Discourse on the mayor’s zoning proposal PAGES 2 AND 4
by Stephanie G. Meditz Associate Editor
More than 700 residents signed up to make their voices heard on Tuesday during the public testimony portion of the City Council’s hearing for the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal.
The proposed zoning plan aims to address the city’s housing shortage by loosening density restrictions across the city. Aspects of the proposal include legalizing accessory dwelling units such as garage and basement apartments and converting vacant office spaces into housing.
The hearing began Monday when the City Council heard a presentation from the Department of City Planning. On Tuesday, the public got to testify, both in-person and via Zoom, to provide input. Many speakers from Queens opposed the plan.
In his rejection of the proposal, Northeastern Queens Community Board 11 Chair Paul DiBenedetto called to revisit the city’s affordability crisis with a “meaningful partnership” between residents, Council members and the Department of City Planning.
DiBenedetto said the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity takes a “huge one-size-fits-all omnibus-style” approach that fails to consider the diverse types of neighborhoods and housing across the city.
“As CB 11 chair, I would never accept a motion that would impose what may be good for my neighborhood upon another,” he said. “As Council members, you shouldn’t do that to your own colleagues and their districts.”
DiBenedetto asserted that the proposal was created by and for developers and would create more market-rate housing and take away the “all-important” Uniform Land Use Review Procedure.
neighborhood.
“Two-families have become three- and four- families. There’s not enough building inspectors to go around,” Paladino said.
She called for a “middle voice” amid a crowd of strong supporters and critics, adding that the plan would destroy historic neighborhoods if enacted.
“I understand that there is a housing affordability crisis and I agree with that, but we can build with what we have now. We don’t have to tear apart these neighborhoods of 100-plus-year-old homes in order to make new housing,” DiBenedetto said.
Corey Bearak, chair of Eastern Queens Community Board 13’s subcommittee on Land Use, delivered his testimony via Zoom.
Bearak said Board 13 and “the overwhelming majority of community boards across the five boroughs” oppose the “misnamed” City of Yes for Housing Opportunity plan.
He, too, lamented a lack of community input and said the proposal does not guarantee affordability.
“The Council should rejigger City of Yes into a menu of tools to create smart growth where it makes sense rather than measures that impose unwanted, sometimes unnecessary and inappropriate infusions of density on blocks with no guarantee of housing affordability,” he said.
In addition to flooding, DiBenedetto said the Department of Buildings cannot enforce the city’s current zoning, nor can they get into every illegal apartment.
Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone), a vocal City of Yes opponent, said illegal apartments are “an infection” in her
Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth) noted that 12 out of 14 community boards in Queens rejected the proposal and asked why Board 11 voted against it.
Opponents from Southeast Queens came to City Hall, too — Rosedale Civic Association President and Board Chairperson Evidelia Boyd said her group also strongly opposes the plan. She said its opposition is not based solely on the proposal’s impact on suburban communities — they experience overdevelopment already.
She also said the City of Yes plan would weigh heavily on
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by Kristen Guglielmo Editor
“Those public hearings? It’s all theater,” a Forest Hills resident told the Chronicle last Thursday. “They’re not really listening.”
Dozens of concerned residents and community leaders turned out to Southern Fields at North Conduit Avenue and 115th Street in South Ozone Park for a rally against City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, the proposal by Mayor Adams that aims to amend zoning laws to allow for more affordable housing.
The rally was organized by the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic alongside the Belle Harbor Property Owners Association, with participation from other neighborhood civic groups, including the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association, the Rockaway Civic Association, the Ozone Tudor Civic Association, Our Neighbors Civic Association of Ozone Park and the 149th South Ozone Park Civic Association.
The groups united with one message: They are against the City of Yes.
“Our communities have come out in overwhelming numbers to say they are opposed to the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity text amendment,” Phyllis Inserillo, the HBLC co-president, told attendees. “I feel like a broken record, because I have said this over and over again to deaf
ears, and I asked myself, ‘Why are we here today? Why are we all standing here when 12 out of 14 community boards in Queens have voted against this proposal? Why do we have to take time out of our days, away from our families and other important things that we have to do to continue fighting this?’”
She continued, “It’s because those in power who can end this refuse to
listen to the voice of the people, and we are sick and tired of being represented by people who do not listen to what we want.”
Other speakers, including Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Howard Beach), Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) and urban planner Paul Graziano, all echoed a similar message.
“We speak as one against the City
of Yes,” Ariola said. “We say it is the City of No.”
The crowd responded with a resounding, “No!” in agreement.
The community leaders argued that the housing amendment would significantly harm quality of life in the area, as it does not take the different communities and neighborhoods outside of Manhattan into consideration.
Ariola also said the proposal would “wipe out” the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, wherein applications affecting city land use are publicly reviewed.
“We have to see how we can get affordable housing without causing the people who are already living here to move out,” Ariola said.
“We have housing that the city owns throughout New York City,” said Aracelia Cook, the president of the 149th Street South Ozone Park Civic Association. “And they’re pulling it up. Why aren’t they taking those homes and fixing them up so that New Yorkers can buy them and own their own home?”
Carlene Thorbs, the chairwoman of Community Board 12 in Jamaica, urged attendees to use their voice at the ballot box.
“Go to the polls and let your elected officials know, our City Council people know, that if you don’t vote right for this, we won’t be voting right for you,” Thorbs said.
“Without changing one word in the zoning law in New York City now, developers and big real estate can build 5 million units, easy,” said Steve Barrison, executive vice president of the Small Business Congress. “Some of us think six or 7 million. That can house 10 million people, no problem.”
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Bay,
by Kristen Guglielmo Editor
Laurel Bay, the woman accused of squatting in a Howard Beach home, was indicted last Thursday on five counts, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
According to the charges, on July 18 at approximately 8:40 p.m., an eyewitness observed Bay, 49, of Hollis, moving items in and out of the home on 99th Street, which had been vacant since 2012.
Concerned neighbors then notified the authorities, who allegedly observed the defendant coming out from the home’s front door. Bay was then arrested and issued a desk appearance ticket for criminal trespass.
Several days later, on July 21, at around 9:20 a.m., the same eyewitness observed items moved around inside the home and the basement door open, the charges said.
When the police were called to the property,
charged with five counts, could face 15 years
they allegedly observed Bay crawling out of the basement window of the home. She was arrested again and issued a second desk appearance ticket for criminal trespass. It was later determined that the front and back doors of the house were damaged as the defendant allegedly tried to change the locks, the DA’s Office said.
At the time, neighborhood activist PJ Marcel, who runs a Facebook group called Howard Beach Dads that boasts thousands of residents, notified the Chronicle and the larger community about the incidents as they unfolded. Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) was on the scene and told the Chronicle she had spoken with the legal owners of the house, who confirmed they possessed the deed, had not sold the property and had not authorized anyone to be there.
Bay was arraigned on charges of burglary in the second degree, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, criminal trespass in the second
degree, petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, the DA said.
She was ordered to return to court on Nov. 26. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 15 years.
“It is against the law to walk into someone else’s home without permission and claim you have a right to stay — even if a property is vacant,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. “This defendant is accused of illegally trespassing onto someone else’s property and trying to claim the home as her own. Thanks to the vigilance of nearby neighbors, my office was promptly alerted and the defendant has now been indicted on serious charges.” Q
The scene in July on 99th Street in Howard Beach as Laurel Bay allegedly attempted to gain entry and set up residence in an unoccupied home.
“As a working mom, my priority is always protecting our families’ quality of life. That’s why I’ve shut down illegal smoke shops and tightened laws to stop squatters. I’ll always work to make our communities safer.”
by Kristen Guglielmo Editor
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) did not always intend on running for office.
“I’ve always worked in the public sector,” she told the Chronicle. “I’ve worked for the Fire Department, Sanitation Department and in a school. I’ve always been a public employee.”
When former Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder announced his intent to move on, she said it “hit her like a calling.” Since then, she said, her intention has been to protect the community and its people.
“This is a very different sort of community,” Pheffer Amato said. “We have so many different nationalities, opinions. But it’s always about people for me. It’s never about party.”
Pheffer Amato first won the seat in the 2016 election, and was reelected handily in 2018 and 2020. In 2022, Breezy Point resident Tom Sullivan brought the competition, but ultimately, Pheffer Amato won by 15 votes.
Now, the two are engaged in a rematch.
Asked what she’s done to ensure the confidence of those who supported her, and how she would influence voters who did not, Pheffer Amato said she’s always reaching people through constituent services and legislation.
“I’m grateful for the success of winning two years ago, but I don’t know if those votes represented my success in the community and my work,” she said. “We have over 10,000 cases solved, and not just a case of, you know, that pothole in the street, but really personal, intimate issues come to our office. I’m proud of the work that my team has accomplished on behalf of this district.”
Pheffer Amato said among her biggest successes is the Cross Bay Bridge rebate.
“The other legislation that is absolutely affecting so many within the 23rd Assembly District is the work that we’re doing within the pension system,” she said.
Pheffer Amato, the chairwoman of the Assembly’s Committee on Governmental Employees, said she works to address employees’ concerns on pension and other benefits. She was the prime sponsor of A7156, which provides automatic enrollment of city employees eligible to join the Board of Education Retirement System. It was signed into law last December and took effect in July.
Pheffer Amato also garnered endorsements from every law enforcement union within the NYPD, in addition to fire and retiree unions. Asked if her efforts on pensions ties into those endorsements, she said she works on the ground with law
by Kristen Guglielmo Editor
Tom Sullivan is a jack of all trades.
He’s a family man, a husband and father of three. He’s a 30-year military veteran who was responsible for the welfare of more than 7,000 soldiers and civilian employees. He has three decades of experience in the financial service field. He’s a small business owner.
Now, he’s hoping to have the 23rd Assembly District seat.
enforcement.
“I’ve built a relationship working with all the police unions and the membership,” she said. “If you go into any of the precincts in this community, the police officers, lieutenants, captains will say that I work with them. ... We made sure that their families had benefits, and if they feel that is worthy of an endorsement, then I’m proud of the work that I’m doing.”
“I believe we have several policies wrong up in Albany, whether it’s public safety, specifically the no cash bail, clean slate,” Sullivan told the Chronicle, adding. “Although it’s a city issue with qualified immunity, I believe the state could do a better job at changing that back.”
The assemblywoman has often said that Republicans have no power in the state Legislature, a sentiment her opponent disagrees with.
According to February data from the state Board of Elections, AD 23 is mostly Democrat but has a sizeable Republican presence — about 53.7 percent of voters are registered Democrats, and 21.1 percent are Republican.
Asked how she manages as a Democrat in a district with a significant Republican population, Pheffer Amato said, “The hyperfocused voice is not always the whole voice of a whole community.
She continued, “There is a delicate balance, and that’s what I think some of this election will come down to, but it’s a great district. That’s part of the challenge.”
She added that she runs on an independent We The People line as well.
“I know that there’s a strong Republican presence in my district. It doesn’t stop anything that I do. It doesn’t stop what I have to say,” she said.
Of her claim that Sullivan would not be able to get work done as a Republican, Pheffer Amato said, “We’re run by majority. There’s 102 Democrats and 48 Republicans. I want to say something really clear: Albany is
continued on page 8
He continued, “I look to change policy and law. I wonder sometimes if there’s anybody up in Albany who knows how to create a budget.”
In 2022, Sullivan ran against incumbent Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) and, after weeks of legal challenges and a recount, he lost by 15 votes.
“I think the message was good,” Sullivan said of his 2022 campaign. “I think [the public] saw that they had a qualified, experienced and educated candidate that could handle some of these tougher issues.”
Now, the retired Army Reserve colonel from Breezy Point has adjusted his campaign strategy.
“The last race, I ran on a shoestring budget,” Sullivan said. “We had good grassroots. We were starting to come into maturity as a candidate and as a campaign team.”
During that election season, his campaign admittedly did not send out any mailers or digitally reach out to voters. He said his social media was “subpar.”
“We’ve learned a lot,” Sullivan said of his campaign this time around. “We’ve got text messages going out. We’ve got videos going out, digital advertising going out. I’m spending money, which doesn’t make me happy. I can think of a lot of other things to do with that type of money.”
He said he has experience budgeting in work, including as a small business owner and investment advisor.
“I also think there’s a misappropriation of funds, and that’s specifically tied to handling
the immigration crisis that we have, both in the state and the country,” Sullivan said. He added, “What I don’t know is what deals were made, because right now, they don’t have the money they’ve spent on immigration. And it had to come from somewhere ... The fact that we have people living in tents, on runways, in flood areas — it just shows that even we don’t have the resources and capabilities to handle that issue.”
Asked where he thinks migrants should be housed, he said, “They shouldn’t be here. They should have never made it into the country in this volume, but we had no choice.”
Sullivan said “we haven’t seen the worst” to come in terms of poor polices, and that things need to be changed in Albany. He pushed back on his opponent’s claims that he would not be able to get things done as a Republican in a mostly Democratic state Legislature.
“I would certainly have a seat at the table,” he said. He added that he’s had to work with foreign nationals to “get things done right.”
“And none of that included making deals that cost the American taxpayer money or put their life in jeopardy or compromise their safety,” he said.
Sullivan also said he receives bipartisan support for his commonsense policies, adding, “I didn’t get as close as I did last time without having true Democrats vote for me.”
Pheffer Amato has received endorsements from every law enforcement union within the NYPD, though Sullivan comes from a family of military and law enforcement. Asked about that, he said, “I know these people. My family knows these people, the pres-
continued on page 8
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not City Hall. In Albany, the Democrats caucus as a group, and that’s it. You don’t have to like it. You can hold your nose to it, but it’s how it works.”
She added that she’s a moderate Democrat who has voted against and pushed back against the “radical socialist agenda.”
She said she’s voted “no” on speed cameras, $2.4 billion in aid for migrants in the state budget and laws that would overgovern small businesses.
“I don’t want you in my ovaries, for sure,” Pheffer Amato said. “So let’s keep government out of my choices.”
Asked about the status of her bill, A9036, known locally as the “Jamaica Bay bill,” which would direct the Department of Environmental Conservation to do a study on ecological restoration for Jamaica Bay and impose a moratorium on placing fill in its borrow pits, Pheffer Amato said it’s awaiting the governor’s signature.
“The one challenge we know we have with it is that it has a study attached to it with no funding,” she said. “That’s the challenge right now — it’s tied to funding.”
Pheffer Amato’s other priorities next session include education and transportation. She said schools are disconnected from the realities of families and believes afterschool programs should help kids with homework and offer more support for working parents.
On congestion pricing, Pheffer Amato said “it’s not come up as an issue” with constituents, but that she does not agree with the extra burden it would put on drivers.
“The 23rd Assembly District loves their automobiles, and they also love public transportation,” she said. “We’ve always funded the MTA, and I guess we could look at that responsibly as legislators in the budget to do it. But I did not agree with the amount of money on taxpayers.”
She also said she wants more express buses throughout the day, something she hears especially from her senior constituents.
On the presidential race, Pheffer Amato said tradition shows that it can have an affect on area elections.
“But one thing I love about my educated district is that the top of the ticket doesn’t always affect down the ballot,” she said. She declined to disclose her vote for president.
On another state issue, the planned granting of casino licenses, Pheffer Amato said she looks forward to a decision being made.
“I believe in Resorts World, that it’s proven itself as a great community partner and has made that investment,” she said.
Election Day is Nov. 5. Early voting starts Oct. 26. To find your polling site, visit vote.nyc. Q
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idents of the PBA and SGA. It’s very discouraging, but it’s politics.”
He added, “But it won’t stop me from supporting the police officers how I think they should be supported.”
Sullivan said he opposes Proposition 1, the Equal Right Amendment, which would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, arguing that it would strip parental rights.
“If you’re going to read the first paragraph and the things they advertise, equal rights for this person, that group — it all sounds wonderful,” he said. “I’m voting against it. I’ve read it. I believe I’m losing my parental rights, and I do not want to be left in the dark about anything that involves my child under the age of 18.”
Sullivan said he does not support congestion pricing and suggested the city and state have the money they need for mass transit, but it has to be allocated differently.
“Take a closer look at the thousands upon thousands of programs that are out there,” he said. “It will never be enough. They just want to fund and take on every responsibility when they can’t handle the responsibilities they had.”
For years, area state lawmakers have tried to pass legislation that would direct the
Department of Environmental Conservation to do a study on ecological restoration for Jamaica Bay and impose a moratorium on placing fill in its borrow pits. During the 2023-24 session the bill, S8547/A9036, passed in both the Assembly and Senate, but awaits the signature of Gov. Hochul. She vetoed previous versions.
Sullivan said, “They should not be dumping anything into the bay. ... I’m not for backfilling the bay with anything.”
Asked if he expects the presidential election to have an effect on voter turnout, Sullivan said, “It absolutely will, for good or for bad.” He said that while he is not “supporting” anybody for president, he will vote for former President Trump.
On municipal matters, Sullivan opposes City of Yes, the mayor’s sweeping proposal to amend zoning regulations to add affordable housing, and he said Mayor Adams’ indictment was “very unfortunate.”
“I’m not saying he’s corrupt, because he hasn’t been [convicted] yet,” he said. “But it’s a trail of corruption.”
On what he would do to combat illicit pot shops, Sullivan said he “wants the law to be enforced.”
“I want people to be held accountable,” he said. “There’s a lot of laws out there that already exist where this is not legal.”
Election Day is Nov. 5. Early voting starts Oct. 26. To find your polling site, visit vote.nyc. Q
What a season the Mets gave us! We are tremendously grateful to the team and its management for the wild ride they took us on after a start that looked anything but bright.
They say that in May you hope to play meaningful games in September. For the Mets in May, there seemed no hope of that. They were 22-33 on May 30. But then magic happened, and in the end they were the third to last team left standing in a field of 30. The Dodgers were always going to be very, very tough, and the fact that the Mets took two from them in the National League Championship Series was Amazin’ in and of itself.
So were a lot of moments in the season.
There were those sweeps of the Yankees, in a pair of two-game series, at home in June and away in July. Those were confidence builders.
There was Luis Severino’s complete-game 4-0 shutout against the Marlins in August. Managers hardly ever let guys throw complete
games anymore. But Sevy got to.
And of course there was the fun of the OMG phenomenon, the playing of “My Girl” for Francisco Lindor’s at-bats and the whole Grimace thing. All of it just seemed to come out of nowhere. But there was a lot of decision-making that resulted in this fine season.
Calling up Mark Vientos to take over at third paid off big time, as he improved both offensively and defensively and ended up setting a new Mets record with 14 postseason RBIs. Signing J.D. Martinez as the main DH was even better than it looks on paper, as he proved to be a team leader. And Jose Iglesias was no one-hit wonder with OMG; he turned into the Mets’ best bet with runners in scoring position, and was great defensively, though he ran out of steam in the playoffs. And where would the Mets have been without Sean Manaea, their best pitcher, who went 12-6?
Now, just a couple new solid players, no injuries, and 2025 could be the year. For real.
Surprise, surprise: When the city cracks down on lawbreakers, they get upset. That hurts business, and the whole point of enterprises such as prostitution, organized shoplifting and the fencing of stolen goods is to make money. Thing is, today the scofflaws and their supporters protest publicly, unashamed, and get on the front page, as in this week’s Western Queens edition of the Chronicle.
This is all so wrong. Even if you believe prostitution should be legal, should sex workers really be allowed to solicit clients on the street in broad daylight within view of schools? No? Well, that’s what’s happening around Roosevelt Avenue in Corona. Yet when the city tries to stop it, activists defend it.
The same goes for unlicensed vendors, who might not be so bad if it
weren’t for the fact that some of their goods come from area stores, where five-fingered discounts were employed. Enough of the insanity. We fully support the city’s new Restore Roosevelt effort to crack down on the vendors, the prostitutes and all the rest of it.
A similar effort, at least on the illicit vending, is needed in Jamaica, where the 103rd Precinct and Sanitation keep confiscating illegal goods only to see more the next day, as a top cop there recently told Community Board 12.
Yes, the city should offer more vending licenses. But not doing so shouldn’t mean it’s a free-for-all of stolen goods and carts of uninspected street meat. And “sex work” is not legitimate work. It’s an act of desperation that leads to a life of despair. We should enforce the law and not lend credibility to insanity.
MARK WEIDLER
President & Publisher
SUSAN & STANLEY MERZON Founders
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Dear Editor:
My husband and I are shareholders in an 80-unit middle- to lower-income co-op in Jackson Heights. Teachers, musicians, bus drivers, accountants, museum workers, cafe servers and city employees are some of the working people who live in our building. Retirees, college students, young families and disabled individuals live in our building as well.
My building is a typical Queens co-op. In fact, hundreds of buildings like ours are concentrated in Queens, which houses more families of moderate income than any other borough.
Over the years, my building has taken steps to improve our energy efficiency, but there are major projects that must be completed in order for our almost 100- year- old building to be compliant with Local Law 97. My fellow shareholders and I are in support of the law, but the overwhelming cost of necessary improvements like modernizing our energy systems is extremely burdensome for the people in my building.
City Councilmember Pierina Sanchez’s Intro. 654 makes expensive efficiency upgrades possible with a generous tax abatement for qualifying co-ops. My co-op would get a $50,000 abatement for large-scale efficiency projects. Many buildings in my neighborhood qualify for similar abatements under Intro. 654, which means that many more of my neighbors could improve their buildings as well.
Intro. 654 is gaining ground in City Hall, with 21 co-sponsors including Queens Councilmembers Shekar Krishnan, Lynn Schulman, Sandra Ung, James Gennaro, Julie Won and Tiffany Cabán. We’re counting on them and other Council members to get this done as quickly as possible so middle- and lowerincome people can improve our buildings and help our city meet its climate goals.
Elaine O’Brien Jackson Heights
Dear Editor:
Re Michael Gannon’s report “DOT: Oneway street study in Auburndale,” Oct. 17, multiple editions:
Two streets off Northern Boulevard are not the only roads that need a one-way conversion. So does a three-block section of 77th Avenue in Kew Gardens Hills that cannot handle two-way
traffic, putting drivers and pedestrians at risk. This situation centers around PS 164, located at the juncture of 77th Avenue and 137th Street. Every morning when parents drop off their kids at school, and every afternoon when they pick them up, there is an ear-splitting cacophony of honking horns and heated verbal exchanges between drivers that could escalate into violent road rage incidents or cause serious accidents, leading to injury or death. To reduce risk, 77th Avenue must be converted to eastward only between Park Drive East and Vleigh Place. Six years ago, I met with the school’s thenprincipal, Lisa Liatta, who also urged a one-way street conversion. We drew up a petition, signed by many parents, which I presented to Community Board 8, which then forwarded it to the city Department of Transportation. Unfortunately, the DOT rejected the proposal. But it’s time for another attempt.
I urge our elected officials, including City Councilman Jim Gennaro, state Assemblyman
Sam Berger and state Sen. Leroy Comrie, to pressure the DOT to convert this three-block section of 77th Avenue into a oneway road. The safety of their constituents is at stake. KGH voters, make your voices heard.
Richard Reif Kew Gardens Hills
Dear Editor:
(An open letter to the public)
The Northeast Queens Waterfront Greenway, as proposed on the Department of Transportation materials I have seen, is a nonstarter for me. I cannot imagine a more disruptive and unnecessary waste of money and space.
To begin with, College Point is a heavily commercial and industrial area with narrow streets, limited parking, and ongoing traffic issues. A “greenway” bike path through one of the busiest parts of the neighborhood would be disastrous. They can’t even utilize the waterfront because it’s made up of working docks and industrial zoning. We cannot ask the people of that neighborhood to bear yet another burden.
The path through Whitestone is equally flawed. Francis Lewis Park is a destination not only for local residents, but families from all over the borough. This “greenway” would sacrifice parking on Third Avenue and narrow the street itself, making the park less accessible and pushing traffic out into these quiet residential streets. From there it would extend into Beechhurst, another quiet community with narrow streets and limited street parking. And again, the waterfront is off-limits because it’s occupied with homes. A “greenway” would be a nightmare for residents.
Thankfully, we have no shortage of parks in my district, and we have absolutely no need for any of this. There are plenty of places for kids to ride their bicycles safely already, as they’ve done here for generations. Bicycles are not a method of commuting for actual adults in this area, and my constituents have been crystal clear about how they feel on the matter of bike lanes. We do not want this, and I will do everything I can to stop it.
Dear Editor:
The City of Yes is not necessary. Its goal is not to increase affordable housing; it is just designed to benefit land developers. Look at the facts. In the last six years, NYC has lost 800,000 residents. It now has fewer than 8 million people, the same as it did in 1960. Yet, we have 800,000 more residential units now than we did back then. In the first six months of 2024, 150,000 units have received approval to be built. In fact, our current zoning rules can
already accommodate 16 to 20 million people. Even if the City of Yes were approved, it would take years to construct the new homes. Stop by any real estate store and you will see many apartments for rent and houses for sale. The problem is that the average person cannot afford them. NYC does not need more housing; it needs housing that people can afford! The fastest way to do that is for the city to issue rent subsidies. That would immediately solve the problem without causing any of the issues that the City of Yes would.
Lee Rottenberg Middle Village
Dear Editor:
Your latest issue has yet another article concerning how the authorities intend to go full speed ahead with the construction of an unnecessary, unwanted and fantastically expensive expansion of the Rego Park Library, construction to supposedly begin this spring (“Basement homes at issue at CB 6,” Oct. 17, multiple editions).
I have written numerous prior letters on this topic. Before the work begins, consider this.
One of my neighbors uses that branch regularly. She is 80 years old but lives just a couple of blocks away so it is not too far to walk. If Rego Park were to shut down she could instead easily walk to the Lefrak branch — but that is already shut down, due to flood damage, and probably will not reopen for another couple of years. Her only alternative would be to use either the Elmhurst branch or the Forest Hills branch; however, it’s a half-hour walk to either of them, impossible at her age.
I am urging Queens Library headquarters not to even consider beginning construction until after the Lefrak branch reopens. My neighbor’s son, an attorney, informs me that he will commence a lawsuit against Queens Library chief Dennis Walcott if Rego Park is shut down prior to the reopening of the alternative branch. Keep this in mind.
Clifton Wellman Elmhurst
Dear Editor:
This letter is intended to amplify the points raised in Mr. Richard Reif’s letter on reparations, “It’s reverse racism,” published in last week’s Chronicle.
Almost every American, whether European, African or Asian, is descended from slaves or serfs. While serfdom ended in Western Europe during the Renaissance, it persisted in Eastern Europe and Russia until at least 1917, long after slavery ended in the United States. Some would argue that the Soviet collectivization of farms continued serfdom into the mid-20th century. Essentially, almost all of us are “owed“ repacontinued on next page
October 28,
Queens Regular Democratic Club
Queens Democratic Club Executive Member Betty Braton State Committee Members Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. & Jamie Plunkett GET OUT THE VOTE MEE TING AND RALLY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27th 3 PM at 8 COLEMAN SQUARE IN HOWARD BEACH EARLY VOTING OCTOBER 26th - NOVEMBER 3rd (notice of hours for each early voting day will be available at meeting) Election Day NOVEMBER 5th 6 am-9 pm You’re Invited to Listen to our Candidates and Speakers and to Get Information on ballot Proposals as All of Us Prepare to Participate in What Will Be One of the Most Momentous Elections in the History of Our Nation From top to bottom of our ballots, we have CHOICES to make. Please plan to attend our meeting on OCTOBER 27th.
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rations. But who is there to pay us? As Mr. Reif wrote, it is time for us to move beyond the past and look to the future. We all want better schools for our children, cleaner streets for our communities and safer streets for all. Let’s devote our attention and efforts in these directions, instead of wasting our time discussing nonsensical reparations.
Michael Gallagher Forest Hills
Dear Editor:
Progress for all New Yorkers has never been more important, and this year, progress is on the ballot. The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York urges you to flip your ballot and vote yes on Proposition 1 to enshrine the Equal Rights Amendment into the New York State Constitution.
As president of WBASNY, the largest women’s bar association in the United States, and a litigator, I have heard from our members and seen firsthand the impact of sex and gender bias that has been pervasive in our society. Discrimination affects many areas of life, including salaries, education, housing and employment. From different outcomes for women and children in court to the barriers placed before clients simply because of who they are, the discriminatory policies, behaviors and practices we see perpetuate disadvantages for certain people.
Voting for the New York ERA will enshrine equal protections in the state Constitution. There are many myths about the ERA. But on its basic level, it will provide protections in the Constitution for women and other protected classes already recognized under the New York Human Rights Law, such as national origin, ethnicity, disability and age. This constitutional amendment will ensure that the important laws protecting New Yorkers from discrimination will no longer be subject to the whims of the Legislature. New York would join 29 other states that already have ERAs in their constitutions.
His Supreme Court appointees overturned Roe v. Wade, he promoted division and told over 30,000 lies as president. During his term there were record gun sales and hate crimes and 1,700 mass shootings. He has been divorced twice, cheated on his third wife, filed six bankruptcies, been accused of sexual assault and found guilty of fraud.
Trump’s pandemic response was a total failure. He didn’t follow the response protocol and disbanded the National Security Council’s pandemic response team. He promoted false remedies and encouraged people not to get vaccinated or wear masks.
The national debt increased 40 percent under Trump, the most under any president, due to tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. He was the third president to be impeached and the only one to be impeached twice — for abuse of power plus obstruction of Congress and for inciting an insurrection.
He falsely claimed the election was rigged, tried to get state officials to falsify votes, appointed fake electors and tried to bully his vice president into obstructing election certification. Over 60 lawsuits were struck down for lack of evidence.
The Trump administration had more millionaires, CEOs and Wall Street moguls than that of any other president. They support him because they benefit from his presidency. Every budget he proposed included cuts to Social Security and Medicare. He called climate change a hoax and rolled back hundreds of environmental protections.
Are these the actions of a man we should look up to as our president?
Our votes will decide if America continues as a democracy. The alternative is unthinkable.
Linda Imhauser Whitestone
Dear Editor:
As an organization comprising attorneys, judges, educators and others in the legal profession, WBASNY has held, and will continue to hold, information sessions to provide New York voters with the necessary information to make an informed decision at the ballot box. WBASNY encourages New Yorkers to flip their ballots and vote yes on Proposition 1.
As senior citizens, we were blessed to have been born in this country and to have three marvelous children and eight wonderful grandchildren. All healthy. But today, our hearts are heavy with concern for this country, their future and future generations. They say every election is important, but this time that couldn’t be more true.
We are faced with Vice President Kamala Harris, who when interviewed cannot give a direct answer or offer a coherent response. This is not only an insult to the American voter’s intelligence, but unacceptable behavior on the part of a candidate.
State of New York
Marea Wachsman President, Women’s Bar Association of the
Manhattan
Dear Editor:
This is the most important election of our lives. It will determine whether the United States remains a democracy or becomes a dictatorship that uses propaganda, corruption and violence to stay in power.
Former President Trump left office with the lowest approval rating of any president.
After all, she’s running for president of the United States. And any proposal she has made would only add to the federal deficit, never solve the problem and burden future generations. She’s Biden 2.0 and worse! How could she be neck-and-neck at this time with former President Trump, who delivered for the American people before and will do it again?
Wake up, America! Don’t be fooled by the “Never Trump” mantra.
Thomas and Constance Dowd Oakland Gardens
Curing a rare heart disorder with a short life expectancy.
Performing a life-changing brain surgery— without a single incision.
Helping a new mom give birth—and receive a new liver.
At Northwell's North Shore University Hospital, the nation's most brilliant minds come here to conquer health care's greatest challenges. So that whatever comes through our doors: challenge accepted.
North Shore University Hospital
by Stephanie G. Meditz Associate Editor
Amid several tense face-offs between candidates in an important election year, don’t forget to flip your ballot over to weigh in on city and state propositions.
Queens voters can say yes or no to six ballot proposals when they hit the polls on Nov. 5. The first is a statewide proposition and the subsequent five are limited to the city.
Proposal 1 would add anti-discrimination provisions to the state Constitution, including ethnicity, national origin, age, disability and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. It would also protect those who seek access to reproductive healthcare.
A “yes” vote is to enshrine those protections in the State Constitution, while a “no” vote opts to leave them out.
The addition follows the state Legislature’s passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in two consecutive sessions.
According to nycvotes.org, the city’s Campaign Finance Board received 21 public comments in support of the proposal, many of which focus on constitutional measures to prevent discrimination and protect abortion, contraception and in vitro fertilization. State Attorney General Letitia James and the New York Civil Liberties Union were among the
commenters in favor of the proposal.
The 22 comments against it emphasize gender identity and its impact on public life. Some opponents say the measure is “overly vague, too broad and misleading.”
The second proposal is to expand and clarify the city Department of Sanitation’s power to keep streets and other city property clean and require that waste be disposed of in containers.
It would expand the DSNY’s authority to maintain city property, including parks and highway medians, and hold street vendors accountable for following rules at those locations. If passed, it would also enable the DSNY to regulate how residents put out trash for collection.
hearings or votes can occur.
It would also extend budget report deadlines in the first year of a new mayoral administration and permanently extend the mayor’s deadline to publish the annual city budget.
Some comments supported additional fiscal analysis before hearings and votes. Other comments, including one from Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica), say the proposal is “the result of a politically motivated and rushed Charter Revision Commission” that would delay lawmaking with “redundant” review processes.
Supporters of the proposal hope it will make for a cleaner city with more frequent garbage collection. Opponents say it could increase the DSNY’s surveillance and policing powers and adversely affect street vendors.
The City Council must provide estimated costs for all proposed laws before voting on them. Proposal 3 would allow the mayor’s Office of Management and Budget to assess the cost of laws and require the Council to publish its estimates before
responses to public safety threats and give the mayor “undue influence” over City Council matters.
The fifth proposal concerns capital planning. It would require more detail about city facilities’ maintenance needs in annual assessments, specifically costs, infrastructure and investments, and require that facility needs inform capital projects.
Adams announced on Monday that she would introduce legislation for a new Charter Revision Commission on Wednesday.
Proposal 4 would require the City Council to give the public 30 days’ notice before voting on public safety laws that affect the Police, Correction or Fire departments. Those agencies and the mayor may use the 30 days to hold public hearings for additional input.
Some commenters believe more notice would ensure the public’s awareness and involvement in safety issues. “Excessive bureaucracy” is a concern for opponents — some said the proposal would hinder timely
If passed, it would expand the crtiteria used to assess city property’s maintenance costs. Two public comments supported the proposal, while nine comments said it uses misleading language and that passage would not improve transparency or infrastructure planning.
Proposal 6, the last on the ballot, would create the role of chief business diversity officer to support minority and womenowned business enterprises. It would also authorize the mayor to designate which agency distributes film permits and combine two archive boards, both of which manage city records.
Nine public comments against the proposal say it “combines unrelated issues into one proposal” and would fail to improve government processes or reduce bureaucracy. They also say merging boards could be handled administratively.
One comment was in favor. Q
Meeks worked to:
Safeguard and Expand Affordable Healthcare, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid Benefits
Secure additional resources and services for Veterans
Protect women’s reproductive rights
Secure Student Dept Relief
Pass Common Sense Gun Control and ensure safer communities
Secure over $31 Million for Community Projects in New York’s 5th District last Congress to fund schools, hospitals, and local organizations to ensure our community is healthier, safer and stronger
TUESDAY, NOV. 5TH
EARLY VOTING: OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 3
by Kristen Guglielmo Editor
After four consecutive years of increases, drug overdose deaths decreased by 1 percent in 2023, according to the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
In 2023, there were 3,046 recorded overdose deaths, the agency said, a decrease from 3,070 in 2022. And according to provisional data, there were 616 overdose deaths in the first quarter of 2024, the lowest in a quarter on record since 2020.
According to an Epi Data brief from the DOH, in 2023, 463 Queens residents died from an unintentional drug overdose death, down from 472 in 2022. In terms of borough of death, 473 people died of an unintentional overdose in Queens in 2023, down from 493 in 2022.
Of the five boroughs, Queens had the second-fewest unintentional drug poisoning deaths in 2023, with Staten Island having the least, 145, and the Bronx the most, 926.
Though the number of overdose deaths has slightly decreased, someone dies of one in NYC every four hours, according to the DOH. Fentanyl was the most common substance involved in overdose deaths and continues to drive the epidemic citywide.
Dr. Christopher Calandrella, the chair of emergency medicine at Long Island Jewish
Forest Hills Hospital, said the slight decrease is an “encouraging sign and a step in the right direction.” However, he said, the work is far from over.
“Despite this progress, we continue to see high use and deaths from fentanyl in our communities, as well as other substances such as Xylazine,” Calandrella wrote in an email to the Chronicle. “We must remain vigilant and proactive in our fight against these dangerous substances. Education remains at the forefront of our efforts.”
He said Northwell Health observed International Overdose Awareness Day in August with a week of events aimed at raising awareness and distributing hundreds of Narcan kits. Narcan, also known generically as naloxone, is a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses.
LIJ Forest Hills hospital also has a
Election Day is less than two weeks away, and New Yorkers can vote early even sooner.
The public can begin casting their ballots in this fall’s state and federal general races starting Saturday, Oct. 26.
Early voting will be available every day from Saturday, Oct. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 3. There is no early voting on Monday, Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Early polling sites will close at different times throughout the nine-day period. Operation times are the following:
• Saturday, Oct. 26, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.;
• Sunday, Oct. 27, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.;
• Monday, Oct. 28, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
• Tuesday, Oct. 29, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
• Wednesday, Oct. 30, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
• Thursday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
• Friday, Nov. 1, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
• Saturday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and
• Sunday, Nov. 3, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Voters must cast their ballots at their assigned early voting site, which may differ from their Election Day polling place.
To find your early voting site, go online to findmypollsite.vote.nyc. Q
continued from page 2
Rosedale’s infrastructure, which was installed before the 1940s and needs to be replaced.
“Speaking particularly about the idea of putting two to four apartments in our town centers, we found that in other areas of the city when this happened, small businesses, they face rising rents and sometimes displacement,” she said. “That would eliminate Rosedale.”
People “do not belong in garages,” Boys added, referring to the proposal’s inclusion of accessory dwelling units.
Danniel Maio, the Conservative candidate in Queens’ state Senate District 15, also rejected the proposal. Enacting it would only put a dent in the housing crisis and would not ensure affordability, he said.
Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica) looked beyond City of Yes in her comments, saying, “To truly confront this housing crisis and meet the diverse needs of our constituents, we must advance holistic solutions at the scale of the challenges facing New Yorkers.”
The City Council is slated to vote on the proposal before the end of this year. Q
Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment coach who evaluates patients in the emergency department and connects them with referrals to outpatient treatment when necessary, part of a broader initiative across several Northwell and other NYC hospitals.
Dr. Shi Wen Lee, the chair of emergency medicine at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, echoed a similar sentiment.
“In my opinion, a decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2023 is mostly attributed to harm reduction programs, such as the existence of Overdose Prevention Centers (OPCs), which supervises drug consumption under medical supervision,” Lee wrote in an email.
He said other factors that contributed to the decrease include increased access to naloxone, education and harm reduction services such as the Relay program, offered by JHMC since 2018.
“While we are encouraged by any
decrease in drug overdoses, we must remain vigilant as the Opioid crisis will continue to claim lives, particularly due to the widespread use of Fentanyl,” Lee said.
“We continue to see significant disparities in overdose deaths, particularly among Black, Latino, and high-poverty communities,” Calandrella said. “These inequities must be addressed by targeting outreach, prevention, and treatment resources to those most affected.
“Together, we can save lives, but it requires sustained effort, collaboration, and commitment to addressing the social determinants of health that perpetuate these disparities.”
In 2023 in New York, the overdose rate was three times higher among men than it was for women. From 2022 to 2023, the rate of overdose deaths decreased by 5 percent among men, but increased by 10 percent among women.
For the fourth year in a row, Black New Yorkers have the highest rate of fatal overdoses, at 64.9 per 100,000 residents, followed by Latinos at 56.5 per 100,000.
Calandrella said reducing the stigma surrounding substance use disorder is critical in encouraging people to seek the help they need.
He urged the public to foster a compassionate, nonjudgmental environment where individuals feel safe reaching out for support.
For those struggling, the 988 hotline offers free, confidential 24/7 support. Other resources can be found at nyc.gov.
“Together, we can make a meaningful impact in reducing overdose deaths and saving lives in Queens,” Calandrella said. Q
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He continued, “What’s the mayor’s goal? Five hundred thousand more units in 10 years. Think about what I just said: 500,000 in 10 years, which is, by the way, never going to happen, but if he did it, why? When you can already build 5 million right now without changing anything?”
Graziano said he had given 111 presentations on the City of Yes since last November.
“And there’s still lots of people who have no idea what this is,” Graziano said.
The Flushing-based planner called the proposal a real estate scheme, not a plan.
“We don’t have a housing crisis. We have an affordability crisis,” he said.
Graziano added, “This is an extinction event for our community. I don’t say this to be bombastic. I don’t say it just to make noise. I’m not running for office.”
He urged the community leaders and residents to speak up, participate in public hearings and rally together.
“And I echo what was said by Reverend Thorbs: You must tell these elected officials they are out, because if they vote for this, we’re done,” Graziano said. “Our communities are done.” Q
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by Stephanie G. Meditz Associate Editor
The city’s Department of Investigation reported last Friday that it had found compliance and governance risks at 51 city-funded nonprofit organizations that operate homeless shelters.
Among the risks identified at those providers and in the city’s management of the shelter system are conflicts of interest affecting city money, poor control over how funds are used for executive compensation and nepotism.
The report concludes with 32 recommendations for reform to protect city funds allocated toward shelter services from “corruption, waste, fraud and abuse,” according to a DOI press release.
After the agency reported its findings, Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth), a longtime critic of the Cooper Avenue Rapid Rehousing Center in Glendale, continued to make his opposition heard.
“Are we surprised? While the Homeless Industrial Complex pay their CEOs nearly $1 million a year running terrible shelters, our communities suffer,” he said in a press release. “I’ve raised the alarm on this scam for years, but it continues to fall on deaf ears at City Hall.”
There are multiple published news reports of crime, drug use and harassment at the
Cooper Avenue men’s shelter. A former resident and whistleblower informed CBS News of nearby drug dealing and sexual activity in September 2022.
There have been 260 arrests since the shelter opened in February of 2020, according to a press release from Holden’s office. This year alone saw 50 client arrests and over 300 911 calls, he said.
The Chronicle reported in 2020 that a man
strung out on cocaine knocked on Holden’s office door during a Community Board 5 meeting. At that time, Holden slammed the city Department of Homeless Services’ thencommissioner Steven Banks and deemed service provider Westhab “inept” at operating the site.
The press release from Holden’s office also states that Valerie Smith, vice president of NYC Shelter Programs of Westhab, is the sis-
ter of DHS Administrator Joslyn Carter. Holden pointed to a “clear conflict of interest,” saying Smith has “landed nearly $2 billion in contracts despite having no prior experience in this city.”
“Do we honestly think Westhab is doing a great job? This DOI report is damning and confirms what we all knew. Hopefully, it gets the attention it deserves now,” he said.
Some suggested measures listed in the DOI report are for the city to update its electronic procurement and invoicing systems to facilitate third-party oversight and to require shelter providers to disclose information relevant to identifying compliance risks, such as potential conflicts of interest.
“City-funded nonprofit service providers pose unique compliance and governance risks and comprehensive City oversight is the best way to stop corruption, fraud and waste before it starts,” DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said in a press release.
Westhab said in a statement that the report included “extremely minor references” to its processes, which have since been corrected, and that the organization’s overall ethics and performance are “not in question in any way.” The organization is “proud” of its service to the city’s homeless population, including at the Cooper Avenue shelter, and said Holden’s continued opposition is “unfortunate.” Q
by Stephanie G. Meditz
Associate Editor
The Juniper Park Civic Association discussed how to make its opposition to the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal heard at its monthly meeting last Thursday at Our Lady of Hope in Middle Village.
The hearing for the zoning text amendment that aims to build more housing by loosening density restrictions in many areas citywide started Monday [see separate story on page 2 or at qchron.com]. Land use expert Paul Graziano led a rally against it in City Hall Park at 1 p.m. that same day.
The public testimony portion took place Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. — JPCA leaders urged members to testify at City Hall.
“They’re keeping a tally of for and against so even if you know there’s no way you can make it, send an email,” Newtown Historical Society President Christina Wilkinson said. “Even if it’s one line, send an email, please.”
Former JPCA president and Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth) said at the meeting that he will continue to oppose the proposal when the City Council votes on it before the end of this year, but he does not know how each of his colleagues will vote.
“I think it will pass because I know the City Council,” Holden said. “They care about a few things and one of them is building more
housing, but this City of Yes does not guarantee affordable housing.”
He called for an investigation into the proposal earlier this month, saying it is “suspect” and a gift to builders and developers. He noted that it would eliminate the parking requirement “that developers hated.”
“I think there’s corruption involved here. I don’t have proof, but given this current administration that we have in City Hall, would you put it past them?” he asked, followed by a chorus of “no” from the crowd.
Holden voiced his other concerns about the zoning plan, such as the accessory dwelling units that it would allow if enacted, including backyard cottages, garage conversions and basement apartments.
“I don’t like that, even though some people might like it. It might increase property values intially, but it’s going to destroy our quality of life because you’re going to have more people packed into more areas,” he said.
More housing and less grass would cause flooding and further pollution in Newtown Creek from storm runoff, he added.
“‘Well, it’s not going to be a big problem’: That’s what they actually said,” Holden said.
“It’s a big problem now. So if you build more, we will flood more, and then what about our electric grid? ... We have the worst electric grid in the City of New York.
“It is worth your while to save the neighborhoods, essentially,” he said, encouraging the group to testify. More than 700 people registered to testify in-person or on Zoom, Councilmember Kevin Riley (D-Bronx) said.
Twelve out of the 14 Queens community boards voted against the proposal and Borough President Donovan Richards approved it with conditions.
“If you want the neighborhood, you love the neighborhood, which is a great community, let’s all get out there and fight,” JPCA President Tony Nunziato said, adding that he would attend Monday’s rally. “City of Yes, it’s the city of mess. Say no.”
Written testimony may be submitted at landusetestimony@council.nyc.gov up to 72 hours after the hearing. Q
The Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic’s fifth annual Haunt and Treat Halloween event brought plenty of fun and festive frights last Saturday, as families and children in creative costumes gathered on Cross Bay Boulevard to enjoy tables filled with delightful treats.
At left, a mermaid, a fairy and a doll show off their goodie bags. Top center, Councilwoman Joann Ariola and civic Co-president Phyllis Inserillo pose with participants who served up treats for children to
have a spooktacular time. Above center, Brina Ciaramella of Sovereign Realty, left, shows off her ghostly haunted house alongside Inserillo and Sharon DeRiso of Clearwater Pools. Top right, Luca Ciaramella, left, Alessio Ciaramella, Anthony Barillaro, Justin Cuenca, Victoria Gambino, Andrew Cohen and Louis Acevedo brought in the Sovereign haunted house. At right, a lion cub poses with his pack, and a young trio keeps an eye on a cauldron at the St. Helen’s Catholic Academy table. — Kristen Guglielmo
by Owen Lavine Chronicle Contributor
Residents from much of Queens joined a One LIC “Walkshop,” as Councilmember Julie Won coined it, on Sunday to get a better grasp of the project’s scope and issue their concerns.
Nearly 80 residents gathered at Queensbridge Park for the noon tour led by the city Department of City Planning to see where the rezoning and redevelopment plan, affiliated with but separate from Mayor Adam’s City of Yes proposal, could have its biggest impacts.
While the study area for One LIC only encompasses the area from the waterfront to Court Square and from 21st Street, skipping the Queensbridge Houses, down to 47th Road, the plan could affect most of Long Island City.
As explained on Won’s website, “the study will examine ways to create new housing, economic growth, transit connectivity, and open space, concluding with a neighborhood plan including zoning changes.”
Groups of 10 to 15, led by DCP liaisons, walked from the park, down Vernon Boulevard, stopping at the Terra Cotta building across the bridge, the Department of Sanitation salt pile a few paces down, the Con Edison peaker plant, the empty residential zoned lot at 44-02 Vernon Blvd., the Department of Education building on 44th Drive and Vernon, the small pier at the end of Fifth St., Gantry Plaza, the Oval at Hunter’s
Point and, finally, Hunter’s Point South Park.
The latter part of the tour, focused on Hunter’s Point, was mostly meant to highlight what could be possible on the 7 to 9 acres of waterfront that could be revamped by the plan.
Virtually everything is on the table to be torn down, even the behemoth DOE building, which, according to DCP Borough Planner Colin Ryan, leader of one of the groups, is “a horror story” for employees.
Many of the sites along the walk were empty, such as 44-02 Vernon Blvd. — also known as “Lake Vernon” because, as Ryan explained, “water was pooling on the site ... if you look at an aerial on Google Maps you’ll still see it.”
The site is zoned for 962 units but ground has yet to be broken by its owner, Harry Sussman.
The land around the Ravenswood peaker plant, owned by Con Edison, is largely empty and the plant will be decommissioned as
announced by the New York Independent System Operator in July.
Ryan reiterated that many of the sites could be rezoned as residential space.
However, for Court Square residents like Scott Caplan, making sure the sewer system will be able to meet the demands of the thousands of new residents was a top line issue.
“So they keep adding to the infrastructure, but the capacity for usage is probably lagging behind,” Caplan explained. Similar concerns were voiced at last month’s Community Board 2 general meeting.
Caplan, a believer in “mixed housing,” was also concerned with making sure Queens stays more affordable than Manhattan.
“I think that it has to be mixed for people of a variety of incomes, not excluding higherincome people, but also not exclusively higher income,” he added.
Becca Olinger, a Long Island City resident who has slowly lost the morning sunlight shining into her apartment with the number of new high-rise buildings going up around her, was also concerned that the high cost of development has priced out the “mom and pop” businesses in the area.
“I had this great deli; the landlord jacked the rent up and now it’s Dunkin Donuts,” Olinger lamented. “So we’ve gotten rid of a lot of these
continued on page 38
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by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor
Queens paid tribute to a beloved native son in Flushing last Saturday, co-naming the intersection of 32nd Avenue and 157th Street in memory of former Councilman Paul Vallone.
Vallone, part of the third generation of a top Queens Democratic public-service dynasty, died suddenly of a heart attack in January. He was 56, and left behind his wife, Anna-Marie, and their three children.
The ceremony took place just outside Bowne Park, which Vallone worked for more than a decade to renovate.
“Our family is thankful to everyone for making this street co-naming at 157th Street and 32nd Avenue happen,” said Anna-Marie Vallone in a statement issued by the office of Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone). “We appreciate all the love, support and recognition for Paul’s service to the community. Paul and I spent so much time with our children enjoying Bowne Park and this was the perfect location for this tribute.”
“I was honored to facilitate this co-naming and to put together a beautiful ceremony with Jonathan,” Paladino said. “Everyone in District 19 remembers Paul and the happiness that radiated from him. He will never be forgotten, and this street co-naming will serve as a constant reminder of the life that we lost.”
The ceremony was attended by his family, including his father, former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr., friends and a who’s who of officials from North and Northeast Queens and beyond.
Dignitaries included U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) and Tom Suozzi (D-Nassau, Queens); state Attorney General Letitia James;
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz; Borough President Donovan Richards; state Sen. John Liu (D-Bayside); and Assemblyman Ed Braunstein (D-Bayside).
“Paul Vallone believed in ‘Safe StreetsSafe City,’ a program initiated by his father Peter Vallone Sr. and a major component in all of Paul’s campaigns,” said Chuck Apelian,
first vice chair of Community Board 7. “Paul was a hero to all our local civic associations and protected their land covenants and neighborhood context.”
Vallone served eight years in the City Council beginning in 2014 before being termlimited out of office. His brother, former Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., is a Supreme Court justice in Queens. Another brother, Perry, is an attorney. All are grandsons of Civil Court Judge Charles Vallone Sr. Paul Vallone was the city’s deputy commissioner of veterans’ services when he died.
The Animal Care Centers of NYC’s new shelter in Ridgewood, which opened in June, also is named in Vallone’s honor.
“As our Council Member, Paul always cherished the opportunity to bring the community together,” Braunstein said. “Whether at his annual Independence Day Fireworks at Fort Totten, the Children’s Holiday Parade in Bayside, or an assembly at one of our Northeast Queens schools, Paul was there with a big smile.”
“He was my friend in government, in the neighborhood, and on the jet skis,” Liu said. “Paul’s tremendous legacy extends just about everywhere you look, from his beautiful family, to the Paul Vallone Queens Animal Care Center, Paul Vallone Community Campus, and now here to Paul Vallone Way, where his memory will live on forever.” Q
The third annual City of Forest Day is Saturday, Oct. 26, and tree huggers everywhere are invited to show their arboreal adoration at events across the city, with many sprouting up in Queens.
The celebration is presented by Forest for All NYC in partnership with the city Parks Department and the Parks and Open Space Partners-NYC Coalition. The goal is “to raise awareness of the importance of the New York City urban forest, and the essential role New Yorkers play every day in caring for the “lungs” of our city.”
Participants will get to take guided strolls through wooded areas, help maintain green spaces and more. Details are online at forestforall.nyc/city-of-forest-day.
Just some of the events are:
• a self-guided tour of street trees along the 34th Avenue Open Street, aka Paseo Park, from 69th Street to Junction Boulevard in Jackson Heights, with QR codes that can be scanned to learn more about the individual plantings;
• a restoration of natural areas in Idlewild Park from 9 a.m. to noon, with participants meeting at 149th Avenue and Springfield Lane in Springfield Gardens; tree care at the Queens Botanical Garden at 43-50 Main Street in Flushing, with some gardening basics taught, from 9:30 a.m. to noon; and a hike through Alley Pond Park from 10 to 11:30 a.m., meeting at the preserve’s Adventure Course. Before leaving, one may find other recent tree news at bit.ly/40ikvh8. — Peter
C. Mastrosimone
Commuters in South Queens are in luck as state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) and Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) will soon bring MTA MetroCard vans to their districts.
Pheffer Amato is bringing the van to the Food Emporium in Lindenwood, at 82-35 153 Ave., on Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Addabbo will bring the van to his Ozone Park constituents at the St. Mary Gate of Heaven Senior Center, at 103-12 101 Ave., on Oct. 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
At the vehicles, residents can get help with a reduced-fare application, transfer
balances, exchange a damaged reduce-fare MetroCard for a replacement, report a lost or stolen reduced-fare MetroCard and ask the team questions.
“This is such a vital service for our community, especially for our seniors as so many of these services are not readily available at stations in our community,” Pheffer Amato said.
“In an era where access to public transportation is more crucial than ever, bringing the MetroCard van to our community is very important,” Addabbo said. Q — Kristen Guglielmo
by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief
The city last week escalated its efforts against illicit activities on and around Roosevelt Avenue in Corona, Jackson Heights and Elmhurst.
On Tuesday, some of those targeted, such as prostitutes and unlicensed vendors, rallied in Corona Plaza against the action.
The stepped-up activity was announced by Mayor Adams, City Councilman Francisco Moya (D-Corona) and interim Police Commissioner Tom Donlon on Oct. 15 at Roosevelt Avenue and 104th Street.
The effort is called Restore Roosevelt.
“Over the past year, members of the NYPD have been addressing community concerns about prostitution, illegal brothels, unlicensed vendors and food carts, retail theft and the sale of stolen goods, and other quality-of-life offenses,” the city said in an announcement of the initiative. “To expand its efforts to address these continuing challenges, the Adams administration is bringing together over a dozen city agencies under the administration’s ‘Community Link’ initiative, a collaborative, sustained, and intensive multi-agency
response to address persistent quality-of-life and public safety issues.”
At the announcement, Adams, Moya and Donlon were joined by community groups as well as the National Organization of Women and Sanctuary for Families.
Adams said the groups understand that prostitution is a crime against women and that the administration, as well as Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, want an alternative and a way out for the people engaged in it.
Moya, who previously spearheaded the establishment of a task force joining together several agencies, including the police and sanitation departments, in an effort to clean up Roosevelt, applauded the move.
“I am proud to announce, alongside the administration, the introduction of Community Link to Roosevelt Avenue,” he said in a prepared statement. “This initiative will ensure that no issues get lost between agencies and that we are all working in tandem to provide the people of my district with the safety and quality of life they deserve. I’m grateful to Mayor Adams for bringing the resources our community needs to make this happen.”
Community Link is designed to improve communication and coordination between various city agencies, allowing them to respond more effectively to issues on the ground, Moya’s office said.
It said the Roosevelt Avenue Task Force, “which was originally established to foster agency collaboration and gather vital information, will now serve as a reporting mechanism to ensure the success of Community Link and align it with the community’s needs.”
But while many in the community have
A police vehicle is parked on 90th Street just off Roosevelt Avenue as the city engages in an increased law enforcement effort on the corridor. At left, vendors pack up and go after hearing police are on their way.
been decrying the increased lawlessness along and around Roosevelt — including daylight prostitution, with solicitation within the view of schoolchildren, rampant shoplifting, illicit vending, including that of goods stolen from nearby stores — not all agree with the crackdown.
The group Make the Road New York, which advocates and takes action for immigrants, held a rally against the crackdown Tuesday in Corona Plaza, with sex workers among those saying the city should be providing services and resources rather than enforcing the law against people trying to make a living however they can.
“Today, dozens of members and allies gathered in Corona Plaza to demand an end to
BY
Operation Restore Roosevelt — a 90-day policing campaign launched by @GovKathyHochul & @NYCMayor to remove street vendors & sex workers from our streets by deploying state & local troops,” Make the Road said on X, where it posted photos from the event.
The group went on to say that “deploying troops” doesn’t increase safety but perpetuates harm and targets the most vulnerable, such as immigrants, transgender people and people of color.
“If the Gov & Mayor want to help our people, they need to invest in communitybased solutions that prioritize support for sex workers & street vendors — not from criminalization.” Q
by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief
A Queens couple were killed early last Sunday morning when the motorcycle they were on collided with an SUV in Harlem, the Daily News reported.
The victims are Aleksandar Aco Jokanovic and Tamara Lapadatovic, according to the News and to GoFundMe pages set up to repatriate their remains to their home countries and assist their families.
Police confirmed the crash, which occurred at the corner of Third Avenue and East 106th Street at about 4:43 a.m. Oct. 13 but could only release the name of one of the victims.
The NYPD press office said that a preliminary investigation “determined that a 30-yearold male was operating a Toyota Rav4 traveling westbound on East 106 Street when it collided with a two-wheeled device traveling northbound on 3rd Avenue operated by a 30-year-old male.
“EMS responded to the scene and pronounced the 30-year-old male operator and a 35-year-old female passenger of the twowheeled device deceased on scene.”
It was not entirely clear whether the vehicle the victims were on was a full-fledged motorcycle or a moped. Police lately have been using “two-wheeled device” to describe mopeds and scooters.
The Daily News said Jokanovic and Lapadatovic were deeply in love. It reported that the crash happened after he picked her up from her job as a bartender. Jokanovic lived in East Elmhurst. Neither the police nor the paper said where in Queens Lapadatovic lived, but the GoFundMe page set up for her family says it was organized by someone from Astoria.
Both pages have beaten their goal of raising $100,000. The one entitled “Help Bring Aleksandar Home to Montenegro” had raised $109,692 by Wednesday afternoon, while the
one named “Support for Tamara’s Final Journey Home” had brought in $105,630. She was from Serbia.
Both are countries in the Balkan region, in southeastern Europe.
The page for Lapadatovic says, “She was a vibrant soul, always radiating positivity and warmth. Since moving to New York in 2017, she brought joy to everyone around her, facing life with a smile and unwavering kindness. She was a loved sister, daughter, and friend.”
The one for Jokanovic says, “Aleksandar was not only a dear friend to many but also a positive soul who brought joy and smiles to everyone he encountered. His kindness, warmth, and laughter will be deeply missed.”
Aleksandar Aco Jokanovic and Tamara Lapadatovic were both immigrants from southeastern Europe’s Balkan region who lived in Western Queens.
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by Naeisha Rose Editor
Alternative rap group A Tribe Called Quest was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 19, by none other than comedian and hiphop head Dave Chappelle.
In a video on the ATCQ’s impact on hip-hop, artists like Andre 3000, Lauryn Hill, Questlove and Pharrell Williams, to name a few, reflected on how the group chose to be different.
“When people study hiphop, A Tribe Called Quest will be as important as Coltrane,” said Andre 3000. “As important as James Brown. As important as Funkadelic.”
The group, consisting of Q-Tip, Phife Dawg and Jarobi White of St. Albans and Ali Saheed Muhammad of Do or Die, BedStuy in Brooklyn, formed in 1985 and chose to be artsy and sampling jazz music at a time other artists leaned into hardcore rap and funk beats.
“Tribe has always been about togetherness,” said Chappelle.
Accepting the award on behalf of the group were Q-Tip and Jarobi White, along with the parents of the posthumously honored Phife Dawg, who passed away due to complications with diabetes in 2016 and Muhammad was absent from the event due to other commitments, according to multiple reports.
“I want to thank our families who are our
rocks,” said Q-Tip.
White joked about the Yankees beating Cleveland’s Guardians, acknowledged Phife’s parents and thanked fans.
“We would be nothing without you,” he said. “Ali Saheed, I love you boy. I wish you were here.”
Paying tribute to ATCQ were Queen Latifah, The Roots, De La Soul, Common, Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star.
Queens Latifah came out with full swag, performing “Can I Kick It?” — one of the group’s signature songs. Black Thought of The Roots and De La Soul’s Posdanous killed it on “Check the Rhime,” and Common was smooth on “Bonita Applebum.” Busta Rhymes was pure energy as he rapped on a splice version of “Scenario” and its remix, which featured him when he was in the rap group Leaders of the New School.
The induction ceremony was livestreamed on Disney+ and will air on ABC on New Year’s Day, and then it will be available on Disney+ and Hulu on Jan. 2. Q
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Tuesday announced LaGuardia Airport’s selection as the best airport in the United States by Forbes Travel Guide, based on a survey of 5,000 hospitality and travel experts and the guide’s most well-traveled fliers.
The PA said in a press release that the nod is the latest in a long list of accolades given to LaGuardia throughout the course of the airport’s $8 billion transformation from what was once the nation’s worst airport into what is now its best.
“From the very start, our mission at LaGuardia Airport was to transform what was once the worst airport in the nation into an airport that would rival the best in the world,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton.
“Today’s award from Forbes Travel Guide is further proof that with our private partners, Delta Air Lines and LaGuardia Gateway Partners, we have created a new LaGuardia Airport that is no longer a national laughingstock, but something our entire region and country can be proud of.” Q
— Michael Gannon
by Stephanie G. Meditz
ctober may be almost over, but with Halloween less than a week away, it’s nowhere near time to mourn the loss.
Whether you’ve had your costume planned since the summer or deem your best orange shirt sufficient, you can give spooky season its last hurrahs at Queens’ many festive events.
The city Parks Department and Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth) give kids the chance to get their sweet tooth ready for Halloween.
Go car-to-car for candy at a Trunk or Treat event on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 80th Street between Juniper Boulevard North and South. The parade will start at 11:30 a.m. at the 74th Street playground. After getting your candy fix, enjoy a Halloween festival at Juniper Valley Park from 12 to 3 p.m.
Friends of Maple Grove Cemetery will also hold a trunk or treat event and River Fund food drive in Kew Gardens on Oct. 26 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free, but the group asks attendees to bring canned food for local food pantries.
Bask in the crisp autumn air of two Queens open streets as part of the city’s “Trick or Streets” series.
Visit the 165th Street Open Street between Jamaica and 89th avenues on Oct. 30 and the 31st Avenue Open Street between 33rd and 35th streets in Astoria on Oct. 31 from 3 to 7 p.m. for Halloween activities and performances, including live music and circus acts. The Jamaica installment will also have a photo booth, master bubble artists, donuts and hot drinks.
The Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing offers festive fun for everyone. Those who just can’t wait to put their costumes on can spend Halloween at the Garden on Sunday, Oct. 27, from 12 to 4 p.m. Little ones can walk the trickor-treat trail, make spooky crafts and enjoy live performances while adults grab a seasonal cocktail or browse the vendor fair. Go online to queensbotanical.org for more information.
by Ron Marzlock
Chronicle Contributor
Joseph Jacobson married Florence Jacobs on April 14, 1926. Their first child was born on Nov. 7, 1927. A son, Howard, was born on Dec. 10, 1930. He acquired the nickname “Buddy,” which he carried the rest of his life.
By 1940, Buddy’s parents had divorced, and he soon dropped out of high school. His mother’s brother Eugene was in the “horse farming” business and got him a job in Barn 11 at Jamaica Race Track as a horse walker.
In 1953, Buddy Jacobson married Joan Miller. They set up home in a new apartment building at 143-50 Hoover Ave. in Briarwood. He found success as a horse trainer, making a good living. But after breaking some rules, he was banned from the industry. In 1968 he walked out and left the marriage.
After being forced out of horse racing, Jacobson went into real estate. He was wealthy. He rented mostly to models and stewardesses. In his late 40s he fell in love with Melanie Cain, age 23. They were an
item for years and lived together in Manhattan. She eventually moved out to the apartment of neighbor, and lover, Jack Tupper. He paid with his life when Jacobson took revenge. It was the summer of 1978. Jacobson was convicted of murder in 1980. He later broke out of prison and was recaptured. He died of bone cancer at Attica Prison on May 16, 1989 at age 58. Q
by Mark Lord qboro contributor
The divas are back, and the Thalia Spanish Theatre’s got ’em!
More precisely, “Divas de España,” a one-woman show paying tribute to no fewer than four of Spain’s foremost contributions to the world of entertainment, is back by popular demand at the Sunnyside theater for a third go-round.
In the 75-minute comedy with music and dance, Sevilla native and current Rego Park resident Inma Heredia embodies the spirits of the silver screen’s Sara Montiel, flamenco artist Lola Flores, chanteuse Rocio Jurado and the coquettishly flamboyant Charo.
The theater’s managing director, Soledad Lopez, herself an award-winning actress, noted that the show was previously presented there in 2017 and, just before the pandemic hit, in 2020.
Heredia created the show with its director, Adolfo Vazquez, who passed away last year. The current engagement has been dedicated to his memory.
In a telephone interview, Heredia said she performed the show for the first time in Manhattan in 2013 and has been at it ever since. She has taken on other projects in the interim, but “this will always be part of my repertoire,” she said.
The idea for the show, she explained, came from “the amazing women who inspired my journey.”
Heredia considers herself a spiritual person, suggesting she is “very connected to the divine forces of creativity.”
as Rocio Jurado, far left, and Sara Montiel, as well as Lola Flores, in her show dedicated to divas.
It is this close connection that assists her in her transformation into each of the four women she portrays. Switching gears from one to the next almost without interruption during the show means she needs “to be ready to step into each very quickly.”
External elements — costumes, wigs, and the like — as well as the music in the show, help her get into the mood for each artist, she said.
And what about the divas themselves?
“I love all of them equally,” Heredia said, but admitted that Lola is “special,” saying, “I have more in common with her.”
She is particularly delighted that the Thalia invited her back at this time, right around Vazquez’s birthday on Oct. 13.
Doing the show is “the most beautiful gift we could give him,” she said.
It becomes a full-blown party when Heredia invites a few members of the audience on stage to join her in a number, making for some unpredictable moments.
And in a surprising change of pace toward the end, Heredia bares her soul in a heartfelt self-portrait that becomes a highlight of the performance.
The show’s spoken word is delivered primarily in English, while the songs are performed in their original Spanish, making for an interesting combination.
Remaining performances at the Thalia, located at 41-17 Greenpoint Ave., are on Oct. 25 and 26 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 27 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $40. For further information, visit info@thaliatheatre.org or call (718) 729-3880. Q
will be decked out in decorations reminiscent of Dracula’s castle at its Halloween Spooktacular Oct. 31 from 4 to 7 p.m. Grab treats at participating stores, smile in the photo booth and enter the costume contest at 6 p.m. for a chance to win a $200 gift card good throughout the mall.
The Howard Beach Kiwanis Club gives kids another chance to show off their costumes at its 38th annual Halloween parade
Oct. 26. Line up at 159th Avenue and Cross Bay Boulevard at 10:30 a.m. to trek to the treats that await at 165th Avenue.
The Glendale Kiwanis Club’s annual parade will take place on Oct. 31. Head to 70th Street and Myrtle Avenue at 7 p.m. for a march to the Stop & Shop parking lot on 65th Street, where there will be a Halloween bag giveaway and costume contest.
Astoria’s Socrates Sculpture Park’s annual Halloween festival will bring back its pumpkin carving and dog costume contests Oct. 26 from 12 to 4 p.m.
Adults 21 and older can kick off Halloweekend at The Windjammer in Ridgewood with Femme Fright Fest on Friday, Oct. 25 at 8:30 p.m. Enjoy cover performances of artists like Green Day, Paramore and Nirvana. If you’re still in a party mood the next day, head to the Ridgewood Ghoul-O-Rama, the venue’s annual Halloween cover show, at 8:30 p.m.
Kids can digest their trick-or-treat spoils while they dance to live music or get their face painted at the Halloween kids’ carnival from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 31.
When the sugar crash hits, adults 21 and older can change into pajamas for a free
Like Boy Scout Troop 237 in 2022, you can celebrate the holiday by marching down Cross Bay Boulevard at the Howard Beach Kiwanis Club’s annual Halloween parade Oct. 26. On the cover: You also might dare to visit the Middle Village spooky house at 68-12 75 St.
film screening and slumber party at 8 p.m.
They can also check out art, vinyls and vintage finds at TV Eye’s Halloween Punk Market on Oct. 27 from 12 to 5 p.m.
To show off your costume under neon lights, head to MoMA PS1 in Long Island City. The gallery teamed up with Swiss nightlife icon Susanne Bartsch for Night at
the Museum: The Return of HalloQueens on Oct. 25 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., when you can party with performers donning “the most elaborate costumes in the city.” Visit momaps1.org for tickets and more information.
For more about the other events, find the sponsoring organization online. Q
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SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF QUEENS. THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWABS, INC., ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES
2006-20, Plaintiff -againstJANETTE B. CARTER, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated September 4, 2024 and entered on September 17, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., in Courtroom # 25, Jamaica, NY on November 15, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, known and designated as Block 10922 Lot 50. Said premises known as 21117 HOLLIS AVENUE, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11429 Approximate amount of lien $907,443.68 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 710662/2023.
RODNEY R. AUSTIN, ESQ., Referee Pincus Law Group, PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556
Notice of Formation of KUHINUR JAHAN LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/13/2024. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: KUHINUR JAHAN, 15123 12TH ROAD, WHITESTONE, NY 11357. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
LVM 198 REALTY LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 7/18/24. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Cui Yu Li 3617 Bud Pl, Flushing NY 11354.
Purpose: Any lawful activity.
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS
CROSBY GIBRALTAR, LLC; Plaintiff v. GANESH ARORA; et al.; Defendants
Attorney for Plaintiff: Hasbani & Light, P.C., 450 7th Ave., Suite 1408, NY, NY 10123; (212) 643-6677
Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on 8/5/24, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder at the Queens County Supreme Court, located at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435 on November 1, 2024, at 10:00 AM
Premises known as 57-65 75th Street, Queens, NY 11379
Block: 2814 Lot: 93
All that certain plot, piece, or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the County of Queens, State of New York.
As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale.
Sold subject to the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale.
Approximate amount of judgment: $1,568,659.05 plus interest and costs.
Docket Number: 726628/2022
Gerald Chiariello, Esq., Referee
PAPAGIANOPOULOS LAW PLLC.
Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/11/24. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the PLLC, 31-10 37th Avenue, Suite 301, Long Island City, NY 11101. Purpose: For the practice of the profession of Law.
QUADRA VENTURES HOLDINGS
LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/01/2024.
Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Yuanyuan Yuan, 3916 College Point Blvd., Flushing, NY 11354. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE FOR INDYMAC INDX MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-AR25, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2006-AR25, -against- BIBI GOPAUL, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens on February 11, 2020, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE FOR INDYMAC INDX MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006AR25, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2006-AR25 is the Plaintiff and BIBI GOPAUL, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE on the COURTHOUSE STEPS OF THE QUEENS COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 88-11 SUTPHIN BLVD., JAMAICA, NY 11435, on November 15, 2024 at 11:00AM, premises known as 9339 205TH ST, QUEENS A/K/A HOLLIS, NY 11423; and the following tax map identification: 10480-29. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE BOROUGH AND COUNTY OF QUEENS, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 722933/2021. Everett Hopkins, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.
Notice of Formation of BOBBY EPHRAIM LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/24/2024. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: THE LLC, 111-45 FARMERS BLVD., #1ST FL, SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
New York City Department of Transportation Notice of Public Hearing
Publish in Queens Chronicle
The New York City Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing, the hearing will be held remotely commencing on Wednesday October 30, 2024, at 11:00 AM. via the WebEx platform, on the following petition for revocable consent, in the Borough of Queens.
G.S & Son Corp. – to continue to maintain & use a sidewalk hatch, under the south sidewalk of Hempstead Ave., west of 223rd St.
Interested parties can obtain copies of proposed agreement or request sign-language interpreters (with at least seven days prior notice) at 55 Water Street, 9 Floor, New York, NY 10041, or by calling (212) 8396550
Ozanam Hall does not discriminate with regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or disability in the admission and care of its residents.
16104 Sanford LLC filed 9/23/24. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail to: 16104
Sanford Ave., Flushing, NY 11358. Purp: any lawful.
H &S786 GROUP LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/07/22. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, c/o Haseena Shamin, 144-38 87th Ave., Jamaica, NY 11435. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Howard Beach, elegant brick custom Colonial, 4 BR, 4.5 baths, master BR w/en-suite& 2 BRs w/full baths. Custom KIT, LR, FDR, den. Full finished bsmnt, sep ent, paved yard with IGP w/jacuzzi. Call for appt, $1,499K. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136
Howard Beach/Rockwood Park. Sun 10/27, 12:30-1:30pm 160-31 90th Street. Totally updated, mint cond, Hi-Ranch, 35x100 lot. 4 BR, 2 full baths. Asking $950K. Connexion Real Estate 718-845-1136
Howard Beach. Furn House for Rent, call Willie 718-848-5896. Also, Furn Apt for Rent, 917-693-6968
Call owner:
Howard Beach/Lindenwood, studio, duplex, close to all. Call owner for details. Avail immed. email: Eiffel613@gmail.com
We Buy Houses for Cash AS IS! No repairs.
Howard Beach, Det Colonial, move-in cond, 3 BR, 2 full baths, 1st fl—LR DR,KIT. 2nd fl—3 BR, 1 full bath. Fin bsmnt. Pvt dvwy. Asking $769K. Connexion Real Estate, 718-845-1136
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR HARBORVIEW MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE LOAN PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-5, -against- STACIE C. GRANT A/K/A STACIE N. C. GRANT, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens on May 2, 2024, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR HARBORVIEW MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE LOAN PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-5 is the Plaintiff and STACIE C. GRANT A/K/A STACIE N. C. GRANT, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE on the COURTHOUSE STEPS OF THE QUEENS COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 88-11 SUTPHIN BLVD., JAMAICA, NY 11435, on November 15, 2024 at 10:00AM, premises known as 115-112 225TH STREET, CAMBRIA HEIGHTS, NY 11411; and the following tax map identification: 11306-57. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE FOURTH WARD OF THE BOROUGH AND COUNTY OF QUEENS, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 722456/2022. Scott H. Siller, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/ CLERK DIRECTIVES.
Trankoskla LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 9/16/24. Office in Queens Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 3906 47TH ST, FL 1, SUNNYSIDE, NY, 11104. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF QUEENS. NYCTL 19982 TRUST, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Collateral Agent and Custodian for the NYCTL 1998-2 Trust, Plaintiff -against- FARWAY MARINA, INC., et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated January 23, 2023 and entered on January 27, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., in Courtroom # 25, Jamaica, NY on November 22, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Queens, County of Queens, City and State of New York, known and designated as Block 16110 and Lot 51 on the Queens County Tax Assessment Map. Block: 16110 Lot: 51 Said premises known as 341 BEACH 84TH STREET a/k/a 3-41 BEACH 84TH STREET, ROCKAWAY BEACH, NY Approximate amount of lien $32,673.61 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 710318/2022. DONALD E. CLARKE, ESQ., Referee Bronster, LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 156 West 56th Street, Suite 703, New York, NY 10019
Notice of Formation of Jake7716Investing LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/08/24. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Clifford Schlosser, 313 Tuscarora Ave., Ocean, NJ 08005. Purpose: Real estate holding
Notice of Formation of 8616 DUSHI LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 08/12/2024. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: VILSON DUSHI, 1475 10TH STREET, WEST BABYLON, NY 11704. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR WELLS FARGO ASSET SECURITIES
CORPORATION HOME EQUITY
ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-1, Plaintiff AGAINST CARLOS W. RODRIGUEZ, ANA MARY RODRIGUEZ, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 29, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, on the second fl oor in Courtroom 25, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York on November 1, 2024 at 10:00AM, premises known as 239-22 65th Avenue, Douglaston, NY 11362. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Queens, City and State of New York, BLOCK: 8287 LOT: 16. Approximate amount of judgment $831,558.13 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #717123/2020. 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. Alen R. Beerman, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC, 1775 Wehrle Drive, Williamsville, NY 14221 00-123316 82382
Notice of Formation of NEXT GENERATION CONSULTANTS
LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 07/26/2024. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: REPUBLIC REGISTERED AGENT SERVICES INC, 54 STATE STREET, STE 804, ALBANY, NY 12207. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.
Rohira Family LLC filed 9/3/24. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail to: c/o Pinky Hitesh Rohira, 4139 70th St., #1, Woodside, NY 11377. Purp: any lawful.
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER, INDEX # 726557/2023
Property: 62-48 Mount Olivet Crescent, Unit 3B and Parking Space 31P, Middle Village, New York 11379, Supplemental Summons with Notice of Action to Foreclose a Mortgage, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, as Trustee for the benefit of the Freddie Mac Seasoned Credit Risk Transfer Trust, Series 2019-2, Plaintiff(s), against Jose Molina if living, and if he/she any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or generally 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; Jose Molina a/k/a Jose D. Molina, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., The Board of Managers of Middle Village Meadows Condominium, United States of America (Eastern District), New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Criminal Court of the City of New York (Queens), Capital One, N.A., New York City Environmental Control Board, New York City Parking Violations Bureau, New York City Transit Adjudication Bureau, The People of the State of New York, The United States of America, and “JOHN DOE #1,” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises being foreclosed herein, Defendant(s) WE A R E ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE TO THE ABOVENAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s attorneys within 20 days after the service of this summons exclusive of the day of service or within 30 days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner 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 hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Sheldon May & Associates, P.C. by Ted Eric M ay, Esq., Attorneys for Plaintiff. 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, New York 11570. Phone: 516-763-3200. File # 39120
SUMMONS Supreme Court of New York, Queens County. WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF THE RESIDENTIAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES TRUST V-C, Plaintiff, -against- MOHI U. KHANDAKER IF LIVING, AND IF DEAD, THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF MOHI U. KHANDAKER; RAINBOW REALTY ASSOCIATES, LLC; ZQ 108 LLC; ACENY, INC.; ALPINE ADVANCE 5 LLC; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; OFFICE OF THE CITY REGISTER OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EASTERN DISTRICT) O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; “JOHN DOE” AND “JANE DOE” said names being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, Defendants Index No. 725043/2023 Mortgaged Premises: 24-42/24-44 86th Street East Elmhurst a/k/a Jackson Heights, NY 11369 Block: 1097 Lot: 44 f/p/o 31 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above captioned action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner 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 hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECTIVE of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a Mortgage to secure $528,750.00 and interest, covering the premises known as 24-42/24-44 86th Street, East Elmhurst a/k/a Jackson Heights, NY 11369. The relief sought herein is a final judgment directing sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Queens County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is located. 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. FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160 Garden City, NY 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff.
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 #: 716975/2018 Reverse Mortgage Solutions, INC. Plaintiff, vs Lucy Radman As Heir To The Estate Of Mario Lisica, Elizabeth J. Geigen Aka Elizabeth J. Krieger As Heir To The Estate Of Mario Lisica, William A Krieger, Jr. As Heir To The Estate Of Mario Lisica, John W Krieger As Heir To The Estate Of Mario Lisica, Unknown Heirs Of Mario Lisica 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 On Behalf Of The IRS, New York City Environmental Control Board, United States Of America Acting Through The Secretary Of Housing And Urban Development, “John Doe” (Refused Name) Defendant(s). Mortgaged Premises: 24-43 157TH Street Whitestone, NY 11357 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 Unknown Heirs of Mario Lisica Defendant In this Action. The foregoing Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. Cassandra A. Johnson of the Supreme Court Of The State Of New York, dated the Third day of October, 2024 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 foreclosure a mortgage upon the premises described below, dated May 23, 2012, executed by Mario Lisica (who died on April 5, 2020, a resident of the county of Queens, State of New York) to secure the sum of $938,250.00. The Mortgage was recorded at CRFN 2012000231640 in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County on June 14, 2012. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed July 25, 2018 and recorded on July 27, 2018, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2018000250765. The property in question is described as follows: 24-43 157TH STREET, WHITESTONE, NY 11357 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: October 8, 2024 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. 83017
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS AND NOTICE Supreme Court of New York, Queens County. U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE NRZ PASS-THROUGH TRUST XVIII, Plaintiff- againstTHE HEIRS AT LARGE OF HILBERT LAYNE, DECEASED, AND ALL PERSONS WHO ARE HUSBANDS, WIDOWS, GRANTEES, MORTGAGEES, LIENORS, HEIRS, DIVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES, SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF SUCH OF THEM AS MAY BE DEAD, AND THEIR HUSBANDS AND WIVES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES AND SUCCESSORS OF INTEREST OF ALL OF WHOME AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF; DEBORAH A. CHASTEN; SANDRA LAYNE COLE; KEVIN ANTHONY LANE; BRYAN M. LAYNE; SEAN MCDONALD LAYNE; CHENELLE GBAJUMO; CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU PAYMENT AND ADJUDICATION CENTER OF QUEENS; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; DANIEL RODRIGUEZ; SELINA RODRIGUEZ; MANUEL LACARA; JESSICA RODRIGUES; MELANIA LACARA; JUAN RODRIGUEZ, Defendants. Index No. 700098/2017. Mortgaged Premises: 122-17 Nellis Street Springfield Gardens, New York 11413 Block: 12702 Lot: 30. To The Above Named Defendant(s): 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. If you fail to appear or to answer within the aforementioned time frame, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECTIVE of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a CEMA Mortgage to secure $271,000.00 and interest, recorded in the Queens County Clerk’s Office on November 21, 2005 in CRFN 2005000647670, covering the premises known as 122-17 Nellis Street, Springfield Gardens, New York 11413. The relief sought herein is a final judgment directing sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Queens County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is located. 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. FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, (212) 471-5100, Attorneys for Plaintiff
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
INDEX NO. 722996/2023 Plaintiff designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property
Mortgaged Premises: 8931 211TH STREET, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11427 Block: 10579, Lot: 94
DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE FOR INDYMAC INDX MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2007-AR19, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-AR19, Plaintiff, - againstDEBBIE MCKENZIE, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF YVONNE SONIA MCKENZIE A/K/A
YVONNE B. MCKENZIE A/K/A YVONNE MCKENZIE; LISA MCKENZIE, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF YVONNE SONIA MCKENZIE A/K/A YVONNE B. MCKENZIE A/K/A YVONNE MCKENZIE; MARIE MCKENZIE, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF YVONNE SONIA MCKENZIE A/K/A YVONNE B. MCKENZIE A/K/A YVONNE MCKENZIE; TARA MCKENZIE, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF YVONNE SONIA MCKENZIE A/K/A YVONNE B. MCKENZIE A/K/A YVONNE MCKENZIE; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF YVONNE SONIA MCKENZIE A/K/A YVONNE B. MCKENZIE A/K/A YVONNE MCKENZIE, 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; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; MANUFACTURERS & TRADERS TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR SECURITIZATION SERIES 1997-2; THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; DWIGHT “DOE” (REFUSED LAST NAME) AS JOHN DOE #1; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #2; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #3; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #4; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #5, “JOHN DOE #6” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last six names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, 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 $472,000.00 and interest, recorded on July 19, 2007, in City Register File Number (CRFN): 2007000372696, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York., covering premises known as 8931 211TH STREET, QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11427. 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: October 12th, 2024 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 #: 724820/2023 Rocket Mortgage, LLC F/K/A Quicken Loans, LLC F/K/A Quicken Loans Inc. Plaintiff, vs Keyana Reaves As Heir To The Estate Of Priscilla Carrow, Tasheen Carrow As Heir To The Estate Of Priscilla Carrow, Unknown Heirs Of Priscilla Carrow 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, New York State Board Of Elections, New York City Parking Violations Bureau, Bank Of America, Successor By Merger To Bac Home Loans Servicing, Lp F/K/A Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, Lp, City Register Of The City Of New York, Queens County, New York State Department Of Taxation And Finance, 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: 140-21 160th 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 Unknown Heirs of Priscilla Carrow Defendant 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 Twenty-Seventh day of September, 2024 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 foreclosure a mortgage upon the premises described below, dated November 9, 2010, executed by Priscilla Carrow (who died on March 30, 2020, a resident of the county of Queens, State of New York) to secure the sum of $280,000.00. The Mortgage was recorded at CRFN 2010000400698 in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County on November 30, 2010. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed June 9, 2021 and recorded on June 15, 2021, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2021000224460. The property in question is described as follows: 140-21 160th 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 1-800-3423736 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: October 16, 2024 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. 83125
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businesses that provide jobs for people who live here.”
Olinger, who described herself as a “union girl,” hoped the plan would use unionized labor.
“I love when I’m riding my bike and the rats are out in front of these [nonunion] developments,” Olinger said in reference to the new 5Pointz tower, for which owners Jerry and David Wolkoff promised to utilize union labor, but then reneged on their promise.
Won told the Queens Chronicle that “by law” she cannot comment on whether she will push for unionized labor to be used in One LIC. Won previously had told City Council members the Innovation Queens project, also in her district, would not use unionized labor, much to the chagrin of SEIU 32 BJ, which withheld its endorsement for her last election cycle.
SEIU 32 BJ also refused to comment, citing similar legal concerns.
Won did say she “will always be an advocate for union labor.”
When asked about the concerns voiced by Olinger, Caplan and many members of Community Board 2 that luxury condos and apart-
Councilwoman Julie
addresses the
ments may be prioritized by the One LIC Plan, Won said the issues were “not representative of all constituents’” concerns. She then added that in the 2000-person constituent survey her office recently conducted, many said “they want more housing and they want to make sure that there’s affordable housing.”
The next One LIC waterfront workshop will be held on Oct. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Sound River Studios, at 4-40 44 Drive. Q
Get ready for a sugar rush!
On Oct. 27 at Clocktower Plaza, at 92-10 Atlantic Ave. in Ozone Park, state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven), the Ozone Park Residents Block Association, the Ozone Park Howard Beach Woodhaven Lions Club and other community partners are hosting a trunk or treat event from 12 to 3 p.m. Costumes are not required.
Attendees should meet near the Pizza Hut side of the Clocktower Plaza parking lot. The best decorated trunk will receive a prize. To register a vehicle or trunk, contact Darma at (646) 303-9934. Q
by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor
The Mets’ playoff run was fun while it lasted, but in the end OMG, the playoff pumpkin, vibes and Grimace (McDonald’s should be a Mets corporate sponsor for the next hundred years for the free publicity it received) were not enough to beat a vastly superior Los Angeles Dodgers team.
There is no shame in losing to the Dodgers as they were the top seed in the National League playoffs while the Mets were the lowest. It was impressive that the Mets were able to extend the series with LA to six games, especially given the inordinate number of walks their pitchers issued.
The Dodgers’ lineup was stacked with three probable Hall of Famers: Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and, of course, Shohei Ohtani. As is often the case in postseason baseball, it was a journeyman infielder who proved to be the biggest thorn for the Mets: Tommy Edman.
The Mets certainly exceeded my expectations. In my March preview I wrote fans should be happy if they finish with better than a .500 record. That goal appeared to be aspirational when they were 11 games under that break-even mark in late May. Playing practically all season without ace pitcher Kodai Senga, a bullpen that was shaky at best, and a lineup that was far from Murderer’s Row, the Mets under first-year Manager Carlos Mendoza, had the best record in baseball from June until the end of September.
Now for the Debbie Downer portion of the column.
While beating the Brewers and the Phillies are significant achievements, the cold reality is that only got the Mets halfway up to the postseason pinnacle. General Mills does not put bronze medalists on its Wheaties boxes.
While Fox Sports executives are thrilled to be having the first World Series between the Dodgers and the Yankees in 43 years, which should generate excellent Nielsen ratings, it is a stark reminder to the Mets that they are still the second professional baseball team in town. That will really hit home with a thud if the Yankees are enjoying a parade down the Canyon o f Heroes in early November.
Yes, the 1999 Mets lost Game 6 of the National League Championship Series to the Atlanta Braves, and then made it to the World Series in 2000, where they lost to the Yankees in five games. However, getting to the mountaintop in sports is rarely a linear process, and it is certainly not an easy one. One must only look at the Yankees, who have enjoyed an incredible streak of 32 consecutive winning seasons but are returning to the World Series for the first time in 15 years. The Mets could win 90-plus games next year and not get as far in the postseason as they did this year. Q
See the extended version of Sports Beat every week at qchron.com
