President Biden has faced
Queens Reps. Tom Suozzi, clockwise from right, Gregory Meeks, Grace Meng, Nydia Velázquez and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand
Debate fallout fuels controversy on the president’s 2024 election bid Are Queens pols siding with Biden?
by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor
Since June 27’s presidential debate, the election discourse has been inescapable. After President Biden appeared to lose his train of thought and stumble over words throughout the 90 minutes, many of his supporters have grown concerned.
Some political leaders called for Biden to step aside for a different candidate to face former president and Republican nominee Donald Trump in November. Others are standing behind him, expressing confidence in his abilities. Biden has insisted he will not drop out of the race, going so far as to meet with Democratic lawmakers at all levels of government to ensure their support.
While politicians around the country mull over whether to support the sitting president in his reelection, what do those representing Queens think?
Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives here largely support Biden.
Asked whether she would back the president for reelection or believes he should step aside, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) told the Chronicle in a statement, “I continue to have confidence in President Biden and his ability to beat Donald Trump this November.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) did not respond to multiple requests for comment, but,
as per a clip on MSNBC on July 9, told reporters at Capitol Hill, “As I’ve said before, I’m with Joe.”
Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-Brooklyn, Queens) in a statement said, “The first Trump administration was an abject disaster for countless Americans” and called Biden “one of the most impactful Presidents in recent memory.”
She said he revitalized American infrastructure, made record investments in fighting cli-
mate change, lowered the cost of prescription drugs and delivered record job growth.
Velázquez added, “Donald Trump is a convicted felon and adjudicated sex offender. He is not fit to serve as President again. ... I support Joe Biden, and it is time to focus on reelecting him in November.”
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) in a statement to the Chronicle said, “We can’t let a 90-minute debate overshadow President
Biden’s nearly 4-year record of delivering for the American people. The Biden-Harris Administration has fulfilled its promises by lowering prescription drug costs, alleviating the burden of student loan debt for so many, investing in America’s infrastructure, and growing American jobs.”
He called Trump a “serial liar, a con man, and a convicted felon who has shown himself to be an existential threat to our democracy,” and said it is time for Democrats to rally behind Biden to “safeguard our progress and build a better future for all.”
Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing), a member the National Advisory Board for the BidenHarris campaign, in a statement said in part, “The stakes for November couldn’t be clearer — we can continue our progress or go back to the chaos, dysfunction, and attacks on our values of the Trump era. By working hand-inhand with House Democrats and investing in outreach to Asian, Black, and Latino communities, I know that we’ll be able to defend our values — and win across the nation. ... Let’s focus on the work ahead and get ready to beat Trump and MAGA extremists in November by re-electing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.”
While Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx, Queens) did not respond to requests
continued on page 12
President Biden has faced calls to drop out of the 2024 presidential election. What do Queens politicians believe his next step should be?
PHOTO BY AARON SCHULTZ / THE WHITE HOUSE / FLICKR
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City steps up war on rats, trash bags
Residents must used sealed bins by Nov. 12; official city cans by June ’26
by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor
Gracie Mansion on Monday became the first single-family home in the city to use the new official NYC residential trash bin.
And Mayor Adams, who long has wanted to rid the city’s sidewalks and curbs of black plastic trash bags and the rats that feed from them, said plans are in place to make closable bins mandatory for most residents by November; with the official city bin required by June 1, 2026.
Adams announced both initiatives with Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Councilman Shawn Abreu (D-Manhattan).
“Today, we are tossing even more black bags into the dustbin of history,” Adams said.
Starting Nov. 12, residential buildings from single-family homes to those with up to nine units will be required to put their trash into containers with lids that can latch shut, have wheels and have a capacity of 55 gallons or less.
“They will be required to make sure that they’re in, they’re sealed, these are durable, they are attractive and New York affordable. It is a game changer for our city, and we will not [be satisfied] with making New Yorkers go out and buy their own bins at retail costs. We’re
going to do it on the cheap. These bins are less than $50 apiece, and they will last for a long time.”
A city spokesman told the Chronicle that residents who already use wheeled, latching con-
tainers other than those now available through the city can continue to use them until June 2026.
The bins, provided under a contract with Otto Environmental Systems of Charlotte, NC, are designed
to be compatible with the city’s fleet of rear-loading “tipper” trucks for faster, mechanized collection.
Adams and Tisch said similar containers can cost homeowners two to three times more than ones
purchased through the city.
The mayor said savings were achieved through “an innovative contracting mechanism” in which Otto has agreed to keep the price low in return for an exclusive contract.
A DSNY spokesman said the contract was certified by the office of Comptroller Brad Lander back in May. He said while the rule will not require approval by the City Council, the department will be required to have a public hearing Information on purchasing the containers is available online at bins.nyc
And, of course, there will be fines for noncompliance, though a grace period through the end of 2024 is part of the proposal.
As with existing commercial trash container requirements, the fine for leaving trash on New York City streets rather than in a secure bin of 55 gallons or less will be $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense, and $200 for a third offense and each subsequent violation.
The DSNY said it will engage in “substantial outreach” this summer around the new rules, including through mailers, door-to-door canvassing, community and ethnic media outreach, and work with community boards and civic associations. Q
District 32 gets big wins for education
Area schools set to receive upgrades as per new city budget allocations
by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor
Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) made sure schools in her district received necessary funds in the city budget to account for upgrades.
Per her office, district schools will be scoring a variety of upgrades, including:
• $2 million for a new schoolyard at MS 137 in Ozone Park;
• $1.5 million for playground upgrades at PS 97 in Woodhaven;
• $832,000 for technology upgrades across district schools;
• $600,000 to renovate the cafeteria at PS 207 in Howard Beach;
• $500,000 to create a media lab at PS 232 in Lindenwood;
• $250,000 to upgrade devices at PS 114 in Belle Harbor;
• $200,000 to provide iPads for students at
PS 47 in Broad Channel;
• $200,000 to upgrade the art classroom at Rockaway Collegiate High School, and
• $135,000 to upgrade the water fountains at PS/IS 119 in Glendale.
On Facebook, Ariola wrote, “The schools in District 32 are going to be getting some pretty big upgrades thanks to this year’s budget. From new schoolyards to improved technology, local students are going to have better schools and more effective classrooms for years to come.”
PS 97 thanked Ariola on the school’s X account.
“PS 97Q would like to express our deepest gratitude to Councilwoman Joann Ariola for securing a phenomenal $1.5 million upgrade to our school’s playground! This investment will create a safe and fun space that will benefit our students for years to come. Thank you for your dedication to our students’ well-being!” Q
PS 97 in Woodhaven will get $1.5 million for playground upgrades, as per this year’s city budget allocations. GOOGLE
Mayor Adams tries out his new official city trash bin outside Gracie Mansion with Councilman Shawn Abreu and Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
PHOTO BY ED REED / MAYOR’S OFFICE
Says 2024 class is likely the most ethnically diverse in Queens history BP tackles inequities in CB demographics
by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor
The 2024 class of community board appointees is likely the most racially and ethically diverse in Queens history, according to a new report released by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards last week.
The 2024 Queens Community Board Demographic report provides a 45-page overview of the diverse class of community board appointees, publication of which is required by the New York City Charter. It demonstrates how Richards has continued to build on efforts to rectify long standing demographic inequities in community board membership by implementing effective reforms to the application process and prioritizing appointees from underrepresented communities, he said.
In total, the Borough President’s Office received 848 applications for community board membership in 2024. Of this year’s 355 appointees, 117 are new members who were not previously serving on a board — the largest number of new members appointed during Richards’ time in office thus far, his office said.
female, according to the report. When combining all four of Richards’ community board application cycles, more than 52 percent of his new appointees have identified as female. Prior to the Richards administration, just 43 percent of board members identified as female.
Additionally, 24.7 percent of new members are parents or guardians of a school-age child, 17.9 percent of new members are immigrants and 10.3 percent of new members identified as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, up from 3.4 percent in 2020.
Mass transit users make up a significant chunk of the 2024 class of new members, as 55.6 percent reported they “mostly” or “often” navigate the borough by using the subway, and 86.3 percent said they at least “sometimes” use the subway to get around.
Additionally, 78.6 percent of new appointees at least “sometimes” ride the bus, and 27.3 percent at least “sometimes” use a bicycle or other micromobility vehicle for transportation.
Over 80 percent of new appointees do not identify as “white” or “European,” a demographic category that has been historically overrepresented on community boards.
More than half, or 54.7 percent, of new
People who identify as Hispanic/Latinx make up 27.4 percent of new appointees; African Americans make up 26.5 percent of new appointees; and East Asian/Pacific Islanders or South Asians make up 23.9 percent of new members, the report said.
Updated demographic tool launched by DCP
by Sophie Krichevsky Editor
The Department of City Planning last week released an updated version of its interactive population tool Population FactFinder, with data from the 2020 Census. The accompanying Population MapViewer displays that data geographically.
The most recent Census allowed respondents to further specify their race and ethnicity for the first time. That, combined with the incorporation of data from the 2018-2022 five-year American Community Survey — which includes information not covered by the Census, such as educational attainment, veteran status, occupation and more — gives New Yorkers an even clearer picture of the city’s demographics on Population FactFinder than in years past.
The updated tool also allows users to see demographic information across City Council districts for the first time.
“The Department of City Planning is committed to making the data we collect transparent, and through these updates to Population FactFinder, we’re putting even more information at people’s fingertips,” DCP Director Dan Garodnick said in a
prepared statement.
The tool highlights several demographic facts about Queens. It shows, for one, that South Ozone Park is home to the most Guyanese people in the city. It also illustrates that the Downtown Flushing-Willets Point area has the highest East Asian population in the city, with Chinese people specifically accounting for 60 percent of the area, and that Ecuadorians make up the largest group of Hispanic people in Queens.
Try the tool at popfactfinder.planng. nyc.gov.
community board appointees are under the age of 45, and 31.6 percent are 35 or under.
Prior to Richards’ tenure, less than 25 percent of community board members were younger than 45.
Of the 117 new community board members this year, nearly 55 percent identify as
“I am thrilled to see our efforts to create community boards that look like the communities they serve are generating great results,” Richards said in a statement. “There’s still a lot of work to be done, but I am confident that we’re building better representation on our boards with every passing year.” Q
Available at select schools, libraries Summer meal program feeds children for free
by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor
It’s summer break, which means Free Summer Meals, a program that provides breakfast and lunch to those 18 and younger, has returned for the season. The meals are provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Office of Food & Nutrition Services, part of the city Department of Education.
The meals can be found at select public schools, parks and libraries, according to the DOE website. No registration or identification is required. The service runs on weekdays through Aug. 30, with breakfast from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Halal meals are available at certain participating sites. Times, locations and menus are subject to change. For more information, text NYCFood to 304304, call 311 or visit schools.nyc.gov.
Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) lauded the program in a press release.
“This is a great program to guarantee that all our children have the opportunity to
grab a meal,” she said. “For years I have worked to fight food insecurity, and last year I was successful in implementing free school meals across our State — because no child should ever be hungry! That mission continues over the summer, even when school is not in session, which is why I want the families in our community to know and use this free opportunity.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, seen here at an April swearing-in ceremony at Borough Hall for his 2024 appointees, released the year’s community board demographic report last week.
QUEENS BP OFFICE PHOTO / X
South Ozone Park is home to the city’s largest Guyanese population, seen in maroon at lower right center above Kennedy Airport, in gray. POPULATION MAPVIEWER SCREENSHOT
The Glendale Library is one of the locations participating in the Free Summer Meals program. PHOTO BY CHRSTOPHER BARCA / FILE
Gotti scrapyard fined for pollution
Toxic automobile waste, antifreeze, gas, oil and more spill into Jam.: OAG
by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor
A scrapyard and other related businesses in Jamaica, owned by Victoria Gotti, a writer and TV personality, who is also the daughter of infamous Gambino crime boss John Gotti, has been penalized for up to $497,000 by the office of state Attorney General Tish James and Department of Environmental Conservation for contaminating the groundwater and soil in the area.
LSM Auto Parts & Recycling, Liberty Scrap Metal, BGN Real Estate and Three Sons Real Estate Group, collectively called the “salvage yard defendants” by the OAG, are required to clean up the property located at 155-11 Liberty Ave. under DEC supervision and pay an initial penalty of $210,000. Failure to address the environmental contamination and pay the fines within 270 days after a court injunction will result in an additional $287,000 sanction, James’ office said July 3.
“LSM made an environmental mess, and now they are responsible for cleaning it up,” said James in a prepared statement. “For too long, LSM ignored basic laws and regulations about handling dangerous chemicals and exposed neighbors to toxic pollutants.
“Now, LSM will finally clean up their years of pollution and we’re going to make sure they do it right. Thank you to DEC and Interim
Commissioner [Sean] Mahar for their continued partnership in keeping our communities clean and safe for all.”
The OAG and DEC accused LSM and affiliates of ignoring regulations governing the proper disposal of dangerous automobile fluids
and oil. Th office noted that the violations occurred in low-income communities and communities of color.
A lawsuit filed in 2022 by the two agencies said gas, antifreeze and other contaminants spilled out of the scrap yard and ran down into
sidewalks and storm drains repeatedly over the years instead of a waste container.
The lawsuit said the limited liability company and affiliates failed to submit annual reports to the DEC, from 2018 to 2020, violating the Vehicle Dismantling Law, and the agency learned in 2021 that LSM had poured concrete over the site without oversight, impeding an investigation into the subsurface for the purposes of remediation.
“In an e-mail to Salvage Yard Defendants’ representative the next day, the DEC attorney urged Salvage Yard Defendants not to proceed with any more concrete work except in coordination with DEC and under an approved plan,” said the suit.
The Southeast Queens Residents Environmental Justice Coalition was pleased about the settlement.
“This junkyard and similar noxious businesses in that immediate area have been an environmental hazard for decades,” said William Scarborough of SQREJC via email. “We would urge the Attorney General to do a wider investigation of the junk yards and scrap yards in that immediate area. There is no question that similar toxic conditions exist in locations in close proximity to the site in question.
“We applaud Attorney General Tish James for her efforts to correct this environmental injustice.” Q
Have a healthy and fulfilling sex life. Care is available for people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, and immigration statuses:
STI prevention, testing, and care
HIV prevention (PEP and PrEP), testing, and care
Mpox and other vaccinations
Reproductive health
Information and resources
LGBTQIA+ health
Low to no cost care is available at many facilities, including all City-run sites.
A scrapyard in Jamaica owned by Victoria Gotti, daughter of John Gotti, was fined for polluting area sidewalks, streets and storm drains, according to Attorney General Tish James. PHOTO COURTESY NYS OAG
EDITORIAL AGEP Awesome data overload
It was only three weeks ago, in our 27th Annual Celebration of Queens: On the Cutting Edge special edition, that we had an article marveling at the amazing volume and type of data the city provides everyone, online, for free. It was just one of 14 pieces in the supplement spotlighting high technology; find them all at tinyurl.com/bfb45r9r.
And now there’s a whole new element in the vast array of information available: detailed demographic data, in both text and map form, on every Census tract in the city.
Just go to popfactfinder.planning.nyc.gov, find your spot on the map, go to “data explorer” and wham! You’ve got the number of people in your area, their ages, their ethnicity and much more. And that’s just one use of the tool.
Part of what’s new is the specificity on ethnicity, thanks to a change made in the most recent Census. The website can tell you not just how many people in an area are of European descent, for example, but from which
countries. Also new are details on residents’ occupations, educational levels and more.
“Who cares?” some will say, and we respect that. But the information is plenty useful to researchers, advocates, academics, journalists ... who knows who else ... and we suspect it would interest all kinds of people, at least for a time. You’ve done worse on the internet, haven’t you? There are no funny animal videos but no embarrassing URLs, either.
We’re just stunned by the rapid spread of data online. Did you know you can learn the species of every street tree in the city without leaving your chair? One website has them all. You can also look up parking regulations for every stretch of every block before you head somewhere. And of course you can “drive” down streets around the world via Google Maps Street View. That’s old hat now.
We’re well aware of tech’s dangers. We’ve addressed them before and will again. Today is just another day we’re in awe of it all.
Avoiding tragedy at the beach
The two teenage boys were standing in water only knee-deep, the reports said. How dangerous could it be? And yet it was deadly. A wave hit and they were swept away, never to be seen alive again. Their names were Elyjah Chandler and Christian Perkins. They died in the waters off Jacob Riis Park in Rockaway June 21. The sea held onto them for a week before their bodies could be recovered and their families could have closure.
Then on July 5, two teenage sisters, Zainab and Aisha Mohammed, drowned at Coney Island Beach.
The waters are rough and can be unforgiving, especially for those unfamiliar with their ways. Now some elected officials, including Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and City Councilman Shekar Krishnan of Jack-
son Heights, are calling for the city to hire more lifeguards and extend beach hours (Richards wants a longer season, too). They also seek more free swim lessons and other aquatics programs. This comes on top of a recent law spearheaded by Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato of South Queens requiring new parents to watch a video about the dangers of drowning.
If it’s feasible for the city to get more lifeguards out there, great. But there is a shortage. And everyone should learn to swim. Richards also reminded everyone, in a Facebook post he put up after the first tragedy, that you must not swim when lifeguards are not present. The ocean is not a pool, he noted, and even the best swimmers can get pulled out. Whether the city makes changes or not, don’t forget that.
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LETTERSTO THE EDITOR
Lower limit is nuts
Dear Editor:
To enact a 20-mph speed limit is insane (“Lower speed limits soon,” Editorial, July 4). Twenty-five mph isn’t a driving speed, it’s a rolling speed, and the cameras make drivers feel like we’re being watched by a stalker.
Many bikes, especially e-bikes, go a lot faster than 25, and since they aren’t licensed, they don’t get ticketed the way drivers who support the city and state with insurance, inspections, registrations, meters and licenses do. Bicyclists don’t put a dime into this city.
The speed limit should be 30 mph. The Department of Transportation is out of hand.
Sherri Ross Forest Hills
How slow can you go?
Dear Editor:
Your excellent editorial regarding the city’s ludicrous decision to lower the speed limit to 20 and 10 mph in places reminded me of an even more ludicrous decision made by some illustrious legislators.
In the late ’70s or early ’80s Forbes magazine published a story that included the fact that, in the very late 19th century, the blacksmiths union, recognizing that the automobile represented a direct attack on their livelihood, got the legislature of some Midwestern state
to pass an even more ridiculous law. It limited cars to traveling 5 mph. But it also required that a person walk 200 feet ahead of the car, ring a bell and announce to everyone, that a car is coming.
If this had been adopted by the majority of states it would have severely crippled the spectacular material progress that we made during the 20th century. Society today would be unrecognizable.
Let’s write to our city and state representatives, hoping that we can get them to do the intelligent thing and repeal today’s new law.
Michael Gallagher Forest Hills
Regulate e-rides
Dear Editor:
Re Naelsha Rose’s July 4 report “E-scooters in Eastern section of Queens” (multiple editions):
I agree with Councilman Jim Gennaro’s statement, “E-scooters have no place in our community.” Neither do e-bikes, because both
pose a hazard to pedestrians. I nearly got hit by an e-bike while walking along 77th Avenue in Kew Gardens Hills, near PS 164. The ride r raced at a high speed on the sidewalk, with no concern for people’s safety.
This is typical behavior for operators of these two-wheeled instruments of terror. Seventyfour NYC pedestrians were hit by e-bikes last year, and two of them were killed (The New York Times, May 28, 2024).
Queens City Councilman Robert Holden sponsored a bill requiring that all motorized two-wheel vehicles be registered, licensed and insured (Gothamist.com, Dec. 6, 2023). Advocates for delivery workers oppose the measure, even though delivery workers, facing intense time pressure for drop-offs, cause many pedestrian injuries.
The City Council must resist pressure from a special interest group and pass legislation to protect the safety of all New Yorkers. Fastfood delivery work is not a license to injure or kill pedestrians.
Richard Reif Kew Gardens Hills
LETTERSTO THE EDITOR
Don’t litter on 7/11
Dear Editor:
The national holiday of “7/11” is here. It is predicted that thousands of people will make their annual pilgrimages to 7-Eleven stores to participate in the ritual free Slurpee. Young and old, black, white and other, Christian, Muslim and Jew will travel blocks to journey to this festive occasion. Hundreds of plastic straws and domed plastic lids will adorn this festive elixir. Please, please, please do not throw them on the ground or put them in garbage cans. As heavy as they may be, please carry them home and place in your recycling container. Better yet, if you’re old enough not to spill, do not take a straw or lid.
I wish everyone a festive 7/11! And I hope 7-Eleven will join Starbucks and ban plastic straws (and cups) in the near future.
Joseph M. Varon West Hempstead, LI
The writer is past chairperson of the New York State Marine Education Association.
This is a great country
Dear Editor:
As I read your July 4 editorial “America: still great at 248” I was thinking about an article I saw the very same morning in the New York Post on page 19. The title was “July 4 Punks Fry The Flag.” (Online it was “Disgraceful America-hating anti-Israel protesters burn US flag on July 4th in NYC.”)
Now, I do agree that this is a great country. And yes, there remains great work to do. But how do these people burn the flag and say “F--- America”?
The article also stated that a photographer walked over a burnt flag. I really don’t understand these people. OK, I get it. Let’s stop the war in Gaza. But you aren’t happy here? Why don’t these people just leave?!
It’s really gone too far. This is a great country and offers many great opportunities. No wonder illegals are trying to get here.
Steve Pelosa Howard Beach
The price at the polls
Dear Editor:
Democracy has never come cheap. By comparison, review the books of any totalitarian government apparatus.
Now, however, thanks to City & State New York, voters in the 40th Assembly District can know exactly how much money (much of it courtesy of the NYS public campaign finance program, which is itself under investigation) was spent to garner each and every vote cast.
To wit, here’s the tally — Assemblymember Ron Kim: $195.56 per vote; Yi Andy Chen: $283.63 per vote; Dao Yin: $599.29 per vote.
Those are hard data points to swallow especially when one considers how embarrassingly few votes were cast throughout the entire 40th Assembly District contrasted to the much larger number of eligible voters actually residing therein.
The woefully little voter headcount cast bespeaks elements of voter suppression within the 40th Assembly District. Why such diminished voter engagement throughout the district?
If this doesn’t “add up” to you, undeniably you are not alone.
Is this a classic example of an incumbent self-selecting voters, instead of voters selecting their representative and, perhaps, why The Brennan Justice Center has deemed the NYS Legislature “the most dysfunctional in the nation”?
Ironically, there’s an inverse dimension to this recent 40th Assembly District Democratic Party Primary: The candidate who expended the largest amount of money came in last; the candidate who spent the least amount of money came in first.
Democracy is always of incalculable value, on the Fourth of July and every other day of every year.
Frances Scanlon Flushing
Trump’s lies hurt Biden
Dear Editor:
In the June 27th debate, Donald Trump used a strategy called “The Gish Gallop” to undermine President Biden’s performance. In a short space of time, the galloper confronts an opponent with a rapid series of arguments, halftruths, misrepresentations and outright lies that make it impossible for the opponent to refute all of them within the format of a debate. The gallop wastes the opponent’s time and casts doubt on the opponent’s ability. (The Gish Gallop is also known as Brandolini’s Law or the BS asymmetry principle.)
Biden’s advisors were remiss because they either weren’t familiar with the principle or didn’t advise him how to respond. He should have been told to call Trump out by declaring, “This is called the Gish Gallop. Don’t be fooled by the flood of nonsense you just heard.”
Trump told over 30 lies during the debate and never really answered the questions. The moderators should have called him out, but did nothing to stop him.
We shouldn’t judge Biden on one performance when he had a cold, has battled with stuttering and wasn’t prepared to be confronted by the “Gish Gallop.” Joe Biden deserves to remain our president because he will fight to protect and preserve our democracy.
Linda Imhauser
Whitestone
Dictator and criminal
Dear Editor:
American voters should be aware ... if they vote “Mr. 34” president in November, they will give him majority control of our Supreme Court.
He appointed three justices in his first term as president. If he has a second term, he may have the right to appoint two or three more justices. This would give him majority control of our executive and judicial branches. Voters, all hell will break loose if we see him create a Putin style of government under his control! His GOP is close to controlling Congress. I hope America never sees the day a criminal has power over all three branches of our federal government, and democracy will be spelled with a small D.
Anthony G. Pilla Forest Hills
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Queens pols on the presidency
continued from page 2
for comment, in a clip posted by @BidenHQ on X on July 8, she told reporters, “Biden has made clear that he is in this race. The matter is closed. Biden is our nominee. He is in this race and I support him. He is running against Donald Trump, who is a man with 34 felony convictions. Not a single Republican has asked for Donald Trump to not be the nominee. I’m here to win in November.”
Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Nassau, Queens) did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
On June 28, according to ABC News, Suozzi told reporters he would have liked to see a better performance from Biden, and added, “Regardless of what happens, I have got to fight for my district — whoever becomes the president — whether it’s President Biden, former president Trump or some other Democrat or Republican. ... I am going to fight for my district.”
On the state level, most Queens politicians did not respond to the Chronicle’s inquiries, and Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas (D-East Elmhurst was “not available for comment.”
State Sen. John Liu (D-Flushing), a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, called for Biden to step aside.
He said in a statement, “Donald Trump’s demagoguery demands a candidate capable of providing a clear and compelling vision
for our country. President Biden has already done so much for our nation, but he has struggled to make that point to the American people. The stakes are too high to bank on track records without a strong path forward. Now he must be the ultimate statesman by passing the torch to another Democrat who can restore hope to the country and beat back Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric once and for all.”
Another senior Democratic official from Queens, asked whether he believes Biden should stay in the race, said he is not one for party politics and will vote for who he deems the best candidate.
“That being said, if you look at the past debate — do you want someone who can’t get the facts right on basically every question, or somebody who may have lost the capacity to be president, but is surrounded by possibly good people?” the official said. “I think we’re in a very precarious position.”
He added that he could not say Biden should step down without knowing whom the replacement candidate would be, though he remarked that Biden “has not helped New York” when it comes to the migrant crisis.
“I am looking certainly for someone who could be better for New York,” the official said. “But I need a name.”
“Nobody should vote for the president based on lesser of two evils,” he said. “And that’s where we are right now.” Q
Fighting for safer and cleaner streets OPINION
by Eric Adams
Last week, we celebrated Independence Day — an opportunity to reflect on the values that make the American Dream possible in our city. Public safety and livability are two such foundational commitments — allowing every New Yorker to pursue their dreams without fear for their safety and with a better quality of life.
I am proud to say that New York remains the safest big city in America — and continues to get safer every day.
As a result of our administration’s successful public safety strategy, New York City has seen six straight months of crime reduction. Overall crime continues to trend downward and is down year to date. Homicides are down double digits for the year, as well as for this quarter and for last month. Grand larceny auto is also down double digits. Shootings are down. And burglaries are down, too.
Our public transit system is the lifeblood of our city, so keeping New Yorkers safe on the subway is key to ensuring that New York remains the safest big city in America. That is why we surged more than 1,000 additional officers in the subway system in February and introduced additional technology, including cameras and data driven officer deployment. As a result, transit crime remains down for the year, and if you take out one of the pandemic years, we have reached the lowest level of transit crime in 14 years.
Crime is down, including underground, and the “Trash Revolution” to combat rats continues.
We know that community input is critical to improving public safety. That is why we are bringing partners from across the city together to find innovative approaches to reducing crime and improving quality of life. Last week, we announced the creation of our fifth quality-of-life improvement hub, located in Midtown Manhattan. These hubs bring together law enforcement, elected officials, and community and business leaders to address retail theft, substance use, the mental health crisis, beautification, illegal scaffolding, unlicensed cannabis shops, and more.
The coalition deploys teams to conduct regular walkthroughs during which they observe issues in real time and speak with local community members and businesses on the ground. They also identify specific individuals in the area who may need connections to services, such as housing or medical care, and make referrals to the appropriate city agency or service provider.
Similar coalitions across the city are
already at work making our neighborhoods safer and our streets cleaner. Our administration is committed to supporting their work and leading the way in the fight for cleaner streets and against rats. I have long been clear: I hate rats. And so do New Yorkers. That is why our administration has been ready to do whatever it takes to cut them off from their all-you-can-eat buffet. We have made enormous progress replacing black trash bags that have long cluttered our streets and fed rats.
This week, we announced the next step in our “Trash Revolution” to get bags off our streets. Starting Nov. 12, buildings with one to nine residential units will be required to put their trash into wheelie trash bins for easy removal. And to make sure that cost is not a barrier for building owners, we had our own bins made. These bins are highquality and affordable, with the most common size costing less than $50 — approximately three times cheaper than what you could expect to spend at a store.
For half a century, New York City’s most valuable and limited resource — our public space — has been hijacked by 14 billion pounds of stinky, leaking black trash bags every year. Together, we are changing that. Thanks to our administration’s efforts, as of Nov. 12, we will have containerized 70 percent of our city’s trash in just two years; that’s nearly 10 billion pounds of trash off our streets.
As part of the “Trash Revolution,” we have changed set-out times for residential and commercial waste, so trash doesn’t sit on our streets for hours on end. We have designed a brand-new model of garbage truck years ahead of schedule. And we have a plan to get containerization done for every building and every business in New York City.
We came into office with the clear goals of improving public safety, rebuilding our economy, and making New York City more livable for all New Yorkers. We are making improvements that New Yorkers feel every day. And every step we take — whether it’s driving down crime or improving quality of life — is in service of creating a safer, more livable city for everyone. Q Eric Adams is Mayor of New York City.
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Hirsch acquitted of all weapons charges
Estranged widow of ‘Duck Sauce Killer’ is cleared on all 18 counts
by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor
The widow of accused “Duck Sauce Killer” Glenn Hirsch has been acquitted of weapons charges brought against her in connection with the April 2022 shooting death of a food delivery worker.
Dorothy Hirsch, 65, a Briarwood nurse, was cleared in a bench trial on all 18 counts of charges including criminal possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Her husband, Glenn Hirsch, also of Briarwood, had been charged with murdering Zhiwen Yan, 45, a married father of five from Elmhurst, on April 30, 2022 over a running dispute with a restaurant over the amount of duck sauce he had received in a delivery order.
Glenn Hirsch allegedly followed Yan from the Great Wall Chinese restaurant on Queens Boulevard and shot him to death at a Forest Hills intersection. Guns and ammunition were later found in Dorothy Hirsch’s apartment in a closet she told authorities was used exclusively by her estranged husband, who had access to the apartment.
Glenn Hirsch killed himself on Aug. 5, 2022, on a day he was due to appear in court.
Defense Attorney Mark Bederow asserted from the beginning that Dorothy Hirsch was
Free weekly Zumba in SRH
State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) is partnering with Friends of Phil Rizzuto “Smokey Park” and Zumba instructor Annie Mohan for free classes every Monday from 7 to 8 p.m., through Aug. 12.
The classes will be held in the park, at 95th Avenue and 125th Street in South Richmond Hill. Participants will meet at the handball courts.
The series is open to all, but registration is required. For more information, call (929) 609-1166 or (929) 609-1386, or email friendsofsmokeypark@foprsp.com.
“I am proud to be partnering with so many community organizations to bring free Zumba classes to the district, which not only encourages physical activity but also fosters a sense of unity and wellbeing among our residents,” Addabbo said in a statement. “Let’s dance our way to a healthier and happier community together.”
Other event co-sponsors include Designs by Dash, Mattress by Appointment of Queens Village, Fun Times Photobooth, Jamaica Rotary Club, Gemma Singh of Triangle Realty, Karl Mohan of International Realty Group Inc., Green Leaf Bistro, Heart of Gem and Lloyd Associates Inc. Q
a longtime victim of domestic violence — he said Glenn Hirsch had been arrested five times for abusing her — who did not know and had no way of knowing that her husband was storing guns in the closet.
She was indicted less than a month after his suicide.
“She’s relieved,” Bederow told the Chronicle in a telephone conversation last Wednesday afternoon. “She’s been going through a living hell for two and a half years. She’s good person, never been arrested in her life. She was gainfully employed for 30 years as a nurse, and had the misfortune of being a victim of domestic violence and married, by all accounts, to a not-so-great guy who may have committed a terrible murder.
“And for her trouble, look what happened to her. She got dragged into court for no reason in what is in my experience of 25 years, the most ill-conceived prosecution I’ve ever seen, bar none.”
Brendan Brosh, a spokesman for Katz’s office, issued a brief statement.
“We are disappointed with the outcome but respect the court’s verdict,” he said in an email.
The email did not address a request for comment on Bederow’s scathing attack on how he said the DA’s Office treated Hirsch given her years of domestic abuse.
“To me, [District Attorney] Melinda Katz has a lot of questions to ask herself about how they treat domestic violence victims in that office,” he said. “It is offensive to the core how they treated Dorothy.”
Glenn Hirsch reportedly had threatened staff at the restaurant on multiple occasions — one time brandishing a handgun. Authorities said he circled the block on which the restaurant is located multiple times before following Yan as he left to make deliveries.
Police were able to trace Glenn Hirsch’s movements after the shooting to Dorothy Hirsch’s apartment.
Eight guns were recovered from the closet that contained only his belongings. The guns were packaged in boxes and black plastic garbage bags.
Hirsch was out on $500,000 bail when he shot himself in his apartment, leaving a suicide note proclaiming his and Dorothy Hirsch’s innocence.
Dorothy Hirsch was indicted on Sept. 1.
Bederow, over the course of pretrial proceedings, accused Katz’s office of suppressing potentially exculpatory information during grand jury proceedings, including his history of abuse, which the attorney said could have led the grand jury to believe Dorothy Hirsch would not have examined the contents of the bags and boxes.
He also submitted DNA testing that he said proved Dorothy likely never touched the guns, but Glenn Hirsch did. Q
Rate hikes for Citi Bikes
Charges for some users, plans rise up to 20 percent
by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor
Citi Bike’s e-bike riders may have made the vehicles too popular for their own good for the time being.
On July 10, Lyft, which operates the bike share program, raised many of its fees for New York City users. Costs will remain the same in New Jersey.
The company, on its website, said it has encountered higherthan-anticipated costs for battery-swapping, insurance and other expenses that have made the e-bike fleet more costly than planned, leading to increases in its per-minute price.
Lyft also said e-bike demand continues to increase, now making up two-thirds of all Citi Bike rides.
“To address high cost, we’re working with [the city’s Department of Transportation] and Con Edison to pilot charging stations,” Lyft said. “A network of charging stations will reduce the need for van-based battery swapping. We’ll continue to
Lyft says the popularity of electric Citi Bikes has led to unanticipated costs. The company on Wednesday raised its rates in New York City, after last doing so on Jan. 4.
invest in more manual battery swapping to ensure you can find an ebike that’s charged and available for use.”
Lyft last raised prices on Jan. 4. The company statement said there is no change in annual membership prices. E-bike fees have increased from 20 cents per
minute to 24 cents.
Overage charges on classic and e-bikes increased to 24 cents per minute. The cap for e-bike rides of 45 minutes or less that enter or exit Manhattan has increased to $4.80.
Reduced-fare members will see no change to their monthly
fees. E-bike fees have gone from 10 cents per minute to 12 cents.
Lyft Pink All Access fees are now 24 cents per minute, as are overage fees. Non-member single ride passes and day passes remain unchanged, but both now have e-bike fees of 36 cents per minute.
Elizabeth Adams, interim coexecutive director of Transportation Alternatives, told the Chronicle in an email it is time for the city to step up and step in on bike sharing.
“Bike share is public transportation, and it’s past time for New York City to fund it,” Adams said. “Every other transportation system in our city receives public funding except for Citi Bike. At a time when we urgently need to transition more New Yorkers out of cars and into bikes and e-bikes, New York City has an obligation to ensure bike share is accessible across income levels. We need equitable prices and more bikes in more neighborhoods across the city.” Q
Zhiwen Yan and his wife, Kungying Zhao, in a wedding photo. The popular food delivery man was shot to death in 2022, by a man who had a feud with the restaurant where he worked PHOTO COURTESY KUNGYING ZHAO / GOFUNDME / FILE
PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON
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In Memoriam
Charles Adler
of Howard Beach 1928 - 2024
Charles Adler, aged 96, a longtime resident of Howard Beach, NY, peacefully passed away on July 4, 2024, surrounded by his family at Brookdale Assisted Living.
He was the beloved husband of Lucille L. Adler (nee Chorny) for an inspiring 72 years and the cherished father of Jillian R. (Barry) Deifi k and Ira R. (Danielle) Adler. Charles was a loving grandfather to Lindsey, Rachel, Gregory, Samantha, Sabrina, Sydney, and Skylar, and a caring great-grandfather to Jayden.
Charles led a life of service and dedication. He proudly served as a Marine during the Korean War, embodying bravery and commitment to his country. His community in Howard Beach knew him as a dedicated Scoutmaster
for Troop 139, where he mentored countless young lives. Beyond his military and scouting roles, Charles made a profound impact as a teacher at the Lexington School for the Deaf, leaving a lasting legacy in education.
Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects at his funeral on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, from 10 am to noon at Fluehr Funeral Home, 864 Bristol Pike (Rt. 13), Bensalem, PA 19020. https://www.fluehrfh .com/ obituary/charles-adler
Charles will be remembered fondly for his unwavering love for his family, his commitment to service, and his passion for teaching and mentoring. His legacy lives on through the lives he touched and the values he instilled in others.
137TH ANNUAL
Rajkumar eyes city comptroller role
Opens exploratory committee for bid
by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor
Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) last week announced she had opened an exploratory committee to run for city comptroller in 2025.
Rajkumar, a close ally of Mayor Adams, told the Chronicle in a statement, “I have been honored to hear from New Yorkers across all five boroughs about the need for an effective comptroller who will make a positive change for the city.”
She added, “New York City is the largest metropolitan economy on the globe. We have the most expensive health care system in the world and the largest education system in the country. And yet, how is it that hardworking New Yorkers who work 25 hours a day, 8 days a week and pay some of the highest taxes in the country, are not able to get lifesaving healthcare, quality education, or adequate transportation? What this shows is that there is not enough return on investment or government accountability.
“This government inefficiency is costing lives. We can fix it, and that is why I am exploring a run for City Comptroller.”
The city comptroller acts as NYC’s chief financial officer. The comptroller scrutinizes the mayor’s budget plan, examining the soundness of its fiscal and economic assumptions and advising on potential developments affecting the city’s fiscal outlook.
The person elected to the role will oversee five public pension funds and search for fraud and abuse.
The role is currently held by Brad Lander, a Democrat who has criticized Adams in the past. Lander said he is considering a 2025 mayoral bid, when Adams is up for reelection.
Rajkumar, a Stanford Law and Ivy League educated attorney, has been serving as an assemblywoman since 2021, having ousted 11-year incumbent Mike Miller to become the first Indian-American woman elected to New York state office. She previously served as director of immigration affairs for the state, appointed by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Rajkumar has became known as “omnipresent” and “ubiquitous” in the city, often appearing by Adams’ side in events outside of her district in her signature bright red dress. The mayor has called her a “beast” and a “close friend.”
Her potential city comptroller bid comes as little surprise. At a recent event regarding the city budget, she said, “I’ve always loved numbers. in fact, I got a five on the Calculus AP exam. I never had a chance to brag about that and now is my moment.”
Asked about Rajkumar’s potential comptroller candidacy on NY1 this week, Lander said the gig is a “great job.” He added, “I love doing it. I [need] to decide still for sure what I’m running for, but I understand why people are interested in the job.”
Rajkumar may face competition should she decide to run. The New York Times reported that if Lander runs for mayor, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso are likely to run to take his place.
Asked at a press conference last week if he’d support Rajkumar for comptroller, Adams did not answer directly, but praised the assemblywoman’s work.
“I know there’s a lot of anticipation on her next steps. ... Right now, she’s been a great ally and a great partner,” he said. Q
Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, left, last week announced she had opened an exploratory committee to run for city comptroller, the role held by Brad Lander, right. FILE PHOTOS
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Man claims sexual harassment at work
Files human rights complaint with state; co-workers allege QSAC took no action
by Naeisha Rose Editor
A former male employee for Quality Services for the Autism Community in Jamaica has filed a complaint with the state Division of Human Rights that says a female supervisor allegedly sexually harassed him during his more than yearlong tenure at the nonprofit.
McGregory Frederique, along with co-workers, told the Chronicle that other supervisors at QSAC, located at 150-30 132 Ave., ignored the harassment because it was from a woman.
Frederique said he started working at QSAC around August 2022 and left by December 2023 because of the constant sexual harassment from his supervisor, Assistant Coordinator Tameeka Hargett.
“QSAC does not tolerate sexual harassment or any type of discrimination in the workplace,” said Joseph Amodeo, a QSAC spokesman, via email. “QSAC takes all claims of sexual harassment and/or discrimination very seriously and QSAC is engaging in a full investigation of Mr. Frederique’s claims.”
The Chronicle reached out to the last five numbers associated with Hargett, one of which blocked this reporter’s number after the outlet attempted to get her side of the story.
work, but she instead allegedly sexually touched him.
Frederique sent the Chronicle a screenshot illustrating the frequency of the calls allegedly from the supervisor, as well as the revealing photos she sent him.
The situation was like something out of a movie, Frederique said. “Every classroom before dismissal, she was right there. ... It was wild.”
He said that what started off as her checking in on him as a trainee escalated by December 2022, sometime after he got promoted to a direct support professional role.
That same month, Frederique said he received flirty texts from Hargett, who also told him over the phone, “You are sexy,” “You are so hot,” and “I love your lips,” according to the complaint. A group leader, who was on the phone and heard the comments, took no action, the complaint continued.
said he would receive a barrage of inappropriate photos and phone calls from his female supervisor, Tameeka Hargett, right, during his tenure at the nonprofit Quality Services for the Autism Community. Her name is mispelled in his phone
why his name was in the complaint.”
him if she caught him in a room.”
“She basically stalked him.’”
By February 2023, Frederique said, Hargett had solicited sex and continued to send inappropriate texts despite him turning down her sexual overtures, according to the complaint, filed May 22. He also explicitly told her he had a girlfriend.
— Ewan McFarlane
Despite that, she called him to her office to sign paperwork when she allegedly really wanted to touch his arms and abdomen.
Frederique told the Chronicle that within the course of his employment, during and outside of work, he received a barrage of phone calls, sexually explicit text messages and pictures, along with inappropriate comments about his appearance allegedly by Hargett. He also said she would call him to her office under the guise of signing paper-
Frederique said by April 2023 he had blocked her number but she then used the phone line of another supervisor, Bobby Reid, to contact him.
“He was a staff trainer,” Frederique said. “He always gave her a phone to call me. I didn’t understand [why]. I blocked this woman. You know I blocked this woman; that is
Frederique said he did not make a direct complaint to Reid because he felt that he would be punished by either getting transferred or fired because of the alleged “clique-like” nature of the supervisors at QSAC.
Ewan McFarlane, a former QSAC employee and colleague of Frederique, said he was a witness to the alleged sexual harassment.
“When it comes to the sexual allegations, it is all true,” McFarlane said. “I have seen it firsthand. I’ve heard it. I’ve seen it. She sexually harassed that man.”
McFarlane backed Frederique’s allegations that he was harassed with frequent text messages and phone calls.
“She basically stalked him,” McFarlane said. “He could not focus on work, because she always wanted to be around him. We were not supposed to use our cell phones at work; however, she was continuously texting him what she was going to do to
Gift backpacks, class supplies
Though it’s early in summer break, it’s not too early to start planning for school. To help get kids ready for September, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards is hosting a donation drive through Aug. 10.
His office will accept new or lightly used backpacks and other school supplies, including pencils, crayons, colored pencils, pens, markers, glue, notebooks, binders, ruled paper, safety scissors, rulers, folders, erasers and reusable water bottles.
Donations can be dropped off in a box on the first floor of Queens Borough Hall next to the security desk in the lobby, near
the building’s main entrance, at 120-55 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens. The lobby is open 24 hours a day.
In a press release, Richards noted that purchasing school supplies can be costly for most families. He added, “Our backpack and school supply donation drive will make life a little easier for many of these hard-working families by providing them with the supplies their kids need to have a successful school year when they head back to class in September.”
Those with questions should email kzapata@queensbp.org. Q
McFarlane also backed Frederique’s contention that he was uncomfortable being in a work van with her.
“We have several work vans and he can’t even drive in the work van with her because she would try to sexually assault him while he was driving,” said McFarlane, who also recalled Frederique being scared to go into an office alone with Hargett.
“As far as the stalking thing goes, McGregory had to block Tameeka Hargett from calling his phone and texting his phone. I blocked her too from his phone ... I used to tell her to stop doing this.”
McFarlane, who worked at QSAC from 2021 to 2022, said he does not believe kids were in the van when Hargett allegedly sexually harassed Frederique.
McFarlane, a former QSAC counselor and driver, said he loved helping people and was very proud of his work with the kids.
“I had to leave,” he added. McFarlane said that the managerial staff was allegedly aware of the harassment, but did nothing to help.
Another co-worker of Frederique, who wished to remain anonymous, also witnessed him allegedly being harassed by Hargett.
“She would say things like, ‘I want to have his baby,’ or ‘Let’s get married,’” said the co-worker. “I was told she touched him inappropriately.”
The co-worker also became an alleged target of Hargett for being near Frederique while the alleged harassment took place and said the higher-ups ignored what was happening.
The co-worker did not think it was fair that Frederique was left to feel like he had to leave the job while Hargett was able to stay on longer.
“They should have handled the situation when everything was first going on,” said the co-worker. Q
Drownings spark safety calls
Following the drowning deaths of two teenage sisters last Friday off Coney Island, and two teen boys off Rockaway on June 21, several elected officials are calling for higher staffing at beaches, more swimming lessons and other safety measures.
Decrying the “recurring nightmare” on city beaches, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, City Councilman Shekar Krishnan (D-Jackson Heights) and two Brooklyn officials issued a statement calling on Mayor Adams and the Parks Department “to immediately consider emergency options to increase safety at public beaches
... including the extension of operating hours with adequate staffing, the opening of new certification tests for NYC Parks lifeguards, and the flexible recruitment of Red Cross and YMCA-certified lifeguards. We cannot watch as more New Yorkers drown in our waters.”
Richards said on Facebook that the beach season should be extended and urged people not to swim without lifeguards. The teens had been swimming after they left.
Mayor Adams on Tuesday said educating people when to swim is key. Q
— Peter C. Mastrosimone
McGregory Frederique
SCREENSHOT COURTESY MCGREGORY FREDERIQUE
How to keep an AC unit running strong
Air conditioners are
come the dog
of summer, when soaring temperatures make a well-cooled home a welcome respite from the outdoors. Maintaining an AC unit ensures it will be there to keep everyone cool when the mercury rises. The following are some steps homeowners can take to keep their AC units in tip-top shape this summer.
• Replace the air filter on the unit. Dirt, dust, debris and pollen can quickly fill the filter on an AC unit. Replacing these filters prior to summer can make the unit operate more efficiently and keep cool air circulating throughout the house all summer. Homeowners can first identify which type of unit they have and then find an online tutorial to see how to replace the filter. Some filters are more expensive than others, but the cost is still
low and the energy savings can be substantial.
• Schedule annual maintenance on the unit. Routine maintenance performed by a local HVAC technician is another way to ensure an AC unit is running at peak capacity when it’s most needed. Such maintenance is perhaps most effective in spring, as that ensures the unit is running strong from the first heat wave of the summer all the way through Labor Day. HVAC technicians can identify problems and recommend services that homeowners may not recognize they need until it’s already hot out. Annual maintenance appointments also give HVAC professionals a chance to
assess a system compared to the previous year, which can help them identify if a unit is nearing its end. That can ensure homeowners are not caught off guard when the unit needs to replaced.
• Help the unit make it through the summer. Whether it’s a typical summer or one marked by a handful of heat waves, AC units can use a little help to get through the season.
Closing curtains throughout the house on hot afternoons is a natural way to keep a home cool during a heat wave, and that can cut back on home cooling costs and protect a unit from being overworked. Ceiling fans also can be installed to keep rooms cool and cir-
culate air, which also makes a hot summer a little less taxing on an AC unit.
• Use a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats allow homeowners to set the temperatures inside their homes throughout the day. If no one is home during the afternoon, there’s no reason to have the AC cranking. Program the thermostat so the house is comfortable when people are home, but raise the desired temperature when no one is around. That gives the AC unit a break during the day and can help to dramatically reduce the cost of cooling the home.
AC units will not last forever, but some simple maintenance can improve their life expectancy and keep homes comfortable throughout the summer. Q — Metro Creative Connection
There are a number of steps homeowners can take to keep their AC units in tip-top shape this summer.
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NYS unlikely to hit 2030 climate goals: report
Getting to 70 percent renewables looks shaky, due to global factors, rising demand
by Samantha Maldonado THE CITY
This article was originally published on July 8 at 6:49 p.m. EDT and updated on July 9 at 9:46 a.m. by THE CITY
New York is not on track to achieve one of its chief, legally mandated climate goals, according to a new state report.
The state Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, passed in 2019 and hailed then as a nation-leading law, requires New York to source 70 percent of its electricity from renewables like solar and wind by 2030. But the state will likely not achieve that benchmark by the deadline.
Instead, the report acknowledged, New York could hit that 70 percent mark by 2033.
Why the delay? The report pointed to the global market and economic conditions, notably logistics and supply chains affected by “geopolitical tensions.” The report also cited inflation and high interest rates as factors that undermined the financial viability of renewable projects.
“It’s still worthwhile to push as aggressively as fast as we can for these goals. With fighting climate change ... every little bit counts,” said Patrick McClellan, state policy director for the New York League of Conservation Voters.
“We hope that this is kind of a wake-up call for the state — not that I think that they weren’t aware, obviously, there were these problems — but they probably need to be pushing harder,” he added.
While the lack of timely progress does not come as a complete surprise for those tracking the state’s progress, it brings a finer point to the challenges involved with moving away from burning fossil fuels, the major contributor to climate change.
Key deadlines missed
The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s interim 2030 target was supposed to put the state on a path to have zeroemissions electricity by 2040, a deadline also mandated by the law. A failure to green the grid in time could jeopardize slashing planetwarming greenhouse gas emissions, which must fall 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 — and 85 percent by 2050 — as the climate law stipulates.
As of 2023, just seven years away from the 70 percent target deadline, renewables generated just under 30 percent of New York’s electricity, according to the state grid operator. Including nuclear power, a zeroemissions energy source, that total hits about 50 percent.
Plus, the delayed transition to a
greener grid makes other climate efforts harder to realize. For instance, large New York City buildings face caps on their emissions under Local Law 97. The concept of emissions, in the law, counts not only direct exhaust from any fuels used by occupants’ stoves, heaters or boilers, but also the emissions connected to the electricity the building uses, wherever it was generated. A dirtier grid means those buildings will have a harder time complying with those caps.
For months, the state has failed to meet key benchmarks under the climate law, with recent developments further imperiling those 2030 goals.
In October, the state rejected developer requests for increased funding for a series of solar and wind projects that together represented about a quarter of the project-
ed 2030 electric needs. The developers said they needed the boost to make up for increased costs, mostly from inflation, but the state Public Service Commission denied the requests in order to protect ratepayers, they said at the time.
Many developers backed out of their contracts, including for two major offshore wind projects. Offshore wind projects were poised to significantly move the needle toward the clean energy goals.
Marguerite Wells, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, a renewable energy industry group, said the projects, even with canceled contracts, are still moving forward and just need to be rebid for new contracts with the state.
“Certainly the contract cancellation was a challenge, but happily, it’s
a paperwork challenge. It’s not a three-dimensional, realworld challenge, if you will,” she said. “In all cases, the projects are doing fine. They’re still out there in the real world doing permits and contracts and all the studies they have to do.”
New York, through its State Energy Research and Development Authority, has solicitations out for additional offshore wind projects (and other renewables) and is also investing $700 million in offshore wind ports, infrastructure and manufacturing to help boost the sector.
Spokespersons for NYSERDA and the PSC indicated the state would consider several other possible actions to advance progress.
Higher energy demand
Another challenge for rapidly scaling up renewables is simply keeping pace with growing demand.
Energy-guzzling projects like data centers and microchip plants (and to a lesser extent, electric cars and electric heat pumps) increase how much electricity is needed overall in the state. As the electric need grows, so too does the amount of renewables necessary to hit that 70 percent goal.
New York’s grid operator predicted a gap in available power by the summer of 2025, due to higher energy demand and fossil fuel-powered plants coming offline but not being replaced fast enough with new generation.
McClellan pointed out the state must accelerate renewables in order to retire fossil fuel plants, like the highly polluting peakers which fire in times of high energy need and are located overwhelmingly in and around low-income, nonwhite communities that already bear higher pollution burdens.
“We have an air quality alert, and everyone’s going to be cranking the air conditioning because of the heat wave, and that means that all these peakers in Astoria and the South Bronx are going to be going in full blast and making the air quality issues much worse,” he said. Q
THE CITY (www.thecity.nyc) is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to hard-hitting reporting that serves the people of New York.
New residential units go up along the Greenpoint waterfront, June 27, 2024, left; and people cool off in Washington Square park during a heat wave, July 8, 2024.
Solar panel installation at the Kingsborough Houses.
PHOTO COURTESY NYCHA /
July 11, 2024
ARTS, CULTURE & LIVING
by Stephanie G. Meditz
With the summer season underway, local artists reflect its sunny skies and blue waters on canvas, where visitors can enjoy them without risking sunburn. Beat the heat at Long Island City Art-
really just themed by the season,” curator Norma Homberg said.
From ceramics to photography, the exhibition will feature different artistic media to recognize members’ unique practices.
Abstract artist Sandra Vucicevic’s colorful reimagining of the Kosciuszko Bridge entitled “Dazzling Lights” will dazzle viewers too, with its mix of neon purple, pink, blue and yellow. The work is part of her “Postcards from the Abstract(ed)
Seasonalenjoyment
ists’ two member showcases at The Factory this summer, the first of which had its opening reception set for July 10 and will be on view through July 31.
A vibrant haze for summer days at LiC-A exhibit
is actually dedicated to my home and also I wanted people to recognize my abstract works,” Vucicevic said. “When I paint my abstract pieces, I don’t have any particular place in mind. It just happens that when it’s done, it reminds [viewers] of a place or a landscape. This time, I started from something real and then I transferred it to my abstract world.”
Artists were encouraged to submit works incorporating bright colors reminiscent of summertime.
“Most of our exhibitions are very themed, but the LiC-A members’ exhibitions are a little more flexible because we want people to show what’s really important to them, so it’s
abstract paintings and opens the door to viewer interpretation.
“From the moment I came to the United States, I was [in Queens], so I wanted to make something that
Some works in the series also include animations through the use of Augmented Reality technology — viewers can scan a QR code to see the painting come to life on their screens. Sculptor Jon Garfield will also pay homage to his home at the exhibition — inspired by the water
OFTEN WALKED
King Crossword Puzzle
Beat icon Kerouac was the ‘Wizard of Ozone Park’ I HAVE
by Ron Marzlock
Chronicle Contributor
Jean-Louis Lebris de Kerouac of French-Canadian ancestry was born in Lowell, Mass., on March 12, 1922 into a French-speaking household. He learned English at age 6 and spoke with an accent until his teens.
Along with a group of friends from Columbia University, he helped start a movement that rejected standard narrative values. In 1948 he introduced the phrase “Beat Generation,” launching an anti-conformist movement. He lived with his parents at 133-01 Cross Bay Blvd. in Ozone Park above a pharmacy. There he wrote his first book, “The Town and The City,” published in 1950 under his new name, Jack Kerouac. Poet Allen Ginsberg called him the “Wizard of Ozone Park.”
The home of “Beat Generation” author Jack Kerouac, where he wrote his first book, 133-01 Cross Bay Blvd. in Ozone Park, as it looked when his family lived above a pharmacy there in 1949.
After episodes of heavy drinking and depression, his wife, Joan, divorced him while pregnant and gave birth to his only child, Janet, in February 1952. His successful book “On the Road” became the model for the hit TV show “Route 66.” He contem-
plated suing, but was advised not to take on the Hollywood studio system. His influence in American culture and politics in the postWorld War II era made him a hero to many in the entertainment field in the 1960s. Sadly, his drinking caught up with him and he passed away on Oct. 21, 1969 at only 47. Above, the pharmacy he lived above is now a dance studio. Q
INSET VIA WIKIPEDIA / TOM PALUMBO
There is no second act in this Secret play festival
by Mark Lord qboro contributor
When The Secret Theatre recently invited writers to submit their works for its Act One: One Act Short Play Festival (to be presented beginning July 17 and running two weeks), no fewer than 180 would-be Paula Vogels and August Wilsons responded.
“The quality is generally quite high,” said Artistic Director Richard Mazda, adding, “When you get a really great play, that’s something special.”
Chiefly responsible for selecting the plays for this summer’s event is curator Cassandra GuttermanJohns, who explained that she looks at “the quality of the work, the subject matter. You try to put together a program that feels well-rounded.”
The plays are divided into seven rotating programs, each consisting of eight shows. According to Gutterman-Johns, the selections include “such a range of comedies, some really good dramas and some poignant pieces as well.”
They bear titles such as “It’s
one-act festival last year was “Star and Guardian,” above, by Queens playwright Megan
year brings dozens of new ones.
Not the Same with Girls,” “Kill the Beast,” “Two Tickets for the Circle Line,” “You Can’t Teach a Fish to Whistle,” “The Woodside Wine Bar” and “Why Do Frogs Look So Sad?”
ute piece about two months ago and she “wanted to find a home” for it. Then the Secret’s festival came along. An actor as well as a playwright, Quick will appear as one of the play’s two characters.
Mazda said the festival also offers directors a chance to ply their craft, with some returning year after year.
Case in point is Brian McManimon, participating in his fourth Secret festival, with his ninth and 10th plays, having directed multiple entries each season.
the Covid pandemic.
He has a lot of respect for all those who take part.
“Creators get together, and they deserve to be treated as if they’re on Broadway,” he said.
Each program in the festival is performed on four different dates in a competition-style format. The audience votes for all the plays they see using ranked-choice voting. The top two plays from each program advance to the two semifinal rounds with the final eight making it to the Grand Final, at which the audience is joined by two professional judges.
Cash prizes are presented for the outstanding scene, director and actors at the closing ceremony, which includes a free after-party, complete with BBQ for all participants and the entire audience.
She said she wrote the 20-min-
Among the authors represented is one-time Astoria resident Megan Quick, who described her play, “Vice and Virtue,” as being about “two women navigating love and queerness in the Midwest.”
“It’s a really great playground where new directors and young artists can experiment,” he said. A teacher outside the theater, McManimon is proud that the two plays he is directing were written by two of his students, one entering her junior year of high school, the other about to enter Yale University.
Mazda believes the high number of applicants for this year’s festival came about because “people are champing at the bit and getting back to normality,” following so many restrictions throughout
The Secret Theatre is located at 38-02 61 St. in Woodside. Tickets purchased in advance are $23, or $18 for seniors 60 and up and $15 for those 3 to 17. Tickets bought at the door are $2 more.
For more information, visit secrettheatre.com. Q
The colors of summer splash down in an LIC show
continued from page 25
on the Virgin Islands where he grew up, his piece “Caribbean Dreamer” depicts a fired clay figure lounging against a vibrant blue background.
“Caribbean Dreamer” recalls a “magical time” and lets the viewer be “transported by that, by those waters, this clear blue of the water that you don’t get anywhere else,” Garfield said. “I think for me, that emotion is one of relaxing, taking it easy,
Crossword Answers
dreaming of a place that is less hectic, less currently politically divided and all of the rest of it. This person is being transported into something just more magical.”
The sculpture was originally one of several studies for a piece that he later took in another direction.
“I was looking around at my work, and my stuff is fairly serious, sometimes dark subjects like global climate change and all that kind of stuff,” he said. “I revived these ... studies that I had done as a model and said, how can I make these relevant to summer? So I experimented with putting them onto brightly colored bases and I think it really transformed them.”
Garfield said this show aims to celebrate the wide range of artistic practices among LiC-A’s members.
“You’re going to see really colorful paintings, you’re going to see some crazy wacky sculptures, you’re going to see the kind of stuff that I do which is more traditional sculpture ... it’s a whole big mix,” he said. “I think the main thing for our showcase is to show the diversity of our artists, members and the art that they produce. And I think people will walk away from this
Works by Sandra Vucicevic, left, Christine Bent, right, and Jon Garfield, on pedestals, are displayed at The Factory in the first of two Long Island City Artists summer exhibits that will be held there. Vucicevic is at right. On the cover: Three of their pieces close up. PHOTOS
one with that, and since there are two of them, you have two chances.”
The exhibition’s second installation will be on view from Aug. 7 to Sept. 4, at the same site, at 30-30 47 Ave. More about LiC-A is online at licartists.org.
“I just hope [visitors] enjoy the art and it makes them smile or feel something, and that’s usually always the case,” Homberg said. “I think a lot of the time, the local people don’t even know how much talent we have in Queens.”
One play seen at The Secret Theatre’s
Meehan. This
PHOTO
COURTESY LICA AND, RIGHT, SANDRA VUCICEVIC
Notice of Formation of 1925 CORNELIA STREET LLC
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Notice of Formation of 1721 Greene Avenue,
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NOSHIN LLC FILED WITH SSNY ON 4/15/2024. OFF. LOC.: QUEENS CO. SSNY DESIG. AS AGT. UPON WHOM PROCESS MAY BE SERVED. SSNY SHALL MAIL PROCESS TO: THE LLC, 115 57TH AVE, Unit 5719, LIC, NY 11101. PURPOSE: ANY LAWFUL ACT OR ACTIVITY.”
C M SQ page 30 Y K
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HEARING NOTICE The New York City Board of Standards and Appeals has scheduled a hybrid public hearing on the following application on July 29th or July 30th, 2024: BSA Cal. No. 2024-19-BZ Premises: 58-02 Northern Boulevard, Queens - Block 1182, Lot 40 Variance (§72-21) to permit the development of an automobile sales showroom with accessory offices (UG 9) contrary to underlying use regulations. R5 zoning district. Applicant: Gerry Caliendo, RA, AIA An agenda listing the specific session (including the final date and time) with call-in details will be posted as an announcement on the front page of the Board’s website (www. nyc.gov/bsa) the Friday before. The hybrid public hearing will be live streamed on the Board’s website and on YouTube. Interested persons or associations may watch online and call in to present testimony during the public hearing. Please see the Board’s Virtual Hearing Guides located at https:// www1.nyc.gov/site/bsa/public-hearings/public-hearings.page
The public hearing will be conducted as a “hybrid” public hearing,” during which the Commissioners will meet in person at the Board’s office in Manhattan and also appear virtually on live-streamed YouTube and on an interactive Zoom Webinar. Applicants and the public may attend in person or participate remotely by calling into the Zoom Webinar and watching the YouTube live stream. The in-person portion of the hearing will take place at 22 Reade Street, 1st Floor, Spector Hall, New York, NY 10007. Anyone wishing to attend the hearing in person must present identification and go through a security checkpoint upon arrival into the building. Details for the hearing will be posted on the Board’s website the Friday before the hearing. Persons who request that a language interpreter or a sign language interpreter or any other form of reasonable accommodation for a disability be provided at any of the scheduled hearings must notify Toni Matias, Deputy Director of the Board of Standards and Appeals, at 212-386-0085 or tmatias@bsa.nyc,gov at least 10 days before the hearing date. In the interest of accommodating social distancing with limited seating capacity and to address ongoing health concerns, members of the public are strongly encouraged to participate in the hearing remotely. You may submit a written statement by using the “Public Comment form” on the Board’s website located at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/bsa/ contact-bsa/public-comments.page For any communication, please include or refer to BSA Calendar No. 2024-19-BZ and the property address: 58-02 Northern Boulevard, Queens - Block 1182, Lot 40. To coordinate review of the application materials, inquire about continued hearing dates and/or assistance, please contact the Board office at (212) 386-0009.
JTR Sheet Metal, LLC, Arts of Org. fi led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/6/2024. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 25-54 47th St, Astoria, NY 11103. General Purpose
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT QUEENS COUNTY CARVER FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff against PHILIP CAMPBELL; VERLIE LONDON A/K/A VERLIE J. LONDON; CARLOTTA MCDONALD, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC, 28 Corporate Drive, Suite 104, Halfmoon, NY 12065. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered May 24, 2024, 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 July 26, 2024 at 11:15 AM. Premises known as 163-12 108th Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11433. Block 10171 Lot 32. All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Queens, County of Queens, City and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $294,591.43 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fi led Judgment Index No 711329/2019. 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. Michael Cervini, Esq., Referee File # 21-001064-01
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DEVAN MEDTECH SOLUTIONS
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NOTICE OF PROPOSED BRANCH OFFICE
Notice is hereby given that Amerasia Bank, Flushing, New York has filed an application with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to establish a branch office at 2147 86 St., Brooklyn, NY 11214.
Any person wishing to comment on this application may file his or her comments in writing with the regional director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation at its New York Regional Office, 350 Fifth Avenue #1200, New York, NY 10118. The comments must be received by the regional director by July 26, 2024. The non-confidential portions of the application are on file at the FDIC regional office and are available for public inspection during regular business hours. Photocopies of the nonconfidential portions of the application file will be made available upon request.
B SPORTS EAT
Gotta feel for McNeil
by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor
Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil was the 2022 National League batting champion. Judging from fan reaction and his stats since then, those heady days for McNeil feel like a decade ago, and not just two years removed.
Theories for his drop-off include his trying to be home run-happy as opposed to making contact for hits a priority; the fact that opposing infielders can no longer employ a shift working against him because it is harder to slap a ball on the open side of the diamond; and that at age 32 his bat speed has slowed a tick, which has led to an increase in strikeouts for a hitter who always managed to put the ball in play.
McNeil may be pressing for understandable reasons. He was brought up in 2018 when Sandy Alderson was the general manager. He signed a contract extension when Billy Eppler was making the personnel decisions. He must be concerned that Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns sees him as a relic from old regimes.
He is aware the Mets traded Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers for much-ballyhooed infield p rospect Luisangel Acuna. They also have asked struggling third baseman Brett Baty, who was demoted to their Syracuse Triple-A affiliate, to get comfortable playing second base. If those were not bad enough, McNeil has
found his spot in the lineup usurped by journeyman infielder Jose Iglesias who is having the best year of his career. He has also become a fan favorite with his catchy “OMG” song.
In McNeil’s defense, few play the game with more intensity. I do not think I have seen a batter hit hard line drives that always find defenders’ gloves as often as he has. He is also a good fielder who can play most infield positions as well as the corner outfield spots. Manager Carlos Mendoza, to his credit, has frequently articulated why Jeff McNeil is a valued asset.
Two weeks ago, Brandon Nimmo was given a prototype of the bobblehead that will be given away on Friday night. He asked my opinion about its likeness. “By bobblehead standards, this is Madame Tussauds quality!” I replied.
I was shocked to learn last Thursday of the passing of Marc Levine, who had been the Mets chief photographer since 1989. His job, by its definition, gave him access to ballplayers and VIPs from all walks of life. Unlike many others in similar positions, Marc was the furthest thing from an egomaniac. He always sent photographs when I needed them, and it was never a bother to him. Marc was a mensch in every sense of the term. The Mets should honor his memory by naming the press photographers room in Citi Field after him. Q
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