City & State New York 021521 by City & State

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CONSTRUCTION POWER CIT YANDSTATENY.COM

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February 15, 2021

Congratulations to Robert Bonanza Business Manager of the Mason Tenders’ District Council on being recognized as one of the Construction Power 50 The 17,000 members of the Mason Tenders’ District Council thank you for your leadership and support. Thanks to you we have dignity, respect and fairness on the job.

February 15, 2021

City & State New York

EDITOR’S NOTE

RALPH R. ORTEGA Interim editor-in-chief

CANNABIS IS WITH US, whether there’s a state law legalizing its recreational use or not. You could smell it in the air more and more on the streets of New York City after Mayor Bill de Blasio and then-Police Commissioner James O’Neill announced in summer 2018 that anyone caught smoking in public would be given a criminal summons, instead of being arrested. State laws changed a year later, making possession of a small amount of pot, up to 2 ounces, just a violation. More than 2 ounces remained a misdemeanor. From my recent observations, a lot of people are smoking pot in broad daylight, with little concern about breaking the law. And cannabis use has indeed increased during the pandemic, according to an NYU study that polled 128 adults and found 35% of them were toking up more often. Recreational marijuana is already legal in neighboring New Jersey and Massachusetts, adding pressure on New York to follow suit. So it’s high time that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state lawmakers come to an agreement on how to make pot legal, especially since a lot of New Yorkers are already acting as if it was. In this week’s issue, Rebecca C. Lewis and Zach Williams explain the holdup and examine the competing proposals for legalization. A compromise is sure to come. Hopefully it won’t deliver a harsh buzz to weed lovers who just want to bake in peace. And it should inspire entrepreneurialism and reinvest in communities, particularly those of color, where past enforcement led to unwarranted and unfair arrests.

CONTENTS FIRST READ … 5 The week that was

CLAUDIA TENNEY … 10

How the once and future Congress member won

RALPH R. ORTEGA;PIT STOCK/SHUTTERSTOCK

ON WITH THE SHOW … 13 How safe is Cuomo’s plan to bring back big venues? CANNABIS & SOCIAL JUSTICE … 16 Can legalizing marijuana heal communities?

POLITICS OF POT … 22

What has to happen in Albany to legalize marijuana Gov. Andrew Cuomo hopes rapid testing can bring back the in-person arts scene.

CONSTRUCTION POWER 50 … 25 The most influential people building New York

WINNERS & LOSERS … 50

Who was up and who was down last week

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MIKE GROLL/OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR; STATE SENATE MEDIA SERVICES; ED REED/MAYORAL PHOTOGRAPHY OFFICE; LEV RADIN/SHUTTERSTOCK

February 15, 2021

City & State New York

“As we suspected and feared, the second floor had been stonewalling us.” He was lauded for transparency throughout the pandemic, but the tides have turned for Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

CUOMO ADMIN’S NURSING HOME DEATHS COVERUP A week full of updates about the true toll that COVID-19 has had on nursing home residents was capped with a shocking admission from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s top aide: the administration intentionally stonewalled state lawmakers over the true tally of nursing home deaths from the pandemic. First reported by the New York Post, Secretary to the Governor

Melissa DeRosa privately apologized to Democratic legislators for withholding those numbers, saying the state was afraid that they would “be used against us” in a federal probe. The reporting came out after state legislative leaders released a letter from the Cuomo administration that finally provided nursing home information that lawmakers had sought for months. It revealed that a total of 15,049 nursing home and other adult-care facility residents had died of confirmed or suspected

cases of COVID-19. The number followed data released by the Empire Center for Public Policy, which came from a lawsuit against the state, that included slightly under 15,000 total nursing home and other adult-care facility deaths. Both numbers are a significant increase from the less than 9,000 nursing home residents the state reported had died before releasing information on those who died after being transferred to a hospital. The letter from the administration

MAN OF THE PEOPLE Surely Hell must be freezing over, because New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was spotted on the New York City subway last week, taking the 7 train to Citi Field to open up New York’s next mass vaccination site. “I’m a subway person,” he said on the commute, noting that he’s looking forward to post-mayor life as a “free man.”

–state Sen. Gustavo Rivera, accusing the Cuomo administration of withholding data on COVID-19 nursing home deaths, via the New York Post

“And basically, we froze.” –Melissa DeRosa, secretary to the governor, on the administration’s reaction to a Department of Justice probe into COVID-19 nursing home deaths as an explanation for why they stonewalled lawmakers for months on the true numbers, via the New York Post

also revealed that the state had quietly opened coronavirus-only nursing homes to accept residents from hospitals who had tested positive for the virus. The same evening of the Post’s reporting on DeRosa’s comments, The Associated Press reported that more than 9,000 COVID-19 patients had been transferred from hospitals to nursing homes, significantly higher than what the state had previously reported. Especially with the new nursing home revelations, bipartisan calls to rescind Cuomo’s emergency executive powers are growing.

MORE VACCINES COMING TO NEW YORK

As many New Yorkers still struggle to sign up for COVID-19 vaccines, Cuomo announced some changes that should help alleviate some of the stress. In addition to another slight uptick in vaccines coming from the federal government, Cuomo announced two new mass vaccination sites set up in partnership with the Biden administration, with more on the way. And these sites will get their own dedicated supply of vaccines, independent of the state’s allocation. In New York City, many pharmacies will be allowed to begin vaccinating seniors over 65 as part of a federal program that sends vaccines directly to participating pharmacies, also independent of the state’s allocation. Cuomo

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also announced that any unused second doses – for example, in cases where someone doesn’t show up for their appointment – can be shifted to be used as first doses. That follows up on the previous week’s announcement that unused doses originally allocated to hospitals to inoculate their staffers would be reallocated to counties to help immunize people with preexisting conditions. At the same time, Cuomo said large arenas and stadiums can reopen on Feb. 23, with testing requirements for attendees and limited capacity, a move that’s been questioned by public health experts.

TENNEY GOING BACK TO CONGRESS

It took many months in court, but the state has finally certified Rep.-elect Claudia Tenney as the winner in the 22nd Congressional District. By a margin of 109 votes, she bested former Rep. Anthony Brindisi to recapture the seat he won from her

February 15, 2021

in 2018. The certification comes after months of legal uncertainty and revelations of mismanagement from county election officials. The judge in the case issued a scathing rebuke of those officials at the close of the trial, inviting other authorities to investigate. In particular, the Oneida County Board of Elections drew particular condemnation because the board failed to process 2,418 voter registration applications that had been submitted on time, meaning those people were prevented from voting despite doing everything right. There were several other ways that election officials failed in this race. Calls are growing for the Oneida County commissioners to resign, or for the governor to use his executive authority to fire them. Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. sent a letter to Cuomo asking him to fire the county’s commissioners. Such a move would not be unprecedented, but it is rare for a governor to remove elected or appointed officials in this manner.

Cuomo is reopening stadiums to sports this month. Yankee Stadium has been used as a mass vaccination site.

THE

WEEK AHEAD

TUESDAY 2/16 Leading New York City mayoral candidates join Community Voices Heard Power’s #FollowBlackWomen virtual town hall at 6:15 p.m.

What we still don’t know about nursing homes The state Health Department finally responded Wednesday to 20 questions about COVID-19 in nursing homes sent by state lawmakers months ago. Hours later, the state met a court-ordered deadline to release data showing how many nursing home residents later died of COVID-19 in hospitals. This new information raises as many questions as it answers. Here are a few that the state is just beginning to answer. What is the total number of nursing home residents who died in hospitals? According to data released by the state on Feb. 10 after a sixmonth legal battle with the Empire Center for Public Policy, a conservative think tank, 4,775 New York nursing home residents died of COVID-19 after being transferred out of their nursing homes. There were an additional 6,344 confirmed deaths of COVID-19 at nursing homes and 2,981 presumed deaths of COVID-19 at nursing homes. “The department’s response falls short of what was requested,” reads a press release from the center. “The records do not fully account for the deaths of some 600 residents that occurred outside of the long-term care facilities, most often in hospitals, in which the COVID-19 diagnosis was presumed rather than confirmed.”

THURSDAY 2/18 City & State hosts its 2021 Virtual Diversity Summit at 1 p.m. featuring state Chief Diversity Officer Julissa Gutierrez, New York City Small Business Services Commissioner Jonnel Doris and others.

THURSDAY 2/18 Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to release his 30-day amendments to his proposed state budget.

Why can’t the state make it easier for people to visit their family members? Indoor dining is resuming in New York City, yet it can still be hard for people to see their loved ones at nursing homes. “We have been pushing to register at least one or two family members to be an essential worker (who) can go in and visit,” Assembly Member Ron Kim, whose uncle died of COVID-19, said of outstanding efforts to loosen visitation rules, but the Cuomo administration has yet to back that idea. It remains unclear when visitations can resume at 400 out of the 613 nursing homes in the state. Where are these previously unknown “COVID-19-only nursing homes” located? Somewhere in the Empire State are 19 facilities that have been exclusively devoted since November to housing as many as 1,941 people who have COVID19, the state Health Department revealed in its letter to lawmakers. “The homes were established to allow the transfer of MEDICALLY STABLE, BUT persistently positive COVID-19 nursing home eligible patients from Article 28 hospitals to these nursing homes to further their recovery,” reads the letter, which does not disclose the locations of these sites, who manages them and how many people are currently there. – Zach Williams

INSIDE DOPE

The state Legislature is not meeting this week or holding budget hearings, but lawmakers will likely have vocal reactions to whatever Cuomo says in his budget amendments.

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February 15, 2021

VERYONE in New York politics is married to the job. But a handful of them are also married to (or dating) each other. They might be crammed together in makeshift home offices, but these New Yorkers are making it work in quarantine.

CHRISTINA DAS, president of the Brooklyn Young Democrats & JOHN WASSERMAN, co-founder of Build the Wave NY

“(John) and I literally met while organizing young people at a (Brooklyn Young Democrats) meeting. ... Not sure if that’s hot or not.” - Christina

“We’ve each tried to create our own spaces to work during the day, but trying to keep out background noise on Zoom, especially from our puppy Nutmeg, is a real challenge. But we make each other laugh, we keep each other motivated, and we’re always there for each other – which takes on new meaning since we can’t leave the apartment.” - Jumaane

“Pre-pandemic, we’d be very busy during the day, so it certainly helped to have ‘date night’ overlap with our responsibilities representing different elected officials at the same community board meetings!” “Now, we obviously work in much closer quarters, so we’ve had to build separate work spaces at home. Some nights we’ll be on the same Zoom meeting, in separate rooms!” - Luisa and Wilfredo

* Reporter’s note: We might be biased, but we think this is 100% hot.

NEIL D. REILLY, deputy campaign manager for state Sen. Brian Benjamin’s campaign for comptroller & TAYLOR SHUBERT, Stonewall Democrats board member and administrative aide at Metropolitan Hospital AARON NARRAPH FERNANDO, Queens DSA member & KATELIN PENNER, comms director for District Leader Samy Nemir Olivares

“We work together as a team. Aaron supports my work fully and I try to do the same for him.” - Katelin

“Our political interests aren’t always aligned, so our home is always filled with lively debate: Taylor was a Klobuchar supporter and I was a Warren supporter, so ours was the only household thrilled by the New York Times endorsement!” - Neil

ALL PHOTOS SUBMITTED

New York City Public Advocate JUMAANE WILLIAMS & INDIA L. SNEED, associate attorney at Greenberg Traurig

LUISA LOPEZ, director of digital media at the Manhattan Borough President’s Office and president of the Latino Social Work Coalition and Scholarship Fund, & WILFREDO LOPEZ, legislative director and counsel for New York City Council Member Ben Kallos

UARANTINE February 15, 2020

City & State New York

HOW NY’S POLITICAL PAIRS ARE ENDURING THE PANDEMIC TOGETHER BY CAITLIN DORMAN

DAVID LOMBARDO, host of WCNY's “The Capitol Pressroom” & BETHANY BUMP, health reporter at the Albany Times Union

“We began dating in 2011 after meeting as cub reporters at the Daily Gazette in Schenectady. … For the sake of our marriage, we’re not planning to work together again (except for the occasional radio interview)." - David

NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES, staff writer at The New York Times Magazine and co-founder of the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting & FARAJI HANNAH-JONES, co-founder of the NYC Alliance for School Integration and Desegregation and IT specialist for the ACLU

EBONY MEEKS LAIDLEY, deputy chief of staff to New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, and JASON LAIDLEY, chief of staff to state Sen. Jamaal Bailey

"There is no such thing as work-life balance when your work is also your mission."

“We intentionally set aside time to talk about things outside of government or politics. Our daughter makes it a little easier because she’s mostly into 'Baby Shark' and dancing so we have to oblige.”

- Nikole

- Ebony

"We met on AOL Instant Messenger before there was such a thing as online dating!”

MICHAEL OLIVA, president, Sykes Global Communications & RONNIE OLIVA, founder and CEO, Sykes Global Communications

“You have to come to terms with the fact that there will be emotional overlap between your professional and private lives.” - Michael

CRYSTAL HUDSON, candidate for New York City Council District 35 & SASHA AHUJA, co-campaign manager, Yang for New York

“During the pandemic, we’ve both been lucky to stay safe while working from home. That also means there’s little separation between when our days start and end. But the work we do is deeply personal – we do the work because we are the work.” - Crystal

CityAndStateNY.com

November 2, 2020

HOW CLAUDIA TENNEY WON HER OLD JOB BACK The once and future Congress member’s open embrace of Trump was received more warmly in Central New York than it was in 2018. By Annie McDonough

HERE ARE SWING DISTRICTS and then there are seesaw districts. New York’s 22nd Congressional District is the latter. After a drawn-out legal challenge, Republican Claudia Tenney was certified as the winner on Feb. 8, unseating moderate Democrat Anthony Brindisi – who just two years earlier defeated Tenney after her first term in Congress. The outcome may induce whiplash for residents of the Central New York district – and for observers who waited more than three months for the last undecided House seat in the country to be called. But in a year full of upheaval and changes to how New Yorkers voted, it may not be that surprising the district switched hands again, especially since Tenney only won by 109 votes. “It has really kind of been a PingPong match between Brindisi and Tenney,” said Luke Perry, a political science professor at Utica College. “One bounce of the ball has determined who has been the victor.” The success seen by Tenney – a fervent supporter of former President Donald Trump with her own history of controver-

sial rhetoric – might on the surface seem to suggest that the district is shifting further right, after electing a Democrat in 2018 amid waning support for Trump in the middle of his presidency. After all, fidelity to Trump in this past election cycle boosted several New York Republican candidates, including Reps. Nicole Malliotakis, Chris Jacobs and Elise Stefanik in beating their Democratic challengers. But rather than Tenney’s success in 2020 being indicative of a larger trend or shifting political winds in the district, it’s likely that her barely eked-out win is attributable to a number of smaller factors, such as higher turnout in a presidential election year and changes to the campaigning process caused by the pandemic. While Brindisi campaigned successfully in the 2018 midterm election – drawing not only on Tenney’s unpopularity, but Trump’s as well – in 2020 he lacked several of the factors that gave him an advantage the last time around. After two years in office, Brindisi now had to face questions on his voting record rather than promising to serve as a moderate. “If you’re a Democrat who is trying to walk the line in a kind of socially conservative district, I think

November 2, 2020

City & State New York

CAROLYN CASTER/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK

Tenney barely edged out Anthony Brindisi in the 22nd Congressional District, winning by just 109 votes.

having to vote on impeachment, having to take positions on budgets – those are now (votes) that your opponent can push against,” said Shana Kushner Gadarian, a political science professor at Syracuse University. “It’s not just rhetoric to say that you vote with Nancy Pelosi. You’re a Democrat in Congress, you have voted with the House speaker.” Brindisi also had to contend with the constraints of campaigning during the pandemic – a challenge for Democrats who typically build strong grassroots and door-to-door campaigns. “Grassroots liberal organizations were heavily mobilized and very instrumental in his success in 2018. Due to health concerns, their activity went mostly virtual, and it does not appear to have the same impact as it did in the midterm,” Perry said, noting that Tenney’s campaign was more willing to continue in-person campaigning throughout the pandemic. A Brindisi spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on what accounted for Tenney’s victory. Representatives for Tenney did not respond to a request for comment. The 22nd Congressional District – despite being home to disaffected Republi-

cans who were willing to cross party lines in 2018 to vote for Brindisi – is still a conservative district where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by roughly 30,000 people. For a Democrat to win in the district, the stars have to fall into some kind of rough alignment. “As the district is currently composed, for Democrats to be successful, they have to have an optimal candidate coupled with an optimal organizational effort to register and turn out voters,” Perry said. “That’s not just the formal campaign, that’s also the grassroots liberal organizations that we saw intensify and grow in number and volume following President Trump’s election.” The Rev. Jill Farnham-Us, a steering committee member of Indivisible Mohawk Valley – a progressive activism group that campaigned for Brindisi – said that door-to-door canvassing is important in a campaign, and phone-banking wasn’t always a perfect replacement. “A lot of people didn’t answer the phone who would have answered the door, if we’d knocked on their door,” Farnham-Us said. Still, phone-banking had its own advantages, she said, allowing volunteers to reach a greater number of people in a shorter

amount of time than they’d be able to if they were walking from door to door. And while midterm elections tend to be a referendum on the incumbent president – turning out more voters of the opposite party and opening the possibility that members of the incumbent party will cross partisan lines – a presidential election year tends to inspire more party loyalty. “I think Trump-supporting Republicans, in particular, and then Republicans more broadly – just like Democrats – were a little more queued up in terms of partisanship and more inclined to vote the ticket than (to) cross over to the same degree as they did in ’18 in this congressional district,” Perry said. With 109 votes separating Tenney and Brindisi, it’s important not to ignore the role that county boards of elections played in the messy and delayed counting of ballots, Kushner Gadarian said. The pandemic made for a chaotic election in all parts of the state, with the proliferation of absentee voting and boards of elections underprepared for administering a large-scale mail-in voting operation. In the 22nd District especially, problems abounded, including in Oneida County where more than 2,400 online voter registration applications were not processed despite being returned on time. “I think that what’s really different this time – as it is across the country – is the increased demand on the electoral systems that are not quite up to task, particularly in the registration of new voters and the counting of votes,” Kushner Gadarian said. While Brindisi was expected to appeal a state Supreme Court ruling to certify Tenney as the winner, he conceded, mentioning his regret over some of these election administration issues. “My one disappointment is that the court did not see fit to grant us a recount,” he said in a statement. “Sadly, we may never know how many legal voters were turned away at the polls or ballots not counted due to the ineptitude of the boards of election, especially in Oneida County.” Republican Assembly Member John Salka, who represents Central New York, said that while he is sure that Brindisi is disappointed, it might be nice to have some closure after the monthslong saga. “The amount of stress that both these candidates have been under for the last 94, 95 days was unbelievable,” Salka said. “I think everybody is pretty much glad it’s over.”

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BTEA Leadership

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February 15, 2021

City & State New York

Experts worry that neither PCR tests nor rapid testing could stop the spread of COVID-19 in large venues.

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Price of Admission Cuomo wants to use 15-minute tests to reopen stadiums, resume in-person weddings and bring back Broadway. But is it safe? By Rebecca C. Lewis

HE BUFFALO BILLS may not have won the Super Bowl, but the success of their playoff games from a health perspective will be a precursor to reopening other parts of the state. After allowing 6,700 fans to attend each of the Bills two home playoff games, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that other major sports arenas in the state will be allowed to reopen later this month. Now, fans will still have to test negative before attending a game, and attendance will be limited to 10% of the arena’s capacity, but New Yorkers will once again be able to root on their beloved Knicks and Nets in person beginning Feb. 23. It’s the first major example of the governor’s proposed use of rapid testing to help re-

vitalize industries and events that have been put on pause during the pandemic. But it still falls short of Cuomo’s recent talk about implementing widespread rapid testing in order to reopen theaters and office buildings, something that some public health experts think would be premature in New York. In January, Cuomo brought up the prospect of mass rapid testing during his State of the State address, saying he would like to set up sites to perform the 15-minute tests and that many commercial landlords had already committed to testing their tenants. Since then, he has released few details about how the state would implement such a program. His recent announcement, however, could indicate that rapid testing will simply mean expanded and mandatory laboratory testing, rather than administering true rapid tests that produce a result in 15 minutes. For those major sports arenas and other large venues that have a capacity of more than 10,000 people, all attendees must test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of the event. This is not rapid testing though. Instead, fans would receive a regular diagnostic test, which is administered at most testing sites, processed in a lab and comes back in two days on average. Although the governor had at times characterized the effort to admit fans to the Bills games as rapid

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testing, that too was performed with diagnostic tests, known as PCR tests, in the days leading up to the games, rather than with tests right at the doors. Cuomo touted the Bills games as an “unparalleled success” as the testing caught some positive cases and the events did not lead to a spike of new cases in Erie County. It could be held as a model for the new arena rules, but Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, questioned the efficacy of performing a test days in advance. “If it’s done three days ago, that doesn’t mean one is not infected now,” El-Sadr said. Other public health officials questioned whether including indoor venues in the new announcement is wise, given that the Bills games were outdoors. Rapid testing, in theory, would allow venues, restaurants and office buildings to perform tests on anyone about to enter a facility, providing the most up-to-date results to ensure that people are healthy. But as El-Sadr points out, the rapid tests are far from perfect. Compared to PCR tests, the rapid antigen tests are much less reliable, especially in asymptomatic people, and are more likely to provide a false negative. “You will recall that they were using these types of tests in the White House for months and months and months,” El-Sadr said. “Despite that, there were these people who were infected that the test missed (and) there was a superspreader event at the White House.” Although the rapid tests are far less reliable, Jack Caravanos, a clinical professor of environmental public health sciences at the NYU School of Global Public Health, said he believes that they make more sense for reopening purposes than giving a PCR test days in advance. “Having the rapid test, together with hand hygiene, increased venti-

February 15, 2021

enough place to start opening up large high-risk indoor gatherings like Broadway shows, even with widespread rapid testing. While infection rates are trending down in New York City and across the state, El-Sadr said the spread is still not under sufficient control. “We’re Yankee Stadium is not in the safe zone. In terms of being used as where the pandemic is, I think a mass vacciwe’re nowhere near where we nation site, but were about summer, for examthe governor hopes to start ple,” El-Sadr said. “It’s ironusing it for its ic to me that we’re at this point intended purin time talking about reopening pose again. and sort of easing restrictions at a time when we remain very lation and wearing masks, I think someone much in a danger zone.” She acknowledged in a Broadway theater or in a stadium re- that the downward trend in infections is ally feels that they’re as safe as they possi- promising, and added that expanding all bly can get,” Caravanos said. “Having the types of testing is welcome, but warned PCR test three days ago is much more un- against viewing New York City’s and the certain.” Caravanos acknowledged that the state’s current position as rosier than it acrapid tests are more likely to produce a false tually is. “Let’s stay the course until we’re negative, but said getting the most current out of the danger zone,” she added. El-Sadr also warned that an overreliance results will lead to safer venues compared to the risks of relying on a days-old test. He on rapid tests may lure people into a false suggested the best course of action would be sense of security about their health and the to test people immediately before entering a health of others that could lead to a relaxvenue, or at the very least, on the same day ing of public health measures like social with proof shown at the entrance, poten- distancing and wearing masks. Caravanos, who said he welcomed the tially rolling the test into the cost of admiseasing of some restrictions, like permitting sion or having the state subsidize the cost. It’s unclear right now what the governor limited indoor dining in New York City, has in mind for widespread rapid testing. did not share El-Sadr’s concerns about the Caravanos said that ensuring equity in access effect that rapid tests could have on other so that lower-income people are not locked recommended behavior. But he agreed that the state has a little way to go before rapid out of reopenings should be considered. During a call with reporters on Tuesday, testing could be safely used to reopen more Cuomo said he’s looking at opening mass parts of the economy. He said he would rapid testing locations across the city at first like to see the numbers go down even places like Penn Station and pharmacies. more, suggesting that widespread rapid He suggested that someone could show testing will be invaluable for safely planproof that they got a test within 72 hours ning large events in the spring if the downin order to enter theaters and the like, ward trend continues. “It’s still not ready which led El-Sadr to wonder why the state for primetime just yet,” Caravanos said. “I wouldn’t use the more reliable PCR tests if think I would like to see a wait a little while a multiday window exists to receive a neg- longer.” He said that testing protocols will ative test. A spokesperson for the governor likely continue to be used even as vaccinadid not return a request for comment about tion rates go up. These new regulations take effect sooner what a mass rapid testing program would look like, where testing sites would be set than Cuomo’s recently announced plan to up, who would be responsible for adminis- start allowing weddings of up to 150 peotering them and who would pay for them. ple beginning March 15. Cuomo suggested A spokesperson for the Department of that the state would move toward reopenHealth, responding to a similar set of ques- ing entertainment venues after a series of tions, simply referred to the governor’s pop-up shows leading up to this summer. announcement about arenas and said that The governor’s press release said the success of large events under the new guidance “more guidance is forthcoming.” More broadly, some public health ex- “will help inform the re-opening process perts don’t think that the state is in a good for smaller venues in the future.”

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Built with Purpose Delivered with Pride

OHL North America proudly congratulates our CEO, Ashok Patel, and all the Construction Power 50 honorees on their recognition for outstanding leadership.

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Congratulations to Jack Frost for being named one of the

50 Most Influential People in the New York construction industry. Jack Frost is President and Chief Operating Officer of Tutor Perini Corporation, one of the nation’s largest and most successful construction companies, with annual revenue of approximately $5 billion. He has been with the Company for more than 33 years and has overseen numerous projects, including many of Tutor Perini’s largest and most difficult building and civil projects. Mr. Frost also serves on the Advisory Board of the New York University Tandon School of Engineering’s Civil and Urban Engineering Departments.

Pictured: JFK International Airport Runway Expansion

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February 15, 2021

City & State New York

CAN POT BRING PEACE? LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES HOPE LEGALIZING MARIJUANA WILL HELP COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HEAL. THEY FEAR CUOMO’S PROPOSAL WON’T DO THAT.

I Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes is sponsoring a bill to legalize marijuana in a way that helps communities of color. She says Cuomo’s proposal would fall short.

N A PRESS CONFERENCE before a recent virtual lobby day in Albany, Peggy Herrera joined with other recreational marijuana legalization advocates to speak about the importance of passing legislation this year. A member of the criminal justice advocacy group Center for Community Alternatives, Herrera is also the mother of a son who was arrested on marijuana charges. Her son, whom she did not name, had been on probation when the NYPD stopped him and claimed to have smelled marijuana. Although Herrera said they found none, her son was nonetheless charged and remanded. “And the funny thing is, my son doesn’t even smoke,” Herrera said. “It cost him his job, his car and let’s not talk about the trauma he went through, and the trauma I went through as a mother.” Herrera’s story is hardly unique, but it’s illustrative of why activists have been pushing not just to legalize recreational marijuana, but to center social equity and racial justice when doing so. And for them, that means taking a holistic approach to equity that permeates through all aspects of legislation, including directing where revenue goes and preventing further criminalization. Despite roughly equal usage of marijuana among racial groups, data has shown that Black and Latino men get arrested and ticketed for marijuana offenses at eight times the rate of white men in New York City, even as enforcement has declined under Mayor Bill de Blasio. This policing disparity exists in communities throughout the state. And the existing data like-

ly doesn’t account for the full impact that marijuana prohibition has had on communities of color through police encounters that may not have resulted in marijuana-related charges. “We really see, as a public defender, the odor of marijuana has kind of become a go-to rationale for stopping people and searching them after stop-and-frisk was outlawed,” Eli Northrup, policy counsel with the Bronx Defenders, said. “And it’s something that’s very hard to disprove.” Addressing how the odor of marijuana has been allegedly used to justify police stops is just one of the ways that advocates want to see justice through legalizing recreational marijuana. In the Marijiuana Revenue and Taxation Act, sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes from Buffalo and state Sen. Liz Krueger from Manhattan, lawmakers include a specific provision explicitly prohibiting police to use the smell of pot as a reason for a stop or for an arrest. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (similarly named) Cannabis Revenue and Taxation Act has no similar language meant to protect people from potentially improper stops and searches. “I really think the governor was counting on people not paying very close attention to his proposal,” Northrup said. “And we’re paying attention, because we need to get this right.” It’s one of many reasons that marijuana legalization and criminal justice advocates feel that Cuomo has not truly focused equity at the core of this proposal. “I think he’s coming at it from the wrong place,” Anne Oredeko, an attorney with the Legal Aid Society, said. “I think

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By Rebecca C. Lewis

CityAndStateNY.com

he lacks imagination in his plan. And I think he’s woefully unprepared to really talk about equity in a meaningful way.” For Oredeko, the governor’s proposal risks continued criminalization of communities of color through penalties for illegal sale and possession. Under state legislators’ proposal, New Yorkers can legally possess up to three ounces of marijuana. Anything more than three ounces, up to 16 ounces, is simply a violation punishable by a fine of up to $125. Under the governor’s proposal, getting caught with three ounces of pot is considered criminal possession in the second degree, a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $125 for every ounce over two ounces, up to 64 ounces, with even higher payments for those convicted of marijuana-related crimes within the past three years. Differences between monetary penalties may seem somewhat trivial – although fines can quickly add up – but a misdemeanor leaves someone with a criminal record, while a violation does not. The governor’s proposal additionally differentiates between illicit (or untaxed) pot when it comes to possession, while legislators’ bill makes no such distinction. Getting caught with any amount of illicit pot is a crime. In other words, possession that may be decriminalized now could be recriminalized under the governor’s proposal. “Even possession is a misdemeanor, which is kind of crazy,” Northrup said. More egregious to marijuana legalization activists and public defenders is the fact that the governor’s proposal in fact includes a new, harsh penalty explicitly for selling marijuana to someone under the age of 21. Cuomo’s legislation would make any such sale, regardless of the amount, a Class D felony. By comparison, the Marijuana Revenue and Taxation Act would make such a crime a Class A misdemeanor. Currently, sale to someone under 18 is a Class D felony, with the governor’s proposal effectively expanding the current criminalization by increasing the age. “The governor’s bill is abysmal in these areas, there’s just no other way to put it, it’s really horrific,” Melissa Moore, New York state director of the Drug Policy Alliance, a legalization advocacy organization, said. “And the implications for communities are pretty dire.” A spokesperson for the governor did not respond to a question about increased and continued penalties for marijuana offenses, like sale to someone under 21. Some legalization experts, like the late Mark Kleiman, a former public policy professor at New York University’s Marron Institute, argued that stiff penalties for unlicensed dealing are needed to entice both buyers and sellers into the legal market, which will be more expensive because it’s taxed. California is especially infamous for the continued flourishing of the illicit marijuana market despite legalization, and lawmakers there are considering increased

February 15, 2021

fines to crack down on it. “Legalization and commercialization does not eliminate the illicit market, it actually does the opposite and grows the illicit market,” Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana. “Colorado and California have seen drastic increases in illicit market cultivation and trafficking following legalization, there is no reason to expect New York to experience a different result.” Public defenders pointed out another disparity between the governor’s proposal and the one from the Legislature when it comes to righting the harms of past criminalization. While both bills have provisions for the resentencing and retrial of those with pot convictions under the new laws to permit for less severe penalties or records, only the Marijuana Revenue and Taxation Act includes language to automatically expunge, vacate or seal low-level convictions that would no longer be crimes under the new law. “It’s not something that you can just do on your own if you’re not well versed in the law, or at least have someone who’s connected to help you navigate that system,” Oredeko said. The state set up a system to automatically seal the records of people with low-level convictions with the passage of the 2019 decriminalization law. A spokesperson for the governor did not provide a response to a question about the absence of automatic expungement, sealing or vacature provisions in his proposal. Legalization and criminal justice advocates are pleased by one change in the newest iteration of Cuomo’s pot legalization proposal: For the first time in three years, the governor has included a statutory commitment to using a portion of the tax revenue for a fund to invest in communities harmed by marijuana enforcement, although his legislation does not include details about what that may look like. In the past, the governor avoided dedicating revenue for any particular purpose in hopes of keeping those funds flexible. Under Cuomo’s scheme, the state would invest $100 million over four years starting in fiscal year 2023, with $50 million every year after. That’s out of the estimated $300 million to $350 million per year in tax revenue legal pot is expected to produce once the market is up and running. “Social and economic equity are the bedrock of Governor Cuomo’s proposal to legalize cannabis for adult-use,” Norman Birenbaum, the state director of cannabis programs, said in a statement in response to critiques about social equity. He mentioned the new investment commitment, as well as provisions for the creation of a social equity plan in distributing licenses in a new legal marketplace. But activists are still skeptical of Cuomo’s commitment, especially given that the governor has included pot legalization among his proposed revenue raisers, along with

THE OPPOSING PLANS FOR POT OVERSIGHT STRUCTURE

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February 15, 2021

City & State New York

FOR THE THIRD YEAR in a row, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislators have dueling proposals to legalize recreational marijuana. State Sen. Liz Krueger and Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes have already introduced the latest version of their Marijuana

Legalization and Taxation Act. Cuomo has once again made his pitch, dubbed the Cannabis Revenue and Taxation Act, as part of his executive budget, which has not yet been formally introduced to the Legislature. Here’s the breakdown.

PEOPLES-STOKES AND KRUEGER’S PROPOSAL

CUOMO’S PROPOSAL

Marijuana programs are overseen by the Office of Cannabis Management, which includes a Cannabis Control Board, an advisory board and an executive director, nominated by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature.

Marijuana programs are overseen by the Office of Cannabis Management, which includes a Cannabis Control Board and an executive director, appointed by the governor.

Imposes an 18% excise tax, which can go as high as 22% with additional optional local taxes municipalities may impose.

Imposes a 10.25% sales tax, in addition to any local sales tax that may apply, as well as an excise tax based on the potency and type, ranging from .7 cents per milligram to 4 cents per milligram.

Anyone can grow, cultivate and process up to six marijuana plants at one time in their private residence.

No one can grow, cultivate or process any amount of marijuana in their private residence.

The bulk of tax revenue would be split three ways: 50% to a community grants reinvestment fund, 25% to a drug treatment and public education fund and 25% to the state lottery fund to go towards the state Department of Education.

Tax revenue would in part go into a cannabis social equity fund on a schedule of $10 million in fiscal year 2023, $20 million in fiscal year 2024, $30 million in fiscal year 2025, $40 million in fiscal year 2026 and $50 million every year after. Use of the rest of the funds would largely be left to the discretion of the state.

Legislation provides for cultivator, processor, distributor, retail, cooperative, microbusiness, nursery, on-site consumption and delivery licenses. No person or company can hold a retail license if they hold a cultivator, processor or distributor license. The exception is a microbusiness license, which allows smallenough operations to retail what they grow.

Legislation provides for cultivator, processor, distributor, retail and cooperative licenses. Microbusiness licenses – which permit businesses to cultivate, process, distribute and retail their own cannabis if they are small enough – are mentioned as an option, but not explicitly required. No person or company with a retail license can hold a cultivator, processor or distributor license.

Includes provisions for a plan that would prioritize licensing and assistance to minority- and women-owned businesses, disadvantaged farmers and people from communities harmed by past marijuana enforcement, including those with past convictions. Sets a goal that 50% of licenses will go to social equity applicants.

Includes provisions for the creation of a social equity plan that would prioritize licensing of and provide assistance to minorityand women-owned businesses, disadvantaged farmers and people from communities harmed by marijuana enforcement in the past, including those with past convictions.

Has a chief equity officer tasked with helping to create and ensure continued compliance with the social equity plan, as well as establishing a public education plan for communities that have experienced negative consequences from past pot enforcement. They would be required to produce yearly compliance reports and would chair a committee that administers community grant funds.

Has a deputy director for social and economic equity tasked with overseeing the social and economic equity plan, but with no specific statutory duties.

Includes a provision for the automatic expungement, vacature or sealing of low-level pot convictions that would not be crimes under the new law.

Permits those convicted of and currently serving time for lowlevel pot offenses that would no longer be crimes under the new law to seek a retrial or resentence.

Makes sale of marijuana to someone under the age of 21 a Class A misdemeanor, and the sale of more than three ounces of marijuana to someone under the age of 18 a Class E felony.

Makes the sale of any amount of marijuana to someone under the age of 21 a Class D felony.

A person over 21 can legally carry up to three ounces of marijuana, or 24 grams of concentrated cannabis (like in edibles).

A person over 21 can legally carry up to one ounce of marijuana, or five grams of concentrated cannabis (like in edibles).

20 CityAndStateNY.com

tions would have provided one of the only safe places for residents of public housing to partake legally. Because public housing is partially overseen by the federal government, possession of marijuana – which remains illegal at the federal level – would remain prohibited in public housing. Removal of on-site consumption locations would effectively block low-income public housing residents out of the new legal marketplace. A spokesperson for the governor did not provide an answer to a query about why these two license types were removed, nor were they mentioned in Birenbaum’s statement. Cuomo’s legislation shares similarities with legislators’ bill in setting up a social and economic equity plan. The purpose of the plans is to ensure that minority- and women-owned businesses, disadvantaged farmers and people with prior marijuana-related convictions – or coming from a community that has been disproportionately negatively impacted – have access to participate in the new legal business. This includes prioritization for licenses, low- and no-interest loans and access to mentorship and incubator programs. In both bills, details of the plan would be developed after passage, to be approved by the Cannabis Control Board, which would make regulatory decisions about the legal marijuana business. Jessica Gonzalez, general counsel for Minorities for Medical Marijuana, said that while data on the success of such programs remains fairly limited, New York still has models to follow. “When we’re

talking about setting up a regulatory scheme, and one that is equitable, it’s important to look at the programs that have had success,” Gonzalez said. “But it’s also just as important, if not more, to look at the programs that are currently facing various hurdles.” She mentioned Massachusetts, which set aside delivery licenses for social equity applicants – and is getting sued over that decision. For Gonzalez, oversight of such a program must be in place from license issuance to the sealing of records. “What we’ve seen a lot of times is the language is great, and it looks pretty on paper, but the implementation has been disastrous,” Gonzalez said. This is yet another area where there are slight differences between the executive and legislative proposal. The Legislature’s bill would create the position of a chief equity officer. This person would consult on the formation of the social equity plan and be responsible for aiding in its implementation and issue yearly reports on compliance with the plan, with the first one coming no later than Jan. 1, 2023. The chief equity officer would also lead a steering commission to administer the community grants reinvestment fund. “That’s something that the sponsors felt was really important to have codified as an official role,” Moore said. The closest position created in Cuomo’s plan is a deputy director for social equity. The bill does not include any statutory responsibilities for this role, and tasks the executive director of the Office of Cannabis Management, a state agency that would oversee all aspects of the legal marijuana industry, with formulating and adjusting the social and economic equity plan. The text in the competing proposals have grown closer in the years of negotiation between the governor and state legislators, but Peoples-Stokes acknowledged there remains a lot of daylight between the two bills. “I’m looking for investments into the communities and the multiple generations of lives that have been impacted by the war on drugs, and I didn’t get that from (Cuomo’s) proposal,” Peoples-Stokes told City & State. For many legalization advocates and lawmakers, social equity will make or break the success of legalization. And after years of lobbying and negotiating, they aren’t prepared to accept any proposal that they think won’t achieve it.

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mobile sports gambling, as the state faces a major budget shortfall amid the COVID19 pandemic. “One hundred million dollars would go to a social equity fund,” Cuomo said on Jan. 19 while outlining his budget proposal, referring to the first five years of investment. “That would still give us $250 million towards the budget and our needs.” For Jawanza Williams, organizing director at VOCAL-NY, an advocacy group for progressive policies, the governor’s focus on the state’s potential windfall during the pandemic did not sit well. “If you’re talking about legalization, in the context of the deficit … it doesn’t center the need for social and racial, racial and economic justice,” Williams said. He added that tax revenue from legal marijuana would not begin rolling in for at least a year, with an even longer wait for the full $300 million to $350 million. “I don’t want people to only think about marijuana legalization and the equitable elements of it being specifically about the community reinvestment.” Moore said the newest iteration of Cuomo’s bill would the Cannabis Rev- make posession of enue and Taxa- any amount of illicit a misdetion Act “took steps marijuana meanor, which is a backward … in al- harsher punishment most every cat- than it is right now. egory” from the governor’s previous versions of the legislation. She said that Cuomo’s new cannabis social equity fund is just a “nod” to advocates that doesn’t go far enough – the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act dedicates 50% of tax revenue to a community grants reinvestment fund. Moore said the governor’s proposal sneaks in changes that damage overall equity. In particular, Moore said that Cuomo’s newest proposal has removed both on-site consumption and delivery licenses, which the governor previously included and are part of the Marijuana Revenue and Taxation Act. “Those are two enormous things,” Moore said. “And I think the significance is hard to overstate, especially when we’re talking about having a focus on making sure we do have a viable social equity program.” When it comes to delivery, it not only provides more accessibility to some New Yorkers, it is also one of the easiest ways for those already part of the illicit market to enter the new legal framework. Black market deliveries have boomed in New York City since the pandemic, and getting a license would allow people to build off that existing network without needing the capital to start a brickand-mortar operation. Massachusetts, the first state to implement a statewide social equity plan for licensing, has seen some success in dedicating delivery licenses exclusively for social equity applicants, such as minority-owned businesses and those previously ensnared in marijuana law enforcement. As for on-site consumption, those loca-

February 15, 2021

New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters CONGRATULATIONS TO NYCDCC EXECUTIVE SECRETARY-TREASURER

JOSEPH GEIGER

ON BEING RECOGNIZED IN CITY & STATE’S CONSTRUCTION POWER 50 LIST

UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOU HAVE SECURED OUR UNION VALUES BY FIGHTING FOR MORE UNION JOBS, FAIR WAGES, HARD-EARNED PENSIONS, AND QUALITY HEALTHCARE AND BENEFITS. THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING AND EMPOWERING EVERY MEMBER TO EMBODY WHAT IT MEANS TO BE UNION STRONG!

@CarpentersNyc

22 CityAndStateNY.com

February 15, 2021

GETTING INTO THE WEED IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME, BUT HOW EXACTLY WILL LAWMAKERS LEGALIZE CANNABIS IN NEW YORK?

HE CHANCES OF legalizing recreational marijuana have never been better in New York. Democrats have supermajorities in the state Senate and Assembly. Gov. Andrew Cuomo says future revenues could help the state recover from the coronavirus pandemic. New Jersey voters approved a 2020 referendum legalizing adult-use cannabis, adding additional urgency to the cause, since millions of New Yorkers will soon have easy access to legal weed just across the Hudson River. “It’s not a matter of if’’ a deal gets done, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins told reporters in January. “It’s a matter of how and when.” There is even a possibility that legal weed could be a done deal in the coming weeks. Whether through the state budget process or as standalone legislation, pot legalization depends on Cuomo and Democratic state lawmakers resolving outstanding differences on issues including the structure of a future marijuana market, how the state would use the tax revenues it generates and whether selling to people under 21 should be classified as a felony.

“(Legalization) is the right thing to do,” state Sen. Liz Krueger of Manhattan, a liberal who has long led the charge on marijuana legalization, said at a recent virtual press conference. “Unfortunately, there are a number of people because of the pandemic, and its impact on our economy, who simply want to cast this as an issue that is about raising revenue. It is not in my mind; it never has been, and it never will be.” Her comments were a veiled reference to Cuomo, who has proposed for the third year in a row to legalize recreational marijuana through the state budget process. The Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act included in his plans for the fiscal year beginning April 1 would establish a new Office of Cannabis Management to regulate recreational cannabis along with medical marijuana and hemp. “Not only will legalizing and regulating the adult-use cannabis market provide the opportunity to generate much-needed revenue, but it also allows us to directly support the individuals and communities that have been most harmed by decades of cannabis prohibition,” Cuomo said in January. A provision in the proposal would devote $100 million in future tax revenues over four years to social equity efforts that aim to help the communities of color hit

hardest by giving them assistance to enter the legal weed market. That level of funding depends on the state reaching projected revenues of $300 million per year. The governor’s proposal is facing criticism on a number of political fronts. Business groups say not allowing delivery services and on-site consumption will limit future economic opportunities. “It moves us backwards on a lot of issues,” Kaelan Castetter, vice chair of the Cannabis Growers and Processors Association, said in an interview about Cuomo’s proposed regulatory framework. Advocacy groups like The Legal Aid Society and the Drug Policy Alliance say people of color would not be given enough preference for state licenses and other assistance under the gubernatorial approach. Left-leaning legislators like Krueger say the budget proposal would give too much power over future tax revenues to the governor – and not enough power to the equity programs those legislators say are key to winning their support. The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act proposed by Krueger and Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes of Buffalo would permit on-site consumption and delivery services and does not change sales to people under 21 from a misdemean-

LIGHTSPRING/SHUTTERSTOCK

By Zach Williams

February 15, 2021

or into a Class D felony as Cuomo is proposing. The bill’s supporters are also eager to earmark half of future revenues for social equity programs. That could add up to tens of millions of dollars more per year, compared to the governor’s proposal, for programs specifically tailored to helping people previously convicted of marijuana-related offenses and their communities. Peoples-Stokes said in an interview that a majority of members in the chamber are behind the legislation she has sponsored since 2013. “There’s enough votes to pass it,” she added. “(Speaker Carl Heastie) has not committed to doing that yet – but that doesn’t mean that he won’t.” The bill has historically been a tougher sell in the state Senate, where urban liberals traditionally have less sway, but the election of new progressive senators from places like the Catskills and Rochester could smooth its passage through the upper chamber just two years after moderate senators from the downstate suburbs sank a previous legalization effort. Some senators who previously opposed legalization now support the idea, while others are resigned to its seemingly imminent passage. “If done correctly, I think we’re going to be OK,” said state Sen. John Brooks of Long

City & State New York

Island, a moderate Democrat who has concerns about how legal weed might lead to more DUIs and consumption by children. Yet, legislative leaders have yet to bring the bill to the floor as the state budget process continues.

their supermajorities to override it. That would probably lead to a lose-lose outcome, as Cuomo would enrage progressive Democrats if he vetoed legalization and the Legislature’s moderates might shy away from overriding his veto. By contrast, the budget process offers a few advantages for legalizing recreational marijuana sooner rather than later. The governor has packaged his proposal with less controversial ideas like child care tax credits and helping veterans get jobs. This gives skittish state lawmakers some political cover, according to Democratic political consultant Evan Stavisky. “In Albany, it’s always easier to do something in the budget or the end of session,” he told City & State. “That’s when the deals get done.” That is the approach that the Cuomo administration is taking with its current proposal, despite ongoing criticism from lawmakers and their threats to try legalizing recreational marijuana through standalone legislation. “This is an executive budget proposal and we look forward to negotiating and passing an agreed upon law as part of this year’s budget,” Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said in an email. With six weeks to go until the April 1 state budget deadline, even the lawmakers pushing hardest to bring their own proposal to a vote accept that the governor has to be involved in the process. “There has to be

“THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED, AND IF THEY’RE NOT FIXED, THEN WE’LL BE HERE NEXT YEAR TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING.” – Assembly Majority Leader

Crystal Peoples-Stokes

Theoretically, Democrats could pass their own version of marijuana legalization in the next few weeks. But doing that risks antagonizing the governor at a time when they need his cooperation to strike deals on other important issues in the upcoming budget negotiations, like funding for public schools. If the state Senate and Assembly passed the bill proposed by Krueger and Peoples-Stokes, the governor would have the power to veto it and challenge legislative leaders to mobilize virtually their entire caucus against him to use

some sort of a three-way agreement,” Peoples-Stokes said. Yet, despite how the political winds appear to be blowing in favor of legalization, Democratic lawmakers say the governor needs to give some ground before efforts to legalize recreational marijuana can finally cross the finish line. “Clearly his tax proposals are all wrong,” Peoples-Stokes said. “Clearly, his social equity proposals are all wrong. So there are a number of things that need to be fixed, and if they’re not fixed, then we’ll be here next year trying to do the same thing.”

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THE 2021 February 15, 2021

City & State New York

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CONSTRUCTION POWER FOR DECADES, the construction industry has been shaping Manhattan’s iconic skyline, developing New York’s ever-evolving infrastructure system and expanding and updating the elaborate network of highways, bridges, subways,

The people who are building – and rebuilding – New York.

commuter rail lines and airports that make New York a global city. But the industry has accomplished much more than that. While they have been hampered for close to a year by the coronavirus pandemic, New York’s master builders are an essential cog in the state’s economic engine, creating good-paying jobs and offering a pathway into the middle class. Now, with

COVID-19 hammering the local economy, construction activity is poised to play a critical role in the recovery, especially if an influx of federal dollars arrives to fund a backlog of capital projects. City & State’s first Construction Power 50 List identifies the leading contractors, public officials, construction managers, consultants and advocates who are building – and rebuilding – New York.

1 RICK COTTON

Executive Director Port Authority of New York and New Jersey While the Port Authority’s revenues have dwindled, its scaled-back 2021 capital construction budget proposal still totals $2.4 billion. Its able leader, Rick Cotton, has fully recovered after contracting COVID-19 – and is positioning his agency to rebound as well. In addition to spearheading improvements at LaGuardia Airport and JFK, Cotton has plans for a new Port Authority Bus Terminal and would play some role with a longdelayed project to build a new commuter rail tunnel under the Hudson River.

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February 15, 2021

Albany-based New York State Building and Construction Trades Council since its business agent, James Cahill, was hit with bribery charges. LaBarbera has championed the industry throughout the coronavirus pandemic. He has secured a long-sought prevailing wage law and kept public projects moving but warned of a dropoff in 2022.

two temporary hospitals in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Among Badame’s colleagues are Ali Chaudhry, the governor’s former deputy secretary for transportation; former MTA chief Tom Prendergast; and former Port Authority veteran Denise Berger.

4 RICHARD KENNEDY

Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton was the first political figure in New York to contract the coronavirus.

2 JANNO LIEBER

President of MTA Construction and Development, Chief Development Officer Metropolitan Transportation Authority Janno Lieber is helping navigate the Metropolitan Transportation Authority through its worst crisis in generations. While banking on additional federal aid and the eventual rollout of congestion pricing in Manhattan to reduce its gaping budget shortfall, the MTA’s construction chief has kept parts of its ambitious $51 billion, five-year capital plan moving along. In December, Lieber touted the new Moynihan Trail Hall for improving service for Long Island Rail Road riders and said further upgrades to Penn Station are underway.

Pick any major New York infrastructure project, and Skanska is probably involved. The leading construction and project development firm has helped build the Moynihan Trail Hall, a revamped LaGuardia Airport, the Second Avenue Subway, the No. 7 line extension, the East Side Access project, the Kosciuszko Bridge and the World Trade Center Oculus – and that’s not even getting to its many projects elsewhere across the country. Skanska’s U.S. leader, Richard Kennedy, has been with the company since 2004.

5 3 GARY LABARBERA

President Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York Gary LaBarbera is one of New York’s most powerful labor leaders, having spent over a decade leading an organization with 15 unions representing some 100,000 unionized construction workers. He also has run the

JAY BADAME

President, Construction Management AECOM AECOM’s Jay Badame oversaw projects like the opulent Hudson Yards, Manhattan West and One Vanderbilt. The global company is the one of the country’s largest general contractors and the largest construction firm in New York City. The firm worked on the Second Avenue Subway, the East Side Access project and the World Trade Center redevelopment – and built

6 LORRAINE GRILLO

President New York City School Construction Authority Commissioner New York City Department of Design and Construction In 2018, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio decided Lorraine Grillo was so effective running the School Construction Authority that she should lead the Department of Design and Construction, too. After more than a quarter century at the SCA and over a decade as its leader, Grillo has managed billions of dollars in school construction while earning plaudits for boosting MWBE contracting. At the DDC, she manages capital construction projects for city government while pursuing upcoming projects through the designbuild procurement process.

PORT AUTHORITY; BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL OF GREATER NEW YORK; NYC SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY

President and CEO Skanska USA

28 CityAndStateNY.com

February 15, 2021

Elizabeth Velez runs the Velez Organization and chairs the New York Building Congress.

7 PAT DI FILIPPO

Executive Vice President Turner Pat Di Filippo oversees Turner Construction Company’s lucrative business in New York, including Madison Square Garden’s overhaul, Cornell Tech’s Tata Innovation Center, and the recently topped out The Spiral at 66 Hudson Blvd. Di Filippo, a Turner veteran since 1984, manages its partial stake in the heavy construction firm E.E. Cruz. Turner, which is headquartered in Manhattan, has offices in Albany, Buffalo and Syracuse, as well as dozens of offices around the country and overseas.

8 JAMES WHELAN President REBNY

As the chief of New York’s leading real estate association, James Whelan has adopted a collaborative approach since taking the reins in 2019. Since

COVID-19 hit New York, he has advised the governor and the mayor on reopening and partnered with the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and the Building Trades Employers Association on a framework to keep projects moving while protecting workers. Whelan has also called for federal aid to states and localities.

9 LOUIS COLETTI

President and CEO Building Trades Employers Association Last year, Louis Coletti’s Building Trades Employers Association worked with the Cuomo administration and labor and developer organizations on protocols to ensure worker safety while continuing to build major projects in New York. As the leader of BTEA,

Coletti represents over 1,200 construction firms, including construction managers, contractors and subcontractors. The industry veteran has led BTEA for more than two decades, with previous stints heading the New York Building Congress and as a top executive at Leher McGovern Bovis.

10 ELIZABETH VELEZ

President Velez Organization For small women- or minorityowned construction firms trying to break through in New York, the Velez Organization offers proof that it can be done. The construction company, which was founded by Andrew Velez in the 1970s, is now a powerhouse run by his daughter, Elizabeth Velez, who chairs the New York Building Congress

The Velez Organization offers proof MWBEs can break through.

Carlo Scissura represents contractors and developers at the New York Building Congress.

and was named last year to the governor’s COVID-19 reopening task force. Her firm has partnered on major higher education and hospital projects.

11 CARLO SCISSURA

President and CEO New York Building Congress Carlo Scissura’s New York Building Congress is a prominent industry organization representing contractors, developers, engineers and architects. A member of the governor’s coronavirus recovery task force, Scissura recently called on the White House to invest in infrastructure to boost the economy. A past leader of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and key staffer in the Brooklyn borough president’s office, he frequently interviews power players on his “Espresso with Carlo” webinars and, until recently, was the ceremonial chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.

KRIS PANKO; GREG MORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY; NEW YORK BUILDING CONGRESS

James Whelan is president of the Real Estate Board of New York.

Congratulations to Gary LaBarbera and all the Honorees for being Recognized on City & State’s Construction Power 50 list

The Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York Proudly Representing 100,000 Working Men and Women in NYC’s Unionized Construction Industry

C ON GRATU LAT IO N S T O ALL TH E C ON ST RUCTI O N PO W ER 50 HO NO REE S! W e of fe r a sp ec ia l co n grat ul at i o ns t o o u r P r e s id en t , E l i za b e t h.

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February 15, 2021

City & State New York

Michael Garner is the MTA’s chief Diversity Officer. Steven Sommer is the executive general manager at Lendlease.

Michael Elmendorf represents contractors and is a major industry voice in the state.

12 MICHAEL ELMENDORF JR.

President and CEO Associated General Contractors of New York State

JP ELARIO; PAT CASHIN; DAVID JOSHUA FORD

Representing major building and civil contractors like Consigli as the head of one of the state’s foremost construction networks, Michael Elmendorf is a leading industry voice, especially upstate and in Albany. The former New York head of the National Federation of Independent Business and Pataki administration alum also spearheads Rebuild NY Now, a coalition of business, labor, local government and environmental organizations seeking funding for transportation and environmental projects.

13 ROBERT WESSELS

Executive Director The General Contractors Association of New York Robert Wessels took the reins of the New York City-

based General Contractors Association of New York in 2019, succeeding its longtime leader, Denise Richardson. The association, which represents such heavyweights as Skanska, Tutor Perini and Kiewit, joined calls last summer for more federal transit funding to weather the coronavirus pandemic. Wessels, who has worked with GCA in various capacities over the years, has more than three decades of experience in the industry.

14 JAMES “JACK” FROST

President and Chief Operating Officer Tutor Perini Since taking on a top executive role at Tutor Perini in 2015, Jack Frost has been nipping at his competitors’ heels. The Los Angeles-based company is one of the biggest construction firms in the broader New York market, serving as prime contractor on multiple elements of the East Side Access project and design-build contractor on Newark Liberty International Airport’s new terminal. Frost, who developed his leadership skills in the Air Force, also ran Tutor Perini’s civil group.

15 MICHAEL GARNER

Chief Diversity Officer Metropolitan Transportation Authority Michael Garner has been the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s chief diversity officer for over a decade, delivering millions of dollars in contracts to businesses owned by women and minorities each year. Garner, who learned valuable strategies for maximizing MWBE contracting in his previous role at the New York City School Construction Authority, created the MTA’s Small Business Mentoring Program and often touts the benefits of guiding and training smaller businesses to be able compete for public dollars.

16 STEVEN SOMMER

Executive General Manager and President of New York Construction Lendlease Construction LMB Perennially a top construction company operating in New York, Lendlease is known for such projects as Time Warner Center, the National

September 11 Memorial and Museum, CitiField, Columbia University’s Manhattanville development, the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center expansion, and the supertall luxury condo towers 432 Park Avenue and Central Park Tower at 217 W. 57th St. In November, the Australian company elevated company veteran Steven Sommer to lead its operations in New York.

17 MELANIE LA ROCCA & DAN SYMON

Commissioner New York City Department of Buildings Director New York City Mayor’s Office of Contract Services Undercutting the stereotype that New York City government is completely bogged down by red tape, Buildings Commissioner Melanie La Rocca and Mayor’s Office of Contract Services Director Dan Symon have prioritized streamlining the bureaucracy that historically had hampered the private sector. In recent years, Symon has been developing the city’s Procurement and Sourcing Solutions Portal, or PASSPort, to centralize contracting online. La Rocca’s Buildings Department has also spent years moving its processes online, which has proved invaluable during the coronavirus pandemic.

Congratulations! Marc Herbst

LICA Executive Director and NYRIC President City & State Construction Power 50 Honoree

LONG ISLAND CONTRACTORS’ ASSOCIATION, INC. Working tirelessly to advocate on behalf of our members, partners and the entire transportation infrastructure industry. Calling upon leaders to provide suﬃcient and sustainable funding to ensure the continued safety and improvement of our regions’s critical infrastruture. Successfully ﬁghting against harmful and frivolous legislation that would adversely impact our industry, our labor partners and the economy.

“The Voice of Long Island’s Highway & Infrastructure Professionals”

LICA Board of Directors: PHILLIP M. BEYER JAMES J. PRATT, III Chairman PAUL FARINO Secretary/Treasurer

JASON GOLDEN JAMES HANEY, III WILLIAM HAUGLAND, JR. JOSEPH K. POSILLICO SAMANTHA RUTTURA PETER SCALAMANDRE

Long Island Contractors’ Association (LICA) 48 S. Service Road, Suite 401 Melville, NY 11747 Phone: 631.231.5422 www.licanys.org info@licanys.org Social Media: @LICANewYork

February 15, 2021

City & State New York

Hunter Roberts is the manager on the conversion of Pier 55.

18 MICHAEL NEARY & ERIC MCGOVERN

JOHN BAER; STRUCTURE TONE; GILBANE BUILDING COMPANY; SUFFOLK CONSTRUCTION

President, Structure Tone; President and CEO, Pavarini McGovern STO Building Group STO Building Group is made up of a number of construction firms, including two major industry players in New York, Structure Tone and Pavarini McGovern. Michael Neary, a top executive with Structure Tone for more than three and a half decades, oversees its work in interiors and renovations in New York and in Europe. For over two decades, Eric McGovern has led Pavarini McGovern, which is a partner on a variety of commercial, residential and academic buildings in New York City.

19 MAURICE REGAN

CEO J.T. Magen & Company J.T. Magen & Company is known for its interior construction for white-shoe

law firms, financial companies and luxury brands in New York – as well as the headquarters for the National Football League and HBO and a renovation of the Metropolitan Club. Maurice Regan founded the New York-based firm in 1992, building it into a powerhouse in New York and nationwide. A key colleague is Robert Scheinman, a principal at the firm who’s also a major player in New York.

20 RICH CAVALLARO

Executive Vice President Gilbane Building Company Last year, Rich Cavallaro left one top construction firm for another. After spending more than a decade as president of Skanska USA Civil, Cavallaro took a plum role at Gilbane Building Company, which is behind Brooklyn’s 1 Willoughby Square, the state Capitol’s

roof renovation (completed in 2012), and a variety of health care, academic and cultural edifices. Cavallaro oversees the Rhode Island-based Gilbane’s New York projects, with the assistance of Grant Gagnier, Gilbane’s vice president for New York City.

21 CHARLIE AVOLIO

President and General Manager, New York Suffolk Construction

22 JAMES C. MCKENNA

President and CEO Hunter Roberts Construction Group A civil engineer by training, James C. McKenna founded Hunter Roberts Construction Group in 2005 and built it into what is now a top 10 construction firm in the New York area. The company, which also has offices in Philadelphia and New Jersey, is the construction manager on Barry Diller’s conversion of Pier 55 into “Little Island” park jutting out into the Hudson River. The company has also been a partner on an array of health care, higher education and residential projects.

Suffolk Construction is one of the top industry players in Boston, where it’s headquartered, but it has also been steadily expanding its presence in New York, where Charlie Avolio has been leading the charge. Avolio, who previously worked at Turner, joined Suffolk Construction in 2016 as the company opened a new office in New York City and launched its bid to gain a share of the local market. He works closely with Will Whitesell, New York’s chief operating officer.

Rich Cavallaro is executive vice president at Gilbane Building Company. Michael Neary, left, and Eric McGovern lead top firms in STO Building Group.

Charlie Avolio is president and New York general manager at Suffolk Construction.

34 CityAndStateNY.com

February 15, 2021

ASHOK PATEL

CEO OHL North America President Judlau Contracting Ashok Patel is a top executive at OHL, a global construction outfit based in Spain that launched its U.S. subsidiary with an office in Manhattan in 2010 while also acquiring a stake in Judlau Contracting later that year. A veteran of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Patel took a leadership role at OHL in 2015 while continuing to run Judlau Contracting. One of Judlau’s biggest projects in recent years has been its work on the Second Avenue Subway.

24 PETER SERPICO

Principal and CEO Omnibuild Since its founding in 2007, Omnibuild has quickly become

a top contractor in New York’s competitive construction industry. A turning point came in 2015 with the acquisition of Cava Construction, which brought that company’s leader, Peter Serpico, into the fold as CEO. In 2017, Inc. magazine identified Omnibuild as one of the country’s fastestgrowing private companies. It has a specialty in building hotels, while also constructing other high-rise commercial and residential buildings.

25 ROBERT BONANZA

Business Manager Mason Tenders’ District Council of Greater New York As the leader of the influential Mason Tenders’ District Council of Greater New York, Laborers’ International Union of North America, Robert Bonanza represents thousands of unionized laborers in New York’s construction industry. Bonanza’s labor group also partners with the New

A veteran of the MTA, Ashok Patel is a top executive at OHL.

York State Laborers’ PAC on LiUNA-NY, which played an active role in the 2020 elections and has already endorsed several candidates for the New York City Council this year.

out against systemic racism following the police killing of George Floyd.

JOSEPH CHIARELLI

STEPHANIE BURNS

President Women Builders Council Stephanie Burns is the president of the Women Builders Council, an association devoted to promoting women in the construction industry and positioning them for leadership roles. An expert on contracting for minority- and women-owned businesses, Burns also oversees workforce development and engagement at Turner Construction and helps carry out its longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion – which was exemplified when it became one of the first construction firms to speak

27 President of New York City Metro Operations Consigli The roots of Consigli Construction Co. Inc. go back to the early 1900s on the outskirts of Boston, but today it’s a top construction firm in the New York market. While the current generation of the Consigli family still runs the firm where it got started in Milford, Massachusetts, they rely on Joseph Chiarelli to handle their work in New York City. Chiarelli came on board in 2019 when Consigli acquired the construction management company T.G. Nickel & Associates, where he had been a top executive.

OHL NORTH AMERICA; RALPH D’ANGELO; CONSIGLI

Peter Serpico is principal and CEO of Omnibuild.

Joseph Chiarelli heads up New York City operations at Consigli.

Congratulations to Our Very Own Joseph D’Amato And all of the Honorees

Joseph D'Amato Business Manager Carmine D’Amato Field Representative

Robert Compton Field Representative

Dominic J. Valdner Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Todaro Field Representative

Frank Biancaniello President Ronald D. Valdner Field Representative

Herbert Johnson Field Representative

36 CityAndStateNY.com

February 15, 2021

Chris Larsen, above, and Paul Atkins, right, lead Halmar International.

CHRIS LARSEN & PAUL ATKINS CEO; Principal Halmar International

Halmar International has long been a go-to contractor on bridge and highway projects across New York, although it also specializes in transit, subways, airports and other civil construction projects. Longtime leader Chris Larsen has embraced public-private partnerships, joining designbuild bids in New York in recent years. The Rocklandbased firm is also led by principal Paul Atkins, a veteran of the construction industry with experience in highway operations and construction project management.

29 JOSÉ LUIS MÉNDEZ SÁNCHEZ President Dragados USA

José Luis Méndez Sánchez heads up the U.S. operations of Dragados, an international construction consortium that is part of the Spanish

conglomerate ACS. Dragados USA, which is headquartered in New York City, has expanded its footprint in part through acquisitions, purchasing the heavy infrastructure firms Schiavone Construction in 2007 and John P. Picone in 2009. Dragados is part of the design-build team on the Long Island Rail Road’s third track project.

30 BRAD MELTZER & CHRISTOPHER MILLS

Chair and CEO; President Plaza Construction Earlier this month, Brad Meltzer succeeded longtime leader Richard Wood as the new chair and CEO of Plaza Construction, a top-10 construction company in the New York area. A company veteran, Meltzer years ago spearheaded the Chineseowned company’s first major foray outside of New York by opening a new office in Miami – and his ascension marks a turning point, as he’ll stay in Florida while newly elevated President Christopher Mills will continue to work out of the New York headquarters.

31 MARC HERBST

Executive Director Long Island Contractors’ Association

JOSEPH K. POSILLICO

As a former state Assembly member, Marc Herbst knows how things get done in Albany – and for the past decade and a half, he has been advocating for more than 165 heavy construction contractors in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Herbst, who is also a Lutheran pastor in Manhasset and was recently named president of the New York Roadway and Infrastructure Coalition, notched a victory last year when the governor vetoed anti-sand mining legislation.

Since joining his family’s 75-year-old engineering contracting firm as project manager in 1987, Joseph K. Posillico worked his way up until he became CEO of Posillico in 2006. The Farmingdale-based firm recently completed an emergency ventilation project for the MTA. Posillico, who previously led construction projects for Exxon in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, serves on the boards of the Long Island Contractors Association and the Associated General Contractors of New York State.

President and CEO Posillico

Dragados is part of the design-build team on the Long Island Rail Road’s third track project.

DIANA RODRIGUEZ; POSILLICO

Joseph K. Posillico leads his family’s eponymous engineering contracting firm.

CHAIR ELIZABETH VELEZ AND THE OFFICERS & DIRECTORS OF THE NEW YORK BUILDING CONGRESS

OUR PRESIDENT & CEO

CARLO A. SCISSURA ESQ. AND THE OTHER OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS HONORED IN CIT Y & STATE’S

CONSTRUCTION POWER LIST @BDGCONGRESS

@NEWYORKBUILDINGCONGRESS

WWW.NYBC100.COM

At Gilbane, our leaders inspire, innovate, collaborate and engage. Congratulations to Rich Cavallaro for being named one of City & State’s Construction Power 50.

www.gilbaneco.com

38 CityAndStateNY.com

February 15, 2021

33 JOSEPH GEIGER

Executive SecretaryTreasurer New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters The New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters has had a rough road in recent years, from the appointment of an independent monitor in 2015 to root out corruption to the downfall of its leader, Steve McInnis, in 2018 due to alleged sexual misconduct. The current leader, Joseph Geiger, has sought to move the union forward while effectively representing more than 20,000 skilled workers, including carpenters, millwrights and floor coverers.

34 CHERYL MCKISSACK DANIEL President and CEO McKissack

Cheryl McKissack Daniel runs her family’s venerable construction firm – the country’s oldest minority- and women-owned business of its

kind – but she has also made a name for herself alongside that family legacy. The seasoned civil engineer has had a hand in major projects including overhauls at JFK and LaGuardia, Atlantic Yards and the Studio Museum in Harlem. Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently named her to his New York Forward Advisory Board to help reopen the state’s economy post-pandemic.

35 GREG HILL

Senior Vice President Kiewit Corporation The Kiewit Corporation, which is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, has long been a top contractor in the New York area. Greg Hill oversees the Fortune 500 company’s New Jersey-based construction team, which offers an array of infrastructure contracting services, including bridges, rail and roads. In New York, Kiewit has handled the rehabilitation of the Queensboro Bridge, the replacement of the Willis Avenue Bridge and structural retrofits for the VerrazzanoNarrows Bridge.

36 PETER K. TULLY

President Tully Construction Peter K. Tully runs his family’s well-known construction company, which dates back to the 1920s and is now one of the largest private construction firms in the country. The Flushing-based Tully Group has expanded with a number of affiliates, including Willets Point Asphalt Corp. in Queens and Evergreen Recycling of Corona for recycling materials from large-scale construction projects. Tully has served on the boards of the New York Building Congress and Building Trades Employers Association.

37 WILLIAM H. GOODRICH

CEO and Managing Partner LeChase In recent years, the Rochesterbased construction firm was tapped to build a big chunk of the Legoland theme park in

Goshen, as well as a few other large construction projects in the Albany area. But after 81 of its projects were put on hold due to COVID-19, William Goodrich told Rochester Business Journal that LeChase has applied lessons learned during past recessions in an effort to come out stronger on the other side of the crisis.

38 NELSON FERREIRA

President and CEO Ferreira Construction A quarter century ago Nelson Ferreira launched Ferreira Construction, and he has transformed his civil, utility and marine construction company into a major contractor. The company is based in New Jersey, where it’s particularly active, but it has also done utility construction for Con Edison in New York and significant transportation work for the Port Authority, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Thruway Authority and the New York City Department of Transportation.

MCKISSACK & MCKISSACK; PARK AVENUE PHOTO - GENE AVALLONE

Cheryl McKissack Daniel runs one of the country’s oldest MWBE firms.

William H. Goodrich runs the Rochesterbased construction firm, LeChase.

Park Strategies LLC congratulates

Fred Hiffa

and all the recipients of the City and State Construction Power 50

Harrison & Burrowes Congratulates

JEFF DISTEFANO

and all of City & State’s Construction Power 50 Honorees

The NYC School Construction Authority proudly congratulates our President and CEO Lorraine Grillo on her inclusion in City and State’s annual NY Construction Power 100. Your innovative ideas during your 30 plus years of service to the children of New York City along with your cultural and community leadership inspires us all!

We are a non profit advocacy organization committed to fostering more diversity, equity and inclusion within the real estate and construction industries through actionable, measurable and sustainable initiatives, programs, policies and agendas. Please contact us at: info@mwcda.org

Dream big–Do great Congratulations to our President and General Manager of New York Charlie Avolio for being recognized in City and States Construction Power 50 Magazine.

February 15, 2021

City & State New York

An immigrant from Italy, D’Amato started out helping build JFK Airport.

39 JEFF DISTEFANO

Chair and CEO Harrison & Burrowes Bridge Constructors

VANESSA ETHERINGTON; JOSEPH SABASTIAN; BILL MCCARTHY

When Jeff DiStefano and his brother, Wally, started Harrison & Burrowes Bridge Constructors in 1980 – buying a crane and a flat rack with their own money – they ran the business from Wally’s basement. The company, which now designs, builds and repairs bridges throughout New York and the Northeast region, has grown to 150 employees and an annual revenue of about $50 million. Jeff DiStefano is also treasurer of the Associated General Contractors of America, a national industry association.

40 JOSEPH D’AMATO

Business Manager Laborers’ Local 731 Local 731 Building, Concrete, Excavating & Common Laborers Union – more commonly referred to as Laborers’ Local 731 – has long been a force for construction workers in New York. The veteran labor leader Joseph D’Amato’s Queens-based union represents some 5,000

members, negotiating terms on worksites and advocating for worker safety. An immigrant from Italy, D’Amato started out as a construction worker helping to build JFK Airport in the 1950s.

41 MATTHEW WALSH

Co-Chair The Walsh Group The Chicago-based Walsh Group has several subsidiaries, including Walsh Construction, which is a partner on the highprofile Terminal B project at LaGuardia Airport and earlier this year announced the completion of a new patient pavilion at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie in partnership with Consigli. Matthew Walsh has driven the family-owned company’s expansion into heavy civil construction, helping position it as one of the country’s top builders of water treatment plants, bridges, highways, transit and airports.

42 FRED HIFFA

Managing Director Park Strategies As a former top official in the state Legislature and at the state Department of Transportation, where he oversaw capital budgets exceeding a billion dollars, Fred Hiffa is an invaluable resource to construction companies seeking to navigate the state’s contracting process and compete for major projects. An expert on highways, aviation, rail, transit, and energy and environmental infrastructure, Hiffa is also a consultant for Rebuild NY Now, a coalition pushing for greater infrastructure investment.

43 BILL MCCARTHY

Partner Bolton-St. Johns

as a perennial top lobbying firm in state government. The former state legislative staffer has been with Bolton for nearly two decades, providing strategic advice, counsel and various services to a wide range of clients. In recent years, McCarthy has worked for such clients as the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York, the New York State Pipe Trades Association, the Durst Organization and the Williams Companies.

44 EHAB SHEHATA

President and CEO Bravo Group Ehab Shehata’s Bravo Group is a partnership of three firms – Velocity Architecture & Engineering Group, Chu & Gassman Consulting Engineers, and Bradford Construction – that is capitalizing on ambitious city and state government goals to boost contracting to firms owned by women or people of color. Founded in 2016 by former AECOM executive Shehata, the group brought on former Port Authority and fellow AECOM expat Chris Ward in 2019 to bolster its business development efforts.

Bill McCarthy has helped position Bolton-St. Johns

Fred Hiffa is managing director at Park Strategies.

Jeff DiStefano runs Harrison & Burrowes Bridge Constructors. Bill McCarthy is a partner at Bolton-St. Johns.

Congratulations to Cheryl McKissack Daniel for being named to City & State’s Power 50 List for her contributions to the New York Construction Industry.

Salutes MICHAEL ZETLIN One of New York’s Construction Leaders!

www.mckissack.com Construction | Construction Management | Program Management The New Terminal One at JFK

Zetlin & De Chiara | 801 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017 212.682.6800 | Attorney Advertising

An advocacy campaign including City & State First Read provides a targeted way to reach decision makers in New York government and politics. Campaigns Include:

ADVOCACY MESSAGING OPEN-HOUSE PROMOTIONS NEW HIRE ANNOUNCEMENTS Contact us at advertising@cityandstateny.com for advertising and sponsorship opportunities.

NYCEDC/HHC Coney Island Hospital Campus Renovation

February 15, 2021

45 JACQUES DEGRAFF

Chair MBE Leadership Summit

MICHAEL YURICK; JASON CINTRON; CELESTE SLOMAN

Over the course of his career, the Rev. Jacques DeGraff has been a champion for economic and social justice for people of color. Currently the chair of the MBE Leadership Summit, he has been outspoken in support of legislation and other efforts to award more government contracts to businesses owned by women or minorities. DeGraff previously chaired the diversity council at the School Construction Authority, which has been a pioneer in MWBE contracting.

46 KYLE LARKIN President Granite

Kyle Larkin was named president of Granite Construction in September after serving in a number of roles with the company since 1996. Headquartered in California, the company specializes in all kinds of transportation infrastructure,

City & State New York

water treatment and transmission, mining and electrical and utility projects. In New York in recent years, it did significant work on the new Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge and the recently rebuilt Kosciuszko Bridge.

47 MICHAEL S. ZETLIN

Senior Partner Zetlin & De Chiara Michael Zetlin wears many hats: attorney, civil engineer, lecturer – he is an adjunct professor at Columbia University – and co-editor of the authoritative manual New York Construction Law. The prolific litigator, who cofounded Zetlin & De Chiara in 1992, handles construction claims across a number of sectors and is general counsel to the New York Building Congress and the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

48 KENNETH THOMAS & JASON CINTRON

Co-Managing Directors Minority & Women Contractors & Developers Association Kenneth Thomas and Jason Cintron, both Bronx natives,

Kenneth Thomas, left, and Jason Cintron run the Minority & Women Contractors & Developers Association.

co-founded the Minority & Women Contractors & Developers Association in 2019 to advocate for and empower construction businesses owned by women and people of color by offering networking and professional development opportunities. Cintron brings his extensive experience as a staffer in the New York City Council to the role. Thomas has a dedicated following on LinkedIn and shares his skillset with students as a faculty member in construction administration at Columbia’s School of Professional Studies.

49 SANJEEV DHAWAN

President and CEO Unicorn Construction Since founding Unicorn Construction in 1997, Sanjeev Dhawan has overseen more than 100 public works projects in New York City – including construction work on bridges, railways, tunnels and other infrastructure for clients such as the city’s School Construction Authority, the Department of Transportation, Con Edison and the Port Authority. Dhawan has overseen three major bridge reconstructions in the city, totaling more than $600 million.

50 RICHARD S. WEEKS

President and CEO Weeks Marine Marine construction may be less flashy than building high-rise luxury condo towers, but it’s essential work – and Weeks Marine is one of the leaders in the industry. The New Jersey-based company, which specializes in construction, dredging and other marine services, has done major work in New York, including harbor maintenance, reinforcing waterfront piers and buildings, and dredging for the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Richard S. Weeks leads the family-run company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019.

Michael S. Zetlin is senior partner Zetlin & De Chiara.

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February 15, 2021

Notice of Formation of Limited Liability Company (LLC) Name: Parris Eatery Inc Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on June 22nd, 2020. Office Location: Bronx County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 1345 East Gun Hill Road Bronx NY 10469. Purpose: to engage in any and all business for which LLCs may be formed under the New York LLC law Notice of Formation of Forte Content LLC filed with SSNY on October 19, 2020. Office: Kings County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 1123 Lafayette Ave #2, Brooklyn, NY 11221 . Purpose: any lawful act or activity. Notice of Qualification of LVS III SPE XXXVII LP Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/08/21. Office location: NY County. LP formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/13/19. Duration of LP is Perpetual. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. DE addr. of LP: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of LP filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Mutt Avenue Pet Grooming, LLC filed with SSNY on November 02, 2020. Office: NY County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 400 W. 55th st, Apt 6K, New York, NY 10019. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Qualification of GIG US STORAGE HOLDINGS LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/11/21. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 01/08/21. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 8807 CHEN LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/22/20. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 6814 Fort Hamilton Pkwy 1st Fl Brooklyn, NY, 11219. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of ANIRA STUDIOS LLC. .Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 9/25/20.Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 212 W 91ST ST APT 423 New York, NY, 10024.Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of Snug Studios, LLC. Arts of Org filed with Sec. of State of NY on 1/20/21. Office Location: Richmond County. SSNY designated agent of LLC whom process against it may be served, mail process to: c/o the LLC, 4218 Amboy Rd. SI, NY 10308. Purpose: any lawful purpose.. Notice of Formation of God In Gotham, LLC filed with SSNY on September 18, 2020. Office: NY County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 2266 5TH AVE, #1249, NY, NY, 10037. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF La Rochelle Home LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/8/18. Office location and principal business address: NEW YORK County, 168 Malcom X Blvd. #5C, NY, NY 10026. SSNY is designated as agent for service of process. The Post Office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC is: 168 Malcom X Blvd. #5C, NY, NY 10026. Purpose: any lawful act or activity Notice of Formation of VESUVIO BAKERY FARLEY PO, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/21/20. Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 540 West 49TH ST, #104N New York, NY, 10019.Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of GINO RE, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/18/20.Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 1418 7th St, #402 Santa Monica, CA, 90401.Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of Limited Liability Company (LLC). Name: BETHEL MILLS LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/1/2020. NY Office Location: Kings County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The post office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her is C/O The LLC, 1325 59th St., Brooklyn, NY 11219. Purpose of LLC: Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of LMRN, LLC filed with SSNY on 10/28/20 Office: NY County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 109 Greenvale Rd Cherry Hill NJ 08034. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

PUBLIC and LEGAL NOTICES / CityAndStateNY.com

February 15, 2021

Notice of Formation of ATKINS FAMILY LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/16/20. Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to C/O Atkins & Breskin 133 Norfolk St New York, Ny, 10022.Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of GEORGETOWN PROPERTIES 7020 LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/21/20.Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 390 Fairmount Ave Chatham, NJ, 07928. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of BRESKIN FAMILY LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/16/20. Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to C/O Atkins & Breskin 133 Norfolk St New York, Ny, 10022.Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of 515 WEST 18TH 422 LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/18/20. Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 101 West 24th St Apt 12B New York, NY, 10011. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of BROOKLYN HEALTHY MIND 360 - NURSE PRACTITIONER IN PSYCHIATRY, PLLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 9/24/20.Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 26 COURT ST, RM 409 BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, 11242. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of JABA GROUP LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/16/20. Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to C/O Atkins & Breskin 133 Norfolk St New York, Ny, 10022.Any lawful purpose.

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Notice of Formation of Charles Warshaw Family LLC. Art. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY(SSNY) on December 29, 2020. Office location: New York County, SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 50 East 89th Street, New York, NY 10128. Purpose: any lawful activity. Notice of Formation of FANTASYLAND HOLDINGS, LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 8/25/20.Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 416 Kent Ave, #517 Brooklyn, NY, 11249. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of JASL GROUP LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/16/20.Office location: NEW YORK SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to C/O Atkins & Breskin, L.L.C. 133 Norfolk St New York, NY, 10022.Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of JASLBA GROUP LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/16/20. Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to C/O Atkins & Breskin 133 Norfolk St New York, Ny, 10022.Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of ROCK BOTTOM DEALS LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 10/19/20. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 460 Neptune Ave APT 13J Brooklyn, NY, 11224. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of KEEN LOREN, LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/23/20. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 332 43RD ST Apt.2A Brooklyn, NY, 11232. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of LEAST LIKELY, LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 8/7/20.Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 245 Warren St. #2L Brooklyn, NY, 11201. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of LET BARBADOS MOVE YOU LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 11/27/20. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 1150 E 22 St Brooklyn, New York, 11210. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of MILK PENNY LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 11/23/20. Office location: Madison SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to PO Box 86 Canastota, NY, 13032. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of NYC ADVANCED PROPERTIES LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/23/20.Office location: Richmond SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 85 Kell Ave Staten Island, NY, 10314. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of THE HARDBALL CAFE OF MAIN STREET LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/04/21. Office location: Suffolk SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 99 Main St Cooperstown, NY, 13326. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company. Name: ENDURANCE OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT, LLC. Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 01/07/2021. Office location: 427 BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 110 PLEASANTVILLE, NEW YORK, 10570. Westchester County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 427 BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 110 PLEASANTVILLE, NEW YORK, 10570. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.

Notice of Formation of TRADITION BY BWB, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/12/21. Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 80 State St Albany, NY, 12207-2543. Any lawful purpose. NOTICE OF AUCTION Notice of Auction Sale is herein given that Citiwide Self Storage located at 45-55 Pearson Street, Long Island City, N.Y. 11101 will take place on WWW.STORAGETREASURES.COM Sale by competitive bidding starting on February 22, 2021 and end on March 5, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. to satisfy unpaid rent and charges on the following accounts: #3L04 – Nicholas Soyemi: locker unit #5T20 – Alfredo Villamar: several bags/boxes, shoe boxes, miscellaneous clothes, 1-luggage bag, 1-chair The contents of each unit will be sold as a lot and all items must be removed from the premises within 72 hours. Owners may redeem their goods by paying all rent and charges due at any time before the sale. All sales are held “with reserve”. Owner reserves the right to cancel sale at any time.

Notice of Formation of Konverjdans, LLC filed with SSNY on December 17, 2020. Office: Kings County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 1184 St Marks Ave, Apt 2L, Brooklyn, NY 11213. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. Notice of Qualification of Transon Media LLC. Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/07/21. Office location: Kings County. LLC formed in District of Columbia (DC) on 01/27/14. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Brothers Smith LLP, c/o David Pearson, 2033 N. Main St., Ste. 720, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. Principal Office: 550 15th St., Ste. 31, San Francisco, CA 94103. Arts of Org. filed with the Superintendent of Corporations, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Ste. 419, Washington, DC 20004. Purpose: any lawful activities. Notice of Formation of Keep It Tight, LLC filed with SSNY on October, 28 2020 Office: NY County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 79 e 94th st, Brooklyn, NY 11212. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. Solutions By Sam, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/16/2020. Cty: New York. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Samantha Sil-verman, 201 E. 19th St., Apt. 7L, New York, NY 10003. General Purpose Notice of Form. of PEERLESS GROVE, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/13/21. Office location: Saratoga SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 525 Locust Grove Greenfield, Ny, 12833. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of 183 JOBS LANE LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/4/21.Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to Attention: Eric And Emmie Lee 245 East 87th St Apt 15a New York, NY, 10128. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of 331 S. 4TH STREET LLC. .Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 9/29/20. Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process To C/O Blank Property Group Attn: Paul Caine 7 Penn Plaza Ste 1400 New York, NY, 10001. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of 350 E 32 LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/14/21. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to C/O: Phillips Nizer Llp 485 Lexington Ave New York, NY, 10017. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of 392 LEFFERTS AVE LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/20/21. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 1314 Fulton St Brooklyn, NY, 11216. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of 1331 FINDLAY REALTY LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/5/18. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 127 Fores Rd Monroe, NY, 10950. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of 1864 HARRISON AVE LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/23/19. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 670 Myrtle Ave Ste 388 Brooklyn, NY, 11205. Any lawful purpose.

CityAndStateNY.com / PUBLIC and LEGAL NOTICES

Notice of Formation of ALOHA KRAB OF SYRACUSE LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 08/26/20.Office location: CAYUGA SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 1 Destiny USA Dr Ste B110 Syracuse, NY, 13024. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of AV-RH MIDTOWN COLLECTION LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/7/21. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to C/O Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas Llp Attn: Jeffrey M. Schwartz Esq. 444 Madison Ave, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10022. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of BWB HOSPITALITY GROUP, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/11/21.Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 80 State St Albany, NY, 12207- 2543.Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of CMCC HOLDINGS LLC. Arts .Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/7/21. Office location: Fulton SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 212 W 4th Ave Johnstown, NY, 12095. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of D&S ON THE BAY, LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/12/21. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 3099 Emmons Ave Brooklyn, NY, 11235. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of DISTILLATION, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/11/21.Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 80 State St Albany, NY, 12207-2543. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Form. of DMC RENTALS, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/13/21. Office location: Onondaga SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 7990 River Rd Baldwinsville, NY, 13027. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP, LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/19/21. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 193 MIDWOOD ST BROOKLYN, NY, 11225. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of FERMENTATION, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/11/21. Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 80 State St Albany, NY, 12207-2543. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of HONG LE LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/12/21.Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 941 55th Street Brooklyn, NY, 11219. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Form. of JEFFREYOPS, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/4/21. Office location: Saratoga SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 23 Horizon Dr Saratoga Spring, NY, 12866-8777. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of LOEFFLER 10 PRINCE LLC. .Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/30/19. Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 588 Broadway, Ste 1203 New York, NY, 10012. Any lawful purpose.

LEGALNOTICES@ CITYANDSTATENY.COM

February 15, 2021

Notice of Form. of YATES VILLAGE II GP LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/1/20. Office location: Saratoga SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 28 Liberty St New York, NY, 10005. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of 31 ORIENT AVENUE LLC.Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 11/3/20. Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to C/O Blank Property Group Attn: Paul Caine 7 Penn Plaza Ste 1400 New York, NY, 10001. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of 47 ANJALI LOOP LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/13/21.Office location: Richmond SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 38 E. Broadway Apt 9 New York, NY, 10002. Any lawful purpose.

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Notice of Formation of 145 WELLS STREET LLC. Arts .Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/8/21. Office location: Fulton SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 447 N Perry St Johnstown, NY, 12095. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Qual. of CS BLACKBIRD LLC. Auth. filed with SSNY on 1/25/21. Office location: New York. LLC formed in DE on 1/14/21. SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to: C/O Spruce Capital Partners Llc 535 Madison Ave, 19th Floor New York, NY, 10022. Arts. of Org. filed with DE SOS. Townsend Bldg. Dover, DE 19901. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of BLOOM MEDIA LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of N Y (SSNY) on 01/15/21. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 1 Irving Pl., Apt. V27B, NY, NY 10003. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Virginia Bloom at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A LICENSE, SERIAL # 1332336, FOR WINE & BEER HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR BY THE UNDERSIGNED TO SELL WINE & BEER AT RETAIL UNDER THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW AT 75 UNIVERSITY PLACE NY, NY 10003. NY COUNTY, FOR ON-PREMISE CONSUMPTION. SIMO PIZZA LLC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A LICENSE, SERIAL # 1333708 FOR LIQUOR, WINE, & BEER HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR BY THE UNDERSIGNED TO SELL LIQUOR, WINE, & BEER AT RETAIL UNDER THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW AT 544 UNION AVE BROOKLYN, NY 11211. KINGS COUNTY, FOR ON PREMISE CONSUMPTION. ZUPPANYC LLC. SHARES GROCERY, LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/16/2020. Office loc: NY County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Osama Alsahybi, 89 Montague St, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose. Notice of Formation of 2632 EAST 22 STREET LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/19/21. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 2632 East 22 St Brooklyn, NY, 11235. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of LYZ 760 LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/19/21. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 225 Dahlgren Pl Brooklyn, NY, 11228. Any lawful purpose Notice of Qualification of Tower Cap SPV LLC. Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/08/21. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/22/20. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 111 Broadway, Ste. 1703, NY, NY 10006. Address to be maintained in DE: Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Arts of Org. filed with the Secy. of State, Division of Corporations, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: any lawful activities. Notice of Qualification of Landed Educators II, LLC. Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/06/21. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/18/18. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o National Registered Agents, Inc., 28 Liberty St., NY, NY 10005, also the registered agent upon whom process may be served. Address to be maintained in DE: National Registered Agents, Inc., 1209 Orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Arts of Org. filed with the Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: any lawful activities. Notice of Formation of COMPCARE SERVICES, LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/13821. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 4512 Farragut Rd Brooklyn, NY, 11203. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of Tower Cap LLC. Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/08/21. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/25/18. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 111 Broadway, Ste. 1703, NY, NY 10006. Address to be maintained in DE: Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Arts of Org. filed with the Secy. of State, Division of Corporations, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: any lawful activities Notice of Formation of 2641 EAST 21 STREET LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/12/21. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 2641 East 21 St Brooklyn, NY, 11235. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of ALOHA KRAB OF HILLEL PL LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 10/15/20.Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 354 Myrtle Ave Brooklyn, NY, 11205. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of CALL ME CORDOBA PRODUCTIONS LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 11/04/20.Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 220 Berkeley Place 4a Brooklyn, NY, 11217. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of RALJ HOLDINGS, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/17/20. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Lewis Tepper, 175 W. 72nd St., Apt. 6H, NY, NY 10023. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

PUBLIC and LEGAL NOTICES / CityAndStateNY.com

February 15, 2021

Notice of Formation of BROOKLYN BLON XLVI LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/14/20. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 365 Clinton Ave Apt. 4E Brooklyn, NY, 11238. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of DARK KNIGHT EQUITIES LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/25/21. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 1838 E 3rd St Brooklyn, NY, 11223. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of KAIA INDUSTRIES LLC. .Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/21/21.Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 40 East 20th St 4th Floor New York, NY, 10003. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of KAINZ PRODUCTIONS LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 11/06/20. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 138A Classon Ave. #3 Brooklyn, NY, 11205. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of KEATSBRIDGE LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 5/22/20.Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 70 Vestry Street Apt 3E New York, NY, 10013. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of SKW 6 E 74TH STREET LENDER LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/7/20.Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 134 West 25th St 5th Floor New York, NY, 10001.Any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF AUCTION Notice of Auction Sale is herein given that Access Self Storage of Long Island City located at 29-00 Review Avenue, Long Island City, N.Y. 11101 will take place on WWW.STORAGETREASURES.COM Sale by competitive bidding starting on February 23, 2021 and end on March 9, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. to satisfy unpaid rent and charges on the following accounts: Contents of rooms generally contain misc. #224 – Marilyn Andino Montalvo; Pile of wood, a large bag, plastic totes filled with clothes, 2 suitcases, 5 plastic bags, 4 laundry bags, a wooden shelving unit filled with religious items. #476 – Heather L. Mulcare; 13 Boxes, clothing, luggage carrier, twin mattress, bicycle, small lamp #2101 – Peter Hargrove; 30 + boxes, 14+ bags, 5 milk crates, 10 clothing bags, unit filled to the top #2112 – Peter Hargrove; 30+ boxes, clothes, bags, shopping carts, DVD’s, magazines, newspapers, VHS tapes, dresser, 2 picture frames on top of unit. #2122 – Peter Hargrove; 2 large wood frames, 14+ boxes, 18+ bags, 7 clothing bags, unit filled to the top #2319 – Neda Sarmast; 2 picture frames, 4 folding chairs, 8 black plastic bags, 4 plastic bins, vacuum, 9 assorted boxes, duffel bag and 2 metal rods #2474 – AVENA c/o Giselle Deiaco; variety of chairs and tables #4211 – Dona Pereira; locker cabinet, kitchen table,stool, office chairs, refrigerator, shelf, about 20 boxes, couch, metal chairs, wooden chair and table, cabinet with drawers. #4811 – Daniel Leeb; 2 Apple computers, 2 speakers, 3 bikes, snowboards, 10 + boxes, mattress, 5 toolboxes, ladder, vacuum cleaner, garbage can, 2 suitcases, bicycle tires. #46041 – Borjou Gudarzi; 1- file cabinet, 30 boxes, 1 round bucket, small tv. The contents of each unit will be sold as a lot and all items must be removed from the premises within 72 hours. Owners may redeem their goods by paying all rent and charges due at any time before the sale. All sales are held “with reserve”. Owner reserves the right to cancel sale at any time.

Notice of Qualification of SafeTherapeutics LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/06/21. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/14/17. Princ. office of LLC: 300 E. 59th St., #502, NY, NY 10022. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Mark Kupersmith at the princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Jeffrey W. Bullock, Secy. of State of the State of DE, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A LICENSE, SERIAL # 1332874 FOR LIQUOR, WINE, & BEER HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR BY THE UNDERSIGNED TO SELL LIQUOR, WINE, & BEER AT RETAIL UNDER THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW AT 20 HUDSON YARDS NEW YORK, NY 10001. NEW YORK COUNTY, FOR ON PREMISE CONSUMPTION. Miznon at Hudson Yards LLC

Notice of Formation of S. ELITE CONSTRUCTION, LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/17/20. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 239 South 1st. Brooklyn, NY, 11211. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of WAVE LIMIT LAB LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/26/21. Office location: Richmond SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 3285B Richmond Ave Suite #352 Staten Island, NY, 10312. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of SMILING HEART CARE LLC. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 9/3/20. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 102 Skillman St Apt 3 Brooklyn, Ny, 11205. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of WAVELINE LAB LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/26/21.Office location: Richmond SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 3285B Richmond Ave Suite #316 Staten Island, NY, 10312. Any lawful purpose.

LEGALNOTICES@CITYANDSTATENY.COM

Notice of Formation of JOEY NECHADIM PARTNERS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/31/20. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Sara Levine Consulting, LLC filed with SSNY on October 9, 2020. Office: Westchester County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 21 Half Moon Lane, Tarrytown, NY 10591. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Formation of 212 CITY SERVICES LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/26/21. Office location Richmond SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 3285B Richmond Ave Suite #320 Staten Island, NY, 10312. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of 1334 58TH 1 STREET LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 11/04/20. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 1334 58th Street Unit 1 Brooklyn, NY, 11219. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of 1435 FULTON STREET LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 11/03/20. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 3522 15th Ave Brooklyn, NY, 11218. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Form. of M & S REAL PROPERTY, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 11/6/20. Office location: Saratoga SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 608 Grooms Rd Clifton Park, NY, 12065. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of 22 SARATOGA LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 11/18/20. Office location: Warren SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 13 Fort Amherst Rd Glens Falls, NY, 12801. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of SWASNAN LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 11/5/20. Office location: Orange SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 90 State St Ste 700, Office 40, Albany, NY, 12207. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of ADNUNCIO LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/22/21. Office location: ONONDAGA SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 4933 S Salina St Syracuse, NY, 13205. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Qual. of ALEX CARRER LLC. Auth. filed with SSNY on 1/20/21. Office location: Kings. LLC formed in NJ on 9/2/16. SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to: 91 Ocean Parkway, 2A Brooklyn, NY, 11218. Arts. of Org. filed with NJ SOS. 33 West State Street Trenton, NJ 08608. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of ATLANTIC RENTAL GROUP LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 11/04/20.Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 2140 West 5th St. Brooklyn, NY, 11223. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of AV-RH CHADWICK LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/21/20. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to C/O Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas LLP Attn: Jeffrey M. Schwartz Esq. 444 Madison Ave, 6th Fl New York, NY, 10022. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of AV-RH ORLEANS LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on12/21/20. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to C/O Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas LLP ATTN: Jeffrey M. Schwartz Esq. 444 Madison Avenue, 6th Fl New York, NY, 10022. Any lawful purpose.

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CityAndStateNY.com / PUBLIC and LEGAL NOTICES

Notice of Formation of AV-RH WARWICK ARMS LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/21/20. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to C/O Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas LLP Attn: Jeffrey M. Schwartz Esq. 444 Madison Avenue, 6th Fl New York, NY, 10022. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of CENTURY TWENTY TWO NY LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/10/20.Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 1583 Bay Ridge Parkway Brooklyn, NY, 11228. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of CJK HOLDINGS, LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/26/21. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to C/O The Pace Companies 41 Box St Brooklyn, NY, 11222. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of DML US LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 11/04/20.Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 140 58th Street Building B Unit 4E Brooklyn, NY, 11220. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of EMJ & H LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 2/2/21. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 68 Ocean Court Brooklyn, NY, 11235. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of MORITZ CAPITAL LLC . Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 2/1/21.Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 2315 Quentin Rd Brooklyn, NY, 11229. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of OR 107 EAST SECOND, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/26/21. Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to C/O: Phillips Nizer Llp 485 Lexington Ave New York, NY, 10017.Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of PRAKMATYA CAPITAL LLCArts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 2/4/21. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 3109 Avenue K Brooklyn, NY, 11210. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of PSC FAMILY LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/2/20.Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to C/O Reshma Shah 1540 Broadway New York, NY, 10036.Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of R&D VACATIONS RENTAL LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/1/15. Office location: Orleans SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 10481 Mill Rd Medina, NY, 14103. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of REST INN, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/28/21. Office location: Oneida SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 1216 Rahway Ave Avenel, NJ, 07001. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of TL&WX GP LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/4/21.Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 140 58th Street Building B Unit 4E Brooklyn, NY, 11220. Any lawful purpose.

LEGALNOTICES@ CITYANDSTATENY.COM

February 15, 2021

Notice of Qual. of UMC PRED LLC. Auth. filed with SSNY on 12/22/20. Office location: New York. LLC formed in DE on 12/17/20. SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to: 150 East 52nd Street 25th Floor New York, NY, 10022. Arts. of Org. filed with DE SOS. Townsend Bldg. Dover, DE 19901. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of WATERS VACATION RENTAL LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/31/20. Office location: Orleans SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 10481 Mill Rd Medina, NY, 14103. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of WX US LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/4/21. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 140 58th Street Building B Unit 4E Brooklyn, NY, 11220. Any lawful purpose.

LEGALNOTICES@ CITYANDSTATENY.COM

Notice of Formation of 7376 NY-28, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 4/28/20.Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to C/O Tuttle Yick LLP 220 East 42nd St 29th Fl New York, NY, 10017.Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of HCM Consultants, LLC filed with SSNY on February 15, 2021 . Office: NY County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 20 Water Grant St, Apt 643 Yonkers NY 10701. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Formation of 12112 NY-23, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 4/30/20.Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to C/O Tuttle Yick Llp 220 East 42nd St 29th Fl New York, NY, 10017. Any lawful purpose.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A LICENSE, SERIAL # 1332999 FOR LIQUOR, WINE, & BEER HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR BY THE UNDERSIGNED TO SELL LIQUOR, WINE, & BEER AT RETAIL UNDER THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW AT 302 E 49TH ST. NEW YORK, NY 10017. NEW YORK COUNTY, FOR ON PREMISE CONSUMPTION.

Notice of Formation of A PLUS T LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/26/21.Office location: Richmond SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 3285B Richmond Ave Ste #324 Staten Island, NY, 10312. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of AC NORTHTOWNE, LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/11/20. Office location: Kings SSNY desg. As agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served SSNY mail process to 42 Box St #200 Brooklyn, NY, 11222. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of 17 STATE STREET PROPCO, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 4/30/20.Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to C/O Tuttle Yick LLP 220 East 42nd St 29th Fl New York, NY, 10017.Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of MAXESS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/01/21. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Esther S. Weingarten, 799 Park Ave., 19C, NY, NY 10021. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 31 MANOR DRIVE, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 4/28/20.Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to C/O Tuttle Yick LLP 220 East 42nd St 29th Fl New York, NY, 10017.Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of SECOND VERNON MEMBER LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 2/5/21.Office location: New York SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to One Bryant Park, 49th Fl New York, NY, 10036.Any lawful purpose.

RAMEN USA INC NOTICE OF FORMATION of CMAP Industries LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on October 13, 2020. Location: New York. SSNY designated as agent for service of process on LLC. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: C/O LEGALINC CORPORATE SERVICES INC. 1967 WEHRLE DRIVE, SUITE 1-086 BUFFALO, NEW YORK, 14221. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A LICENSE, SERIAL # 1331726 FOR LIQUOR, WINE, & BEER HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR BY THE UNDERSIGNED TO SELL LIQUOR, WINE, & BEER AT RETAIL UNDER THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW AT 361 GRAHAM AVE BROOKLYN, NY 11211. KINGS COUNTY, FOR ON PREMISE CONSUMPTION. HUMMUS MARKET LLC.

Application for Authority of ABL Four, LLC filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/26/2021. Formed in DE on 1/7/2021. Office loc.: NY County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The address SSNY shall mail copy of process to 30 Montgomery St., Ste. 215, Jersey City, NJ 07302. The office address required to be maintained in DE is 614 N. DuPont Hwy., Ste. 210, Dover, DE 19901. Cert. of formation filed with Jeffrey W. Bullock, Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A LICENSE, SERIAL # 1333794, FOR WINE & BEER HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR BY THE UNDERSIGNED TO SELL WINE & BEER AT RETAIL UNDER THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW AT 455 HUDSON ST NEW YORK, NY 10014. NEW YORK COUNTY, FOR ON-PREMISE CONSUMPTION. SAN CARLINO LLC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A LICENSE, SERIAL # 1333811, FOR WINE & BEER HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR BY THE UNDERSIGNED TO SELL WINE & BEER AT RETAIL UNDER THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW AT 70 KENMARE ST NEW YORK, NY 10012. NEW YORK COUNTY, FOR ON-PREMISE CONSUMPTION. SAITO LLC. Notice of formation of Rock Ridge Asset Management LLC filed with SSNY on January 29, 2021. Office:NY County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 55 West 14th Street #15G New York, NY 10011. Purpose:any lawful act or activity.

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PUBLIC and LEGAL NOTICES / CityAndStateNY.com

February 15, 2021

FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK CITY OF NEW YORK: COUNTY OF BRONX --------------------------------------------------x In the Matter of Commitment of Guardianship and Custody of

Docket Nos.: B-10854-55/20

LASHAUNDA ALICIA SAMUEL also known as LASHAUNDA SAMUEL

SUMMONS

LENAY JAVONAH MCKNIGHT also known as LENAY MCKNIGHT A Child under the Age of Eighteen Years -----------------------------------------------------x In the Name of the People of the State of New York TO: Shannon Nicole Samuel ADDRESS: unknown A Petition having been duly filed in this Court pursuant to Article 6 of the Family Court Act of the State of New York, asking that the above-named child, who in the care of THE NEW YORK FOUNDLING HOSPITAL be committed to the guardianship and custody of THE NEW YORK FOUNDLING HOSPITAL; a copy of said Petition being annexed hereto; You are hereby summonsed to appear VIRTUALLY in this Court, before the Hon. Fiordaliza Rodriguez, on APRIL 7, 2021 at 11:00A.M. to Show Cause why the Court should not enter an Order committing the guardianship and custody of said child to the petitioning agency as required by law. TO APPEAR VIRTUALLY, PLEASE DIAL (929) 346-7209 and enter the Conference Code 391964284# or utilize the following link: https://notify.nycourts.gov/meet/ag354r on the above-scheduled date and time. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that if the guardianship and custody of said child are committed to the petitioning agency, THE NEW YORK FOUNDLING HOSPITAL, said child may be adopted with consent of the petitioning agency without your consent or further notice to you. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that you have the right to be represented by a lawyer, and, if the Court finds that you are unable to pay for a lawyer, you have the right to have a lawyer assigned by the Court. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that upon failure of the person summoned to appear, all of his or her parental rights to the child may be terminated, and PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that his or her failure to appear shall constitute a denial of his or her interest in the child which denial may result, without further notice, in the transfer or commitment of the child’s care, custody or guardianship or in the child’s adoption in this or any subsequent proceeding in which such care, custody or guardianship or adoption be at issue. Dated: Bronx, New York February 12, 2021

Notice of Formation of STMNTshop, LLC filed with SSNY on February 10, 2021. Office: Richmond County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to LLC: 243 Slater Blvd Staten Island, NY 10305. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

LEGALNOTICES@ CITYANDSTATENY.COM

By Order of the Court /s/ Clerk of the Family Court

Notice of Formation of Katherine Nicole, LLC filed with SSNY on October 16,2020 Office: NY County. United States Corporation Agents Inc., designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. United States Corporation Agents shall mail copy of process to LLC: 3609 Broadway, Apt. 4J, New York, NY 10031. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

LEGALNOTICES@ CITYANDSTATENY.COM

LEGALNOTICES@CITYANDSTATENY.COM

50 CityAndStateNY.com

February 15, 2021

CITY & STATE NEW YORK MANAGEMENT & PUBLISHING Publisher & General Manager Tom Allon tallon@ cityandstateny.com, Vice President of Operations Jasmin Freeman, Comptroller David Pirozzi, Business & Operations Manager Patrea Patterson, Administrative Assistant Lauren Mauro

Who was up and who was down last week

LOSERS

CREATIVE Art Director Andrew Horton, Senior Graphic Designer Alex Law, Graphic Designer Aaron Aniton DIGITAL Digital Director Michael Filippi, Digital Marketing Strategist Caitlin Dorman, Digital Strategist Isabel Beebe

ANDREW CUOMO The Cuomo administration spent months deflecting questions about COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents. His top aide Melissa DeRosa blamed fears the data would be used by federal prosecutors against the state. Democrats and Republicans are sharing bipartisan outrage, with some talking about impeachment. At this rate, could Cuomo find himself on the Losers list a fourth week in a row?

THE BEST OF THE REST

THE REST OF THE WORST

COSTA CONSTANTINIDES

SARAH FEINBERG

The City Council member saw his long-championed Renewable Rikers bill passed, which aims to convert Rikers into a renewable energy hub — that is, once the dang island finally closes.

BILL HAMMOND

It took a six months of public records-seeking, a lawsuit and plenty of public outcry, but New York state’s Health Department has finally released more detailed information on COVID-19-related deaths among nursing home residents, thanks to inquiries from Bill Hammond, a health researcher at the Empire Center for Public Policy think tank.

The New York City Transit president had a truth bomb on her hands after the MTA tweeted that benches were removed from a subway station “to prevent the homeless from sleeping on them.” Maybe the MTA was just trying to keep people from inhaling the highest levels of air pollution on the Eastern Seaboard?

ADVERTISING Vice President of Advertising Jim Katocin jkatocin@ cityandstateny.com, Account/Business Development Executive Scott Augustine saugustine@cityandstateny.com, Vice President, Advertising and Client Relations Danielle Koza dkoza@cityandstateny.com, Sales Associate Cydney McQuillan-Grace cydney@cityandstateny.com, Legal Advertising Executive Shakirah Gittens legalnotices@ cityandstateny.com, Sales Assistant Zimam Alemenew EVENTS events@cityandstateny.com Sales Director Lissa Blake, Events Manager Alexis Arsenault, Event Coordinator Amanda Cortez

Vol. 10 Issue 6 February 15, 2021 a Marijuan ion legalizat le. itab is inev isn’t. Equity

THE

CONSTRUCTION POWER CIT YANDSTATENY.COM

@CIT YANDSTATENY

February 15, 2021

Cover lettering Jill DeHaan

VICTOR RIVERA

The chief executive of Bronx Parent Housing Network, one of New York City’s biggest network of homeless shelters, stepped down after a bombshell report alleging that he sexually assaulted shelter residents, as well as members of his staff.

WINNERS & LOSERS is published every Friday morning in City & State’s First Read email. Sign up for the email, cast your vote and see who won at cityandstateny.com.

CITY & STATE NEW YORK (ISSN 2474-4107) is published weekly, 48 times a year except for the four weeks containing New Year’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas by City & State NY, LLC, 61 Broadway, Suite 1315, New York, NY 10006-2763. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to City & State New York, 61 Broadway, Suite 1315, New York, NY 10006-2763. General: (212) 268-0442, subscribe@cityandstateny.com Copyright ©2021, City & State NY, LLC

U.S. HOUSE; LEV RADIN/SHUTTERSTOCK

CLAUDIA TENNEY At long last, the final open House seat in the country has been called, and Republican Claudia Tenney will represent New York’s 22nd Congressional District. Only several dozen votes separated Tenney from incumbent Rep. Anthony Brindisi, but that’s all it took for the Central New York seat to switch hands for a third time in as many election cycles. Let’s see if Tenney can hang on to her seat for more than a single term this time.

OUR PICK

WINNERS

It was a good week for New York sports (and by extension, James Dolan) with Gov. Cuomo announcing that stadiums can reopen with limited attendance starting Feb. 23. The exception that proves the rule? Citi Field has been turned into a city-run mass vaccination site for Queens residents, but only has about 200 vaccines a day. If Mr. Met wanted more, maybe he should’ve cozied up to Cuomo instead? But speaking of who’s up and who’s down, here are the rest of the week’s winners and losers.

EDITORIAL editor@cityandstateny.com Interim Editor-in-Chief Ralph Ortega rortega@ cityandstateny.com, Senior Editor Ben Adler badler@ cityandstateny.com, Managing Editor Ryan Somers, Managing Editor Eric Holmberg, Deputy Managing Editor Holly Pretsky, Special Projects Editor Alice Popovici, Senior Reporter Jeff Coltin jcoltin@ cityandstateny.com, Staff Reporter Zach Williams zwilliams@cityandstateny.com, Staff Reporter Rebecca C. Lewis rlewis@cityandstateny.com, Staff Reporter Amanda Luz Henning Santiago, Tech & Policy Reporter Annie McDonough amcdonough@cityandstateny.com, Staff Reporter Kay Dervishi

Beekman 1802 Headquarters | Schenectady, NY

Mohawk Harbor | Schenectady, NY

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center | Buffalo, NY

Owego Apalachin CSD | Owego, NY

Rochester Institute of Technology - Global Cybersecurity Institute | Rochester, NY

Syracuse University - National Veterans Resource Center | Syracuse, NY

Great leaders know there’s only one way: the right way Do the right thing and you get the right results for everyone. At LeChase, it’s a guiding principle that starts at the top. Every day in our offices and on our job sites you’ll find committed professionals, including our CEO and Managing Partner Bill Goodrich, who challenge themselves and the status quo to build enduring partnerships. The right thing isn’t just something we say – it’s everything we do. Congratulations to Bill, and a round of applause for the entire Construction Power 50!

www.lechase.com

Photo credit: Kim Smith Photography, Michael Gallitelli, Guy Cali Associates, Robert Benson, Don Cochran, James Ewing

Rochester Regional Health - Sands-Constellation Center for Critical Care | Rochester, NY

We have your back, New York. 2020 was full of unprecedented challenges for New Yorkers. Through it all, the real estate industry showed up as we always do – as the key civic partner for our State and our City by: • Supporting Front-Line Workers by connecting them with housing and PPE.

• Donating to Prevent Food Insecurity to The Bowery Mission and Citymeals on Wheels.

• Instituting a Voluntary Eviction Moratorium to ensure New Yorkers could shelter in place safely.

• Launching Project Parachute to help keep our most vulnerable in their homes.

The Real Estate Board of New York is proud of our industry’s generous tradition of philanthropy and volunteerism. As we move forward in 2021, we will continue to focus on serving our great City and working together to meet our challenges and help ensure a brighter future.

Real Estate Board of New York | rebny.com

Project Parachute assists those who are not otherwise eligible for government assistance. To date, more than 80% of those served are from undocumented households. Our industry has raised nearly $12 million to support this eﬀort. A pledge from you can provide fellow New Yorkers with safe shelter, rent relief and community-based rental assistance counseling and supportive services. Support us and learn more about Project Parachute today.

Visit Project Parachute or scan the QR Code: