Queens Chronicle 03-05-26

Some condemn the attacks; free dom from Khamenei sparks hope for others Queens pols on U.S. military strikes in Iran

by Stephanie G. Meditz Editor

The United States and Israel last Saturday launched a military attack on Iran that killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Bombs have continued to drop since then, with President Trump calling the operation “one of the largest, most complex, most overwhelming” ones the world has seen. Iran is striking back — six U.S. service members were reported dead Tuesday.

Trump said in a video on the White House YouTube channel that the aim is to eliminate threats from the Iranian regime, which has “waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder” for nearly 50 years. After the U.S. “obliterated” three Iranian nuclear sites last June, Trump said, federal officials warned the regime never to pursue nuclear weapons again.

“They’ve rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore,” Trump said, promising to “raze their missile industry to the ground.” To the Iranian people, he said: “When we are finished, take over your government.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Monday that “the hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military.”

While numerous federal lawmakers agree

Iran should not have nuclear weapons, many have demanded transparency from the Trump administration about the war’s aims, cost and expected duration.

Among them was U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who said Americans do not want another long, costly conflict in the Middle East, with so many problems at home.

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) in a

statement condemned Trump’s “unauthorized war” on Iran, for which he did not seek or receive congressional approval. But she said also that “no tears should be shed” for Iran’s regime, whose “campaign of terror” has killed Americans and whose leaders have pursued nuclear weapons for decades.

“Let me be clear: That doesn’t give this or any President the right to send Americans into harm’s way in another regime change war in

the Middle East,” Meng said. She and 60 other representatives on Tuesday wrote a letter urging Rubio to help Americans stranded in the Middle East return home.

U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) called the action “a reckless abuse of the president’s power,” urging House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to call Congress back to Washington to vote on it.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) also called for a vote, saying Trump lacks not only the constitutional authority, but the temperament and judgment to “act in such a reckless fashion.”

“Americans voted for lower costs, not forever wars,” Gillibrand said.

The Senate was set to vote on a war powers resolution to curb further military action Wednesday, and the House today, March 5. But with lawmakers divided, both measures were expected to fail.

Rubio said congressional leaders were notified of the strike 48 hours after hostilities began, as required by law. The War Powers Act was meant to bar the president from entering the U.S. into conflicts overseas without authorization from Congress, but he said “no presidential administration has ever accepted” it as constitutional.

“I agree with the President’s objectives that

continued on page 15

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South Queens to get free 2-K seats

Mamdani and Hochul make step toward free

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

Two-year-olds in School District 27 will be among the first to receive free 2-K seats this fall, Mayor Mamdani and Gov. Hochul announced March 3, with 2,000 2-K seats coming to the city overall.

City Hall called the move a “major step” toward universal childcare for kids six weeks to five years of age.

First announced just over a week into Mamdani’s administration, 2-K is a cornerstone of the mayor’s universal childcare initiative, City Hall said. The program will provide free child care for 2-year-olds in New York City to any family who needs it, regardless of ZIP code, income or immigration status.

The program is expected to expand to full universality within four years, City Hall said.

D27 is one of four communities to receive 2-K seats, but the only in Queens. The others are School District 6 in Manhattan; District 10 in the Bronx; and Districts 18 and 23 in Brooklyn.

D27 encompasses Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Howard Beach and the Rockaways, as well as parts of Lindenwood and northern Springfield Gardens.

The initial four communities were chosen based on economic need, projected childcare demand, existing access gaps, provider capaci-

universal childcare

ty and readiness, the city said. Services will begin in September, with rolling enrollment throughout the fall. Additional details on participating providers will be released in the weeks ahead.

Hochul has committed more than $1.2 billion to support early-childhood care and education in the city including $73 million to fund

the first set of free 2-K seats. The investment will grow to $425 million next year, and by fall 2027, 2-K is expected to serve approximately 12,000 children across all five boroughs, with the goal of reaching every 2-yearold in the city at full implementation.

“Raising a child takes a village — and it takes a city government willing to step up and

Forest Park Drive to be fully

tackle the child care crisis head-on,” Mamdani said in a prepared statement. “Launching free 2-K in these four neighborhoods is just the beginning of our work to put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets, strengthen our entire economy and help more families build their lives here.”

Hochul in a statement said raising a family in New York should not feel like a luxury.

“This is how we make New York the best place to start a family and build a future — and we’re just getting started,” she said.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said, “Families across South Queens and the Rockaway Peninsula have endured generations of systemic disinvestment in their children’s education, from a lack of funding for their schools to a lack of urgency in ensuring our youngest students are given the proper head start they deserve.

“With District 27 set to become the borough’s first 2-K district this fall, we are taking another seismic leap forward in righting the wrongs of the past and building an education system rooted in equity.”

Councilmember Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills), whose area includes parts of School District 27, thanked the mayor and governor for the investment and said the seats are “a critical step toward making early childhood education truly accessible and affordable for every family.” Q

repaved

Ariola allocates nearly $1M for road work; Parks, DOT to address potholes

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

Potholes big enough to jolt one’s hands off the steering wheel have become a daily obstacle course on Forest Park Drive, a busy roadway between Woodhaven and Glendale.

While most drivers going through there will say potholes on the road are common, winter’s freeze-thaw cycles and road salt are key ingredients for the pavement breakdown now frustrating those using the corridor.

Following the recent snowstorms, residents have flooded neighborhood Facebook groups with warnings and exasperation over the craters.

State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) contacted city Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn last week urging immediate repairs, describing hazardous conditions and an “alarming volume of complaints,” according to her Feb. 27 letter.

“One constituent warned that any day now, someone on a motorcycle is going to flip over,” Rajkumar wrote. “Another starkly remarked that the roadway resembles a

battlefield with detonated landmines.”

New Yorkers are urged to report potholes through 311.

But on Tuesday, city officials said a longterm fix is on the way.

Councilmember Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) announced that she has allocated nearly $1 million to repave Forest Park Drive in phases. The funding, her office said, is intended to address sections that have long been plagued with potholes and structural issues.

The first phase includes $325,000 in fiscal year 2026 to repave the stretch between Myrtle Avenue and Park Lane South.

A second allocation of $600,000, planned for the fiscal year 2027 budget, would repave between Woodhaven Boulevard and Metropolitan Avenue.

Construction on the FY26 phase is expected to start this spring, Ariola’s office said, and she has asked that the FY27 phase be treated as a priority so work can begin in the fall.

“This stretch of road has been allowed to deteriorate for far too long, and the recent

snowfall only exacerbated the longstanding issues in the area,” Ariola said in a statement.

“With this funding, we will finally let drivers

get around the park without the possibility of damaging their vehicles. This is exactly the

continued on page 15

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Says U.S. DOT secretary lacks authority in ruling on 2025 case Judge backs MTA in congestion suit

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

A federal judge has blocked U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s effort to end congestion pricing traffic tolls for Midtown and Downtown Manhattan.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman, in a 149-page decision released Tuesday, ruled that Duffy did not have the authority to terminate federal approval that he claimed back in early 2025. He called the secretary’s actions arbitrary and capricious.

But Liman did not grant the MTA’s motion for a permanent injunction, saying his ruling applied only to the grounds under which Duffy claimed authority in case at hand.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Feb. 19, 2025 filed the suit in response to Duffy’s move.

Duffy and the Trump administration may appeal the ruling; and Liman wrote that the MTA could always reopen the matter should the administration take actions it believes violate the terms of his decision.

“We’ve said it all along, and Judge Liman’s clear, detailed ruling leaves no doubt: congestion pricing is legal,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber in a press release. “It’s here to stay. And it works. Traffic is down, business is up, and we’re making crucial investments in a transit system that moves millions of people a day. Today — once again — Secretary Duffy failed and New York is winning.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. DOT told the Chronicle in an email that the administration is reviewing its options.

“Once again, working-class Americans are being sidelined under Governor Kathy Hochul’s policies, which impose a massive tax on every New Yorker,” the spokesper-

son wrote. “These Green New Scam policies have made federally funded roads inaccessible to commuters without providing a toll-free alternative. We are reviewing all legal options — including an appeal — with the Justice Department. The Trump Administration will not stop fighting to make everyday life more affordable for American families.”

Congestion pricing began on Jan. 5, 2025, and in the cal-

endar year raised more than $560 million.

The stated aims are to have a steady source of revenue for the MTA’s capital fund, and to move traffic congestion and the related pollution out of the area south of 60th Street. The base peak toll for most cars is $9, increasing to $12 in 2028 and $15 in 2031. Trucks right now pay $24 or $32 depending on size. Drivers without E-ZPass pay more. There are overnight discounts.

Gov. Hochul, in a statement from her office, called congestion pricing a once-in-a-lifetime success story.

“In its first year, congestion pricing has yielded huge benefits: reduced gridlock, faster trips, safer streets, and cleaner air, all while unlocking critical funding for mass transit upgrades,” the governor said. “I have been clear from day one: my administration will fight any unlawful effort by the Trump administration to attack the sovereignty of New York State with everything we’ve got. Today, we won again.

“The judge’s decision is clear: Donald Trump’s unlawful attempts to trample on the self-governance of his home state have failed spectacularly. Congestion pricing is legal, it works, and it is here to stay. The cameras are staying on.”

Danny Perlstein, policy and communications director for the Riders Alliance, concurred with the ruling.

“New York’s congestion relief program today continues its uninterrupted winning streak on our streets and in the courts,” Pearlstein said in an email.

“After more than a year of success, saving commuters time and raising money to fix the subway, Judge Liman’s exacting decision stops a vengeful federal government from punishing working New Yorkers for such a resounding public policy victory,” he added. Q

Major crime down 8 percent: NYPD

There were fewer murders, shootings and victims throughout the Big Apple

by Naeisha Rose Editor

History was made by the NYPD.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced Monday that the Police Department delivered the fewest shooting incidents, shooting victims and murders in recorded history for the first two months of the year.

Overall, there were 83 shooting incidents and 97 shooting victims in January and February combined, beating previous all-time lows of 92 and 105 incidents, set last year and in 2019, respectively.

Major crime was down 8 percent across all five boroughs in February from 8,250 to 7,596 incidents compared to last year, and 1,100 fewer crimes were reported year-todate. So far, the city has recorded 32 murders, beating the 2018 previous all-time low of 38.

Burglaries dropped 19.8 percent citywide in February from 977 to 784 incidents, the lowest level recorded in history. Year-to-date, they were down 22.3 percent, from 2,160 to 1,678 incidents, or 482 fewer burglaries.

“Once again, the NYPD is demonstrating how targeted, data-driven policing is reducing crime and keeping communities safe,” said Tisch. From our public housing — which had historic lows in crime — to our streets and subways, we will always stay focused on keeping New Yorkers safe, and I thank every

member of the NYPD for their continued work in getting us here.”

Other crimes were down, too.

Retail theft fell 24.7 percent, from 4,365 to 3,285 compared to last February, despite typically rising during the winter months.

Public housing developments across the city had fewer crimes from 435 incidents to 371 in February and 893 to 785 year-to-date.

Compared to last year, shooting incidents in such developments decreased by 45.5 percent, from 11 incidents to six. Shooting victims decreased 36.4 percent, from 11 to seven persons. Robberies decreased by 33 percent, from 63 to 42 incidents.

February, marking the second fewest murders for that month on record.

Grand larceny (3,233 to 3,014), robbery (982 to 919), felony assault (2,035 to 1,910) and auto theft (841 to 792) also saw drops.

The Police Department credited its School Safety Plan, modeled after the Violence Reduction Plan, for the drop in youthrelated crime by 56.7 percent, from 252 to 109 incidents, since its inception in September 2025. Youthrelated shootings are down 71.4 percent, from 14 to four, and shooting victims are down 75 percent, from 16 to four.

“Once again the NYPD is demonstrating how targeted, data-driven policing is reducing crime.”

— Jessica Tisch, NYPD police commissioner

The NYPD said its Winter Violence Reduction Plan involved deploying 1,800 uniformed officers to nightly foot posts across 64 zones in 33 precincts, public housing and the subway system. Since the plan’s inception in January major crime is down 23.1 percent and shootings are down 66.7 percent in the zones.

Murders plummeted by 33.3 percent for

While shooting incidents and victims are still at the lowest levels in recorded history for the start of winter 2026, February still saw a slight rise by 2.4 percent from 42 to 43, or one more incident than last year. Victims also increased from 43 to 50 people.

Transit crime also increased in February, coinciding with record cold temperatures and snow for the month, from 162 to 192 incidents.

The transit-related crimes were largely

driven by felony assaults and nonviolent grand larcenies, which made up 27.1 percent and 51.6 percent of incidents last month, respectively.

Thefts of unattended items surged 450 percent, from four to 22 incidents.

Thefts from sleeping passengers rose 42.1 percent, from 22 to 27 incidents.

Felony assaults on officers increased 41.7 percent, from 12 to 17. The NYPD is deploying approximately 140 additional cops a day into the transit system.

Major crime was down in Queens South year-to-date by 4.55 percent. There have been 695 incidents so far in 2026, compared to 704 last year.

Major crime was down in Queens North year-to-date by 5.15 percent, from 2,156 incidents last year to 2,045 this year.

Last month, there were no age-related or gender-related hate crimes or bias crimes targeting white or Hispanic folks, according to the Hate Crimes Task Force. However, Jewish (21), Black (four), Muslim (one) and Asian (one) people were confirmed to be targeted. Four other crimes were considered religious crimes and six other incidents were due to sexual orientation.

All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revision or change, said the NYPD. Q

St. Helen’s CYO girls dominate the game

The girls of the St. Helen Hurricanes have had a lot to celebrate lately, with two of their Catholic Youth Organization basketball teams recently taking home the win in championship games, with the sixth grade girls overcoming adversity to win their third title.

On Feb. 7, Howard Beach’s St. Helen’s fifth-grade novice team, left, beat Belle Harbor’s St. Francis DeSales in the division’s CYO basketball championship with a score of 17-7, led by coaches Dean DiMarco, top center left, and Bryan Ortiz, at right in pink. The game was played at St. Adalbert Catholic Academy in Elmhurst.

The team is: Madeline Murray, left, Gia DiMarco, Peyton

CYNTHIA J. CONZA, ESQ.

Colón, Sophia Tejada, Mellanie Yaldizian, Antoinette Spedaleri, Josephine DiMarco, Valentina Sturiano, and, in the back row, Leah Boswell, Daylia Webb-Ford and Demiana Selwanes.

Then, this past Sunday, March 1, the St. Helen bantam sixth-grade girls, right, won their third championship for the three-peat, besting St. Francis DeSales at Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School in East Elmhurst with a score of 37-14. The team was led by dedicated coaches Gina Panteleone, fourth from right in the top row, Bryan Ortiz, second from right, and Isaac Ortiz.

The sixth-grade champions are players Lia Queliz, top left,

Gabriella Rosa, Elliana Guerra, Siena Trocchia, Valentina Coppola and Allison Prosser, and in the front row, Emma DeMichiel, left, Avabella Saverino, Kaitlyn Ortiz and Alexandra Carrion.

“First championship wasn’t easy, second one came with a lot of self pressure to win again and this third season was filled with adversity,” Coach Bryan Ortiz said in a statement provided to the Chronicle. “But we saved our best game for last and now this team is a part of St. Helen’s history.”

He continued, “I’m proud of all the hours in the gym these young ladies did. They can see hard work, dedication and discipline always pay off.” — Kristen Guglielmo

CONZA | MCNAMARA

EDITORIAL AGEP

Have DOT pave in parks

The city Parks Department has its hands full keeping our green spaces in good shape and safe. The last thing it needs to be responsible for is roadway maintenance. And yet it is.

It was a difficult winter and streets all over the city are pocked with potholes. Workers can’t fill them fast enough, as far as drivers are concerned. We thank the city Department of Transportation for doing what it can and welcome each bit of fresh asphalt we see filling in some cavern in the street.

But some of the worst roadways we’ve come across are those running through our major parks. Forest Park Drive, from Woodhaven to Glendale, is a disaster. So are Meridian Road, the Grand Central Parkway access and egress and other routes for automobiles in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

FMCP is called the crown jewel of Queens, and Forest Park is pretty nice, too, but these roadways are an embarrassment.

One reason may be that the Parks Department, not the DOT, is in charge of keeping the roads in good shape. How dumb is that?

Parks is busy beautifying our green spaces, pruning trees, cutting grass, picking up what slobs leave behind — but when it comes to road repair, the DOT should take over.

The agency will at least help Parks fix the moonscape that is Forest Park Drive, we learned this week. That is welcome news.

City Councilwoman Joann Ariola has secured $1 million to repave the roadway in phases. We hope that the roads in FMCP, and those in other parks that are in terrible condition, can also be worked on soon.

These park roads are not thoroughfares at the top tier of importance in Queens, but no city street should be as shoddy as they are. If their maintenance became the responsibility of the DOT, they’d probably be in better shape. Asphalt is part of that agency’s core mission, not the Parks Department’s.

Swap fig cuttings, study nature

Fig culture is a thing, and you can be part of it. For free, if that sweetens the deal. Just head down to the Astoria Food Pantry on Sunday, March 15, and pick up a quality cutting you can plant that eventually will turn into a fruit-bearing tree. Or you can just learn some pointers. Read all about it this week at qchron.com, or in print if you get our Western Queens edition.

After a rough winter that’s not quite over yet, spring is around the corner.

We’ll get a taste of it in coming days as highs hit the 50s or even 60s. Thoughts will turn toward gardening, that noblest of avocations. As practitioners know, some plants already are peeking out of the soil, when not blocked by filthy ice.

If figs aren’t your thing, but broader nature is, you might run over to the Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing

on Saturday, March 14, aka Pi Day — pi as in 3.14, the mathematical constant you learned about in school. The garden will hold its first of three Math in Bloom programs that day, celebrating the fascinating intersection of mathematics and nature. Expect a nice combination of education and beauty, also for free. Read about it at qchron.com or in our two northern Queens editions. These are two unusual events to celebrate spring’s arrival. Find more nature-oriented things to do at places such as the Alley Pond Environmental Center, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Idlewild Environmental Science Center, Flushing Meadows Corona Park and Socrates Sculpture Park, to name a few key sites. Or just hit the parks. We’ve all had enough of being snowed in, and a very welcome spring is nigh.

MARK WEIDLER

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Dear Editor:

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

Where ya bin?

Our garbage can was delivered Feb. 21 at 8:30 a.m. If you make a big pain of yourself and you’re right, sometimes things get done.

Alexander Glatt Woodhaven

Fairview needed scrutiny

Dear Editor:

I stand by the press conference I held regarding the heating failure and major flooding at the Fairview co-op. At no point did I state that the Board was not attempting to address the situation. In fact, I explicitly said I was giving the board the benefit of the doubt that it was working to restore heat. The issue I raised was transparency – or more accurately, the lack of it –during a prolonged crisis affecting hundreds of residents in subzero temperatures.

Two weeks without reliable heat is not a minor inconvenience. My office was receiving reports that upwards of 100 residents remained without heat, including seniors who became ill. At the same time, we obtained and reviewed an email from the property manager explicitly discouraging residents from contacting the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. We have that email. Discouraging residents from contacting the agency responsible for enforcing heat requirements during a freezing emergency is deeply concern-

ing. As of Feb. 9, 18 HPD violations had been issued. These are documented facts.

Carefully worded updates are not synonymous with full transparency. Transparency means clearly explaining why this occurred, who knew what and when, what preventative measures were available, why they were not taken and how additional flooding occurred weeks later.

I have also reviewed correspondence from a former board member stating that concerns about the building’s piping system were raised well in advance and that this failure was preventable. That is not a trivial allegation. It warrants scrutiny.

When residents contact my office about a lack of heat during a Code Blue, I have an obligation to act swiftly. Bringing public attention to a prolonged loss of heat was not careless – it was necessary to ensure urgency and accountability. It is a shame that some residents seem to be more concerned about the property value than the fact that other residents lost everything

as a result of the floods, or had to suffe r through the harshest winter of a decade without heat for upwards of two weeks.

James F. Gennaro New York City Councilman for the 24th District Fresh Meadows

Save American voting

Dear Editor:

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the SAVE America Act, aka the Safeguar d American Voter Eligibility Act, by a vote of 218-213 on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

Congratulations to Rep. Henry Cuella r (D-Texas) the lone Democrat to vote yes. We’ll be sending him a note commending him for his brave action. Now, the bill goes to the U.S. Senate, where it will be met with the cry of “Jim Crow” by the likes of Sen. Chuck Schumer and his ilk.

Guess they don’t realize they’re living in the dark ages and that today’s Black man an d

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

woman are sophisticated and know that without ID, you’d never participate in today’s society. In the end, it’s all about defeating anything President Trump, even if it means finally addressing the flaws in our election system that allow illegal activity.

To the two members who didn’t vote, you should resign since you don’t represent anyone but yourself!

Thomas and Constance Dowd Oakland Gardens

PSA award to LaRosa

Dear Editor:

Robert LaRosa Sr.’s “Crockett for president” letter to the editor of Feb. 19 deserves a public service announcement award.

With all the tumult drowning out news and facts, Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s newsworthy statement of fact and truth needs to be repeated and publicized. She listed some current and recent abuses of our system that are propagating like fantastic, deadly weeds. They do their damage and then drop from view, allowing new varieties to proliferate. They’re hollowing the ground out beneath our feet and the Constitution. We have to be aware and have to remember. We need the rule of law to be applied justly and fairly.

Thanks should go out to Mr. LaRosa for echoing Rep Crockett’s important statements and observations. She found a way to publicly confront Attorney General Pam Bondi. In the spirit of Lloyd Bentsen, we’ve seen U.S. attorney generals in action before, and Pam Bondi is no real attorney general.

Debra Michlewitz Bayside

Succor soccer safety

Dear Editor:

Just what FIFA needs, the biggest tournament in the world playing under the shadow of a drug cartel’s revenge. Between the U.S. immigration crackdown and now the Mexican drug-cartel vengeance, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association should hold the whole World Cup in Canada. Ray Hackinson Ozone Park

No to Epstein-Iran war

Dear Editor:

President Trump promised peace, but we are witnessing another reckless, unconstitutional war based on lies, as a distraction from the administration’s corruption and unpopularity at home, as well as damning information from the Epstein files.

This is a war of choice, Trump’s choice, rejected by over 70 percent of the American public, according to recent polls. None of the 535 members of Congress voted for war. The region is still suffering from our unnecessary wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. How many people will die for Trump’s narcissism?

Just hours before U.S. bombs began falling on Iran, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, the chief mediator between Washington and Tehran, stated on CBS “Face the Nation” that a nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran was “within our reach.” So

much for peaceful diplomatic solutions to the problem caused by Trump’s tearing up of President Obama’s hard-fought, multilateral anti-nuclear weapons treaty with Iran. Now, once again, two nuclear weapons states are bombing a non-nuclear weapons state. Meanwhile, Trump has ludicrously called for Iranians to overthrow their government.

Trump’s action is already a regional war, which will take a horrible toll on ordinary people in many countries, with reports a girls’ school was bombed, killing at least 150 people. Predictably, Iran is firing back at Israel and at unprotected U.S. military bases in the region.

The timing of this attack came as momentum was building for congressional War Powers Resolution votes in both the House and the Senate. Congress must act immediately to stop this reckless, unconstitutional, wasteful war and pursue a peaceful resolution. If they do not, the blood of American troops, and countless other innocent people in the region, will be on their hands.

Robert Keilbach Queens Village The writer served in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1965.

Willfully blind on Iran

Dear Editor:

I am truly disgusted by the misrepresentations, ignorance and outright lies of the socalled expert commentators on CNN and MSNow regarding President Trump‘s actions in the Middle East.

The complaint that he didn’t get congressional approval is ludicrous. That ship has sailed. The very first truly major intervention was done by President Truman during the Korean War. He did not seek congressional approval, but at a time of much of greater patriotism, received only minor opposition. Several of our leaders, including Presidents Clinton in Kosovo and Obama in Libya, bombed without congressional approval.

A second, major misrepresentation revolves around the fact that Trump has not explicitly laid out our goals for Iran. This is false. The fact that our experts cannot read between the lines explains their bewilderment. The primary goal is to prevent these madmen and perverters of a major religion from ever getting their hands on nuclear weapons. Our commentators suggest that an attack is not imminent and therefore we should do nothing. If they want us to wait until an attack is imminent, how do we know that that will not be too late?

The secondary goal is regime change, but not as we have tried it in the past. Rather it involves getting rid of as much as is necessary of the old guard and allowing the remainder, and the people, to establish the new government. I don’t know if this will work, but it is worth a try. To remove the head of the snake only to have it grow back is no victory.

Let’s hope that we have victory with minimal impact on the

population.

OUR LADY

OF

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Education hub for D79 opens at Borough Hall

New office in Kew Gardens is a one-stop shop for adult learners

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

Staff and students of District 79, the citywide alternative instructional district, on Feb. 26 marked the grand opening of a new adult education hub at Queens Borough Hall in Kew Gardens, highlighting a pathway for New Yorkers overcoming personal or medical challenges, incarceration, language barriers and significant credit gaps to continue their education and careers.

The event featured Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. as well as District 79 leadership, principals and adult learners who shared how the program has reshaped their lives.

Superintendent Glenda Esperance recalled when the idea for the education hub first took root nearly two years ago in a meeting with the borough president.

“Look at what amazing things can happen when we pull our resources together,” Esperance said.

The vision, she explained, is to remove barriers for adults across Queens by centralizing services at Borough Hall.

“It’s one-stop shopping for the residents,” she said, noting the space will connect learners to basic education, English as a second language and career and technical education classes, all for free.

Esperance underscored how critical that access is for adults who are often overlooked.

“We service 50,000 students across the city that sometimes go underserved, unnoticed and don’t get access to the resources,” she said.

Those interested in enrolling in adult education classes should visit d79.nyc.

Richards framed the renovated Borough Hall space as belonging to the D79 staff and students and the larger Queens community.

“This is not my office,” he said. “It’s your office, and it should be utilized to ensure that we’re building a stronger Queens, and by building education, you build a stronger Queens,” he said.

He emphasized that adult education remains open to learners at every stage of life.

“And I know this is a cliché, but it’s never too late,” Richards said. “It is never too late to learn, never too late to get your GED.”

Executive Director of Adult Education

Annette Knox said the expansion reflects a longstanding dream for the program.

“The thing that I want you to know about the program is that it gives people 21 years and older a second opportunity to grab the American Dream,” she said. “If people can get a good education, then they can provide a pathway for their children.”

Students’ stories illustrated that vision.

Rommel Gallamos, who was born in Queens and raised in the Philippines, described the whirlwind of returning to New York.

“I came here to New York five months ago from the Philippines, so it’s crazy,” he said. “I came here to New York with a dream.”

Gallamos said the first thing he did was search for free classes. After months of intensive study, he is now applying to college.

“The staff welcomed me, so they’re basically my second family here,” he said.

Elysee Utway, who hails from Congo, said she began taking adult education classes without the ability to speak English.

“It’s not easy, but we thank God, because we have the support of the school,” Utway said.

“Know that the reason why we do this work is for our students,” Esperance said, calling the learners “walking testimonies of it.” Q

QHSS will relocate to a new building

Boro’s only specialized high school to share space with District 75’s P438

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

Queens High School for the Sciences will be moving to a new home in the fall following a unanimous vote Feb. 25 from the Panel for Educational Policy.

The borough’s only specialized high school has been located at York College at 94-50 159 St. in Jamaica and enrolls 513 students in a building with the capacity for 386 total students, which has created significant overcrowding, according to teacher and student testimony and an educational impact statement.

Because of the issues, the city Department of Education’s PEP, the 24-member voting body overseeing public schools, was set to vote on if QHSS should move to a new building under construction at 165-15 88 Ave., referred to as Q497, about 0.8 miles from the York College campus.

The School Construction Authority anticipates work there to be completed before the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.

The re-siting proposal also includes a new District 75 school, P438, at the same site to meet the need for D75 high school seats.

The co-location means that QHSS and P438 will be housed in the same building and may share common spaces, such as auditoriums, cafeterias, gymnasiums and libraries.

With a building capacity of 876, QHSS is projected to serve 505 to 545 students, and P438, 48 to 96, per the EIS.

Prior to the panel’s vote, more than a dozen students from QHSS testified that the move is necessary.

Eric Lee, a sophomore, said the space “severely limits” the number of clubs and teams available to students, and that the floor has unsatisfactory air conditioning, minimal natural lighting and windows, cramped hallways and makes library access a struggle.

We Hong Chen, a sophomore, said, “We only have 14 classrooms in our current building. That is not enough classrooms to have enriching academic classes to fulfill the needs of our academically talented students.”

Another sophomore, Mandy Lee, said the new building would provide many opportunities.

“This isn’t just about having a new space,” Lee said. “It’s about expanding what’s possible at Queens High School for the Sciences.”

She said the new digs would give the students a chance to grow a real Public Schools Athletic League program, as the school does not offer the “basic teams” such as basketball or soccer.

“QHSS is known as the top No. 1 high school in New York City for its academic success,” Lee said. “Our environment

Queens High School for the Sciences will move to a new building in Jamaica, as unanimously voted on by the Panel for Educational Policy.

should reflect our academic success and this excellence.”

The proposal’s unanimous approval means that students enrolled at QHSS will head there for classes at the start of the next school year.

“QHSS has a new home starting Septem-

ber 2026!” the school wrote on its social media. “Thank you to the PEP for their unanimous vote last night. This has been a long journey. Thank you to the entire QHSS community for all their advocacy efforts and to our allies throughout the years. We are very grateful.” Q

Hop to Cross Bay on 3/28

The annual Hop ’n’ Treat, hosted by the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic, is hopping back into the neighborhood on March 28 at 10 a.m., with Hunny Bunny leading the way.

The event encourages kids to make their way down to Cross Bay Boulevard at 156th Avenue to peruse themed tables with plenty of treats to enjoy.

Businesses and residents are asked to host a decorated table and bring wrapped, nut-free treats or novelties to hand out to the participants.

The entrance fee is $5 per child. To order tickets, one may send a Venmo payment to @HBL-Civic, or a Zelle payment to HBLCivic2014@gmail. com. In the memo section, people should include their name, phone number, email address and how many tickets are being reserved.

Those who wish to pay with cash or a check, or who want to reserve a table, are welcome to call Phyllis Inserillo at (917) 488-5067 or send an email to the civic at the above listed address.

Tickets are nonrefundable, and the rain date is April 4. Q

— Kristen Guglielmo

Ulrich gets a trial date for September

by Kristen Guglielmo

Editor

Eric Ulrich, former city councilmember for the 32nd District and former city Department of Buildings commissioner and senior advisor to then-Mayor Eric Adams, will stand trial on Sept. 28 on charges of bribery and conspiracy, as first reported by City & State.

Manhattan District Attorney

Alvin Bragg in September 2023 announced five indictments against Ulrich for allegedly misusing authority throughout his public service career. He was accused of soliciting and receiving more than $150,000 in cash and gifts, and failing to disclose income on annual financial disclosures.

Eric Ulrich PHOTOBYMICHAELSHAIN/FILE

indictment in which Ulrich allegedly used his position to accept bribes from Joseph Livreri, Anthony Livreri and Michael Mazzio, who are codefendants. From August to November 2022, Ulrich is accused of accepting thousands of dollars in bribes, including Mets season tickets.

According to the charges, as senior advisor, Ulrich allegedly attempted to secure Joseph Livreri a new job in city government. Livreri allegedly omitted or falsified information that would have disqualified him.

Donate blood in your area

The New York Blood Center is always looking for donors of all types. To make an appointment to donate, visit nybc.org. There are several blood drives in Central and Western Queens listed now:

• The Church-in-the-Gardens, gym, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sunday, March 8, 15 Borage Place in Forest Hills; blood drive coordinator James March;

• Queens Place mall, former T-Mobile, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, March 8, 88-01 Queens Blvd. in Elmhurst; blood drive coordinator Jelson Santos;

• NYPD 112th Precinct, muster room, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 18, 68-40 Austin St. in Forest Hills; blood drive coordinator Officer Jatara Edwards;

Ulrich pleaded not guilty to all charges, and one of the indictments, which named developer Mark Caller as a co-defendant, was dropped this January after a judge said prosecutors had failed to present the “full story” to the grand jury, according to The New York Times.

The September trial will address the

Ulrich also is accused of expediting a health inspection at the Livreri brothers’ Ozone Park restaurant, Aldo’s Pizza — now under new ownership — after it closed due to health violations, per the indictment. He also allegedly attempted to resolve licensing issues for Mazzio’s towing company and secured a position in the Department of Correction for Mazzio’s daughter.

The remaining indictments do not yet have trial dates, per City & State. Q

• NYC Department of Design and Construction, first floor atrium, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 18, and Thursday, March 19, 30-30 Thomson Ave. in Long Island City; blood drive coordinator Abdonnie Holder; and

• The Reform Temple of Forest Hills, garden room, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sunday, March 22, 71-11 112 St. in Forest Hills; blood drive coordinator Jane Pinkett. Q

Massive $21B affordable housing project could come to Sunnyside Yard Mamdani gives Trump a development pitch

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

President Trump may be willing to invest $21 billion in federal grants for affordable housing in Sunnyside following his second meeting with Mayor Mamdani.

The two Queens men met at the White House on Feb. 26, an event City Hall later said was designed to propose a historic investment in affordable housing at Sunnyside Yard.

The meeting was not on the mayor’s public schedule that is sent to the news media.

The city said the proposal represents a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to confront the housing crisis at the scale it demands.

The plan would allow for the construction of the “world’s largest deck” over the site, which is home to the busiest rail yard in North America, per the city.

The deck would allow the city to then build 12,000 new affordable homes, including 6,000 new Mitchell-Lama-style homes; create 30,000 union jobs; and deliver new parks, schools and healthcare clinics.

If realized, the project would mark the largest housing and infrastructure investment in New York City in more than 50 years.

The idea for housing at Sunnyside Yard was first introduced during the administration of former mayor Bill de Blasio. At that time, the project’s cost was estimated at $14 billion.

Mamdani’s press secretary, Joe Calvello, told reporters at City Hall that Trump, after their first meeting last November, instructed the mayor to “come back with some big ideas on how we can build things together in New York City,” according to a report from The Daily News.

Mamdani, according to City Hall, emphasized to Trump the need to strengthen financing tools that support affordable development, preserve public housing and modernize regulatory pathways to accelerate construction without sacrificing labor standards or community input.

He also underscored the city’s commitment to transparency, fiscal responsibility and collaboration in deploying federal funds.

Mamdani also brought props along with him to the meeting: two front pages of The Daily News, one a replica from Oct. 30, 1975, after President Ford refused to bail out the city from bankruptcy, the other a mock-up with Trump’s photo on it. The headline read, “Trump to city: let’s build,” with the subheadline, “Backs new era of housing.”

Mamdani posted a photo to social media alongside Trump, who grinned as he held both pages up to the camera.

“New York City is facing a generational affordability challenge,” Mamdani said in a statement. “Working families are being priced out of the neighborhoods they built. To meet

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards in a statement said the site’s untapped potential “as New York City’s next great community is even more immense now than it was a decade ago, when the city first proposed such a redevelopment plan.”

Richards said it would be a “dereliction of duty to not strive toward building thousands of affordable homes, schools, parks, healthcare facilities and more — like a new arena specifically for the New York Liberty — atop Sunnyside Yard.”

Mayor Mamdani and President Trump had a private meeting at the White House last week to discuss the possibility of $21 billion in federal grants for an affordable housing project at Sunnyside Yard.

PHOTOVIAX/@NYCMAYOR

this moment, we need a true federal partner prepared to invest boldly and act urgently. I appreciated the opportunity to speak directly with President Trump about building more housing in any single project than our city has seen since 1973.”

Trump and Mamdani agreed to continue discussions in the weeks ahead. The two chat often, according to the president, who during his State of the Union address called him “the communist mayor of New York City,” but added, “I think he’s a nice guy, actually — speaking to him a lot. Bad policy, but nice guy.”

Reactions at home in Queens were relatively mixed.

Prameet Kumar, a member of Community Board 2 and the chair of its Land Use and Housing Committee, wrote on X, “Zohran and Trump, submit that ULURP application and let’s get the ball rolling.”

He continued, “In the event that New York City does secure significant federal investment for this project, I would strongly encourage the administration to conduct a comprehensive, community-centered planning process that takes into account the current and future needs of The World’s Borough.”

A former Sunnyside resident on the social media platform Reddit said, “I remember going to listening/working sessions for that years ago. It would be astounding if it came to fruition. It would be the sure thing to get me to move back to the neighborhood.”

Sunnyside resident Julia Morgan told the Chronicle that the situation makes her nervous. “I don’t like that the mayor went to Trump for this without some local input,” Morgan said. “I don’t trust it. I hope that before anything happens, the government talks to the people who live here.”

“We need a true federal partner prepared to invest boldly and act urgently.”

Councilmember Julie Won (D-Long Island City) in a statement recalled how six years ago the project was shut down by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-Bronx, Queens), state Sen. Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria) and her predecessor, Jimmy Van Bramer, along with community advocates, due to “a myriad of concerns.”

She said any plan that reshapes Sunnyside Yard must begin with those living in the area.

— Mayor Mamdani

Asked for her opinion on the proposal overall, Morgan said, “I’m waiting for a renewed plan with specifics. I don’t want to base my judgment off a proposal from years ago.” Housing advocates, however, praised the proposal and the efforts from Mamdani to secure the federal grants.

“We are excited to see the Mayor consistently recognize that building new homes is central to an affordability agenda,” Annemarie Gray, the executive director of Open New York, said in a statement. “With a housing shortage on the order of a million units, we must explore every possible solution, and Sunnyside Yard presents an opportunity worth further exploring.”

Carlo Scissura, the president and CEO of the New York Building Congress and a former member of de Blasio’s task force on Sunnyside Yard, in a statement said he was “over the moon” to see it was a topic of discussion.

“Our community deserves a seat at the table long before anyone, including the mayor, makes headlines in the Oval Office especially for a project they have previously rejected,” Won said. “City Hall should commit to a ULURP process with the Council and the community for such a significant change for a project of this scale. ... I welcome the opportunity to build more deeply affordable housing and other federal investments for public transit and other infrastructure, but it cannot be done behind closed doors unilaterally.”

“We must finally bring this dream project to life,” he said. “Our members stand ready to take it from concept to reality. The President must see the impact this will have on his home city and secure the federal funding needed to make the work of that task force years ago bear fruit and build our city upward!” Q

Queens reps on strikes in Iran

continued from page 2

Iran can never be allowed to obtain nuclear capabilities,” U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Nassau, Queens) said on X. “The President must now clearly define the national security objective and articulate his plan to avoid another costly, prolonged war in the Middle East.”

Meeks said also that the Trump administration’s objectives in Iran are not those of a limited strike, but a prolonged war. Rubio said he did not know how long the operations would take, but they would continue until the stated aims are achieved. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation’s clear goals set it apart from past “endless” wars, such as Iraq.

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx, Queens) in a statement called the war “unlawful” and “unnecessary,” saying it will be “catastrophic.”

“Bombs have yet to create enduring democracies in the region and this will be no different,” Ocasio-Cortez said. She added that Trump “walked away” from discussions with Iran about measures that could have staved off war.

Rubio said Monday that there are no diplomatic exchanges between the United States and Iran at this point.

On a local level, Mayor Mamdani said the strikes mark a “catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression.”

“Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war,” Mamdani said in a statement. “Americans do not want this.

“They do not want another war in pursuit of

regime change. They want relief from the affordability crisis. They want peace.”

City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone) said on X in response to Mamdani’s statement that “Iranian New Yorkers are thrilled today and see right through” the mayor. On Facebook, she said the Iranian people have “finally achieved freedom,” and that the “decisive action” was necessary to take down the regime.

The day after the attacks began, hundreds of Iranians took to Times Square in celebration of Khamenei’s death.

“May this be the start of long term liberation for the Iranian people, who deserve freedom from the regime that oppresses them, and peace for the entire region,” state Assemblymember Nily Rozic (D-Fresh Meadows) said on X.

There were nuanced feelings among the diaspora.

Rosa, a 33-year-old Iranian American in Woodside, said the days since the strike have been overwhelming — she opposes war and is concerned to see the death toll rise, but she acknowledged the joy that Iranians abroad have expressed at Khamenei’s death, after years of suffering under his dictatorship. She said she has never lived in Iran and cannot speak to that firsthand, but she has seen the pain the regime has caused in her family.

“Just to be clear, I’m not upset that he’s dead. I’m just a little bit concerned by how things played out,” Rosa said, adding that U.S. intervention in other countries has often led to death and destruction. Q

Forest Park Drive to be repaved

continued from page 4

kind of quality of life improvement I promised for my constituents when I was elected, and I am glad to see this through.”

Potholes in parks are generally the jurisdiction of the city Parks Department, but a DOT spokesperson said the agency will provide support as spring roadwork ramps up.

“New York is one of the few cities in the country that runs its own asphalt plants, enabling us to pave more than 1,150 lane miles each year and fill potholes within two days of a complaint,” the spokesperson said.

“After this historic winter, we’re ramping up repairs citywide to make sure each borough’s streets are safe and smooth. We will assist the

Parks Department with pothole repairs inside Forest Park, and we thank Council Member Ariola for her generous funding via Parks that will allow us to repave Forest Park Drive this spring and fall.”

NYC Parks Queens Borough Commissioner Jacqueline Langsam said the repaving project will improve safety for more than just motorists.

“Forest Park is a beloved green space and connects Queens residents across neighborhoods. This repaving project will make Forest Park Drive safer for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike,” Langsam said, adding that she is grateful to the DOT and Ariola for their work. Q

FDNY-DOT tension at Council hearing

Bravest:

Not always consulted on bike lanes, open streets

by Michael Gannon Chronicle Contributor

Local Law 6, passed by the New York City Council in 2025, requires the Department of Transportation to consult with the FDNY prior to approving any open street applications, bike lane projects and major transportation undertakings.

The FDNY also is required to inform the commanding officers of all firehouses in the service area of a project.

But at a hearing before the Council’s Committee on Fire and Emergency Management last week, the FDNY’s chief of operations and union officials and individual firefighters said the department is not always notified.

“These types of projects have caused an unintended burden in certain neighborhoods,” said Committee Chair Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) in a video of the Feb. 25 meeting available on the Council’s online calendar. “We have heard numerous complaints of fire trucks nearly colliding with planters and bollards that have suddenly been placed to close off an open street.

“We’ve also seen more traffic congestion due to closed-off lanes. Also complaints from our constituents unable to access crosswalks due to transportation projects.”

The first part of the hearing saw Sean Quinn an associate deputy commissioner, take most of the questions for the DOT; while Chief of Operations Kevin Woods did most of the talking for the FDNY.

Two major Queens projects came under a great deal of scrutiny from the committee: the longestablished Paseo Park Open Street on 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights

between 69th Street and Junction Boulevard; and the proposal to put bike lanes on both sides of 31st Street in Astoria on the stretch between 36th and Newtown avenues.

The roadway sits beneath the elevated N-W subway line, and the project was ordered halted back in December as the result of a lawsuit. The city is appealing the case.

Queens also was represented at the hearing by Councilmembers Phil Wong (D-Maspeth) and Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone)

Woods said the first year of Local Law 6 has shown that the coordination between the FDNY and DOT is lacking. He said the FDNY’s Planning Unit has a small but specially trained staff, but that firehouse commanders generally do not have that expertise, and that reports at the house level can get backed up depending on the number in a given area, considering the emphasis is on responding to and training for fires and emergencies.

Asked about comments he made on incidents where firefighters had to remove obstructions en route to calls, Woods said he did not believe plans for open streets were shared with the FDNY.

there are blocks in front of our streets and we have to move our apparatus around that.”

Quinn said there is coordination.

“We will not be able to get to you.”

— FF Mike Schreiber

“Maybe they don’t know that we need 15 feet to get access to a fire hydrant,” Woods said. “Or that they are blocking [fire engines] affecting the turning radius of our apparatus where we need to get into an open street. With open streets, we take that into consideration. You give us 15-foot access lane but sometimes

“On site, we’ll spray paint the street and go through the process and the geometry,” he said. Quinn said it is DOT policy to give the FDNY the 15 feet around fire hydrants. He said the agency is more than happy to correct any planter, concrete block or boulder that was improperly placed, and responds to complaints if an object has been moved by someone else after the fact.

He said the DOT finds out about post-implementation complaints via social media.

“There hasn’t been a lot of direct communication to my department, maybe some contact through the borough commissioner,” Quinn said. “But there hasn’t been a widespread issue around communication on that front.”

“What I’m going to say is if there was not a widespread communication situation on that front, we would not be having this hearing,” Ariola replied.

She also challenged Quinn’s assertions that the DOT had responded to FDNY complaints about impediments on a new Brooklyn bike lane that a firefighter subsequently testified is still a problem area.

Ariola unloaded on the DOT as a whole when Quinn said the agency had moved back to its proper place a large planter that a photo showed in the safety lane, possibly

after having been moved by the Department of Sanitation during snow removal operations.

The chairwoman told him during the hearing that the planter still was there.

“What you’re saying and what is actual: two different things,” Ariola said. “And that is the problem. You cannot come here under oath and misrepresent the truth. Even if it is the truth you were given, you should have checked.”

“I do want to be clear — before this hearing we did specifically talk about this issue,” Quinn said. “I did have reports that planters have been put back in place ... I was under the impression it was resolved.”

Woods repeated a concern about bike lanes narrowing a street from two travel lanes in each direction down to one.

“Under traffic laws, when you have an emergency vehicle coming you have to pull over to the right,” he said. “Now you can’t pull over to the right.”

He said a possible solution is the creation of carveouts at regular intervals along such streets.

Deputy Chief Jim Brosi, president of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, and Andy Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, said there already are many bike lanes in the city that did not receive approval from the FDNY or the local firehouses.

“Whether intentional or not doesn’t matter,” Brosi said. “It just puts lives at risk ... We’re here for one reason and one reason only — to clarify that we are not against bike lanes. We are against bike lanes that compromise the safety of

New Yorkers and firefighters.” Brosi said protected bike lanes narrow streets most significantly.

“That makes laddering a building, it makes gaining access to a building, it makes ventilation, makes putting a hose line in place more difficult,” he said.

Ariola at one point showed a photo of a test on 31st Street in which a ladder truck was placed where it would be under the elevated tracks to accommodate an 8-foot bike lane, a 3-foot buffer zone and parked cars. At full extension, the bucket with a firefighter was more than 4 feet from the four-story building and could not quite reach the third floor.

Mike Schreiber, the health and safety officer for the UFA, lives in Astoria, is stationed there — at the firehouse that he said would be second due to any debacle on 31st Street — and bikes to work.

“I can attest that pushing that rig into the street is going to limit the ability for that aerial ladder to get to the third or fourth floor,” he testified. “We will not be able to get to you [at those levels].”

Wong earlier in the hearing wondered how changes to accommodate bike plans in recent years may have affected the FDNY’s response to the fatal fire on Dongan Avenue in Elmhurst on Feb. 9.

Brosi said that kind of a study and what it will teach the department is vital, and Ariola said she is working on a bill to do just that.

“The DOT can tell you how many lives bike lanes save,” Brosi said. “We didn’t know we had a candle problem until we tracked it. We didn’t know we had a battery problem until we tracked it.” Q

Promoting a love for literacy

State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr., right, recently partnered with the Queens Public Library to mark Library Lovers Month with a special family storytime event at the Ozone Park Library on Feb. 20.

Addabbo read “A Bad Case of the Stripes” by David Shannon to kids, including to Alexander, center, who attended with his father, Edward Sarubbi Sepulveda. Addabbo’s office said he often picks that book for youth story time sessions because he believes in its message of being true to oneself.

The reading was followed by free play and arts and crafts, and representatives from the QPL gave out teddy bears wearing a T-shirt with the library’s logo.

“It is magical to see the faces of the children light up as they are engaged with the written word,” Addabbo said in a statement.

“Reading books aloud at gatherings like this has so many wonderful benefits including improving listening skills, encouraging questions and fostering a love of the library which helps youngsters at school and throughout their lives.”

Comments on stops, service quality Bus route change survey open to Friday

by Naeisha Rose Editor

Due to the recent snowstorms, the MTA Queens Bus Network Redesign postimplementation survey has been extended through Friday, March 6, said Community Board 12.

Queens bus routes were redesigned last summer and people originally had through Feb. 27 to share their feedback on the changes.

The survey, which takes less than 10 minutes, can be found at mta.info/qbsurvey1.

The MTA is extending its Queens Bus Network Redesign postimplementation survey until Friday. MTAPHOTO

The survey asks participants how often they ride the bus in the borough; if they took the bus prior to Phase 1 changes; their age and ZIP code; and which two bus routes they use the most often.

The survey also asks follow up questions about the level of satisfaction they have with the two bus routes selected,

Gregory W. MEEKS

Congressman - Fifth District of New York

along with how they feel about service reliability; crowding; travel time; busto-bus connections; bus-torailroad connections; and wait time.

People may also provide commentary about the two bus routes they take; their overall experience since the route redesign took effect; whether a bus stop they used frequently was removed; how much farther they must walk as a result; whether they were aware of the bus redesign before its launch; if they felt prepared for the launch; where they learned about the redesign if they were aware of it; other information about where they get their transit information; and whether that information is useful.

The survey also asks for personal data such as age, gender, income range and whether a person identifies as disabled. Q

LIC, F. Hills workers to get paid Long Island City couple withheld wages from 30 victims

by Naeisha Rose Editor

A married couple who owned two cleaning companies in Long Island City and Forest Hills, pleaded guilty to wage theft and were ordered to make restitution to 30 victims totaling more than $28,000, said the office of District Attorney Melinda Katz.

Christian Perez, 40, and Ines Perez Miranda, 42, both of Long Island City, pleaded guilty to failure to pay wages in accordance with the law on Feb. 25.

Perez also pleaded guilty to scheme to defraud in the first degree and grand larceny in the third degree.

The victims were from throughout the New York City metro area, said a spokesperson from the DA’s Office.

“These defendants failed to pay their cleaning company employees thousands of dollars in wages, that those workers rightfully earned, and thought they could get away with it,” said Katz in a statement. “Thanks to an investigation by my Housing and Worker Protection Bureau, we were able to put a stop to the exploitation perpetrated by these defendants and get restitution for their victims.”

The defendants are also prohibited from incorporating in the state for five years, said prosecutors.

Man killed his neighbor: cops

An Astoria man was slashed to death Tuesday afternoon, allegedly by a neighbor who the Daily News reported had been on his case for years.

The victim is George Dourdounas, 75, and the alleged killer is Dimitrios Manessis, 48. Both lived at 25-75 33 St. Police said they responded to a call of a man being slashed at about 1:40 p.m. They arrived to find the victim with his neck cut, and Emergency Medical Services personnel declared him dead at the scene. The Daily News said his body was found in a hallway steps from his door.

Manessis was taken into custody and charged at the 114th Precinct at 6:30 p.m. with murder and criminal possession of a weapon, the NYPD said.

Some media outlets said the victim and his alleged killer had clashed before. The News had the most detailed story, reporting that a neighbor said Manessis had “waged a one-sided feud” against Dourdounas for years, calling him “a fake Greek.”

The victim was a retired math teacher who recently had earned a Ph.D. and wanted to teach in college, the paper said. Q — Peter C. Mastrosimone

Most of the $28,277.91 owed to victims from Cleaning Pass LLC and Cleaning Pass Set It and Forget It LLC, the two firms owned by Perez, has already been paid, said Katz’s office. He formed the companies on July 26, 2022, and July 23, 2023, respectively.

As the principal of both companies, Perez managed all bank accounts, filed legal statements and oversaw client bookings and payroll matters, while his wife served as a managerial agent and supervised employees when they worked.

He also placed advertisements seeking cleaners and hired four, promising employees wages within seven days, along with reimbursement for cleaning supplies they purchased.

The workers were required to download computer applications to document when they started and stopped working at different residential and business locations. Perez used the app to track client bookings and employee work time. The employees were also told they had to ask permission before they could physically leave their work locations.

Throughout their employment, the workers were directed to hold onto payroll checks until given express permission to cash them. Checks were issued with a future

date or they were issued from an account with insufficient funds. On other occasions, the employees were not paid at all and were told to leave work locations without compensation.

According to the investigation, from Sept. 6, 2023, to April 25, 2025, the victims sent multiple text and video messages to the couple requesting their wages and reimbursement for their expenses.

The DA’s Housing and Worker Protection Bureau, its Frauds Bureau, a DA detective, a former DA investigator, an investigative accountant of the Frauds Bureau and the State Department of Labor, the Division of Labor Standards were involved in the investigation.

“At the Department of Labor our mission is to protect New York’s workforce, and that includes recovering their stolen wages,” said state Commissioner of Labor Roberta Reardon. “This judgment will stand as an example of what happens to unscrupulous employers who try to exploit their workers ...”

Reardon went on to thank Katz for her partnership in helping New Yorkers receive their hard-earned money.

Katz encourages people who have been victims of wage theft to contact her office at (718) 286-6673. Q

Second man sought in killing of Servedio

Hit by a driver allegedly fleeing police

by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief

Police are seeking a second man in relation to the Oct. 22, 2024, killing of Amanda Servedio, who was hit by a pickup truck driver allegedly fleeing police after they interrupted a burglary.

The man is Nedzad Korac, 53, of North Broadway in White Plains, NY. Korac is described as having a light complexion and medium build; standing 6 feet, 4 inches tall; and weighing approximately 220 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and blue pants, with black-andwhite sneakers, police said on Feb. 18.

Already in custody is Bekim Fiseku of Staten Island, whose age was 54 when he was indicted in the case in June 2025. He faces 12 counts including murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree and manslaughter in the second degree.

Servedio, 36, was killed at the corner of 34th Avenue and 37th Street in Astoria when a 2023 Dodge Ram pickup, allegedly driven by Fiseku, ran through a red light and hit her as she rode her bicycle through

Nedzad Korac, above and, allegedly, at left, is sought by police in the killing of Amanda Servedio PHOTOSCOURTESYNYPD

the intersection. Police were chasing the driver, who did not stop, after responding to a call for a burglary in progress at 38-27 Crescent St. in Long Island City. Officers later found the truck abandoned with burglar’s tools inside and determined it was registered to Fiseku, who was on federal probation for bank robbery at the time. Q

HB man stole man boats on LI: DA on

Carlos Torres Rodriguez, 27, of Howard Beach was indicted March 2 by a Suffolk County grand jury for grand larceny after allegedly stealing personal watercraft there in fall 2024.

The charges say Rodriguez and Willis Estrella Genao, 28, of Brooklyn, allegedly committed a string of thefts from October through December 2024, including in Lindenhurst, Oakdale, West Islip and Bay Shore. The alleged stolen watercraft include Jet Skis, Sea-Doos and a boat, as well as trailers.

The duo was arrested on Jan. 16, 2025, in Nassau County for similar watercraft thefts, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a press release.

After an investigation, law enforcement linked them to the Suffolk incidents.

Genao was indicted on multiple counts, while Rodriguez was arraigned on a single count of grand larceny in the third degree, a class D felony. Rodriguez is due back in court on March 26 and faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. Q

— Kristen Guglielmo

Twoslashed inOzonePark

Police are searching for a suspect accused of slashing two people at the A train station at Rockaway Boulevard in Ozone Park on Monday.

According to the NYPD, officers at 1 p.m. responded to the alleged assaults, which occurred within the confines of the 106th Precinct and Transit District 23.

Upon arrival, police observed a female, 47, with a slash wound to her back, and a male, 55, with a minor slash wound to his right finger. Both victims were conscious and alert, cops said.

EMS transported the female to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in stable condition. The male victim refused medical attention.

There are no arrests, cops said, and the investigation is ongoing. The authorities did not have a description of the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577TIPS (8477), or, for Spanish, 1 (888) 57-PISTA (74782). One may also submit tips by going to crimestoppers. nypdonline.org; or by texting 274637 (CRIMES) and entering TIP577; or by going to @nypdtips on X. All tips are strictly confidential. Q — Kristen Guglielmo

Travel tips for the older crowd

Adults over 50 can reap the same travel-related rewards they did when they were younger, bu t some additional safety measures may be necessary at this point in travelers’ lives.

Travel has long been viewed as a positive hobby that can pay short- and long-term dividends. Some of those benefits may surprise even the most devoted jet-setters.

For example, a joint study from the Global Commission on Aging and the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies found that women who vacationed twice a year had a considerably lower risk of heart attack than women who vacationed once every six years. The same study noted men who did not take an annual vacation had a 30 percent greater risk of heart disease than men who did vacation each year.

Traveling after 50 may necessitate a slightly different approach than it did when individuals were younger. Though adults over 50 can reap the same travel-related rewards they did when they were younger, some additional safety measures may be necessary at this point in travelers’ lives.

• Determine vaccination requirements if you plan to travel overseas.

The Health In Aging Foundation urges older travelers hoping to go overseas to identify vaccination requirements in countries they plan to visit. Make this part of your early planning, as the HIAF notes some countries require vaccinations be administered at least six weeks prior to entry. Information regarding travel-related vaccinations can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov/travel/page/travel-vaccines.

• Get a pre-trip medical checkup.

A pre-trip medical checkup can ensure adults over 50 are healthy enough to travel. A doctor visit also can be a great opportunity to update vaccinations and discuss medications. It can be

tricky to manage medications when crossing time zones, and travelers can work out a schedule with their physicians to ensure they don’t miss any doses. This also can be a good time to renew prescriptions to ensure you don’t run out while away from home. Work with your physician and pharmacist to create a list of prescription and over-the-counter medications you take, which the HIAF notes will make it easier to get through customs and get replacement medicines should you need them while traveling.

• Beware of deep-vein thrombosis and how to avoid it.

The Mayo Clinic notes DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body, typically in the legs. Lack of movement is a risk factor for DVT, which can affect immobile travelers during long flights, train rides or road trips. DVT risk can be reduced by getting up and walking around when allowed to do so on long flights or train rides. If you’ll be driving long distances, make frequent pitstops to get out of the car and stretch your legs.

• Stay hydrated.

The Cleveland Clinic notes that dehydration can cause dizziness, elevate a person’s heart rate, contribute to swollen feet and muscle cramps, and result in fatigue, among other side effects. Travel is exciting, and it can be easy to forget to hydrate during engaging trips. But the HIAF recommends individuals bring a large bottle of water with them and drink even if they do not feel thirsty.

These simple safety precautions can protect travelers 50 and over from health issues that might not have posed as significant a threat when they traveled in years past. P — Metro Creative Connection

Have a question? SSA website has the answers

When you have questions, it’s important to get information from the most trusted source. Our official website, ssa.gov, is the best place for the most accurate and up-to-date information about our Social Security programs and services.

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page at ssa.gov/faqs to find helpful answers on a wide range of topics. We feature our most-asked questions at the top of the page to help you quickly find the answers you need, including:

Security retirement benefits?

How can I get help from Social Security?

How much will the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) amount be for 2027 and when will I receive it?

What should I do if I receive a call from someone claiming to be a Social Security employee?

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What happens if I work and get Social

You can also browse questions by topics such as: disability; Supplemental Security Income; retirement; and Medicare. For more in-depth information, visit our publications library at ssa.gov/pubs. You’ll find detailed information on nearly every Social Security topic, available in text, audio, downloadable formats, and other languages.

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If you need an original Social Security number or a replacement card, you can now complete your request online and, if needed, schedule an appointment for faster service.

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By starting the application online, your inoffice visit will typically take less time. We have expanded appointment-based services as part of our ongoing efforts to serve you more efficiently.

If you need to visit a local Social Security office or card center, please make an appointment.

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Please share this information with your friends and family – and post it on social media. P — Courtesy SSA.gov/blog

Fun and freedom mark St. Pat’s for All

The St. Pat’s For All Parade kicked off joyously as always Sunday afternoon at Skillman Avenue and 43rd Street in Sunnyside and made its way to Woodside, ending at the junction of Woodside Avenue and 58th Street.

Parade organizers speak to the event’s history and societal

importance on their website, stpatsforall.org:

“The march that began as a response to the exclusion of Irish LGBTQ communities from the 5th Avenue parade has now been running for more than twenty years, and continues to be the most inclusive and progressive celebration of Irish culture

The parade was dedicated to the late renowned Irish-American luminary Malachy McCourt, who participated in many previous ones. Carrying his placard at left is his daughter Siobhan McCourt. At center is parade founder Brendan Fay, and above right is Irish Consul General Gerald Angley. At right, onstage with proclamations from Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., second from right, are Grand Marshal Kate Mulgrew, the actor and author, left, parade co-Chair Archley Prudent, Grand Marshals Ciarán O’Reilly and Charlotte Moore, co-founders of the Irish Repertory Theatre, and parade emcee and co-Chair Danny Dromm.

and solidarity in the USA. St. Pat’s for All’s motto, ‘cherishing all the children of the nation equally,’ is taken from the 1916 Easter Proclamation of the Irish Republic; it is a vision drawn from our past and a guide for our present and future.”

More photos are at qchron.com. — Peter C.

by Marlee Wollman

cating a solo institutional exhibition to Pat Oleszko, an artist whose riotous inflatables and costumed performances have long coupled power with biting humor.

For the first time in over 35 catingasoloinstitutionalexhi t d e g c h sei ty eszulprials, af te d pano has

“Fool Disclosure,” which spans both floors of the museum’s historic Long Island City building, gathers dozens of Oleszko’s monumental inflatable sculptures alongside archival materials, films and elaborate handcrafted costumes. The result is an expansive portrait of an artist who has been steadfast in the use of satire, absurdity and linguistic wit to confront political authority, gender norms and environmental collapse.

Rooted in performance, Oleszko’s practice evolved through two defining strategies: using her own body and using air.

The former led to a proliferation of meticulously crafted costumes including shoes, hats, jewelry and hybrid character ensembles, while the latter resulted in her

SculptureCenter show

S c u l p t u r e C e n t e r s h o w

i n f l a t e s a n a r t i s t ’s inflates an artist’s

s o c i a l c r i t i c i s m social criticism

now-iconic inflatables. These works, as Oleszko has put it, “walked out the door,” using the world itself as a stage and “stooge.” First appearing in the 1980s, the inflatables allowed for scale and mobility; they could balloon to monumental size and collapse within seconds, moving seamlessly from street protest to theatrical venue.

One of the earliest, “Blowhilda” (1980), revealed the medium’s radical potential. “The Domino Effect” (1990) was conceived after Oleszko’s time in Berlin around the fall of the Wall. Later works such as “WarUSaurUs,” “3 Miss Ills” and “General Dismay” from the “Deportment of Corrections” (2007) responded directly to the Iraq War and the presidency of George W. Bush. The cartoonish and histrionic figures are a subversive device for incisive critique.

When asked whether the cultural conditions that shaped these works still resonates, Oleszko paused, saying, “Yes, unfortunately. The problems that I’m dealing with consistently don’t go away.”

King Crossword Puzzle

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

Will Jordan put on a really big show in Flushing

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

Theodore Rauch married Clara Kahan in the Bronx on July 6, 1924. Their first child, Harold, was followed by William Sidney on July 27, 1927.

Rauch made a good living owning a pharmacy. By the 1930s the family had moved to 136-05 Sanford Ave. in Flushing, apartment 4G.

Harold became a biology teacher but William changed his name to Will Jordan and became a nightclub entertainer by the age of 21.

The childhood home of comedian Will Jordan, best known for his Ed Sullivan impression, was at 136-05 Sanford Ave. in Flushing, seen as it has looked in recent years. GOOGLEMAPS IMAGE;INSETPHOTOVIAFACEBOOK/DEADCOMEDIANSSOCIETY

For a quarter of a century, “The Ed Sullivan Show” was a must-see Sunday night TV show. Sullivan had a wooden, awkward physical presence. It was not meant to be funny, but Jordan created a comic version of him for the big screen.

Sullivan appeared as himself in a handful of films, but after he died in 1974, Jordan did his imitation of him in six movies, starting with “I Want To Hold Your Hand” in 1978.

Estate Planning Fundamentals: Should

You Have a Will or a Revocable Trust?

By Cynthia J. Conza, Esq.

Clients often ask whether they should prepare a will or set up a revocable trust. To answer that question, it is important to understand the differences between these two important estate planning tools.

Fundamentally, both a will and a revocable trust are designed to transfer your assets to your beneficiaries when you die. You will also name an individual to carry out your wishes: the executor in your will or the trustee in your trust. Both a will and a revocable trust can be changed as many times as you wish while you are still alive. You also retain complete control over the assets you identify in your will or revocable trust.

There are also significant differences between a will and a revocable trust. A primary difference is by putting your assets into a revocable trust you are allowing your beneficiaries to avoid the probate process in Surrogate’s Court. Probate can be expensive and may take many months. By avoiding

the delay of probate a revocable trust gives beneficiaries immediate access to assets upon death. A revocable trust also prevents a will contest by an heir you purposefully left out of your will or received less than they think they deserved.

A revocable trust can also ensure the inheritances you leave remain in your bloodline for your grandchildren and not end up with in-laws. Similarly, a revocable trust can protect the inheritances you leave from your children’s divorces or creditors. Married couples with taxable estates can also reduce and often eliminate estate taxes with a

trust.

Choosing between a will or revocable trust is an important decision and will have a significant impact on your children and beneficiaries. Please feel free to contact me at cynthia@conzamcnamara.com or (718) 8455555 if you would like to discuss further.

He put on a wonderful show. As one commenter said on a Dead Comedians Society Facebook post about Jordan, “Most ‘Sullivan’ impressions are/were impressions of Will Jordan’s version of Sullivan.”

Jordan passed away on Sept. 6, 2018, at age 91. He is buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Glendale. Q

B SPORTS EAT

Regrets, he’ll have a few?

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

Darryl Strawberry has been serving as an unofficial coach for the Mets during spring training. The 63-year-old former outfielder was asked by the media what he thought about the man who broke his all-time Mets home run record, Pete Alonso, no longer being a Met. Alonso signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles late last fall.

Strawberry was in Alonso’s position during his career. After playing his first seven years with the Mets, he signed a lucrative contract with his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers after the 1990 season.

Thomas Wolfe’s famous line about not being able to return home proved prophetic. Strawberry enjoyed a productive 1991 season with the Dodgers, but personal and drug problems began to surface. The Dodgers released him in 1994. When the Mets retired his No. 18 last summer, Strawberry profusely thanked the team and told the fans at Citi Field that leaving New York for LA was a major blunder.

It was that personal experience that led Strawberry to say Alonso would regret leaving the Mets. While Strawberry’s reaction was understandable, and made some Mets fans feel better, there was a major difference in the free agency experiences for the two players.

Whereas the Mets wanted Strawberry to

remain after the 1990 season, they showed no such inclination for Alonso, not even making a cursory offer to him, even though he had frequently stated how much he wanted to spend his entire career in Flushing.

While leaving New York for Baltimore is hardly an ideal choice, it is hard to see Alonso having any regrets given the lucrative job security and career longevity the Orioles gave him. Based on interviews with New York sportswriters who trekked to the Orioles’ spring training facility in Sarasota, Fla., he has turned the page.

If anyone will rue the decision not to have Alonso finish his career in Flushing it will be the architect of that decision, Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns.

Stearns signed Jorge Polanco in December to replace Alonso at first base. Polanco is a fine player, but he has never played first base in the majors. That is a leap of faith on Stearns’ part considering how obsessed he was about the importance of defense and run prevention in his press conference five days after the disastrous 2025 season ended.

When Alonso writes his baseball memoir and looks back at this time, he will be able to quote Frank Sinatra’s signature song, “My Way.”

“Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again too few to mention.” Q

See the extended version of Sports Beat every week at qchron.com.

From the Cold War with love, by Woody Allen

by Mark Lord qboro contributor

Danielle Fleming knew nothing about Woody Allen’s play “Don’t Drink the Water” when she went to audition in November for an announced production at Maggie’s Little Theater in Middle Village.

“I went in blind,” Fleming said in a phone interview. “I realized it’s very funny.”

Indeed, the play, which opened a lengthy run on Broadway in 1966, has been widely praised for its comic, largely farcical, overtones. It would go on to become a theatrical motion picture as well as a made-fortelevision film.

The play focuses on the Hollanders, an American family that finds itself trapped in an unnamed European country behind the Iron Curtain. They are mistaken for spies, leading to a stay at the American Embassy, where the family frantically plots their escape.

In Maggie’s rendering, which runs for five performances beginning March 8, the parents, Marion and Walter, are played by longtime local favorites Dolores Voyer and Jim Haines. Despite her lack of familiarity with the play, Fleming was impressive enough to be cast as their fun-loving daughter, Susan.

“Many of us have done the play before,” explained Voyer, who is also one of the pro-

At right are Chris Bias and Danielle Fleming.

ducers. “I remembered it being very funny. And we were looking for a comedy with a relatively small cast” for our next production.

She suggested it and the wheels began to turn, with rehearsals getting underway in December.

“We always build in extra time this time of year,” Voyer said, in case inclement weather interferes. This time it did, and

some Zoom rehearsals came to the rescue.

As it turns out, the play calls for a cast of 16, more than the group had hoped to employ. But “we have a lovely ensemble,” Voyer said. “We have a lot of lovely new people,” she said, in addition to some old standbys.

The cast, under the direction of Amanda Montoni, also includes Chris Bias, Miriam P. Denu, Jason Fischedick, Virginia Harmon,

Bob Acerno and Christian Illuzzi in prominent roles.

While the Iron Curtain no longer exists, the play holds up quite well, both Voyer and Fleming agreed.

“It was very relevant for that time, and it still is,” said Fleming. “There is still a lot of fear. Who’s watching who? History repeats itself.”

“You can call it a period piece, set in the 1960s,” Voyer said. “But the things happening in the world then and now in some ways are very similar.”

And it’s all handled in typical Allen fashion.

“The main themes are farcical,” Voyer said, “and there’s a little love story.”

“There’s never a dull moment” in the play, Fleming said. “And it has a lot of Woody Allenisms in it.”

Performances at St. Margaret Parish Hall, at 66-11 79 Place, take place on March 8, 14, 15 and 22 at 3 p.m. and March 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25; or $22 for seniors and children 15 and under. For further information, visit maggieslittletheater.org or call (347) 286-8508. Q

To air is human, in her inflatable social commentary

continued from page 23

The exhibition’s lower floor underscores the breadth of Oleszko’s decades-long practice. Archival posters, postcards and photographs trace a prolific career that has included more than 70 moving-image works from the 1970s through the 2000s. Films including “The Handmaiden” (1975) and “Coat of Arms” (1972) engage Surrealist legacies, while characters such as “Sam Sebastian” (1999), an exaggerated capitalist archetype,

Crossword Answers

and the pinecone-clad “PATSQUATCH!” (1991) demonstrate her commitment to theatrical disruption.

Visitors perusing “Fool Disclosure” often express surprise at both the scale and continuity of Oleszko’s output.

One recent attendee remarked on the thrill of discovering “someone who’s been rediscovered and has been working this entire time, and have it feel completely fresh and like a complete surprise.”

Another visitor, artist Tee Tokor, noted the rarity of encountering an oeuvre so dominated by inflatables: “They’re just so joyful and silly and also kind of mischievous.”

For Tokor, a sculpture artist herself, Oleszko’s practice feels like proof that one can sustain a singular vision across decades without capitulating to trends.

Oleszko’s longevity is central to the exhibition’s impact. Born in Detroit in 1947 and based in New York since the early 1970s, she has staged projects at institutions ranging from the Museum of Modern Art to the Whitney Museum of American Art. Yet this exhibition marks a rare institutional spotlight in her home city.

Asked how the show came about, Oleszko

“WarUSaurUs,” “Miss Ill Cluster” and many other works by Pat Oleszko are on view at SculptureCenter. On the cover: More of her iconoclastic inflatables.

described the serendipity of a recent gallery exhibition that drew the attention of SculptureCenter’s director. Initially conceived as a presentation of inflatables, the project soon expanded: “We have to give you the downstairs as well; you have too much work.”

For Oleszko, the scale of the building is

integral: “I don’t think these things will ever be as beautifully presented as they are in this historic and elegant and demanding building.”

“Fool Disclosure” is on view at SculptureCenter, located at 44-19 Purves St., until April 27.

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SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST LASEAN JONES, STRACY JONES, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 10, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, on the second floor in Courtroom 25, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York on March 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM, premises known as 11232 209th Street, Queens Village, NY 11429. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Queens, in the County of Queens and State of New York, Block 10985 Lot 36. Approximate amount of judgment $503,145.01 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #706174/2023. Valerie Katsorhis, Esq, Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-004417 88818

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Legal Notices

LEGAL NOTICE OF

OF SALE

SUPREME COURT-COUNTY OF QUEENS. MORTGAGE ASSETS

MANAGEMENT, LLC, Plaintiff -against- UNKNOWN HEIRS of Loretta Sepe a/k/a Laura Loretta Sepe a/k/a Laura L. Sepe, if living, and if he/she be dead, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 20, 2025 and entered on October 24, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Queens County Supreme Courthouse, 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., in Courtroom # 25, Jamaica, NY on March 20, 2026 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 11503 Lot 49. Said premises known as 133-34 CENTREVILLE STREET, OZONE PARK, NY 11417 Approximate amount of lien $414,326.17 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 704347/2019.

JOSEPH F. DEFELICE, ESQ., Referee

Pincus & Tarab Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556 The above sale, originally scheduled for February 20, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. has been postponed. The new sale date has been rescheduled for March 20, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the same place. JOSEPH F. DEFELICE, ESQ., Referee.

12920 HOLDING LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/15/2025. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 2455 Francis Lewis Boulevard, Whitestone, NY 11357. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Qualification of 42-02 MEZZ LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/24/26. Office location: Queens County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 02/09/26. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Harfenist Kraut & Perlstein LLP, 3000 Marcus Ave., Ste. 2E1, Lake Success, NY 11042. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

BUCCIARI NEW YORK LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/20/2026. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 10 Holder Place, #4H, Forest Hills, NY 11375. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice is hereby given that an On Premises Tavern Full Liquor License, Application ID NA-037026-103449 has been applied for by Running Water 6 LLC d/b/a Sky Bar LIC serving beer, wine, cider and liquor to be sold at retail for on premises consumption in a tavern for the premises located at 23-20 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101

Notice of Formation of COLLIN’S WIRING AND HOME IMPROVEMENT LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/07/2026. 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: HUON RHODEN, 22919 MERRICK BLVD., #532, LAURELTON, NY 11413. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS REGAIN CRF FUND 1 LLC, -against- PAMELA P. CARTER, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE CARTER, JR, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens on November 19, 2025, wherein REGAIN CRF FUND 1 LLC is the Plaintiff and PAMELA P. CARTER, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE CARTER, JR, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the QUEENS COUNTY COURTHOUSE 88-11 SUTPHIN BLVD., COURTROOM #25, JAMAICA, NY 11435, on 03/13/2026 at 10:00AM, premises known as 115-92 230TH STREET, CAMBRIA HEIGHTS, New York 11411; and the following tax map identification, -11311-45. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE COUNTY OF QUEENS, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 703101/2019. William T. Driscoll, 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.

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENSU.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE IF THE LEHMAN BROTHERS SMALL BALANCE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-2, -against- ERA INTERNATIONAL, LLC, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens on December 4, 2025, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE IF THE LEHMAN BROTHERS SMALL BALANCE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-2 is the Plaintiff and ERA INTERNATIONAL, LLC, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the QUEENS COUNTY COURTHOUSE 8811 SUTPHIN BLVD., COURTROOM #25, JAMAICA, NY 11435, on 03/13/2026 at 10:00AM, premises known as 6626 MYRTLE AVE, GLENDALE , New York 11385; and the following tax map identification, 4-03699-0034. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE COUNTY OF QUEENS, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 700577/2021. Guy R. Vitacco Jr., 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.

HOUSING. Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, familial status or disability in connection with the sale or rental of residential real estate. Queens Chronicle does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect housing discrimination call the Open Housing Center (the Fair Housing Agency for the five boroughs of New York) at 212-941-6101, or the New York City Commission of Human Rights Hotline at 718722-3131. The Queens Chronicle reserves the right to alter wording in ads to conform with Federal Fair Housing regulations.

Notice of Formation of GARDEN OF EDEN NYC LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/21/2026. 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: JACOB SMITH, 121-27 194ST, QUEENS, NY 11413. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of GLOBAL LINK CULTURAL PROGRAM LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/13/2025. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: ROSSANNA CAMURUNGAN, 7121 AUSTIN STREET, SUITE 202, FOREST HILLS, NY 11375. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of GSLW PROPERTIES LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/21/2026. 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, 5441 71ST ST, MASPETH, NY 11378. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of Miah Hosting Services LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/12/2026. 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: M M AREFIN HAQUE SHIRAZEE, 191-02 105TH AVE, SAINT ALBANS, NY 11412. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of MICHEL LCSW THERAPY SERVICES PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/23/2026. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to: 2930 Bayswater Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

OVELIA GREEK COMFORTS LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/03/2026. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Chris Giannakas & Peter Giannakas, 32-06 84th Street, East Elmhurst, NY 11370. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS, WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO WACHOVIA MORTGAGE CORPORATION,against-MICHAEL C. BANKS A/K/A BANKS, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens on May 14, 2025, wherein WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO WACHOVIA MORTGAGE CORPORATION, is the Plaintiff and MICHAEL C. BANKS A/K/A BANKS, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the QUEENS COUNTY COURTHOUSE 88-11 SUTPHIN BLVD., COURTROOM #25, JAMAICA, NY 11435, on 03/13/2026 at 10:00AM, premises known as 144-45 SPRINGFIELD BOULEVARD, JAMAICA, New York 114133453; and the following tax map identification, -1349022.ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT . PIECE PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVMENTS THEREON SITUATED LYING AND BEING IN THE COUNTY OF QUEENS, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 717410/2019. Lamont Ramsey Bailey, 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 SAMMY COLLECTION LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/29/2026. 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: SAMAWIA HANSRAJ, 224-40 BRADDOCK AVE., QUEENS VILLAGE, NY 11428 Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

SKF AKADEMI LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/02/2026. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 11-20 37th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

ST NURSE PRACTITIONER IN FAMILY HEALTH, PLLC, a Prof. LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/23/2026. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The PLLC, 80-46 Kew Gardens Rd, 3rd Fl, Kew Gardens, NY 11415. Purpose: To Practice The Profession Of Nurse Practitioner in Family Health.

ASR Public Notice

T-Mobile USA, Inc. proposes to register a 40-foot-tall Cell-On-Wheels tower with guyed-wires located at 83 Cargo Plaza at N. Service Ct., Jamaica, Queens, NY 11430 at Latitude N40 º -39’-17.4”, Longitude W73 º -47’-41.6”. The existing tower utilizes FAA Style A Red Lights. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Antenna Structure Registration (ASR, Form 854) filing number is A1377439. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS – Interested persons may review the application (www.fcc.gov/ asr/applications) by entering the ASR filing number. Environmental concerns may be raised by filing a Request for Environmental Review (www.fcc.gov/asr/ environmentalrequest) and online filings are strongly encouraged. The mailing address to file a paper copy is: FCC Requests for Environmental Review, Attn: Ramon Williams, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. All questions, comments, and correspondence should also be directed to Julia Klima at Dynamic Environmental Associates, Inc., 3850 Lake Street, Suite C, Macon, GA 31204, 877-968-4787, FAAASR@dynamicenvironmental. com within 30 days from the date of this publication. Re: DEA#22602036 - NYTP007A

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS INDEX NO. 724806/2025 Plaintiff designates QUEENS as the place of trial situs of the real property

Mortgaged Premises: 117-15 221ST STREET, CAMBRIA HEIGHTS, NY 11411 Block: 12738, Lot: 161 THE MONEY SOURCE, INC., Plaintiff, vs. DEBORAH ABRAHAM, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE ABRAHAM A/K/A GEORGE G. ABRAHAM; ANTONIA ABRAHAM, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE ABRAHAM A/K/A GEORGE G. ABRAHAM; LINDA ABRAHAM A/K/A LINDA KINGSVILLE, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE ABRAHAM A/K/A GEORGE G. ABRAHAM; PATRICK ABRAHAM, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE ABRAHAM A/K/A GEORGE G. ABRAHAM; ORLANDO ABRAHAM, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE ABRAHAM A/K/A GEORGE G. ABRAHAM; CURTIS ABRAHAM, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE ABRAHAM A/K/A GEORGE G. ABRAHAM; LEON ABRAHAM, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE ABRAHAM A/K/A GEORGE G. ABRAHAM, if living, and if she/he 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 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; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE ABRAHAM A/K/A GEORGE G. ABRAHAM, 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 CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #1, “JOHN DOE #2” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last eleven 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 $756,000.00 and interest, recorded on June 30, 2017, in CRFN 2017000242324, of the Public Records of QUEENS County, New York., covering premises known as 117-15 221ST STREET, CAMBRIA HEIGHTS, NY 11411. 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: January 15th, 2026 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff Matthew Rothstein, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, NY 11590, 516-280-7675

KEYSPAN GAS EAST CORPORATION d/b/a NATIONAL GRID

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by KeySpan Gas East Corporation d/b/a National Grid (“Company”) that it has filed with the New York State Public Service Commission (“Commission”) proposed tariff revisions to its Schedule for Gas Service, PSC No.1 – GAS, to become effective, on a temporary basis, April 1, 2026.

These revisions have been filed in compliance with the Commission’s Order issued August 15, 2024 in Case 23-G-0226. The table below compares the Company’s current rates (prior to April 1, 2026) to rates effective April 1, 2026 by service classification.

S.C. No. 1A, 5-1A – Residential Non-Heating Service

S.C. No. 1AR, 5-1AR – Residential Non-Heating Service

Monthly usage

First 3 therms or less

Next 47 therms, per therm

Over 50 therms, per therm

Current Rates 04/01/26

$25.85 $28.50

$2.9324 $3.8335

$0.8928 $1.1672

S.C. No. 1B, 5-1B – Residential Heating Service

S.C. No. 1BR, 5-1BR – Residential Heating Service

Monthly usage

First 3 therms or less

Next 47 therms, per therm

Over 50 therms, per therm

Current Rates 04/01/26

$25.50 $27.50

$2.0482 $2.3651

$0.4823 $0.5568

S.C. No. 1B-DG, 5-1B-DG – Distributed Generation

Monthly usage

First 3 therms or less

Over 3 therms, per therm

Current Rates 04/01/26

$37.00 $38.00

$0.3133 $0.3594

S.C. No. 2-A, 5-2A – Non-Residential Non-Heating Service

Monthly usage

First 3 therms or less

Next 87 therms, per therm

Next 2,910 therms, per therm

Over 3,000 therms, per therm

Current Rates 04/01/26

$45.00 $50.00

$1.9393 $1.9519

$0.5376 $0.6339

$0.3987 $0.5006

S.C. No. 2-B, 5-2B – Non-Residential Heating Service

Monthly usage

First 3 therms or less

Next 87 therms, per therm

Next 2,910 therms, per therm

Over 3,000 therms, per therm

S.C. No. 3, 5-3 – Multi-Family Service

Monthly usage

First 3 therms or less

Next 997 therms, per therm

Over 1,000 therms, per therm

Current Rates 04/01/26

$45.00 $50.00

$1.9397 $1.9524

$0.7136 $0.8554

$0.6311 $0.7895

Current Rates 04/01/26

$90.00 $95.00

$0.6929 $0.7925

$0.4802 $0.5655

S.C. 9, 5-9 – Uncompressed Natural Gas Vehicle Service

Monthly usage

First 3 therms or less

Current Rates 04/01/26

$ 45.00 $ 45.00

Over 3 therms, per therm $ 0.8215 $ 0.9430

S.C No. 15, 5-15 – High Load Factor Service

Monthly usage

First 10 therms or less

Over 10 therms, per therm

Current Rates 04/01/26

$180.00 $180.00

$0.3073 $0.3549

S.C. No. 16, 5-16 – Year-Round Space Conditioning Service

Monthly usage

First 3 therms or less

Current Rates 04/01/26

$260.00 $260.00

Next 497 therms, per therm $2.3195 $2.6690

Over 500 therms, per therm $0.3976 $0.4575

S.C. 17 – Baseload Distributed Generation –Rate 1 – Less than 1MW

Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/26

First 10 therms or less $216.73 $234.79

Over 10 therms, per therm (Apr – Oct) $0.2373 $0.2750

Over 10 therms, per therm (Nov – Mar) $0.3047 $0.3534

S.C. 17 – Baseload Distributed Generation –Rate 2 – Equal to or greater than 1 MW but less than 5 MW

Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/26

First 10 therms or less $393.86 $426.69 Over 10 therms, per therm (Apr – Oct) $0.2373 $0.2750

Over 10 therms, per therm (Nov – Mar) $0.3047 $0.3534

S.C. 17 – Baseload Distributed Generation –Rate 3 – Equal to or greater than 5 MW but less than 50 MW

Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/26

First 10 therms or less $1,139.22 $1,234.16

Over 10 therms, per therm (Apr – Oct) $0.0588 $0.0682

Over 10 therms, per therm (Nov – Mar) $0.0803 $0.0930

Demand charge per therm of MPDQ $6,252.00 $6,252.00

S.C. 18 / 19 – Non-Firm Demand Response Sales Service – Tier 1 Monthly usage

Rates 04/01/26

First 10 therms or less $375.00 $375.00

Over 10 therms, per therm $0.2853 $0.3576

S.C. 18 / 19 – Non-Firm Demand Response Sales Service – Tier 2

Monthly usage Current Rates 04/01/26

First 10 therms or less $375.00 $375.00

Over 10 therms, per therm $0.2279 $0.2858

These revisions have been filed in compliance with the Commission’s Order issued August 15,2024 in Case 23-G-0226. Copies of the proposed revisions are available for public inspection and can be obtained on the Company’s website at https://www.nationalgridus.com/Long-Island-NY-Home/Bills-Meters-and-Rates/ or the PSC’s website (dps.ny.gov).

THE BROOKLYN UNION GAS COMPANY d/b/a NATIONAL GRID NY

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by The Brooklyn Union Gas Company d/b/a National Grid NY (“Company”) that it has filed with the New York State Public Service Commission (“PSC”) tariff revisions to its Schedule for Gas Service, PSC No. 12 – GAS, to become effective, on a temporary basis, April 1, 2026.

These revisions have been filed in compliance with the Commission’s Order issued April 1, 2026 in Case 23-G-0225. The table below compares the Company’s current rates (prior to April 1, 2026) to rates effective April 1, 2026 by service classification.

S.C. No. 1A, 17-1A – Residential Non-Heating Service

S.C. No. 1AR, 17-1AR Residential Non-Heating Service

Monthly usage

First 3 therms or less

Next 47 therms, per therm

Over 50 therms, per therm

Current Rates

$20.50

$4.2751

$2.1827

S.C. No. 1B-DG, 17-1B-DG – Distributed Generation

Monthly usage

First 3 therms or less

Over 3 therms, per therm

Current Rates

$35.00

$0.3857

S.C. No. 2-1, 17-2-1 – Non-Residential Non-Heating Service

Monthly usage

04/01/26

$23.50

$5.1543

$2.6864

04/01/26

$35.00

$0.4741

Current Rates 04/01/26

First 3 therms or less $47.50

3,000 therms, per therm

S.C. No. 3, 17-3 – Multi-Family Service Monthly usage

First 3 therms or less

997 therms,

S.C. 4A-CNG, 17-4A-CNG – Compressed Natural Gas

Over 1,000 therms, per therm $0.3992 $0.4720

S.C. 7, 17-7 – Seasonal Off-Peak Service

Monthly usage

First 3 therms or

3

S.C. 21, 17-21 – Rate 1 – Less than 1MW

Current Rates 04/01/26

$55.00

$0.3559 $0.4272

S.C. 21, 17-21 – Rate 3 – Equal to or greater than 5 MW but less than 50 MW

Monthly usage

First 10 therms or less

Over 10 therms, per therm (Apr – Oct)

Over 10 therms, per therm (Nov – Mar)

Current Rates

$1,003.00

$0.0511

$0.0710

04/01/26

$1,080.00

$0.0643

$0.0893

Demand charge per therm of MPDQ $5,611.19 $5,950.33

S.C. 22 – Non-Firm Demand Response Sales Service –Tier 1 (Commercial & Governmental / Multifamily)

Monthly usage

First 10 therms or less

Over 10 therms, per therm

S.C. No. 1B, 17-1B – Residential Heating Service

S.C. No. 1BR, 17-1BR-Residential Heating Service Monthly usage

First 3 therms or less

47 therms,

S.C. No. 2-2, 17-2-2 – Non-Residential Heating Service

S.C. 4A, 17-4A – High Load Factor

S.C. 4B, 17-4B – Year Round Air Conditioning Service

S.C. 22 – Non-Firm Demand Response Sales Service –Tier 2 (Commercial & Governmental / Multifamily)

Monthly usage

First 10 therms or less

Over 10 therms, per therm

These revisions have been filed in compliance with the Commission’s Order issued August 15, 2024 in Case 23-G-0225.

Copies of the proposed revisions are available for public inspection and can be obtained on the Company’s website at https://www.nationalgridus.com/NY-Home/Bills-Meters-and-Rates/ or the PSC’s website (dps.ny.gov).