CAR ALARM
Photo Courtesy of Park AC JFK
City Launches Lawsuit against Way.com for Supporting Illegal Parking Companies
By Michael V. Cusenza
Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga Tuesday announced a lawsuit against Way.com, one of the most well-known parking apps, for pointing consumers to unlicensed and dangerous parking garages and lots with the tools and platform to operate illegally and prey on New Yorkers. Way.com’s digital marketplace has aided at least 46 unlicensed parking companies in violating City laws, leading to consumer harm and disturbing local communities, particularly in the high-demand area surrounding John F. Kennedy International Airport.
DCWP is seeking a court order to prevent Way.com from continuing to aid these companies’ unlawful operations in the five boroughs. Way.com, which bills itself as “the #1 car super app,” also faces civil penalties for each day that they continue to aid unlicensed parking companies’ illegal operations.
Tuesday’s lawsuit argues that Way. com has assisted dozens of illegal and unlicensed parking garages and lots in violating the law. In addition to attracting consumers by promoting these lots on the app, Way.com gives these companies the appearance of legitimacy and professionalism because consumers have no indica-
tion that these businesses are unlicensed. Many of the unlicensed companies lack a physical brick-and-mortar location, like an office, and would not be visible or even identifiable to the public if Way.com did not list them on their app. Some of the unlicensed companies operate a temporary “valet” sign and park customers’ cars on residential streets without the owners’ permission, disturbing the surrounding community by reducing the parking available for local residents. Way.com also helps these illegal parking companies operate by providing them a digital marketplace, allowing consumers to complete their entire parking transaction online
and keeping a portion of the payment as commission.
The suit claims that Way.com’s support of these illegal businesses has directly led to consumer harm. Not only do illegal parking garages and lots pose physical danger to consumers and their property,
but consumers have submitted complaints alleging that they were charged more than initially advertised. Others have complained that an unlicensed company has damaged the vehicle they left in the company’s care or that items left in the car went missing, and in some cases, consumers have even been left stranded without access to their vehicles.
Finally, the regular lack of a physical location for many of the garages and parking lots undercuts DCWP’s ability to inspect and take enforcement action against them. In addition to the actual lots being difficult to identify on the street — making them challenging to send inspectors out to — in cases where DCWP is actually able to inspect and issue summonses, inspectors have been met with threats of physical violence. In most of these cases, the businesses ignore DCWP’s attempts to enforce the law, refusing to appear at hearings or pay fines, and simply continue operating under alternate names by creating new accounts for consumers to book on Way.com.
DCWP began receiving an increasing number of consumer complaints about unlicensed parking companies in April 2023 and quickly launched an investigation. The investigation revealed that many of the unlicensed parking companies rely on Way.com’s services to operate their illegal businesses. In June 2023, DCWP sent a cease-and-desist letter to Way.com, informing them that they were aiding illegal activity and sharing a list of unlicensed parking companies listed on the app. Unfortunately, Way.com has continually refused to come into compliance and de-list the unlicensed companies offering parking through their app.
Homeless Man Indicted for Random Stabbings in Ozone Park
By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Friday that Feruz Radjabov has been indicted for his role in the random stabbing of a driver pumping gas in Ozone Park and a man standing on the platform at a nearby subway station.
Radjabov, 40, who is undomiciled and whose last known address was in Midwood, Brooklyn, was arraigned Friday while bedside at a local hospital on an indictment charging him with two counts of attempted murder in the second degree, attempted as-
sault in the first degree, two counts of assault in the first degree, two counts of assault in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and assault on a peace or police officer, a fireman or an EMS professional.
According to the charges:
On Aug. 7, at approximately 5:05 p.m., Radjabov walked up to a 25-year-old man, who was pumping gas at a gas station at 10003 North Conduit Ave. in Ozone Park, and stabbed him in the left shoulder. He then fled.
A few minutes later, Radjabov was seen on the northbound platform of the nearby
Aqueduct-North Conduit Avenue A train station. He approached a 67-year-old grandfather and stabbed him once in the neck.
Radjabov was then seen entering the subway tracks. He was apprehended from the Rockaway-bound tracks. A knife was recovered from his pocket.
Both victims were taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center where the 67-year-old underwent surgery to repair his trachea and jugular vein. He remains hospitalized. The 25-year-old was treated and discharged.
The defendant was taken to the 106th Precinct and while there struck an officer in
the face with his head, causing a laceration to the officer’s lip and a chipped tooth.
“Two New Yorkers – a subway commuter and a motorist – were stabbed in completely unprovoked acts of violence allegedly by this defendant. The lives of these two men are forever changed after this senseless attack and my office will aggressively prosecute this case to ensure that justice in achieved,” Katz said. “I thank the NYPD for quickly apprehending this defendant before anyone else was hurt.”
If convicted of the top charges, Radjabov faces up to 65 years in prison.
Photo Courtesy of Park AC JFK
The suit claims that Way.com’s support of these illegal businesses has directly led to consumer harm.
Photo Courtesy of Google Radjabov walked up to a 25-year-old man, who was pumping gas at this Ozone Park station, and allegedly stabbed him in the left shoulder.
Photo Courtesy of Google
Radjabov then approached a 67-year-old grandfather on the northbound platform of the nearby Aqueduct-North Conduit Avenue A train station and allegedly stabbed him once in the neck.
NY Pols Secure $190M to Address Flooding
By Forum Staff
Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Queens and Bronx), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the House of Representatives’ passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), which includes their provision that authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers – in working with the City – to spend nearly $190 million to help combat flooding in Queens.
Originally introduced by Meng, OcasioCortez, and Schumer, the provision adds nearly $70.8 million in additional funding, an increase from the $120 million authorized to Queens in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, which was signed into law last year by President Joe Biden. The funding supports projects that would directly address water and wastewater infrastructure and improve stormwater management such as combined sewer overflows.
“From major storms to the impact of climate change, flooding has become a persistent problem in Queens,” Meng said. “Weather events, like Hurricane Ida, have cost our community billions in damage, families have lost their homes, local businesses have been devastated, and lives have been lost, because our existing water infrastructure could not handle the intense rain and rapid flooding. Left unaddressed, this problem will only continue to ravage our community. This provision, which I secured in the Water Resources Development Act, would help ensure that Queens is more resilient and better prepared to handle the growing impacts of flooding.”
Over the next century sea levels are projected to rise an alarming six or more feet along U.S. coastlines, including Queens. By 2050, up to $72 billion in property values
will be at risk for coastal flooding. WRDA helps communities, like Queens invest in flood control projects in the face of more severe and frequent weather events by completing national coastal mapping to support navigation, flood risk management, environmental restoration, and emergency operations missions.
The bill provides the authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out water resources development projects and studies that provide improvements to rivers and harbors throughout the United States and provide conservation development of water-related resources. Passed every two years with bipartisan support, this measure responds to local water resource needs and helps communities respond to the emerging threats of climate change.
Allowing the Army Corps of Engineers to spend the money is the first step in the process. If enacted, Congress would still need to allocate funding to the Corps in order to carry out infrastructure projects in Queens.
“Our response to the climate crisis must match the urgency of the moment,” OcasioCortez added. “The stakes are clear: 13 people in Queens tragically lost their lives due to flooding from Hurricane Ida in 2021. This is why, in 2022, I worked with Rep. Meng and Senator Schumer to acquire nearly $120M for Queens flooding infrastructure improvements. Two years later, I’m proud to say that we've now nearly doubled that funding with $190M in funding for 2024 and 2025. When I contributed to the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, I did so with the safety and well-being of my constituents in mind. We need to act now to protect our communities and ensure they are resilient against future climate challenges.”
The legislation will now head to the Senate for approval.
Taking control of your situation starts with a no cost, no obligation call to the experienced professionals at Faulisi Law.
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File Photo
Allowing the Army Corps of Engineers to spend the money is the first step in the process. If enacted, Congress would still need to allocate funding to the Corps in order to carry out infrastructure projects in Queens.
Sidewalk Sheds, Scaffolding Cost Manhattan Businesses up to $9,500 Each Month: City Study
By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams recently released a new study — commissioned by the City and conducted in cooperation with Mastercard — exploring how sidewalk sheds and scaffolding negatively impact Manhattan businesses. Evaluating aggregated and anonymized spending averages from Mastercard, the study shows that cardholders spend between $3,900 and $9,500 less each month at businesses located in buildings with sidewalk sheds. Restaurants and bars are most impacted, reporting a 3.5 percent to 9.7 percent decrease in weekly transactions in the six months following shed construction.
Last year, the Adams administration released its “Get Sheds Down” plan, a wideranging series of nine initiatives aimed at compelling building owners to make needed repairs quickly so unsightly sidewalk sheds and scaffolding do not languish in place for years, reducing the number of unnecessary long-standing sidewalk sheds in the Big Apple and improving the design of necessary sheds and scaffolding so they’re no longer a blight to the community.
The Adams administration is partnering with the City Council on proposals that would allow for a wider variety of colors for sidewalk sheds and scaffolding, increase lighting requirements for sheds,
reduce the duration of sidewalk shed permits, and introduce new penalties if building repairs are not performed in a timely manner.
“For small businesses, many immigrantowned, [such] revenue loss could be the difference between staying open or closing for good. This lays clear the imperative to implement our ‘Get Sheds Down’ plan to reimagine shed design and speed up repairs without compromising safety,” Assembly-
woman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven said. “Making sheds aesthetically pleasing and short-lived will unlock the beauty of our blocks while removing spots for bad apples to congregate. That translates to increased foot traffic, uplifting street-level businesses and generating millions in economic activity.”
Earlier this summer, DOB launched a comprehensive review of the city’s Façade Inspection and Safety Program, colloqui-
ally known as “Local Law 11” inspections, in partnership with international engineering consulting firm Thornton Tomasetti. Local Law 11 requires building owners to hire private inspectors to perform façade maintenance inspections, with a rigid onesize-fits-all set of regulations for all buildings over six stories tall. While the current regulations compel owners to inspect and mitigate any found buildings hazard with sheds or other protection, it doesn't do enough to encourage repairs — resulting in sheds standing in place for years with no progress on the repairs. Recommendations from the administration will consider regulatory changes that could reduce sidewalk sheds and scaffolding that are not protecting the public.
This study of Local Law 11 is a part of the administration’s “Get Sheds Down” plan. As part of the multifaceted plan, the city is working with design firms to reimagine pedestrian safety infrastructure expected to be delivered in 2025, released technical guidance to help the industry understand when they can use safety netting in place of sidewalk sheds, launched a permanent program allowing art on sidewalk sheds, stepped up criminal court cases against the worst offenders who refuse to make needed building repairs, and increased DOB oversight over expired sidewalk shed permits.
Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
Mayor Adams lets out his frustration on one of Gotham’s ubiquitous sidewalk sheds.
Borough PAL Kids Earn Cultural Honors
By Forum Staff
Earlier this month, over 250 Police Athletic League children from PAL’s Edward Byrne Center and Goldie Maple Academy in Queens, and participants from centers and sites across the five boroughs, gathered to celebrate PAL’s annual Cultural Day event, held at PAL’s Harlem Center.
The theme of 2024 Cultural Day, “Reimagine the Magic,” gave PAL kids in 3rd and 4th grade the opportunity to reimagine and recreate their favorite movies. Youngsters put their own “modern-day” perspective on their selected movies to reflect the voices of their own communities.
Performances ran the gamut: from a colorful display of the Polynesian Islands of “Moana,” to the music and dance of Colombia in “Encanto,” to a creative representation of a Big Apple candy store straight off the streets of 1960s “West Side Story.
Cultural Day highlights included a banner and chant parade with young people carrying homemade banners from their PAL centers and performing lively chants, interactive booth displays where the PAL youngsters shared the knowledge of the movie they studied, in addition to performances with young people in costumes.
Through PAL’s 2024 curriculum theme, “Reimagine the Magic,” PAL participants dedicated time to learning about the stories and cultural backgrounds depicted in their selected movies. PAL’s Cultural Day included the movies: Black Panther; Hercules; Camp Rock; High School Musical; West Side Story; Big Hero 6; Alice in Wonderland; Lilo & Stitch; Coco; Moana; The Emper -
or’s New Groove; Encanto; Inside Out, and The Princess & the Frog.
“Cultural day is a day to celebrate not just what they have learned and created this summer, but also an opportunity to center the joy and enthusiasm they all have as PAL participants!” said Meredith Gray, Police Athletic League’s director of Program Development and Partnership.
“We studied the movie, Black Panther, and I learned how to be a good leader and that accessories have so much power. For example – masks protect you from negativity, bracelets can be used to communicate with each other and headbands soothe you and can make you breathe better if you are worried,” said Tyler, 10, of PAL’s Edward Bryne Center. “I learned about working as a group to protect what we love. The hardest part was learning the chants, but we did it!”
Chelsea, 11, of PAL’s Goldie Maple Academy in Arverne, “The movie Camp Rock was fun to watch and to learn about the character who had to work in the camp kitchen in order to attend the music camp. We’re going to perform an original song about being ourselves.”
Awards for PAL’s Cultural Day included: Best Banner & Chant – PAL’s Duncan Center in Manhattan; Best Interactive Booth – PAL’s Edward Byrne Center in Queens; Best Performance – PAL’s Edward Byrne Center in Queens. Overall Cultural Day Awards were given to: PAL’s Edward Byrne Center in Queens – 1st Place; PAL’s Webster Center in the Bronx and Duncan Center in Manhattan – tied for 2nd Place; and PAL’s Goldie Maple Academy in Queens – 3rd Place.
The PAL is a nonprofit organization that provides recreational, educational, cultural and social activities to 15,000 children and teens annually.
A few weeks ago, we talked about how to use sunscreen to protect your skin. This week we offer some other hints to saving your skin in summer. 1. SELF TANNERWHY NOT? Instead of lying for hours in the sun, get that sun kissed glow with a self-tanner. You can purchase an inexpensive self-tanning lotion at your local pharmacy. Just remember to exfoliate before you apply self-tanner to remove any dry skin that could lead to an uneven appearance. 2. MOISTURIZE AND NOURISH WITH OILS Elbows, feet, and ankles can get very dry, so try avocado oil to keep them healthy and smooth. 3. GIVE ’EM LIP SERVICE Use a lip sunscreen with SPF agent even if you’re putting lipstick on, too. 4. REMEMBER HAIR CARE
The beating sun will hit your hair hard, but there are a number of sprays containing SPF that you can put on after you wash your hair. 5. EXFOLIATE HEAD TO TOE If you’re on a budget, you can do just as good a job using an exfoliation mitt or
Presented by Frank Pantina,
glove and your regular body wash. Gentle exfoliation is essential if you’ve had any area waxed, particularly in the bikini area, as it can help prevent ingrown hairs. 6. BE KIND TO YOUR FACE Chemical peels, creams, scrubs, and other products containing glycolic acids and retinoids should not be used if you spend a lot of time in the sun. Try Mineral Makeup available in your local pharmacy. 7. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT Your skin needs lots of vitamins and minerals to stay healthy--summer fruits and vegetables have many beneficial components. Foods rich in antioxidants and protein, such as fresh produce, fish, and eggs, can stimulate collagen growth, which keeps the skin elastic and helps prevent wrinkles. 8. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER The sun can dry your skin and make you sweat more, so keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Just be careful you don't drink too much.
Until Next Week…
Water Main Break Rattles Coleman Square
Following a water main break over the weekend, an intense geyser blasted through the asphalt outside the Coleman Square train station in Old Howard Beach. The City Fire Department
Department of Environmental Protection rushed to the scene, eventually shutting
and 160th avenues.
Photo Courtesy of Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic
Photo Courtesy of Love Haight Photography
PAL Edward Byrne Center dancers perform at 2024 Cultural Day.
Assemblywoman, DA Set to Host Homeowner Deed Protection Webinar
By Forum Staff
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) and Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz will host a Homeowner Deed Protection Webinar this Monday, Aug. 26 at 6 p.m.
According to the two elected officials, the webinar will outline and teach homeowners about how to protect their property from deed theft, along with updates on the impactful changes in the State law that strip squatters of any housing protections.
Deed theft occurs when someone takes the title of someone’s home without the homeowner’s knowledge or approval. This can occur through forgery, or through fraud as a homeowner unwittingly signs the deed over to a scammer. According to the City Sheriff ’s Office, there have been at least 3,500 deed theft complaints filed across the
five boroughs in the past 10 years.
Recently, Pheffer Amato said she worked with the City Police Department to remove a squatter in Howard Beach after residents became suspicious of a woman living in a vacant home. The woman was arrested and criminal charges were filed by Katz. In the 2024 State Budget, Pheffer Amato helped to change the State law to strip squatters of any perceived protections and clarify that squatters do not have any tenant rights. The change was designed to make it easier for law enforcement to remove squatters and for DAs to charge them with crimes.
“You don’t get to break into a house and think there are no consequences,” the assemblywoman said.
Pheffer Amato also noted that she voted to officially create the crime of deed theft and implement new tools that can prevent, and also stop, the process through district attorneys and the State attorney general.
The hour-long Zoom will include a brief presentation regarding the changed laws and steps you can take to prevent deed theft and squatters, along with the opportunity for questions with members of the DA’s team.
To register for the webinar, visit queensda.org/upcoming-events/.
Adams Demands NYC Agencies Review City Owned Land for Potential Housing Development Sites
By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced the issuance of executive order 43 requiring City agencies to review their City owned and controlled land for potential housing development sites.
As the Big Apple faces a generational affordable housing crisis with just a 1.4 percent rental vacancy rate, Adams said he is proposing to use every possible tool available to deliver affordable housing.
Without significant public investments in new construction and housing preservation, the City’s wealth gap and racial disparities will grow while middle- and low- income New Yorkers will increasingly struggle financially,” City Department of Housing Preservation and Development officials wrote in February.
Wednesday’s executive order will help support the Adams administration’s “moonshot” goal of building 500,000 new homes by 2032, Hizzoner noted.
“If there’s any land within the City’s control that has even the remotest potential to develop affordable housing, our administration will take action,” Adams said. “To solve a generational affordable housing crisis, we must bring new innovative ideas to the table
and activate all city agencies, whether they are directly involved in creating housing or not, to help deliver for New Yorkers. Today’s executive order is one of the many ways we will continue to exhaust every option to meet this crisis head on and fulfill our pledge of building 500,000 new housing units by 2032.”
Effective immediately, the executive order establishes the City Housing Activation Task Force, with representatives from mayoral agencies and other public entities. The task force will re-
view land under the ownership and control of the city to identify potential sites for housing development, and develop guidelines to ensure agency policies promote housing production. All locations that can be used to further housing production or on adjacent or nearby sites without disruption to critical municipal operations will be considered.
This year, Mayor Adams and members of the administration successfully advocated for new tools in the 2024 New York state budget that will spur
the creation of urgently needed housing. These include a new tax incentive for multifamily rental construction, a tax incentive program to encourage office conversions to create more affordable units, lifting the arbitrary “floor-to-area ratio” cap that held back affordable housing production in certain high-demand areas of the city, and the ability to create a pilot program to legalize and make safe basement apartments.
“Mayor Adams’ executive order is a bold, transformative decision that will streamline our ongoing efforts to build more affordable housing in every neighborhood,” HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrion, Jr. said. “HPD stands ready to work collaboratively with all government agencies to unlock the housing opportunities and leverage the valuable resources of city-owned land as we work to solve the housing crisis.”
“’City of Yes for Housing Opportunity’ is all about ensuring that every neighborhood helps solve our housing crisis, and we are ready to roll up our sleeves and work with our sister agencies to build new income-restricted, affordable housing on city-owned land,” added City Planning Director Dan Garodnick. “Initiatives like this demonstrate our commitment to turning the tide on our housing shortage and building the homes that New Yorkers need.”
Photo Courtesy of Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato Squatters do not have any tenant rights, Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato noted.
Photo Courtesy of DA Katz Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz
Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
Mayor Adams and City Planning Director Dan Garodnick
State Senator, Nonprofit Set to Host Pet Food Drive
lar business hours from Sept. 3 to Sept. 30.
Upon completion of the drive, the collected items will be given to Puppy Kitt y NYC to be distributed throughout the five boroughs to help animals in need and further the organization’s mission to save homeless, sick, and dying animals.
to provide food, care, and medicine to the helpless creatures, Addabbo ruefully recalled.
By Forum Staff
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) and Middle Village’s Puppy Kitt y NYC, a non-profit animal rescue group, will host a pet food drive next month, collecting new cans and bags of cat food and dog food.
The edible items can be dropped off at each of Addabbo’s district office locations –84-16 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven or 66-85 73rd Place in Middle Village – during regu-
Back in January, Puppy Kitty NYC rescued 34 cats from inside and outside of a building in Woodhaven after discovering that a cleaning crew allegedly hired by the landlord threw several cats out of a second-floor apartment window. The group found many of the cats were frightened, sick, or dying and they did all they could
“I hope this food drive will help Puppy Kitt y NYC continue to do their good work throughout the community, saving the lives of animals who have no one to care for them,” the senator said. “Pet ownership is a big responsibility that should not be taken lightly, and potential pet owners should be prepared for this long-term, emotional and financial commitment before moving forward, because in the end, when pet owners walk away, it’s the animals—through no fault of their own—who suffer.”
Photo Courtesy of Google
Puppy Kitt y NYC is located on 76th Street in Middle Village.
File Photo
Donations can be dropped off at each of Addabbo’s district office locations – including the one on Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven.
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Man Charged in Swatting and Bomb Threats Scheme that Targeted Jewish Hospitals in NYC, LI
By Forum Staff
On Tuesday, an indictment was unsealed in federal court charging Domagoj Patkovic with conspiring to make and making threats concerning explosives, conspiring to transmit and transmitting threatening communications, and conveying false information concerning explosives, prosecutors announced on Tuesday.
Patkovic, 31, was arrested Tuesday morning at his residence in Portland, Ore. and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Youlee Yim Yu in U.S. District Court of Oregon later that day.
As set forth in the indictment and in court filings, beginning at least as early as May 2021, the defendant and others made anonymous phone calls in which they made violent threats, including threats to detonate explosive devices, to Jewish hospitals and care centers within the Eastern District of New York—including Queens facilities—among other targets throughout the United States.
The eight-page indictment details many overt acts allegedly perpetrated by Patkovic, including:
• On or about May 18, 2021, Patkovic made violent threats on a call to Victim-1, a Jewish hospital located in
of the U.S. Attorney’s
Notably, a Sept. 15, 2021 call with the NYPD call center was livestreamed by the alleged perpetrator on Discord and the livestream was recorded. At the conclusion of the call, the defendant revealed himself on video as the perpetrator of the call, as depicted in the screenshot.
Queens. During the call, Patkovic stated that he planted bombs around the hospital and wanted to “kill all k***s.”
• On or about May 18, 2021, Patkovic made violent threats on a call to Victim-2, a Jewish care center network with locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. During the call, Patkovic stated that “bombs are all over your facility and all those k***s are gonna go skyrocket up into the sky for Allah.”
• On or about May 24, 2021, Patkovic made violent threats on a call to Victim-1. During the call, Patkovic stated
that he planted bombs around the hospital and further stated, “I’m gonna kill you k***s.”
• On or about Sept. 15, 2021, Patkovic made violent threats on a call to Victim-3, a Jewish hospital located in Queens. During the call, Patkovic stated that he placed backpacks containing C-4 explosives around the hospital building.
• On or about Sept. 15, 2021, Patkovic made violent threats on a call to Victim-4, a Jewish hospital located in Nassau County. During the call, Patkovic identified himself as “Abrahimavich” and
stated that he had placed “C-4 in maintenance closets” at the hospital. Patkovic further stated, “I’m gonna blow you to bits you f^^^ing b***h.”
The defendant himself made threats in at least six separate calls to hospitals and on a call with local law enforcement who had responded to a 911 notification from one of the hospitals. The defendant livestreamed the calls to others on a social media and electronic communications service. On several occasions, local police responded to the scene and conducted bomb sweeps. On at least one occasion in September 2021, the hoax bomb threat resulted in a partial evacuation and lockdown of an entire hospital on Long Island. No explosive devices were ultimately found in any of the locations.
“As alleged, the defendant and his coconspirators, motivated by their hatred of Jewish people, targeted Jewish hospitals and care centers in New York City and on Long Island with hoax bomb threats, needlessly endangering patients and staff by creating chaos and alarm,” said Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. “Our highest priority is ensuring all members of our community are protected and we will use all resources possible to prosecute dangerous bomb threats and swatting schemes to the fullest extent of the law.”
Enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit Yields $345M for Residents: Mayor
By Michael V. Cusenza
A limber Mayor Eric Adams gifted himself an extended pat on the back on Monday as he highlighted the success of the enhanced “NYC Earned Income Tax Credit,” which was expanded for the first time in nearly 20 years in 2022 after Adams helped convince Albany to bolster the social safety net and expand services for the City.
In tax season 2023, the EITC put $345 million back into the pockets of New Yorkers living in some of the lowest income communities in Gotham—an additional $280 million from the previous tax season, Adams noted.
The average amount of money received by a fi ler who qualifies for the NYC EITC increased from $107 in tax season 2022 to $462 in tax season 2023 — an increase of $355 or 332 percent. The overall amount of money received due to the enhanced NYC EITC increased by 432 percent — from $64.8 million in tax season 2022 to $345 million in tax season 2023. Tax seasons 2022 and 2023 covered tax years 2021 and 2022, respectively.
On Monday, Adams marked these achievements by joining Urban Upbound
at the grand opening of its second federal credit union branch located in Astoria. The credit union offers affordable financial services, including access to capital, asset-building vehicles, and ownership stakes to its members. These services complement Urban Upbound’s existing Financial Empowerment Center and
NYC Free Tax Prep services, overseen by the City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, including through free financial counseling to help New Yorkers improve their financial health with one-on-one support on banking, credit, debt, and savings topics, as well as free tax preparation services to help New
Yorkers — including self-employed filers and small business owners — claim valuable tax credits and avoid costly tax prep fees.
Hizzoner trekked up to the State capitol in March 2023 to advocate for the enhanced EITC. He seemingly inspired Empire State lawmakers because the Fiscal Year 2023 Adopted State Budget increased the State and City match to the federal EITC for the first time in nearly 20 years. After the city committed $250 million annually to the NYC EITC, it received a one-time state payment of $100 million. The NYC EITC increased from a 5 percent match of the federal EITC levels to 10 to 30 percent depending on the fi lers’ income. Under the city’s expansion of this tax credit in tax season 2023, a single parent with one child and an annual income of $14,750 or less saw their benefit rise from $187 to $933 — a 400 percent increase. A married couple with two children and an annual income of $25,000 saw their New York City benefit grow from $308 to $925 under the city payment — a 200 percent increase. In its first year, the expansion of the NYC EITC helped put an additional $280 million back into the pockets of more than 746,000 New Yorkers.
Courtesy
Office for the Eastern District of New York
Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
“In New York City, working people should get a fair shot and their fair share,” Mayor Adams said.
George Santos Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft
By Michael V. Cusenza
For years now, disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos performed his best Fred Astaire impression while dancing around the blatantly obvious truth: he’s a fraud.
He will soon be afforded the opportunity to dance his way into a federal prison cell, because on Monday, in federal court in Central Islip, Santos, 36, pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Santos was initially charged in May 2023, and a superseding indictment charging Santos with additional crimes was returned in October 2023.
The counts to which Santos pleaded guilty relate to the following criminal scheme, as set forth in the superseding indictment:
The Party Program Scheme
During the 2022 election cycle, Santos was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s 3rd Congressional District. Nancy Marks, who pleaded guilty on Oct. 5, 2023 to related conduct, was the treasurer for his principal congressional campaign committee, Devolder-Santos for Congress. During this election cycle, Santos and Marks devised and executed a fraudulent scheme to obtain money for the campaign by submitting materially false reports to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on behalf of the campaign, in which they inflated the campaign’s fundraising numbers for the purpose of misleading the FEC, a national party committee, and the public.
Specifically, the purpose of the scheme was to ensure that Santos and his campaign qualified for a program administered by the national party committee, pursuant to which the national party committee would provide financial and logistical support to Santos’s campaign. To qualify for the program, Santos had to demonstrate, among other things, that his congressional campaign had raised at least $250,000 from third-party contributors in a single quarter.
To create the public appearance that his campaign had met that financial benchmark and was otherwise financially viable, Santos and Marks agreed to falsely report to the FEC that at least 11 of their family members had made significant financial contributions to the campaign. In fact, Santos and Marks both knew that these individuals had neither made the reported contributions nor given authorization for their personal information to be included in such false public reports. In addition, Santos and Marks knew that the national party committee relied on FEC fundraising data to evaluate candidates’ qualification for the program, and agreed to falsely report to the FEC that Santos had loaned the campaign significant sums of money, when, in fact, Santos had not made the reported loans and, at the time the loans were reported, did not have the funds necessary to make such loans. These falsely reported loans included a $500,000 loan, when in fact Santos had less than $8,000 in his personal and business bank accounts.
Through the execution of this scheme, Santos and Marks ensured that Santos met the necessary financial benchmarks to qualify for the program administered by the national party committee. As a result of qualifying for the program, the congressional campaign received significant financial support.
As part of his plea agreement, Santos stipulated that he had engaged in the following additional criminal conduct, as set forth in the superseding indictment and other court filings, and agreed that this criminal conduct will be considered by the Court at the time of sentencing:
The Credit Card Fraud Scheme
Between approximately July 2020 and October 2022, Santos devised and executed a fraudulent scheme to steal the personal identity and financial information of contributors to his campaign. He then charged contributors’ credit cards repeatedly, without their authorization. Because of these unauthorized transactions, funds were transferred to Santos’s campaign, to the campaigns of other candidates for elected office, and to his own bank account. To conceal the true source of these funds and to circumvent campaign contribution limits,
Santos falsely represented that some of the campaign contributions were made by other persons, such as his relatives or associates, rather than the true cardholders, in filings with the FEC. Santos did not have authorization to use their names in this way.
Fraudulent Political Contribution Solicitation Scheme
Beginning in September 2022, during his successful campaign for Congress, Santos operated a limited liability company (Company #1) through which he defrauded prospective political supporters. Santos enlisted a Queens-based political consultant (Person #1) to communicate with prospective donors on Santos’s behalf. Santos directed Person #1 to falsely tell donors that, among other things, their money would be used to help elect Santos to the House, including by purchasing television advertisements. In reliance on these false statements, two donors (Contributor #1 and Contributor #2) each transferred $25,000 to Company #1’s bank account, which Santos controlled.
Shortly after the funds were received into Company #1’s bank account, the money was transferred into Santos’s personal bank accounts—in one in -
stance laundered through two of Santos’s personal accounts. Santos then used much of that money for personal expenses. Among other things, Santos used the funds to make personal purchases, including of designer clothing, to withdraw cash, to discharge personal debts, and to transfer money to his associates.
Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme
Beginning in approximately February 2020, Santos was employed as a Regional Director of a Florida-based investment firm (Investment Firm #1). By late March 2020, in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States, new legislation was signed into law that provided additional federal funding to assist out-of-work Americans during the pandemic.
In mid-June 2020, although he was employed and not eligible for unemployment benefits, Santos applied for government assistance through the New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL), claiming falsely to have been unemployed since March 2020. From that point until April 2021—during which time Santos was working and receiving a salary on a near-continuous basis, and throughout his first unsuccessful run for Congress—he falsely affirmed each week that he was eligible for unemployment benefits when he was not. As a result, Santos fraudulently received more than $24,000 in unemployment insurance benefits.
False Statements to the House of Representatives Santos, like all candidates for the House, had a legal duty to file with the Clerk of the House of Representatives a Financial Disclosure Statement (House Disclosures) before each election. In his House Disclosures, Santos was personally required to give a full and complete accounting of his assets, income, and liabilities, among other things. He certified that his House Disclosures were true, complete, and correct.
In September 2022, in connection with his second campaign for election to the House, Santos filed a House Disclosure in which he vastly overstated his income and assets. In this House Disclosure, he falsely certified that during the reporting period:
• H e had earned $750,000 in salary from the Devolder Organization LLC, a Florida based entity of which Santos was the sole beneficial owner;
• H e had received between $1,000,001 and $5,000,000 in dividends from the Devolder Organization LLC;
• H e had a checking account with deposits of between $100,001 and $250,000; and
• H e had a savings account with deposits of between $1,000,001 and $5,000,000.
These assertions were false: Santos had not received from the Devolder Organization LLC the reported amounts of salary or dividends and did not maintain checking or savings accounts with deposits in the reported amounts. Further, Santos failed to disclose that, in 2021, he received approximately $28,000 in income from Investment Firm #1 and more than $20,000 in unemployment insurance benefits from the NYS DOL.
When sentenced, Santos faces a minimum sentence of two years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of 22 years’ imprisonment. As part of the plea Santos will pay restitution of $373,749.97 and forfeiture of $205,002.97.
File Photo
George Santos
LENA METELEV REAL ESTATE
GROUP LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/10/24. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 187-24 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, NY 11366. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
FREEDOM ORTHOLAB LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 8/12/24. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to ZENBUSINESS INC. 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
JJC COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/12/24. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. JETTY-JANE CONNOR, 8510 34TH AVE, APT 613, QUEENS, NY, 11372, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
4 BEAST TOYS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/24/24. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to ZENBUSINESS INC., 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of TJB BASKETBALL LLC Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State: 7/11/2024. Office location: Queens County. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: TIM BUCKLEY, 212-16 38TH AVENUE, FLUSHING NY, 13361, USA.. Purpose: all lawful purposes.
NEW YORK FACILITY MAINTENANCE, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/18/24. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to ZENBUSINESS INC., 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
QC PRODUCTIONS LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/18/2024. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: JOHN CARL MURACO, 15910 95TH ST.,HOWARD BEACH, NY, 11414. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
BRX 1 LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/19/2024. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 37-20 58th Street, Woodside, NY 11377. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
Legal Notices
FENIX DESIGN CONSULTANTS
LFG, LLC, filed articles of organization with the NY Secretary of State on MARCH 10,2024. Office: QUEENS COUNTY. SARA NGAN is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. NY Secretary of State shall mail copy of process to SARA NGAN at 5-11 47TH AVENUE, APT 4Y, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
L. VEGA REALTY LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/25/2024. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 1679 Linden St, Ridgewood, NY 11385. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
CARING PATHWAY SERVICES,
LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 8/5/24. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 150-38 Union Tpke., Flushing, NY 11367, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
40-11 23RD STREET LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/02/24. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 40-11 23rd Street, Long Island City, NY 11101. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
10-17 47TH AVENUE LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/29/24. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 6043 Maspeth Avenue, Maspeth, NY 11378. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
EILEEN O’CONNELL STUDIO
LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/27/24. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to UNITED STATE CORPORATION AGENTS, 7014 13TH AVENUE, SUITE 202, BROOKLYN, NY, 11106, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
BOTTLE BLONDE LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 8/14/24. Office in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to ZENBUSINESS INC. 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF THE TRUMAN 2021 SC9 TITLE TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. KEYA ROYSTER AS ADMINISTRATRIX AND HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF PAMELA JAMES, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on July 10, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, on the second floor in Courtroom 25, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435 on September 20, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., premises known as 69-32 Burchell Avenue, Arverne, NY 11692. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Arverne, in the Fifth Ward of the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, Block 16048 and Lot 45. Approximate amount of judgment is $312,382.74 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #728147/2021.
Michael F. Mongelli, Esq., Referee
Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 221030-1
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF NISAA ADVANCING MATERNAL HEALTH EQUITY LLC NISAA Advancing Maternal Health Equity LLC filed Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/02/2024. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to the LLC at 30-06 29th Street, 2F, Astoria, NY 111022501. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: MOM 43RD LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/21/2024, office location Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to the LLC, 102-38 43rd Avenue, Corona, NY 11368. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: COSEY CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS PLLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/24/2024, office location Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to the LLC, 2244 JACKSON AVE., APT 1615, LONG ISMAND CITY, NY, 11101, USA. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF QUEENS.
NYCTL 2021-A TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN, Plaintiffs -againstUNITED HOLINESS CHURCH OF GOD, INC., et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein on May 31, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, 8811 Sutphin Blvd., in Courtroom # 25, Jamaica, NY on August 30, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Queens, County of Queens, City and State of New York, known and designated as Block 11947 and Lot 283 on the Queens County Tax Assessment Map. Said premises known as 109-12 SUTPHIN BLVD, JAMAICA, NY 11435 Approximate amount of lien $15,848.40 plus interest & costs.Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 709077/2023.
MARTHA A. TAYLOR, ESQ., Referee Phillips Lytle LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiffs 28 East Main Street, Suite 1400, Rochester, NY 14614
Notice of Formation of 8227 Tryon Place LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State: 7/8/2024. Office location: Queens County. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 82-27 Tryon Place, Jamaica, NY 11432, principal business address. Term: until 12/31/2070. Purpose: all lawful purposes.
CLAUDIA JETTE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/12/24. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to ZENBUSINESS INC., 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
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