T he ideal resume for the next top cop?
Adams vague about qualities he’s seeking in Sewell’s successor
by Sophie Krichevsky Associate EditorNYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell’s sudden resignation announcement last week, which reports say was prompted by Mayor Adams’ tendency to micromanage the department, has sparked a flurry of discussion about her replacement. While many have speculated over who is on Adams’ shortlist — Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks among them — less has been said about the kind of person who ought to fill Sewell’s shoes.
That’s in part because the mayor himself has not said much on the subject, even when asked directly.
“It is my responsibility to keep New Yorkers safe, and I’m going to do that and we will put [together] the right team to do so,” Adams told reporters last week.
In appointing Sewell, the mayor followed through on his campaign promise to pick a woman for the role. Asked if he’d like Sewell’s replacement to be a woman as well, and if he would look beyond the NYPD, he said at the same press conference, “I’ll figure out what I’m going to do. I need to continue the success of the department. We have more work to do.” Noting his desire to crack down on recidivism and halt the city’s uptick in car theft, he added, “I’ll make the right decision for the department.”
Asked for comment on Adams’ ideal candidate, his press secretary, Fabien Levy, referred the Chronicle to those remarks.
Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), a member of the City Council’s Committee on Public Safety, was less concerned with gender, race and ethnicity, noting that Sewell’s being a woman of color “was not the reason she was hired,” and pointed to her experience.
“It should be someone who has handled a large agency with a lot of different dynamics to it, that has been under a lot of scrutiny lately and been able to handle it while still maintaining their commitment to the rank and file officers that are on the street,” Ariola said. While someone from another large city would do, she said ideally, Sewell’s successor would come from the NYPD and would focus on the city’s homelessness and mental health crises.
Fellow committee member Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth) said in a statement that quality-of-life issues should be a priority for the next commissioner, who should be “some-
one who unapologetically advocates for the swift incarceration of criminals while recognizing the importance of quality of life enforcement.”
A spokesperson for Councilmember Tiffany Cabán (D-Astoria), who also sits on the committee, told the Chronicle via email, “The CM would like to decline to comment at this time.” S p eaker Adrienne Adams ( D-Jamaica) and
District Attorney Melinda Katz did not respond to requests fo r comment.
Ariola was hesitant to speak to the circumstances surrounding Sewell’s June 30 departure. “You can talk about micromanaging, but I like it better saying that they work in conjunction ... with the administration, with the City Council, with the chairs of committees,” she said. “So it has to be someone who is able to work with people and garner relationships, and also run one of the most important agencies within the city.”
Asked about Banks, whose role in the administration has been linked to the mayor’s tight leash on Sewell, as a possible replacement, however, Ariola said, “Deputy Mayor Banks does an incredible job in the job that he’s already been taske d with.”
Joe Giacalone, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and former NYPD sergeant, was blunt about the type of person he thought ought to follow Sewell: “Somebody who doesn’t mind being just — for lack of a better word — a puppet.” Q
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Feline rescue group faces abuse claims
Founder of Cats of Meow York was arrested, denies any wrongdoing
by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editorlawyers, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Farhana Haq,
presidentand founder of Cats of Meow York animal rescue, a 501(c)(3) based out of Woodhaven, was arrested on Wednesday, June 14, after police allegedly found 44 abused cats in her care.
The prior Sunday evening, the office of Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) received a call from a constituent with a report of about 45 cats “clinging to life” in a home in Woodhaven, an aide said. The office immediately reached out to the 102nd Precinct and connected with the ASPCA, as well as the Queens District Attorney’s Office, to get an investigation started. Ariola said she teamed up with the law enforcement offices to create a task force.
The warrant to search the multiunit property, located on 86th Street, was executed last Wednesday. The animals were seized from the property, tagged and numbered, and are currently being treated for their ailments.
“The cops did an outstanding job,” Ariola said to the Chronicle.
“The situation inside the house was deplorable,” she added in a later email. “These cats were living in an absolute state of neglect. For some-
one to run an organization that is supposed to be rescuing cats to then turn around and do something like this ... I am at a loss for words. Truly despicable, and I look forward to the DA moving forward with the trial and this individual being punished to the full extent of the law.”
“The animals were immediately
transported to the ASPCA, where veterinary and behavior experts will conduct forensic exams and provide them with much-needed medical care and behavioral treatment and enrichment,” the agency said via email.
According to the NYPD, Haq’s charges include 44 counts of Agri-
cultural Markets Law torture/injure/ not feed animal, and 44 counts of Agricultural Markets Law neglect of an impounded animal.
COMY has publicly denied any wrongdoing, and started a GoFundMe fundraiser to cover Haq’s legal defense. When asked to comment, COMY directed the Chronicle to its
In an Instagram post, the rescue confirmed all 44 of its cats were seized. “We want to remind all interested parties that we are volunteers performing a public service who have Trap-Neuter-Returned over 800 cats so far this year and who provide permanent care for the most needy cases,” they said.
“We ask the community to keep an open mind and not to draw premature or unjustified conclusions until we can say more and get back to saving lives.”
Six months prior to last week’s arrest, another rescue, MeowSquad NYC, warned about COMY’s purportedly unethical practices on social media, writing that Haq allegedly “used her status as a former member of our cat rescue to run up vet bills, abandon the cats at the clinics and then stick us with the bills.”
An anonymous former volunteer of COMY said in a statement to the Chronicle, “During my brief time at COMY, I was taken aback that the holding place was in a basement. The space was too small for the amount of cats they had, and there were no windows. The sink was always busted, every room was an organized mess and they had very limited supplies.” Q
Efforts include better drainage, infrastructure and new housing Mayor announces Jewel Streets plan
by Kristen GuglielmoAssociate Editor
Mayor Adams announced plans to deliver quality-of-life improvements to what his office called the Jewel Streets Neighborhood Plan in a press release last Thursday. They include efforts to deliver quality-oflife improvements to the Jewel Streets neighborhood, or what Queens residents colloquially refer to as “the Hole” — a 12-block neighborhood that borders East New York in Brooklyn and Lindenwood in Queens.
The neighborhood is a low-lying area that experiences year-round flooding due to lack of stormwater and sanitary sewer infrastructure. Most streets in the neighborhood contain open industrial uses or vacant lots, including a 17-acre city-
owned site.
The Adams administration has allocated over $75 million in funding for the area. The plan includes the implementation of green infrastructure, drainage upgrades and the creation of a bluebelt and drainage pond. Street infrastructure enhancements, improved pedestrian safety and better connectivity to neighboring areas will be prioritized.
The plan will be led by the city Department of Housing Preservation and Development in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Protection, among other city agencies.
The project is part of the city’s sustainability strategy, “PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done,” and aligns with Adams’ blueprint,
“Housing Our Neighbors,” which aims to create resilient neighborhoods and ensure the safety of residents in the face of climate change.
“The decades of government ignoring this community and leaving residents to fend for themselves against regular flooding ends now,” Adams said in the press release. “We are excited to bring this plan to the residents, get their feedback, and chart a path forward together.”
The planning proposal will be initiated this month, with the first of five public workshops scheduled for June 24 at the Spring Creek Gardens Community Center in Brooklyn. The Adams administration is planning to bring final recommendations to the community by early 2024 and a final neighborhood plan in place later in 2024. Q
COPCP recovers stolen bike
Civilian patrol saves the day in Ozone Park
by Kristen Guglielmo Associate EditorThe Cityline Ozone Park Civilian Patrol successfully recovered an unlocked delivery bike that was stolen from the front of Denise Pizzeria in Ozone Park. The recovery efforts started late last Saturday night and lasted into Sunday morning.
“While on patrol, our volunteers were flagged down by Denise Pizzeria. They immediately reported the incident and obtained further information,” said Mohammad Khan, executive director of the COPCP, in a statement.
“The bike, equipped with an Apple AirTag, provided a location for our volunteers to canvas,” Khan said.
The AirTag initially pinged to a location in Woodhaven, and then moved towards 101st Avenue, near the COPCP office. According to COPCP communications director Daniel Hill, the thief was trying to hotwire or disable the AirTag.
After following the individual from a safe distance, the COPCP realized the thief had abandoned the bike at 102nd Avenue and fled.
The incident comes just weeks after an Ozone Park community civic meeting at which Capt. Pratima Bhullar Maldonado of
the 102nd Precinct suggested placing Apple AirTags in vehicles.
“It’s the easiest way to know where your car is and you’ll be able to find it right away,” Maldonado said at the meeting on June 8.
This victory is the second this month for the COPCP. On June 8, volunteers located a car involved in a police pursuit.
The car had previously sped dangerously through the community, narrowly missing volunteers at the Ozone Park Pantry.
Khan also expressed the importance of reporting all crimes to the authorities. “Thefts are on the rise, but many are not being reported, leading to a false narrative
Prima Pasta closed by city over vermin
by Kristen Guglielmo Associate EditorPrima Pasta & Café, a restaurant located on Cross Bay Boulevard in Howard Beach for more than 30 years, was closed by the Department of Health last week after failing an inspection.
It is the restaurant’s second failure since November 2022, when it was forced to close due to multiple critical health violations, including evidence of live roaches in the facility, and evidence of mice and flies.
Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) was working with the mayor’s rat czar, Kathleen Corradi, before the closure to help mitigate the location’s rodent infestation and remedy the issues faced both outside and inside the restaurant.
“It was determined that this condition could be easily resolved if the refuse being put out by Prima Pasta were in closed containers and not in open bags, leaving a constant food supply for the rodents which have now infested neighboring properties,” Ariola said in a Facebook post on June 13, prior to the restaurant’s closing.
The restaurant was closed by the city
FDNY vs. Irish boxing card on June 30
The FDNY Boxing Club will host the Garda Siochana Boxing Club from Dublin in its seventh annual “Thrilla in Camilla” fundraiser for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation on Friday, June 30, at St. Camillus Church parking lot in Rockaway Beach.
Gates open at 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7:30. The address is 185 Beach 99 St. in Rockaway Beach. Tickets are $30 for general admission, $50 for ringside and $100 for VIP table seating, and are available at fdnyboxing.org.
Vendors will be selling coffee, donuts, cold beverages, ice cream and cigars. There will be 50/50 raffles and a performance by the FDNY Emerald Society Bagpipers.
that crime is decreasing,” Khan said.
“COPCP is here to assist in reporting and translating,” Khan said. “We encourage all community members to remain vigilant, secure their property and promptly report any thefts or suspicious activities to the NYPD.”
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was created in memory of FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller, who on Sept. 11, 2001, ran almost two miles through the traffic-jammed Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in full gear — roughly 60 pounds — to reach the World Trade Center. He is believed to have been killed when the South Tower collapsed. Q
Prima Pasta & Café has closed again after failing an inspection.
Health Department on the following day, June 14. The restaurant owner could not be reached for comment.
“I am extremely disappointed that a restaurant which has been a member of our community for so long would disrespect their neighbors in such a way,” Ariola said in a statement to the Chronicle. “I am glad that city agencies had such a swift response to address this issue, and I hope that the business owners will finally take concrete steps to ensure that this problem never happens again.” Q
OLG youth clean Charles Park
Participants in the Our Lady of Grace Youth Ministry Program took to the shores of Frank M. Charles Park on Saturday, June 17, for a beach cleanup. The effort was part of a larger volunteer venture calling for all Catholic Youth Ministry programs in Queens and Brooklyn to do an act of service for their communities.
The OLG youth group is co-directed by husband and wife Steven, far left, and Gina Eriquez, far right. “Many of the kids in our group come to Charles Park often so this opportunity is something they feel connected to and it gave them satisfaction to know they
made a difference,” Steven Eriquez said of the cleanup along the Howard Beach shoreline. The group meets every Friday during the school year at OLG Church in Old Howard Beach. It is open to all high school students no matter where they live or what faith they are.
“We try to give them a safe place to hang out and feel comfortable talking about any issues that may be happening at their school or with their friends and family. Many of them take it as an opportunity to stay connected with friends that may have gone to a different high school,” said Gina Eriquez.
EDITORIAL AGEP
Let’s look at where life in Queens is headed
New York is always rebuilding itself, reaching for a new future even visionaries can only partially guess at, and that’s as true in Queens as anywhere.
Who would have known, say, 50 years ago, that blue-collar Long Island City would in time become Manhattan East, filled with gleaming skyscrapers mirroring their cousins across the water, though not quite in height? Or that a blend of circumstances, environmental concerns and government encouragement would expand bicycle riding beyond a hobby and sport into a serious means of commuting? Or that even with tennis, pingpong, badminton and all the other racquet sports, there was room for one more, and that after a while pickleball would net such a following that athletic facilities public and private would have to make court space for it?
Today, building continues apace in LIC, more people are taking to the streets on bicycles and someone somewhere is doubtlessly planning their next pickleball match. What else is changing in this ever-evolving chunk of New York City that we call home? More than can be covered in any one edition of even the best community newspaper, but we relate some of the key elements this week in our 26th Annual Celebration of Queens special edition, Future Foundation. Find
the collectible pullout section in print or at qchron.com.
We start by showing how then-Vice President Biden’s concerns in 2014 that LaGuardia Airport looked like something in the Third World have been fully addressed and then some. Beyond its basic footprint and runway configuration, LaGuardia is barely recognizable, its modernization has been so complete. A similar scale of work is now underway at the much larger Kennedy International. Once done, it will enable that airport to handle the future’s larger volume while providing visitors with a much more pleasant experience.
On the other side of the transportation spectrum is cycling, which continues to grow in popularity. We look at where improvements are being made, where more are expected, and some of the events at which people can enjoy riding together, from one end of Queens to the other.
Also on the more personal end of modern transportation options are car sharing and scooter sharing. Both are expanding in the borough, with Zipcars already here and a new e-scooter program launching in eastern Queens next year.
As transportation is one top concern here, so is healthcare. We look at new facilities and programs coming to several of our hospitals, with hundreds of millions of dollars invested
LETTERSTO THE
Youth honor Flag Day
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MEMBER
Many may not know, but last Wednesday, June 14, was Flag Day. It is not a very talked about or advertised holiday, yet Flag Day is an important holiday to commemorate the adoption of our Star-Spangled Banner on June 14, 1777.
To spread patriotism amongst my fellow schoolmates, I decided to bring in American flag-themed stickers to share and was delighted by how well received they were. Kids were taking multiple stickers each and chanting “God Bless America” and “USA!” afterwards. I was touched that such a small act can remind our young generation of how special America is, and we need even more people to spread positivity about America the Beautiful.
America is unlike any country in the world, with inalienable rights for the people, and with a patriotic young generation, America will carry on as the beacon of freedom and opportunity across the world.
Kristina Raevsky Forest HillsThe writer is a seventh-grader at JHS 157 and author of “A Sheep’s Tale — Young Patriot’s Guide to Saving America.”
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in lifesaving expansions and technology. Meanwhile, parks and playgrounds are also seeing major upgrades, with more fitness options — pickleball! — and safer equipment even helping keep people out of the hospital in the first place. Also outdoors are growing environmental centers and programs, from Idlewild Park to Alley Pond to the East River.
We examine the changing landscape of not just LIC but also Ridgewood; the two have more in common than one might expect while their differences are fairly obvious. We also look forward to the future of Willets Point, where the ground is being prepared, literally, for new housing, education, business and entertainment options to come.
Two key players in Queens, one in business and one in higher education, offer their thoughts on where we’re headed in their own essays. On the entertainment front, we report on major theater renovations meant to draw you to the stage, and we even take a look into the Mets’ farm system to see who might be in future lineups at Citi Field.
The title of the special section is Future Foundation. We can see the base of where we are today and some of what’s to come, but only some. The rest is a mystery — but we can predict that it’ll all be reported here in the Queens Chronicle.
EDITOR
Pedestrianize Austin Street
Dear Editor:
Imagine how transformative a pedestrianized Austin Street from Continental to Ascan Avenue would be for the neighborhood! Restoring the street to its original cobblestone substratum (likely lying just beneath the pavement) would dramatically add to the neighborhood’s appeal and markedly increase property values.
Recently I learned that the Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce is resisting any proposal to reimagine Austin Street. The chamber’s argument is that pedestrianizing streets leads to a loss of shoppers who need parking. Yet more foot traffic does not equal less commerce. Indeed, many cities have discovered how pedestrianizing commercial corridors has led to a boon for businesses and the quality of life in general. I think it’s fair to say that a proposal to prioritize pedestrian safety, public accessibility
and a reduction of noise and car pollution is worthy of serious, engaged conversation.
I am hardly a traffic expert, but it does not take one to recognize that Austin Street has become utterly dysfunctional, especially at certain hours of the day. Let’s take this opportunity, with a Department of Transportation study in the works, to reimagine Austin Street and make it worthy of its true potential — as a commercially vibrant, culturally exciting place to live, visit, and shop.
Eric Zolov Forest HillsEnd sex trafficking here
Dear Editor:
Sex trafficking is one of the fastest growing organized criminal activities in the Unite d States. Unfortunately, Queens serves as a major hub for sexual trafficking of migrants, minors
LETTERSTO THE EDITOR
and vulnerable populations. New York City has seen an increase in sex trafficking in the past few years. The rise in sex trafficking has not been met with a rise in awareness.
Across Queens are massage parlors that seem to be a front for something much worse than most of us would like to fathom. While we can convince ourselves to ignore the parlors as we pass by them, we cannot ignore the girls and women who have become the victims of this inhumane crime. While we do not know the exact purpose of the massage parlors, the authorities must find out.
Queens is known as the World’s Borough because it has become home to the millions of immigrants who have come here in hopes of a better life. However, the World’s Borough is being polluted with the evil of modern-day slavery in our very own backyard.
Mayor Adams has taken a series of steps to make human rights a priority of his administration — such as expanding anti-discrimination laws. The NYPD has bravely defended our city from the evil of criminals by partnering with state and national law enforcement. Elected officials have taken an oath to protect the dignity and well-being of the people of New York.
It’s time Mayor Adams, elected officials and law enforcement take action to make Queens the catalyst that will bring an end to sex trafficking around the world.
Abhinandan Gaba ElmhurstRegret Rosenthal resigning
Dear Editor:
Re Sophie Krichevsky’s June 15 report “Rosenthal to resign from state Assembly” (multiple editions):
I’m sorry to learn that Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal will soon step down after superbly serving his district, which includes Kew Gardens Hills, for the past six years. He secured funding for schools and libraries and pressed the Queens Public Library system to reopen its Kew Gardens Hills branch in 2021 after Covid closed it for 18 months.
Rosenthal reflected the values of his constituents by fighting anti-Semitism and opposing the bail reform and Raise the Age laws imposed by his party’s far-left lunatics. I hope his successor will be a common sense conservative who supports public safety, rather than a felonfriendly “progressive” cheerleader for violent criminals.
Richard Reif Kew Gardens HillsPols’ shady shenanigans
Dear Editor:
Re “Rosenthal to resign from state Assembly,” June 15, multiple editions:
Special elections provide occasion for all sorts of shenanigans for political machines because of their generally low voter turnout. No better place for political shenanigans than Queens, and lo and behold another special election for an Assembly seat looms once the incumbent, Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal, himself the product of a special election, decides on a date to vacate his seat as he has announced.
Queensites will recall another resignation from the state Assembly resulting in a special
election back in 2005 that, as intended, effectively conferred the seat on Andrew Hevesi, son of state controller Alan, who, surprise, once held that same seat. We know this is true because the friend of Alan who arranged it confessed to it at his sentencing. Andrew has been earning a pretty good living ever since as the liberal conscience of Forest Hills, with Bill de Blasio calling him brother and Andrew reciprocating by defending the mayor at a local town hall while lecturing constituents not up to his woke standards of thought; also never going near anything in the Assembly that might benefit Forest Hills like property tax reform that would also end brother Bill’s five-figure annual Park Slope discount.
This is not to infer that the Rosenthal resignation is necessarily anything but completely on the up and up. Our politics have presumably come a long way up from Alan Hevesi’s level of venality. But we should nonetheless urge that the people of Flushing pay close attention.
Edwin Eppich GlendaleFix Diwali dilemma
Dear Editor:
As an elected district leader with a large South Asian and Indo-Caribbean population, I make this appeal on behalf of the more than 300,000 Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist families living in NYC, and urge Gov. Hochul to sign the bill passed by the state Legislature creating a Diwali school holiday in the city’s public schools, into law. Most importantly, we urge Mayor Adams to make it permanent in the school calendar. We have been fighting for decades to consolidate the universal message of “light over darkness, good over evil,” that Diwali signifies.
The original piece of legislation called for the elimination of Brooklyn-Queens Day, or Anniversary Day, to comply with Education law §3604(7) and Commissioner’s Regulations §175.5 that require districts to provide a minimum of 180 education days.
Consequently, Anniversary Day would have had to be eliminated. However, the recently passed legislation does not swap this holiday with Diwali specifically, as required, presenting a conundrum, a hurdle that should have been cleared before putting the bill up for a vote by Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar.
The bill that passed does not eliminate Brooklyn-Queens Day, but only establishes Diwali as a New York City school holiday, thereby creating the necessary question as to how the holiday will fit into the school’s calendar, which can only be solved by the mayor and his Department of Education.
Diwali falls on a Sunday this year, but the mayor and his chancellor must realize that they Write
continued on next page
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Addabbo Bridge bike lane work to begin
by Kristen Guglielmo Associate EditorThe city Department of Transportation has announced it will begin work on safety improvements for the Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge this month, with markings scheduled to begin this week.
The repairs aim to fix unsafe conditions on the bridge, which runs from Howard Beach to Broad Channel. The project limits are Cross Bay Boulevard from 165th Avenue to the Kite Board Launch, the DOT confirmed to the Chronicle.
In the plan, the DOT detailed the southbound bike lane will become a twoway protected bike lane, and the northbound bike lane will become a protected single bike lane. The plan also includes adding painted pedestrian islands and updated corridor markings.
The project maintains the existing number of vehicular travel lanes, though some will be narrowed. The western bike lanes will be protected by new Jersey barriers. The sidewalks will not be affected.
In a statement to the Chronicle, state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven)
OPINION
The history and future of Black homeownership
by Khaleel M. Anderson and Sabrina BazileGlenda and Ormistan Spencer, a young Black couple, purchased their Rosedale home in 1974. Since then, Black homeowners like the Spencers flocked to Southeast Queens to claim their fair share of the American Dream, but instead, were greeted with a nightmare.
said, “These repairs are necessary to ensure the safety of the many New Yorkers who cross the bridge every day ... We shouldn’t have to wait for an accident or fatality to occur before we take action.”
He added, “I look forward to all of DOT’s scheduled improvements, which will make crossing the bridge, not only safer, but also more pleasurable for everyone. The care of this particular bridge is especially important to me since it is named after my late father, Joseph P. Addabbo.” Q
LETTERSTO THE EDITOR
continued from previous page
can no longer punt and pander on this issue, having previously declared Diwali to be a holiday, and saying that once he was elected, he would take his oath of office and walk into City Hall and sign it into a holiday.
Albert Baldeo Richmond HillThe writer is a Democratic district leader and President of the Asian American Labor Alliance in Richmond Hill and the Richmond Hill Democratic Club.
Opposing two state bills
Dear Editor:
I am against the reparations payments (“Reparations bill approved, goes to Hochul,” June 15). What about other groups that were discriminated against, like the Irish — and the Japanese, who were put in internment camps during World War II?
Also, it is not a good idea to close cases and essentially pardon those who have criminal records as it would be under the Clean Slate Act (“Clean Slate bill now on Hochul’s desk,” June 15). How do we know if these people will repeat the crimes? It is important to do background checks on people who are hired, especially in sensitive jobs.
Cynthia Groopman Little NeckDodgers’ disgraced display
Dear Editor:
Shame on the LA Dodgers for surrendering their sport and giving support to the iconoclastic organization known as the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Those travesties of not only Catholic but all Christian denominations should not have been awarded any credence let alone recognition and display. Their sexualization of centuries-old Christian symbols and ceremonies is a corruption of values that are held sacred by hundreds of millions of Americans.
When do we say, “Enough is enough” and that freedom of speech does not give one the right to degrade and insult treasured values?
These absurdly costumed, grease face-painted individuals in clown-like makeup only sully and besmirch the many Christian women of all denominations who have devoted their lives to the sick, elderly and infirm, as well as the education of Christian youths.
A commentator on Fox News posed this question:
“Would we have been so complacent if the symbols associated with Judaism and Islam were so abusively portrayed?”
Individuals like the “Sisters” revel in negative attention and most certainly will not be satisfied by a single victory.
Bruce Carney Kew GardensSoon after the Spencers bought their new home, racist white segregationists doused it with gasoline and set it ablaze. Soon after the home was renovated and moved into, white segregationists placed and exploded a pipe bomb as the couple and their three sons slept. They persevered, miraculously survived these lethal attacks and kept the home in the family more than 40 years later.
In New York, we’ve come a long way from such direct racially motivated attacks such as through arson and pipe bombs, but Black families in Southeast Queens still face threats that undermine their ability to own, maintain and pass their homes down to the next generation. That the Spencers’ home remains in their family is an exception to an otherwise predatory, speculative, and racist housing system.
From 2002 to 2008, the number of Black homeowners in NYC dropped 10 percent, and there is evidence that the rate of decline has since deepened — between 2002 and 2017, Queens alone lost more than 22,700 Black homeowner households.
After the 2008 financial crisis, Southeast Queens became the epicenter of home foreclosures in New York, and filings remain high — in 2021, there were 1,726 foreclosure filings in Queens and in 2022, there were 2,155. One glaring commonality among these struggling Southeast Queens homeowners is a disproportionate share of city tax liens against their property.
Tax liens are unpaid property taxes, water bills and other charges against a home. A third-party company buys the lien, which can add more fees and interest to the owner’s debt. These tax lien sales disproportionately occur within Black communities, significantly impacting our seniors and allowing investors to profit from the financial struggles of Black elderly homeowners.
For this reason, we call on NYC to ensure that no homeowner loses a home to the Giuliani-era tax lien sale, which disproportionately serves Black elderly homeowners up on a platter to money-hungry predators.
Southeast Queens neighborhoods have become a prime target for predatory speculation, which brings house-flipping, illegal conversions, blockbusting and deed theft. These practices keep prices high, making staying in one’s home difficult. There are a myriad of reasons why Black homeowners are leaving Queens. In essence, unscrupulous actors are making more decisions for
Black homeowners rather than Black homeowners making decisions for themselves.
Deed theft is a prime example of this disenfranchisement. Since 2014, there have been more than 3,500 complaints of deed theft in NYC, with 1,000 in Queens. These scams are only increasing, affecting predominantly senior and low-income Black and Brown communities. Scammers use many tactics, including fraudulent signatures, false promises of quick money and targeting of homeowners facing foreclosure.
Fraud typically happens when a homeowner is in danger of losing their home, and there’s a risk of foreclosure — information that is readily obtainable on databases made public in NY. When deed thieves appear on the scene, they present the homeowner an opportunity to receive a menial cash intake that doesn’t come close to the property value, though seemingly desirable in the moment of crisis for the homeowner.
NYC district attorneys have conceded that deed theft is difficult to investigate and prosecute. For these reasons, we call on the Legislature to pass Protections Against Deed Theft and Amend the Criminal Procedure Law as vital legislation that will help homeowners avoid deed theft scams.
As we advocate for bills to address tax lien sales and deed theft scams, the Black Homeownership Project, an initiative of the Center for NYC Neighborhoods, is doing critical work to combat these systemic injustices. BHP introduced Generation 2 Generation, a pilot program to maintain and raise the number of Black homeowners in NYC by increasing awareness about estate planning and predatory scammers, and providing pro bono estate and life-planning services to mainly low- and moderate-income Black residents in Brooklyn and the Bronx.
Strengthening homeownership in Queens is critical to ensuring Black New Yorkers can afford to stay in our community. Through estate planning and efforts like Generation 2 Generation, as well as passing legislation to address deed theft and tax lien sales, we can rebuild a strong future for Black homeowners in Queens. Q
Khaleel Anderson is New York State Assemblyman for the 31st District, in Southeast Queens. Sabina Bazile is Senior Program Manager at the Center for NYC Neighborhoods Black Homeownership Study.
After complaint DOE owes network millions, schools, parents in limbo Rainbow pre-K and 3-K facing closure
by Sophie Krichevsky Associate EditorLong Island City resident Anthony Sannazzaro has sent his son to Rainbow Child Development Center’s nearby location for several years now. So when it was time to enroll his daughter in pre-K, the natural choice was to apply for a spot at Rainbow through the city’s 3-K for All program. But when school assignments came from the Department of Education on May 17, things did not go his way: Not only had his daughter not been assigned to Rainbow, but she had not been picked for any of her other choices either, and instead was slated to go to a school in Brooklyn.
Sannazzaro was far from alone in his experience — not only did other parents find themselves in that predicament, but the same day, Christine and Jing Ye, the sister duo who founded and own Rainbow’s four locations in Long Island City, Flushing, Little Neck and Fresh Meadows, opened their schools’ offer lists to find it blank. “We thought it was a mistake,” Christine Ye said.
But it wasn’t: The Ye sisters were informed that day that, as a result of an investigation into a parent complaint filed two years ago, the DOE would cease its Pre-K For All and 3-K For All contracts with Rainbow’s four schools, effectively forcing them to close their doors.
Approximately 50 parents and teachers rallied outside Rainbow’s Flushing school with state Sen. John Liu (D-Flushing) last Thursday, calling for the DOE to reverse course.
“It’s pretty simple — the Department of Education is bungling its attempt to close down this great school,” Liu said. “We demand that DOE uphold its contract with Rainbow Child Development Centers. We demand that the DOE reinstate these children to the Rainbow schools.”
The senator proceeded to lead the crowd in chants of “Save our school!”
Several parents of the nearly 400 impacted students spoke of their admiration for Rainbow and the effect the program’s end will have on them.
Several parents, including Olivia Cai, whose son attends Rainbow’s Little Neck location, spoke of the poor communication from the DOE on the situation, which she called “abso-
lutely ridiculous and unacceptable.” While she waited to find out what was happening with Rainbow after her son had been assigned elsewhere, she was told the deadline to accept the offer had passed, despite initially being told it was June 27. After struggling to sort that out with the DOE — she thought successfully — she received a notice that her son had been enrolled at the newly assigned school without her permission.
Liu noted that the schools primarily serve low-income, immigrant families; their bilingual education is a lifeline for many. Vanessa Dai, for one, said she relies on the childcare provided by Rainbow.
“Rainbow closes — I have to quit my job, too. I cannot pay my rent,” she said.
The circumstances surrounding the DOE’s decision certainly raised some eyebrows last Thursday. According to Liu, the complaint that led to a DOE investigation alleged that Rainbow was requiring parents to enroll students in the school’s fee-based, afterschool program in order to be in the pre-K program. But only about half of Rainbow students are enrolled in
that program. In fact, Liu said, Rainbow does not control who does enroll.
“The DOE sends those kids to Rainbow for universal prekindergarten, and from there, Rainbow offers the fee-based afterschool program,” he said. “If the child is not enrolled in the universal pre-K program — which the DOE pays for and the DOE decides on — then Rainbow does not even offer the afterschool program to those parents.”
Asked about the probe, a spokesperson for the DOE told the Chronicle via email, “The independent investigation by the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District has substantiated that the provider violated the terms of their contract with the DOE.
“As a result, the site’s enrollment operations are suspended, pending a further, detailed review of the investigation’s findings.”
Christine Ye told reporters she was interviewed for the investigation in March 2021 and never heard anything more until May 17 of this year — “Decision Day” — when she was told the report was complete. She received a heavily redacted version of the document two days later. The Ye sisters were only given 10 business days to respond to the report, which they did to the tune of 300 parent letters, voicing support for the school and concern about a potential closure.
According to Christine and Jing Ye, the DOE owed Rainbow schools approximately $2 million in May 2022 for the 2021-22 school year. By their account, it took until December for the DOE to pay back the majority of that. By May 2023, the invoices added up just as before, and the DOE owed Rainbow $2 million once again.
The same DOE spokesperson said the agen-
cy does not owe Rainbow any money and that the network has been paid for all of its contracts for fiscal year 2022 (that corresponds with the 2021-22 school year).
Records from the Comptroller’s Office indicate that the DOE has indeed paid off what was owed for fiscal year 2022 across all four of its five-year contracts. They also show, however, that as of June 16, the schools are collectively owed more than $2.16 million for fiscal year 2023, if dividing those contract totals by five. The DOE spokesperson did not respond to a follow-up inquiry about that figure by press time.
On May 8, the Yes sent a complaint to the city Comptroller’s Office.
“The Comptroller responded May 16, saying that they’re escalating to the DOE leadership,” Christine Ye said. “On May 17, that’s when we received the letter from the DOE threatening to terminate.”
A spokesperson for the comptroller confirmed the DOE had been notified May 15.
Asked about the letter’s language, Christine Ye said, “Basically, they said, ‘Give us a reason why we should not terminate.’”
Asked whether she thought — given the timing of the comptroller’s response relative to the warning of termination — that the threat was a retaliation for flagging the DOE’s failure to pay the schools, Christine Ye said, “I was being too loud.”
“As an Asian American, I’m not supposed to talk, I’m assuming, so I’m being too loud, because I’ve been emailing the DOE leadership,” she said. She added that she’d been making complaints to the DOE for months before going to the comptroller.
While she estimated the network is owed upwards of $1 million at this point, Christine Ye said knowing exactly how much the DOE owes them at a given time is “a little complicated,” as “there’s no fixed number.” That’s because even as the DOE has been paying Rainbow back, including roughly $700,000 last week, the schools have kept accumulating invoices as operations continue.
Asked what the network has been doing to keep the doors open, Christine Ye replied, “Everything — personal loans, company loans, everything.” She added that she’s dipped into her personal savings, too.
“How else are we going to pay teachers?” Jing Ye said. “We don’t want anybody to lose their jobs.”
As for where things stand with the group’s contract, Christine Ye said, “No clue.”
Rainbow opened back in 2010. Before that, Christine worked for Deloitte, the influential financial and consulting firm. Jing was in banking.
“My parents know the importance of education for the American Dream — so here, we went to college, we were successful in what we did,” Christine Ye said. “We decided we wanted to give back. We wanted everybody to receive a good, bilingual education.” Q
“We don’t want anybody to lose their jobs.”
— Jing Ye, co-founder of Rainbow Child Development Center
MTA fare hike hearings set
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will host two of its four hybrid public hearings on proposed fare hikes and toll increases today, June 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.
Links to view the hearings and registration to speak and to submit comments online on the proposed fare increases are available in a June 19 press release on the MTA’s website at new.mta.info.
Subsequent hybrid hearings are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, June 23, and from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday, June 26.
Those wishing to speak also may call the public hearing hotline at (646) 252-6777.
People also can send comments by mail to MTA Government & Community Relations, Attn: Fare Hearings, 2 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10004.
Under the MTA’s proposal, a single subway or bus ride would rise from $2.75 to $2.90 in September. Express buses would increase from $6.75 to $7. A seven-day unlimited MetroCard would increase $1 to $34. A 30-day unlimited MetroCard would go from $127 to $132. Q
City deems retiree plan approved
Mayor says retirees, taxpayers save; comptroller has doubts
by Michael Gannon Senior News EditorBoth sides in the battle over switching medical benefit plans for retired city employees escalated the engagement in the last two weeks.
A group of individual retires and the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees went to court on June 6 to stop the city from switching from a city-run plan to a Medicare Advantage plan run by Aetna.
Many retirees have expressed concern over changes that they worry could increase their costs and cause an increase in denied reimbursement requests.
The Adams administration on June 15 announced it has deemed the contract with Aetna to be certified, authorizing it to go into effect on Sept. 1.
City Comptroller Brad Lander declined to certify the contract, though Adams’ office in a statement on June 15 said it deemed the pact to be approved after two city agencies informed the Comptroller’s Office that there was no statutory basis for refusing to register it.
The Mayor’s Office also has said the switch could save the city $600 million based on federal reimbursements available with the new plan.
“As we’ve said repeatedly, this Medicare
Advantage plan improves retirees’ current plans, including offering a lower deductible, a cap on out-of-pocket expenses, and new benefits, like transportation [to certain doctor’s appointments], fitness programs, and wellness incentives,” Adams said in his press release. “We are clearly within our authority under the charter to deem this contract registered, and we look forward to working with Aetna to ensure a smooth transition to the plan for our city’s eligible retirees and their dependents come September 1st.”
Adams said the plan “significantly limits the number of procedures requiring prior authorization.”
Lander’s office said he stands by comments he expressed in a statement from his office on June 8.
“The Comptroller’s Bureau of Contract Administration carefully reviewed the City’s contract with Aetna and returned the contract to the Office of Labor Relations without registering it,” Lander said. “Pending litigation calls into question the legality of this procurement and constrains us from fulfilling our Charter mandated responsibility to confirm that procurement rules were followed, sufficient funds are available, and the City has the necessary authority to enter into the contract.
Comptroller Brad Lander and Mayor Adams disagree again, this time over the approval of a new medical benefit administrator for city retirees.
“As a matter of public policy, beyond the scope of our office’s specific Charter responsibility for contract registration, I am seriously concerned about the privatization of Medicare plans, overbilling by insurance companies, and barriers to care under Medicare Advantage.”
The NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees did not respond to a request for further comment, bus said on its website that it was planning a rally at City Hall for today, June 22. Q
Jamaica Hospital ‘gets the money!’
$150M emergency department project adds ICUs, trauma bays
by Naeisha Rose Associate EditorFive hundred guests attended a groundbreaking ceremony Friday to celebrate the $150 million expansion of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Emergency Department, which will double in size to accommodate more than 150,000 patients annually.
The funding is a grant from the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program.
Despite having to attend a funeral later that day of a former first responder who died because of a 9/11-related illness, Gov. Hochul made a keynote speech at the Level 1 trauma center in Richmond Hill because she wanted to emphasize that the time of disinvestment in Southeast Queens has ended.
“This is a day of a new beginning,” Hochul said at the June 16 event. “For so many years and decades ... people thought that the people of this community didn’t have political clout to make real transformative changes. That time is over, my friends. With this new beginning, we say that this community matters. This hospital matters.”
Hochul thanked the doctors, nurses, staff and other healthcare workers for their efforts in saving the lives of people who suffer from mental health issues, along with those who fall victim to fentanyl and opioids or contract Covid-19.
“We are going to enhance our psychiatric services, because my God, people are going through so much right now,” Hochul said. “All the work to save lives from overdoses ... we are doing that in real time. We have so much more to do.”
The governor said that the new facility was delayed a bit because of the pandemic, but the commitment
of the hospital to get the expansion done while taking care of patients during the height of the spread of coronavirus further highlighted the need for safety-net hospitals.
“There were a lot of hopes and dreams and then in the middle of it all there was a pandemic,” she said.
“This demonstrated the compassion and incredible resiliency of this organization and so many of your members, from nurses to doctors to the people who worked in the kitchens, the custodial staff, the doulas and everybody else [who] pulled together to save this community.”
Bruce Flanz, JHMC’s president and CEO, said the hospital was at the epicenter of the pandemic, but with the new funding it will be able to serve more people.
“When completed, the Emergency Department will double in size,” Flanz said.
The hospital will go from having one trauma bay to four major trauma bays, from one isolation room to 22, and the number of treatment areas will nearly triple, he said. There will also be two new intensive care units: a 12-bed neuro-ICU and a 10-bed ICU.
“When the project is complete we will have a total of 48 intensive care unit beds,” Flanz said. “The project will also add much needed space to our mental health program and to our CPAC,” or chest pain center.
Flanz said the improvements are not just necessary to the community, but to its uniformed officers, who say JHMC is their preferred choice for treatment.
Officer Brett Boller, who was shot earlier this year in Jamaica, shared the sentiment.
“I had multiple surgeons and multiple teams work on me,” Boller told the Queens Chronicle. “They
communicated well to my family about what was going on and the recovery process. They made me and my family comfortable.”
Lindsey Boller, the officer’s sister, told the Chronicle she was grateful for the care her brother received.
“I’m studying to be a nurse one day and it was just really inspiring to see how great all the nurses and all the doctors were to him,” said the aspiring healthcare professional.
NYPD Chief Kevin Williams, commanding officer of Patrol Borough Queens South, shared their sentiments.
“I’m grateful for their care and the services for our members in the service,” Williams told the Chronicle. “When they come to get treated it’s first-class and we appreciate it.”
U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-Jamaica) said it was a 10-year journey to get here.
“I want to say thank you to all the providers,” Meeks said. “What do we have in life if we don’t have health?”
Meeks’ 700,000 constituents look to JHMC for treatment, said the congressman.
“If it wasn’t for the members of the state Legislature doing their part, this wouldn’t have happened,”
he said.
Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman (D-Springfield Gardens) told the Chronicle that Springfield Gardens doesn’t have a hospital so the constituents in her area look to JHMC for help.
“I don’t have any hospitals in my district,” Hyndman said. “While growing up, everyone knew if you had a car accident, if you were hurt on your bicycle, if there was a shooting, this is the place to come. The chances of you surviving was high because this is a Trauma 1 Center.”
Hyndman’s godson, who was wounded after falling through shower glass, was treated at JHMC.
Borough President Donovan Richards, who was born at the hospital in 1983, was also in attendance.
“We’ve been talking for many years now about the need to invest in healthcare especially coming out of this pandemic,” Richards said. “Today we are changing that. Like the congressman said, it’s about ensuring that no matter what your socioeconomic status is, no matter who you love, no matter what your immigration status is, at Jamaica Hospital, you are welcomed.”
Richards said he got his start in politics because of the murder of a
childhood friend, not too far from the hospital.
“Gunshot victims come to this hospital, and you do your best,” the borough president said. “Some make it, some don’t. Today, by ensuring that you do have $150 million in investment really is going to save lives in Queens County, and of course Southeast Queens.”
Richards later thanked Hochul for opening up “a huge wallet.”
“We love you,” Richards added. “Queens get the money!”
Dr. Shi-Wen Lee, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine, made suggestions on the design of the new facility.
“They asked us what we needed for this new Emergency Department,” Lee told the Chronicle. “Clearly what we need is for patient care, patient safety, efficiency — so everything was designed for patient care and their families.”
There will be more private rooms for patients, Lee said.
“Patient privacy is a huge deal for us,” he said. “Covid-19 highlighted the need for more private rooms and isolation rooms.”
The chairman also noted that the hospital doesn’t discriminate against anyone and takes care of a lot of undocumented people.
“When they do show up, they are critically ill,” he added. “Some haven’t been treated for 10 years and that involves a lot of resources.” Q
“I’m grateful ...”
— Kevin Williams, NYPD chiefCouncilwoman Lynn Schulman, left, U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks, Gov. Hochul, Bruce Flanz, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center president and CEO, and Borough President Donovan Richards were at the ceremonial groundbreaking for a $150 million expansion of the health institution’s Emergency Department. PHOTOS BY NAEISHA ROSE Officer Brett Boller and his sister Lindsey Boller, an aspiring nurse, are grateful for the treatment he received at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
HOSPICE IS ABOUT LIFE
Hospice can be an uncomfortable topic. But the comfort and care it provides can greatly ease sadness, pain and fear during a difficult time. From medical support to peace of mind, understanding what hosp ice has to offer can help people decide if, and when, it's right for them. Some things you may not know:
1.
It's usually at home. Comfort, familiarity and the presence of loved ones are everything during these times.
It's typically covered by insurance. Most patients qualify through Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance.
It can last up to six months. Many people would benefit by entering hospice earlier.
Talking about hospice can be hard. We're here to help you understand the decisions and choices you may face along the way.
Northwell.edu/Hospice
It includes full medical care. A hospice team can include doctors, visiting nurses, social workers and other care providers.
It's not just for patients. Loved ones can receive counseling, learn how to help and much more.
Hospice isn't about death. It's about life.
Hospice helps make this difficult time more comfortable, supportive and dignified.
Blunt talk on weed application at CB 5
Licensed vendor says shop will be good neighbor; critics are staunchly opposed
by Michael Gannon Senior News EditorLegalized marijuana has moved from hypothetical concept to reality, and that led to some spirited discussion at Community Board 5 on June 14.
Osbert Orduña, CEO of The Cannabis Place, spoke at a public hearing on his company’s application to open a state-licensed adult-use marijuana business at 74-03 Metropolitan Ave. in Middle Village, the former site of a Chase bank branch.
Orduña said he is a businessman whose business, which now does deliveries, is licensed by the state. He is a disabled veteran who served in the Marine Corps and subsequently moved to the Department of Homeland Security.
“I have been a successful entrepreneur for 19 years, and I know what it is like to create a business from scratch with prevailing wage job opportunities,” he said on video of the meeting that can be viewed on Board 5’s website at tinyurl.com/4hut68me. The discussion starts just after the 36-minute mark.
Orduña said his employees will be unionized and receive benefits.
He also said the unlicensed pot shops that have sprouted up while the state continues to struggle with the legal program’s implementation — Orduña said there are two on either
side of his intended site — have stigmatized the legitimate business.
“To be clear, no one under 21 will be granted access to our dispensary space, regardless of whether they are with a parent or guardian,” Orduña said.
He said his store will use sophisticated ID scanning devices and will have obscured windows as required by state law so as to not attract attention from underage people on the street.
“We’re not going to risk our license, our nearly $1 million investment and our freedom by selling anything to minors,” he said.
With regard to security and the high-profile robberies that have taken place in Queens and elsewhere in the city at unlicensed pot shops, Orduña said skills he has honed in counterterrorism, intelligence and investigations give him an edge in making the business a hardened, unattractive target for criminals.
It also would have both armed and unarmed security personnel.
“We not only want to be a member of the community, we want to be a contributing member of the community,” Orduña said.
Board member Dori Figliola was one of a handful of those in attendance questioning at least the location, if not the business itself.
“Why here?” Figliola asked. “Why there? Why so big? Will people be smoking there?
A lot of us can’t stand the smell of pot. People are roaming the street with it, and it’s disgusting.”
Orduña said the location was largely a business decision. He said data compiled from the delivery portion of the business shows Middle Village is centrally located in an area where The Cannabis Place already has many customers.
State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven), one of the few Democrats to vote against
legalization, said events have unfolded to confirm his belief three years ago that the state was acting prematurely.
“We weren’t ready,” Addabbo told the crowd. “We watched other states do it, Colorado, Jersey, and we tried to replicate what they were doing in a positive way. We weren’t ready to equip our law enforcement with somebody driving under the influence ... We spoke about this bill for over three years. And we probably could have discussed it a bit more.”
Orduña met last week with members of CB 5’s Liquor License and Cannabis Committee. Patrick Trinchese, chairman of the committee, said the members chose to recommend neither approval nor denial when the matter comes before the full board for an advisory vote.
But he did offer an observation that likely made opponents of the dispensary uneasy.
“This is here,” Trinchese said. “The time to argue whether it should be legal or illegal, all of that’s over. It is legal. It is here. And as a community, we have to deal with it. To the best of my knowledge, there is nothing you can do about it.”
Given that, he added, a business like the one at hand might possibly be a better option than the present string of bodegas and smoke shops that are selling weed unregulated. Q
CB 6 seeks answers on LIRR access plan
Board questions ‘change of scope’ for $7M Forest Hills ADA upgrades
by Michael Gannon Senior News EditorCommunity Board 6 has lobbied hard for years to improve accessibility at the Long Island Rail Road’s Forest Hills station, which presently has two-tiered ramps on each side for those who cannot use stairs.
But even with $7 million in federal money approved for the project, Chairwoman Heather Beers-Dimitriadis said there are new questions at the board’s June 14 meeting.
“We met with the LIRR this week to discuss the long-anticipated elevator project,” Beers-Dimitriadis said in a video of the meeting on the board’s YouTube channel. “And there has been a recent change in the scope of the project.”
Without elaborating, she said the change does not appear to mesh with the original scope of the funds secured by U.S. Rep Grace Meng (D-Flushing); and that board leaders would meet again with LIRR officials and others in September or October.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has dedicated billions in recent years and in future capital plans for access upgrades throughout its system, including the LIRR. The 2020-24 capital plan calls for $5 billion.
While elected and civic leaders have requested elevators, and many press reports, including the Chronicle’s, have cited them for Forest
Hills, the LIRR, even when discussing elevator plans, has tended to use the term accessibility “upgrade” for the Forest Hills station, which also could mean an augmentation of the exist-
ing ramps.
Asked directly, Meng’s office was not committing to either ramps or elevators.
“Last year, I secured $7 million for accessi-
bility and station improvements at the Forest Hills LIRR station,” she said in an email. “I understand the design has not been finalized and that the LIRR continues to engage with stakeholders on this renovation.”
The LIRR, in an email, mentioned ramps.
“The LIRR has worked with its partners in government and neighbors in Forest Hills to make sure the station is made accessible with a plan that delivers full ADA accessibility and longer platforms, while also preserving the aesthetics of this historic station,” the LIRR said in the email.
Asked for clarification, the MTA said the quote speaks for itself.
The MTA has made a historic $5 billion investment in the 2020-2024 Capital Program for ADA accessibility.
The station is, in fact, quite historic. Built in 1906, its south entrance faces Station Plaza in Forest Hills Gardens. Former President Teddy Roosevelt made a speech from the first landing on July 4, 1917, among other things supporting U.S. involvement in World War I and expounding on the importance of American citizenship.
Michael Perlman, a historian and preservationist from Forest Hills, told the Chronicle if he were given the decision, he would go with an upgraded ramp system.
“I hope they would preserve the historic and architectural character of the station,” he said. Q
WINS OVERALL EXCELLENCE
Queens Public Television Wins
Overall Excellence in Public Access from the Alliance for Community Media Foundation.
The awards program was established to honor and promote community media, community radio, and local cable programs that are distributed on Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) access cable television channels.
This is QPTV’s third consecutive year winning Overall Excellence in Public Access from the Alliance for Community Media (ACM) National Hometown Competition, for a total of seven wins.
Overall Excellence in P.E. or G Access Watch QPTV's award-winning Overall Excellence clip on QPTV.org
Executive Producer & Producers: Daniel J. Leone, Roslyn Nieves, Madeline Johnson, Luchia Dragosh, John Leinung, Christo Bakalov, Steve Carbo, Noran Omar, Joseph Swift, Henry Ramos, Kemuel Charles, Andrew Guidone and Christina Gary.
Founded in 1979, the Alliance for Community Media is a national, non-profit membership organization committed to ensuring access to electronic media for all people. The Alliance for Community Media carries forth its mission by educating, advocating and acting as a resource for the more than 3,000 Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) cable channels nationwide.
In previous years QPTV won in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022 and again in 2023. It’s truly an honor to be the recipient of this prestigious award from the national organization.
QPTV’s President/ CEO, board of directors and staff members will be on hand to receive the award on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at the National Alliance for Community Media’s annual conference at BRIC in Brooklyn, New York.
Book event highlights plan for Black studies
With reading and curricula hot topics nationwide,
by Stephanie G. Meditz Chronicle ContributorAs book bans pervade school curricula across the country, the Education Equity Action Plan Coalition launched its first Black Studies: An Education for Me + You bookmobile to distribute free books by authors of color in light of the K-12 Black studies curriculum that will roll out in the fall.
The bookmobile is stopping in each borough to give students from pre-K to eighth grade free access to Black stories and resources about identity. Its first installment took place at York College in Jamaica on Saturday, and it came to Harlem on Juneteenth.
“The goal is really to build awareness in every community that we really should be asking for this out of our school system, implementing it in a way that is fun and makes children really excited to learn, not just about Black history which is American history, but an opportunity to see themselves in the books that we’re distributing,” United Way of New York City CEO and President Grace Bonilla told the Chronicle.
A report by PEN America found that book bans in public schools during the first half of the 2022-23 school year increased by 28 percent compared to January to June 2022. The bans were most common in GOP-led states, namely Texas, Florida, Missouri, Utah and
South Carolina.
Thirty percent of banned titles discuss issues of race or feature characters of color, and 26 percent include LGBTQ+ themes.
Supporters of the restrictions largely say they are concerned with not making children feel bad about their ethnicity on the one hand, and ensuring material is age-appropriate on the other.
As a preview of New York’s upcoming Black studies curriculum curated by the EEAPC in partnership with the Department of Education, the bookmobile includes a school bus decked out with interactive activities and vignettes from key moments in Black history, such as the Great Migration and the Harlem Renaissance.
“I know that my colleagues in this space are working really, really hard to make sure that the pieces of the curriculum that are available can very naturally integrate to what’s happening in the social studies space that’s already mandated for teachers,” Bonilla said.
In high schools, the College Board piloted an Advanced Placement African American studies course in the 2022-23 school year.
The curriculum was released in February but has since been revised amid criticism from Florida officials, particularly Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr., who denounced “woke indoctrination masquerading as educa-
Youngsters at York College last Saturday check out the Black Studies: An Education for Me + You bookmobile, which allows children in all five boroughs to learn about Black history as a precursor to the Black studies curriculum that will be introduced in the fall. The bookmobile offers free books to children in pre-K through eighth grade. PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE G. MEDITZ
tion” on Twitter.
He shared a graphic that expressed concerns about intersectionality, Critical Race Theory and reparations in the course.
These debates occur at a time when a bill setting the stage for reparations for descendants of enslaved people awaits Gov. Hochul’s signature, as reported by the Chronicle last week.
While the bookmobile visit took place outside York College, the group Black Edfluencers-United celebrated Juneteenth in the gymnasium.
“All our books are there for our Black children that lift up and focus their lives, their experiences,” BE-U Vice President Michelle Patterson told nearly 125 attendees. “We want you to get the literature, we want you to get the books, and we want you to be able to see yourself in the curriculum.”
She said that, although it typically takes five to seven years to roll out a curriculum, BE-U did it in three years.
BE-U President Shango Blake said the
organization advocated for Black educators who “come under attack” when they align themselves with the Black community and try to make changes in schools.
“Let’s use Juneteenth to begin the work of destroying a subculture of self-destruction within the Black community, which is really slave behavior,” he said. “The killing of each other, the acts of violence, the disrespect of our women ... these are all byproducts of slavery.”
Also in attendance were state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman (D-Springfield Gardens) and Councilmember Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans).
“To really be here at York College, historically a neighborhood that has been really built up by the Black community, to celebrate our coalition partners and to really attract kids to this event ... it’s really our opportunity to kick off Juneteenth in a big way and celebrate Black history,” Bonilla said. Q
Share complaints to OAG’s voting hotline
by Naeisha Rose Associate EditorState Attorney General Tish James announced Thursday that her office has an election protection hotline, which voters can use through the primaries on Tuesday June 27.
The hotline runs from Saturday, June 17, through Sunday, June 25 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., which is during New York’s early voting period, and again on primary day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The purpose of the hotline is to troubleshoot and resolve a range of potential issues that voters may encounter, including difficul-
ties with absentee or affidavit ballots, IDs, poll lists, having one’s right to vote challenged by a pollster, paid time off to vote and Covid-19, to name a few. Voters who have concerns or are experiencing problems are encouraged to call the hotline at 1 (866) 390-2992 or they may submit complaints online at electionhotline. ag.ny.gov to request election-related assistance in advance of the balloting.
The right to vote is paramount to the integrity of democracy, James said in a statement.
“Our election protection hotline is a key resource available to alI New Yorkers
throughout our great state to provide helpful guidance and address concerns,” James said. “Whether they are voting by mail, stopping by an early voting site, or casting their ballot inperson at the polls, my office will ensure that New Yorkers can securely and effectively participate in our electoral process.”
The Office of the Attorney General has had a hotline since 2012, and says that during previous elections it has fielded hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of complaints across the state and addressed them with the help of election officials.
The election protection hotline number is 1 (866) 390-2992.
one goal is to uplift kidsThe bookmobile displayed vignettes of key moments in Black history. At right, Shango Black addresses a Juneteenth event also at York College.
& LIVING
ARTS, CULTURE & LIVING
by Michael GannonDid you ever go to Citi Field and just have the urge to wander off and look around to see and learn some things that fans don’t get to catch during a typical visit?
We’re talkin’ baseball on Amazin’ stadium tours
What would it look like to view the field from a player’s perspective in the dugout?
Do you know how the Mets’ 1969 World Series trophy is unique among all others in the history of the Fall Classic? (Spoiler alert: The answer will be in the last sentence.)
For about the price of game tickets, the New York Mets invite you to find out all that and more on one of their Citi Field tours. The
tours, which start at $40, offer a great time for die-hard and casual fans alike, with views of the field and ballpark’s inner workings.
Information on all types of tours is available from the Tours Department at (718) 803-4097 or email at tours@nymets.com; or at mlb.com/ mets.
A recent one-hour tour had a dozen die-hard fans from as close as Nassau County and as far away as California in attendance.
Ted and Katie Ladomerszky of
Las Vegas were in town with their son, Nico, 12, dressed in his Toronto Blue Jays sweatshirt.
“We’re taking him to see as many parks as we can,” Katie Ladomerszky said.
Royals fans Preston and Janel Frazier were visiting from Pittsburg, Kan. He wore a T-shirt with the logos of all 30 major league baseball teams.
“I got it at the MLB Store,” he said.
Tour guide Gregg Cohen, who
also is production manger at the Chronicle, met the crowd at the Gil Hodges VIP Gate, led the group with a broad presentation of Mets history, trivia, fun facts and a love for the subject that betrays the orange-and-blue fan in him — colors, he said, that go back to the two National League teams that deserted New York for the West Coast in 1958.
“The cap is Dodger blue,” he said. “The orange NY is from the Giants’ hats.”
The first stop was the press room, where several guests sat in the hot seat, albeit without cameras that they did not bring themselves.
continued on page 25
King Crossword Puzzle
I HAVE OFTEN WALKED
Singer Wynonie Harris rocked out in Addisleigh Pk.
by Ron Marzlock Chronicle ContributorWynonie Harris was born in Safford, Ala., on Aug. 24, 1913. Later he moved to Omaha, Neb., and shaved two years off his age — reflecting the year 1915 in his biography.
He had two children with two different women before marrying Olive Goodlow in 1936, with whom he had a daughter.
An energetic singer who often spouted racy lyrics, Harris performed in clubs from New York to LA. From 1945 to 1952 he had 16 top 10 R&B hits and is credited with being one of the innovators of early rock ’n’ roll.
His wealth enabled him to buy a home at 114-11 178 St. in the upscale Addisleigh Park section of South Jamaica and to drive a new Cadillac convertible, waving to his adoring fans.
The home of Wynonie “Mr. Blues” Harris at 114-11 178 St. in the historic Addisleigh Park section of South Jamaica, as it looked in the 1940s when he lived there. INSET VIA WIKIPEDIA
classics today.
Future leaders visit Addabbo
State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. recently welcomed to his office members of the PS 97 Student Council. Addabbo answered questions about how the office operates, the role of an elected official and the importance of government and public service. He showed the students a district map so they could get a better understanding of how many people Addabbo serves and the neighborhoods that
are represented.
“I always enjoy speaking with younger residents,” Addabbo said in a statement.
Hits like “Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well” and “Good Rockin’ Tonight” are
Harris eventually moved out to Los Angeles. His lifestyle apparently caught up with him as he died of esophageal cancer at age 53 on June 14, 1969. Q
SPORTS EAT
Drew’s dumb decision
by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle ContributorThe Mets’ season has been plagued by a plethora of mental and physical errors. Last Tuesday, in the first game of the Subway Series, that was on full display when relief pitcher Drew Smith was tossed from the game before even throwing a pitch. The umpiring crew claimed Smith was using sticky substances on his hands and glove that were not in accordance with Major League Baseball rules.
BAs expected, Smith denied any wrongdoing when meeting with the media after Tuesday night’s game, in which the Mets blew a 5-1 lead and wound up losing to the Yankees. Pitchers who are caught using sticky substances are less likely to accept blame than Jamaica Estates native Donald Trump is for any wrongdoing.
Smith raised one fair point as he said there is no standard for measuring what is and is not acceptable. It is up to each umpire’s discretion, which means it is subjective. Life is not fair. Smith should have realized risk and reward did not equate before applying anything on his hands and glove.
“These students are already on the Student Council, so they have demonstrated an interest in government. Hopefully, they will be even more enthusiastic after their visit to my office and many of them will go on to become future leaders.” — Kristen
GuglielmoSmith saw how his teammate, pitcher Max Scherzer, was suspended for 10 games earlier this season for that infraction, and undoubtedly heard about Yankees pitcher Domingo German getting the same sentence. As bad as not being able to play for 10 games is, the penalty extends to the team because MLB prohibits allowing a replacement to be called up from the farm system. This meant the Mets bullpen, which has been taxed all season because of the ineffectiveness of the team’s starting pitching, would have to face even greater stress. While Smith has never lived up to the expectations the Mets had for him when he was obtained from the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017, he could at least eat up some innings when Mets starters had to be removed sooner than Manager Buck Showalter would have liked. That was the case this past weekend when the Mets dropped two of three to the disappointing St. Louis Cardinals.
One Mets player who has missed a lot of action, and has been overlooked is outfielder Tim Locastro, who injured his right thumb sliding into third base last month. He required surgery and is on the 60-day injured list. Locastro is a good contact hitter, has speed, can play stellar defense and rarely makes mental mistakes.
Remember to avoid the collapsed section of I-95 in Northeast Philadelphia if you are going to any of the Mets-Phillies games at Citizen Bank Park this weekend. A better bet is to take I-295 or the NJ Turnpike to the Walt Whitman Bridge. Ironically, I-95 in NE Philly has been under constant construction since I was a little boy. And that’s a long time ago. Q
See the extended version of Sports Beat every week at qchron.com.
Hip-hop explored in films at Jamaica Multiplex
by Naeisha Rose associate editorCultural Collaborative Jamaica and Afrikan Poetry Theatre, two Jamaica-based nonprofits, will host a special film screening of movies that highlight hiphop during Black Music Month, to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the musical genre.
The films will be shown at Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas, located at 159-02 Jamaica Ave., on Sunday, June 25, from 2 to 6 p.m.
“Wild Style,” a 1983 semi-autobiographical narrative musical, which is considered the first hip-hop movie and has a cult following because of its raw glimpse into the genre’s early days, is the main feature. Hip-hop pioneer Fab 5 Freddy, who is featured in it, conceived the idea of the movie, which was directed by Charlie Ahearn.
Documentaries “Beats & Lyrics: The Essence of Rap,” directed and produced by Edwin Freeman; “Founding Fathers: The Untold Story of Hip Hop,” directed and produced by Hassan Pore and Ron Lawrence; and “35 Years Re-visited with Run DMC and Heidi Smith of Rush Productions,” directed by Samuel Lee, will also be shown.
Tyra Emerson, executive director of CCJ, and Saiku Branch, executive director of Afrikan Poetry Theatre, selected the films for the screening.
“I was really intrigued by ‘35 Years Re-visited,’” Emerson told the Queens Chronicle. “It has interviews with LL Cool J, Run DMC and Flavor Flav. It gives you an idea of what they were thinking about
Cultural Collaborative Jamaica and Afrikan Poetry Theatre are screening “Wild Style” and other hip-hop films on June 25. POSTER COURTESY CCJ
back then and some insight on what they were doing. Flavor Flav played seven different instruments. I’m still in awe of that.”
Made during the pandemic, “Beats & Lyrics: The Essence of Rap” turns a contemporary lens on the founders of New York City hip-hop, said Emerson.
“The ‘Founding Fathers,’ is talking about how the deejays’ influence was really sort of the beginning of hip-hop,” Emerson said. “The deejays would set up their speakers at parks and get people dancing. They would call people’s names out and start rapping. That is the beginning of how hip-hop started.”
After the screening, during which guests will receive a complimentary box of popcorn and beverage, people will have the opportunity to meet and speak with Fab 5 Freddy and the directors of the documentaries, she added.
“They will talk about hip-hop, where it is now and Queens’ contribution to hip-hop,” said the CCJ executive director.
Other guest speakers include artists Infinity Machine, The Disco Twins, Divine Sounds, Lord Nez and more.
Hip-hop turning 50 means a lot to Emerson.
“It shows our legacy, our resilience and our creativity,” she said. “All of that makes me excited.”
Tickets for the event cost $23.17 and can be found at eventbrite.com.
Festivities will conclude with music by deejay Callie Ban, and the person in the best ’80s or ’90s hiphop outfit will win a prize. Q
Let the Mets take you out to the ballpark
From there it was up to the Piazza 31 Club, were fans can relax on game days, and where one can look out on the main Citi Field Plaza that now features the statue of Tom Seaver and the original Mets home run apple from Shea Stadium, the two main “meet me at” sites for fans attending from different points of origin.
The next stop was the press box, with the best seats in the house of any ballpark
Crossword Answers
— only catchers have a better view — though the luxury suites seen after still offer great views of the action.
Cohen here stopped to show off the new 17,400-square-foot scoreboard and, out in right-centerfield, the Shea Bridge, which allows for an unbroken stroll around the main concourse.
“You can’t walk all the way around at Yankee Stadium,” he said. As for the new, larger home run apple, the new pitch clock rules could horn in on an Amazin’s tradition in the event of back-to-back home runs.
“It takes three minutes to reset,” he said.
Roaming the halls inside there are yearbooks and media guides from years past. Each year’s team most valuable player is displayed on a massive enlargement of one of his baseball cards from that season.
Coming out onto the field from near home plate, groundskeepers were working to restore the field after a concert the night before. Guests walked along the warning track and traversed the length of the Mets’ dugout. Just stay off the grass!
The Hall of Fame and Museum has plaques, for inductees from Joan Payson, the team’s first owner, to the quintet
enshrined June 3. There are the 1969 and 1986 championship trophies, photos, memorabilia and possibly a million memories, depending on how long one has been a fan.
And the 1969 trophy? Cohen explained it is the only one with a flag for the Seattle Pilots, who played for one season before becoming the Milwaukee Brewers. Q
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A nonprofit organization in Queens, NY is seeking sealed bids from vendors for the fulfillment of the following 2023-24 security enhancement related projects:
1. Blast Mitigation Window Hardening (glass and/or film) –Acquisition and Installation
2. Impact Resistant Doors and Gates and related equipment –Acquisition and Installation
3. Fencing and related equipment – Acquisition and Installation
4. Contracted Security Personnel
5. Consultant to Develop and/or Enhance Policies and Procedures
6. Consultant for Project Management and Administration
The selection criteria will be based on knowledge of surveillance and security, prior experience, references, component and total cost, and adherence to projected work schedule. Specifications and bid requirements can be obtained by contacting us at secproj21@ gmail.com. All interested firms will be required to sign for the proposal documents and provide a primary contact, telephone, and email address. Bids will be accepted until 5:00 pm on July 31 or until sufficient bids are received and work is preliminarily to commence by August 15, 2023.
Notice of Formation of ANTONIO SCOTT NICHOLS LLC
Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/19/2022.
Offi ce 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:
ANTONIO NICHOLS, 1070 CYPRESS AVE., 2F, RIDGEWOOD, NY 11385. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
BAL CARE LLC, Arts. of Org. fi led with the SSNY on 05/11/2023. Offi ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 193-11 Williamson Ave., Springfi eld Gardens, NY 11413.
Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS REVERSE MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS, INC., Plaintiff AGAINST FRANK BROWN AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN OF MARGARET E. REAVIS AKA MARGARET REAVIS; TANYA COGDELLO-BURKE AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN OF MARGARET E. REAVIS; TROY REAVIS AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN OF MARGARET E. REAVIS AKA MARGARET REAVIS; ET AL.,
Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 28, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Courthouse steps of the Queens County Supreme Court, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York on July 14, 2023 at 10:45AM, premises known as 179-15 134TH AVENUE, JAMAICA, NY 11434. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, Block 12984, Lot 106. Approximate amount of judgment $442,436.37 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #706566/2014. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the QUEENS County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale.
William Driscoll, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-002298 76416
Notice of Formation of PARADIES LAGARDERE @ JFK T4 (F&B), LLC Arts. of Org. fi led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/17/23. Offi ce location: Queens County. Princ. offi ce of LLC: 2849 Paces Ferry Rd., Atlanta, GA 30339. 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 122072543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS, RIDGEWOOD SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff, vs. RENOTTI M. HILL ALEXANDER, ET AL., Defendant (s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on October 31, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Queens Country Supreme Court, courthouse steps, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York on July 21, 2023 at 10:00 a.m., premises known as 17623 127TH AVENUE, JAMAICA, NY 11434-3300 A/K/A 17623 127TH AVENUE, ADDISLEIGH PARK, NY 11434-3300 A/K/A 17623 127TH AVENUE, ROCHDALE VILLAGE, NY 11434-3300. 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, Block: 12526, Lot: 24, approximate amount of judgment is $196,953.21 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fi led Judgment Index # 701087/2018. All parties shall comply with the Eleventh Judicial District’s COVID-19 Policies concerning Public Auctions of foreclosed properties. These policies, along with the Queens County Foreclosure Auction Rules, can be found on the Queens Supreme Court - Civil Term Website (https:// www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/ COURTS/11jd/supreme/civilterm/ partrules/Foreclosure_Auction_ Rules.pdf) If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee’s attorney, or the Referee. LAMONT R. BAILEY, Esq., Referee. Roach & Lin, P.C., 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff
Notice of Formation of RECESSION SAVVY LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/05/2023. Offi ce 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, 4545 CENTER BLVD APT 421, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11109. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS, HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2007WM1 ASSET BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, Plaintiff, vs. SABRINA EDERY, AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ANN LEWITINN, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 25, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the outside steps of the Queens County Supreme Court, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY on June 30, 2023 at 12:00 p.m., premises known as 1352 Dickens Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691. 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, Block 15665 and Lot 38. Approximate amount of judgment is $905,788.55 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fi led Judgment Index # 703799/2021. The Referee shall comply with the Eleventh Judicial District’s COVID-19 policies concerning public auctions of foreclosed properties. These policies, along with the Queens County Foreclosure’s Auction Rules, can be found on the Queens Supreme Court - Civil Term website. Austin I. Idehen, Esq., Referee Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff
Notice of Formation of JACKSONS HAUS LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/21/2023.
Offi ce 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: SHAWN JACKSON, 319 BEACH 98TH STREET, APT 6B, ROCKAWAY PARK, NY 11694. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
JAMAICA WDY LLC, Arts. of Org. fi led with the SSNY on 05/01/2023. Offi ce loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 92-01 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven, NY 11421. Reg Agent: Suhail Sitaf, 3 Windsor Drive, Old Westbury, NY 11568. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
Real Estate
EQUAL HOUSING. Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, familial status or disability in connection with the sale or rental of residential real estate. Queens Chronicle does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect housing 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.
Apts.For Rent
New Howard Beach, 1 BR, LR & dining area, utils incl, $1,500/mo. Leave message. Call 718-848-6431 Ozone Park, brand new 2 BR apt. Gas included. Call 917-843-9955
Co-ops For Sale
Howard Beach/Lindenwood/Fairfield Arms, Sat 6/24, 11:30am-1pm, 151-20 88 St. (High-Rise). Unit 4CLg 2 BR, 2 baths. Reduced $198K. Unit 2D, 2 BRs converted to 3 BRs, 2 full baths. Reduced $225K. Unit 5D, 2 BR, 2 baths, needs TLC, 5th fl. Reduced $225K. Unit 3F, lg 2 BR, 2 bath w/pvt balcony. Asking $247,500. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136
Condos For Sale
Howard Beach/Lindenwood, Condo «Xtags error: No such tag: tag _» Southgate Bldg. Clean 2 BR, 2 bath + lg terr on 1st fl. 1010 sqft of living space. Asking $399K. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136
Houses For Sale
Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, call 917-796-6024 for appt. 40x100, Hi-Ranch, unique 5 BRs, 2 full baths, 3 BRs, 1 bath, top flr & 2 BRs on walk-in level. Reduced $965K. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136
Legal Notices
NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR NOMURA HOME EQUITY LOAN, INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006HE1, Plaintiff, v. CHRISTOPHER DUNN A/K/A CHRISTOPHER R. DUNN, ET AL, Defendant. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Office of the County Clerk of Queens County on March 10, 2023, I, Jeffrey Kim, Esq. the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on July 21, 2023 at The Steps Outside the Queens County Supreme Court, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Queens, NY, County of Queens, State of New York, at 10:15 AM the premises described as follows: 134-57 232nd Street Laurelton, NY 11413 SBL No: Block 13160 Lot 6 ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Borough and County of Queens, city and State of New York. The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 712819/2018 in the amount of $603,538.04 plus interest and costs. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the Court System’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale.
Kristin M. Bolduc Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP Plaintiff’s Attorney 500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072 75821.
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT QUEENS COUNTY WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF UPLAND MORTGAGE LOAN
TRUST A, Plaintiff against LAWRENCE LYONS, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein, Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered January 31, 2023, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at steps of Queens County Supreme Court, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435 on June 30, 2023 at 10:00 AM.
Premises known as 6-41 Beach 65th Street, Arverne, NY 11692 a/k/a 6-41 Beach 65th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11692. Block 16026 Lot 31. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situated, lying and being at Far Rockaway, Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $448,380.89 plus interest, fees, and costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fi led Judgment Index No 723027/2021. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 11th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. Referee will only accept a certifi ed bank check made payable to the referee.
Janet Brown, Esq., Referee CARC190Notice of Formation of LIBRA NY LLC Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/25/2022. Offi ce 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: SUSAN TING, 110-19 68TH DRIVE, FOREST HILLS, NY 11375. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation: C&L First LLC. Arts of Org fi led with Sec. of State of New York (SSNY) 05/31/2023.Offi ce in Queens Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail process to the LLC, 3011 Corporal Kennedy St, Bayside, NY 11360. Purpose: General
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SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS–SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF QUEENS – MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC, Plaintiff, -against- ANTHONY R. WATSON, JR. AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF RUTHELLA WATSON AKA RUTH A. WATSON, DECEASED; ROBERT K. WATSON, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF RUTHELLA WATSON AKA RUTH A. WATSON, DECEASED; ANY AND ALL KNOWN OR UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING AN INTEREST BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST THE ESTATE OF RUTHELLA WATSON AKA RUTH A. WATSON, DECEASED; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; JOHN DOE (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #1 through #5, Defendants - Index No. 722216/2022 Plaintiff Designates Queens County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject action is situated in Queens County. 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 Attorney(s) within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 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. That this Supplemental Summons is being filed pursuant to an order of the court dated May 30, 2023. 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 the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable Timothy J. Dufficy, J.S.C. Dated: May 30, 2023 Filed: May 31, 2023. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage and covering the premises known as 118-09 Nashville Blvd, Cambria Heights, NY 11411. Dated: December 30, 2022
Filed: June 16, 2023 Greenspoon Marder LLP, Attorney for Plaintiff, By: Monica G. Christie, Esq., 590 Madison Avenue, Suite 1800, New York, NY 10022 P: (212) 524-5000 F: (212) 524-5050 No Service by fax) Service purposes only: Trade Centre South 100 W. Cypress Creek Road, Suite 700, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 P: (888) 491-1120 F: (954) 343-6982
D6 LLC, Arts of Org. fi led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 5/31/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 42-20 Kissena Blvd., apt. B2, Flushing, NY 11355. General Purpose
Supplemental Summons and Notice of Object of Action Supreme Court Of The State Of New York County Of Queens Action To Foreclose A Mortgage Index #: 718865/2019 Nationstar Mortgage LLC D/B/A Mr. Cooper Plaintiff, vs Cheryl Scott As Heir To The Estate Of Artemus Scott, Ilyas Scott As Heir To The Estate Of Artemus Scott If Living, And If He/She Be Dead, Any And All Persons Unknown To Plaintiff, Claiming, Or Who May Claim To Have An Interest In, Or General Or Specific Lien Upon The Real Property Described In This Action; Such Unknown Persons Being Herein Generally Described And Intended To Be Included In Wife, Widow, Husband, Widower, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assignees Of Such Deceased, Any And All Persons Deriving Interest In Or Lien Upon, Or Title To Said Real Property By, Through Or Under Them, Or Either Of Them, And Their Respective Wives, Widows, Husbands, Widowers, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assigns, All Of Whom And Whose Names, Except As Stated, Are Unknown To Plaintiff, Valerie R. Scott As Heir To The Estate Of Artemus Scott, Artemus Scott, Jr. As Heir To The Estate Of Artemus Scott, Wahjeeda Scott As Heir To The Estate Of Artemus Scott, Unknown Heirs As Heir To The Estate Of Artemus Scott If Living, And If He/She Be Dead, Any And All Persons Unknown To Plaintiff, Claiming, Or Who May Claim To Have An Interest In, Or General Or Specific Lien Upon The Real Property Described In This Action; Such Unknown Persons Being Herein Generally Described And Intended To Be Included In Wife, Widow, Husband, Widower, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assignees Of Such Deceased, Any And All Persons Deriving Interest In Or Lien Upon, Or Title To Said Real Property By, Through Or Under Them, Or Either Of Them, And Their Respective Wives, Widows, Husbands, Widowers, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assigns, All Of Whom And Whose Names, Except As Stated, Are Unknown To Plaintiff, People Of The State Of New York, United States Of America Acting Through The IRS, TIAA F.S.B. FKA Everbank, City Register Of The City Of New York, Queens County, New York City Environmental Control Board, Capital One Bank (USA), N.A., Citibank (South Dakota) N.A., Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC, LVNV Funding LLC APO Chase Bank USA N.A., New York City Parking Violations Bureau, John Doe (Those Unknown Tenants, Occupants, Persons Or Corporations Or Their Heirs, Distributees, Executors, Administrators, Trustees, Guardians, Assignees, Creditors Or Successors Claiming An Interest In The Mortgaged Premises.) Defendant(s). Mortgaged Premises: 516 Beach 72nd Street Arverne, NY 11692
To the Above named Defendant: 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 Supplemental Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this Supplemental Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Supplemental Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Queens. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. To Ilyas Scott As Heir To The Estate Of Artemus Scott, and the Unknown Heirs As Heir To The Estate Of Artemus Scott, Defendant(s) In this Action. The foregoing Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. Phillip Hom of the Supreme Court Of The State Of New York, dated the Third day of May, 2023 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens, in the City of Long Island City. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage dated November 1, 2006, upon the premises described below, executed by Artemus Scott (who died on September 26, 2018, a resident of the county of Queens, State of New York) to secure the sum of $163,000.00. The Mortgage was recorded at CRFN 2006000661193 in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County on November 30, 2006. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed November 7, 2007 and recorded on November 19, 2007, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2007000576303. The Filed: Queens County Clerk 10/28/2022 08:49 AM Index NO. 718865/2019 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 74 Received NYSCEF: 10/28/2022 mortgage was subsequently modified on June 20, 2017. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed May 28, 2020 and recorded on October 5, 2020, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 20200002770317. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed June 19, 2020 and recorded on October 5, 2020, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2020000270318; The property in question is described as follows: 516 BEACH 72ND STREET, ARVERNE, NY 11692. 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. DATED: May 26, 2023 Gross Polowy, LLC Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s) 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221 The law firm of Gross Polowy, LLC and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. 76627
Double One LLC, Arts of Org.
fi led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 5/18/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 10822 Inwood St., Jamaica, NY 11435. General Purpose
Notice of Formation of FRAFFA LLC
Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/16/2023. Offi ce 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: FRAFFA LLC, 128-01 109TH AVENUE, OZONE PARK, NY 11420. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
GSJL LLC. Arts. of Org. fi led with the SSNY on 05/05/23.
Offi ce: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 69-20 60th Avenue, Maspeth, NY 11378. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of SASSON CONSTRUCTION LLC
Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/05/2023. Offi ce 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: ILAN SASSON, 69-25 MANSE STREET, FOREST HILLS, NY 11375. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS, INDEX NO. 700641/2016, Plaintiff designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Mortgaged Premises: 145-56 SHORE AVENUE, JAMAICA, NY 11435 Block: 10084, Lot: 11, BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. NATASHA SMITH A/K/A NATASHA NELSON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF MARVA SMITH; OMAR SMITH, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF MARVA SMITH; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES TO THE ESTATE OF MARVA SMITH, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; ELITE RECOVERY SERVICES, INC.; CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; CITY OF NEW YORK TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; CITY OF NEW YORK ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendants. To the above named Defendants: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $630,000.00 and interest, recorded on July 17, 2009, in CRFN 2009000220689, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York., covering premises known as 145-56 SHORE AVENUE, JAMAICA, NY 11435. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. QUEENS County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county. 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 the mortgage company will not stop the 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. Dated: May 19, 2022
ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC
Attorney for Plaintiff Matthew Rothstein, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675
Supplemental Summons and Notice of Object of Action Supreme Court Of The State Of New York County Of Queens Action to Foreclose a Mortgage Index #: 725457/2022 U.S. Bank National Association, Not In Its Individual Capacity But Solely As Trustee For The RMAC Trust, Series 2016-CTT Plaintiff, vs Ronald Abrams If Living, And If He/She Be Dead, Any And All Persons Unknown To Plaintiff, Claiming, Or Who May Claim
To Have An Interest In, Or General Or Specific Lien Upon The Real Property Described In This Action; Such Unknown Persons Being Herein Generally Described And Intended To Be Included In Wife, Widow, Husband, Widower, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assignees Of Such Deceased, Any And All Persons Deriving Interest In Or Lien Upon, Or Title To Said Real Property By, Through Or Under Them, Or Either Of Them, And Their Respective Wives, Widows, Husbands, Widowers, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assigns, All Of Whom And Whose Names, Except As Stated, Are Unknown To Plaintiff, Doris Abrams, People Of The State Of New York, United States Of America On Behalf Of The IRS John Doe (Those unknown tenants, occupants, persons or corporations or their heirs, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, assignees, creditors or successors claiming an interest in the mortgaged premises.) Defendant(s). Mortgaged Premises: 116-49 167th Street Jamaica, NY 11434 To the Above named Defendant: 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 Supplemental Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this Supplemental Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Supplemental Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Queens. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. TO Ronald Abrams Defendant In this Action. The foregoing Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. Timothy J. Dufficy of the Supreme Court Of The State Of New York, dated the Thirtieth day of May, 2023 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens, in the City of Jamaica. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage upon the premises described below, dated October 3, 2005, executed by Ronald Abrams and Doris Abrams to secure the sum of $352,000.00. The Mortgage was recorded at CRFN 2005000616389 in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County on November 3, 2005. Plaintiff is also holder of a mortgage dated October 5, 2007 executed by Ronald Abrams and Doris Abrams to secure the sum of $48,000.00 and recorded at CRFN 2007000542988 in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County on October 29, 2007. Said mortgage was consolidated with the mortgage referred to at CRFN: 2005000616389 by a Consolidation, Extension and Modification Agreement executed by Ronald Abrams and Doris Abrams dated October 5, 2007 and recorded November 23, 2007 at CRFN 2007000583769 in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County to form a single lien in the amount of $400,000.00. The consolidated mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed May 4, 2018 and recorded on May 7, 2018, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2018000152121. The consolidated mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed November 16, 2018 and recorded on November 28, 2018, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2018000392741. The consolidated mortgage was subsequently assigned by a corrective assignment executed February 1, 2019 and recorded on February 1, 2019, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2019000038301. Said Mortgage was subsequently modified by a Loan Modification Agreement executed by Ronald Abrams and Doris Abrams on October 25, 2018 and recorded December 20, 2018 in CRFN 2018000418580 in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County. Said Mortgage was subsequently modified by a Loan Modification Agreement executed by Ronald Abrams and Doris Abrams on August 26, 2019 and recorded December 23, 2019 in CRFN 2019000418351 in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County. The consolidated mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed April 6, 2021 and recorded on May 17, 2021, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2021000180640; The property in question is described as follows: 116-49 167th Street, Jamaica, NY 11434 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 the Foreclosure Relief Hotline 1-800-269-0990 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 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. DATED: June 8, 2023 Gross Polowy, LLC Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s) 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221 The law firm of Gross Polowy, LLC and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. 76763
Notice of Formation of Spear Forest Hills LLC. Arts. of Org. fi led with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 5/8/23. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 31 E 32nd St, 4th Fl, NY, NY 10016. Purpose: any lawful activity.
A Notice of Formation of TCRH LLC, Art. of Org. fi led Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/28/2021. Offi ce location: Queens County. SSNY Designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: The LLC, 2713 Utopia Pkwy, Flushing, NY 11358. Purpose: any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of TONYA’SHOURCARESERVICE LLC
Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/05/2023.
Offi ce 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, 10001 220TH ST., QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11429.
Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of VORES LLC
Articles of Organization were fi led with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/09/2023. Offi ce 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: ACCUMERA LLC, 911 CENTRAL AVE., #101, ALBANY, NY 12206. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.