QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 2, 2023 Page 4
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Pot shops hope to thrive in South Queens As police crack down on illegal stores, weed license hopefuls share their plans by Kristen Guglielmo Associate Editor
After just a few months of business, Howard Puff Convenience, located at 159-55 102 St. in Old Howard Beach, was raided by police on Monday morning. The incident resulted in two arrests, including that of the operator, and an estimated $181,200 in penalties, according to a report from the Sheriff’s Office Law enforcement seized untaxed cigarettes, packages of other tobacco products, flavored vape products, THC vapes, packages of THC “flower” — loose marijuana — weighing a total of 8.66 pounds, THC pre-rolls weighing a total of 4.53 pounds and packages of THC edibles weighing a total of 43.76 pounds, the report said. “After a long effort, including me being personally involved in a sting operation, law enforcement has taken action against the Howard Puff convenience store,” Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) wrote on Facebook. “We cannot allow unlicensed, illegal cannabis retailers to come into our neighborhoods and pedd le thei r products to ou r
children.” On different posts, including one by Howard Beach resident PJ Marcel notifying his neighbors of the situation, other residents lamented the sting, saying that the owner is knowledgeable and kind. Hours later, state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) announced that Magic Pack smoke shop, at 84-17 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven also had been raided. According to Addabbo’s office — which sits across the street — there were two notices of violations, with 10 violations and 67 counts of violations, bearing an estimated $56,700 in penalties. The NYC Sheriff’s Joint Compliance Task Force said the following items were seized: flavored vape products, THC vapes, packages of THC flower weighing a total of 4.45 pounds, THC pre-rolls weighing a total of 1.8 pounds and packages of THC edibles weighing a total of 29.1 pounds. The next steps involve a court date for the operator, Addabbo’s office said; at that point it will be determined whether the location will
Two allegedly illegal South Queens pot shops were targeted in raids last PHOTO BY PJ MARCEL Monday, while two legal ones seek licenses. remain open. Until then, the business can operate. Those who partake likely are not worried about losing access to THC for very long, however, as the incidents come as two applicants seek licensed dispensaries in South Queens: one at 94-24 Liberty Ave. in Ozone Park, the other at 135-35 Lefferts Blvd. in South Ozone Park. The locations were discussed at length at Community Board 10’s public hearing last Tuesday with representatives from the shops.
“Our purpose tonight is to provide information regarding the locations ... So that’s where we’re at,” Chairperson Betty Braton told attendees. Michael Elias, the owner of the building on Liberty Avenue, said that all product sold will be inspected and certified. Of the shop, he said, “We’ll keep it as secure as possible.” He plans to have security guards on the premises at all times, and IDs will be checked upon entry into the business, with validation measures to combat fake
IDs. Product will be stored behind safety glass, accessible to employees only. “We’ll keep the dispensary low key with regards to signs, lights, things like that,” he said. “... Hopefully we’ll put a lot of the illegal smoke shops in the area out of business, who will sell just about anything to anybody.” Roberto Cotto shared his vision for the Lefferts Boulevard dispensary, saying he wished to create a “safe and welcoming space for both medical patients and adult-use consumers.” He said the shop would place a value on education, community engagement and responsible use. In addition to robust security measures, the store plans to offer workshops and seminars on medical benefits, harm reduction and responsible dosing, as well as education on strains, consumption and effects. “Right now, they are at the beginning of the process of obtaining the license from the state,” Braton said to attendees, reminding everyone that the application process is still in the Q early stages for both locations.
Mid-year DOE budget adjustments to return Fewer students could mean cuts; agency gets in spat with speaker by Kristen Guglielmo
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Associate Editor
The city Department of Education will commence mid-year budget cuts for schools with lower-than-projected rates of enrollment, the agency announced last Wednesday. During the Covid pandemic, the DOE adopted a hold-harmless policy, preventing schools that saw lower-than-projected enrollment from experiencing funding reductions. The department will end that policy to revert to the “normal school budgeting process.” “The mid-year adjustment policy was waived for the past three years, made possible by the Covid-19 federal stimulus funds,” the DOE said in a press release. “Historically and prior to those one-time funds, school budgets were adjusted in Fall of each year, to reflect actual enrollment compared to initial projected enrollment.” The department said it will formally provide preliminary, nonaudited enrollment numbers in early November and reallocate Fair Student Funding resources accordingly. “Per long-standing funding policy and in alignment with the approved budget deal
reached between the mayor and the City Council this spring, we will adjust funding to reflect these changes in enrollment, in alignment with how we are funded by the state and federal governments,” the DOE said. The announcement came with some political pushback. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica) and Councilwoman Rita Joseph (D-Brooklyn), who serves as the Education Committee chair, released a joint statement last Thursday mor ning addressing the announcement. “The Department of Education’s decision to broadly remove funding from the individual budgets of schools would leave them without the needed resources at this critical moment when they are being asked to do more for students,” they wrote. They also disputed the idea that there was any agreement between the City Council and the department to make mid-year adjustments to the DOE budget, which the Council adopted at $31.5 billion for fiscal year 2024. “Any insinuation that there was an agreement for mid-year adjustments to be handled like DOE has announced is patently false,
and it is unfortunate that the DOE would be dishonest with the public,” the councilmembers said. “While the Department made no commitment related to mid-year adjustments, we maintained that school communities must have the necessary dollars needed for this school year and discussions would occur as we approached any adjustments.” After the councilmembers’ statement, the DOE distributed an amended press release, with the line about an agreement with the City Council notably absent. The DOE did not initially respond to a request for comment on the statement from the councilmembers. A spokesperson from the Mayor’s Office, however, deferred to the DOE, which then referred the Chronicle to the “Max Politics” podcast episode from Oct. 26, on which Adams was a guest. Asked about the mid-year adjustments for schools with lower-than-projected enrollment, Adams said, “Quite frankly, we are never happy when we’ve got to take cuts anywhere, particularly when it comes to education. “The low enrollment factor, though, I think if we are going to see any funding lessened in the DOE, I think that is probably
the most logical thing to do.” The Chronicle contacted multiple Queens members of the City Council’s Education Committee for comment on the funding, none of whom responded. In the statement announcing the resumption of the mid-year adjustment policy, the DOE detailed other financial investments it made this year, including $90 million in Fair Student Funding Weights for students in temporary housing and schools with high concentrations of need, an initial holdharmless amount of $180 million in June 2023, $60 million in significant budget appeals and $17 million to adjust for enrollment increases. The department said schools can expect adjustments to their Fair Student Funding based on student enrollment as of Oct. 31 for general education students, and Dec. 31 for students with disabilities. Preliminary enrollment data and information regarding the impact of mid-year adjustments will be available in November, a DOE spokesperson said, and spending decisions are made at the school level at the Q sole discretion of school leaders.
