This Is Queensborough - May 2019

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May 2019 . Volume 15 . Issue 5

TAKING

OFF NEW CENTER AIMS TO HELP LOCAL BIZ BENEFIT FROM JFK PROJECT

ALSO

• CHAMBER INDUCTS NEW BOARD • OPIOID CRISIS AND THE WORKPLACE • WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU OFFER A ‘CASH DISCOUNT’ • WHY YOUR BUSINESS SHOULD BE IN A SMART BUILDING • CHAMBER GEARING UP FOR MAY 16TH BUSINESS EXPO

“THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW IN THE COUNTRY. OUR COMMUNITY GETS TO BE A PART OF IT.”

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May 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 5

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

THESE ARE EXCITING TIMES FOR QUEENS The changing of the seasons This also includes the LaGuardia transforms our minds and provides AirTrain to Willets Point, which a fresh new prospecwill create easier access tive of the community to Citi Field, the 7 train around us. This change and Long Island Rail reminds me of the redeRoad. velopment and rebuildThe Belmont Park ing taking place in redevelopment projQueens. ect will create a It’s really an exciting 435,000-square-foot time for the borough. retail and entertainment The Willets Point redecomplex space and new velopment project will hotel, making this a shift that cityscape from TOM SANTUCCI world-class sports and empty lots to affordable CHAIRPERSON entertainment destinahousing units, a public tion. elementary school and open space These major development projin a new self-contained community. ects will literally transform the The $8 billion redevelopment of landscape of Queens.

LaGuardia Airport will give us a Not only will these billion-dollar 21st century terminal system pro- projects create new businesses of viding world-class amenities to all sizes, if you’re a business owner visitors to our diverse borough and be prepared to reap the benefits greater NYC area. from the revenue that will be gen-

The renovation of LaGuardia Airport is bringing a 21st century terminal and world-class amenities to the borough. erated from the redevelopment of Queens.

As a member of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, you have opportunities every day to reap the benefits the Chamber has to offer for the growth of your organization.

Make it a priority to catch some of this excitement happening in our borough by reaching out to a member of the Chamber staff to engage your organization.

Thank you for your ongoing support and membership with the Queens Chamber of Commerce.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO MAY IS A GREAT CHANCE TO ENGAGE WITH CHAMBER

The Queens Chamber of City area in attendance, it’s your Commerce was honored to host opportunity to meet one-on-one Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul with decision makers, build your last month to share highlights of business network, and get expothe state’s Fiscal Year sure to some of the 2020 budget with over top organizations in 50 individuals. the city.

We’re always grateWe make every ful to have the lieueffort to create and tenant governor visit host events that and hear her speak enable access to indipassionately about viduals and organiQueens and all the zations you want to great work our elected do business with and officials are doing to provide a return on benefit of the citizens THOMAS J. GRECH your investment as PRESIDENT & CEO of New York State. a Queens Chamber The Chamber partmember. nered with the Greater Jamaica Aside from our Queens Business Development Corporation, Expo on May 16, we’ll host our Queens Economic Development Quarterly New Member Orientation Corporation, and Long Island City to provide an overview of member Partnership for he event. benefits, discuss how to navigate This month, we’ll host our Annual our Chamber website, and recruit Queens Business Expo 2019 at Citi for our nine volunteer committees.

Field, easily one of the highlights of It’s all about engagement and parthe year, and it promises to be more ticipation. impactful than years past.

Also this month is the Expanding With over 140 exhibitors from to a Global Market event in Queens and the greater New York Jamaica and the Queens Chamber

The Chamber hosted its first-ever networking lunch last month. State Senator John Liu was the guest speaker. See story on page 19.

Technology Committee will present a dynamic discussion on the economic benefits of 5G technology, which is the next evolution of wireless.

As you can see, there’s never a shortage of opportunities for you as a Queens Chamber member or future member to expand your business network and tap into new resources to stimulate growth within your organization.

I often say I have the greatest

job in the city. I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to generate opportunities that strengthen our Queens business community.

For more on these event and information about how to engage with the Queens Chamber of Commerce, please visit queenschamber.org.

Our staff is always here to serve and get you connected. Thanks to all our Members for making Queens the best place to live, work and do business.

3

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

SBS BUSINESS COURSES

QUEENS QUICKLY ISLANDERS, R’WOOD SAVINGS DONATIONS

Ridgewood Savings Bank last month presented $24,000 to two local charities, Mercy Haven and New York Crusaders, as part of the bank’s partnership with the New York Islanders.

Ridgewood pledged to donate $10 for every save Islanders goalies made during the season.

The team’s 2,344 saves amounted to nearly $24,000, which is being split between the two charities.

“Ridgewood has a long history of giving back to the communities we serve,” said Ridgewood Savings CEO Leonard Stekol. “It is a thrill

for us to once again join the iconic New York Islanders to support two organizations that make a real difference.”

Mercy Haven provides temporary and permanent housing and critical support services to the homeless and those requiring mental health services.

The New York Crusaders focuses on economic, social, and general health for young adults in New York City. It provides fitness services for all ages, and gives eligible males the chance to play organized tackle football.

Ridgewood is also adding a community room for nonprofits, civic groups, and charitable organizations at its Glendale branch at no cost to these organizations.

Pictured from left are Domenico Ciaccio of Ridgewood Savings Bank, Renzo Devia, Brian Peterkin, Tywan Anthony of New York Crusaders, and Matt Schettino of Ridgewood Savings Bank.

The Department of Small Business Services recently announced that registration is now open for new business courses available to over 5,000 entrepreneurs, with a focus on aspiring and established immigrant entrepreneurs.

“Since nearly half of small businesses owners across the city are foreign-born, our local economy thrives when immigrant entrepreneurs thrive,” said SBS Commissioner Gregg Bishop.

The courses, including a five-course Introduction to Entrepreneurship series and sixcourse Digital Marketing series, will offer new culturally-competent curricula tailored to the needs of immigrant communities.

Throughout the year, courses will be offered in multiple languages including Spanish, Mandarin, and Russian.

To register, visit nyc.gov/businesscourses.

Pictured from left are Ciaccio, Ciara Jensen and Heidi Haller of Mercy Haven, and Schettino.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Promotions, Announcements & Appointments ........................................6

Chamber Gearing Up for May Business Expo ......................................................21

Realtor Says Amazon Pullout Won’t Stifle Growth of LIC ..................7

Partners & Affiliates News and Happenings .........................................................25

Committee Examines Impact of Opioid Crisis on Workplace ...........10

Chamber Welcomes New Members ..........................................................................29

Lieutenant Governor Briefs Chamber on New State Budget ..............11 Queens Chamber Inducts New Board Members ....................................12 Ten Reasons Your Business Should Be in a ‘Smart’ Building ...........14 COVER STORY: JFK Outreach Center Opens Its Doors ...................16 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

May 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 5

QUEENS QUICKLY ‘CONNIE’ FINALLY RETURNS HOME After a historic spin through Times Square, the TWA Hotel’s 1958 Lockheed Constellation “Connie” airplane was lifted by crane into the same spot at the TWA terminal where she parked in 1962, when JFK was still named Idlewild Airport.

There, the fully restored L-1649A plane was reunited with her wings. Starting May 15, when the TWA Hotel welcomes its first guests, Connie will serve cocktails and snacks and invite guests to flip authentic controls in her cockpit.

More Missions, More Transplants From March 27th through April 1st, 2019, Zara Realty’s Subraj Foundation embarked on yet another mission to guyana to offer free eye screenings, and distribute spectacles to thousands in need.

88 Corneal Transplants were conducted, and 2,300 pairs of glasses were distributed in Guyana late last month thanks to The George Subraj Family Foundation.

The team consisted of of members of the George Subrah Family Foundation, and the Georgetown Public Hospital of Guyana (GPHC).

The George Subraj Family foundation team members/coordinators are Subraj’s wife, Gloria; children: Tony and Jasmine and his close friends: Jay Jainarine and Richard B. Mahase; a family that is proud to give back to their country of origin.

The GPHC team consisted of ophthalmologists, nurses and optometrists who volunteered their time during the clinics.

“Many of these clinic participants had their eyes tested for the first time,” said Head of the GPHC Ophthalmology Department, Dr. Shailendra Sugrim.

“Some of these patients were found to have uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension because the team also conducted blood pressure and blood sugar testing,” Dr. Sugrim said. “These patients were then educated on how to manage their medical conditions,” he added.

ROBERT A. MIKLOS Medical Malpractice Attorney

Last December, the Subraj Foundation also worked closely with Cornea Specialists, Dr. Joseph Pasternak of Washington, and the Lions Eye Bank to procure emergency corneal transplant tissues. There was a one-eyed patient , developed an infection of the cornea, and was about to lose his only seeing eye.

According to Dr. Sugrim, “Tony Subraj, President of the Subraj Foundation, acted immediately to buy and transport the desperately needed corneal tissue immediately to Guyana to save the patients only functioning eye.”

This relationship with GPHC was started by the founder of the foundation – the late George Subraj.

The foundation, on an intermittent basis, continues to assist with the provision of corneal tissues for sight-saving surgeries at GPHC. The GPHC Ophthalmology team was trained by US-based Corneal Specialists to perform these surgeries independently.

WERE YOU OR A LOVED ONE A VICTIM OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ANSWERS?

Reports suggest that corneal transplant patients have continuously been expressing their gratitude to the Foundation for giving them this opportunity to have their surgery performed here in Guyana than overseas.

CANCER ∙ SURGERY ∙ BIRTH INJURY HOSPITAL NEGLIGENCE

Dr. Sugrim said, “Patients would usually have to travel overseas to have these procedures performed.”

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Meanwhile, at a small ceremony held at GPHC Sunday, the Subraj Foundation donated three ophthalmic equipment to the GPHC Eye Department.

Full story on www.thisisqueensborough.com

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

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

PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS from York College and a master’s ress as an organization over the past several Dockett tapped to lead accounting degree in Business Administration from St. years, but there is still much work to be done to John’s University. He lives in Laurelton with continue to grow our racing product during an Queens Parks his wife Anne-Marie, son and daughter Michael era of unprecedented competition and change Michael Dockett has been named the new Borough Commissioner of Queens Parks. Dockett has worked at NYC Parks for 33 years, and most recently served as assistant commissioner for the Urban Park Service.

He will succeed Dorothy Lewandowski, who recently retired after serving 14 years in that position.

“Mike Dockett has had a lasting impact on the many divisions he has worked in at NYC Parks,” said Commissioner Mitchell Silver. “I am confident that his background in DOCKETT environmental education, enforcement, and emergency management will be a benefit in his new role leading Queens’ beloved green spaces.”

Queens is home to more than 460 parks, with 7,740 acres of open space. Currently, NYC Parks has approximately 250 active capital improvement projects underway in the borough.

Dockett began his career with Parks in 1984 as an Urban Park Ranger in Queens. He rose through the ranks to become a ranger supervisor and borough director in Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn and the Bronx.

He then went on to become director of Central Communications, and was later promoted to Park & Recreation Manager in Brooklyn, as well as being the borough’s Green Street Manager.

Dockett became Brooklyn’s Chief of Recreation prior to returning to the Urban Park Service as its Chief and eventual Assistant Commissioner.

He has served as assistant commissioner for the Urban Park Service since 2008. In this role, he was responsible for the operations of the Parks Enforcement Patrol, Central Communications, and Emergency Management for the agency, and also oversaw critical enforcement operations and health and safety compliance during the outdoor pool and beach seasons.

In 2016, Dockett received the Mary Purcell Award at the NYC Parks Annual Awards ceremony in recognition of his long lasting influence on the Maintenance, Operations, and Urban Park Service divisions.

Dockett earned an undergraduate degree in

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and Adrianna, mother-in-law Marie, and their dog, Titan.

He enjoys camping, singing in his church choir, and is an assistant scout master for the Boy Scouts of America.

O’Rourke takes reins as new NYRA CEO The New York Racing Association (NYRA) Board of Directors announced the unanimous appointment of David O’Rourke as NYRA CEO and President. O’Rourke has been serving as Interim NYRA CEO since January 23.

“David has made significant and lasting contributions to NYRA since he joined the organization more than a decade ago,” said NYRA board chairman Michael Del Giudice. “He possesses broad expertise in nearly every facet of the industry, enjoys deep respect among his NYRA colleagues and industry peers, and understands how the sport and the business will continue to evolve in the future.”

O’Rourke, 45, first joined NYRA as O’ROURKE director of Financial Planning in 2008 before becoming vice president for Corporate Development in 2010. In 2013, he was appointed chief revenue officer and senior vice president.

In that role, O’Rourke was responsible for NYRA’s business development strategies across a range of disciplines, including industry relations, simulcast markets and contracts, television strategy, advance deposit wagering (ADW) operations, and capital projects.

O’Rourke has played a signature role in spearheading the development and growth of NYRA Bets, NYRA’s national ADW platform currently available in 30 states.

He has also helped shepherd the dramatic expansion of NYRA’s flagship television broadcasts, Belmont Park Live and Saratoga Live, which will feature live coverage nearly every race day in 2019 from Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.

“I am honored to have been selected by the Board of Directors to lead NYRA during this exciting time in its storied history,” said O’Rourke. “We have made tremendous prog-

within the sports and entertainment industry.”

O’Rourke is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the advocacy group comprised of racetrack operators and industry stakeholders charged with increasing the popularity and integrity of the sport.

He earned an MBA from Tulane University and is a graduate of Richard Stockton College.

Browning chosen to lead annual parade Organizers of the annual Forest Hills Memorial Day Parade announced that this year’s grand marshal will be Susan Browning, executive director of Northwell Health’s Long Island Jewish Forest Hills.

“Being the grand marshal is a natural extension of what my job is, understanding what the community needs are and responding to the needs,” Browning said. “There are just so many parallels, like serving as an ambassador.”

In addition to leading the Memorial Day Parade on Sunday, May 26, Browning will be guest of honor at a kick-off party at Bridie’s Bar & Grill on Tuesday, May 7, at 7 p.m., and the VIP party at the West Side Tennis Club on Thursday, May 16, at 6 p.m.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140 Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370-1131 Entire Contents Copyright 2019 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. Schneps Communications 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.

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May 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 5

OPINION

HQ2 DECISION WON’T SLOW RISE OF QUEENS On January 24, my team at B6 the attractiveness and desirability new housing units currently being built on top of the 17,000 units that Real Estate Advisors and I hosted of designated areas. a panel to discuss the The purpose was to have recently come to market. state of the market in not only spur develIn addition to the apartments, Long Island City and opment, but also there are numerous new restauthe looming Amazon to encourage busi- rants, bars and retailers opening.

HQ2 effect. nesses to relocate The growth of the area has also Some of the highand grow in these brought the need for additional lights we discussed designated zones. office space. were the quality of While we have not One of the largest office developtransportation, invesseen an increase in ments in Queens is the Jacx office tor feedback on overall prices, we do building in Queens Plaza. It is curopportunity zones believe it increases rently under construction by Tishand the growth of the the attractiveness of man Speyer, which has 1.2 million neighborhood. properties for certain square feet of creative office space.

THOMAS DONOVAN IS PARTNER Even though Ama- AND investors and ownThe Jacx has commitments from VICE CHAIRMAN OF B6 REAL zon is not going forers.

Macy’s and WeWork to occupy ESTATE ADVISORS. ward with its HQ2 in With the combi- over 500,000 square feet, and it Long Island City due nation strong trans- will feature a one-acre park that to political red tape, they brought portation and Opportunity Zones, will serves as a creative hub, a café the area to light and put it on the there are approximately 12,000 pavilion, and community space that world stage, showing all the advantages the neighborhood has to offer.

Real estate has always been about “location, location, locaCONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Forest Hills. The post, however, tion,” but recently, with the boom was short lived as a need arose at in Long Island City, it has created Browning, a Woodside native, Staten Island University Hospital a new phrase, “location, location, always envisioned becoming an for Browning’s experience as part transportation.” obstetrician-gynecologist until of the hospital’s turnaround team.

The neighborhood features she arrived at Barnard College What was supposed to be a fouramazing access to all forms of for her undergrad week project turned transportation, such as the LIRR, work. into a years-long stint. numerous bus and subway lines, Working at Mount Since rejoining LIJ and the Astoria/Long Island City Sinai during her Forest Hills in 2015, ferry, which create arteries that sophomore year, she Browning has overlead to Manhattan, Brooklyn and got to know several seen a number of the Bronx. administration prochanges.

The combination of Long Island fessionals and devel“This hospital had City’s proximity to Midtown Manoped a passion for been growing and hattan and quality of transportation the field. developing for years options provide quick and easy “I really love and it was on a path, BROWNING access to the rest of New York City healthcare, but for but the community and its airports, and will continue me healthcare adminaround us was changto be a driving force in the growth istration is unique and interesting ing, and I don’t think the hospital of the neighborhood. because you can make change, was responding as quickly to the Recently, approximately 116 but you’re really looking at it needs of the community,” she said. blocks of Long Island City was more at a population level,” “We looked into how we could designated as a Qualified OpporBrowning said. “You can create change services and programs to tunity Zones. These Opportunity change on a much broader scale.” meet the needs of the commuZones, which were put in place Browning joined Northwell nity, both for younger and older under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Health in 1998 as vice president patients.”

(TCJA), encourages investment in of Ambulatory Services before Over the past several years, LIJ specific economically distressed becoming vice president of Oper- Forest Hills has made strides when communities. ations within corporate adminis- it comes to women’s health and It creates tax benefits for investration. bariatric services, in addition to tors, and while we still have not In 2004, Browning became the high-quality services for the elderseen the full effects of these Oppordeputy executive director of LIJ ly. tunity Zones, they have added to

will host outdoor events like theatre, music and dance nights.

Long Island City will continue to prosper, even without the 25,000 jobs from Amazon. It is a viable location for people to live and for businesses to grow. There is a demand for neighborhood retail, big-box retail and local services with new creative office spaces opening to help support this growth.

All this development, coupled with the overlay of the designated Opportunity Zones and quality of transportation, has facilitated new businesses moving to Long Island City as a long-term growth vehicle.

I am optimistic that Long Island City will grow into a significant lifestyle and business destination within the city. The sky is the limit.

PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS The hospital recently hired a urogynecologist for older women who may experience pelvic floor disorders. And the maternity program has been revamped from top to bottom, including upgrades to the equipment and facilities.

Baby-Friendly USA certified LIJ Forest Hills as “best in class” for maternal-child bonding and breastfeeding education.

“If we have fewer physicians delivering babies and a community that needs to have babies delivered, we have a responsibility as the largest healthcare provider in the area to respond to that,” Browning said.

Browning believes that partnering with other organizations, both in and out of the Northwell network, can provide patients with the best resources.

“As we build those bridges and build trust with the community and we continue to deliver on our services, our data supports the work that we’re doing,” Browning said. “What we find is that more people are now seeking a doctor associated with the hospital, that tells us we’re doing well here.”

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

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EXPERT ADVICE

SURCHARGES VS. CASH DISCOUNT PROGRAMS

BY MELINDA REYES

add up to a lot of money every month.

By accepting credit cards, These are normal processing fees businesses increase their revenue set up by the card associations and streams. How many of you have additional fees set up by the banks walked out when you see the sign that issue the credit or debit cards.

“Cash Only” on a storefront?

Additionally, there are processing Carrying plastic and fees to cover other using mobile payments costs to assure your is more popular than merchant services ever, especially for account is running younger generation of smoothly and securely. consumers becoming increasingly Total fees can range from 1 to dependent on technology.

4 percent. As a result, many small However, credit card processing businesses are seeking solutions that fees have become increasingly will enable them to keep accepting expensive for businesses. Discount credit cards with a significant fees, regulatory product fees, reduction in fees, and merchant PCI fees, authorization fees...it’s services companies have been maddening to understand and they offering those programs.

But not all of these programs are compliant, For more information and and businesses need to be to discuss your payment educated or face stiff fines processing needs, contact Melinda Reyes of Premier and penalties.

Passing the cost of Merchant Consulting Services. She can be processing fees onto the reached at (718) 506-4224 customer, or surcharging, or at mreyes@pmcsnyc.com. is still illegal in Puerto

Rico, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas. However, this may change in New York, and the case is still in the courts.

This leaves an obvious opening for a workaround, and many companies are soliciting business owners with cash discount programs, where they set up their equipment to charge a service fee and then “discount” it when a customer pays with cash.

Beware of these names: • Cash Discount • Zero Pay • Swipe 4 Free • No Fee • 100% Free Processing Visa announced that cash discount as it has widely been implemented throughout the payments industry is not compliant with their regulations.

For this reason, many processors have since discontinued their cash discount program.

You can an implement a cash discount program yourself, but in New York it’s still not legal to add

credit card surcharges, so a business will have to be very careful that your cash discount program is actually a cash discount program.

If you break with credit card company regulation, or if they can make a case that you broke the contract, there are some stiff fines and penalties involved.

This is why most merchants trust their payment processing companies to handle the work of actually setting up and implementing a cash discount program for their business.

As stated, in New York State surcharges are still not legal, but if this changes soon, there are some rules that must be followed, just as they exist today in other states: • A business needs to register with Visa, MasterCard and Discover 30 days before they begin surcharging.

This is not a requirement for American Express.

• Proper disclosure of a surcharge is required.

• You cannot place a surcharge on debit (PIN or signature) cards, as these transactions are considered cash.

• A merchant should be charging the cardholder at the same rate in which they are charged, or no more than 4 percent. This fee is not meant to be profit for the merchant, but to cover the merchant services charges.

A merchant should take into consideration several things before opting to apply a surcharge: • The impact on the customer’s experience, complaints and loss of business.

• If competitors are applying a surcharge.

• The notification process and signage requirements.

• Number of customers that use credit cards who will be affected.

Businesses also have the option to waive the fee upon customer request. This can be selected at the time of sale for debit transactions or if a customer refuses to pay the surcharge.

With all these great benefits, cash discounts are a win-win for CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

8

Business Expo

and Luncheon 2019

S ave e at the D16tthh May

BIGGER BOLDER BETTER

Thursday, May 16, 2019 Citi Field 123-01 Roosevelt Avenue Flushing, NY 11368

EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITIES Member Table...........................................................$695

Lunch & Keynote Speakers

Future-Member Table...............................................$795

Doors open at 11:00 am

Not for Profit Table....................................................$245

Business Expo 11:00 am to 5:00 pm

* Electricity (if required)..............................................$75

After Expo Networking Event

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Platinum Sponsor..................................................$7,500 Includes Remarks, Prime Exhibit table, promotions, pictures & stories in our monthly "This is Queensborough" Magazine.

Email blast with your logo via Queens Chamber marketing online distribution Full Page Display Ad in Expo Guide 10 tickets to Luncheon.

Gold Sponsor.........................................................$5,000 Includes Prime Exhibit table, promotions, pictures & stories in our monthly ''This is Queensborough" Magazine.

Email blast with your logo via Queens Chamber marketing online distribution Half Page Display Ad in Expo Guide 8 tickets to Luncheon.

(exclusive to Sponsors & Exhibitors)

DON’T MISS OUT ON: • • • • •

Over 140 Exhibitors Keynote Speakers Raffle Prizes throughout the day Complimentary tours of Citi Field Appearance by Mr. Met and more

Silver Sponsor.......................................................$2,500 Includes Prime Exhibit table, promotions, pictures & stories in our monthly ''This is Queensborough" Magazine.

Email blast with your logo via Queens Chamber marketing on line distribution Quarter Page Display Ad in Expo Guide 4 tickets to Luncheon..

Bronze Sponsor.....................................................$1,250 Includes Exhibit table, promotions, pictures & stories stories in our monthly ''This is Queensborough" Magazine.

Email blast with your logo via Queens Chamber marketing online distribution Quarter Page Display Ad in Expo Guide. 2 tickets to Luncheon.

Complimentary Parking on-site Or take the 7 train straight to the Citifield Stop

REGISTER TO ATTEND LUNCHEON Luncheon.............................................................................$75 Complimentary attendance to Exhibition Hall begins at 11:00am

Register Online

718.898.8500 ext 123 jpersad@queenschamber.org www.queenschamber.org

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

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QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS

COMMITTEE HOSTS PANEL ON OPIOID CRISIS

BY BENJAMIN FANG

In New York, the number of overdose deaths involving opioids nearly tripled in just six years, according to the state Health Department.

From 2010 to 2016, the deaths from the opioid epidemic increased from 1,074 to a whopping 3,009 just three years ago.

In 2015, 52,000 people across the country died from drug overdoses, with over 30,000 people dying from opioid drugs.

To better understand this public health crisis, the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Health Care and Wellness Committee hosted a panel of experts to discuss signs, treatment options and challenges of the epidemic on April 2.

Tom Viola, a board-certified pharmacist, author and speaker, moderated the panel. He said everybody knows someone who’s been affected by the crisis, including people who might die of addiction.

“They’re out there waiting to be saved,” Viola said.

Terri Coyle Famularo, vice president of behavioral health at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, said treatment options have changed drastically over the last 20 to 25 years.

For many years, she said, health experts looked at abstinencebased models, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), as the pathway toward recovery.

“What the opioid epidemic has demonstrated is that we cannot be so rigid in what kind of treatments we’re offering,” she said, “and how we define recovery and a good outcome.”

She said there has been a lot of support for medication-assisted treatment, in addition to NA or AA. Some are looking at a harmreduction model, while others are emphasizing the importance of family support.

“There’s no wrong door, anything that brings somebody into the journey toward recovery is the

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Thomas Grech introduces the panel (left to right): Terri Coyle Famularo, Eugene Shea, Dr. Teresa Murray Amato and Barbara DeMatteo. Tom Viola (standing) moderated the discussion. door we want to open,” Famularo said. “That means accepting the pathway they’re determining for themselves.”

Eugene Shea, assistant director of clinical for the Transitional Services of New York, gave tips on how to approach someone who is suspected to have an opioid addiction. He said the first thing to do is talk to the person when they are not under the influence.

Shea also suggested keeping one’s emotions in check while confronting the user.

“It’s very easy to get upset or let your emotions take over,” he said.

“That might push the person away or create an atmosphere where there’s an argument over whether the person needs help or not.”

He added that friends and family should make clear that they’re worried about the user, and that they care about them.

“If you’re going to encourage people to seek treatment, you want to have some sense of what the treatment options are ahead of time,” Shea said. “One of the best ways to do that is to call the National Drug Hotline.”

As a last resort, Shea recommended staging an intervention,

where family and friends gather and, in a supportive way, confront the person.

“That sometimes can be very effective,” he said.

There are also physical signs that one can look for, according to Dr. Teresa Murray Amato, chairperson at Northwell Health. Some are subtle, while others are more obvious.

The first sign to look for is when someone comes in an “altered state” and is not themselves, Amato said.

Another telltale sign is when the person’s pupils are “almost not there.” Amato said that’s specific to opiate overdoses.

She suggested that people receive training in using Naloxone, a medication designed to reverse opioid overdoses.

Finally, Barbara DeMatteo, director of HR consulting at Portnoy, Messinger, Pearl & Associates, spoke about the importance of employers having policies related to substance use or abuse.

She said while alcohol, prescription medication and even marijuana may be legal in some states, employees still can’t come to work under the influence because

it affects the area of employment.

“We strongly suggest there be a clearly written substance abuse policy because employees need to understand what can happen,” DeMatteo said, “and employers need to have a consistent approach of how to handle an employee who may be under the influence.”

The health care experts also discussed how to define success in a harm-reduction model of recovery. Viola noted that addiction is a disease, and the majority of those who become addicted and recovery eventually relapse.

“Being clean doesn’t mean you are recovered,” Famularo said.

Amato added that stigma around drug abuse affects everyone, across socioeconomic levels.

“At the end of the day, everyone says there’s no stigma, but there is,” she said. “The big thing we’re trying to do is take away the stigma.”

Famularo said many families go through these types of struggles.

She suggested that families should surround themselves with people who have also been through it.

“There’s a lot of support out there,” she said.

May 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 5

QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS

HOCHUL BRIEFS CHAMBER ON NYS BUDGET REMAINS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BUSINESS CLIMATE POST-AMAZON

BY BENJAMIN FANG The $175 billion state budget lays out a bold agenda of policies to help New Yorkers, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said in a briefing with the Queens Chamber of Commerce.

On April 11, Hochul visited the chamber’s headquarters in East Elmhurst to tout the 20 agenda items accomplished, including $150 billion in infrastructure spending, congestion pricing and criminal justice reforms.

“I believe the epicenter of infrastructure is in Queens,” she said.

“We’re making great progress.”

The lieutenant governor highlighted the two biggest projects in the state, the redevelopment of LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports, as well as the opening of the TWA Hotel. She said all of these projects will wrap up in the next three years.

“It’s exciting for me to see the transformations right before my eyes,” she said.

On congestion pricing, Hochul said it may be a controversial issue, but lawmakers recognized the need for a dedicated funding stream for the MTA. She credited the governor for not kicking the can “down the road,” and making the necessary investments now.

“He is very engaged in this,” she said. “This is something that consumes him every day.”

Congestion pricing is expected to raise $15 billion, while the mansion tax will raise $5 billion. The budget also eliminated the Internet tax advantage, earmarking another $5 billion for the MTA. The state budget also contained a number of policies, including bail, speedy trial and discovery reforms in the criminal justice system.

Ending cash bail will mean 90 percent of the people charged will

remain out of jail and start their rehabilitation, Hochul said. She hopes this will also act as a deterrent for first-time offenders.

The lieutenant governor said the current bail system for non-violent offenders is based on whether or not they can afford their freedom.

“The only reason someone lands in Rikers is because they don’t have enough money in their bank account to post bail,” she said.” For someone who does post bail, that person is back in school, back in their job and their lives are not ruined.”

Other policy items in the budget include $27 million for the Jose Peralta DREAM Act, which gives financial aid to undocumented students, the Child Victim’s Act, which extends statutes of limitations for those who were abused and the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), which extends protections to transgender communities and the Reproductive Health Act, which codifies abortion protections in Roe v. Wade.

On education, New York will

allocate $27.9 billion in school aid, which is up $1 billion from last year. In addition to increased spending, Hochul said the state will also prioritize funding for poorer schools.

The state also passed its own version of the Green New Deal, which will provide benchmarks to invest in carbon-free electricity by 2040, Hochul said. New York also notably banned single-use plastic bags.

“That is the boldest in the country, but also achievable,” she said.

Lawmakers also passed a series of election reforms this year. According to the lieutenant governor, New York is 38th in the nation in voter participation, which is a challenge that “needs to be overcome.”

New York will implement early voting, pre-registration when teenagers go to the DMV, and combine state and federal primary dates.

While the budget does not include a plan for public financing of elections, legislators agreed to a comCONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul (in yellow) poses for a photo with Chamber members and several elected officials from Queens.

11

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS

QUEENS CHAMBER INDUCTS EXECUTIVE BOARD

BY BENJAMIN FANG The Queens Chamber of Commerce swore in its executive board for the 2019-2020 year on April 25 at Douglaston Manor.

Thomas Santucci will continue in his role as chairperson, while Nash Roe, Fran Biderman-Gross, Patrick Yu and Richard Dzlewicz will continue their service on the board.

The sole addition to the executive board is Susan Browning, executive director of Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Forest Hills. Browning also serves on the Board of Directors and co-chairs the chamber’s Health and Wellness Committee.

Departing the executive board is Howard Graf, a partner of the Jamaica-based firm Graf & Lewent Architects. Graf has been involved with the Queens Chamber for three decades.

“It’s up to the individual to really figure out how best to work with the chamber, how to contribute,” he said. “I find that the more you contribute, the more you get out of it.”

Graf said he feels his involvement with the chamber has allowed him to not only grow as a person, but it’s helped his business in “subtle ways.”

He will still serve on the board of directors.

“I’m looking forward to continuing in a different, smaller role with the chamber,” Graf said.

Thomas Grech, president and CEO with the Queens Chamber, said the organization hosted 320 events in 2018.

Its influence has extended to nearly every major development project in Queens, including the LaGuardia AirTrain, Sunnyside Yard, Willets Point redevelopment, JFK Airport redevelopment and the Western Queens Tech Council.

In a speech before the Board of Directors, who were also sworn in that day, Santucci said 320 events in one year is “staggering.”

“I’ve never worked so hard in my life,” he said. “They’re real

12

Councilman Donovan Richards swears in the 2019-2020 executive board, which includes (from left) Fran Biderman-Gross, Susan Browning, Thomas Santucci, Nash Roe and Richard Dzwlewicz. programs to educate people and promote business.”

Santucci said there are two goals he hopes to accomplish at the helm of the Queens Chamber. One is for

the organization to serve as a career vessel, especially for young people.

Another is for the chamber to have its own building, where they can host programs, meetings and

other events.

“These things are doable, Queens County deserves it,” he said. “I hope this year will be even better than past years.”

Hochul said was “more complicated” than they thought. mission that will examine the issue They are still working out the and make recommendations for details on the impact on communiimplementation. ties of color and regulations, includ“This will level the playing ing use while driving. field so we have more people “Regardless of what your engaged in the process,” feelings are on this, it’s she said. hard for us to put “ Hochul noted that someone in jail for “Amazon could’ve something that’s the budget was passed on-time for completely gone anywhere in the ninth conseculegal in 12 other the country, there tive year. It also states,” she must be a lot of stuck to Cuomo’s said. “You have good reasons 2 percent spending to evolve and they went to cap. realize it’s fundaQueens.”

While the budget mentally unfair.” dealt with many legisThe other big lative issues, there is still debate will be over the work to be done in Albany for reform of several rent laws, the rest of the session. One item is which are up for renewal this year. the legalization of marijuana, which The lieutenant governor ended

her presentation with remarks about the departure of Amazon. Tom Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber, noted that while Queens is still smarting from the company’s decision, he remains optimistic about the borough.

“All the things that were in place to get Amazon to come in the first place are still here,” he said.

Hochul agreed with that assessment. She predicted an “explosion in this community” as more interest from business comes.

“Amazon could’ve gone anywhere in the country, there must be a lot of good reasons they went to Queens,” she said. “There are still many reasons, and those reasons are still there.

“We will not take defeat,” Hochul added. “We are open to business and we want you to come.”

HOCHUL CONFIDENT IN QUEENS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

May 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 5

QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS

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PICTURED AT THE QUEENS CHAMBER BOARD INDUCTION CEREMONY ARE (1) THOMAS GRECH & HOWARD GRAF; (2) KY CHOW & AL PENISI; (3) COUNCILMAN DONOVAN RICHARDS; (4) NASH ROE & THOMAS SANTUCCI; (5) THOMAS GRECH, TOM CARTY & FRAN BIDERMAN-GROSS; (6) DR. RYAN LETTS & JEFFREY ROSENSTOCK; (7) HOWARD GRAF, AL PENISI & CAROL CONSLATO; AND (8) MARK WEPRIN & BILL DRISCOLL.

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

QCC COMMITTEE NEWS & NOTES

TOP 10 REASONS TO OPERATE IN A SMART BUILDING

BY JAMES HENDON

Running a business is exciting. As an entrepreneur, I relish the opportunity to turn my dreams into realities, and creating value for my company and others to the greatest extent possible.

My success is directly correlated with how hard I work, my ability to trust the right people, and smart execution.

To that point, none of us can truly work smart today without housing our businesses in “smart” buildings. A smart building is defined by the Advanced Energy Economy Association as “a facility that leverages information technology to improve system performance for energy savings and operational improvements.”

Per the U.S. Department of Energy, there are over 5 million commercial buildings in the U.S., and over 98 percent of them are under 100,000 square feet. These build-

James Hendon is CEO of the Energy Economic Development Corporation, a Chamber member with offices in Flushing, Manhattan, and Brooklyn that helps small businesses and nonprofits perform smart building retrofits.

14

ings house the vast majority of our small businesses, yet only 10 percent of them are smart.

The rest are lit, heated and cooled with unitary heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems controlled by standalone antiquated switches and thermostats.

Here’s the top ten reasons your business should operate in a smart building: 10. Transparency. Building monitoring software continuously tracks your energy usage at the meter, giving you additional insight into this critical business expense.

9. Constant optimization. Cloudbased analytics remotely optimize your energy efficiency 24/7.

State-of-the-art software (e.g.

JouleSmart’s Active Oversight) provides the benefit of having a round-the-clock energy manager without the costs.

8. Significant savings. HVAC system upgrades can result in savings of 40 to 60 percent of your HVAC’s contribution to your energy bill. Likewise, lighting system upgrades can result in savings of 20 to 70 percent.

These improvements, coupled with cloud-based analytics and a building management system, may reduce your overall energy bill by as much as 50 percent.

7. Attractive new incentives.

Beyond energy savings, you can earn incentives for exhibiting positive control over your building’s systems. Large incentives are available at the utility, state, and regional grid management levels.

An example is New York State’s Real Time Energy Management Program, which was introduced in 2016. This program directly compensates buildings that pursue a retrofit based on data, control, and ongoing management.

By becoming a smart building, you can earn money from these and other incentive programs on a recurring basis for years to come.

6. Environmental impact. Optimizing your energy use drastically reduces your carbon footprint. This is critical given that small and medium commercial buildings lag in sustainability goals as compared to the residential, industrial, and large commercial sectors.

5. Mitigated costs. Pioneering energy firms can complete your retrofit at no cost and no risk under a Managed Energy Services Agreement (MESA) and get repaid from the energy savings. There is no down payment, origination fee, or any upfront cost, and business owners are sheltered from performance risk.

You pay a level billing amount based on what you paid for energy during the prior year. Once the MESA ends, you go back to paying your regular utility company and realize the full extent of your savings for years to come.

4. Insured results. Smart buildings generally qualify for Energy Efficiency Insurance policies like those provided by Hartford Steam Boiler that secure the cash flows from energy-saving projects. This means that, barring extraordinary circumstances, your returns from retrofit investments can be locked in.

3. Minimal work required. Engi-

neers, contractors, and financiers will gladly do almost all of the heavy lifting as you seek to become a smart building. At no cost to you, various entities can provide ways to reduce your energy expense by as much as 60 percent.

2. Inevitability. It is inevitable that your business will operate in a smart building, the only question is when. Municipalities, universities, large corporations, and hospitals have taken advantage of these innovations for decades. The accessibility of no-cost smart building retrofits has finally reached the small business community, and it is here to stay.

1. Trustworthy assistance. Even if you do not know everything there is to know about cutting-edge building science, green contracting, and energy finance, you can trust people alongside you who do know about these things.

A great place to start is the Queens Chamber’s Energy Committee, co-chaired by Marshall Haimson of E-Capital Development and myself.

For these reasons and many others, it’s fair to say that smartest aspect of a smart building is not its technology, but the decision to become a smart building from the onset.

SURCHARGES VS. DISCOUNTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

your business, right? Well, not all customers will see it that way.

They especially value the convenience of credit cards for larger ticket items. Despite the friendlier language when compared to surcharges, some customers will still view a cash discount as just an extra fee for them.

Many point-of-sale devices allow cash discounts. Owners may easily discontinue the program or turn it off for loyal customers on a caseby-case basis, if desired. If you would like to try the program at your business, remember that you can always change your mind if you

feel it no longer benefits you.

Credit card fees are an allowable tax deduction, so it can always be offset. Whichever way you choose, the most important thing is to assure your pricing is fair.

The value your payment processor can bring is also relevant.

Do you have good customer and technical support? Will they be there to assure your transactions are secure and funded in the quickest manner?

It’s also better to have a direct merchant account where you have more control of your funds as compared to an aggregator, such as Square, that pool businesses to offer payment processing.

May 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 5

Intelligent Buildings = Smart Business A Program of the Queens Chamber of Commerce Attributes of an Intelligent Building

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Why Smaller Businesses Have Been Left Behind • Limited access to capital, engineering expertise and resources available to investigate energy efficiency programs.

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w w w. j o u l e s m a r t . c o m 15

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

COVER STORY

JFK PROJECT PUTS FOCUS ON LOCAL BUSINESSES

BY BENJAMIN FANG The Port Authority’s JFK Redevelopment project opened its Jamaica outreach office in March to ensure that the local community benefits from the $13 billion program.

While still relatively early in the redevelopment process –– shovels are not expected to go into the ground until next year –– the team is already ramping up its services and outreach to both area businesses and the local workforce.

Selvena Brooks-Powers, manager of External Affairs and Community Outreach, said they came on board before the governor announced the two terminal developers.

“We’ve been able to engage in a lot of conversations to build from the ground up, as opposed to coming in later into the process,” she said.

“I think that’s been helpful.”

One of the main ways the project focuses on community needs is by adopting a 30 percent utilization goal of Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBEs), which applies to both contracts and financing interests.

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According to Nantasha Williams, co-manager of External Affairs and Community Outreach, the team will place an emphasis and priority on MWBE firms from the communities surrounding the airport.

The same priority will apply to the local workforce when making hires, whether it’s for the construction or operation of the two new terminals.

Williams said the JFK Redevelopment is the first and largest project that is subject to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 30 percent MWBE goal. She hopes it will set a precedent for the future.

“We’re really giving opportunities to MWBE firms locally, allowing them to scale up their businesses,” she said, “and be able to work on a project that could elevate or escalate their existing work portfolio.”

Brooks-Powers said there has already been a lot of interest from the business community, whether it’s the food industry or construction firms. The Jamaica outreach office has already hosted several professional service roundtables focusing on sectors like real estate, accounting and attorneys.

“Everyone wants to be part of it,”

she said.

To facilitate the process, BrooksPowers and Williams have been hosting bi-monthly certification training for local small MWBE firms. To be counted toward that 30 percent goal, participating businesses have to be a certified MWBE either with the Port Authority or with the state.

Early on, the redevelopment team has also connected the developers with local businesses to discuss their timelines, their needs and what firms can do to prepare to win those contracts.

Brooks-Powers noted that the terminal developers, Terminal One Group Association and JetBlue, have worked closely with the outreach office and attended all of the advisory council meetings.

The terminal developers have also hosted their own events.

JetBlue recently organized a meetand-greet for design-builders, while Terminal One Group Association had an event focused on demolition.

“It’s helping these businesses get in the right position to go after the opportunities,” she said.

The JFK Redevelopment team

has also looked internally at the many barriers that MWBEs face, and figuring out ways to get rid of those obstacles, which include access to capital and insurance.

Williams said sometime their own internal processes might be “a little cumbersome.” She also noted that there can be a “general bias” in contracting and procurement, which the Port Authority’s chief diversity officer has been seeking to address.

They’re figuring out ways to “break out” large contracts, which would allow smaller firms to bid on portions of a big project that they wouldn’t normally have access to.

For Brooks-Powers, they are focused on building capacity in the community and making sure they have enough notice for opportunities coming up.

That’s why the redevelopment project formed an advisory council made up of local elected officials, community board representatives, civic groups, business organizations and faith-based leaders.

“We don’t want the community to miss the opportunities,” she said.

“We want them to definitely be a part of this.”

May 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 5

COVER STORY The Port Authority is currently in the middle of lease negotiations with developers, Brooks-Powers said. They expect construction to start in 2020, with an anticipated completion date in 2025.

“This is one of the largest infrastructure programs taking place right now in the country,” she added. “Our community gets to be part of it.”

“We’re really here as a resource, this office is your office, in a sense,” Williams added. “We want to make sure we’re out there in the community, servicing the individual, the business and institutions in the community.”

The JFK Redevelopment Community Information Center is located at 144-33 Jamaica Avenue and open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thursdays when it is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call (718) 244-3834 or visit anewjfk.com.

Selvena Brooks-Powers and Nantasha Williams head the new JFK Redevelopment Community Info Center.

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queenschamber.org

BRIDGE REBATE EXPANDED TO ALL OF QUEENS

BY SHANE MILLER A rebate program for the tolls that Rockaway residents pay to use a Queens bridge will now be expanded to all residents of the borough.

“Expanding the rebate program to all Queens residents is a complete economic game changer for our communities, allowing freedom and ease of access to the entire borough,” said Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato.

The Rockaway Resident Rebate program at the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge (CBB) will be expanded to all Queens residents starting in spring of 2020.

The funding to expand the program was secured during the 201920 budget negotiations, utilizing the Outer Borough Transportation Account, which was established as part of the surcharge on forhire vehicles passed last year.

Currently, Rockaway and Broad Channel residents receive a rebate after each trip on the CBB by the MTA. Vehicles must be registered with E-ZPass to a valid resident

address in Rockaway or Broad Channel.

In order to be eligible for the expanded rebate, vehicles must have a valid E-ZPass tag and be registered at a resident address in Queens. The program is only available to passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles are excluded.

“The thorn in the side of the Rockaway’s full economic potential is finally being removed,” said State Senator Joseph Addabbo.

“Once the toll is fully reimbursed for Queens residents, individuals can freely enjoy the Rockaway’s beaches, work in Rockaway, access the ferry services, and eat at its restaurants without the additional financial burden.”

In 1939, the New York City Parkway Authority built the first Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge.

In 1970, the Triborough Bridge Authority completed the current CBB, which was made taller to allow ships to pass under it.

The toll on new bridge was implemented originally only to

On behalf of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, I want to publicly thank State Senator Joe Addabbo and Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato for their hard work and partnership in eliminating the toll for Queens residents on the Cross Bay Memorial Bridge.

Their advocacy and ability to work cooperatively with the MTA will help businesses thrive on both sides of the bridge.

Ever since the QCC’s first Queens Day in Albany, eliminating the toll has been one of our legislative priorities. We discussed it with every senator and assembly member with whom we met.

The toll was an obstacle that discouraged people from visiting favorite restaurants, medical practitioners, retailers, recreational facilities and more.

The issue resonated loudly with Senator Addabbo and Assemblywoman Amato, who got the job done. Now all of Queens is open for business!

- Thomas J. Grech, Queens Chamber President & CEO

cover the cost of the new improvements and started at 10 cents a trip, but it has since skyrocketed to over $4.

“I feel like I’ve won the lottery!” said Paula Vicari, a Howard Beach resident who works on the Rockaway Peninsula. “Over the years, I have spent thousands of dollars crossing over the bridge to bring my children to school and

traveling to work.”

But some called for the state to go even further.

“I never confuse good with perfect,” said Dee Tubridy, owner of Bungalow Bar. “The perfect situation is to have the toll eliminated completely for all New York State residents, only then will the full economic impact be felt across the entire peninsula.“

Elected officials join Rockaway business and civic leaders to celebrate the expanded rebate program at the Cross Bay Bridge.

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May 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 5

CHAMBER EVENTS LIU KEYNOTES CHAMBER LUNCH

Pictured with State Senator John Liu are luncheon attendees Shaaranya Pillai and Mukund Mehta.

BY BENJAMIN FANG Dozens of business leaders attended the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon at Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers in Bay Terrace on April 17.

The event featured State Senator John Liu, who spoke about pending state legislation and took questions about a variety of issues, including marijuana legalization, singlepayer health care and closing Rikers Island.

Prior to introducing Liu, Thomas Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber, said in the wake of Amazon’s departure, he has seen an anti-business sentiment spread across the city.

“The things people do in business, the taxes their employees pay,” he said, “they help support and pay for the social programs in our great city.”

Liu said small businesses are the “fabric and underpinnings” of the economy that need to not just survive, but thrive. But small businesses continue to face many burdens, including “incessant and unrelenting government regulations.”

“Unfortunately, we don’t always put our public policy where it matters,” he said.

The former city comptroller and City Council member now chairs

the Committee on New York City Education in the State Senate. His purview includes everything from pre-kindergarten and 3K all the way to college and graduate schools.

“I often say education is the best economic driver,” Liu said, “the best economic development the government can make.”

To make his case, Liu said Amazon specifically chose New York instead of other states that offered more subsidies because of the city’s well-educated and skilled workforce.

“Even though we worry about the future of education, the reality is, I think our education is actually pretty darn good compared to many other states,” he said.

“Hence, giving us that comparative advantage. Hence, clueing us in on where that additional money should be invested.”

On the issue of legalizing marijuana, Liu said the proposal should be examined and considered.

As comptroller, he studied the issue and found himself favoring decriminalization because the “medical community agrees that marijuana is no more dangerous than alcohol.’

He added that the current prohibition of marijuana doesn’t work, and that many people who are buying weed get it from criminals.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

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Mobile Wallet. 5,000 uChoose Reward ® points can be redeemed for $50 cash value. Benefits, Rewards Points and the redemption of Rewards Points under the uChoose Reward ® program are administered by Fiserv, Inc., an unaffiliated third-party vendor of Ridgewood Savings Bank. uChoose Rewards ® is a registered trademark of Fiserv, Inc. Premier Checking Account: The minimum balance to open is $250. This is a tiered rate account, the APY for balances $0.01 – $9,999.99 is .10%; $10,000.00 – $24,999.99 is .20%; $25,000.00 – $49,999.99 is .25%; $50,000.00 or more is .50%. Checking with Interest Account: The minimum balance to open is $100. This is a tiered rate account, the APY for balances $0.01 – $9,999.99 is .10%; $10,000.00 – $24,999.99 is .15%; $25,000.00 – $49,999.99 is .20%; $50,000.00 or more is .25%. Ridgewood Good Account: The minimum balance to open is $25.

Student Advantage Account: The minimum balance to open is $25.

Each Annual Percentage Yield (APY) set forth above is effective as of 3/15/19 and is subject to change at any time. Fees may reduce earnings. The value of the bonuses paid under this promotion is considered interest and Ridgewood Savings Bank will issue you an IRS Form 1099-INT, or other appropriate form. Offer may be withdrawn or modified at any time without notice. Ridgewood Savings Bank employees and immediate family members are not eligible to participate in this offer.

Subject to Terms and Conditions. Program subject to change or discontinuance without notice. © Ridgewood Savings Bank. All rights reserved.

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

ODE TO THE BOROUGH’S UNSUNG TREASURES Queens has great entertainment venues. The U.S. Open is certainly the world’s top tennis tournament. Citi Field hosts the beloved Mets, friendly soccer matches between international powerhouses, and concerts. Then there are the Rockaways, Resorts World, and New Park Pizza.

But the most diverse county in the United States also has many microcosms: neighborhood bars, art galleries, community centers, and public spaces that deserve recognition. This column looks at those smaller agencies and what they plan to offer this May. There’s some great stuff on deck, too, so get ready for plays, exhibitions, live music, outsider art, and food, food, food.

• May 2-25, Caroline, or Change. This musical combines spirituals, blues, Motown, classical music, Klezmer, and folk. Set in Louisiana in 1963, the plot involves a friendship between a Jewish boy and his family’s African-American maid. Shows are Thursdays and Fridays at 8 pm and Saturdays at 2 pm and 8 pm. The Broccoli Theater at the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens, 21-12 30th Rd., Astoria, apacny.org.

• May 3-June 2, 100thAnniversary of the First Transatlantic Flight.

The U.S. Navy Seaplane NC-4 was assembled and took off from the Rockaway Naval Air Station on May 8, 1919. It was the first aircraft to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. The exhibition features storyboards telling the tale of the epic voyage. Studio T-7 Gallery, Fort Tilden, Rockaway Point, rockawayartistsalliance.org.

• May 3-11, Catch Me If You Can. Douglaston Community Theatre presents this comic mystery about a bride who mysteriously disappears from a honeymoon cottage on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Zion Episcopal Church, 243-01 Northern Blvd., Douglaston, dctonline.org.

• May 4-June 30, Journeys.

Bonnie Astor is a life-long advocate of art created by people with emotional and/or physical challenges. This show features work by

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Astor and her friends. The Local NYC, 13-02 44th Ave., LIC, bonnieastorart.com.

May 5-September 3, Chronos Cosmos: Deep Time, Open Space.

This show transforms the outdoor venue into a gateway to the universe with art that considers space, time, and matter in relationship to celestial entities and earth-bound processes. Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., LIC, socratessculpturepark. org.

May 6, Syrian Iftar, 7 pm. The Queens Dinner Club teams up with Fadila Maamo, a Syrian refugee who came to the U.S. from Aleppo in 2016, to cook up a feast on first night of Ramadan. The multicourse meal includes everything from sharab al tamarhindi wa ward, a traditional tamarind rose iced tea drunk to break the fast, to knafeh, crispy filo pastry stuffed with sweet cheese and drenched with orange flower syrup. In between there will be traditional delicacies including fakhdeh bi freek wa ful akhdar, slow-roasted lamb served over smoked green wheat pilaf with fresh fava beans and fried nuts. The Queensboro, 80-02 Northern Blvd., Jackson Heights, Tanabelsyriandinner.eventbrite. com.

• May 11, Sheep Shearing Festival, 11 am to 4 pm. A day on the farm with hair cuts for sheep and wool spinning demos as well as live music, crafts, hayrides and food. Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Glen Oaks, queensfarm.org.

• May 12, LIC Springs!, Noon to 5 pm. Celebrate Long Island City with music, dance, and theater as well as interactive lessons, sculpture-making, fitness classes, outdoor dining, pop-up activities, and more. Here’s a small sample of this year’s participants: American Folk Art Museum, Brickhouse Ceramic Art Center, Flux Factory, INSITU Site-Specific Dance Festival, Paint Power, and The Blue Bus Project.

Vernon Boulevard between 50th and 46th avenues, licpartnership. org.

• May 14-19, Queens New Music Festival. This eighth annual

SHEEP SHEARING FESTIVAL

event presents 12 concerts over six days. More than 50 composers and 40 performers offer new music rooted in the contemporary concert tradition, as well as convergent music from experimental jazz, world, and other genres. The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd St., LIC, ramnyc.org.

• May 17-19, Green Space. First up is Edgar Cortes Dance Theater and Dance Visions NY on May 17-18 at 8 pm. Second is the Fertile Ground New Works Showcase with six troupes on May 19 at 7 pm.

Green Space, 37-24 24th St., LIC, greenspacestudio.org.

• May 17, Fiddlers Green, 6:30 pm. This Long Island-based group is dedicated to traditional folk music, humorous banter, and songs with easy choruses. Get ready for the hammered dulcimer, accordion, English concertina, and mandolin. King Park, 153rd Street and Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, kingmanor.org.

• May 18, Curator’s Tour, 1 pm.

Senior Curator Dakin Hart leads a walk through “Changing and Unchanging Things: Noguchi and Hasegawa in Postwar Japan.” This exhibition has almost 90 pieces stemming from the brief-yet-consequential friendship between Isamu Noguchi and Saburo Hasegawa.

The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd

Rd., LIC, noguchi.org.

May 19, Oratorio Society of Queens Annual Spring Concert, 4 pm. Mozart’s “Requiem,” Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” and Vivaldi’s Concerto No. 1, Spring from “The Four Seasons.” Performers include David Close, conductor; Paula Jean Rocheleau, soprano; Ginger Inabinet, mezzo-soprano; Byron Singleton, tenor; and Nathan Bahny, bass-baritone. Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, 110-06 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills, queensoratorio.org.

May 19, Sacred Sites, Noon.

Official Queens historian Jack Eichenbaum leads a tour of religious institutions in Flushing and discusses the neighborhood’s history as the birthplace of religious freedom in the United States. The tour starts at the Quaker Meeting House, 137-16 Northern Blvd., and ends at St. Michael’s Church, 13676 41st Ave., queenshistoricalsociety.org.

May 19, Bell Boulevard Food and Music Fest, 2 pm. Pay $30 and sample more than 35 restaurants on Bell Boulevard between 38th and 43rd avenues (and 41st Avenue). Cuisine options include Cajun, Chinese, French, Greek, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tex Mex, and Vietnamese, baysidevillageBID.com.

The monthly “It’s In Queens” column is produced by the Queens Tourism Council. More info at itsinqueens.com.

May 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 5

QUEENSBOROUGH CALENDAR OF EVENTS MAY 5/7, 2 TO 5 PM

M/WBE SEMINAR: M/WBE CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP

NYC is committed to awarding $16 billion in city contracts to Minority & Women-Owned Businesses, this series of seminars will help you compete for contracts.

FREE Register at queenschamber.org Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights 5/8, 8:30 AM

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION

Review your member benefits, explore our new website and learn about committee opportunities.

FREE Register at queenschamber.org Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights 5/8, 10 AM

WORKSHOP: HOW TO RAISE MONEY FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Improve your knowledge to make better revenues and expose your product to a bigger clientele.

FREE Register at queenschamber.org Business Center for New Americans 78-27 37th Avenue, Suite 1 Jackson Heights 5/8, 6 PM

MIX & MINGLE NETWORKING EVENT

Meet fellow business owners and members of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. Be sure you have plenty of business cards.

FREE Veranda Restaurant & Cafe 208-01 Northern Blvd.

Bayside 5/9, 5:30 PM

COMMUNITY LENDING

For small business owners looking to buy commercial property, mixed-use commercial or condo units. This events is designed spe-

cially for Real estate agents, brokers, attorneys, accountants and other professionals in the field, and potential buyers.

FREE Register at queenschamber.org Terrace on the Park 52-11 111th St. Flushing

day to help grow your business.

Citi Field 123-01 Roosevelt Avenue Flushing

TD Bank 108-36 Queens Boulevard Forest Hills

5/21, 2 TO 5 PM

BUILDING A FINANCIAL FOUNDATION

5/10, 8:30 AM

NYC is committed to awarding $16 billion in city contracts to Minority & Women-Owned Businesses, this series of seminars will help you compete for contracts.

FREE Register at queenschamber.org Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights

THE FINE LINE BETWEEN A PROBING LEGAL QUESTION

This workshop will help you understand which interview questions legal and appropriate and which questions are cross the line and are illegal and inappropriate.

FREE Register at queenschamber.org Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights 5/10, 11 AM

EXPANDING TO A GLOBAL MARKET

Meet with the experts and get their insight on how to take your business to the next level.

FREE Register at queenschamber.org Harvest Room 90-40 160th Street Jamaica 5/14, 2 TO 5 PM

M/WBE SEMINAR: SELLING TO GOVERNMENT

NYC is committed to awarding $16 billion in city contracts to Minority & Women-Owned Businesses, this series of seminars will help you compete for contracts.

FREE Register at queenschamber.org Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights 5/16, 10 AM

QUEENS CHAMBER BUSINESS EXPO

Meet decision makers, generate leads and develop prosperous business relationships. There will be seminars and workshops all

M/WBE SEMINAR: MARKETING & CREATING YOUR CAPABILITY STATEMENT

5/21, 6 PM

MIX & MINGLE NETWORKING EVENT

Meet fellow business owners and members of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. Be sure you have plenty of business cards.

FREE Cobblestones Pub 117-18 Queens Boulevard Forest Hills 5/30, 9 AM

5G: THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF WIRELESS

Join the Technology Committee for a dynamic discussion on the economic benefits of 5G, and how it will transform the way we stay connected FREE Register at queenschamber.org Queens College Campbell Dome 65-30 Kissena Boulevard Flushing

JUNE 6/6, NOON

#TRENDING...

MARKETING VIA SOCIAL MEDIA LUNCH & LEARN

The guest speaker for this event will be Jake Oliver of Anat Gerstein, Inc. Register at queenschamber.org

6/6, 6:30 PM

A multilingual (English/Korean) workshop about how to build your financial foundation.

FREE Register at queenschamber.org Prince Street Financial Center 39-07 Prince Street, Suite 6A Flushing 6/17, ALL DAY

QUEENS CHAMBER FOUNDATION ANNUAL GOLF OUTING & DINNER

Join the Chamber Foundation for a day of golf and professional networking. Attend for the full day, or just join for the dinner and awards ceremony.

Register at queenschamber.org Garden City Country Club 206 Stewart Avenue Garden City 6/26, 6 PM

5TH ANNUAL FORT TOTTEN PARK INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

Join the Queens Chamber for a night of live music and a fireworks display over Long Island Sound in a celebration of our nation’s independence.

Fort Totten Totten Ave. & 15th Rd. Bayside

JULY 7/11, 9 AM

BREAKFAST SPEED NETWORKING EVENT

A fast-paced event that guarantees you’ll build your professional network and increase your business bottom-line. Within a matter of twenty minutes you’ll be introduced to at least 20 new contacts.

FREE Register at queenschamber.org Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights

For any registration or more information on these events or any other events please call us at 718.898.8500 or visit us on the web queenschamber.org

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QUEENS CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS

CROSS THE FINISH LINE WITH JDRF

Crossing the finish line at any cycling or endurance race is exhilarating. Crossing the finish line as a member of the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes team - or Team JDRF - is truly life changing. The physical challenge endured is worth it, knowing you’ve made a difference in the lives of all those living with type one diabetes (T1D).

JDRF is the leading global organization funding T1D research. Its vision is a world without T1D, and its mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications locally, nationally, and internationally.

The JDRF New York City/Long Island Chapter supports all five boroughs and Long Island, providing much-needed outreach resources, community support and fundraising events to the local T1D community, including children and adults affected by the disease, as well as their families, friends and colleagues.

Through programs like the Ride to Cure Diabetes and Team JDRF, athletes of all levels are encouraged to link their personal training and individual goals into events benefiting the T1D cause.

JDRF athletes participate in endurance events across the country, spreading awareness about T1D as they cross the finish line at the TCS NYC Marathon or participate in events such as the Walt Disney Marathon.

They move the mission forward as they pedal across the finish line in local rides in Long Island and in JDRF Rides across the country.

Local staff is right by participants’ side to help with any and all parts of the event, from choosing their fundraising package to ensuring they’ve met their fundraising commitment, providing certified coaches and local training, and finding a team of like-minded runners or cyclists.

JDRF participants are equipped

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with the support and fundraising tools to help them surpass fundraising expectations and reach new athletic goals. Local businesses looking to build team camaraderie, boost employee active lifestyles, and encourage corporate social responsibility are invited to participate in any event. Customizable benefits packages with comprehensive branding and recognition are available.

JDRF’s 2019 roster of endurance and ride events has something for everyone: • The North Fork Century: Join other cyclists benefiting JDRF on Saturday, May 11, and ride on lowtraffic quiet country roads through lush farmland and past wineries, small towns, and along the coast of the Sound. With distances ranging from 40 miles to 100 miles, there is something for everyone at this ride.

• The 55th Annual Ride to Montauk: On Saturday, September 14, JDRF cyclists will join others on quiet back roads past mansions, the ocean, farms, windmills, and the most beautiful sections of the Hamptons.

Ride a quick 25-mile distance, or challenge yourself to a 150 mile ride (or anything in between) in this classic local ride.

• JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes: JDRF Ride isn’t just a bike ride: it’s an experience where hundreds of riders come together from all over the world to make new friends, enjoy the unparalleled camaraderie of the riding community and raise money to help end T1D. With five locations across the country, from Saratoga Springs to Death Valley, every rider can find their route.

• 2019 TCS NYC Marathon: Join Team JDRF as our runners lace up their shoes and run through the streets of New York on November

3. The TCS NYC Marathon is the largest marathon in the world, and JDRF is proud to be an official Silver Level Charity with over 100 runners running this magnificent race. Limited spots still available.

Join JDRF at one or more of their Ride and Endurance events.

Reach your own personal goals while helping them get closer to our finish line of a World Without T1D.

skin from the upper eyelids is one of the most common procedures performed by plastic surgeons. It leaves a very small scar that is barely perceptible.

Lower eyelid surgery consists of a variety of surgical procedures designed to eliminate visible fat pads and excess skin. Fortunately, eyelids have creases and lines that hide most surgical incisions.

An eyebrow lift is a great way to significantly improve facial aging.

Facial injectables are sometimes used to reposition or shift eyebrows to a more desirable location.

The final option to reposition and shape eyebrows is surgery, placing them in a slightly elevat-

ed and arched position. Many of these incisions are hidden within the hairline and have minimal visibility.

Upper and lower eyelids should be free of excess skin and fat, but not excessively hollowed, and the eyebrow should be properly positioned and slightly arched. When this balance is achieved, the results can be quite exciting.

For more information, contact development manager Michal Biletzki at mbiletzki@jdrf.org or (212) 478-4316.

AGE CAN BE ALL IN THE EYES

BY MARC J. ELKOWITZ

The shape of a person’s eyelids and eyebrows speaks volumes to their overall beauty. Eyelids can make someone appear much older than they are, while lowered or flattened eyebrows often make a person appear angry, which can significantly detract from their overall appearance.

Extra skin and fat in the upper and lower eyelids occurs with normal aging, but are also common in younger individuals.

Surgical correction of the eyebrows, lower eyelids, and upper eyelids, often occur simultaneously. Removing excess fat and

If you would like more information on this or other cosmetic procedures, visit PlasticSurgeryofNewYork.com. Or call Marc J. Elkowitz, MD, FACS, and his team at (855) PSNY-123 to schedule a complimentary consultation.

May 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 5

QUEENS CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS

FLUSHING TOWN HALL CELEBRATES 40 YEARS

BY SAMI ABU SHUMAYS On June 6, Flushing Town Hall will present the first annual “JoAnn Jones Award” to Claire Shulman and the second annual “Howard Graf Award” to architect Emily Lin. In 1979, Flushing Town Hall, a city landmark constructed in 1862, was an abandoned eyesore on Northern Boulevard when Jo-Ann Jones was starting her new nonprofit organization, the Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts (FCCA).

Jones had a vision that Queens needed a new arts organization that would celebrate the different cultures being brought to the borough by different immigrant groups, and she dedicated her fledgling organization to the mission of “intercultural exchange.”

Little did she know how much Queens would change over the next several decades and how much her vision would become a reality.

In its first decade, FCCA presented Asian dance festivals in Flush-

ing Meadows Corona Park, began a relationship with the Matinecock tribe of Long Island, and started programming jazz.

FCCA’s real break came when the leaders of Flushing decided, in the late 1980’s, to save historic Town Hall.

Then-borough president Claire Shulman had a vision to put Queens on the map.

Entering office in 1986 during a period of urban decay, she was determined to do whatever she could to revitalize the borough.

With the members of Community Board 7, she fought to regain possession of Flushing Town Hall from its private leaseholder, who had let the building fall into a state of disrepair with boarded-up windows, graffiti, and trash.

Eventually, Justice Phyllis Flug ruled in favor of the city, which repossessed the building, opening the door for FCCA. Jones proposed transforming the building into a cultural hub, helping to revitalize Northern Boulevard in the process.

Shulman agreed, and over the

next decade devoted more than $8 million to its restoration. In 1992, architect Howard Graf became Chair of the FCCA Board of Directors, thereby ensuring that the organization would effectively manage the renovations, a role he played until stepping down from the board in 2017.

Since the 90’s, Flushing Town Hall’s programs have expanded and diversified even further, with concerts like the Global Mashups series bringing together bands representing different countries to jam together in an exhilarating set of spontaneous improvisation.

Past highlights have included India meets Brazil, Haiti meets China, and Afrobeat meets Latin Boogaloo.

Flushing Town Hall’s celebrated jazz programs continue. The Queens Jazz Orchestra celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2018, and every fall some of the greatest living jazz legends, like Jimmy Heath, come together for the NEA Jazz Masters concert.

The last decade has seen a major expansion of education and family programs, including multicultural field trips, arts residencies,

workshops, and after-school arts programs, presented by master teaching artists in many different disciplines.

Flushing Town Hall programs serve nearly 60,000 annually.

“Claire played such a crucial role in saving this beautiful landmark, making it possible for us to be here today,” said executive and artistic director Ellen Kodadek. “We’re also really excited to be presenting the second Howard Graf award to Emily Lin, an architect who has made her own mark on Queens and generously supported many community organizations through her Lin and Loveall Foundation.”

Tickets, tables, and journal ads saluting the two honorees can be purchased at flushingtownhall.org/gala

Sami Abu Shumays is deputy director of Flushing Town Hall.

PHOTO: SHAWN CHOI

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queenschamber.org

QUEENS CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS

CHARGE LOOKS TO END DOCKLESS MODEL

and sidewalks.”

Charge docking stations are designed to be compatible with most brands of e-scooters and e-bikes and are capable of supporting 10 e-vehicles per standard parking spot.

The company has engaged global engineering firm ARUP and

Queens-based Boyce Technologies to design and manufacture the proprietary docking stations.

“Charge has identified a key solution to help city planners keep our streets organized and safe,” said Sal Cassano, safety advisor for Charge and former FDNY commissioner. “The docking stations will also help prevent fires that have become more common in homes and warehouses where lithium ion e-scooter and e-bike batteries are often charged in unsafe conditions.”

Charge has secured 400 locations across New York City, and is working with various stakeholders to craft legislation to give New Yorkers access to e-vehicles, while

at the same time creating an environment that is safe for users and pedestrians.

As part of this effort, Charge will be participating in the Regional Plan Association (RPA) Assembly on April 19. This year the focus will be on bringing micro-mobility to New York City, and Charge will showcase its docking station.

“As cities and states across the country are revolutionizing mobility, New York continues to keep its doors closed to innovation,” said Marco Conner, interim executive director of Transportation Alternatives. “But we believe solutions like Charge can be the key, as it establishes dedicated space off city sidewalks for electric bikes and scooters.”

Last summer, Ford celebrated the ten-millionth Mustang to come off the line at Flat Rock Assembly in Michigan. The celebration included a flyover by the vehicle’s namesake, the P-51 Mustang fighter plane.

Once only available in North America, Mustang is now sold in almost 150 countries. Ford Mustang has been the top-selling sports car in the U.S. over the last 50 years, and Ford celebrated Mustang’s Emerald Birthday by announcing that Mustang was the top-selling sports car in the world for the fourth straight year.

Mustang also captured the hearts of Americans and has been immortalized in American popular culture. It inspired Wilson Pickett’s 1966 hit “Mustang Sally,” and to date has made 3,300 television and film appearances.

It is a classic for car chases, from Steve McQueen’s Bullitt to John Wick. During the filming of “Bull Durham,” Kevin Costner even added a provision to his contract so that he could keep the moonlight blue Mustang that his character drove in the film.

Ford Mustang is not slowing down any time soon. In January, Ford announced the 2020 Mustang

Shelby GT500, the most powerful street-legal Ford ever.

It is capable of going from 0 to 60 miles per hours in three seconds and boasts a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 producing more than 700 horsepower.

Mustang is the heart and soul of Ford Motor Company. Most cars don’t last more than a decade, let alone more than five decades.

Mustang has, and it’s become a

true icon.

Mustang has stood the test of time because it represents the very best of Ford Motor Company – an affordable, everyday car that delivers something for almost everyone.

The world’s favorite sports car is still racing strong.

Charge is a new company dedicated to building the largest network of electric charging, storage and service stations for e-scooters and e-bikes.

Charge is focused on installing and managing its docking stations in privately owned parking garages, lots and spaces throughout North America.

To date, the company has entered into multiple agreements with garage operators and property owners for the installation of Charge docking stations in more than 2,500 locations across North America.

“The micro-mobility movement that has taken major cities around the world by storm offers many advantages to travel-

ers and addresses issues related to short-distance commuting,” said CEO Andrew Fox. “But there are significant problems with the dockless model, including unused e-vehicles cluttering city streets

FORD DEBUTED ICONIC ‘PONY’ AT WORLD’S FAIR

MUSTANG CELEBRATES 55TH ANNIVERSARY

BY JOE VULTAGGIO Fifty-five years ago, an American icon made its world debut right here in Queens. On April 17, 1964, Henry Ford II unveiled the first Ford Mustang at the New York World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

The exhibits at the 1964 New York World’s Fair were dedicated to “Man’s Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe.” At its center was the Unisphere, which is still standing proudly in the borough today.

More than 51 million attended the fair, where they viewed many exhibits on technological advancements and grand visions of the future. Did any of those visitors realize just how far into the future the Ford Mustang would go?

Mustang was an instant success.

The starting price of the first model was $2,368, and 22,000 Mustangs were sold on the first day. By 1966, Ford had made and sold over one million Mustangs.

Ford Mustang launched an entirely new market sector: the “pony car.”

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Joe Vultaggio is principal dealer of Ford Lincoln of Queens.

May 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 5

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.

There are free immigration services every Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 71-29 Roosevelt Avenue. All services are free, confidential and open to any member of the community. Some of the services include DACA, TPS and document replacement and renewal. Call (212) 652-2071 with any questions.

Recently, Queens Council on The Arts commissioned eight Queens-based artists to create temporary public artworks throughout Jackson Heights through their first ever, public art commissioning program, ArtSite.

The 82nd Street Partnership is hosting several community wellness events this month in Dunningham Triangle, which is located at 82nd Street and Baxter Avenue in Elmhurst. On Saturdays in May (5/4, 5/11, 5/18, 5/25) from 10 to 11 a.m. there will be meditation classes. On May

17 from 10 a.m. to noon and May 20 from 9 to 11 a.m. there will be free zumba classes. Finally, on May 29 there will be a free healthy cooking program from noon to 2 p.m.

host the popular Bell Boulevard Food & Music Festival, featuring live music, family activities and food tastings from 35 Bayside restaurants.

Advance tickets are $30 for adults and $12 for kids.

BAYSIDE VILLAGE BID

BUSINESS CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS (BCNA)

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.

78-27 37 Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Business Development: Tshering Gurung 347.730.6468 tgurung@nycbcna.org QUICK GLANCE: Since 1997, BCNA has been serving New York City entrepreneurs.

BCNA is an approved Small Business Administration Intermediary Lender and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). BCNA’s Microloan program is the cornerstone of its services.

They provide small business loans and microloans to business owners who are not able to obtain loans from traditional lenders.

FOREST HILLS CHAMBER OF Founded in 2007, the BID includes commercial COMMERCE

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

On May 19 from 2 to 6 p.m., the BID will

PO Box 751123, Forest Hills, NY 11375 President: Leslie Brown 718.268.6565 FHChamber11375@gmail.com

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queenschamber.org

QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 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.

This month’s meeting will take place on May 29.

The next major event for the chamber is the Forest Hill Festival on Sunday, June 9.

718.291.0282 gjdc.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1967, the group has 75 members.

GATEWAY JFK

Executive Director: Scott Grimm-Lyon 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.

GatewayJFK is seeking sponsors for banners on Rockaway Boulevard. Participating sponsors will have their logo displayed on the lower portion of the banners for one full-year. Sponsoring the banner will cost $1,000, but sponsoring three or more banners costs $750 per banner.

Sponsors have the chance to make 57,000-plus daily impressions if located in the southern section of the district, and 24,000-plus in the northern section. If interested, contact GatewayJFK at 516-730-3400 or scott@gatewayjfk.org.

The BID will host its annual meeting on June 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the new TWA Hotel at JFK Airport. The meeting is open to the public and free dinner will be served, but you must RSVP via the BID’s website.

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 representing over 200 businesses.

In May, the chamber will welcome the greenmarket back to Maple Playground on Kissena Boulevard. It is open on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Chamber is also hosting a free Community Health & Wellness Expo on May 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Carmen Green Park, which is located at Bowne Street and 37th Avenue. For more information or to get involved, email irene@flushingchamber.nyc.

GREATER JAMAICA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 90-04 161st Street, Jamaica, NY 11432 President: Hope Knight

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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, wellplanned, and sustainable metropolitan growth.

GREATER WOODHAVEN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 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: Budget of over $1 million.

Founded in 1979, the Jamaica Center BID serves over 400 businesses on Jamaica Avenue between Sutphin Boulevard and 169th Street.

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.

The BID’s sanitation team is out on Jamaica Avenue 360 days a year. The BID offers marketing and promotion for the district, including a value card program, banner and rubbish bin sponsorship opportunities, and supports business owners in opening or expanding their operations.

The BID is the proud recipient of a three-year, $300,000 Avenue NYC grant and is currently conducting a Commercial District Needs Assessment (CDNA), which will inform future programing.

The BID recently announced that Jennifer

Furioli will be the next executive director, taking over for Whitney Barrat. Furioli most recently served with the New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District (NRBID), where she was responsible for overseeing the New Rochelle Grand Market, NRBID events and external NRBID communications.

“There were so many things that attracted me to this position,” Furioli said. “What ultimately reeled me in was the community: the network of committed businesses, property owners, economic development, cultural, educational, governmental, and religious institutions that have invested in Jamaica for decades.”

JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

616 Duke Street, Westbury, NY 11590 Executive Director: Mercedes Altman 516.492.0513 jfkairportchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the group has over 200 members.

JFK Airport is the only airport in the country to have its own chamber of commerce wholly dedicated to the airport business community, which employs 35,000 people. The airport handles more than 50 million passengers a year, using almost a half-million square feet of warehouse space to handle more than a million tons of air freight cargo a year.

Upcoming events include: • May 8, 8:30-10 a.m.: JFK CoC Directors General Monthly Meeting. JFK International Airport, Building 14 – Conference Room “A”.

Guests are welcome but must RSVP. Light breakfast will be served. Contact JFKCoCExec@gmail. com to confirm the date.

• May 30, 11:30 a.m.: The Chamber will host a luncheon featuring guest speaker David Neeleman of Azul Airlines at the TWA Hotel, its first event at the world-class hotel. Tickets are $85 for Chamber members and $90 for non-members.

LONG ISLAND CITY PARTNERSHIP

President: Elizabeth Lusskin 718.786.5300 longislandcityqueens.com 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.

On May 12 from noon to 5 p.m., the partnership will host LIC Springs! Celebrate the best of

May 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 5

QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES Long Island City at this annual street fair that spreads through almost six blocks. Vendors, booths, performances and more are planned!

MASPETH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

P.O. Box 780265, Maspeth, NY 11378 President: David Daraio 718.335.1300 maspethchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1953, they have 120 members and a budget of $115,000.

• Tuesday, May 7, at 12 p.m. - the Maspeth Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting will take place at Connolly’s Corner at 71-15 Grand Avenue.

MASPETH INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (MIBA)

BOC: 96-11 40th Road, Corona, NY 11368 Coordinator: Quincy Ely-Cate 718.205.3773 qelycate@bocnet.org mibanyc.org QUICK GLANCE: Roughly 600 businesses with 30 active members.

The Maspeth Industrial Business Association,

a project of the Business Outreach Center Network, 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 businesses under its umbrella.

Formed in 1929. MVCC meets annually and focuses on the Metropolitan Avenue shopping district between 69 and 80 th streets. Annual membership fee is $150, and they are looking to gain momentum through attracting new members. The mission is to improve the area and assist local businesses if they have any concerns or needs.

MYRTLE AVENUE BID

62-14 Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385 Executive Director: Ted Renz 718.366.3806 QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $500,000 with over 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. One of the longest running BIDs is also one of the more innovative in its approach to helping maintain an active business corridor by helping landlords rent vacant properties. The website ridgewood-ny.com shows properties that are currently for rent in the district.

The BID has also been involved in a zoning initiative for Myrtle Avenue. Executive Director Ted Renz is working with, and has the approval of the community board, to preserve the integrity of the business feel of Myrtle Avenue by making it a special zoning district. City Planning is looking at the request now. The plan seeks to keep the look of the two- and three-story commercial infrastructure in tact.

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

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QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES From May 9-12, the BID will host it Mother’s Day Sidewalk Sales. BID merchants on Myrtle Avenue and adjacent side streets from Fresh Pond Road to Wyckoff Avenue will display their merchandise in front of their businesses.

QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

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.

Funded by Department of Small Business Services, they strive to create and retain jobs via programs that grow neighborhoods and assist small businesses. QEDC assists by providing oneon-one consultations, hosting workshops, operating training courses and networking events.

Upcoming events include: • May 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. - With delicious food, dazzling drinks, and fantastic networking in a festive atmosphere, the Queens Economic Development Corporation and the Queens Tourism Council host Queens Taste as their annual fundraiser event. It will take place at the New York Hall of Science at 47-01 111th Street in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased at thequeenstaste.com.

• May 14 at 6 p.m. - Privacy for Small Businesses: In this course, VOLS will provide a general foundation of what privacy means for small business and offer simple, easily applicable tips to mitigate their privacy risks. It will take place at The Entrepreneur Space at 36-43 37th Street in Long Island City.

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 group has 30 members.

Founded in 1978, the Rockaway Development &

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

RDRC is governed by a twelve-member board of directors and a five-member merchant advisory board.

RDRC’s current city and state collaborations include the Downtown Far Rockaway Storefront Improvement Program, The Downtown Far Rockaway Public Wi-Fi Project, The Rockaway East Workforce Development Program and most recently, the planned $288,000,000 Downtown Far Rockaway Redevelopment Project.

With over 250 businesses and 61,000 or 53 percent of the Rockaway’s entire population living within 2 miles of downtown Far Rockaway, one of RDRC’s goals is to reduce the over $91 million in market leakage to neighboring downtown shopping districts.

To address this challenge, in 2014 RDRC rejuvenated the Rockaway East Merchants Association (REMA). Today with RDRC as its administrator, REMA membership now includes 40-plus local businesses with an active calendar of events that includes an annual merchant’s fair, talent show, fashion event, holiday tree lighting and live concerts.

REMA membership meetings are held on the fourth Monday of the month at 1 p.m. at RDRC, located at 1920 Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway.

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.

Board meetings are held seven times a year.

The BID’s vision is to make Steinway Street user friendly, while highlighting the local businesses on the street and bringing together the Astoria community in a positive way.

On Sunday, May 5, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., the Partnership will host the Steinway Street Spring Fling in the municipal parking lot on Steinway Street between Broadway and 31st Avenue. It is a free event full of family-friendly activities.

SUNNYSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PO Box 4399, Sunnyside, NY 11104 President: Vanessa Ceballos

718.729.4688 www.sunnyside-chamber.org QUICK GLANCE: Annual budget of $55,000.

The chamber is an organization built around assisting and helping local business and professionals by providing resources to increase business, safety and historical preservation.

At its recent annual meeting, Chamber members elected Vanessa Ceballos, owner of Firefly Petite Cafe & Bistro on 43rd Avenue, to serve as 2019-20 president.

SUNNYSIDE SHINES

45-56 43rd Street, Sunnyside, NY 11104 Executive Director: Jaime-Faye Beam 718.606.1800 director@sunnysideshines.org sunnysideshines.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $480,000 with more than 250 businesses under its umbrella.

The BID is still looking for sponsors for Sunnyside Street Banners along Queens Boulevard and Greenpoint Avenue. There are still a number of locations still available, call the office for more info. Companies that are not located in Sunnyside are invited to participate as well. Sponsorships start at $350 and last for one year.

This month, the Beats in Bliss Plaza returns to Sunnyside with free performances, crafts and games in the plaza at 46th Street and Queens Boulevard under the 7 train every Thursday.

This month’s schedule includes Quenia Brazilian Samba (5/9), Sunnyside Ballet’s Swan Lake (5/16) and the Afro-Latineers (5/30) The annual Taste of Sunnyside event will take place on May 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the parking lot of P.C. Richard & Sons at 50-02 Queens Boulevard. Tickets are between $45 and $70.

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 Blvd. between Hillside and 94th avenues.

The BID includes the busy courthouses and the LIRR complex, including the AirTrain and subway stations, where they host Jazz on Thursday nights from 5 to 7 p.m. from October through May. The BID will host a Mother’s Day Celebration on May 9 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Grace Historical Parish House at 155-24 90th Avenue in Jamaica.

The BID uses most of its resources on sanitation, holiday lighting and security. It hosts the “Hate Has No Biz Here” program and a Harvest Festival in the Fall.

May 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 5

NEW MEMBERS MAJOR CORPORATE

New York Power Authority CORPORATE

Cipico Construction, Inc. Ecosave, Inc. Exquisite Construction Global Industrial Luxury Office Suites, LLC New York Health Plan Assoc.

INTRODUCTORY

Candor Pay Control Electropolishing Corp.

Keller Williams Realty Landmark S&L Aerospace Metals, LLC Veranda Restaurant New York Power Authority

31-03 20th Ave. Astoria, NY 11105 nypa.gov Powering the economic growth and competitiveness of New York State by providing customers with low-cost, clean, reliable power and the innovative energy infrastructure and services they value.

Statement required by the Act of August 12, 1970, section 3685. Title 39, United States Code, showing the ownership, management and circulation of Queensborough magazine, published 12 times per year, and owned by the Chamber of Commerce of the Borough of Queens, 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140, Jackson Heights, New York 11370. Statement filed September 1, 2018. Publisher: Chamber of Commerce of the Borough of Queens Editor: Thomas Grech Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding one percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities, none. Extent & nature of circulation: Avg. each issue, Actual single issue, Preceding 13 mos., (Nearest to filing date). Total number of copies 3,110 (3,009). Paid and/or requested circulation: Dealer, carrier sales 579 (607), Mail subscriptions, 1,937 (2,002), Total 2,516 (2,609). Free Distribution By mail 0 (400), By other means 198 (200), Total 198 (200). Total distribution 2,714 (2,809), Office Use, leftover, spoiled 396 ( 2 0 0 ) , Return from news agents 0 (0), Total 3,110 (3,009), Percent paid 92.70 (92.88).

I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. Thomas J. Grech, Editor

Cipico Construction, Inc. 58-08 48th St. Maspeth, NY 11378

Ecosave, Inc.

4000 S. 26th St., Ste. 100 Philadelphia, PA 19112 ecosaveinc.com Delivering independent energy conservation and resource management services that save Ecosave’s clients money and meets their goals.

Exquisite Construction

95-15 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11435 exquisiteconstructionny.com Exquisite Construction was founded with a strong belief in traditional business values. We approach each business endeavor with an ambition to build relationships, deliver the highest quality projects, and feel a sense of pride and accomplishments upon job completion. From the initial client meeting to job completion, Exquisite Construction is accountable to our customers throughout the process.

Global Industrial

11 Harbor Park Dr. Port Washington, NY 11050 globalindustrial.com Global Industrial thrives on giving our customers the peace of mind they deserve. When ordering online, Global’s website provides you with in-depth product descriptions, details, specifications and photo galleries on all prod-

ucts. Global is also revolutionizing your online shopping experience, with new and exclusive content that explains product features and benefits, as well as product videos showcasing the product themselves. These demonstrations and detailed descriptions give customers an up close and personal look at our products. It’s our intention to put these products “in your hands” before you actually purchase them.

Luxury Office Suites, LLC 185-08 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, NY 11366

New York Health Plan Association

90 State St., Ste. 825 Albany, NY 12207 nyhpa.org New York Health Plan Association (HPA), Inc. was established for the purpose of promoting the development of managed health care plans within New York State. Currently, HPA’s members include fully licensed managed care plans, prepaid health service plans (PHPs are plans that primarily serve New Yorkers enrolled through the Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus programs) and managed long term care plans (MLTCs), which provide or arrange for and coordinate both the health care and long term care needs of their patients. HPA’s Affiliate members are organizations and companies that work with managed care plans in the delivery of services to their members. Together, HPA’s member plans provide the health care coverage for nearly seven million New Yorkers.

LIU SPEAKS AT CHAMBER LUNCH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

“We should take the criminal element out of it, regulate it, tax it and generate significant revenue,” he said.

When asked about his position on closing Rikers Island, the state senator said while he doesn’t want to put jails in anyone’s community, he believes Rikers Island is a “boondoggle.”

“I do believe some reform is necessary,” he said. “Rikers is not sustainable, and it’s wasting a lot of money.”

As for single-payer health care, Liu said he supports the proposed legislation in the state, doesn’t foresee it going anywhere because of the price tag.

He argued that a single-payer system would be more efficient because it would eliminate costs for administration overhead, and instead use more funds to help people.

“But practically speaking, I don’t know if it has any momentum,” he said.

Ricardo Ajin with State Senator John Liu.

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

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EXECUTIVE COMMMITEE

CHAIRPERSON’S ADVISORY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE STAFF

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

President & CEO

Chief of Operations

Alejandra Espejo Financial Controller

Secretary

Business Development Manager Strategic Program Coordinator

Jef Gross

Committee Development & Member Engagement Manager

William Blake Dominick Ciampa Joseph Farber Louis D. Laurino

Joseph M. Mattone, Sr John E. Roe, Sr. George Rozansky Gerard Thornton

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 Fran Biderman-Gross Joshua E. Bienstock Michael Billia Susan Browning Kenneth J. Buettner Charles E. Callahan KY Chow

Carol Conslato Sal Crifasi Mayra DiRico Richard Dzwlewicz Joseph R. Ficalora Tamara Gavrielof Howard Graf

Raymond Irrera Peter Klein Kenneth Koenig Henry Kuykendall Neil Levin Jeffery E. Levine Carl Mattone

Patricia Mezeul Jeffrey Owens Nayan Parikh Albert F. Pennisi Vincent L. Petraro Esq Nash Roe Jeffrey Rosenstock

Juan Santiago Thomas Santucci Mark Scheinberg Caryn Schwab Sher Sparano Michelle Stoddart Terri Thomson

Henry Wan Patrick Yu Daniel Zausner

CORPORATE MEMBERS A&L Cesspool Services Corp A. Giannopoulos Architects AAA Northeast AARP Ackman-Ziff ADP Major Accounts Adria Hotel and Conference Center Airlogix Alma Bank American Lions LLC Amna Construction Corp AmTrust Title Andromeda Antun’s of Queens Village Apple Bank for Savings Ashnu International, Inc. Atco Properties Accounts Payable Aurora Contractors, Inc. Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP Bank of America Merrill Lynch Bank of Hope BankUnited, N.A Berkman, Henoch, Peterson, Peddy & Fenchel Bethpage Federal Credit Union Borchert & LaSpina, P.C. Boyce Technologies Inc. Bridgehampton National Bank Broadway Stages Cactus Holdings Inc Capital One Bank Carmel Car and Limo Service Center for Automotive Education and Training Cerini and Associates, LLP. Ciampa Organization Cipico Construction, Inc. Complete Orthopedic Services, Inc Conference Associates, Inc Cord Meyer Development LLC

Cornell NYC Tech Corporate Development Systems, Inc. Courtyard by Marriott CPEX Real Estate Crescent Properties, Inc Crown Castle Curaleaf Cushman & Wakefield DGC Capital Contracting Corp.

Douglas Elliman Real Estate DY Realty Services, L.L.C. E Central Medical Management East Coast Energy Group Ecosave Inc. Edge Auto Inc. Elmhurst Hospital Center Emigrant Mortgage Company EMU Health Services ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP Enterprise Fleet Management Fabiani Cohen & Hall, LLP Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) Farrell Fritz, P.C. Financial Recources Brup Investment Services LLC First American International Bank Flushing Bank Flushing Council On Culture & The Arts Forest Hills Financial Group Inc. GF55 Partners Goldenwood Property Advisors Goodwill Industries of New York & Northern New Jersey, Inc. Grassi & Co. Greater NY Automobiles Dealers Association Greenberg Traurig

Greenpoint Manufacturing & Design Center (GMDC) Greiner Maltz Company of NY Gum Studios Hampton Inn by Hilton JFK Airport Healthy Corner Pharmacy Inc. HiLine Construction Hilton Garden Inn Long Island City New York HK Capital Home2Suites Long Island City/ Manhattan View HSBC Bank Hyatt Place Flushing INDA, Association of Nonwoven Fabric Industry Innovative Lending Platform Association Innovo Property Group International Asbestos Removal Inc. iRCM, Inc. James F. Capalino & Assoc.

Jaros, Baum & Bolles JetBlue Airways Corporation Jetro/ Restaurant Depot JFA Insurance Brokerage & Associates Inc. JGM Construction Development, LLC JRT Realty Group Inc. Kasirer Consulting Kaufman Astoria Studios Inc. Kimco Realty Corporation Klein Weath Management/ Hightower Advisors Lessing’s Food Service Management Levine Builders Luxury Office Suites LLC Lyons Mortgage Services, Inc.

COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS Joshua Bienstock NYIT bienlaw@aol.com

ENERGY

Marshall Haimson E-Capital Development marshall@e-capitaldevelopment.com

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

Susan Browning Long Island Jewish Forest Hills sbrowning1@northwell.edu Bert Lurch E Central Medical Management bertl@ecmmgt.com

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HOSPITALITY

REAL ESTATE

Jim Quent Statewide Public Affairs jquent@statewidepublicaffairs.com Laura Altimari Fine Taste NYC finetastenyc@gmail.com

Martin Cottingham Avison Young martin.cottingham@avisonyoung.com Michael Wang Politan Real Estate mwang121@gmail.com

MANUFACTURING

TECHNOLOGY

Geoffrey Smith NY Grant Company Geoffrey@nygrants.com Thomas Powell Boyce Technologies tpowell@boycetechnologies.com

NONPROFIT

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

Bobby Giurintano TGI Office Automation bgiurintano@tgioa.com Fred Canone Telehouse mwang121@gmail.com

TRANSPORTATION Kris Amato TD Bank Kristin.amato@td.com

Madison Realty Capital Main Street Radiology Marriott International, Inc Mazars USA LLP McBride Consulting & Business Medisys Health Network MedPlex Mega Contracting Group LLC MetroPlus Health Plan Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade MicroGrid Neworks, LLC Mikkeller NYC Molloy College Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens Mr. T Carting Corp.

MTA Long Island Rail Road Muss Development Company New York + Atlantic Railway New York Building Congress New York Business Corporation New York Health Plan Association New York Oil Heating Association New York Racing Assn. Inc. New York Restaurant Association New York Safety and Training New York Times, The Northwell Health OneGroup OTJ Architects Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates Petro Home Services Plastic Surgery of New York Portnoy, Messinger, Pearl & Assoc., Inc. Premier Payroll Solutions Prime Storage Progressive Waste Solutions/IESI NY Corp QSIDE Federal Credit Union Quadlogic Controls Corporation Queens Center Mall Queens Public Communications Corp.

Queensborough Community College Quontic Bank RCG Mortgage Related Retail Corporation Royal Waste Services, Inc. Russo’s On The Bay Samuel Goldstein & Co PC Santander Seagis Property Group, LP

ShiftPixy Signature Bank Silvercup Studios Simon Baron Development Skyline Risk Management, Inc. SL Green Realty Corp.

Solomon Agency Corp.

St. Francis Preparatory School St. John’s Episcopal Hospital St. John’s University Staples #0171 Staples #106 Staples #1575 Staples #1602 Staples #1722 Staples The Office Super Store #56 Structural Engineering Technologies, P.C. Target Terrace On The Park TFCU TGI Office Automation Thales USA Inc. The ALLCOT Group LLC The Durst Organization The First National Bank of Long Island The Heskel Group The Sweet Construction Group T-Mobile Treasure Island Storage TSC Traning Academy, LLC Ultrasound Solutions Corp.

United Airlines United Nations Federal Credit Union United Public Adjusters & Appraisers, Inc. USTA National Tennis Center, Inc. Valley National Bank Vanguard Insurance Agency Vassilaros & Sons Coffee Venture House Villa Russo Waste Management of New York LLC Watch Guard 24/7 LLC Welby, Brady & Greenblatt, LLP WellLife Network Wells Fargo WeWork Windstream Enterprise York College - CUNY Zara Realty

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.

May 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 5 MAJOR CORPORATE MEMBERS

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Y A D 9 N 1 O M 4, 20 2 E JUN

Foundation

ANNUAL GOLF OUTING AND DINNER ADMISSION INCLUDES

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

GREENS FEE, CART + CADDY FEES, BREAKFAST, LUNCH, COCKTAILS AND DINNER BUFFET

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10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Check In / Deluxe Breakfast and Bar-B-Que

Full Day Package for 8, tee sponsorship, pre/post publicity

Masters.................................................................$5,000 Full Day Package for 4, tee sponsorship, pre/post publicity

12:00 PM Shotgun Start

Dinner Sponsor......................................................$3,000

5:00 PM Cocktail Hour/ Dinner Awards/ Raffles

Brunch Sponsor.....................................................$2,500

CO-HONOREES

Signs & banner. pre/post publicity, tee sign, +4 dinner tickets Signs & banner. pre/post publicity, tee sign, +2 dinner tickets

Cart Sponsor..........................................................$2,000 Cart signs & banner, pre/post publicity, tee sign

Golf Ball Sponsor...................................................$2,000 Rain & Hole in One Insurance................................$1,800 Signs & banner, pre/post publicity

Foursome..............................................................$1,900 + Tee Signage

Richard Dzwlewicz Regional Vice President SVP at TD Bank

Stephen Preuss

Senior Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield Queens Commercial Real Estate Market Leader

Tee Sponsor..............................................................$250 Single Ticket............................................................$425

Dinner Only...............................................................$175 Monday June 24, 2019 Garden City Country Club, 206 Stewart Ave, Garden City, New York 11530 Please make checks payable to

Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation Mail to: Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation 75-20 Astoria Blvd. Suite 140, Jackson Heights, NY 11370

Or register online at www.queenschamber.org

Name:_______________________________ Company:_______________________________________ Phone____________________ Fax:__________________ Address:_____________________________ Email:__________________________________________ Card #:______________________________ Enclosed is a check for $________________ You may charge $____________ to my

AmEx CCV:____________Exp. Date:____________ Visa MasterCard Name on the card_____________________

Registration and Sponsorship 718.898.8500 ext 123 | jpersad@queenschamber.org