community institutions are far stronger than the potential destructive power of a storm. Like you, the professional adjusters at United Public Adjusters are genuine members of the communities we serve.

We are completely immersed and invested in the people of Queens.

When a disaster strikes our neighborhood, we are uniquely equipped and prepared to assist in facing the restoration process head-on.

We sympathize with each of our neighbors and are eager to put our distinctive set of skills to work to help restore our community when faced with insurance claims.

Whether a school has suffered a fire, a religious institution has sustained storm damage, or a local business is struggling with the effects of a denied insurance claim, United Public Adjusters is on call as their advocates. We don’t just proudly serve Queens, we are part of the neighborhood.

Our dedication to bettering our local community extends far beyond our service as public adjusters. The concept of action speaking louder than words is part of our credo at United Public Adjusters.

Philip Maltaghati is president of United Public Adjusters & Appraisers, Inc.

UPA has undertaken a number of charitable effort during the coronavirus pandemic.

This is apparent by a wide number of community outreach participation efforts we participate in and encourage more of our Queens neighbors to take action during these unprecedented times of uncertainty.

An organization that United Public Adjusters has recently donated $3,000 to support COVID-19 relief efforts is the Bridge Care Coordination Program. The program serves close to 1,000 adults with behavioral health and complex medical conditions across Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Manhattan.

The men and women who are members of the program live in private apartments, homes, congregate care facilities, or are homeless.

The Care Coordination Program comprises nearly 30 Care Coordinators who work closely with the members to ensure they are connected with services to support their health and wellness.

The Care Coordinators address the medical and behavioral health needs of members as well as assist-

ing them with issues including food insecurity, housing, and child care.

The program works closely with city and state partners, as well as with a multitude of other community-based organizations.

Due to COVID-19, The Bridge needs your support more than ever, so they may continue to bring essential services to New Yorkers every day. The Bridge has responded to the new reality of COVID-19.

With close to 500 employees, they have transitioned to remote work and telehealth services for their clients.

Their goal is to keep clients safe, healthy and engaged, and ensure that staff is safe and healthy as well. Please support The Bridge so they can continue to provide essential services to the vulnerable population.

Your donations will support programs that offer mental health services, substance abuse treatment, housing, vocational services, and creative therapies to over 3,500 New Yorkers each year.

To find out how you can donate or volunteer, call (212) 663-3000.

Our efforts don’t end there, as we continue to set an example of being a good neighbor by providing gift donations through the holiday season. Rest assured, our dedication to the Queens community won’t end as these trying times call for a redoubling of efforts.

We look forward to ongoing and considerable participation throughout the new year and beyond. We at United Public Adjusters are immersed in bettering Queens.

After all, it’s our neighborhood too!

As an advocate for property owners, United Public Adjusters manages all facets of property insurance claims nationwide to ensure a quick, fair, and equitable property claim settlement.

When unforeseen property damage occurs we help get you back on your feet. Call or email us at our Ozone Park, Queens office with any questions at 1-800-718-LOSS help@unitedpublicadjusters.com.

19

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

EXPERT ADVICE

SELF-EMPLOYED? CONSIDER A PRENUPTIAL

BY JOSEPH J. BRACCONIER Needless to say, going through a divorce is a trying and difficult process rife with uncertainties.

This is even truer when either spouse runs their own business.

The relatively simplistic calculations for child support and spousal maintenance when the parties are W2 employees are much more difficult to ascertain when you or your spouse are selfemployed.

Rather than simply looking at a basic tax return and W2s, attorneys need to review business tax returns, 1099s, and K1s, in addition to the bank statements and business deductions.

This scrutiny is due to the fact that many legitimate business deductions will be added back in as income for purposes of calculating child and spousal support.

Furthermore, there is a whole other set of calculations and valuations that need to be done to value the business for purposes of equitable distribution.

In order to protect yourself, family, business and business partners, it is essential for business owners to have a prenuptial

agreement in place prior to marriage.

Many seek to put this aspect of marriage off or not address it at all, as they view it as a sign that they are considering divorce a reality prior to the marriage even beginning.

The fact that it can be uncomfortable does not make it any less important or necessary and, when done correctly, it can make for a stronger union between spouses.

For the business owner, they will have certainty regarding their business going forward. For the spouse, there will be a concrete number they can rely upon should the marriage fail.

Should you already be married, it is possible to address these issues with a postnuptial agreement. It is often easier to address these issues with your spouse while not going through a divorce and the lines of communication are strong.

Further, it eliminates the need for any subterfuge and allegations of “divorce planning,” the term for when a spouse has been planning the financial aspects of the divorce for months or even years before the Complaint for Divorce was filed.

If the prenuptial agreement is done correctly, there would be no need to try to hide assets or divert and delay income until the divorce is complete.

Just because a business was founded prior to the marriage does not mean that the spouse is not entitled to an ownership interest. If marital funds were used to increase the value of the business, or if personal efforts contributed to the business during the marriage, it may convey an ownership

Wisselman, Harounian, & Associates is a dedicated matrimonial and family law firm. They have eight experienced matrimonial attorneys and a full staff of paralegals to guide you through the legal complications of a divorce. Whether you need a prenuptial agreement, postnuptial agreement, are thinking about divorce or on the verge of trial, they can help. Contact them at (516) 406-8500 or visit lawjaw.com.

20

interest to your spouse.

When the parties do not have a prenuptial agreement or have one that does not have a firm set of numbers, the business will need to be valued by the court. The type of business will determine the valuation method that will work best.

In order to determine the fair market value of a business, the court will either use an asset approach, market approach, or an income approach. A forensic accountant and business valuation expert will be appointed by the

court to determine the value of the business.

Either party has the ability to hire their own expert if they believe the valuation done by the court-appointed expert is in error.

Generally speaking, once this is done, the business owner has the option of buying the spouse out, selling the business, or continuing to co-own the business together.

Needless to say, this can be a lengthy, costly process. It can also be the cause for unnecessary strife between the spouse and their other business partners.

CHAMBER EVENTS LT. GOV. OUTLINES BUDGET

BY JACOB HENRY Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul has been busy touring vaccination sites and keeping up to date with everything in New York State, but she took time last week to detail the 2022 budget for members of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.

A huge focus will be on gaining more vaccine supply, as well as continuing to test for COVID-19 so that businesses, neighborhoods and people can get back to living a normal life.

Hochul also highlighted projects in Queens that will help move the economy in a more environmentally friendly way.

“I have been on rooftops and Queens with urban farms and solar panels,” Hochul said. “We’re trying to be more creative with densely populated areas and be able to focus on green energy.”

She noted that systematic injustice for communities of color throughout the pandemic was not acceptable.

“Black and brown individuals are twice as likely to die as a white person,” Hochul said.

“That’s why we’re focusing on getting vaccines out to everybody, but really with a special focus on the communities that have suf-

fered the most in this pandemic.”

Hochul added that the pandemic was a wake up call for New York and the country, when it comes to not having basic supplies like masks, gowns and ventilators.

“We will need to make sure we have the stockpile so we’re never caught off guard again,” Hochul said.

There will also be more emphasis on adding testing facilities in offices, as well as an app that can confirm if a person has had a vaccination or a negative test.

The state will move to legalize cannabis and sports betting, with Hochul saying that not only will it create jobs, but other surrounding states like Connecticut and New Jersey have already done so, causing New York to miss out on tax revenue.

“Let’s make sure that we tax it properly and can use those revenues for a variety of reasons, including the social equity fund,” Hochul said.

The MTA will also be “modernized” with new signals and train cars.

“This is the time to make these changes while fewer people are riding the trains,” Hochul said.

She also talked about making CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

March 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 3

EXPERT ADVICE

COMPLYING WITH OSHA 300 POSTING REGS

BY REAGAN BRANCH Many employers may be unaware of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and in particular their annual requirement to post OSHA 300A logs beginning February 1 until April 30 each year.

Employers must record all workrelated injuries that are beyond first aid and post the summary for the period listed. These recordable work-related injuries and illness includes any of the following: • Any work-related injury or illness that results in loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work, or transfer to another job.

• Any work-related injury or illness requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.

• Any work-related diagnosed case of cancer, chronic irreversible diseases, fractured or cracked bones or teeth, and punctured eardrums.

• There are also special recording criteria for work-related cases involving: needlesticks and sharps injuries, medical removal, hearing loss, and tuberculosis.

Not all employers are subject to this requirement. If you have fewer

Reagan Branch, MPH, CIH, CSP, is owner of Pyramid Safety & Health Solutions Inc. She can be reached at reagan@ pyramidsoln.com.

than ten workers and operate under a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code that is part of the low-risk industries, then you are also partially exempted.

This list of exempted industry classification codes is for industries that have statistically lower numbers of recorded injuries and illnesses and are not mandated to perform recording except if requested

by the Department of Labor.

Some examples of these exempted industries include shoe stores, gas stations, newspaper and other publishers, insurance and employee benefit funds, and personal care service providers to name a few.

A full list can be found on the OSHA’s Recordkeeping Rule.

Examples of some of the industries with NAICS codes that are required to record and post summaries includes construction, manufacturing, nursing homes, cleaning services and other highinjury industries with ten or more employees.

To be clear OSHA says “If your company has ten or fewer employees—regardless of the NAICS code—you are partially exempt from routinely keeping injury and illness records.” However, all employers regardless of industry must report (not just record) to OSHA “any worker fatality within eight hours and any amputation, loss of an eye, or hospitalization of a worker within 24 hours.”

Failure to report these types of events can result in citation and penalties. Failing to record an OSHA 300 log and post the summary may also result in a recordkeeping citation if your workplace is inspected by OSHA. These records are mandated to be kept for a period of five years, and failing to keep them could also result in citations and penalties. If

an employer has multiple sites, the logs must be specific to each site.

This posting requirement is important because it provides information to workers, employers (and their representative) and regulatory agencies information about the types and frequency of inquiries and hazards that workers are exposed to.

As a former OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officer, these records were very important to me in determining what departments or type of work I should focus on when inspecting a facility.

If there are high numbers of back injuries among workers of a specific title, I would be interested to review the type of work and interview a sample of those workers to find out what contributes to this kind of injury occurring.

By posting and making this information available, employees and their union representative may be able to determine injury trends and identify work or machinery along with their employers to eliminate them.

Employers can gather important information about how a lack of safety or health controls in their workplaces is contributing to losses through increased lost workdays, workers compensation claims increase, increased insurance cost, high turnover and low morale.

In this time of COVID-19, there

COVID-19 can be a recordable illness if a worker is infected as a result of performing their work-related duties.

However, employers are only responsible for recording cases of COVID-19 if all of the following are true: • The case is a confirmed case of COVID-19; • The case is workrelated; and • The case involves one or more of the general recording criteria. are some industries that are impacted more than others, whose staff had high instances of infection.

Nursing homes and hospital staff were on the front lines of the pandemic, and logically their brave staff were impacted in greater numbers than other industries.

OSHA established that covered industries with work-related exposures to COVID-19 must record it on their OSHA 300 logs (see criteria in sidebar). You may find additional information about recordkeeping and posting requirements at osha.gov.

HOCHUL BRIEFS CHAMBER CONTINUED ON PAGE 21 the Internet accessible, especially as more people are staying home and kids have to go to school online.

“If it’s unaffordable for your family, you might as well be in an Internet desert,” Hochul said.

“We’re going to require companies make sure it’s available for low-income families at a very affordable price.”

There is also room in the discussion for reforms related to domestic violence and figuring

out a new strategy of policing in the state.

“We really do have two different systems of criminal justice when it comes to enforcement,” Hochul said. “We can’t allow that.”

The state is requesting $15 million in funding from the federal government, and Hochul is hopeful that securing this amount from Washington will happen under the Biden administration.

“We do feel more confident about the budget with Senator Schumer in place and Joe Biden as president,” Hochul said.

21

this is...

The Business News of Queens & The Official Magazine of The Queens Chamber of Commerce

the Latest on the most infLuentiaL peopLe in queens Your inside scoop straight from the business community’s top leaders

Profiling Queens’ Most Dynamic People To subscribe to this monthly, glossy magazine, visit thisisqueensborough.com or call BQE Media at 718-426-7200.

To place an ad, call BQE Media at 718-426-7200.

March 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 3

EXPERT ADVICE

BREAKING DOWN THE TYPES OF TRUSTS

BY RONALD FATOULLAN & STACEY MESHNICK

Trusts have long been useful tools, but their use can be especially important during these uncertain times.

A trust can be a part of estate planning, long-term care planning, charitable planning and/or tax planning. A trust is an agreement

Ronald A. Fatoullah, Esq. is the founder of Ronald Fatoullah & Associates, a law firm that concentrates in elder law, estate planning, Medicaid planning, guardianships, estate administration, trusts, wills, and real estate.

Stacey Meshnick, Esq. is a senior staff attorney at the firm.

between the creator (“grantor” or “settlor”) and the trustee.

The creator transfers assets to the trustee to hold for the benefit of the individuals named in the trust (“beneficiaries”). The trust document enumerates the parameters within which the trustee may act, e.g., to whom the assets get distributed, when the assets get distributed, how money is paid and other instructions.

A trust can hold all kinds of assets, including cash, real property, life insurance policies, and tangible goods. Trusts can be living trusts or testamentary trusts.

A “living trust” is in existence during one’s lifetime. However, the trust can provide that it continues after death, such as for the benefit of children until they reach a particular age.

A “testamentary trust” is created under a Last Will and Testament, to take effect upon death.

When considering creating a trust, one needs to think about the type and purpose of the trust. A trust can be revocable or irrevocable. When engaging in Medicaid planning, one should consider an irrevocable trust, thereby creating Medicaid eligibility by making assets unavailable to the creator.

Some people create “spendthrift trusts” to prevent particular beneficiaries from receiving money outright. The creator designates assets to be held aside for that person in accordance with specific instructions to the trustee for distribution.

A spendthrift trust might be used for a beneficiary who has a drug problem, for example, or for a beneficiary who has several creditors. In situations such as these, the creator does not want money being distributed outright to the beneficiary.

A trust intended to provide for a disabled beneficiary can be either a living trust created during one’s lifetime or a testamentary trust meant to provide for a disabled beneficiary after the testator dies.

Another decision to be made is whether the trust will be an incom-

plete gift, which keeps the assets in the creator’s taxable estate (thereby allowing for a “stepped up” cost basis on the creator’s death) or a completed gift, which brings the trust assets out of the creator’s taxable estate.

If an individual’s intention is to transfer money for the purpose of reducing his or her taxable estate, the trust will be a completed gift.

There are also trusts which enable the creator to freeze the value of a highly appreciated asset, thereby keeping a potentially much higher value out of the estate.

Such trusts, known as Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs), allow the creator to transfer all appreciation in excess of the federal mid-term interest rate, which is returned to the creator by way of an annuity.

Other trusts used in estate tax planning, such as intentionally defective grantor trusts, allow trust assets to grow tax free. The creator “sells” the assets to the trust in exchange for a promissory note for a term of years. This removes highly appreciated assets from the creator’s estate.

Finally, a trust may be characterized as a “grantor trust” or a “non-grantor trust”. A grantor trust is one in which the creator is the owner of the property and is used for income tax purposes. A nongrantor trust is taxed as its own separate entity.

If assets such as IRAs are not transferred into a trust during lifetime because such assets are individual to the person and cannot be transferred, the account may name the trust as a beneficiary.

Trusts can be a simple planning option or a complex one, depending upon the estate of the creator as well as the goals. It is important to discuss these goals with a knowledgeable estate planning attorney.

New York City has extended the Port Authority’s lease at John F. Kennedy International Airport until 2060, a move that elected officials say will lay the foundation for local jobs and boost tourism.

Last week, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an emergency executive order lengthening the lease from 2050 to 2060. As part of the extension, the Port Authority agreed to a community benefits package that includes workforce development, education programs and environmental sustainability.

As part of the community benefits agreement, the $13 billion JFK redevelopment projects will require 30 percent minority hires and 7 percent women hires across all construction trades. The deal also includes a 30 percent requirement for minority and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) contracting across financ-

ing, construction, design and operations.

The Port Authority will also fund new pre-apprenticeship programs prioritizing local residents in partnership with the Building and Construction Trades Council. It will expand the Council of Airport Opportunity in downtown Jamaica and Far Rockaway to boost local hiring.

It will fund an Office of Second Chance Employment, which will connect formerly incarcerated people or those with past involvement in the criminal justice system with airport jobs.

As for education programs, the Port Authority will continue a scholarship program for high school students, fund an aviation-focused STEM program at York College for middle school students and expand a summer camp program with the Eastern Queens Alliance.

Ronald Fatoullah & Associates can be reached at (718) 261-1700, (516) 466-4422, or toll free at 877-ELDER-LAW or 877-ESTATES. This article is not intended to be individual legal advice, which can only be provided if you retain the firm. If you need legal advice please contact their offices to schedule a consultation.

JFK LEASE EXTENDED

23

Member

Affinity Benefits

Alibaba.com is the world's largest business-tobusiness ecommerce marketplace. We provide the tools & services to help you expand into new markets and connect with business buyers all around the world. Become an Alibaba.com seller and reach new buyers from around the world or in your own backyard. Visit : activity.alibaba.com/ggs/queenschamber.html

Need to disinfect your facilities, but hate the idea of spraying chemicals on everything? We will fully disinfect your facilities—including viruses-using only Ultraviolet Light.

We use no toxins or chemicals. We spray no liquids. We leave no residue or odor.

If this sounds appealing, visit our website for a QCCoC member discount.

Keep your business germ & virus-free with Denco’s Empowered Solutions. The CDC recommends disinfecting and sanitizing both air and surfaces in your facility to destroy Coronavirus.Empowered Air kills all pathogens, including Coronavirus either through your HVAC or with stand-alone units- Uses revolutionary NASA developed Photo Catalytic Oxidation Technology. https://www.dencoenvironmental.com/qcc

https://www.uvcommercialdisinfection.com/Qu eenschamber/

FAST, EASY, and AFFORDABLE Harassment Prevention online training. Our courses meet all NEW YORK CITY AND STATE requirements and include a certificate of completion.

Learn how to recognize and prevent retaliation. How to appropriately report sexual harassment Bystander and third-party intervention. visit: https://ezlearnu.learnupon.com/store/611590 -queensny-workplace-harassment-andabusive-conduct-employee

VIP Discount Program Contact Joe and Todd for details Joe Morrone | joe.morrone@pcrichard.com Todd Costello | Todd@pcrichard.com

Optimizing technology with customer retention is an essential step to manage your business.

Managing Payments properly will secure this reality faster than anything else. PaySwipe, Inc services thousands of NY Metro businesses since 2004.

ALL Queens Chamber members receive Clear and concise pricing terms. Month to month option with no cancelation fees Unlimited resources to answer your questions. Visit: http://payswipe.com/queens-chamber-ofcommerce/

Shiftyy Health is a division within Shiftyy Sesame Eat! AI VIRTUAL WAITER + ONLINE MENU + Technologies Inc., an IoT solutions provider.

ONLINE PAYMENT + E-MARKETING service for Shiftyy Health provides innovative IoT solutions restaurants, cafes, and bodegas. Built for for temperature monitoring devices for all contactless, and efficient operations. Special 6industries. month complimentary service for members of the Shiftyy Health has created innovative Queens Chamber of Commerce. temperature monitoring devices to assist Contact: businesses with temperature monitoring that Amy Leu, US Lead Business Development, meet HIPAA requirements, are efficient, and amy@imago.ai reduce the time and costs in conducting manual Willie Lee, Project Manager, willie@imago.ai temperature monitoring. Visit: http://queenschamber.shiftyyhealth.com/ Website:https://join.sesameeat.com/?pop=qnyc

Visit our website at queenschamber.org for additional member benefits.

March 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 3

QUEENSBOROUGH CALENDAR OF EVENTS MARCH 3/2, 11 AM

MEET THE AUTHOR

The Queen’s Chamber will be giving authors from Queens or those who have written about Queens a platform to talk about their projects, exploring how Queens has influenced their work. March features Keisha Christian of Dropping Gemz and Julia Shaw.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 3/2 2 PM

USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO DRIVE BUSINESS DURING SOCIAL DISTANCING

This webinar will take a look at some innovative ways that businesses can use social media to adapt, evolve, and grow in these uncertain times. The featured speaker is Catherine Ventura of Venn Diagram, Inc. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 3/4 11 AM

TO VACCINATE OR NOT TO VACCINATE...THAT IS THE QUESTION

Join the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Notfor-Profit and Health and Wellness Committees for a webinar providing real time information about the coronavirus vaccines.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 3/11 2 PM

SMALL BUSINESS TAXES

Whether you are self-employed or own a small business, there will be something helpful for everyone at this event. Come with your tax questions and you’ll leave with answers.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 3/15 1 PM

GET CASH NOW

Stimulus legislation passed in late December 2020 provides even more opportunities for you to inject much needed cash into your business when it needs it most during this pandemic.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 3/17, 9 AM

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION

The Queens Chamber of Commerce is committed to maximizing your membership. If you’re a new member and have yet to participate in an orientation, please register to join us virtually.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org

3/19, 9:30 AM

MAY

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO MITIGATE CONFLICT

5/21, 9:30 AM

3/31, 11 AM

This program will facilitate an understanding, methodology and best practices of risk management you will be able to reduce the risk of litigation. If you are exposed to a lawsuit you will have minimized your financial liability.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org

The workshop will provide participants with hands on techniques to maximize communication skills, which can translate into improved productivity and reduced friction and conflict.

The guest speaker is Joshua Bienstock, director of the NYIT School of Management.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org

EMPOWERING WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES

The resource panel will cover different SBA programs alongside other government programs (Federal, State, and Local), that occur incentives and perks for women owned businesses.

The Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) panel will be showcased at this event and members of the panel will share their experiences with attendees.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org

APRIL 4/8, 11 AM

GOVERNMENT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

The Queens Chamber of Commerce is joined

by Man-Li Lin, Economic Development Specialist for the United States Small Business Administration, for a webinar presentation on Federal Grants and how to apply for and track them.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 4/16, 9:30 AM

CRITICAL THINKING IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Benefits of critical thinking include, improved cognitive skills, a foundation of logical decision making on which you can draw, even in stressful situations higher professional achievement, improves team playing skills, and facilitates the ability to stay calm.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 4/21, 9:30 AM

NEURO-MARKETING

Join the Queens Chamber for a special webinar by the US Small Business Administration where we learn the new science of consumer decisions coined “Neuro-Marketing.” Learn tools for Neuro-Marketing, strategy, and examples of this new science in practice.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org

STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATING CONFLICT BY EFFECTIVELY MANAGING RISK

JUNE 6/18, 9:30 AM

MANAGING CONFLICT BY UTILIZING TIME, ANGER & STRESS MANAGEMENT

This program covers the basic skills needed to manage time, stress and anger at work.

VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org

CEO’S MESSAGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

addressing critical questions on indoor air quality, clean built environments, liability and insurance, and importantly, customer/ guest assurances.

Rather than being the bearers of bad news, this Chamber committee serves as stalwart torchbearers for our recovery and rebuilding efforts. This month’s edition draws on their knowledge, experience, and hard work, as we highlight the many ways the Queens business community is part of this just transition.

The Chamber is also proud to highlight new member, Rise Light & Power on this edition’s cover featuring the new Ravenswood energy storage facility in Long Island City.

With 300 MW of battery storage, it is the largest of its kind in the state, and underscores how New York State is the fastest growing energy market on the East Coast, including the need for 30,000 new jobs in energy storage over the next decade.

We know that our business community is hard-hit, but I hope you can take the time and find something informative and valuable to help your business.

Whether it is renewables on your roof or ways to lower your restaurant’s utility bills, the Queens Chamber is ready to assist and we’re happy to put you in touch with our Energy & Environmental committee.

25

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

QUEENS CHAMBER STAFF PROFILES DAVID WHITE TASNEEM SULTANA How long have you been at the Chamber?

I worked as a summer intern in 2019, then I took a break for the next semester and came back again in spring 2020. So, I have been associated with the Chamber for over a year now.

Previous Job: I am a full-time student, but before coming here I worked part-time at Zara and MoMA PS1.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Always go out and take a chance because you never know what can happen.

Even if it doesn’t always work out, you will know that you tried.

What advice would you give a candidate who wants to join our team? The Chamber is a great place to work and has a very family-like environment. Be open minded and don’t hesitate to reach out and ask questions. Always remember that the work you would be doing will be making an impact in the community, so be compassionate and sincere.

Favorite Music Genre: Indie, Alternative Rock, Pop, I love music in general.

What is the most inspiring part of your job?

What makes Queens so great is definitely its diverse demographics and being able to help them in times of need is priceless.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish

in 2021? I would like to read more books and finally get my driver’s license.

If you could meet anyone living or dead, who would it be? This is a tough question because there are so many. But if I have to pick one right this instant, it would be Harry Styles. I am his biggest fan.

MOHAMED AMIN How long have you been at the Chamber? I joined the Chamber in July 2019.

Previous Job: I interned in an accounting firm, and before that I interned at the late State Senator Jose Peralta’s office.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Your life is your responsibility.

What advice would you give a candidate who wants to join our team? Keep an open mind and enjoy all the new things you will get to experience.

Favorite Music Genre: EDM What is the most inspiring part of your job? Knowing that my work actually helps people.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2021? Maintain an active gym schedule.

If you could meet anyone living or dead, who would it be?

Lyndon Johnson

26

How long have you been at the Chamber? Six Months Previous Job: I was director of Membership Engagement and Sales for the Flushing YMCA. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Bring out the best in people.

What advice would you give a candidate who wants to join our team? It’s not a job, it’s a cause to help our community be the best. Bring your energy and ideas and have fun!

Favorite Music Genre: Jazz Vocals What is the most inspiring part of your job?

When a chamber member or business owner says “thank you for your help.”

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2021? Delivering Small Business Resource Network outreach to 1,000-plus businesses.

If you could meet anyone living or dead, who would it be? My first ancestor brought to this country who made the decision to survive.

QUEENA CHONG How long have you been at the Chamber? Eight Months Previous Job: Working in an Occupational Therapy office.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? That your mindset is a reality.

What advice would you give a candidate who wants to join our team? The advice that I would give is to be positive. We all get along here and foster a team environment. If you’re an easygoing person and have the qualifications, we at least consider you.

Favorite Music Genre: Indie Pop What is the most inspiring part of your job? Having a platform to promote Queens and Queens businesses.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2021? Cultivating more happiness. The year 2020 has been hard on us all, but it was new. Now we’re settling into the pandemic and feeling a little lost is the norm.

If you could meet anyone living or dead, who would it be? My grandparents.

March 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 3

QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 82ND STREET PARTNERSHIP

37-06 82nd Street, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Executive Director: Leslie Ramos 718.335.9421 82ndstreet.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $224,000 with more

than 200 businesses under its umbrella. The district is on 82nd Street from 37th Avenue to Baxter Avenue. The board meets quarterly with the annual meeting in June.

ASIAN AMERICAN FEDERATION

120 Wall Street, 9th Fl., New York, NY 10005 aafederation.org QUICK GLANCE: The Asian American Federation’s mission is to raise the influence and well-being of the pan-Asian American community through research, policy advocacy, public awareness and organizational development.

Established in 1989, the Federation is a panAsian non-profit organization representing a network of community service agencies in the Northeast. These agencies work in the fields of health & human services, education, economic development, civic participation, and social justice.

BAYSIDE VILLAGE BID

213-33 39th Avenue, Bayside, NY 11361 Executive Director: Christine Siletti 718.423.2434 info@baysidevillagebid.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $218,000 and over

350 members. Founded in 2007, the BID includes commercial property owners and residents on Bell Boulevard between 35th Avenue and Northern Boulevard, as well as a block east and west on 41st Avenue.

BAYSIDE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 41-16 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361 President: Ed Probst Vice President: Judith Limpert 718.229.2277 info@baysideba.com baysideba.com QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 2007, the BID

includes commercial property owners and residents on Bell Boulevard between 35th Avenue and Northern Boulevard, as well as a block east and west on 41st Avenue.

ACCOMPANY CAPITAL (FORMERLY BCNA)

78-27 37 Ave., Ste. 1 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Business Development: Tshering Gurung 347.730.6468 tgurung@accompanycapital.org QUICK GLANCE: Accompany Capital is an

award-winning Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Small Business Administration (SBA) micro lender that pro-

vides small and micro business owners in New York City with low-cost loans, access to business training & technical assistance, and one-on-one counseling.

Accompany Capital has disbursed over $34 million in loans and assisted over 10,000 immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs in New York City since its founding as Business Center for New Americans (BCNA) in 1997, as well as provided workshops and one-on-one advice on business management and marketing to over 10,000 businesses.

BUSINESS OUTREACH CENTER NETWORK (BOC, INC.)

85 S. Oxford Street #2 Brooklyn, NY 11217 718.624.9115 bocnet.org QUICK GLANCE: Business Outreach Center Network’s mission is to improve the economic prospects of traditionally underserved groups, with a focus on low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs and their communities, and thereby create genuinely brighter futures.

At the heart of our mission is the belief that whatever their differences, people and communities share a common goal: to achieve economic stability and growth. Working in partnership with culturally diverse individuals and organizations in support of this shared goal is the hallmark of BOC.

CHHAYA CDC

37-43 77th Street, #2 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718.478.3848 chhayacdc.org QUICK GLANCE: Core to our strategy is organizing and advocating for systemic changes that remove the barriers to well-being, housing stability, and economic mobility for our communities. For over 20 years, Chhaya has served tens of thousands of individuals and led the charge on key policy issues for immigrants, such as basement legalization, language access, tenants’ rights, and more.

CHINATOWN DISTRICT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (CHINATOWN PARTNERSHIP)

217 Park Row, 2nd Floor, Suite 9 New York, NY 10038 chinatownpartnership.org QUICK GLANCE: Chinatown Partnership, led

by Wellington Chen, was formed in 2006 as new start-up from grounds up to bring residents, business owners and community groups together to rebuild Chinatown following 9/11, and to preserve the neighborhood’s unique culture while ensuring its vitality in the future through strategic positioning.

With the highly popular Weekend Walks street festive series, Mid-Autumn Festival, One Day in

NYC, annual Beautification/Earth Day, East West Parade with Little Italy, Double Valentine’s Day to promote the softer side of Chinatown and the Jewelry District and all the cafes, eateries in the area. Explore Chinatown marketing initiative, Lunar Stages outdoor film screenings, and Taste of Chinatown street events, Chinatown Partnership helps promote the area as a special destination to live, work, and visit.

FOREST HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PO Box 751123, Forest Hills, NY 11375 President: Leslie Brown 718.268.6565 FHChamber11375@gmail.com FHChamber@aol.com QUICK GLANCE: Re-formed in 1995, the group

has over 225 members. Chamber meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m. at the West Side Tennis Club, 1 Tennis Place, in Forest Hills.

GATEWAY JFK

Executive Director: Scott Grimm-Lyon 516.730.3400 info@GatewayJFK.org GatewayJFK.org QUICK GLANCE: Formerly the Greater JFK

Industrial BID and founded in 2016, the group seeks to provide support to the off-airport air cargo and services district through supplemental services and improvements, technical and professional services for its members, and advocacy and administration.

GREATER FLUSHING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

39-01 Main Street, Suite 511, Flushing NY 11354 Executive Director: John Choe john@flushingchamber.nyc 646.783.8985 flushingchamber.nyc QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 2014 and repre-

senting over 200 businesses.

GREATER JAMAICA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

90-04 161st Street, Jamaica, NY 11432 President: Hope Knight 718.291.0282 gjdc.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1967, the group

has 75 members. GJDC’s work expands economic opportunity and improves quality of life for the ethnically and economically diverse residents of Jamaica and for the region at large, which benefits from rational, well-planned, and sustainable metropolitan growth.

GREATER WOODHAVEN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 27

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES WOODHAVEN BID

84-01 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven NY 11421 718.805.0202 gwdcbid@hotmail.com woodhavenbid.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $257,000 with more

than 350 businesses under its umbrella on Jamaica Avenue from Dexter Court to 100th Street. They are providing free benches for store owners along Jamaica Avenue. They also provide 2.5 and 5 percent home improvement loans.

JAMAICA CENTER BID

161-10 Jamaica Avenue, Suite 419 Jamaica, NY 11432 Executive Director: Jennifer Furioli 718.526.2422 jamaica.nyc @JamCenterBID (Twitter) @jamcenterbid (Instagram) @Jamaica Center BID (Facebook) QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1979, the Jamaica

Center BID serves over 400 businesses on Jamaica Avenue between Sutphin Boulevard and 169th Street. With a budget of over $1 million, the BID’s goal is to promote and maintain Downtown Jamaica as a thriving business hub and an enjoyable destination to shop, work, live and visit.

JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

P.O. Box 300687, Jamaica, NY 11430 Executive Director: Clorinda Antonucci President: Al DePhillips Vice President: Joseph Morra JFKCoCExec@gmail.com jfkairportchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the group

has over 200 members. The chamber was chartered in 1978 by a group of business people in and around JFK Airport. It is the only airport in the nation to have its own Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber seeks to create an environment in which members of the business community can work together to enhance the growth, well being and economic development of the airport community and its aviation industry.

LONG ISLAND CITY PARTNERSHIP

President: Elizabeth Lusskin 718.786.5300 longislandcityqueens.com QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1979, the Long

Island City Partnership advocates for economic development that benefits LIC’s industrial, commercial, cultural and residential sectors. The goal is to attract new businesses to the neighborhood, retain those already here, welcome new residents and visitors, and promote a vibrant and authentic mixed-use community. The LIC Partnership operates the LIC Business Improvement District and the LIC Industrial Business Zone.

28

MASPETH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Executive Director: Ted Renz 718.366.3806 QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $500,000 with over

120 members and a budget of $115,000.

300 retail and service businesses under its purview. Board meetings are held four times a year with the annual meeting in June. The district includes Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood between Fresh Pond Road and Wyckoff Avenue. Program support is provided by the Ridgewood LDC.

MASPETH INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (MIBA)

QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

P.O. Box 780265, Maspeth, NY 11378 President: David Daraio 718.335.1300 maspethchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1953, they have

BOC: 96-11 40th Road, Corona, NY 11368 Coordinator: Quincy Ely-Cate 718.205.3773 qelycate@bocnet.org mibanyc.org QUICK GLANCE: Covering roughly 600 busi-

nesses with 30 active members, the Maspeth Industrial Business Association provides a collective voice in advocating the needs and interests of industrial and manufacturing businesses in Maspeth. They help companies in the Maspeth Industrial District in developing workforce, accessing tax credits, obtaining financing, navigating government regulations and, in some cases, finding real estate.

MIDDLE VILLAGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

79-47 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, NY 11379 President: Salvatore Crifasi 718.894.8700 Sal@Crifasi.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $8,000 with 35 busi-

nesses under its umbrella. Formed in 1929. MVCC meets annually and focuses on the Metropolitan Avenue shopping district between 69 and 80th streets. The mission is to improve the area and assist local businesses if they have any concerns or needs.

MURRAY HILL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NY

P.O. Box 1897 New York, NY 10156 212.886.5867 murrayhillnyc.org QUICK GLANCE: Murray Hill is a unique residential neighborhood in midtown Manhattan.

While there is no formal boundary for the neighborhood, the area served by The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association and its sister organization the Manhattan East Community Association (MECA) extends from Fifth Avenue eastward to the East River and from 42nd Street down to 26th Street (encompassing the 10016 postal code).

MYRTLE AVENUE BID

62-14 Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385

12-55 Queens Boulevard, Room 309 Kew Gardens, NY 11424 Executive Director: Seth Bornstein 718.263.0546 queensny.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $1.5 million and a

resource for over 2,000 businesses in the borough of Queens. Register online for upcoming virtual events, including:

ROCKAWAY BUSINESS ALLIANCE

info@rockawaybusinessalliance.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $40,000 and a

resource for over 200 businesses. The Rockaway Business Alliance was founded in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy. RBA’s vision is to create business corridors that are clean, safe, and welcoming, with shopping, dining, attractions, and engagement for the local community and the visitors drawn to Rockaway’s beaches and open spaces.

ROCKAWAY DEVELOPMENT & REVITALIZATION CORPORATION

1920 Mott Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 President: Kevin Alexander 718.327.5300 www.rdrc.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the Rockaway

Development & Revitalization Corporation (RDRC) was established to promote the revitalization of the Rockaway’s economic base and neighborhoods by creating long-standing partnerships with city and state agencies.

ROCKAWAY EAST MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION (REMA4US)

1032 Beach 20th Street Far Rockaway, NY 11691 rema4us.org REMA 4 US, Inc. seeks to engage in economic development and revitalization in the Rockaway Peninsula. To strengthen our community revitalization programs and community development efforts in the Rockaway Peninsula REMA works alongside businesses, civic groups, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. REMA works to inform the public about opportunities that exist to strengthen the community, and to create a welcoming and safe environment to help expand economic opportunity in the Rockaway

March 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 3

NEW MEMBERS CORPORATE

Abrams Fensterman

3 Dakota Drive Lake Success, NY 11042 abramslaw.com The legal team at Abrams Fensterman is committed to providing each client with quality counsel, innovative solutions and personalized service. Founded in 2000, the firm offers the legal expertise of its 100-plus attorneys, who have accumulated experience and problemsolving skills over decades of practice.

INTRODUCTORY

Adrianne Realty

1409 150th Street, Suite A Whitestone, NY 11357 adriannerealty.com

Alleyne Consulting Group 120-27 217th Street Queens, NY 11411 AlleyneConsultingGroup.com

Betsy Mak Appraisal Group LLC 135-15 40 Road, Suite 601 Flushing, NY 11354 betsymak.com

B. Holder Photo, Inc.

9532 105th Street Ozone Park, NY 11416

The Bastida Dental Group

Math Matters Tutoring Center, Inc.

Casa Rivera Grocery LTD

Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica, Inc.

40-14 82nd Street Jackson Heights, NY 11373 drbastida.com 40-15 82nd Street Jackson Heights, NY 11373

Devison’s Jewelers

3765 82nd Street Jackson Heights, NY 11372

Douglas Elliman Real Estate 36-29 Bell Boulevard Bayside, NY 11361 elliman.com

Glendale Dental Associates 76-01 Myrtle Avenue Glendale, NY 11385 smilequeens.com

Natures Plan

16941 137th Avenue Jamaica, NY 11434

PARTNERS & AFFILIATES Peninsula.

STEINWAY ASTORIA PARTNERSHIP BID

25-69 38th Street, Suite 1C, Astoria 11103 Executive Director: Marie Torniali 718.728.7820 info@steinwaystreet.nyc steinwaystreet.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1991, the BID has

over 300 members. The Steinway Street Business Improvement District encompasses all 300 business located on Steinway Street from 28th Avenue to 35th Avenue. National chain stores such as Victoria’s Secrets, The Gap, Benetton, and Express are side by side with local family-owned shops some of them fixtures on the street for some 50 years.

SUNNYSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PO Box 4399, Sunnyside, NY 11104 President: Vanessa Ceballos 718.729.4688 sunnyside-chamber.org QUICK GLANCE: With an annual budget of

$55,000, the chamber is an organization built around assisting and helping local business and

Jan Gc, Inc.

214-11 112th Road Queens Village, NY 11429

professionals by providing resources to increase business, safety and historical preservation throughout the neighborhood.

SUNNYSIDE SHINES

45-56 43rd Street, Sunnyside, NY 11104 Executive Director: Jaime-Faye Beam 718.606.1800 director@sunnysideshines.org sunnysideshines.org QUICK GLANCE: The BID has a budget of

approximately $480,000 with more than 250 businesses under its umbrella. The mission of Sunnyside Shines is to invigorate and enrich the economic life of the neighborhood by creating a safe and dynamic commercial district.

SUTPHIN BOULEVARD BID

89-00 Sutphin Boulevard, Suite 204C Jamaica, NY 11435 Executive Director: Glen Greenridge 718.291.2110 sutphinblvdbid@verizon.net QUICK GLANCE: The BID was founded in 2004

and represents 134 businesses, 56 properties and 39 property owners along Sutphin Boulevard between Hillside Avenue and 94th Avenue in Jamaica.

40-17 82nd Street Queens, NY 11373 mathmattersnyc.com

89-70 162 Street Jamaica, NY 11432 nhsj.org

Princenyuse Corp.

3135 Crescent Street Astoria, NY 11106 princenyusa.com

Sarah and Young Cleaners, Inc. d/b/a Florence Cleaners 96-11 57th Avenue, Ground Floor Corona, NY 11368

5 Star Financial

40-38 82nd Street Elmhurst, NY 11373

CLEANER TRUCKS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Zero-emission and alternative fuel vehicles that travel within and around IBZs and EJ neighborhoods will help lessen the burden of diesel exhaust and reduce the harmful impact of these pollutants on residents.

In the borough of Queens, the qualifying IBZs include Jamaica, JFK, Long Island City, Maspeth, Ridgewood/SoMA, Steinway, and Woodside.

Qualifying truck owners are invited to take advantage of first-come, first-served funding and resources by applying today.

Visit nycctp.com to learn: • How to qualify for funding to replace a Class 4 to Class 8 diesel truck equipped with a model year 1992-2009 engine; • Eligibility criteria for the older, qualifying diesel truck; • Eligibility criteria for the new replacement truck; and • Clean truck options.

To find out more about the program or how to apply, visit nycctp.com. You can also email nycctp@tetratech.com or call (877) 310-2733. For more information on alternative fuels, advanced vehicle technologies, and other fleet resources, visit empirecleancities.org.

29

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

EXECUTIVE COMMMITEE Thomas Santucci

Richard Dzwlewicz

Thomas J. Grech

Brendan Leavy

Nash Roe

Fran Biderman-Gross

Joanne M. Persad

Jacqueline Donado

Chairperson

Associate Treasurer

Vice Chairperson

Associate Secretary

Treasurer

Immediate Past Chair

Patrick Yu

Susan Browning

Mayra DiRico

Secretary

SENIOR ADVISORY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE STAFF President & CEO

Business Development Manager

Chief of Operations

Strategic Program Coordinator

Alejandra Espejo

Jef Gross

Financial Controller

Neil Wagner

Business Service Program Manager

Manager of Committee Development

William Blake Vincent L. Petraro, Esq. Dominick Ciampa George Rozansky Joseph Farber Gerard Thornton Louis D. Laurino Jeff Levine Joseph M. Mattone, Sr

QUEENSBOROUGH (ISSN0033-6068 is published 12 times a year for $12.50 annually by the Queens Chamber of Commerce of the borough of Queens. 75-20 Astoria Blvd, Suite 140, East Elmhurst NY 11370-1131.

Periodicals postage paid at Flushing NY and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Blvd., Suite 140, East Elmhurst NY 11370-1131.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Stephanie Baldwin Fran Biderman-Gross Joshua E. Bienstock Susan Browning Kenneth J. Buettner Charles E. Callahan KY Chow

Sal Crifasi Steven DeClara Mayra DiRico Richard Dzwlewicz Charles Everett, Jr. Joseph R. Ficalora Tamara Gavrielof

Howard Graf Raymond Irrera Kenneth Koenig Neil Levin Bert Lurch Carl Mattone Patricia Mezeul

Melinda Murray-Nyack Maria Odysseus Stephen Preuss Nash Roe Jeffrey Rosenstock Juan Santiago Thomas Santucci

Mark Scheinberg Caryn Schwab Sher Sparano Michelle Stoddart Terri Thomson Henry Wan Mark Weprin

Patrick Yu Daniel Zausner

CORPORATE MEMBERS A&E Real Estate A&L Cesspool Services Corp AARP Adria Hotel and Conference Center Aeroterm AFC Urgent Care - Howard Beach Amaracon Testing & Inspections, LLC American Lions LLC Amna Construction Corp AmTrust Title Andromeda Antun’s of Queens Village Apple Bank for Savings Apple-Metro, Inc. ARK Development LLC Ashnu International, Inc. Assured Environments Astoria Sports Complex Atco Properties Accounts Payable Aurora Contractors, Inc. Avison Young AYC Properties LLC Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP Balkan Sewer And Water Main Service Bank of America Merrill Lynch Bank of Hope Bellozino Bethpage Federal Credit Union Bijal Hospitality - Hyatt Place LIC & Fairfield Marriott LGA Blink Fitness Boyce Technologies Inc. Bridgehampton National Bank Broadway Stages Cactus Holdings Inc Capital One Bank Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens CBRE

Center for Automotive Education and Training Cerini and Associates, LLP. Ciampa Organization Cipico Construction, Inc. Citibank CityMD Clearcell Power Conference Associates, Inc Cord Meyer Development LLC Corporate Development Systems, Inc. Courtyard by Marriott Crescent Properties, Inc Crown Castle Crunch - Rochdale (Please correct spelling in magazine) Cushman & Wakefield Damian Family Care Centers, Inc. Daniels, Norelli, Scully & Cecere P.C. Daroga Power, LLC Dedline AV East Coast Energy Group Ecosave Inc. Emigrant Mortgage Company Enterprise Fleet Management eXp Realty: Andrew Wu Exquisite Construction F & T Group Farrell Fritz, P.C. First Central Savings Bank Flushing Council On Culture & The Arts Forest Hills Financial Group Inc. GF55 Partners Gil-Bar Industries, Inc. Glenwood Infinity LLC (Hello Panda Festival) Global Industrial Goodwill Industries of New York & North-

ern New Jersey, Inc. Graf & Lewent Architects Greater NY Automobiles Dealers Association Green Energy Technology Greenpoint Manufacturing & Design Center Gum Studios Hampton Inn by Hilton JFK Airport Healthy Corner Pharmacy Hilton Garden Inn LIC New York Hook & Reel LLC Horticultural Creations, Inc. Hyatt Place Flushing IBIS Styles New York LaGuardia Airport INDA, Association of Nonwoven Fabric Industry Innovo Property Group Instacart Intercontinental Capital Group iRCM, Inc. J.W. Hampton Jr. & Co., Inc. James F. Capalino & Assoc.

Jaros, Baum & Bolles Jason Office Products JC Elite Construction JDP Mechanical JetBlue Airways Corporation JFA Insurance Brokerage & Associates Inc. JGM Construction Development Jones Lang LaSalle Kasirer Consulting Kaufman Astoria Studios, Inc. Kimco Realty Corporation Klein Weath Management/ Hightower Advisors Laffey Real Estate Laguardia Plaza Hotel Laser Bounce of Brooklyn Inc.

Levine Builders Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Association, Inc. Luxury Office Suites LLC Lyons Mortgage Services, Inc. Madison Realty Capital Manpower McBride Consulting & Business MCT Fine Wine & Spirits, LLC Medisys Health Network Mega Contracting Group LLC MetroPlus Health Plan Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade MicroGrid Neworks, LLC Millennium Dae Dong, Inc. Molloy College Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens Mr. T Carting Corp.

Muss Development LLC My Benefit Advisor, LLC NEOLEDGE Neuman’s Kitchen Newtown Creek New York + Atlantic Railway New York Health Plan Association New York Oil Heating Association Northwell Health NYC Ferry Operated by Hornblower Olympia Court Real Estate OneGroup Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates Patrizia’s Italian Restaurant Petro PGA Mechanical Contractors, Inc. Piermont Bank Premier Paint Roller Co LLC

COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Michelle Stoddart ResortsWorld Casino New York City michelle.stoddart@rwnewyork.com Jayson Simba Festival of Cinema NYC FestivalofCinemaNYC@gmail.com

BANKING & LAW

Margaret T. Ling, Esq. Big Apple Abstract Corp. mling@bigappleabstract.com Paul Harrison Chase paul.harrison@chase.com

COMMUNICATIONS Cody Fisher Blue Ox Marketing, LLC cody@blueoxmarketing.com Leigh Schuckman Sandler Training leigh.schuckman@sandler.com

30

ENERGY

Marshall Haimson E-Capital Development marshall@e-capitaldevelopment.com Jay Solly Sol Strategies jaypsolly@gmail.com

ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION Bill Staniford bill@staniford.com Michael Grella Grella Partnership Services mike@socialquityventures.com

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

E Central Medical Management bertl@ecmmgt.com

HOSPITALITY

Jim Quent Statewide Public Affairs jquent@statewidepublicaffairs.com Vincent Gentile Vassilaros & Sons Coffee vincent@vassilaroscoffee.com

MANUFACTURING Lina DeLaCruz Control Electropolishing Corp. lina@controlpublishing.com Geoff Smith Connect 360 geoff@bizcon360.com

NONPROFIT

Larry Grubler Transitional Services of NY lgrubler@tsiny.org Maria Odysseus Investors Bank modysseus@myinvestorsbank.com

REAL ESTATE

Martin Cottingham Avison Young martin.cottingham@avisonyoung.com Kevin Louie Cushman & Wakefield kevin.louie@cushwake.com Michael Wang Project Queens michael@projectqueens.com

TECHNOLOGY Bobby Giurintano TGI Office Automation bgiurintano@tgioa.com Fred Canone fc1281@gmail.com

TRANSPORTATION Kris Amato TD Bank Kristin.amato@td.com William Harris Edge Auto Rental william@edgeautorental.com

Premier Payroll Solutions Prime Storage Priority 1 Security LLC ProHEALTH Care QSIDE Federal Credit Union Queens Center Mall Queens Public Communications Corp.

Quontic Bank RCG Mortgage Receivable Collection Services, LLC Rego Park Seniors Club LLC Related Retail Corporation Rochdale Village Community Center Royal Waste Services, Inc. Safeguard Global Safety Facility Services Samaritan Daytop Village Santander Bank SBT Advantage Bank Seagis Property Group, LP Securitech Group, Inc. Signature Bank Sive, Paget & Riesel P.C. Skyline Risk Management, Inc. SL Green Realty Corp.

Solomon Agency Corp.

Spring Hill Suites New York Jamaica/JFK Airport Squad Security Inc. St. Francis Preparatory School St. John’s Episcopal Hospital St. John’s University Sterling Risk Structural Engineering Technologies, P.C. Suffolk Sussman-Automatic Corporation Target TC Electric TGI Office Automation Thales The Andy Li Team at Compass The Botanist The Durst Organization The First National Bank of Long Island The Flying Locksmiths -Queens NY The Heskel Group The Liquidity Source The Lovett Group The Marcal Group T-Mobile TSC Traning Academy, LLC Ultrasound Solutions Corp.

United Airlines United American Title Agency United Construction & Development Group Corp United Public Adjusters & Appraisers, Inc. USTA National Tennis Center, Inc. Valley National Bank Vanguard Building Solutions, LLC Vassilaros & Sons Coffee Vic Kessler Signs LTD Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP Watch Guard 24/7 LLC White Coffee Corp Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C. YMCA of Greater New York / Queens Branches York College - CUNY Young Nian Group, LLC Zara Realty

March 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 3 MAJOR CORPORATE MEMBERS

We hope you are enjoying the newly designed, expanded Queensborough, the monthly publication of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. We, the Chamber, direct and approve all content deciding what stories are covered in each issue, editing all copy and forwarding information that is contained in the publication. BQE Media produces it for the Chamber. We look forward to continuing to highlight the outstanding business persons, services and activities that make our borough unique. We welcome all your letters, manuscripts, etc. Please send all materials to the Queens Chamber of Commerce at 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140, Jackson Heights, NY 11370 or call 718.898.8500 for more information. We reserve the right to edit for space limitations. Your support of the magazine is critical to its success. We encourage you to include Queensborough in your advertising plans. To place your ad, please call BQE Media at 718.426.7200.

31

My

is

(877) 786-6560 • myNYCB.com © New York Community Bank - Member FDIC