MARCH IN MEMORY
Howard Beach Gathers to Mark Sept. 11 Anniversary in Massive Flag Procession along Boulevard
Organized by the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic Association, Sunday’s ceremony took the South Queens community from 165th Avenue and Cross Bay Boulevard to the Memorial Plaza at 84th Street and 157th Avenue.
Photo Courtesy of HBL Civic
Howard Beach Gathers to Mark Sept. 11 Anniversary in Massive Flag Procession
By Michael V. Cusenza
The Howard Beach community on Sunday gathered in the sunshine at 165th Street and Cross Bay Boulevard for the first Flag Carry and Remembrance Walk to mark the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Organized by the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic Association, the memorial
march was completed to “honor all those we lost on Sept. 11, 2001.” Dozens of flag bearers and the crowd walked down Cross Bay Boulevard all the way to the Memorial Plaza at 84th Street and 157th Avenue for the civic’s annual ceremony.
Shown prominently at the plaza is the stone honoring the memory and service of Domenick DeVito, a City firefighter and Howard Beach resident who died ear-
lier this year from complications related to several World Trade Center illnesses.
Additionally, the civic delivered breakfast and dinner on Wednesday to the 106th Precinct and the firehouse on Cross Bay Boulevard in Howard Beach where Engine Co. 331 and Ladder Co. 173 are located.
“As tires start to melt, the liquid that
they create then starts to burn, which necessitates us to use the foam to extinguish. The number of tires they had stacked up was considerable,” said FDNY Acting Chief of Department John Esposito, who was at the scene, along with newly-minted City Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker. One firefighter suffered minor injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
JFK American Airlines Mechanic Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Trying to Smuggle Bricks of Cocaine
By Forum Staff
On Friday, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Paul Belloisi, a former American Airlines mechanic at John F. Kennedy International Airport, was sentenced to 108 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to import and possess cocaine.
Belloisi, 56, of Long Island, was convicted in May 2023 following a one-week jury trial of all three counts of an indictment charging him with conspiring to possess and import cocaine, and importing cocaine.
On Feb. 4, 2020, American Airlines flight 1349 arrived at JFK Airport’s Terminal 8 from Montego Bay, Jamaica. The aircraft was selected for a routine search by CBP officers from the JFK Airport Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team. The officers found 10 bricks of cocaine weighing 25.56 pounds hidden inside an electronics compartment on the underside of the cockpit. The cocaine was replaced with fake bricks and sprayed with a substance that glows when illuminated with a special black light. CBP officers and HSI special agents placed the aircraft
under surveillance from a distance and shortly before it was scheduled to take off for its next flight, they observed Belloisi drive up and pull himself inside the electronics compartment. Belloisi was confronted by law enforcement who observed his gloves glowing under the black light indicating he had handled the fake bricks. Belloisi was also carrying an empty tool bag and the lining of his jacket had cutouts sufficiently large enough to hold the bricks. The cocaine found in the aircraft had a street value of more than $250,000.
Photo Courtesy of HBL Civic
The enormous flag requires dozens of bearers to stretch and carry down the boulevard.
Photo Courtesy of HBL Civic
The flag and crowd on Sunday makes its down Cross Bay towards the Memorial Plaza.
Photo Courtesy of HBL Civic Retired City Firefighter and Sept. 11 first responder Jay Frango addresses his fellow Howard Beach residents at the memorial.
Photo Courtesy of U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of NY Paul Belloisi
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia/Russavia Federal officers found 10 bricks of cocaine weighing 25.56 pounds hidden inside an electronics compartment on the underside of the cockpit of an American Airlines aircraft.
Contractor Cops to Fraud in Sandy Scheme
By Forum Staff
Alexander Almaraz, the owner of Design Concepts Group LLC in Freeport, L.I., pleaded guilty on Thursday in federal court in Central Islip to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connec -
tion with a scheme to induce individuals to hire him and pay DCG to repair their Superstorm Sandy-damaged homes.
On Oct. 29, 2012, Sandy struck New York and New Jersey, causing catastrophic damage to low-lying and coastal areas. New York residents whose homes were damaged were eligible to receive funding from the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery through the New York Rising program.
According to court documents and Almaraz’s own admissions on Thursday, Almaraz entered contracts with homeowners who qualified to receive funds from NYR. As part of these contracts, Almaraz agreed to lift the victims’ homes and set them down on temporary support structures which would permit the foundations of the damaged homes to be removed and new foundations to be installed. After the new foundations were installed, Almaraz was supposed to lower the homes and reconnect the homes’ appliances. Between October 2015 and June 2019, Almaraz agreed to lift the homes of at least 20 customers who had received NYR funding and who collectively paid him approximately $2.5 million. Almaraz convinced many of these victims to move out of their homes and pay him rent to live elsewhere, all the while neglecting their projects and causing greater loss. Additionally, instead of performing the agreed-upon work, Almaraz used the victims’ monies to pay for personal expenses, including credit card bills, land purchased in Kansas City, Missouri, and luxury automobiles, including a Lamborghini, a Porsche and a Jaguar. The defendant’s fraudulent scheme caused more than $1.5 million in losses to NYR and the defendant’s individual victims.
“Today’s plea holds Almaraz accountable for his greedy scheme, and the restitution he will be ordered to pay is a necessary step towards making his victims whole,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.
When sentenced, Almaraz faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and mandatory restitution to his victims.
Addabbo Drops off First Round of Supplies to Elderly and Disabled Veterans
By Forum Staff
State Sen. Joe Addabbo (D-Woodhaven) recently dropped off the first round of supplies to the St. Albans Community Living Center at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs NY Harbor Healthcare System. It is part of a perpetual clothing and supply drive he is conducting both of his offices to collect clothing and other goods for veterans in need.
Requested items must be new: sneakers, slippers, sweatpants, pants and jeans, hoodies, bodywash, razors and shaving cream, washcloths (neutral colors), male t-shirts (5 pack), male socks (crew), male underwear (5 pack), bath towels (neutral colors). Clothing sizes should be medium, large, extra-large or 2XL.
Items can be dropped off during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Addabbo’s District Office, located at 84-16 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven or at his office in Middle Village, located at 66-85 73rd Place.
Once enough items are collected, they will be distributed to veteran organizations in the community and then collection will begin again. Items will be distributed as
can be dropped off at
long as need exists.
“This drop off is only the beginning, and it’s a wonderful feeling to give back to those who sacrificed so much for our country,” said Addabbo, a longtime member of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland
Security and Military Affairs. “My office will continue this mission and give items to as many local veterans groups as we can.”
If you have any questions or would like more information, call Addabbo’s office at (718) 738-1111.
Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo Senator Addabbo drops off supplies to Victoria Townes, a specialist at the Center for Development and Civic Engagement at the St. Albans Community Living Center.
Photo Courtesy of Google
Items
Addabbo’s District Office, located at 84-16 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven or at his office in Middle Village, located at 66-85 73rd Pl. (pictured).
Cops Impound 132 Vehicles during Operations at Bridges
By Forum Staff
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bridges and Tunnels and the City Police Department, along with regional law enforcement partners, on Friday announced the results of last three August interagency task force operations to remove ghost vehicles and crack down on persistent toll violators.
In August, officers impounded a total of 68 vehicles at operations held at MTA and City crossings including the Verrazzano-Narrows, Bronx-Whitestone, Robert F. Kennedy, Cross Bay and Third Ave. bridges. Through 38 operations, scofflaws had amassed almost $20 million in unpaid tolls and fees, judgments, and debts. The operations also resulted in 463 arrests and 19,000 summonses issued.
On Monday, Aug. 19, an enforcement operation took place at the Bronx-Whitestone bridge, which resulted in nine arrests, 68 impounded vehicles, and 652 summonses.
On Saturday, Aug. 24, an enforcement operation took place at the VerrazzanoNarrows bridge which resulted in three arrests, 26 impounded vehicles and 354 summonses.
On Friday, Aug. 30, an enforcement operation took place at the Verrazzano-Narrows bridge which resulted in six arrests, 38 impounded vehicles and 531 summonses. Vehicles impounded were for a number of violations including suspended registrations unpaid tolls, unregistered vehicles, and suspended licenses among other traffic infractions.
A new law that went into effect on Sept. 1 supports MTA Bridges and Tunnels’ efforts to pursue payment from persistent toll violators who use MTA Bridges and Tunnels’ crossings, with the Top 10 violators collectively owing $3.6 million – an av-
erage of $360,000 each in unpaid tolls and violation fees.
The first wave of 500 Judgement Warning Notices were mailed on Aug. 2 to each vehicle owner who is part of a group that collectively owes $53 million in unpaid tolls and violation fees – an average of $106,000 each in unpaid tolls and violation fees.
More than 20,000 notices were mailed on Aug. 9. In September, the MTA plans to begin a weekly program of mailings in batches of 5,000 to persistent toll violators who have escalated to a Judgment Warning Notice.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels, through tolls and fees collected, has recovered more than 98% of the tolls owed by recidivist toll scofflaws since the inception of its participation in the DMV Registration Suspension Program.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels uses tools to identify violators and interdict vehicles, including:
• DMV registration suspensions
• R oadside interdictions
• Data-driven intelligence to continuously identify persistent toll violators
This enforcement aligns with a coordinated strategy by MTA Bridges and Tunnels and City and State law enforcement partners, who announced a joint effort against obstructed and counterfeit license plates last year. According to the MTA, since the start of Open Road Tolling, Bridge and Tunnel officers have interdicted more than 11,000 vehicles for persistent non-payment of tolls.
“Our Bridge and Tunnel Officers have worked with our regional partners to make it abundantly clear that the use of ghost plates to avoid paying tolls will not be tolerated,” said MTA Bridges and Tunnels President Catherine Sheridan. “Don’t risk losing your car by breaking the law. Pay your tolls.”
The Pharmacist’s Corner
Presented by Frank Pantina, R.Ph
PHARMACISTS & PHYSICIANS
It used to be a common perception among physicians and other health care professional that the role of the community pharmacist was basically limited to filling prescriptions and following their orders.
But thankfully with progression of time and the advances in technology, the role of the community pharmacist in their patients health care has escalated to a point that serves the pool of patients dependant on their medications in ways it never has before.
Today, whether it's a matter of the complex reporting of medication histories to health databases or the simple act of sending a fax, the need for pharmacies to collaborate and communicate with prescribers on many more levels than ever before has led to increased health and awareness among patients.
Common sense tells us that pharmacists are like first responders where medication is concerned. The integral role we play in today's complicated health care system is continually expanding and contributing to ensuring a standard of excellence in patient healthcare that can save more lives.
To begin with, pharmacists are well aware that we can’t always rely on patients to remember some important details or in some cases, to tell the whole truth when faced with questions about their medication adherence. Key communication with physicians and other members of a patients healthcare team is working everyday to address these critical issues.
Over 95% of community pharmacists and physicians agree that mutual cooperation among themselves is a vital tool in improving patient outcomes .
Additional areas of the benefits of healthcare professionals working together include making recommendations to modify patient's drug therapies and providing drug information to aid in the selection of medications.
Pharmacists play a key role in assisting with medication insurance claims, helping patients navigate their way through the often frustrating and confusing world of health coverage.
We also now assist in the adjustment of medication dosages, provide information about drug interactions, help patients adhere to a proper schedule of medication and the management of side effects.
Admittedly there are some concerns with barriers that exist in the expanding integration of pharmacists and physicians, such as the potential for the fragmentation of patient care, concern over liability where shared responsibility and information exists and of course the amount of time needed to invest. But none of those have put a damper on the willingness to work together to guarantee the better health of our patients. and it is obvious in the medical community that there is a widespread desire for the continuance of these relationships that clearly benefit our collective patients.
Until Next Week…
NYPD Marks Sept. 11 in Rockaway
Mon-Sat 9am-7pm. Sunday: Closed. Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) partnered with the City Police Department on Saturday in Rockaway Beach to host the annual “Memorial Prayer for The NYPD 9/11 Class.”
The event honors NYPD officers who were killed on Sept. 11 along with those who have died as a result of Sept. 11-related illness. The ceremony is also a way to honor
the NYPD class of 2001, the over 1,100 officers who had graduated a few months before the terrorist attack and jumped into action.
“Even in the rain we came together with NYPD Community Affairs, the Detectives’ Endowment Association, and Beyond the Blue to honor the NYPD Class of 2001, the 23 police officers who died on Sept. 11 and all NYPD officers who have died from Sept. 11-related illnesses. We will never forget and may their memories be a blessing,” Pheffer Amato said.
Photo Courtesy of Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato
Photo Courtesy of Marc A. Hermann/MTA
Interagency vehicle enforcement operation last month at the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge.
Mayor Announces Next Generation of NYC’s Investments in Flood Prevention and Preparation
By Michael V. Cusenza
On Monday, the third anniversary of Hurricane Ida, Mayor Eric Adams updated New Yorkers on new and ongoing efforts to protect public safety and New Yorkers’ property by combating flooding and safeguarding the residents of New York City from the harmful and costly impacts of climate change.
Ida brought the heaviest rainfall in the city’s recorded history and claimed the lives of 13 New Yorkers.
Since Adams moved into Gracie Mansion, the City has invested more than $1.2 billion in vital anti-stormwater flooding, public safety infrastructure in all five boroughs, ranging from traditional sewer upgrades to innovative green infrastructure solutions and more — and similar investments in antiflooding infrastructure have been shown to prevent seven times as much damage as compared to the original investment.
Adams on Monday celebrated milestones in five of these major public safety projects. The City Department of Environmental Protection and City Department of Design and Construction completed major sewer upgrades that tripled drainage capacity in College Point and doubled it in Maspeth, preventing that water from putting New Yorkers in danger or causing property damage. The City also, this week, installed its 200th flood sensor in Corona, putting the administration on track to reach Adams’ target of 500 flood sensors well ahead of schedule. Additionally, the City broke ground on its first Cloudburst project at the New York City Housing Authority’s South Jamaica Houses, which will keep nearly 3.5 million gallons of stormwater out of the sewer system each year. Finally, DEP completed its transformation of three acres of concrete medians in Queens Village into subsurface drainage chambers, engineered rock and soil, ornamental grasses, and perennial wildflowers that can collectively manage 5 million gallons of stormwater that would otherwise contribute to flooding.
Over the course of the Adams administration, the city has installed dozens of miles of new sewers, significantly upgrading the system’s drainage capacity to handle millions of additional gallons of sudden and heavy rainfall during a storm. The administration recently completed two major projects in the frequently flooded Queens communities of Maspeth and College Point. The $106 million Maspeth project added more than a mile of new, very large sewers and nearly a mile of new water mains, and it used innovative construction techniques like micro-tunneling to significantly reduce the effects of construction on the local community. The $132 mil -
lion College Point project added nearly 8.5 miles of new sewers and seven miles of new water mains, in addition to 300 new catch basins.
Additionally, DEP is installing slotted manhole covers that provide an alternate drainage point to help street level water drain into curbside catch basins in the event that a catch basin grate gets matted over with leaves, debris, or litter.
seven miles of porous pavement — which unlike traditional asphalt-paved roadways, allows stormwater to pass through and be absorbed naturally into the ground — along Brooklyn roadways. This $32.6 million project, which will help prevent flooding, sewer backups into homes and businesses, and overflows into waterways, and is expected to be completed in early 2026. Additional porous pavement projects are in
Cloudburst Program
Cloudbursts — or sudden, heavy downpours similar to what was seen during Hurricane Ida — can put lives in danger, damage property, disrupt critical infrastructure, and pollute New York’s waterways. The city’s Cloudburst Program manages these extreme downpours using localized grey and green infrastructure, open spaces, and other innovative methods of absorbing, storing, and transferring stormwater. Working together, these assets store excess stormwater until torrential rains pass and there is sufficient capacity in the neighborhood sewer system to better manage it.
Other Green Infrastructure
Green infrastructure projects create additional capacity for stormwater management by storing and absorbing excess rainwater, preventing it from entering (or overwhelming) the sewer system. Today, DEP completed its transformation of three acres of impermeable concrete medians in Queens Village into a green infrastructure system that can collect approximately 5 million gallons of stormwater from the area and help to reduce flooding. Additional large concrete medians in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens will be transformed into resilient green infrastructure medians beginning next year.
Furthermore, the city is installing
the pipeline for neighborhoods in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Additionally, the Adams administration is constructing a new, three-acre Bluebelt in Staten Island’s Midland Beach neighborhood. Bluebelts are ecologically-rich and cost-effective drainage ponds, where existing wetlands are reengineered so that they can naturally manage the precipitation that falls on streets and sidewalks. This project adds to the city’s network of nearly 100 Bluebelts, most of which are located on Staten Island, and builds on last October’s completion of a $110 million expansion of the New Creek Bluebelt. Bluebelts are a key part of the city’s strategy to mitigate inland flooding, and the Adams administration continues to actively evaluate locations in all five boroughs to expand the successful Bluebelt network.
Finally, DEP and DDC recently completed construction of more than 900 curbside rain gardens and infiltration basins across Crown Heights and Whitestone. Each year, it is anticipated that these rain gardens will intercept approximately 58 million gallons of stormwater, keeping it out of the sewer system and helping to reduce flooding, sewer backups into homes and businesses, and overflows into waterways. To date, the city has built more than 10,500 curbside rain gardens, including 2,300 during the Adams administration.
Flood Preparedness
The City’s network of flood sensors provide real-time, street-level flood information through a free, online dashboard. This data allows residents, officials, and emergency responders to immediately react and respond to flooding conditions. Data gathered can also be used to compare historical hyperlocal flooding conditions and inform future mitigation efforts. On the first anniversary of Ida, Adams set a goal of having 500 flood sensors in priority flooding areas by 2027 — and the city is now on track to meet that benchmark well ahead of schedule using a combination of surface flood sensors and piloting the use of traffic cameras for flood detection. This past week, the city installed its 200th sensor in Corona’s Louis Simeone Park.
Additionally, to help New Yorkers understand and prepare for the risks associated with rainfall-based flooding, the city has released a new map showing how much flooding results from different levels of rainfall under current and future sea level rise predictions. In July 2022, the city released “Rainfall Ready NYC,” an action-focused overview of the responsibilities New Yorkers and city government must share to combat intense storms, together, today.
The administration has also started to use drones to broadcast flood warnings in low-lying communities, to ensure that all residents are aware of any potential hazards. The drone mission reflects the administration’s commitment to exploring innovative technologies that can enhance the city’s emergency response. Drones have the added benefit of geographic specificity. During the early August 2024 flood events, the drones were sent to flood-prone neighborhoods to announce recorded warnings in English and Spanish.
Finally, this summer, DEP has partnered with elected officials, community boards, and local organizations to host Flood Preparedness Town Halls, where approximately 2,000 flood kits, including flood barriers, sump pumps, and flood sensors, are being distributed to residents. So far, sessions have been held in Throggs Neck, Red Hook and Bushwick and Jamaica. Upcoming events will be held on Sept. 17 in the Rockaways and on Sept. 24 on Staten Island. DEP also distributed more than 9,000 60-gallon rain barrels to New Yorkers, free of charge. The 60-gallon rain barrels are easy to install and connect directly to a property’s gutter or downspout to capture and store stormwater that falls on the rooftop. The water collected in the rain barrel reduces the amount of stormwater that enters the city’s sewer system, helping to alleviate flooding while also protecting the health of local waterways.
Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office DEP completed its transformation of three acres of impermeable concrete medians in Queens Village into a green infrastructure system that can collect approximately 5 million gallons of stormwater from the area and help to reduce flooding.
Jamaica Registered Sex Offender gets 45 Years for Child Pornography
By Forum Staff
On Thursday, in federal court in Brooklyn, Davis Burgos-Collazo to 45 years in prison for five counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of distributing child pornography, one count of accessing child pornography with intent to view it and one count of committing a felony sexual offense involving minors while being a registered sex offender.
As part of the sentence, the Court or-
dered Burgos-Collazo to pay restitution of $33,000.
Burgos-Collazo, 45, was convicted by a federal jury in July 2022 following a oneweek trial.
As set forth in the government’s sentencing memorandum and related court proceedings, in 2020, Burgos-Collazo, of Jamaica, used at least 26 Instagram accounts to attempt to sexually exploit children as young as 9 years old. The defendant enticed the victims by pretending to be a modeling scout and by using accounts with names like
“future models” and “preteen beauty pics.”
After the defendant coerced a 10-year-old victim into performing live sex acts for him on Instagram and she pleaded with him to leave her alone, he threatened to post a naked picture of her online for her friends to see if she refused to provide him with additional sexually explicit materials. The FBI recovered over 100 photos and videos of child pornography on the defendant’s phone.
Burgos-Collazo committed these crimes while he was a registered sex offender. In March 2006, he was convicted of sexually abusing and attempting to sexually abuse multiple minors, all of whom were under the age of eleven, and one as young as seven.
“With today’s sentence, the goal of incapacitating this master manipulator and sextortionist has been achieved,” said Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace.
Courtesy of Instagram
Burgos-Collazo, of Jamaica, used at least 26 Instagram accounts to attempt to sexually exploit children.
Photo Courtesy of U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of NY Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Peace called Burgos-Collazo a “master manipulator and sextortionist.”
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By Forum Staff
Subway to Celebrate 120th Birthday
The New York Transit Museum announced on Tuesday plans for the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the New York City subway system with a new exhibit, The Subway Is…, opening on Sept. 26 at the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn.
The museum will also host four Inaugural Run Nostalgia Rides on vintage Lo-V subway cars from 1917, retracing the original route of New York’s first subway line.
According to the Metroplitan Transportation Authority, The Subway Is… uses historic artifacts, photographs, and multimedia installations, the delve into the subway’s significance as a revolutionary idea that forever changed urban transportation. It traces the challenges of constructing the subway through the city’s varied topography, highlights the diverse workforce of immigrants who built the system, and celebrates the subway’s role as both an engineering marvel and a work of art.
The Subway Is… also reflects on how the subway has served as New York’s circulatory system, connecting its residents across boroughs, fostering cultural exchange, and enabling the city to grow and thrive. From the early days of public transit advertising to the Poetry in Motion campaign, the exhibit
showcases the subway’s unique ability to inspire and communicate with its riders.
The museum will offer four special Nostalgia Rides on the museum’s vintage 1917 Lo-V subway cars. These rides will take place on Oct. 27 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Nov. 16 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Passengers will journey along portions of New York’s first subway line, which originally opened on Oct. 27, 1904, providing a rare opportunity to experience New York City as it was 120 years ago.
Departing from the decommissioned Old South Ferry Station, the train will travel north along the 1/2/3 line to the Bronx before returning via the Lexington Avenue line. Passengers will have the unique chance
to pass through the famous Old City Hall Station and conclude the journey at Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall Station. This round-trip ride “immerses participants in the sights and sounds of the original subway experience, offering a nostalgic glimpse into New York’s transit history” according to the MTA.
“Very few things exist that are as synonymous with New York as our subway. Whether you hear a snippet of the sound of a train or catch a quick glimpse of a station or a subway car, you know you’re in New York City,” said museum Director Concetta Bencivenga. “Celebrating this incredible milestone anniversary offers an opportunity to explore the myriad ways the subway has
transformed our region over the past 120 years and encourages us to ponder what might be in store for the next 120.”
Additionally, the museum will activate a city-wide social media campaign on Subway Day, Oct. 27. Throughout October, special collaboration posts will be featured on the New York Transit Museum’s Instagram account, leading up to a unique initiative inviting museums, parks, journalists, New Yorkers and visitors alike to share their thoughts on what the subway means to them by completing the sentence: #TheSubwayIs...This campaign will encourage everyone to reflect on and share their personal connections to our transit system.
Meng Secures $3.8M Grant for Clean Energy Workforce Development in Borough
By Forum Staff
Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) on Tuesday announced that a federal grant totaling $3.8 million has been awarded to the Education and Cultural Trust Fund of the Electric City in Flushing.
Allocated by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, which Meng helped to fund in Congress, the grant will support building renovations as well as clean energy workforce development in the region.
This federal money will specifically support the construction of an onshore and
offshore wind safety training facility, providing classroom space, utility upgrades, and more. This investment will be matched with $957,000 in local funds. It is expected to create 490 jobs and retain 2,870 more while generating $429 million in private investments, according to grantee estimates.
This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Hudson Valley Regional Council. EDA funds HRVC to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.
The project is funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which provided EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas that received a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act as a result of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2021 and 2022. Meng helped pass the bill in the House.
“Creating good-paying jobs and supporting sustainable infrastructure is a critical part of a stronger economy and a healthier community in Queens,” Meng said. “This federal
funding invests in our community by building a workforce that can help address the growing impacts of climate change right at home.
The House Appropriations Committee is responsible for funding the federal government's programs, projects, and activities.
“Local 3 IBEW is grateful for our congresswoman, Grace Meng, and all of the elected officials in New York State who helped support the Educational and Cultural Trust Fund’s efforts in achieving this U.S. EDA grant that will fund offshore wind GWO safety training for our members,” said Christopher Erikson, business manager of Local 3 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce, the training and work opportunities created by this grant will have a meaningful and positive impact on our current and future members who will work on the offshore wind projects critical to achieving the climate goals of New York State and our nation. In conjunction with the Joint Industry Board’s Educational and Cultural Trust Fund and our signatory contractors in NECA New York, we will be able to construct a world class facility, in line with Local 3’s values of education, safety, and training. Thank you, Congresswoman Meng, the Biden-Harris administration, and all of our supportive friends in federal, state, and local government for helping this grant become a reality for Local 3’s members, who are eager to do their part in building offshore wind projects up and down our coastlines.”
Photo Courtesy of New York Transit Museum
The exhibit uses historic artifacts, photographs, and multimedia installations to delve into the subway’s
Courtesy of U.S. Rep. Meng
Meng on Tuesday joined leaders in Queens from Local 3 IBEW, the Educational and Cultural Trust Fund, and the New York Electrical Contractors Association (NYECA) to celebrate the grant announcement.
Prosecutors ‘Would not be able to Prove’ Rikers Island Staff Committed Crime in Prisoner Suicide: AG
By Forum Staff
State Attorney General Tish James on Tuesday released her report on the death of Michael Nieves, who died on Aug. 30, 2022 after attempting to take his own life on Aug. 25 while he was incarcerated on Rikers Island.
Following an investigation, the AG’s Office of Special Investigation concluded that a prosecutor “would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt” that the correction officers staffed on Nieves’ unit committed a crime, and therefore criminal charges would not be pursued. In its report, OSI recommends that the City Department of Correction should train all correction officers on proper wound care and establish a clear requirement that correction officers should provide immediate wound care to incarcerated people who are severely bleeding.
On the morning of Aug. 25, Nieves, 40, was issued a handheld razor for use in the shower. When Nieves was finished with his shower, the correction officer who issued the razor asked for it back, but Nieves said he had lost it. The correction officer called for the captain, and together with another correction officer they searched Nieves’ cell, as well as the cell of another person who had been in the showers at the same
time. When they did not find the razor, the correction officers and the captain returned to Nieves’ cell, where they found him leaning against the wall surrounded by blood, and bleeding profusely from what appeared to be his face or neck. They offered Nieves a shirt and blanket to put pressure on the wound, but he declined. When asked whether he was bleeding from his head or his neck, Nieves said it was his neck. The captain called for medical assistance, but
did not share details of the injury, and medical staff were not equipped with gauze or other wound care materials when they arrived on the unit. Medical staff called 911 for emergency medical services, who then rushed Nieves to the hospital. Nieves was declared brain dead on Aug. 26, and died on Aug. 30.
Following a preliminary assessment of the incident, OSI determined that the failure of the captain and the cor-
rection officers to provide immediate aid to Nieves qualified as an omission, or failure to perform a duty imposed by law, which contributed to Nieves’ death. Therefore, OSI conducted this investigation pursuant to Executive Law Section 70-b.
The OSI’s investigation found conflicting information as to whether correction officers are trained in wound care, and it was not clear whether or not correction officers are trained to treat severe wounds themselves or to wait for medical staff to arrive. Currently, training requires correction officers to transport an incarcerated person to the clinic or otherwise wait for medical staff unless the person has stopped breathing, in which case the correction officer should provide CPR, or if the person is attempting suicide using a ligature, in which case the correction officer should cut or otherwise disable the ligature. The only specific reference to bleeding in correction officers’ rules and regulations directs officers to bring someone who is bleeding to the clinic.
Under state law, prosecuting criminally negligent homicide for an omission would require proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the correction officers and the captain knew that waiting for medical staff to assist Nieves would lead to his death.
Pair of Borough MS-13 Associates Plead Guilty to Kissena Park Teen Murder
By Forum Staff
Juan Amaya-Ramirez and Oscar Flores-Mejia pleaded guilty on Friday in connection with the April 23, 2018 murder of 17-year-old Andy Peralta in Kissena Park.
As part of their guilty pleas, the defendants admitted to murdering Peralta to gain entrance into MS-13 and also admitted to crimes including cyberstalking resulting in death, murder conspiracy in-aid-of racketeering, assault conspiracy in-aid-of racketeering, and assault in-aid-of racketeering.
As detailed in court documents, Amaya-Ramirez,
Flores-Mejia and a third MS-13 associate plotted to kill Peralta because they wanted to join MS-13 and mistakenly believed that Peralta was a member of a rival gang. The defendants recruited Amaya-Ramirez’s then-girlfriend, Leyla Carranza, to lure Peralta to Kissena Park in Flushing, Queens, so he could be murdered. Carranza communicated with Peralta on social media and eventually convinced him to meet her in Kissena Park on April 23, 2018. Once inside the park, Peralta was confronted by Amaya-Ramirez, Flores-Mejia, and the third MS-13 associate. The three men beat, stabbed, and strangled Peralta
to death. After the murder, Amaya-Ramirez took a photograph of himself and his coconspirators flashing MS-13 hand signs over Peralta’s body.
Under the terms of their plea agreements, AmayaRamirez and Flores-Mejia will be sentenced to at least 30 years’ imprisonment and could be sentenced up to life imprisonment.
Carranza previously pleaded guilty to cyberstalking resulting in the death of Peralta and faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment at sentencing.
“The senseless murder of Andy Peralta exemplifies the casual cruelty of MS-13’s violence, and with their pleas today the defendants acknowledge their role in this brutal event,” said Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace.
File Photo
Nieves sliced his own neck with a straight razor in 2022 while imprisoned on Rikers Island.
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia/Voidvector
Andy Peralta, 17, was brutally killed in 2018 in Kissena Park in Flushing.
Photo Courtesy of U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of NY Brooklyn U.S Attorney Peace called the Peralta slaying “senseless.”
GARAGE/ YARD SALE
DESHPREMIK. US LLC Filed 9/5/2024. Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: JB MEMITONE, 21 CLARK AVE. MELVILLE, NY, 11746.USA Purpose: General.
RAPTOR STUDIOS LLC Arts. of Org. fi led with the SSNY on 02/22/24. 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 MENGXI ZHOU, 13105 40TH RD, APT PH3N, FLUSHING, NY, 11354,USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
MARVEL CLEANING NYC LLC Filed 9/5/2024. Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: ANDREA MARTINEZ, 2315 121ST. STREET, 2F, COLLEGE POINT, NY, 11356, USA. Purpose: General.
SWEET LUXE OASIS LLC Arts. of Org. fi led with the SSNY on 08/21/24. 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.
JIWOO PARK ARCHITECTURE PLLC Filed 9/5/2024. Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: The PLLC, 3215 35th Street, #E2, Astoria, NY, 11106, USA. Purpose: General.
RI TATTS LLC. Filed 5/10/2024. Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: FRA NCES MOSLEY, 107-33 118TH ST. QUEENS, NY 11418. Purpose: General.
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 6932 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
AMPLIFIED AUTOMATION LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/01/24. 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 BRIAN HUMPHRIES, 212 MESEROLE STREET, 3A, BROOKLYN, NY, 11206,USA. 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.
S.H.E.SERVICES LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 4/26/24. 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.
HOTTSPOTT LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/05/24. 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 SALVADOR CALIO, 142 BEACH 127TH STREET, ROCKAWAY PARK, NY, 11694, USA. 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.
SPK CAPITAL HOLDINGS, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/05/24. 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.
SHANGRI-LA VACATION HOMES
LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/11/20. 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 PHURPA LAMA, 3258 79TH STREET, EAST ELMHURST, NY, 11370. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Legal Notices
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.
BTLOC, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 8/8/24. 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.
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.
STRATOCEAN CONSULTING
LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/26/24. 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 DONG CHEN 62-54 ELLWELL CRESCENT, REGO PARK, NY, 11374, USA. 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.
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.
JPS HIGHGATE GROUP LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/02/24. 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 ZENBUSINESS INC., 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of Hillside Story Property LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State (SSNY) on 8/12/24. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 15 Francis Terrace, Glen Cove, NY 11542. Purpose: any lawful activity.
MELANYX SKIN LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/01/24. 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.
EONLIGHT LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/23/24. 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 YA XI WANG, 58-40 217TH STREET, BAYSIDE, NY, 11364-1912,USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
ORDINARY SUNDAY FILMS LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/21/24. 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.
Nightcap Creative, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/29/2024. 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, 5205 Queens B lvd, 6G Woodside, NY 11377. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF QUEENS.
NYCTL 1998-2 TRUST, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Collateral Agent and Custodian for the NYCTL 1998-2 TRUST, Plaintiffs -against- 118-80 MONTAUK LLC, et al. Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated July 15, 2024 and entered on July 24, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., in Courtroom # 25, Jamaica, NY 11435, on Friday, or at such other location in the courthouse that the Court may designate for conducting this foreclosure auction on October 4, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the westerly side of Montauk Street, distant 732.74 feet southerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the said westerly side of Montauk Street and the southerly side of Baisley Boulevard; being a plot 76 feet by 156.13 feet by 229.22 feet by 30 feet. Block: 12452 Lot: 79 Said premises known as 118-80 MONTAUK STREET, SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412 Approximate amount of lien $285,733.99, through January 4, 2024, plus interest fees & costs.Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Tems of Sale.Index Number 704668/2020.
JOSEPH F. DEFELICE, ESQ.., Referee Sey farth Shaw LLPAttorney(s) for Plaintiffs 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018
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