CAUSING A CUOMOTION
Queens sees sharp spike in murders
Incidents
by Stephanie G. Meditz Associate Editor
Murders have skyrocketed in Queens so far this year compared to last, though the overall numbers are small and other major crimes have seen decreases, according to NYPD statistics.
The borough saw a 150 percent increase in murders between this year and last year, with 15 recorded through March 2 in 2025 and six at the same time last year.
But boroughwide data show that crime is down in other categories, with an overall decrease of about 19 percent. Robberies fell about 36 percent, from 575 in 2024 to 365 in 2025. Felony assaults were down by 4 percent overall, though they saw a jump of 3.9 p ercent in Patrol Queens Borough North. The numbers also show an 8 percent drop in burglaries, and grand larcenies decreased by 28 percent. Grand larcenies auto also dipped by about 17 percent.
Although Queens North saw a 2.4 percent rise in transit crimes, they dropped across the borough by about 24 percent. At his inp erson media availability last Monday, Mayor Adams said safety has improved in the subway system overall, citing about six felonies per day with about 4.6 million daily riders.
“That is something that all New Yorkers
Though Queens saw dips in most major crime categories, murders have jumped so far this year compared to last, according to NYPD statistics.
should be proud of,” Adams said, citing also a 15 percent drop in citywide transit crime last month.
Crimes in public housing saw a 12 percent dip across the borough compared to last year. Petit larcenies and retail theft incidents also were down, both by about 15 percent throughout Queens.
Misdemeanor assaults dropped by about 2.8 percent boroughwide, but they rose by
4.2 percent in Queens South compared to last year’s numbers.
There also was a 21 percent spike in shooting victims, though shooting incidents dipped by 12.5 percent. Adams said the city’s year-to-date shootings in 2025 are at their lowest level in recorded history.
“Hats off to Commissioner Tisch and all the brave men and women that are keeping us safe,” he said; “20,500 guns off our streets.”
Shootings surged in Queens North, though, jumping from seven compared to last year’s three, a 133 percent rise.
As for hate crimes, Queens saw a drop of about 12 percent, though numbers were up in Queens South by 133 percent.
However, rapes were not included in the crime categories on decline. They were up by about 25 percent — 64 were recorded so far this year, a jump from last year’s 51.
Police have said that such increases could be partially explained by changes to the state’s legal definition of rape. Gov. Hochul last year signed a law redefining the term to include nonconsensual oral and anal sexual contact, in addition to vaginal.
NYPD statistics also show data for “Uniform Crime Reporting Rape” which includes all crimes defined in the FBI’s definition. Those cases saw a slight overall increase of 1.2 percent, though they dropped in Queens South by 2.4 percent. There also was a slight uptick of 3.6 percent in other sex crimes across the borough.
Queens’ dips in most categories are consistent with citywide data — Adams said major crimes are down by almost 15 percent overall. He said also that the city has seen three straight months of double-digit decreases, including below ground, whereas crimes there were up last year. Q
CONZA | MCNAMARA
PHOTO BY MAX PARROTT / FILE
Teamsters allege frequent firing, pro-union retaliation, wage cuts SkyHop drivers continue picketing
by Stephanie G. Meditz Associate Editor
Drivers for SkyHop Global, a transportation company for crews at airports across the country, including LaGuardia and JFK, are still striking with the Teamsters Local 210 union in an action underway since November.
According to a fact sheet provided by the Teamsters, 60 drivers voted to join them in May 2024 to negotiate for better labor standards and job security. The union said SkyHop’s CEO, Kristine Scotto, has refused to bargain with workers in good faith, leading to the “inevitable” strike.
The Teamsters said the workers’ picketing has since disrupted shuttle services for airline crews and delayed flights for Southwest, Delta and United airlines, as crews seek alternate transportation methods. They said also that picketing persists despite a temporary restraining order issued by a Queens state Supreme Court judge in December.
Jessica Gallegos, 33, told the Chronicle that during her two-year tenure at SkyHop, she would often go to work wondering if it would be her last day.
“It was a revolving door,” Gallegos said. “[Scotto] fired people constantly.”
John Russo of Kew Gardens, a single father, said he left his job of seven years to drive for SkyHop and make sure his daughter had the medical insurance that the company promised.
“And they promised us a 401k with matching and stuff,” Russo said. “They didn’t deliver any of the stuff that they promised.”
The Teamsters cited retaliatory
efforts by SkyHop, including firing pro-union drivers and cutting their wages and hours.
There also are several charges against the company pending in the National Labor Relations Board.
In an emailed statement, SkyHop urged the Teamsters to end the strike and pursue a resolution through good faith bargaining.
“SkyHop Global has built a
national reputation as the best in the industry because of our team’s unwavering commitment to safety, outstanding customer service, and excellent working conditions for our drivers,” the company said.
“Unfortunately, the Teamsters have been refusing to engage in good faith bargaining in violation of their duty under federal law.
Since the beginning, the vast
majority of our valued employees have chosen to ignore the strike by continuing to work.”
On the picket line near SkyHop’s offices in Glendale last Friday, Sherwin Dazzell, 31, said that although being a SkyHop driver was a “pretty good job” at first, the company started to cut employees’ hours upon realizing they supported a union.
“If it wasn’t effective, [Scotto] wouldn’t have us in court. She wouldn’t be trying to hire strikebreakers,” Dazzell said. “All of these people just try and stop us, but she can’t stop us.”
Also there was a driver who was hired while the strike was going on. He said he was unaware of the strike on his first day and joined the picket line on his second.
“We just want job security, benefits, to be treated like decent human beings and to be appreciated for the work that we do,” Gallegos said.
State Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Jackson Heights), who chairs the Labor Committee, last month wrote a letter urging Scotto to return to the bargaining table in good faith.
“New York is a union town,” Ramos wrote. “We firmly believe in the importance of good faith collective bargaining, the right to strike when necessary, and the ultimate goal of reaching a fair contract.” Q
Neighbor allegedly got a Jamaica notary to steal victim’s home, funds Elderly man robbed of $1.5M in SO Park
by Naeisha Rose Editor
Two Queens people were arraigned before a state Supreme Court judge Feb. 26 for allegedly stealing $1.5 million in assets from an elderly man who lived in South Ozone Park, said the Office of the Attorney General.
About $790,000 of the money was in victim Ferdinand Spal’s investment account, according to state Attorney Tish James’ office. The remainder is the value of his home.
Prosecutors say that Satwattie Martinez, 58, his neighbor, preyed on Spal, in November 2021, after he was hospitalized and started residing in a nursing home prior to his death. A spokesman for the OAG said Spal died in 2024 at the age of 86.
Martinez allegedly forged a deed for his home, located at 133-12 128 St., and filed falsified documents, which were allegedly authenticated by Joseph Uwagba, a notary from Jamaica.
After allegedly looping Uwagba into her scheme, Martinez falsified a power of attorney and appointed herself as the legal agent for Spal by forging the names of her unsuspecting friends as witnesses, prosecutors said.
As if the home and access to his funds were not enough, Martinez allegedly tried to use her power of attorney in an
unsuccessful attempt to steal funds from his bank account and other accounts, said the OAG. Stolen funds were allegedly used to pay off credit card balances, shop, travel and remodel Spal’s home, which she gifted to her daughter and son-in-law.
The defendant allegedly created a joint bank account to deposit checks payable to Spal and used them for other personal expenses.
Martinez allegedly falsified a last will and testament for Spal by forging the signatures of the same two unsuspecting friends and indicated in the will that he had no family, despite her communications with his brother who was residing outside the country. The will also said her neighbor bequeathed all of his property to her. The defendant represented herself to Spal’s sibling as a caregiver and friend.
A concerned citizen reported the suspected crimes to the city Sheriff’s Office as Martinez allegedly attempted to move Spal to a different nursing home and directed staff to not let anyone visit him, said the OAG.
Martinez was charged with grand larceny in the first degree and criminal possession of stolen property in the first degree, class B felonies, said prosecutors. In addition, she was charged with burglary in the second degree, a class C violent felony, and
grand larceny in the second degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the second degree, money laundering in the second degree and forgery in the second degree, class C violent felonies. She was also charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a class D felony and offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree and identity theft in the second degree, class E felonies.
Martinez was ordered to surrender her passports and released on supervised release, said James’ office. The maximum sentence on the top count is 25 years.
Uwagba was charged with forgery in the second degree, a class D felony, which has a maximum sentence of seven years. He was released on his own recognizance.
“Deed theft is a heartless, terrible crime that robs innocent people of their most valuable possession: their home,” James said in a statement. “No one should ever have to fear their home being stolen out from underneath them, especially not from their own neighbor. Satwattie Martinez targeted her elderly neighbor to steal generational wealth that he built for himself and his family. I will continue to fight for New York homeowners and do everything in my power to keep them in their homes.”
Drivers for SkyHop Global in the Teamsters union picket in Glendale, above, as well as in Manhattan and at JFK and LaGuardia airports on rotation.
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE G. MEDITZ
Cuomo officially enters mayoral race
Former governor, in 17-minute video, said it is time for ‘rebirth’
by Kristen Guglielmo Editor
He’s back.
In a long-expected move, disgraced former New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his candidacy for mayor of NYC on March 1.
Cuomo’s entry into the already crowded mayoral race paves the way for a potential political comeback after he stepped down in 2021 following a scandal that saw sexual misconduct allegations from at least 11 women and claims that he severely mishandled the Covid crisis.
On the misconduct claims, Cuomo campaign spokesperson Rich Azzopardi issued the following statement: “Five district attorneys looked into these allegations and found no there there. The civil cases have either been dropped or are completely falling apart because the discovery revealed over an agonizing four years the truth: that the governor never harassed anyone. The only people still clinging to these falsehoods are either seeking notoriety, lawyers seeking a payday, or craven politicians seeking to punch up and advance their own careers despite the fact that they have no accomplishments under their belt.”
Cuomo had the support of 38 percent of the respondents, while Mayor Adams received 10 percent.
The former governor kicked off his campaign last Saturday with a 17-minute video posted to his social media pages.
“New York birthed the original progressive movement and it worked,” Cuomo, a Democrat, said in his campaign announcement. “It lifted this city, this state, this nation to new heights and it is time for its rebirth. ... My philosophy as an elected official is simple: I work for you, not the politicians and not the special interests. I work as hard as you do, 24/7. I know what needs to be done and I know how to do it.”
Cuomo served as governor from 2011 to 2021, and among his accomplishments were the $8 billion redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport, a 2 percent property tax hike ceiling everywhere in the state outside of NYC and the replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge, a span he then renamed after his father.
“I do believe we need to be saved from him.”
— Mayor Adams, on former Gov. Cuomo
Rumors of Cuomo’s potential run for mayor started months ago, and his name had been included in and topped recent polls. One conducted by Honan Strategy Group for Tusk Strategies surveyed 1,214 likely Democratic voters from Feb. 22 to 23.
Almost immediately after Cuomo kicked off his campaign, other mayoral candidates were eager to respond.
Adams, during an off-topic press conference on Monday at City Hall, when asked about Cuomo’s assertion that New York City “needs to be saved,” quipped, “I do believe we need to be saved from him, but I can’t campaign from this place. So we are clear.”
Asked to comment on Cuomo’s record, Adams said, “We’re going to do that on the trail.”
Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria), a Democratic socialist who has staunch support, having raised $3.4 million with public matching funds and polling second to Cuomo in the Honan Strategy Group poll at 12 percent, uploaded a scathing video of his own in response.
“I want to tell you about who we are running against,” Mamdani said. “A guy who
cut Medicaid and stole money from the MTA. Who says he’s fighting for the working class but showered his rich donors with tax breaks. And when he was accused of serial sexual misconduct, spent years hounding the women who spoke out. No, I’m not talking about Donald Trump. I’m talking about Andrew Cuomo.”
Mamdani’s response video included clips of reporters criticizing Cuomo during his time as governor.
A fellow Queens mayoral hopeful, state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-East Elmhurst), posted a statement on X.
“Thank you, Andrew, for finally launching your vanity comeback tour,” Ramos wrote. “Now we can go back to discussing the issues that matter to New Yorkers, like fixing the housing crisis you stoked, cleaning the streets you ignored, and making NYC affordable for working families once again.
“If New Yorkers want a corrupt bully with a record of alleged sexual misconduct, supporting Republicans selling out to developers, and exacerbating crises, they can just stick with the current mayor.” Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas (D-East Elmhurst) took to X to voice her dissatisfaction.
“Andrew Cuomo failed New Yorkers,” González-Rojas wrote. “He cut health funding, abandoned elders in nursing homes during COVID & abused his power to harm women. Now he wants a 2nd chance — without accountability or remorse. It’s about power, abuse & erasure of survivors. We matter. NYers deserve better.” Q
Activists, officials comment on harrassment allegations; campaign responds Is ‘Me Too’ over if Cuomo is mayor?
by Kristen Guglielmo Editor
Advocacy groups and women’s rights activists have been outspoken in the aftermath of former Gov. Cuomo announcing his candidacy for mayor. Many are taking issue with the fact that Cuomo is running for office after resigning in 2021 following sexual harrassment allegations from at least 11 women.
Incumbent Mayor Adams in 2024 and fellow Democratic candidate Scott Stringer in 2021 also faced sexual harrassment allegations, but neither was driven from office. All three have denied any wrongdoing.
If Cuomo is elected, is the era of the Me Too — a social awareness campaign against sexual abuse and harrassment, focused on holding perpertators accountable — over?
In Queens, Councilmember Tiffa-
ny Cabán (D-Astoria), a member of the Committee on Women and Gender Equity, was among those to comment in a statement to the Chronicle.
“Andrew Cuomo is the man who resigned in disgrace after 13 women came forward to report that he sexually harassed them. Andrew Cuomo will not be our next Mayor,” Cabán said. “We have a corrupt sexual predator as President. We cannot elect a corrupt sexual harasser as our next Mayor. The New York State Assembly, the New York Office of the Attorney General, and the United States Department of Justice all investigated and concluded that Cuomo and his staff violated State and Federal civil laws. The reward for violating these laws will not be a position of power over our city that he so clearly hates and has not lived in for thirty years.”
She added, “I support the DREAM Campaign: Don’t Rank Eric or Andrew for Mayor. It’s time for change, not corrupt blasts from the past.”
Assemblymember Claire Valdez (D-Sunnyside), who ousted an incumbent accused of sexual assault by two women, said, “Am I surprised a narcissist who attacked his victims with a tax-payer funded lawyer is attempting a comeback as mayor of a city he doesn’t live in? Nope.
“Thankfully we already have candidates in the race setting a positive vision for our city,” Valdez said. “I think women, and all New Yorkers, will look to that future instead of the corruption, cover-ups, billionairefriendly budgets, and abuse scandals of the Cuomo past.”
Aminta Kilawan-Narine, an activist and the founder and executive
director of the South Queens Women’s March, told the Chronicle, “What we are seeing across the country is a real reckoning of our collective conscience.”
Kilawan-Narine continued, “When we embolden those who have a record of injustice and violence against women, whether at the federal level or locally, we are effectively telling survivors that their stories do not matter. I said it back in November and I’ll say it again, abusers continue to be celebrated while survivors are silenced.”
She said voters should hold themselves to a higher standard and elect leaders who have demonstrated a strong moral compass.
“When you cast your vote in the primaries, vote with your conscience,” Kilawan-Narine said.
Asked for comment on the dis-
course surrounding Cuomo’s candidacy, Esther Jensen, a Cuomo campaign spokesperson, said in a statement, “There’s a reason they’re trying to traffick in the past — it’s because they don’t want to talk about how the city is presently in crisis and many of these nameless politicians have helped get it there.”
She continued, “But here’s the facts: Five district attorneys reviewed the accusations and did not bring a single case forward, and the civil cases arising from this report were either dropped or are unraveling because evidence uncovered during the discovery process shows that Governor Cuomo didn’t harass anyone. New Yorkers know he’s the candidate with the experience and the record to help save the city and make it a safer and more affordable place for all.” Q
Former Gov. Cuomo last Saturday tossed his hat into an already crowded mayoral race in an attempt for a political comeback. SCREENSHOT VIA X / @ANDREWCUOMO
Dance’ for Adams as
speaker
State of the City address highlights what kind of mayor she could be ‘Last
by Naeisha Rose Editor
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica) was teary-eyed as she took to the Jazz at Lincoln Center stage in Manhattan on Tuesday to “Last Dance,” but her fiery, final pro-democracy State of the City address touted her bonafides and also highlighted, and perhaps hinted at, what the future could look like if the woman from Hollis were to lead the Big Apple.
She made it known that she would not be a puppet for President Trump and intends to close out her speakership advocating for housing, immigration, maternal issues, education, small businesses, nonprofits, mental health and libraries, to name a few policy points.
“Democracy isn’t owed to us,” said Adams. “It isn’t freely given to us. We must be willing to fight for it every single day. That fight may be difficult, but that is why we must root down in our communities and work to preserve it ... New York City is bigger than one person and our city deserves leadership that prioritizes its people over individual glory or interests ... the dignity and trust in our government has been shaken in our city and it must be restored.”
Adams, who said she is often labeled a moderate, said she is someone willing to negotiate with others in office in order to tackle qualityof-life issues plaguing the city.
As she contemplates a mayoral run, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams outlined her goals in her final State of the City address.
“Our differences are used to divide us, I know this well,” she said. “My focus has always been public service, which has no political label. How we gauge policy solutions should be based on their effectiveness in improving the lives of New Yorkers. We can find common ground if we choose to listen and work toward solutions together. That is how I led and how we have successfully responded to
some of our city’s greatest challenges.”
Since she became speaker three years ago, about 120,000 new housing units have been built across the city, said Adams.
When it came to City of Yes, Mayor Adams’ citywide zoning reform proposal to build housing in every neighborhood, the speaker advocated for a counter plan.
“The voices that opposed it were loud,” she
State Sen. Sanders looking forward to a
said. “Too many were disconnected from the conversation because the proposal did not speak to their needs. I was determined for the Council to fill that gap.”
Last year, the zoning bill, LU 0181, was amended to include elements of the Council majority’s own City for All housing measure, which resulted in the proposed estimate for new housing units going from 109,000 to 82,000 to prevent overdevelopment in residential areas. The speaker also secured $5 billion toward infrastructure upgrades and social safety net initiatives for the housing insecure.
Adams announced that on March 4, the Council has released a set of administrative improvements the city can enact to improve access to housing vouchers.
The speaker said Trump’s crusade against immigrants is threatening the city’s economy.
“New Yorkers are already feeling the consequences of Trump’s mass deportation plan,” she said.
In Queens alone, several small businesses have reported a 50 percent drop in sales since his inauguration, she said.
“Apart from indigenous people, everyone here arrived from someplace else,” said Adams. “In response to Trump’s war on families, the Council launched the NYC Families Initiative, which funds services, Know Your
continued on page 15
‘daughter of Queens’ campaign Speaker considers a run for mayor
by Naeisha Rose Editor
More than a week after calling for the resignation of the embattled Mayor Adams, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica) filed campaign documents late Wednesday night that would allow her to start fundraising to gear up to unseat her former Bayside High School classmate.
Adams, no relation to the mayor, said in a statement via text that she did not seek to run for mayor, but as several stakeholders urged her to, it became a serious consideration.
She issued her statement before former Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his candidacy Sunday [see separate story].
“The urgency of this moment and the need for dignified and steady leadership that puts New Yorkers first and fights for the soul of our city is something we need now more than ever,” said Adams. “There is an opportunity to build a diverse coalition of New Yorkers who want leadership that restores effective management and trust to deliver results that make the city safer, more affordable,
and better protected from the chaos of the Trump Administration.”
With the resignation of four deputy mayors earlier this month, Adams said, “it has become clear that Mayor Adams has now lost the confidence and trust of his own staff, his colleagues in government and New Yorkers,” in an X post on Feb. 17.
“The administration no longer has the ability to effectively govern.”
State Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-South Ozone Park) told the Chronicle via email that while she may face trials if she runs, the speaker has the experience, resilience and leadership to navigate this moment.
“The possibility of Speaker Adrienne Adams entering the mayoral race is bittersweet,” said Sanders.
“On one hand, it comes amid the turbulence surrounding the current administration, but on the other, it signals a moment of great pride for Southeast Queens. “Seeing a daughter of Queens being seriously considered for the city’s highest office is both a testament to her leadership and a reflection of our community’s growing influence.
“Should she decide to run, she
would face formidable challenges — entering the race at this stage requires rapid infrastructure building, resource consolidation, and strengthening her base.”
Adams said via text that she is taking steps to prepare a robust campaign should she seek to become the first woman mayor of New York City. According to campaign finance records, there are about 35 candidates vying to lead the Big Apple.
Cuomo was leading as a contend-
er for mayor with 38 percent, according to a Honan Strategy Group poll taken before he entered the race. The mayor has 10 percent support and the speaker has 2 percent. Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria), a far-left candidate, has 12 percent favorability.
Campaign finance records show Mamdani leading in terms of campaign contributions.
A spokesperson for Borough President Richards said he is proud to call Adams a friend and he is deeply appreciative of her leadership over the course of her long, diverse career in public service.
“When it comes to this year’s mayoral race, the Borough President looks forward to meeting with every major candidate upon their declaration for office to discuss their vision for uplifting and investing in Queens families,” said the spokesperson via email.
Carlene Thorbs, chairwoman of Community Board 12, a title Adams once had, said the speaker’s run sounds about right.
“This would be an obvious progression in her career,” said Thorbs.
“She made the steps, she’s was the chair of the community board and now the City Council speaker. It is just an obvious step on the ladder to take now to run for mayor ... We have to play it by ear. I believe it is a smart move on her behalf.”
If Adams were to become mayor, Thorbs said, she hopes she would tackle quality of life issues.
“She’s already been working on that with the City Council,” said Thorbs. “That is the main issue on the community side. How she sees it is a whole different ball game.”
Thorbs said she is not backing Adams or anyone else for that matter at the moment.
“I’m just watching like everyone else,” she said.
Thorbs believes Adams has an advantage as the City Council speaker because of her experience working on the municipal level.
“Everybody else is just playing catch up,” said Thorbs.
Petitioning to get on the ballot started Feb. 25 and runs through April 3.
The Democratic primary is June 24. Q
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. PHOTO BY WILLIAM ALATRISTE / NYC COUNCIL / FILE
SCREENSHOT VIA NYC COUNCIL VIDEO
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EDITORIAL AGEP
Fireman’s alleged DWI fatal crash a tragic reminder to all
Don’t drive drunk. It’s that simple. Don’t drive buzzed, don’t drive tipsy, don’t drive hammered. Just don’t do it. No matter who you think you are, you could take someone’s life and ruin your own, in just a split second.
That’s what happened early last Wednesday morning in Corona, according to police and prosecutors. The alleged killer driver was an off-duty firefighter, Michael Pena, who the authorities say was going 83 miles an hour in a high-performance Mercedes-Benz when he slammed into a BMW driven by a young man named Justin Diaz at the corner of Northern Boulevard and 107th Street. Diaz had the green light but never had a chance.
According to the office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, Pena’s blood alcohol content was 0.156 percent. That’s a lot. It’s more than two and a half times the .06 p ercent legal threshold for DWAI, driving while ability impaired, and nearly twice as much as the .08 percent threshold for DWI, driving while intoxicated. He also had cocaine and marijuana in his system, the prosecutors say.
What Diaz had was a shift to work at LaGuardia Airport. That’s where the Daily News said he was headed when his body was broken in the horrific crash, which, for better or
worse, was caught on surveillance video. The aftermath also was recorded, in a separate video provided to the Queens Chronicle. Both are very hard to watch. We do not envy the police, emergency medical personnel and other first responders at scenes such as this any of their gruesome tasks.
The News spoke with Diaz’s brother, who said the victim, who was only 23, had just earned a degree in aeronautics and had his whole life ahead of him. Other family members were too broken up to speak, and we can’t blame them. We wish them strength. Their loss cannot be exaggerated.
Pena’s life as he knew it is over. He was one of New York’s Bravest, but that’s gone. He’s been suspended and probably will go to prison if convicted. You can still get a relatively light sentence for drunk driving, but not for killing someone. He faces a maximum of 15 years. He’s 28 now.
We can’t get inside Pena’s mind, and he’s innocent until proven guilty. We don’t know how he ended up where he did. But we do know that some public servants, police and firefighters at the top of the list, can develop a sense of entitlement concurrent with a drinking problem. Their jobs are unbearably hard. They see things and do things that most civilians never deal with. Some cope with alcohol. And then
they think, “What’s a little drunk driving? I’m not that bad. It’s fine.” And they can believe they’re entitled, because they have to handle such terrible things on the job to keep the people of the city safe. The irony is hard to comprehend. Often they get away with it. They might get a break if pulled over — it’s “professional courtesy.” But no one gets a break when something like this happens. The brotherhood of which Pena is a member is strong, with good reason (and it’s still mostly a brotherhood, though some women are in it), but the best he can hope for, if convicted, is some leniency because of his service to the public. People will tell the court about the good he has done, and it will be true. But on the other side of the ledger will be the life of Justin Diaz. That’s something we all should remember as spring arrives and life gets even more sociable. St. Patrick’s Day is in less than two weeks, and is well associated with drinking. Baseball starts before the end of the month, and beer goes perfectly with those hot dogs and pretzels. Summer won’t be far behind, with its barbecues and beach bars. Remember what you already know to be true: Driving drunk is a terrible choice that can lead to tragedy with one wrong move. Don’t do it. Don’t destroy lives for no damn reason.
MARK WEIDLER
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LETTERSTO THE EDITOR
Can’t trust MTA stats
Dear Editor:
I thought good journalism meant getting more than one side of a story, so why does your Feb. 27 article “New, redrawn bus routes in June, Aug.” only rely on the MTA press release containing many misleading statements?
The article claims 84 percent of bus riders will continue to use their existing stop, yet the MTA provides no backup anywhere how this number was derived. Simple arithmetic based on 800,000 daily riders shows 128,000 will be inconvenienced. Where does the MTA show the number benefiting from elimination of onethird of Queens’ bus stops, or nearly 1,800 of them, is greater than 128,000?
MTA officials also tout expanded hours of operation and increased service frequency.
Sure, on certain routes, but where do they show that this is true for the entire borough? They don’t because their rearrangement of routes and stop elimination is a net service cut. Otherwise they wouldn’t call the existing and proposed revenue miles and hours of service “proprietary information” and refuse to release it.
Where do they show their plan for the future will result in fewer needed transfers instead of more transfers? They don’t.
In short, all we have is the MTA’s word that this plan is an improvement and we all know how good the MTA’s word is. It promised up to 30 percent speedier trips with Woodhaven Select Bus Service and initially delivered only 3
percent if you ride three miles or more, according to their own numbers. Today with lower speed limits, the SBS is slower than the Limiteds they replaced and auto traffic travel times doubled in the corridor.
Beware when the MTA claims to be making improvements. And our elected officials are just as guilty by their silence.
Allan Rosen Brooklyn
Women’s History Month
Dear Editor:
March is Women’s History Month. We honor women who inspire us, who had a significant role in shaping our lives, our city, nation and world. We pay homage to these women, especially those who led the women’s suffrage movement, as well as Harriet Tubman with the Underground Railroad and those who broke the glass ceiling in every facet of life. We also honor our mothers, our teachers and nurses who
had a significant impact on our lives. And those such as Hazel Dukes, who just passed away and was active in the NAACP.
Cynthia Groopman Little Nec k
Officials aid gangs
Dear Editor:
Re your Feb. 27 editorial “Keep the gang database”: How far will civil liberties lunatics go to destroy public safety? They failed to defund the NYPD, but passed the How Many Stops Act, which cripples cops with a blizzard of paperwork. Now they want to eliminate the Criminal Group Database, an investigative tool that police use to target violent street gangs and arrest gang members who commit crimes.
Bronx City Councilwoman Althea Stevens, who represents one of NYC’s most crime-ridden sections, sponsors this misguided measure. She claims that “96 percent of the NYPD’s gang
LETTERSTO THE EDITOR
database is made up of black and brown people” (New York Post, Feb. 28). Mayor Adams replied to her statement by noting that “96 percent of the city’s shooting victims are people of color. Let’s remember them.”
But remembering them doesn’t fit the woke narrative of racial equity. Should cops replace their database with a list of suspects approved by the American Civil Liberties Union? “Progressive” leaders would love that.
Councilmember Stevens and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams (a supporter of the gang database eradication bill), are among all NYC elected officials who face re-election this year. Voters must hold all of them accountable and kick out the felon-friendly fools who threaten our safety.
Richard Reif Kew Gardens Hills
Plastic will suffocate us
Dear Editor:
There is so much plastic being used for too many things. Why does every greeting card have to be wrapped in plastic? Why do they have big bags of plastic for 6 ounces of potato chips, popcorn, pretzels and cookies? Why are they making smaller plastic water bottles that after three sips get tossed? They talk about banning plastic straws but that’s nothing compared to what I just mentioned.
What about all the plastic laundry bottles? I remember back in the day when all the detergents were in paper boxes like Tide. Most of the cereals are in boxes. They talk about saving the environment. This is something we can do and can control, but no one is leading the way. Everything always seems lead to one word, greed.
When I go shopping for fruits and vegetables I carry the same clear plastic bags that I got from the grocery store before and use them many times over.
I have an idea to help control where some of this plastic will go. They should have nickel deposits for all plastics including the detergents, yogurts, vitamins, etc. This would also help poor people and the homeless. They could make extra money for these plastic items by bringing them back to the stores to get shredded and recycled for other purposes.
This is a very serious issue. They are finding microplastics in our drinking water and in our bodies already. Plastic is in our oceans, killing and suffocating our fish, turtles and all sea life. In the end if we don’t take action it will suffocate all of us.
Antoni Capozello Laurelton
Teach Mideast fairly
Dear Editor:
A Hunter College job listing for faculty positions in a proposed Palestinian studies program called for scholars who could critically examine issues that represented Palestinian accusations against Israel. No scholars interested in critically examining Israeli accusations against Palestinians were invited to apply.
Faculty qualifications should be based on knowledge, not opinions. Both sides of controversial issues should be taught to students.
Following complaints by Jewish faculty, Gov. Hochul quite properly ordered CUNY to remove the job listing and conduct a thorough study.
Theodore Sheskin Flushing
Trump vs. Zelenskyy
Dear Editor:
It’s really shame the way President Trump and Vice President JD Vance acted towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy has nothing to apologize for. He wasn’t in the wrong. How can they say the Ukraine War is all Zelenskyy’s fault? He wasn’t the aggressor, Russia’s Vladimir Putin was.
If Trump were president in 1939, he would have blamed Germany’s invasion of Poland on Poland and not Hitler. Everyone in the world knows that Putin is a liar and can’t be trusted. Everyone except Trump. This entire scenario by Trump and Vance seemed orchestrated in advance. Zelenskyy didn’t have a chance. You would think Trump was trying to work this out in Putin’s favor. Maybe he is.
Lawrence Miller Middle Village
Shame on Republicans
Dear Editor:
President Trump has embarrassed himself and the country many times before but nothing he has done in the past compares to what he did recently.
First, he had the United States vote against a United Nations resolution condemning Russia for invading Ukraine. Trump’s attempt to appear to be an impartial mediator in the Ukraine-Russia conflict is making the United States a country that has no morals. We all know who started the war.
Then, we had the disaster in the Oval Office. Usually, when two leaders meet the underlings stay quiet in the background. Instead, Vice President JD Vance felt the need to lecture President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the need for diplomacy. When Zelenskyy replied that Russia has not met the terms of past agreements, Trump and his minions complained that Zelenskyy was disrespecting Trump by lecturing him.
In fairness to all, it would have been better if Zelenskyy had a translator to help avoid any misunderstanding.
Finally, it is a shame that Republicans like Sen. Lindsey Graham and House Speaker Mike Johnson came to Trump’s defense. Few Republicans have shown the courage to disagree with Trump.
It is events like this that caused me to leave the Republican Party years ago and become an unaffiliated conservative. I have no regrets.
Lenny Rodin Forest Hills
Trump’s wrecking it all
Dear Editor:
I will get straight to the point.
The policies and actions taken by the Trump administration pose a fundamental threat to our democracy and our standing in the world.
By taking a wrecking ball to the federal continued on next page
April 30th,
LETTERSTO THE EDITOR
government (i.e.: threatening to fire millions of federal workers, illegally ending whole agencies such as USAID, ignoring court orders, etc.), this administration shows that it thinks it is above the law and can do whatever it pleases.
The trail of destruction in the first two months of Trump’s presidency has been astonishing: consumer and business confidence tumbling, great uncertainty and fear not knowing what comes next, federal workforce living in daily fear, foreign policy in shambles and on and on.
Our system of checks and balances hangs by a thread. Republicans have abdicated their duty to govern, and to check the power of a runaway executive. Left unchecked, he could easily slide us into some form of dictatorship.
By the way, all this has nothing to do with making the government more efficient or saving money. The real aim is to rearrange the civil society by emaciating the government, concentrating even more power in the hands of the rich and the corporations. Thus, the massive, multitrillion-dollar tax cut being readied as we speak.
We need a massive grassroots movement to counter Trump and his cronies in Congress. Before it’s too late!
Davor Grancaric Hillcrest
Watch Nikki Haley
Dear Editor:
President Trump is doing his best to crash the American economy, and there is a good chance he will succeed in his quest before his term is over. But the question is now, who will replace him?
Nikki Haley is a solid, sane economist and professional accountant who is the most prominent figure who stands a chance to rescue America from a Trump-imposed bankruptcy. Unfortunately, Trump, who calls himself “the King of Debt,” has frozen her out of the Republican Party. She seems to have no options available.
But what if Haley were to, three years from now, change her party affiliation to the Democratic Party? Should she gain the nomination, she, who has huge appeal to the 30 percent of the electorate that considers itself independent, would easily win the general election.
Keep Ms. Haley in the back of your mind. She is down but not out, and after a three-year hibernation, we may be hearing a lot more about her.
Clifton Wellman Elmhurst
Rotary club honors officers
The Jamaica Rotary Club last Wednesday crowned four deserving NYPD officers with the title of “Cop of the Month” at its meeting at Villa Russo, at 101-12 Lefferts Blvd. in South Richmond Hill.
At top, after receiving their accolades, Officers Vincent Vaccaro, center left, and Ronald Mcnair, of the 102nd Precinct, pose alongside Rotary Club member Rick Chetram, left; Patrol Borough Queens South’s commanding officer, Capt. Kevin Williams; the 102’s commanding officer, Capt. Prati-
Above, holding their awards, Officers Anthony Milani, center right, and Michael Azzarelli, grin alongside their executive officer, Capt. Nigel Fenton of the 106th Precinct, third from left.
The Rotary Club also used the meeting to honor the late Officer Edward Byrne of the 103rd Precinct, who was murdered in the line of duty on Feb. 26, 1988, at just 22 years old. — Kristen Guglielmo
ma Maldonado; and Rotary Club President Joe Iaboni.
Assistance for TLC drivers
To help the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission-licensed drivers, state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) is partnering with the agency to bring a one-stop shop, called Van Hailin’, to his district on March 7.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., drivers licensed by the TLC are welcome to head to Monsignor Mulz Hall at 88-08 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven, the gynasium of St. Thomas the Apostle, for a variety of services and resources that would otherwise require a visit to the commission’s office in Long Island City.
Services include settlement offers; removal of revocation; help navigating TLC UP; and general licensing inquiries.
There will be opportunities to speak with TLC inspectors about required decals and resources; notice of violation lookup; and vehicle inspection report reprints.
Drivers can also take their annual mandated drug test with Labcorp until 1 p.m. for $34. Only money orders will be accepted.
Services are first-come, first-served. For more information on Van Hailin’, visit tinyurl.com/tlcvanhailin. Q
John Adams teens tackle dating abuse NYPD: Woman killed in OZP
by Kristen Guglielmo Editor
According to Aimer Torres of Day One, a nonprofit that works with youth in an effort to end dating abuse and domestic violence, 50 percent of young people aged 14 to 24 experience some form of digitally abusive behavior.
On Feb. 26, state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) partnered with Day One, Safe Horizion and the NYPD to host a presentation on dating and technology abuse for students at John Adams High School in Ozone Park. It replaced eight regular health classes over the course of the day, Addabbo’s office said.
“By holding this event at a high school, we aim to empower our youth with the knowledge to recognize and prevent dating violence, fostering a safer community for all,” Addabbo said in a prepared statement.
When asked, many students at the school said they digitally share their location, phone password and social media passwords with their partner.
Torres spoke to the teens about sustaining healthy relationships while using technology, identifying controlling and harm-
ful aspects of technology in relationships and best practices for building safe and healthy relationships online.
When sharing tips on prevention and protection, Day One stressed that the victim is not to blame for the abuser’s actions.
The group recommended the following tips: clearly state your wish to stop communication; inform trusted individuals about the situation; avoid responding to the abuser’s messages; preserve evidence such as text messages and emails without responding; and later decide if you should contact support lines or the authorities.
Safe Horizon representatives and Crime Victim Advocates from the NYPD 106th Precinct were stationed in the school’s cafeteria to provide assistance and resources.
“The more knowledge our young people have, the better equipped they are to support their peers and connect them to lifechanging resources,” Alexia Walker, a Day One community educator, said in a statement.
School Principal Scott Silverman reminded the students, “Empower your mind, protect your future — choose real connections over digital distractions.” Q
A 64-year-old woman was found dead outside of her Ozone Park residence late on the afternoon of Feb. 27.
The NYPD said that at around 5:22 p.m., officers responded to a 911 call reporting a person in need near the vicinity of 103rd Avenue and 105th Street, within the confines of the 106th Precinct.
Upon arrival, police found Juliet Kashidas-Singh, unconscious and unresponsive in front of her home.
EMS responded and pronounced her dead at the scene. Authorities ruled the incident a homicide, and said the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death.
Francisco Sevilla, 40, of 97th Street in Ozone Park, on Friday at 1 a.m. was arrested and charged with first degree murder and criminal posession of a weapon in the fourth degree in connection with Kashidas-Singh’s death. The case marks the second homicide of a woman in less than a month in Ozone Park, the last being on Feb. 15 within the confines of the 102nd Precinct. There have been no arrests in that case. Q
— Kristen Guglielmo
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Adams outlines goals upon exit
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Rights education and rapid response efforts.”
Adams used her platform to raise awareness about Black maternal healthcare.
“Black women are six times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than our white counterparts,” she said. “Too often low-income, Black and other women of color have their pain and symptoms dismissed, leading to delayed diagnoses and insufficient care. My own mother was one of these women.”
In 2023, the city expanded free doula care programs.
Last year, a budget initiative to support mothers facing housing insecurity was created, said Adams.
“With this initial investment, we are supporting 161 mothers and their children,” she said. “We have the resources to improve maternal health, reduce child poverty and ensure that all families could lead healthy lives. We can and we must.”
Adams was proud of her CUNY Reconnect program, which helps working New Yorkers return to college and graduate.
The speaker said she was inspired by her father returning to York College to complete a degree in economics at nights while she attended the school during the day.
“In three short years, CUNY Reconnect helped 40,000 New Yorkers re-enroll,” said Adams. “Its overwhelming success demands that we make it permanent by baselining it
in the budget.”
The speaker said there are about 20,000 Black and Latino small businesses in the city, but they often come across barriers that prevent them from growing.
“I’m announcing a plan to create the NYC Minority Business Accelerator,” said Adams. “When our small businesses thrive, so do our neighborhoods.”
Adams said for far too long nonprofits have had to deal with late payments for their essential services. On Tuesday, she announced legislation that will require awarded funds to be paid out earlier in the process.
“This will free nonprofits to focus on their missions,” she said.
Adams is also advocating for community centers to become health hubs, too.
“This year the Council will work to establish a new model for holistic centers,” she said. “They will provide the community access to mental health and physical healthcare, wellness and recreation space. We are going to start in Southeast Queens, my home.
“We are going to create a major new facility in partnership with a local library branch. Make no mistake about it, this Council will always defend our libraries.”
After the Council reversed cuts in library hours last year, Adams announced a plan for seven-day service at 10 new branches across the city. Q
Queens wins big at the Oscars
Two talented performers who once called the World’s Borough home recieved big accolades during the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood on Sunday.
Adrien Brody, 51, left, won the award for Actor in a Leading Role for playing László Tóth in the epic period drama “The Brutalist.”
Brody grew up on 85th Road in Woodhaven. He attended IS 145, the Joseph Pulitzer Middle School, in Jackson Heights, the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School in Manhattan and graduated from Queens College.
In May 2024, Brody posted a video of himself walking on Jamaica Avenue in Woodhav-
en, captioned “Where I’m from #Woodhaven.” Zoe Saldaña, 46, took home the award for Actress in a Supporting Role for playing Rita Mora Castro in the Spanish-French musical crime film “Emilia Pérez.”
Saldaña spent much of her early life in Queens before briefly relocating to the Dominican Republic. She then returned to Jackson Heights and attended Newtown High School in Elmhurst.
She told Elle Magazine in a November 2024 interview, “I’m a girl from Queens. I really love being from Jackson Heights, but it’s such a world in its own.” — Kristen Guglielmo
Our Lady of Grace RC Church Howard Beach
Saturday’s during Lent after the 8:30AM Mass
Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother
Monday’s & Friday’s after 8:30AM Mass
Holy Hour dedicated to the Passion of the Lord
Tuesday’s Lenten Mass at 6:30PM
Stations of the Cross on Wednesday’s after the 12 Noon Mass
Thursday’s Holy Hour from 7-8PM Desert Experience
Friday at 3PM the Divine Mercy Chaplet at the following locations:
March 7th Crossbay fi rehouse
March 14th Lenny’s Clam Bar
March 21st Catholic Charities building 156th Ave. and Crossbay
March 28th Howard Beach/JFK train station
April 4th Wetzel Square 157th Avenue & 99th Street
April 11th in front of Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church
Friday’s Stations of the Cross at 6:30PM
He killed 23-year-old in alleged DWI crash on Northern Blvd. in Corona Drunk fireman was going 83, DA says
by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief
An off-duty firefighter was drunk and high when he flew down Northern Boulevard at 83 mph and slammed into another car, killing the man at the wheel, prosecutors said last week.
Michael Pena, 28, of Oakland Gardens ran a red light at the corner of 107th Street in Corona in a 2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 in the early hours of Feb. 26 and barreled into Justin Diaz, 23, of Brooklyn, who was going through the intersection with the green light in a 2022 BMW M240, according to the authorities.
Diaz was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/ Elmhurst, where he was pronounced dead.
The horrific crash was captured on surveillance video, posted online by the New York Post. Both cars are demolished in the collision. The BMW is spun around and knocked into a parked minivan, while the Mercedes stops in the street, steam or smoke billowing out of its engine compartment. A passenger gets out and walks onto the sidewalk. The driver opens the door and sits there.
Pena was going eastbound and Diaz northbound. The speed limit is 25 mph. According to the video, the crash occurred at 4:07 a.m. Police said they arrived at about 4:14.
Pena stayed at the scene and was observed by police to be intoxicated, with slurred speech, watery eyes and a strong odor of alco-
hol on his breath, according to the office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. A breath test indicated he had a blood alcohol content of .156 percent, according to the DA, which is nearly thrice the legal limit to drive and nearly twice the .08 threshold for driving while intoxicated. He also allegedly had
cocaine and marijuana in his system.
“Drunk and reckless driving often have horrendous consequences,” Katz said in a prepared statement. “The defendant, an FDNY firefighter who was off duty, is accused of driving under the influence, running a steady red light and slamming into a 23-year-old motorist, kill-
StubHub customers robbed
Scalpers allegedly got hold of URLs for Swift tickets
by Naeisha Rose Editor
Two people allegedly stole URLs to more than 900 concert tickets, the majority of which were for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, according to the office of Queens District Melinda Katz.
The more than $600,000 in tickets was allegedly stolen by Tyrone Rose, 20, of Kingston, Jamaica, and Shamara Simmons, 31, of Jamaica, Queens, said prosecutors on Monday.
The two alleged culprits were arraigned last Thursday on a criminal complaint charging them with grand larceny in the second degree, computer tampering in the first degree, conspiracy in the fourth degree and computer tampering in the fourth degree.
Both defendants could face three to 15 years in prison if convicted, said prosecutors.
The theft was from June 2022 to July 2023, according to charges and investigation. About 993 tickets from 350 StubHub orders were allegedly intercepted by the two defendants working for a third-party con-
tractor, Sutherland, in the Caribbean country.
The investigation remains ongoing and law enforcement is looking into other potential co-conspirators to determine the extent of the operation, said Katz’s office.
Rose, an unapprehended accomplice and other Sutherland employees allegedly used their access to StubHub’s computer system to find a backdoor into a secure area network where already sold tickets were given a URL and queued to be emailed to each purchaser to download, said prosecutors. He and an unnamed co-conspirator allegedly redirected the emails of Simmons and a now deceased accomplice.
The tickets were downloaded from the rerouted URL, posted to StubHub and resold for profit, said law enforcement. The illicit proceeds from the scheme are valued at $635,000. Along with Swift, tickets for Adele and Ed Sheeran concerts, NBA games and the US Open Tennis Championships were also resold.
Investigators learned about the scheme from StubHub and the DA’s Detective
Bureau investigated the crime.
“According to the charges, these defendants tried to use the popularity of Taylor Swift’s concert tour and other high-profile events to profit at the expensive of others,” said Katz. “They allegedly exploited a loophole through an offshore ticket vendor to steal tickets to the biggest concert tour of the last decade and then resold those seats for an extraordinary profit of more than $600,000.
“This takedown highlights the vigilance of my office’s Cybercrime and Cryptocurrency Unit as well as the importance of working with our industry partners to combat fraudulent activities and ensure the protection of consumers.
“I thank StubHub for alerting us to this important case and encourage any Queens resident who may have been a victim of a cybercrime to contact our Cyber Crimes team.”
The team can be reached at (718) 2866673 or cybercrimes@queensda.org.
The defendants were ordered back to court on March 7. Q
ing him, as he drove more than three times the posted speed limit on February 26. Our shared roadways are not a racetrack. My office will seek justice for the victim and his loved ones.”
Pena was arraigned on a felony complaint charging him with manslaughter in the second degree, vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, assault in the second degree, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and related charges, the DA’s Office said. He was released on bail, which was set at $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond, and ordered to return to court on May 12. If convicted of the top count, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
Police said there were two male passengers in Pena’s car, both 28, who were taken to Elmhurst in stable condition.
The FDNY said Pena was suspended for 28 days without pay, pending an investigation. The New York Post said he was assigned to Engine Co. 304 in Queens Village, but the FDNY press office could not confirm that.
Diaz lived on Suydam Street near Wilson Avenue in Bushwick, Brooklyn, just five long blocks from Queens. A co-worker, Martha Zambrano, set up a GoFundMe page to aid his family with funeral and other costs, calling him “a caring and amazing friend, always checking on others.” With a goal of $20,000, it had raised $42,868 by 9 a.m. Wednesday. Diaz was laid to rest Tuesday. Q
Save lives by donating blood
“Donate Today, Save Lives Tomorrow” is the motto of the New York Blood Center, which is seeking donors as the state continues to face a blood shortage.
To help via a blood donation or a financial gift to the nonprofit, visit nybc.org.
There are four places in and around Eastern and Southeast Queens listed now to donate:
• PS 18, gym, 12 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 12, at 86-35 235 Court in Queens Village; blood drive coordinator Marnie Tannenbaum;
• St. John’s University, Taffner Field House room 202, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, March 27, at 8000 Utopia Pkwy. in Jamaica Estates; blood drive coordinator Paul Lazauskas;
• Holy Child Jesus Church, gym, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday, March 30, at 111-02 86 Ave. in Richmond Hill; blood drive coordinator Helen Aviles; and
• Queens Preparatory Academy High School, auditorium, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, April 9, at 143-10 Springfield Blvd. in Springfield Gardens; blood drive coordinator Kevin Bednar. Q — Naeisha Rose
Justin Diaz, 23, inset, was killed Feb. 26 when the BMW he was driving, rear, was hit by the Mercedes Benz in the foreground, which was being driven by an allegedly drunk off-duty firefighter going way over the speed limit.
SCREENSHOT VIA FNTV VIDEO; INSET PHOTO VIA GOFUNDME
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‘Never the same’ after a global pandemic
Hospital workers, execs on Covid’s impact on healthcare
by Stephanie G. Meditz Associate Editor
The start of the Covid-19 pandemic flipped the world upside down for people in every field.
But in medicine, where workers strove to treat high volumes of patients for a fatal disease about which much remained unknown, all while protecting themselves and their families, some things will truly never be the same.
As they are trained to do, medical professionals started preparing for a rapid influx of patients when they first heard about a developing virus overseas in early 2020.
“There are people in each of the hospitals, especially in the emergency department, who are familiar with that,” Dr. Isabella Park, associate executive director of Long Island Jewish Forest Hills hospital, told the Chronicle. “But nowhere did we anticipate anything like the pandemic.”
One change that came immediately was creating as many intensive care unit beds as possible, said Rose Marie Robinson, assistant director of nursing at LIJFH, who also is related to this article’s author.
Medical Center and Flushing Hospital doubled down on emergency management when they saw their first cases in March 2020, reallocating resources and workers as necessary.
Today, emergency services are still improving. JHMC is in the midst of a $155 million project that will more than double the department’s size and create 20 isolation rooms.
Transfers and load-balancing also were crucial tools in responding to the pandemic. Jacobs said more than 480 patients were transferred from LIJFH to other facilities in a matter of months.
“If anything, that was an incredible learning experience for our health system, so that way we can take care of our patients safely and also not compromise our resources,” Park said.
SARS-CoV-2 SARS-CoV-2 FIVE YEARS LATER
The hospital went from 18 to 59 ICU beds in just two weeks by converting standard medicalsurgical ones, LIJFH Medical Director Dr. Mitchel Jacobs said. Engineers also created negativepressure isolation rooms to stop the spread of germs.
“Pretty much every room can still be made an isolation room,” Robinson said.
Bruce Flanz, president and CEO of the Medisys Health Network, said also that Jamaica Hospital
When hospitals across the city were over capacity with Covid patients, Flanz said, he was able to coordinate transfers to Albany Medical Center, which had not yet seen its first case.
“Because of what we learned from some of our deployments and because of some of the relationships that we’ve established, it helped me make one of the best administrative decisions of my career,” he said.
Medical staff also became more familiar with how to treat Covid as the pandemic went on, Jacobs said, and the virus is much milder today than it was five years ago.
“In fact, this year, the flu is much worse than Covid,” he said. “There’s some Covid around, but not a ton.”
Along with the development of
Even though some healthcare workers say working through the Covid-19 pandemic brought staff together like never before, they also endured unimaginable hardships as they responded to an uncertain, rapidly evolving situation while trying to keep themselves safe.
new technologies and the need for isolation came advancements in telehealth — Flanz said the majority of outpatients in psychiatry now receive digital services.
Also citing the rapid development of telehealth, Jacobs said advancements in genomics, or gene manipulation to potentially “turn off” diseases in the future, have coincidentally followed the pandemic.
Public health also has been taken more seriously, Park said, stating that New Yorkers understood the importance of masks, even if they remain controversial in other places.
ones or to yourself,” Robinson said.
Flanz said the pandemic also illuminated how social needs, such as for housing and food, impact a person’s well-being.
“I think that there’s a new normal.”
—
At Flushing and Jamaica hospitals, patient navigators act as liaisons between doctors and the communities they serve. The program expanded during the pandemic, Flanz said, and navigators facilitated the hospitals’ Covid vaccine distribution by connecting with patients who may have been reluctant to get the shot.
Bruce Flanz,
president and CEO, Medisys
Staff still are encouraged to wear them in patient-facing areas, especially in high seasons for flu or other respiratory illnesses.
“A lot of people do, because everybody you come in contact with during the course of your day might be bringing something that you could bring home to your loved
“I think that there’s a new normal. I think that there were a lot of lessons to be learned,” Flanz said, adding that Covid reinforced some of what providers already knew.
The pandemic’s permanent effect on the healthcare professionals who worked through it cannot be discounted. Frequently referred to as heroes, they saw an outpouring of public support in 2020, from meals to banners of thanks.
But, Robinson said, going to work every day was traumatic for those heroes.
“There is an element, I truly believe, of PTSD,” she said. “When you get back into that moment in time and think about what you went through and the things that you did, there was a lot of camaraderie and a lot of teamwork to do the best they could for the patients, but it definitely was traumatic.”
“Everybody looked the same, whether it was the resident, the nurse, the priest, the engineering guys or me, we were all dressed in the same [personal protective
equipment]. You could barely tell who was who,” Jacobs said. “It really pulled everybody together, which was a great thing.”
Though staff wellness has always been a priority, hospitals in Queens went even further to take care of their workers during and after the pandemic.
Not only did JHMC and Flushing Hospital work to provide ample equipment, but staff still have access to “recharge rooms,” as well as teams of people with wellness training.
“We’ve always considered our workforce to be our greatest asset, so the best thing that we could do was to protect them and provide for their well-being,” Flanz said.
Robinson said Northwell’s selfcare resources for staff also have developed since the pandemic.
“It’s hard working in the healthcare world, being frontline and working day in and day out in the hospitals, so we take that more seriously,” Park said. “That has forever changed how we take care of our workforce now.”
But even as routine medical procedures resumed, things were “never the same,” Jacobs said.
“If it happened once, it can definitely happen again,” Robinson said. “At the beginning ... I don’t know that we truly believed it could get that bad here, but it did.”
The day she first saw a morgue truck outside the hospital, she said, she cried the whole way home. She saw a second truck the next day.
“These are things that you take and carry with you all the time,” she said.
Q
Find more Covid remembrance stories tagged “SARS-CoV-2: five years later” in print or at qchron. com throughout March.
PHOTOS COURTESY NORTHWELL HEALTH AND, BELOW RIGHT, JHMC / FILE
The pandemic has led more people to feel on guard, said Rose Marie Robinson of LIJFH, left. Medisys President and CEO Bruce Flanz, right, said Covid illuminated the impact of social needs on well-being.
Council OKs some free NYC waste bins
by Stephanie G. Meditz Associate Editor
The City Council last Thursday passed legislation that would give free official city trash bins to some homeowners.
The bill, Intro. 1126, would require the city’s Sanitation Department to distribute the receptacles free of charge to eligible owners of residential buildings with up to two dwelling units. To meet the criteria to receive the bins, homeowners must be enrolled in a New York STAR or Enhanced STAR tax benefit program.
The DSNY also would have to reimburse eligible homeowners who purchased the official bins on or before Aug. 1, 2026 and submit a report on the law’s implementation a month after its expiration.
Last November, the DSNY began requiring all properties with one to nine residential units to put out their trash in 55-gallon or less bins with secure lids. By June 2026, they will be required to use an official NYC Bin.
NYC Bins are priced at about $46 for 35 gallons, and the larger 45-gallon container costs about $53. They are sold at
bins.nyc, at Home Depot or by calling 1 (855) NYC-BINS (692-2467).
The bill now awaits Mayor Adams’ signature to become law. City Hall did not respond to the Chronicle’s requests for comment on whether he will sign it.
A DSNY spokesperson told the Chronicle via email that the agency is reviewing the Council-passed legislation.
In the meantime, he said, the NYC Bin is the cheapest bin of its quality on the market, costing about a third of the retail price for a comparable one.
Last December, a month after Sanitation’s containerization mandate took effect, rat sightings reported to 311 saw a 23 percent decrease compared to the year prior, the spokesperson said. He said the decline continued in January, as 311 complaints dropped by 24 percent.
“These numbers make it clear that containerization works,” the spokesperson told the Chronicle.
One also may purchase separate NYC Bins for recycling and compost, but they are not required. Compost must be set out in sealed bins of 55 gallons or less, the DSNY’s website states. Q
Vanel introduces tip transparency bills
by Naeisha Rose Editor
To combat deceptive tipping practices, Assemblyman Clyde Vanel (D-Queens Village) announced Feb. 27 that he has introduced two bills that would tackle the problem.
Vanel introduced bills A05388 on Feb. 13 and A05431 the following day. The first piece of legislation would make it unlawful to solicit a gratuity deceptively. The latter measure would prohibit deceptive automatic gratuity practices.
Vanel said he authored the bills because New Yorkers are struggling due to inflation and are stretched to the breaking point in terms of finances.
The staggering costs of basic items such as eggs and milk have led to “tip fatigue,” said the assemblyman.
“I’ve had so many constituents come to me and complain about the cost of living,” Vanel said in a statement. “The subliminally deceptive nature of many tipping practices has caused consumers to catch on to the fact that they have been spending more for goods and services than they previously did.”
Gregory W. MEEKS
- Fifth District of New York
Vanel’s office conducted research revealing that shoppers were unknowingly deceived into tipping more than they wanted to.
“One of my staff members went to a bakery and bought a croissant, which was around $3,” said Vanel. “They were then prompted on the point-of-sale system to tip.
“What my staff member noticed was that the system displayed suggested tip amounts that were not a percentage of the transaction — which is what is normally displayed — but a dollar amount. The idea is that suggesting tips of $1, $1.25, and $1.50 sounds much more reasonable than a tip of 33, 42, or 50 percent. That extra 50 cents could mean a lot for the average New Yorker.”
The practice was leading to workers having reduced tips or no tips at all.
“We have to make sure that when consumers are transferring value, the value that is being transferred is transferred on the consumers’ own terms,” Vanel said.
The bills were referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection.
There were no companion measures listed in the state Senate. Q
Queens Memory Project documents moments captured during the pandemic Personal stories from the epicenter
by Kristen Guglielmo Editor
It feels like just yesterday, some of us were standing in long lines outside grocery stores, masked and cautious, as the world around us rapidly changed. We found ourselves learning new skills — like how to bake sourdough bread, avoid foggy glasses while wearing masks and navigate Zoom calls without accidentally muting ourselves.
Through all the fear and uncertainty, there was a surprising sense of solidarity, as we all learned to adjust together to a “new normal.” Whether gathering up at windows to applaud healthcare and other essential workers or hosting digital get-togethers, a sense of community rarely wavered.
Here at the fiveyear anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s easy to take a peek into the past with the Queens Memory Project, an archiving program and collaboration between the Queens Public Library and Queens College. More information on it can be found at tinyurl.com/3ce6dytp.
“Queens remains the epicenter of the pandemic in New York City, with many residents working on the front lines and providing essential services to community members,” said Natalie Milbrodt, QPL’s coordinator of metadata services and the founding director of the Queens Memory Project, in a statement at the time. “The stories they are sharing with us today will be an invaluable resource to those in the future trying to understand this turbulent time in world history.”
One of the most powerful entries to the project was submitted on May 11, 2020 by Queens College student Daniel Rivera, then 25. Rivera expressed his frustration with quarantining, but encouraged it as a practice.
“I haven’t seen any of my friends or family outside of my house in the past five, six weeks,” Rivera said. He said he has kidney failure and gets dialysis treatments every other day, and was concerned about complications should he contract the virus.
a loss of taste.
Caracci said she was shocked to see how poorly equipped hospitals were.
While the project isn’t specific to Covid — the Queens Public Library publishes oral histories, recorded live events and the Queens Memory podcast in its audiovisual archives — in April 2020, the project started to seek the collection of personal stories about life at the epicenter of the pandemic.
Queens residents were asked to submit stories in a variety of formats, including phoned-in audio testimonies, photo and written submissions and long-form remote interviews conducted by Queens Memory staff and volunteers.
While he struggled emotionally and mentally during quarantine, he found solace in Zoom meetings and phone calls with his relatives.
“I’ve started to call my cousins more,” Rivera said. “Covid-19, to some degree, has brought my family closer together, but has also separated us quite a bit.”
Jennifer Caracci, in a video posted on May 4, 2020, detailed her experience contracting the coronavirus.
“It is not something you want to catch or want to get,” Caracci said. “It’s definitely really scary, and it’s the sickest I’ve ever felt.”
She said she had a fever, chills, body aches, chest pain, nausea and
While she was hospitalized, she overheard that one man’s oxygen levels were low and there were no available tanks. She was discharged and never found out if the man received one.
“Seeing that was kind of like a shock to me,” Caracci said. “Knowing that we — in the United States, a first-world country — were so underprepared that we didn’t have enough oxygen tanks to provide to other people. I was shocked by that.”
Elizabeth O’Brien, an Astoria resident, in an April 10, 2020 video dubbed it “a sad month for Queens.”
“Over 7,000 people have died,” O’Brien said. “I live about four blocks from Mount Sinai Queens and just the sound of the ambulance constantly passing has been very
upsetting and heartbreaking. This is unimaginable in New York City.”
O’Brien said she was a teacher prior to the pandemic, so she was teaching herself and others how to use online learning.
“Simple things are no longer simple,” O’Brien wrote in the video’s caption. “I get groceries delivered. I wash my clothes by hand and you don’t go out every day. I now notice the sounds of ambulance. I now notice the stories of other New Yorkers.”
Matthew Merino on May 21, 2020 posted a video of what he called a “good moment that came out from the terrible pandemic,” showcasing one of the daily 7 p.m. cheers for frontline healthcare workers in Forest Hills.
“Near the playground of Russell Sage, I remember the roar from the Parker Towers, in full force, showing their appreciation for the workers on the frontlines,” Merino said.
Luz Ayala on April 17, 2020 uploaded a video of an empty Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport.
“It is weird to see how empty the airport looks, lots of cancelled flights, almost no passengers flying, empty flights, reduced staff in all areas and restaurants closed,” Ayala wrote in the video’s caption.
“Unfortunately this has become our daily view.”
Amidst the pandemic, Lily Deng helped her family. On May 28, 2020, Deng posted a video titled “A Day in Quarantine” in which she focused on a day spent assisting her father in applying for a food vendor permit and making a visit to a notary public in Jackson Heights.
“Although he filed for unemploy-
ment, he wanted to prepare for work after Covid,” Deng said of her father.
An anonymous college educator from Astoria in a Jan. 6, 2021 audio interview said the situation had taken a toll on his mental health. He also talked about the difficulty getting care for non-Covid related illnesses at the time — as a result, his grandfather, who lived in Canada with his parents, did not get the care he needed and passed away.
While in Canada, the educator realized how differently the pandemic was treated there.
“Overall they take it a lot more seriously than they do in America,” he said. “Covid has not been politicized in Canada, and it shouldn’t be anywhere.”
He said those not wearing masks in Canada were the odd ones out, while in the United States, some did not take it as seriously.
In looking back on the project during the height of Covid, Meral Agish, the interim director of Queens Memory, told the Chronicle in a statement, “The pandemic has left an indelible mark on countless lives, and the stories we gathered through our COVID-19 Project reflect the depth of both individual and collective experiences during these challenging times.”
“As we near the five-year anniversary of the pandemic shutdowns in New York City, these testimonies serve as a powerful reminder of people’s struggles and losses, but also their resilience and hope.” Q Find more Covid remembrance stories tagged “SARS-CoV-2: five years later” in print or at qchron. com throughout March.
A glimpse of the corner of Junction Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue in Corona during the Covid-19 pandemic in May 2020, as seen in a video essay by Lily Deng published in the Queens Memory Project. SCREENSHOTS / QUEENS MEMORY PROJECT
Daniel Rivera details his thoughts during the coronavirus pandemic in a May 2020 video, left, and Luz Ayala shows a glimpse of an empty LaGuardia Airport terminal in April 2020.
Higher Social Security benefits and back payments
by Social Security Administration
Today, the Social Security Administration announced it is immediately beginning to pay retroactive benefits and will increase monthly benefit payments to people whose benefits have been affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset.
These provisions reduced or eliminated the Social Security benefits for over 3.2 million people who receive a pension b ased on work that was not covered by Social Security (a “non-covered pension”) b ecause they did not pay Social Security taxes.
“Social Security’s aggressive schedule to start issuing retroactive payments in February and increase monthly benefit p ayments beginning in April supports President Trump’s priority to implement the Social Security Fairness Act as quickly as possible,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “The agency’s original estimate of taking a year or more now will only apply to complex cases that cannot be processed by automation. The American people deserve to get their due benefits as quickly as possible.”
People who will benefit from the new law include some teachers, firefighters, and police officers in many states; federal employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System; and people whose work had been covered by a foreign social security system.
The Social Security Fairness Act ends WEP and GPO.
Many beneficiaries will b e due a retroactive payment because the WEP and GPO offset no longer apply as of January 2024. Most people will receive their one-time retroactive payment by the end of March, which will be deposited into their bank account on record with Social Security.
Many of these people will also receive higher monthly benefits, which will first be reflected in the benefit payment they receive in April. Depending on factors such as the type of Social Security benefit received and the amount of the person’s pension, the change in payment amount will vary from person to person. Anyone whose monthly benefit is adjusted, or who will get a retroactive payment, will receive a mailed notice from Social Security explaining the benefit change or retroactive payment. Most people will receive their retroactive payment two to three weeks before they receive their notice in the mail, because the President understands how important it is to pay people what they are due right away. Social Security is expediting payments using automation and will continue to handle many complex cases that must be done manually, on an individual case-by-case basis. Those complex cases will take additional time to update the beneficiary record and pay the correct benefits.
Social Security urges beneficiaries to wait until April to ask about the status of their retroactive payment, since these payments will process incrementally into March. Since the new monthly payment amount will begin with the April payment, beneficiaries should wait until after receiving their April payment, before contacting Social Security with questions about their monthly benefit amount. Visit the agency’s Social Security Fairness Act webpage to learn more and stay up to date on its progress. Visitors can subscribe to be alerted when the webpage is updated. P
Financial strategies to consider as retirement nears
Freedom is often cited as a benefit of retirement. Many professionals look forward to the day when they retire and have more free time and the freedom to spend that time however they choose. Of course, the opportunity to spend retirement how one sees fit typically requires considerable financial freedom.
Financial planning for retirement is often emphasized to young professionals beginning their careers. But it’s equally important that people on the cusp of retirement continue to look for ways to protect and grow their wealth. As retirement draws near, professionals can consider these strategies to ensure they have the financial freedom to make their golden years shine even brighter.
• Plan to grow your wealth in retirement. It’s widely assumed that retirees need less income after calling it a career because the need to save for retirement is no longer present. However, some expenses, including health care, may rise in retirement, which underscores the need to continue growing your wealth. Cost-of-living also will increase over the course of your retirement years, which highlights the need to keep growing wealth in retirement. It can be tricky to protect your existing retirement savings as you approach the end of your career while also growing that wealth, so it is best to work with a financial planner to navigate that situation.
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• Maintain a mix with your investments. A model from the Schwab Center for Financial Research indicated that a hypothetical retiree with a $2 million portfolio in year one of retirement will have slightly less than $1 million left 30 years later if her portfolio maintains a mix of 60 percent stocks and 40 percent bonds and cash. The model found that a
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second hypothetical investor with the same size portfolio in year one of retirement will run out of funds prior to year 29 if his portfolio is 20 percent stocks and 80 percent bonds and cash. Though conventional wisdom suggests limiting risk as retirement nears and eliminating it entirely upon retiring, modern retirees are living longer and may therefore
need to maintain a mix of investments to ensure they don’t outlive their money.
• Make the maximum allowable contributions. Many aging professionals may not have saved as much for retirement as they might have hoped to upon starting thei r careers decades ago. In fact, a 2024 survey from Prudential Financial found that many 55-year-olds have fallen far short of establishing the level of financial security they will need in retirement. The Prudential survey found that 55-year-olds had a median retirement savings of less than $50,000, a number that falls considerably short of the recommended goal of having eight times one’s annual income saved by this age. If that situation sounds familiar for professionals nearing retirement age, then now is the time to begin catching up. Make the maximum allowable contributions to a 401(k) plan ($23,000 in 2024) and/or an IRA ($7,000). In addition, the Internal Revenue Service notes that IRA catch-up contributions remained $1,000 for individuals age 50 and over in 2024.
Retirement can provide a sense of freedom professionals have worked hard to achieve over the course of their careers. Some simple strategies can help professionals on the cusp of retirement achieve the financial freedom they’ll need to enjoy their golden years to the fullest extent. P — Metro Creative Connection
Professionals nearing retirement can increase their financial freedom in their golden years by following some simple strategies.
B SPORTS EAT
Big month for Red Storm
by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor
St. John’s University Red Storm men’s basketball fans have not had as much reason to be excited about the arrival of March since Chris Mullin and Walter Berry were leading the thenRedmen to the Final Four in 1985. Forty years later, Head Coach Rick Pitino is trying to emulate the late Lou Carnesecca’s accomplishment and even surpass it.
The first postseason test for the Red Storm will be next week’s Big East Tournament, which runs next Wednesday through Saturday. The Red Storm have proven to be Madison Square Garden’s best home team. Unlike the Knicks, they beat the tough competition in their conference, such as the Creighton Blue Jays, Marquette Golden Eagles and University of Connecticut Huskies. If the Red Storm are not one of the two teams playing for the title next Saturday night, it will be a big disappointment.
Teams contending for NBA titles have at least three major stars on their roster. I am not a college hoops expert, but I have a feeling the same can be said for NCAA teams. Nevertheless, the Red Storm trio of guards RJ Luis and Kadary Richmond, and forward Zuby Ejiofor are a very solid trio.
All Pitino-coached teams are known for playing tenacious defense, and this year’s Red Storm team is no exception. If they have an
area of weakness, it is their offense, which can often go stone cold. Their free throw shooting is poor, and poor shooting led to a loss to a mediocre Villanova team last month.
No matter what happens at next week’s Big East Men’s Basketball Tournament, the Red Storm will be participating in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, better known to most as “March Madness.” Last year, the NCAA selection committee opted to exclude the Red Storm from the pageant. That controversial omission angered everyone at St. John’s, and it did not make the tournament’s broadcasting partners, CBS and Warner Media, happy either, since a New York team is ratings gold for them.
Last year’s hiring of Pitino finally made the Red Storm relevant after all too many years.
Vice TV is the quirky cable network owned by Vice Media, which went through a recent period of financial turbulence. It sees sports documentaries as a profitable path, and the network has made a big bet on Queens’ college basketball team with a Tuesday night documentary series titled “Rick Pitino: Red Storm Rising.”
In one episode, Pitino discusses growing up in Cambria Heights and revisits the neighborhood. He returns to Cabbell Park, where he says he played basketball every day until sunset regardless of the weather. Q
See the extended version of Sports Beat every week at qchron.com
Drama club gets $500 boost
Holy Child Jesus Teen Drama Group, based at Holy Child Jesus Academy at 111-02 86 Ave. in Richmond Hill, was honored last Saturday at Raymour & Flanigan, at 48-18 Northern Blvd. in Long Island City. The group received a $500 check from the store for community outreach.
Standing with the check are Kathy Keane, top left, the grants coordinator for HCJ Teen Drama; Ed Harley, outreach doordinator; Ree Brinn, an account executive at the Chronicle who also organized the event; Ariel McAuley, choregorapher; and Hussein Elsayed, store manager of Raymour & Flanigan LIC.
The event was a showcase of young talent at its finest. The teens captivated the audi-
ence with awe-inspiring solos and duets. Katha Cato, the executive director of the Queens World Film Festival, presented mugs to the club as a token of appreciation, above. Elmhurst-based coffee company Ethikvest Nature treated guests to a coffee tasting experience, accompanied by a presentation. The event also had support from nonprofits Loving Touch and The Bridge to Life, Inc. The drama group is gearing up for its next production: “Legally Blonde the Musical.” Auditions will open to those 13 to 19 in late June, and the show is set for Aug. 7 to 10. For details, email hcjteendrama@gmail.com or follow the group on Instagram or Facebook at @hcjteendrama. — Kristen Guglielmo
Astoria gives a fig, really, 3/16
Gardeners and tree stewards take note!
The Astoria Food Pantry, at 25-28 Steinway St., is branching into new territory from 1 to 2 p.m. March 16, with the area’s first-ever fig tree scion exchange.
Everyone, with or without roots in Astoria, is welcome to bring fig tree cuttings to trade with fellow growers.
The ideal cuttings will be long enough for secure planting and have at least three nodes. The top cut should be flat, a couple inches above the upper node. The bottom cut should be made at an angle, close to the lowest node but not hitting it.
The event is free, and people will exchange knowledge and experiences as well as scions. Anyone with questions may email astoriafoodpantry@gmail.com. Q — Peter C. Mastrosimone
“Because the thousands of fig trees growing in Astoria were brought from every corner of the Mediterranean, there’s a wide diversity of heirloom fig cultivars grown here that aren’t found anywhere else in the US,” an email promoting the event says. “This event is a step to preserve those varieties and strengthen Astoria’s identity as the Big Apple’s Fruit Basket.”
March 6, 2025
ARTS, CULTURE & LIVING
by Kristen Guglielmo
We hope you’re hungry! The annual Eats in Queens Restaurant Month is returning for its third year throughout March with a delicious roster of offerings.
The event is organized by Queens Together, a nonprofit food relief organization founded during the Covid-19 shutdown to support frontline workers and people facing
Recent efforts include providing groceries to a food
meals to a veterans shelter in Long Island City on Feb. 27. The group also has a mentor program, under which some of the restaurant leaders visit other eatery owners to provide business advice.
Jonathan Forgash, the founder of Queens Together, told the Chronicle that Eats in Queens Restaurant Month was created to support local, noncorporate “mom and pop” restaurants. He lauded the participating restaurants and their owners.
“Everything we do promotes restaurants, directs people to restaurants, funds food relief for restaurants,” Forgash said. And together, we feed people who are facing food and economic insecurity.”
He continued, “We wanted to be very, very helpful to our restaurants. So instead of a blanket program, this one is very specific, and it’s all about directing people to the amazing restaurants in Queens who do so much to provide food relief. ... You’re not only supporting a local restaurant, you’re supporting food relief in Queens.”
Of course, the most diverse borough has a wide breadth of cuisine from around 20 different restaurants.
From ceviche at Ay Quey in Woodside to Isaan Thai-style
Restaurant renew
Monthlong effort aids small eateries
quesadillas at Neir’s Tavern in Woodhaven, or old-fashioned pizza at Sac’s Place in Astoria, everyone is sure to find an option that tickles their fancy.
More information can be found at restaurantmonth2025.queenstogether.org.
This year, Queens Together has teamed up with Alewife Brewing, a brewery and tap-
King Crossword Puzzle
I HAVE OFTEN WALKED
Preppy Killer Robert Chambers lived in Astoria
by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor
Mary Phyllis Shanley was born June 7, 1937 in Cobh, Ireland. She landed in New York on the Mauretania in May 1948, one month shy of her 11th birthday, ready to pursue the American dream. She moved to Astoria, became a nurse and fell in love with Robert Chambers, two years her junior. They married in 1965. Their only child, Robert Jr., was born Sept. 25, 1966. The family lived at 88-09 35 Ave. in Jackson Heights.
As Mary (known by all as Phyllis) and Robert Sr. advanced in their careers they moved to Manhattan in 1977 when Robert Jr. was 11 years old. His mother paid to enroll him in an exclusive prep school. The problem was he was still middle class and did not have the funds his classmates did. However, he had leading-man good looks and Alexandra Kapp, a future A-list actress, dated him.
On Aug. 28, 1986, Chambers strangled
18-year-old Jennifer Levin to death in Central Park in a case that became a media sensation. He pleaded out and was sentenced to 15 years, forever known as “The Preppy Killer.” Because of drugs, he was arrested in 2005 and 2007, which put him back in prison for a planned 19 years. Released in 2023 after 15 years, he will be on parole until 2028. The media are anxiously awaiting the next chapter in his sordid saga. Q
The childhood home of Robert Chambers Jr. at 88-09 35 Ave. in Jackson Heights, as it looks today. His killing of a woman was covered extensively, including on the cover of People magazine in 1988. GOOGLE MAPS IMAGE; INSET
Artists share their works in progress at LPAC
by Stephanie G. Meditz associate editor
Those who wish to be among the first to witness an innovative new stage production need look no further than LaGuardia Performing Arts Center.
Throughout the month of March, six playwrights will take part in the annual Rough Draft Festival, a program in which emerging artists present their developing works and invite audience members into their creative processes. While some presentations are read-throughs, others will include movement and design elements.
The program has run for more than 20 years, during which it has fostered collaboration and become an incubator for growth.
Audiences are welcome to participate in Q&A sessions after the readings, and faculty are invited to offer class visits with the playwrights for workshops.
According to LPAC’s website, the plays in the 2025 installment are provocative explorations of human relationships that “portray what it means to connect, change and find one’s place in the world.”
Kicking off this year’s program on March 10 is Daniel Holzman with his work entitled “Olives.” The erotic thriller chronicles the relationship of married couple Miriam, who works in tech, and David, who is taking a
year off work to learn guitar. The two carry their own sets of fears, and their worlds change after a bodybuilder comes into play.
Described as “haunted, horny and sickly funny,” the work is about creating oneself anew from the outside in.
Anyone who enjoys some nightly television escapism with a side of snacks might enjoy the deep dive of KJ Stewart’s new work, entitled “Choke.” Described as an exploration of gluttony in its many forms, the play follows Debbie, who indulges in a new reality show in which women compete
in hot dog eating contests for a cash prize.
“Choke” will be presented on March 11.
“Fountains of Youth,” a thriller by Kareem Fahmy, will follow on March 12. The work follows a tightknit group of friends that is torn apart when it must investigate the disappearance of its very own Moose, an unauthorized refugee. Some in the group are more able and willing to reveal the dark truth than others.
Three lives will intertwine on March 14, when Emmy Weissman, a Masters of Fine Arts student in playwriting at Hunter College, presents “Open Studio.” Audiences will follow Maya as she becomes infatuated with one older and one younger man at her small town pottery studio and finds herself caught in the triangle’s complexities.
“The Stranger” by Sam Walsh, another student in Hunter’s playwriting MFA program, will be featured on March 19. When Maxine, the estranged niece of local repairman Roy, arrives at his door, the two must make sense of their past in order to move forward. The work is described as a reflection on grief, regret and learning when one must start again to make amends.
The installment will wrap up on March 21 with “Furball” by Jeana Scotti. A wad of cat hair is growing inside of Sam, and no one can find a solution. Even a medical pro-
fessional tells Sam “there’s just not enough research on this sort of thing,” while the hair continues to accumulate.
In years past, the Rough Draft Festival has featured a breadth of novel works, including one conceived by Estefania Fadul that explained the voting process and key issues of the 2020 election in an accessible, impartial way.
Among the other Rough Draft works highlighted on LPAC’s website are “Memorial” by Adam A. Elsayigh, which follows the Muslim community in New Zealand during and after two 2019 mosque shootings, and Rachel Gita Karp’s “Packing and Cracking,” which prompts audiences to consider the idea of politicians choosing voters, rather than vice versa.
Professional and student playwrights may apply to participate in the Rough Draft Festival from October through mid-December, LPAC states on its website. Its Work-inProgress Festival, which takes place in the fall, allows playwrights to further develop their work, featuring two professional plays chosen via audience surveys.
All Rough Draft readings are free. Those interested to attend may RSVP at lpac.nyc/ upcoming-events/rdf-2025.
LPAC is located at 31-10 Thomson Ave. in Long Island City. Q
In Queens, delectable eats for a great cause
continued from page 25
room in Sunnyside, for a unique beverage offering for a good cause.
Restaurant Month is pairing the borough’s cuisine with Queens Together Pilsner, a German-style beer that debuted at the 2024 Queens Together International Food Festival. For every can sold, one dollar will be donated to Queens Together.
“For a community as diverse as Queens, we wanted to create something that pairs
Crossword Answers
well with everything from BBQ and pizza to spicy cuisines like Korean and Thai,” said
Patrick Donagher, the founder of Alewife Brewing, in a statement. “I hope we can do good things with this beer. Anything we can do to help the hungry, we’re all in.”
Forgash told the Chronicle, “Patrick and I have been doing humanitarian work together since 2018. The man is a saint.”
He also encouraged those who patronize Restaurant Month to enter its $25 raffle. The proceeds go to Queens Together. The grand prize includes gift certificates from some of the participating eateries, four tickets to the US Open and a case of Queens Together Pilsner.
“Really, our money for programming this year is coming from the $25 raffle and from corporate sponsorship,” Forgash said.
Sponsors for this year’s Restaurant Month include the New York City Hospitality Alliance Impact Foundation, Metropolitan Park, Champlain Hudson Power Express and Hall Public Relations.
Jim Allen, the chairman of Hard Rock International, in a statement said, “Hard Rock and Metropolitan Park are excited to support Queens Together and their efforts
Volunteers from Queens Together are passionate about fighting food insecurity, as seen here during Thanksigiving 2022 food relief efforts at the Variety Boys and Girls Club in Astoria. On the cover: Some of the offerings found during Eats in Queens Restaurant Month; and Queens Together founder Jonathan Forgash, left, and Patrick Donagher of Alewife Brewing show off the Queens Together Pilsner.
to strengthen the local restaurant community while also providing essential food relief for those in need. Eats In Queens Restaurant Month is a celebration of culture, cuisine, and community, and we’re honored to
be part of this initiative.”
There is also a roster of events and gatherings to look forward to throughout the month, which will be updated on the aforementioned website as scheduled. Q
The above six playwrights, seen left to right from top in the order in which their performances occur, will present their work at LPAC throughout March. LPAC PHOTOS / FACEBOOK
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Legal Notices
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS CROSBY GIBRALTAR, LLC; Plaintiff v. GANESH ARORA; et al.; Defendants Attorney for Plaintiff: Hasbani & Light, P.C., 450 7th Ave, Suite 1901, NY, NY 10123; (212) 6436677 Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on 8/5/24, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder at the Queens County Supreme Court, located at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435 on March 28, 2025, at 10:00 AM Premises known as 57-65 75th Street, Queens, NY 11379 Block: 2814 Lot: 93 All that certain plot, piece, or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the County of Queens, State of New York. As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale. Sold subject to the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale. Approximate amount of judgment: $1,568,659.05 plus interest and costs. Docket Number: 726628/2022 Gerald Chiariello, Esq., Referee
Notice of Formation of 21245 26 AVE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/10/25. Office location: Queens County. Princ. office of LLC: c/o Cord Meyer Development LLC, 108-18 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills, NY 11375. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of ANATOLIKO LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/19/2025. 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 process to: ENTITY PROTECT REGISTERED AGENT SERVICES LLC, 447 BROADWAY 2ND FL. - #3000, NEW YORK, NY 10013. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
NOTICE OF SALE
In pursuance and by virtue of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly granted and entered in and action entitled NYCTL 1998-2 Trust v. Sereth T. Hosty, et al., bearing Index No. 91862011 before the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Queens, IAS Part 6, Justice Tracy Catapano-Fox, on or about February 26, 2024, I, the Referee, duly appointed in this action for such purpose, will expose for sale and sell at public auction to the highest bidder on March 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at the Queens County Supreme Court located at 8811 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, New York 11435, the mortgaged premises designated as Block 11190, Lot 37 in the City of New York, County and Borough of Queens, State of New York and known as 223-23 109th Avenue, Queens Village, New York 11429, directed in and by said judgment to be sold. The approximate amount of the judgment is $299,772.53 plus interest and other charges, and the property is being sold subject to the terms and conditions stated in the judgment, any prior encumbrances and the terms of sale which shall be available at the time of sale.Dated: February 20, 2025 New York, New York Richard Gutierrez, Esq. Referee 118-35 Queens Blvd., Suite 1500 Forest Hills, New York 11375 (718) 520-0663
DAVID P. STICH, ESQ. Attorney for Plaintiff 521 Fifth Avenue, 17th Floor New York, New York 10175 (646) 554-4421
Notice of Formation of EdgeSide LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/20/2024. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 3705 88th Street, Apt C6, Jackson Heights, NY 11372. Purpose: any lawful activities.
REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF QUEENS MIDFIRST BANK, Plaintiffagainst - TRAVIS GREEN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on July 25, 2024. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse located at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY, on the second floor in Courtroom 25 on the 28th day of March, 2025 at 10:00 AM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York. Premises known as 620 Beach 69th Street, Arverne, (City of New York) NY 11692. (BL#: 16029111) Approximate amount of lien $676,203.69 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 705844/2023. Carolyn Salian Clyne, Esq., Referee. Davidson Fink LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 400 Meridian Centre Blvd, Ste 200 Rochester, NY 14618 Tel. 585/760-8218 For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction. com or call (800) 280-2832
Dated: January 7, 2025 During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.
Notice of Formation of EXELTHIOR’S KINGDOM LLC
Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/10/2025
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 process to: RICK D’ANDREA, 31-10 23RD STREET, 3B, ASTORIA, NY 11106. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF QUEENS. NYCTL 2021A TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN, Plaintiffs -againstMILDRED RABRY FACINELLI, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein on January 29, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., in Courtroom # 25, Jamaica, NY on March 28, 2025 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 9177 Lot 130 on the Queens County Tax Assessment Map. Said premises known as 85-65 98 STREET, WOODHAVEN, NY Approximate amount of lien $13,270.52 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 726155/2022. HETTIE V. POWELL, ESQ., Referee Phillips Lytle LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiffs 28 East Main Street, Suite 1400, Rochester, NY 14614
Notice of Formation of Family Policy Insights, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/03/2025. 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: Laurie C. Maldonado 110-55 72nd Road, Apt #105 Forest Hills, NY 11375 Purpose: Any lawful act or activity which LLC may be organized under the NY LLC Law.
Notice of Formation of FREEZE SECURITY LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/27/2024 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 process to: THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, 17506 DEVONSHIRE RD APT 5F, JAMAICA, NY, 11432. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
Howard Beach/Lindenwood, Sun 3/9, 12pm-1:30pm, 88-08 151 Ave, Unit 1K. Barkley bldg. 2 BR, 2 bath, terr. King sized master BR, upgraded kitchen & baths. Asking $339K. Connexion Real Estate 718-845-1136
discrimination call the Open Housing Center (the Fair Housing Agency for the five boroughs of New York) at 212941-6101, or the New York City Commission of Human Rights Hotline at 718-722-3131. The Queens Chronicle reserves the right to alter wording in ads to conform with Federal Fair Housing regulations.
Boarder seeks to rent a room. Up to 4 months. Written lease required. Email: gycsel@gmail.com
Howard Beach, elegant brick custom Colonial, 4 BR, 4.5 baths, master BR w/en-suite& 2 BRs w/full baths. Custom KIT, LR, FDR, den. Full finished bsmnt, sep ent, paved yard with IGP w/jacuzzi. Price Improvement Asking $1,390,000. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136
FREE First Time Home-Buyers Workshop on Sun, March 23, 12pm at Lenny’s Clam Bar on Crossbay Blvd. Led by esteemed local real estate professionals. Speakers include Real Estate Attorney, Realtor, Loan Officer, Home Inspector & Insurance Agent. Courtesy lunch. Call Brina Ciaramella, Esq. 917-257-1584 for registration information.
Edgemere/Rockaway, Sat 3/8, 12pm-1:30pm, 318 Beach 47 St. Mint cond. Legal 2 fam. 4 Brs, 4 baths (2 over 2). All new kitchen & baths. Pvt dvwy. Asking $729K. Connexion Real Estate 718-845-1136
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SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS Index No.: 701796/2025 SUMMONS WITH NOTICE
Plaintiff designates QUEENS County as the place of trial. The basis of venue is Plaintiff’s’ residence. Plaintiff resides at 103-25 168 Place, Jamaica, NY 11433. Vivienne J. Moore, Plaintiff, -against- Benjamin E. Egbadon, Defendant. ACTION FOR DIVORCE To the above-named Defendant: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York; and in case of your failure to appear, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the notice set forth below. Dated: January 21, 2025, Theresa E. Agunwa Esq. Attorney for Plaintiff 149-27 Jamaica Avenue, Suite 4 Jamaica, NY 11435 (718) 487-3007.
NOTICE: The nature of this action is to dissolve the marriage between the parties, on the grounds: DRL Section 170 subd. (2) -the abandonment of the Plaintiff by the Defendant for a period of more than one year. The relief sought is a judgment of absolute divorce in favor of the Plaintiff dissolving the marriage between the parties in this action. The nature of any ancillary or additional relief demanded is: That the Family Court shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the Supreme Court with respect to any future issues of maintenance and support. That either party may resume the use of a prior surname. That I am not seeking maintenance as payee as described in the Notice of Guideline Maintenance (the “Notice”). The parties have divided up the marital property, and no claim will be made by either party under equitable distribution. That the Court grant such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
Notice of Formation: HONGXING REGIONAL CENTER LLC Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/03/2025. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copies of any process served against the LLC to 58-97 57th Street, Maspeth, NY 11378 Purpose: Any lawful purpose or activity
Notice of Formation of IH EGC II LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State (SSNY) on 1/23/25. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o Infinite Horizons, LLC, 142-05 Rockaway Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11436. Purpose: any lawful activity.
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK – COUNTY OF QUEENS INDEX NO. 720502/2020 FILED: 10/9/2023 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
Notice of Formation of IMAGINARY FINISH LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/29/25. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Any lawful activity
PZ REALTY HOLDINGS, LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/23/2025. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Peter Zuccarello, 148-29 Cross Island Pkwy, Whitestone, NY 11357. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
Plaintiff designates Queens County as the place of trial based on the location of the mortgaged premises in this action. Plaintiff’s principal place of business is 5114 Buford Highway NE, Doraville, Georgia 30340. METRO CITY BANK, Plaintiff, -against- DANYAN XING, NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD, NINA CHEN A/K/A RONGBAO CHEN, BICHUN LI, CUIHONG LI, LONGJIN LI, PINGYU LIN, YUECHAO LIN, SHURU LU, AIXIAN SHI, XINGYING SHI, HAILI XUE, SHOUQIANG YAN, LIANMEI YANG, YOUBIN YANG if living, and if dead, the respective heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignors, lienors, creditors and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise of any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, and their respective husbands, wives or widow, if any, and each and every person not specifically named who may be entitled to or claim to have any right, title or interest in the property described in the verified complaint; all of whom and whose names and places of residence unknown, and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained by the Plaintiff, XIUFENG YOU, MEIWEI ZHANG, SHUIXIAN ZHAO, JUNFEI ZHENG, AIFANG CHEN, AIZHAO CHEN, DEFA CHEN, FENGXIN CHEN, JIANXIN CHEN, JIANYUN CHEN, LIYUN CHEN, PEIQIN CHEN, QICHUAN CHEN, RONGFANG CHEN, RONGPING CHEN, RUIZHEN CHEN, SHUPING CHEN, XIUQIN CHEN, XUERONG CHEN, YAN CHEN, YING CHEN, HUIYING CHEN, MINGLIN DONG, YONG DONG, YUMEI DONG, WENJIN GUO, JINRU JIANG, LIN JIANG, MEIZHU JIANG, QIUPING JIANG, XIA JIANG, XUEYING JIANG, YONGSHENG JIANG, YONGXIN JIANG, YUYING JIANG, BIFEN LI, BIYU LI, HAIBIN LI, JIANHUI LI, LIYUN LI, XIUQIN LI, YIZHONG LI, YUBING LI, ZHOU LI, BAORONG LIN, BIJU LIN, DAN LIN, DAN LIN, LIQIN LIN, MEIRONG LIN, QIUQIN LIN, QIURONG LIN, SAIZHEN LIN, SUXIANG LIN, XUEZHI LIN, YUFENG LIN if living, and if dead, the respective heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignors, lienors, creditors and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise of any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, and their respective husbands, wives or widow, if any, and each and every person not specifically named who may be entitled to or claim to have any right, title or interest in the property described in the verified complaint; all of whom and whose names and places of residence unknown, and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained by the Plaintiff, YUYING LIN, ZHIQIANG LIN, QUAO CHEUNG LIN, CUILING LIU, SHUBAO LU, BIZHONG QIU, LANHUA SHAO, BICHAI SHI, BIYU SHI, GUANGXIONG SHI, WANGPING SHI, XIUXIANG WANG, XUEXIAN WANG, BIYING WEI, QIUYING WENG, HUIYU WU, WENYI WU, ZHIYI WU, YIJUN XIAO, SHANFEN XU, JINRONG YANG, YING YANG, BIJIN YE, XUEFANG YOU, YIXIANG YU, BIZHEN ZHANG, JINYU ZHANG, MEIHUA ZHANG, MEIYU ZHANG, MINGQIN ZHANG, QIUPING ZHANG, TIANRU ZHANG, TONGHUA ZHANG, YUHUA ZHANG, BIYUN ZHENG, CAIYING ZHENG, FENG ZHENG, JINYAN ZHENG, MEIJIN ZHENG, MEIYA ZHENG, MINGCHUN ZHENG, QIAOSHENG ZHENG, QIAOYAN ZHENG, SUQIN ZHENG, XIURONG ZHENG, YAN ZHENG, YAYING ZHENG, YUEYING ZHENG if living, and if dead, the respective heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignors, lienors, creditors and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise of any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, and their respective husbands, wives or widow, if any, and each and every person not specifically named who may be entitled to or claim to have any right, title or interest in the property described in the verified complaint; all of whom and whose names and places of residence unknown, and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained by the Plaintiff, ZHUOYING ZHU, WENQIN ZOU, XIUYING ZOU, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, JANE DOE #1, Defendants. To the above-named defendants: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the plaintiff’s attorneys within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE MORTGAGE COMPANY WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT, A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HOME. SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. SENDING A PAYMENT TO YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. This action was commenced to foreclose a mortgage against real property located at 94-39 56th Ave., Elmhurst, NY 11373. Tax Parcel ID No. Block 1901 Lot 31. McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC, Caren Bailey, Esq., Attorneys for Plaintiff, 1 Huntington Quadrangle, Suite 4N25, Melville, NY 11747. (631) 812-4084. (855) 845-2584 facsimile. File #20-303080. HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non- profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Department of Financial Services at 1-800-342-3736 or visit the Department`s website at www.dfs.ny.gov RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME AT THIS TIME. You have the right to stay in your home during the foreclosure process. You are not required to leave your home unless and until your property is sold at auction pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale. Regardless of whether you choose to remain in your home, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROPERTY and pay property taxes in accordance with state and local law. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner’s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. § 1303 NOTICE 16-12-20*
Notice of Formation of Sonder Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry, PLLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State (SSNY) on 1/28/25.
Office location: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Capitol Services, Inc., 1218 Central Ave, Ste 100, Albany, NY 12205. Purpose: practice the profession of nurse practitioner in psychiatry.
Notice of Formation of SUNAINA & LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/03/2025. 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 process to: SUNAINA RAO, 7711 35TH AVE, APT 5H, JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY 11372. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
THE PRINCE COMMERCIAL HOLDING LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/21/2025. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Jia Shu Xu, 112-15 Northern Blvd., #2, Corona, NY 11368. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
TRI-STAR HOSPITALITY SERVICES
LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/27/2025. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Roy Chi, 250-10 Northern Blvd., #75, Little Neck, NY 11362. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
KEYSPAN GAS EAST CORPORATION d/b/a NATIONAL GRID
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by KeySpan Gas East Corporation d/b/a National Grid (“Company”) that it has filed with the New York State Public Service Commission (“Commission”) proposed tariff revisions to its Schedule for Gas Service, PSC No.1 – GAS, to become effective, on a temporary basis, April 1, 2025.
These revisions have been filed in compliance with the Commission’s Order issued August 15, 2024 in Case 23-G-0226. The table below compares the Company’s current rates (prior to April 1, 2025) to rates effective April 1, 2025 by service classifi cation.
S.C. No. 1A, 5-1A – Residential Non-Heating Service
S.C. No. 1AR, 5-1AR – Residential Non-Heating Service
Monthly usage
First 3 therms or less
Next 47 therms, per therm
Over 50 therms, per therm
Current Rates 04/01/25
$21.75 $25.85
$2.8472 $2.9324
$0.8453 $0.8928
S.C. No. 1B, 5-1B – Residential Heating Service
S.C. No. 1BR, 5-1BR – Residential Heating Service
Monthly usage
First 3 therms or less
Next 47 therms, per therm
Over 50 therms, per therm
Current Rates 04/01/25
$24.59 $25.50
$1.9054 $2.0482
$0.4487 $0.4823
S.C. No. 1B-DG, 5-1B-DG – Distributed Generation
Monthly usage
First 3 therms or less
Over 3 therms, per therm
Current Rates 04/01/25
$34.89 $37.00
$0.2849 $0.3133
S.C. No. 2-A, 5-2A – Non-Residential Non-Heating Service
Monthly usage
First 3 therms or less
Next 87 therms, per therm
Next 2,910 therms, per therm
Over 3,000 therms, per therm
Current Rates 04/01/25
$41.50 $45.00
$2.0820 $1.9393
$0.4931 $0.5376
$0.3269 $0.3987
S.C. No. 2-B, 5-2B – Non-Residential Heating Service
Monthly usage
First 3 therms or less
Next 87 therms, per therm
Next 2,910 therms, per therm
Over 3,000 therms, per therm
S.C. No. 3, 5-3 – Multi-Family Service
Monthly usage
First 3 therms or less
Next 997 therms, per therm
Over 1,000 therms, per therm
Current Rates 04/01/25
$41.50 $45.00
$2.0026 $1.9397
$0.6285 $0.7136
$0.4947 $0.6311
Current Rates 04/01/25
$83.95 $90.00
$0.6617 $0.6929
$0.4315 $0.4802
S.C. 9, 5-9 – Uncompressed Natural Gas Vehicle Service
Monthly usage
First 3 therms or less
Current Rates 04/01/25
$ 42.44 $ 45.00
Over 3 therms, per therm $ 0.7771 $ 0.8215
S.C No. 15, 5-15 – High Load Factor Service
Monthly usage
First 10 therms or less
Over 10 therms, per therm
Current Rates 04/01/25
$169.75 $180.00
$0.2909 $0.3073
S.C. No. 16, 5-16 – Year-Round Space Conditioning Service
Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/25
First 3 therms or less $245.19 $260.00
Next 497 therms, per therm $2.1568 $2.3195
Over 500 therms, per therm $0.3698 $0.3976
S.C. 17 – Baseload Distributed Generation –Rate 1 – Less than 1MW Monthly usage
First 10 therms or less $204.38 $216.73
Over 10 therms, per therm (Apr – Oct) $0.2308 $0.2373 Over 10 therms, per therm (Nov – Mar)
S.C. 17 – Baseload Distributed Generation –Rate 2 – Equal to or greater than 1 MW but less than 5 MW
Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/25
10 therms, per therm (Nov – Mar)
S.C. 17 – Baseload Distributed Generation –Rate 3 – Equal to or greater than 5 MW but less than 50 MW
usage
Rates 04/01/25
First 10 therms or less $1,074.32 $1,139.22 Over 10 therms, per therm (Apr – Oct) $0.0572 $0.0588 Over 10 therms, per therm (Nov – Mar) $0.0779 $0.0803 Demand charge per therm of MPDQ $6,252.00 $6,252.00
S.C. 18 / 19 – Non-Firm Demand Response Sales Service – Tier 1
Rates 04/01/25 First 10 therms or less
$375.00
10 therms, per therm $0.2231 $0.2853
S.C. 18 / 19 – Non-Firm Demand Response Sales Service – Tier 2
Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/25
First 10 therms or less $375.00 $375.00
Over 10 therms, per therm $0.1784 $0.2279
These revisions have been filed in compliance with the Commission’s Order issued August 15,2024 in Case 23-G-0226. Copies of the proposed revisions are available for public inspection and can be obtained on the Company’s website at https://www.nationalgridus.com/Long-Island-NY-Home/Bills-Meters-and-Rates/ or the PSC’s website (dps.ny.gov).
THE BROOKLYN UNION GAS COMPANY d/b/a NATIONAL GRID NY
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by The Brooklyn Union Gas Company d/b/a National Grid NY (“Company”) that it has filed with the New York State Public Service Commission (“PSC”) tariff revisions to its Schedule for Gas Service, PSC No. 12 – GAS, to become effective, on a temporary basis, April 1, 2025.
These revisions have been filed in compliance with the Commission’s Order issued August 15, 2024 in Case 23-G-0225. The table below compares the Company’s current rates (prior to April 1, 2025) to rates effective April 1, 2025 by service classification.
S.C. No. 1A, 17-1A – Residential Non-Heating Service
S.C. No. 1AR, 17-1AR Residential Non-Heating Service
Monthly usage
First 3 therms or less
Next 47 therms, per therm
Over 50 therms, per therm
Current Rates
$19.00
04/01/25
$20.50
$4.0519 $4.2751
$2.0040 $2.1827
S.C. No. 1B-DG, 17-1B-DG – Distributed Generation
Monthly usage
First 3 therms or less
Over 3 therms, per therm
Current Rates
$33.00
$0.3297
S.C. No. 2-1, 17-2-1 – Non-Residential Non-Heating Service
Monthly usage
First 3 therms or
S.C. No. 3, 17-3 – Multi-Family Service
04/01/25
$35.00
$0.3857
Current Rates 04/01/25
S.C. 4A-CNG, 17-4A-CNG – Compressed Natural Gas
Monthly
1,000 therms, per therm $0.3692 $0.3992
S.C. 7, 17-7 – Seasonal Off-Peak Service
Monthly usage
First
$48.00 $55.00 Over 3 therms,
S.C. 21, 17-21 – Rate 1 – Less than 1MW
usage
S.C. No. 1B, 17-1B – Residential Heating Service
S.C. No. 1BR, 17-1BR-Residential Heating Service Monthly usage Current Rates
First 3 therms or less
S.C. No. 2-2, 17-2-2 – Non-Residential Heating Service
S.C. 4A, 17-4A – High Load Factor
S.C. 4B, 17-4B – Year Round Air Conditioning Service
S.C.
Rates
S.C. 21, 17-21 – Rate 3 – Equal to or greater than 5 MW but less than 50 MW
Monthly usage
First 10 therms or less
Over 10 therms, per therm (Apr – Oct)
Over 10 therms, per therm (Nov – Mar)
Current Rates
$896.00
$0.0450
$0.0628
04/01/25
$1,003.00
$0.0511
$0.0710
Demand charge per therm of MPDQ $5,729.43 $5,611.19
S.C. 22 – Non-Firm Demand Response Sales Service –
Tier 1 (Commercial & Governmental / Multifamily)
Monthly usage
First 10 therms or less
Over 10 therms, per therm
S.C. 22 – Non-Firm Demand Response Sales Service –Tier 2 (Commercial & Governmental / Multifamily)
Monthly usage
Over 10 therms, per therm Current Rates
First 10 therms or less
Rates
These revisions have been filed in compliance with the Commission’s Order issued August 15,2024 in Case 23-G-0225. Copies of the proposed revisions are available for public inspection and can be obtained on the Company’s website at https://www.nationalgridus.com/NY-Home/Bills-Meters-and-Rates/ or the PSC’s website (dps.ny.gov).
St. Pat’s for All warms up a chilly Sunday
The Woodside on the Move contingent included some youngsters on the move.
Among those enjoying or taking part in the festivities were Ardian, Oerta and little Teddy Tagani, left; Paddy McCarthy, the publisher and editorial director of the weekly The Irish Examiner, with renowned IrishAmerican socialite Noelle Clancy; and Irish Consul General for New York Helena Nolan and Billie Cooper, right, the New York Rose of Tralee.
Caroline Guerrero, left, with a certain frog — who can’t say it’s not easy being green on this day! — and Theo, Sylvia and mom Sarah Merrefield smile as they await the parade.
If it’s the St. Pat’s for All Parade, it’s the County Cork Pipe and Drums, above, who’ve been representing the Emerald Isle’s musical heritage since 1936. The Long Island City group was one of many to march along Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside and Woodside on a cold Sunday, March 2, at the event created to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early and to do it with inclusion. The parade’s motto, “Cherishing all the children of the nation equally,” is from the 1916 Easter Proclamation of the Irish Republic. More photos are at qchron.com. — Peter C. Mastrosimone
At left, even the lights are green at Skillman and 48th Street. Above, the regal
Set to march are Buffalo-area Rep. Tim Kennedy, left, Grand Marshal Mickey Murray, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Nolan, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and state Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz.
PHOTOS
Above are parade Co-chair Kathleen Walsh D’arcy, left, emcee and parade founder Danny Dromm, center, and parade Cochair Archley Prudent. At left, Irish culture was not the only kind represented — dancing by the Caporales San Simón Sucre helped sweeten the parade’s ending.
Tyson is led by Alanna Bodman as Christina Hansen waves.
