Queens Chronicle 07-23-26

Council repeals 2009 grille law before compliance deadline, merchants split Solid gates are legal again for businesses

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

For more than 15 years, New York City business owners were told they would have to swap out their solid metal rolldown gates for see-through security grilles. Now, that mandate is gone.

The city has repealed Local Law 75 of 2009, the measure that required storefront security grilles to be at least 70 percent visible, eliminating penalties for noncompliance and scrapping the law’s retroactive enforcement provisions.

The 2009 law was intended to improve street-level visibility and public safety, allowing officers on patrol to see into stores after hours. Store owners had until July 1, 2026 to meet that mandate. Just before that deadline, it was repealed by the City Council in the budget package.

Local Law 75 drew years of pushback from small business owners and merchant groups, who said the replacing of solid gates — which can cost thousands of dollars — amounted to an unfunded burden on shop owners already squeezed by rent, inflation and other rising costs.

A 2009 law called for storefront security gates to be at least 70 percent visible, leading many small business owners to replace their solid metal gates with transparent grilles. That law was repealed late last month, just before its compliance deadline.

The 2026 bill that called for the repeal of Local Law 75 was primarily sponsored by Councilmember Althea Stevens (D-Bronx) and cosponsored by Queens Councilmembers Shanel Thomas-Henry (D-Corona), Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans), Phil Wong (D-Maspeth), Tiffany Cabán (D-Jackson Heights), Sandra Ung (D-Flushing), Selvena Brooks-Powers (D-Laurelton), Jennifer Gutiérrez (D-Brooklyn, Queens), Joann Ariola (R-Howard Beach) and Vickie

“Our small businesses are the backbone of every neighborhood, yet they continue to face rising costs from every direction. The last thing we should be doing is forcing business owners to spend thousands of dollars replacing security grilles that are already

functioning properly,” Stevens said in a statement. “By fully repealing this obsolete law, we are giving small businesses the flexibility to invest in their employees, strengthen their storefronts and grow their future.”

Tom Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the repeal but said it leaves an unresolved fairness problem for owners who already complied.

“Small business owners are already navigating rising costs, labor challenges, and economic uncertainty, and eliminating an unnecessary regulatory burden is a positive step,” Grech said in a statement. “At the same time, we feel for the many business owners who acted in good faith and spent thousands of dollars to comply with the law. They did exactly what the City asked of them, and they should not be left bearing the cost of a policy that was ultimately reversed.”

Grech also pointed to the new law as part of a broader shift in how City Hall is approaching small business regulation.

“We appreciate both Mayor Mamdani’s and the City Council’s commitment to taking a fresh look at policies that impact small businesses,” he said. “We look forward to working with both sides of City Hall to ensure future regulations are practical, predictable, and developed in partnership with the entrepre-

continued on page 16

CONZA | MCNAMARA

PLANNING ATTORNEYS

J. CONZA, ESQ.

EDWARD R. MCNAMARA, ESQ.

Harvard University, A.B.

St. John’s University School of Law, J.D.

OZP soldier believed killed in Jordan

Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad, 28, likely died in

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

She was supposed to be looking forward to coming home. Instead, Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad, a 28-year-old Ozone Park resident who often went by her middle name, is presumed to have been killed in an Iranian missile attack in Jordan.

The U.S. Department of War announced Rampersad’s believed death Tuesday, five months into a war that has claimed the lives of at least 18 American servicemembers and wounded roughly 500 more since fighting began Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Iran.

Rampersad, previously listed as missing, is believed to have died July 17 along with two other service members when Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan came under attack, the DOW said. The incident remains under investigation.

Rampersad was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, based in Ansbach, Germany, where she served as a signal operations support specialist.

She enlisted in March 2019 and had been decorated with the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

Brig. Gen. Glenn Henke, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said the command is “grieving, and we will continue to support one

another as we process this tragedy.”

Rampersad’s family could not be immediately reached for comment.

Word of her death spread quickly through Ozone Park, where tributes poured in Tuesday from elected officials across the city and state, each describing a young woman whose service touched the neighborhood she called home.

“Sgt. Rampersad lived a life of courage and selflessness,” said Gov. Hochul in a statement. “New York, and our nation, are safer because of brave Americans like her who answer the call to serve.”

Mayor Mamdani said Rampersad’s “courage and sacrifice will be remembered not just in Queens, but across all five boroughs,” adding that “for so many New Yorkers, wars overseas are never distant —

they are felt here at home.”

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), who requested that flags be flown at half-mast over the Capitol yesterday in Rampersad’s honor, said “all New Yorkers mourn the tragic loss of Sergeant Angel Rampersad, who bravely served our nation,” and that “her selfless service to our country and her enduring memory” would never be forgotten.

U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-Jamaica) said Rampersad was a courageous member of the Armed Forces, beloved daughter and cherished community member, and that he was saddened to learn of her passing.

“While no words can ease the pain of this profound loss, my heart and deepest condolences go out to her loved ones,” Meeks said.

Alleged statue thief arrested

A man was arrested Monday for his alleged involvement in the theft of religious statues in South Queens, within the confines of the NYPD’s 106th Precinct.

Late last month, residents of Ozone Park and Howard Beach noticed that Catholic and Christian religious statues in their front yards had been stolen.

One resident of Bristol Avenue in Ozone Park told the Chronicle that his St. Joseph statue was removed, and his neighbors had suffered similar incidents.

At the time, a police spokesperson said the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force was

investigating the incidents.

The NYPD confirmed to the Chronicle that on July 20, Christopher Battaglia, 47, of Eckford Avenue in South Ozone Park, was arrested and charged with two counts of petit larceny for a June 27 incident at 116th Street and 107th Avenue in Richmond Hill, and another on June 24 on Bristol Avenue and Centerville Street in Ozone Park.

It is unknown if he is responsible for the multiple other religious statue thefts in and around those areas. Q

— Kristen Guglielmo

Iranian missile attack

Ariola said, “She left her home to defend her fellow Americans, accepting dangers that most of us will never be asked to face so that her countrymen can live freely. ... Her courage and her ultimate sacrifice will remain forever woven into the story of the Ozone Park community, and she will never be forgotten.”

State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven) said Rampersad’s “unwavering commitment to her family, her community, and our nation embodied the highest ideals of our military,” adding that “she answered the call to duty with courage, honor, and selfless dedication, making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country and the values we hold dear.” He extended his condolences to her family, friends and fellow soldiers.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said Rampersad “should still be alive today, serving her country with courage and counting down the days to her flight home to Ozone Park.” He called her death the result of “a reckless war that Americans do not support.”

Richards added, “To the Rampersad family, know that Angel will always be remembered as a hero whose legacy of bravery will forever resonate across The World’s Borough.”

Councilmember Joann Ariola (R-Howard Beach) called Rampersad’s death “a heartbreaking blow to Ozone Park, and to the grateful nation she served,” saying she “represents the very best of the United States, and of Queens.”

The New York Blood Center is calling on donors of all blood types to contribute as the region faces trauma season, one of the most critical times of year for maintaining the blood supply.

To make an appointment, one may visit nybc.org. There are several upcoming blood drives in South Queens:

• Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, in the rectory meeting room at 111-50 115 St. in South Ozone Park; blood drive coordinator Tony Harilall;

• NYPD 106th Precinct, 12 to 6 p.m. on

Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) said “there are no words that can truly express the profound loss of Sgt. Angel Rampersad and the three other American service members who lost their lives on July 17, 2026,” calling them “true American heroes” whose “courage, dedication and service to our country will never be forgotten.”

She added that Rampersad’s death “has deeply affected our community and we will never be the same.”

Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) said Rampersad “answered America’s call with courage, selflessness, and an unwavering commitment to defending our nation.” She said she stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Rampersad’s family, “especially her parents, Basdeo and Carol.” Q

Tuesday, July 28, at 103-53 101 St. in Ozone Park; blood drive coordinator Navdeep Singh;

• St. Mary Gate of Heaven Roman Catholic Church, 8:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2, in the basement at 103-12 101 Ave. in Ozone Park; blood drive coordinator Marian Skabeikis; and

• Indo Caribbean Federation & American Guyanese Congress, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9, in a busmobile at 10333 Lefferts Blvd. in South Richmond Hill; blood drive coordinator Frank Singh. Q — Kristen Guglielmo

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Torrential rains hit Queens yet again

Highways

and basements flooded, shows delayed, many complaints

by Andrew Karpan Associate Editor

Corners of Queens abounded in sudden flash flooding again last Saturday, as inches of rainfall hit the area and forced a busy weekend to a damp, rainy pause.

By 6 p.m. Saturday, National Weather Service measuring posts in Kew Gardens Hills and Bellerose reported north of 2 inches of rain. The city’s sewer system is designed to handle just 1.5 to 1.75 inches of rain per hour.

While there were no reported fatalities over the weekend, the massive rains proved to be disruptive throughout the borough.

In Woodside, FDNY trucks were dispatched through flooded streets to respond to drivers trapped on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and homeowners stuck inside their basements; at 47-04 69 St. responding firefighers reported “waist-high water rushing into the basement, trapping the occupants behind a doorway that couldn’t be opened due to the force of the water and debris,” per an FDNY social media post.

Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell to nearby Peck Avenue, in order to assess storm damage, speak with residents and distribute the agency’s flood recovery kits.

In Jackson Heights, one of the entrances to the 74th Street station was rendered briefly inaccessible; stairs deluged with downfall, the underground corridor inches deep with water, per one video.

For many these were familiar sights.

“This seems to happen every heavy rain.”

—

Assemblywoman Nily Rozic

Much of Queens often floods. This past May, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms caused severe flooding and road closures across Queens, prompting complaints from various electeds. Earlier this month, a torrential downpour after the Fourth of July holiday briefly shut down power for some 400 residents in College Point.

The latest storm didn’t knock out power, but brought out another flood of complaints.

“Many have flooded before and are frustrated that the same problems continue year after year,” read a Monday statement from Councilman Phil Wong (D-Maspeth).

DEP Commissioner Lisa Garcia “to discuss flooding in Queens.”

By early afternoon, the NYPD reported that all lanes were blocked in both directions of the BQE at Queens Boulevard. In one video, the entrance to the Macy’s in Rego Park was inoperable, briefly inundated with water.

Other expressways, in Whitestone and Clearview, experienced heavy flooding too, with fire trucks navigating them like boats.

Avenues in Flushing turned briefly into rivers, pushing cars onto sidewalks and filling basements. Kissena Boulevard in particular was hit hard by the flooding, as it often is.

In a video, one front yard appeared filled entirely with water, possessions floating on what had previously been streets. In another, residents can be seen wading carefully through the suddenly knee-deep water. Amid the flooding, the city dispatched

Wong’s office said the rep spent the weekend “touring neighborhoods across Council District 30 to assess the damage.”

“The City needs to stop reacting after every storm and start investing in the infrastructure improvements our neighborhoods have been asking for,” said Wong.

“This seems to happen every heavy rain,” wrote Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Fresh Meadows) in a post on social media. Rozic is behind a bill in the Assembly that would permit water and sewer agencies to invest in capital projects to improve resiliency.

“Until the City fixes its outdated infrastructure, clogged drains, and insufficient sewers, the least they can do is warn drivers and keep roadways clear,” wrote Rozic.

“Heavy rain continues to come down over our district,” wrote Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) in her own post on social media. On Monday, Meng said she met with

“I’ve secured millions to address flooding, and we’re working together on solutions to better prepare residents when severe weather hits,” Meng wrote.

Throughout Queens, the rainfall also drew an ordinarily bustling summer weekend to a halt. Chart-straddling folk rocker Noah Kahan, due to sing at Citi Field, was forced to cancel the first of his two stadium dates, something he tearfully told the crowd a day later that he’s only ever done some six times before.

“I know you guys were all here. I don’t expect any sympathy at all,” Kahan said at his show.

At Forest Hills, the Canadian EDM duo Zeds Dead similarly canceled their headlining show, now postponed until August.

“We were hopeful all yesterday and today, and thought if the winds and lightning held off we could at least have a time in the rain and it would maybe even be more magical but alas there is no way to do it now,” read a post from the Canadian pair, hours before

doors had been set to open.

In Richmond Hill, City Councilman Ty Hankerson (D-Jamaica) was forced to cancel his first-ever “Freedom Block Party,” set to feature performances by the Guyanese singer Terry Gajraj, as well as a scheduled appearance from Mayor Mandani, set to announce funding in the latest city budget for street sweeping on Liberty Avenue.

A rep for Hankerson’s office told the Chronicle that the festival is set to be rebooked for Aug 1.

Bill Scarborough, former assemblyman for Jamaica and current head of the Addisleigh Park Civic Organization, told the Chronicle that things weren’t so bad in Southeast Queens.

“We did not experience as much this time, but the big storm [in May] was an absolute nightmare,” said Scarborough, vividly recounting the rainfall rendering turning nearby streets into intraversable floodzones.

“We had flooding on 110th Avenue between 177th and 178th, I mean it was just like a river,” he could still remember. “We kind of dodged the bullet this weekend. Q

Laurelton man gets 55 to life for OZP shooting

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

A Laurelton man on July 14 was sentenced to 55 years to life in prison for the June 2022 murder of his accomplice in Ozone Park, the Queens District Attorney’s Office announced July 16.

According to the charges, Richard Dixon, 35, on June 19, 2022, walked into a parking lot on Cross Bay Boulevard with his friend and accomplice, Raymond Francis, 38. Dixon had a AR-style semiautomatic rifle and Francis had a .40-caliber pistol.

The pair approached their two intended

targets, who had just left a party and were waiting by their vehicle, the charges said. Dixon shot one of the victims in the face, taking off about half his jaw. He then shot the same victim in the back as he crawled for his life behind his car.

The second victim then began firing at Dixon with a registered 9 mm pistol, the DA’s Office said. He shot back. The victim fell backward into his own car. When Dixon fired again in that direction, the bullet struck and ultimately killed Francis instead. He then fled the scene.

Following the shootout, emergency

responders found Francis unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital from a gunshot wound to his abdomen. The two intended victims were treated at different hospitals for their own gunshot wounds.

When Dixon turned up at a Nassau County hospital for his injuries, claiming he was shot at Baisley Pond Park, the NYPD determined no shooting had taken place there.

Once interviewed by cops again, Dixon admitted to being shot on Cross Bay Boulevard. Further investigation and DNA analysis confirmed Dixon was the shooter who killed Francis and injured the two others.

He was convicted by a jury in May of second-degree murder, two counts of seconddegree attempted murder, first-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

“Richard Dixon used a military-grade assault weapon to turn a public parking lot in Ozone Park into a genuine war zone,” Queens DA Melinda Katz said in a statement. “The defendant will now serve 55 years to life in prison for the extreme act of violence he visited upon this county, and for the devastation he has inflicted on multiple families.”

OZP teacher sexually abused student: SCI

Investigation substantiates the claims against former John Adams instructor

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

A former John Adams High School teacher allegedly sexually assaulted a student multiple times, according to a July 21 report from the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District.

The investigation began in April 2023, according to SCI Anastasia Coleman, after a former student alleged that Lennard Persaud sexually assaulted her multiple times while she attended the Ozone Park school.

The misconduct occurred between 2014 and 2016, the SCI said, when the student was 16 and 17 years old and in her junior and senior years of high school.

The SCI said the investigation substantiated that Persaud engaged in nonconsensual sexual intercourse with the former student on numerous occasions and maintained sexually explicit and inappropriate communications.

lot in school,” per a press release from the SCI.

Text message exchanges containing explicit sexual content between Persaud and the former student were also reviewed.

Persaud declined to be interviewed by the SCI, citing his tenured status.

He was arrested by the NYPD in June 2023 on charges including third-degree rape, thirddegree criminal sexual act, endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree sexual abuse, per the SCI.

Persaud pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in January 2024 and received a conditional discharge. The Queens District Attorney’s Office told the Chronicle that there is no public information on the case.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to keeping our schools safe.”

— DOE spokesperson Chyann Tull

Investigators also interviewed former students who corroborated the relationship.

The students described the victim’s emotional distress during the relevant period, including having “breakdowns” and “crying a

The incident is not the first time a faculty member at John Adams High School has been charged for inappropriate behavior with a student. In 2024, an assistant principal there was charged with third-degree sexual abuse and pleaded not guilty.

The SCI, based on its findings, substantiated the allegations against Persaud and recommended that his employment with the city Department of Education be terminated, and

that the problem code attached to his personnel file remain in place to prevent future employment at the DOE or its vendors.

The SCI also referred the findings to the State Education Department for appropriate action.

Asked for comment on the matter, DOE spokesperson Chyann Tull told the Chronicle, “Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our students, and the behavior

Man trafficked kilos of drugs: USAO

Allegedly distributed more than $100M worth of cocaine

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

A Florida man has been indicted on federal charges after allegedly trafficking thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to JFK Airport and Long Island, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York announced July 16.

Omar Morales-Negron, 36, of Orange City, Fla., was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

He was arrested on July 14 in Florida and will be arraigned in the EDNY at a later date, authorities said.

From 2019 to the present, Morales-Negron, also known as “O,” allegedly ran a drug trafficking organization that coordinated large-scale shipments of narcotics from Puerto Rico to Long Island using two main methods, according to the EDNY: hiding drugs inside furniture shipped by ocean freight, which drug trafficking organization

members would then load onto trucks and transport to New York for distribution, and mislabeling narcotics shipments as electronic parts from a fake Puerto Pican corporation sent via the United Parcel Service to JFK Airport. Drug trafficking organization members would retrieve the packages there for distribution, authorities said.

Law enforcement intercepted some of the trafficked drugs, including the Jan. 29, 2026 seizure of 312 kilograms of cocaine, valued at $20 million, from two of Morales-Negron’s alleged subordinates. According to the EDNY, a drug trafficking organization member picked up the shipment from JFK Airport and was later caught by cops in Nassau County. And on July 3, 2026, authorities seized a shipment near JFK Airport containing 153 kilograms of cocaine, valued at $10 million.

During the investigation, ledgers detailing Morales-Negron’s alleged large-scale and highly profitable narcotics business were recovered, allowing authorities to determine that the operation was

A Florida man is facing federal charges for allegedly trafficking thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to New York. Above, a shipment of cocaine seized by authorities near JFK Airport.

responsible for the distribution of more than $100 million worth of cocaine on Long Island.

If convicted, Morales-Negron faces up to life in prison, according to the USAO. “As alleged, the defendant coordinated the shipments of massive amounts of cocaine into our

PHOTOCOURTESYU.S.ATTORNEYEDNY

Long Island community,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a statement. “For years, MoralesNegron profited from his international trafficking and taking advantage of end users who are addicted to his drugs. These charges will hold him accountable for the harm he has wrought.” Q

described in this case is deeply disturbing, and a profound betrayal of the trust placed in educators. Upon hearing about this misconduct, this individual was removed away from students, and is no longer employed with New York City Public Schools.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to keeping our schools safe and ensuring that only those who uphold these values are entrusted with educating our children.” Q

Man wanted in R. Hill assault

The NYPD is seeking help in identifying a man wanted for an assault earlier this month in Richmond Hill, within the confines of the 102nd Precinct.

Police say this man punched another on July 7 in Richmond Hill.

According to police, a 27-year-old male victim was approached and punched in the face by an unidentified individual on July 7, at approximately 10 p.m. at the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and 118th Street. The perpetrator then fled to parts unknown. The victim sustained serious injuries, cops said, and was transported by EMS to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in stable condition.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS (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 confidential. Q — Kristen Guglielmo

EDITORIAL AGEP

City up in merchants’ grille

There are several lessons to be learned from Gategate, the city’s aborted effort to improve the look of commercial areas by giving graffiti vandals a smaller canvas upon which to work.

That effort took the form of a 2009 law requiring shop owners to replace the solid metal security gates they roll down at the end of the day with the more attractive grilles (yes, that’s with the E) that you can see through and that don’t give gang taggers the surface they need for spray painting.

And now the law has been nullified.

The city had required store owners to replace the solid gates with ones that are at least 70 percent see-through. Many objected due to the cost: thousands of dollars. Whereas the owners’ primary concern was security, the city’s was aesthetics, though there was an argument made about police being able to see into a store after hours. And presumably, the grilles still would deter break-ins.

However, the 2009 mandate, Local Law 75, gave merchants 17 years to comply. Not until this summer would they have to make the switch. And

many never did. Maybe one lesson is that if you enact a new law, it shouldn’t take four presidential administrations to make people comply with it.

Many store owners replaced their gates with grilles, but others did not. And now, on the very eve of the long-delayed enforcement of the law, the City Council has passed a bill nullifying it. Store owners don’t have to replace the gates after all.

That means that the conscientious owners who already did what they were supposed to, who didn’t need 17 years to purchase a grille, have wound up with the short end of the stick. And those who were planning to just not comply with the law are getting off easy. Another lesson for the city is that giving a break to scofflaws while burdening those who follow legal mandates is wrong.

What the city should do now is create a fund to cover the cost for those businesses that got the grilles. Let them apply for reimbursement. Otherwise they might get together and sue for the money. A good third lesson is to avoid being sued when possible by being fair and just beforehand.

McDonald and Rampersad

Right now Queens and the city are honoring two people who made tremendous sacrifices in service to the public, one of them the ultimate sacrifice.

The two are NYPD Det. Steven McDonald, who has been renowned across the city and beyond for decades, and U.S. Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad, whose name has just entered the rolls of the venerated.

McDonald was the cop who got shot in Central Park in 1986 and was paralyzed — but then became an icon for forgiving the gunman and for advocating peace and nonviolence for the rest of his life.

McDonald died in 2017 at age 59. Last week the city named the Police Academy in College Point

for him, a fitting remembrance. Rampersad was deployed to the Middle East, and died July 17 when an Iranian missile struck her location in Jordan, along with two other servicemembers. She was 28. Rampersad was a “gentle giant” who stood up for those who could not fight for themselves, said a family statement reported by the New York Post. She wanted to serve in the Army from a young age, loved her family and lit up any room she entered, according to relatives and friends.

No doubt she also will be honored by the city, probably with a street co-naming. It’s the least that could be done after what she did for us. We join the entire city in saluting these two genuine heroes.

MARK WEIDLER

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LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

‘Big AI’ data center

Dear Editor:

The huge open expanse that will remain after Aqueduct finally ends all activity should be put to use as a data center for AI.

All the operational infrastructure is already in place and new high-paying jobs would be ensured.

Ray Hackinson Ozone Park

Horse carriages have to go

Dear Editor:

Thank you for stating your opinion on the carriage horse bill, Intro. 943 (“Ban horsedrawn carriages,” Editorial, July 16). I was there for the hearing testimony from 9 to 5, and, of course, I was called after 5 p.m. These are the points I wanted to make.

The three top reasons why tourists come to NYC is Broadway theater, restaurants and museums. If carriage horse rides are on someone’s bucket list, they’re not in the top three. These horses are bred for this type of job. If there’s no job for them, people won’t breed them. Why be a part of this? Right now there are cities all over the country phasing out their carriage horse industry.

The horses live in tenement buildings, not in stables. They don’t get five weeks’ vacation. If anything, the Amish put the horses to work.

There are people willing to wait and adopt these particular horses, even though there are many horses out there looking for homes too, just as with dogs. I know of horse sanctuaries with people who are raising money for the horses, too. I’m one of them.

It’s not like the drivers are going to be without a job, either. They will get trained in another capacity.

People who whine about the iconic horse scene in NYC are not spending the money for a ride; they just want to see the horses at a distance. What does the horse get in return?

Joan Silaco Queens Village

Flagrant fraud in Flushing

Dear Editor:

Senior center fraud rips off New York taxpayers, and Flushing is a primary source of this multibillion-dollar scam, notes the New York Post (“Blatant Fraud in Flushing,” Editorial, July 16).

“Within a one-mile radius in this Queens neighborhood, a full 64 Social Adult Day Care

centers operate, with thousands upon thousands of supposed elderly enrollees,” reports the Post. “This reeks: Over the past three years, such New York senior centers have generated $2.5 billion in billings, with $2.1 billion of that coming from Flushing.”

Flushing’s Medicaid-eligible senior population grew by 20 percent from 2018 to 2024, but the number of seniors billed by adult daycare centers rose by 390 percent, says the Post. This was done via false electronic signup statements and bribery. The centers pay seniors $500 monthly to sign up, but those payments drop to $300 if seniors actually show up for services, the Post disclosed.

State authorities, including Attorney General Letitia James, have failed to investigate this fraud, claims the Post. State legislators, especially those whose districts include Flushing, should step in. So should Congresswoman Grace Meng, who represents Flushing, because Medicaid is co-funded by the federal and state governments. New York State taxpayers shelled out $39.4 billion for the Medicaid program in the 2025-26 fiscal year, 26.5

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

percent of the entire state budget, and the highest per person Medicaid outlay of any state, says the Post.

I should note that many seniors, including me, have benefited from adult care centers. I attended Club Pride in Bayside from 2003 until 2018, when it closed due to funding cuts. I had a great experience. But senior center fraud not only cheats taxpayers, it also diverts funds from legitimate programs and services that seniors need and deserve. I hope that state and federal authorities stop this fraud.

Richard Reif Kew Gardens Hills

Ban glue traps now

Dear

Editor:

Is there an item on the market that causes more suffering than a glue trap? While rodent management is necessary, inflicting intense and prolonged suffering is uncivilized and inhumane.

Prey animals are terrified when stuck, and their nonstop agony is often worsened by injured organs, broken bones and chewed limbs from attempts to escape. This unthinkable suffering can last for days until the animal dies from starvation, dehydration, suffocation or by literally struggling itself to death. Furthermore, these traps are indiscriminate. They routinely brutalize non-target protected wildlife — such as songbirds, small mammals and reptiles — as well as family pets.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the NYS Department of Health advise against glue traps because panicked, trapped rodents urinate and bleed, increasing human exposure to pathogens.

Strategies for deterrence include maintaining maximum cleanliness, keeping all trash bags in sealed bins, sealing holes with steel wool and using mint sprays and pouches and ultrasonic plug-in devices. If traps are needed, more humane ones exist.

Uncontained garbage bags, trash and crumbs cause rodents to stay and reproduce — take away the attractants and there will be far fewer rodents, perhaps none where the issue is smaller.

Many countries, territories and entities have banned glue traps, and stores such as CVS, Target and Walmart Canada stopped selling them.

NYC residents can contact their councilmembers and ask them to co-sponsor Intro. 531, the bill to prohibit the sale of glue-based traps.

Jim

Scotto Yorktown Heights, NY

End the flood of plastic

Dear Editor:

It is currently Plastic Free July, a time dedicated to ocean protection and activism in the face of pollution, climate change and many other threats to a healthy ecosystem. Unfortunately, the New York State Legislature adjourned for the year before passing the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, which would’ve curbed the production of single-use plastics, supported public health and banned some of the most toxic chemicals in plastic packaging. With state legislation off the table for now, action at the federal level is still

possible and very much needed.

Plastic foam, which is also called expanded polystyrene, threatens our oceans and our health. It’s used for single-use plates, cups, takeout containers and packing materials. It’s both lightweight and brittle.

Because plastic foam is so light, when it breaks apart, the tiny pieces can easily be carried far and wide by wind and water, making it one of the most common forms of plastic pollution found in U.S. rivers, lakes, and marine environments (tinyurl.com/zh95a96m).

According to a national poll of U.S. registered voters released by Oceana in 2025, nearly 80 percent of U.S. voters support national, state and local policies that reduce single-use plastic foam (tinyurl.com/4fcm2kb9).

The Farewell to Foam Act in Congress would help address this problematic plastic. This Plastic Free July, ask your federal lawmakers to phase out plastic foam by cosponsoring this legislation. Damaging impacts will continue unless companies reduce the production of single-use plastic foam, and governments pass policies to phase out unnecessary single-use plastic once and for all.

Gail Tierney

New York Field Representative, Oceana Brooklyn

America, my homeland

Dear Editor:

On July 12 the people celebrated the country of Peru, marching on 37th Avenue. I was disappointed to see most of the people marching not carrying an American flag alongside the flag of Peru. Sadly, a group representing Mexico did not carry any American flag.

It goes without saying that if you miss Peru so much you have a choice. We are all here because the USA is our new and beloved home and should show it by carrying an American flag alongside our previous country that we left.

Please remember where you are and show your love. Never carry a foreign flag on American soil without an American flag.

Giora Katz Jackson Heights

Halt aid to Israel foes, too

Dear Editor:

Brad Lander, who won the June 23 Democratic primary in New York’s 10th Congressional District, has proposed “... ending U.S. military aid to Israel while it violates international law and Palestinian human rights.” Mr. Lander neglected to add the necessary phrase, “and, at the same time, also ending foreign military aid to all of Israel’s numerous enemies while they violate international law and Israeli human rights.”

Theodore Sheskin Flushing

should be no longer than

and other reasons. They may be emailed to letters@qchron.com.

Payments meant to address staffing crisis and cost-of-living concerns Council passes $10K paraprofessional perk

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

The City Council voted 49-0 on July 16 to approve a workforce stabilization payment for school paraprofessionals, a measure meant to address a staffing crisis that has left thousands of vacancies unfilled and left many paraprofessionals struggling to make ends meet.

Int. 692-A, sponsored by Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa (D-Manhattan) requires the Department of Education to pay eligible paraprofessionals up to $10,000 for work performed during the 2026-27 school year on top of their salaries.

The payment will be prorated based on how many days a paraprofessional is on payroll and distributed in four installments from January through August 2027, according to the bill’s text. The money is not pensionable.

The law would expire once the installments are executed, per the bill’s text, or be considered repealed if a collective bargaining agreement that raises paraprofessionals’ total compensation by an equal or greater amount of the stabilization payment is reached.

The city employs about 26,000 paraprofessionals, per the City Council, who work alongside teachers to provide instructional, behavioral and physical support to students with disabilities.

The United Federation of Teachers has said

The legislation passed 49-0. PHOTOBYEMILCOHEN/NYCCOUNCIL

there were at least 1,600 paraprofessional vacancies during the last school year. Starting salary for the position is $32,098, with a maximum of $53,841.

Queens co-sponsors of the bill included Councilmembers Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills), Julie Won (D-Long Island City), Ty Hankerson (D-Jamaica), Jennifer Gutiérrez (D-Brooklyn/Queens), Shekar Krishnan (D-Jackson Heights), Jim Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows), Phil Wong (D-Maspeth), Tiffany

Cabán (D-Astoria), Linda Lee (D-Oakland Gardens), Shanel Thomas-Henry (D-Corona), Sandra Ung (D-Flushing), Selvena BrooksPowers (D-Laurelton), Joann Ariola (R-Howard Beach) and Vickie Paladino (R-Whitestone).

Last November, paraprofessionals testified before the Council that low pay had left them facing eviction, going hungry and working multiple jobs.

Council Speaker Julie Menin (D-Manhattan) said the bill would help stabilize a workforce

essential to classroom support while also potentially reducing the roughly $1.5 billion the city spends annually on Carter cases — legal proceedings in which families seek reimbursement for private school tuition — tied to unmet special education mandates.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew praised the vote, saying the city cannot retain paraprofessionals without paying a living wage.

A 33-year-old paraprofessional from Glendale, who has worked at multiple schools in Queens and does retail work for additional income, welcomed the bill’s passage.

“I’m happy for the city’s support in what really feels like a thankless job sometimes,” he said. “The work paras do is underestimated by those in charge.”

But not everyone hailed the legislation.

The Citizens Budget Commission, a watchdog group, in a statement urged Mayor Mamdani to veto it, arguing compensation should be set through collective bargaining, and warning the measure, which it estimated to cost $325 million, could pressure other unions to seek off-cycle raises.

Mamdani, speaking at an unrelated press conference before the vote, similarly said he believed the matter was best resolved at the bargaining table, but did not say if he would veto the bill. If he does, the City Council has enough votes to override. Q

Lawmakers OK salary hike for top officials

Mamdani, Menin say they would not take a raise if city reps get one

by Stephanie G. Meditz Editor

Members of the City Council last Thursday overwhelmingly approved a bill that would give them and other top officials a pay bump.

Lawmakers voted 42-6 in favor of a measure by Deputy Speaker Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans) to raise their own salaries and those of the mayor, public advocate, comptroller, borough presidents and district attorneys by 18.2 percent since the last adjustment in 2016. The move was advised in a June report by the city’s Quadrennial Advisory Commission, a panel charged with recommending compensation changes for elected officials in the five boroughs.

“By creating the Commission, the Council committed to a transparent, predictable process for reviewing these matters on a regular basis,” Williams said in a statement. “Today’s legislation implements the Commission’s recommendations and reinforces a framework grounded in clear standards, public accountability, and regular review.”

Under the bill, the mayor’s annual salary would jump from $258,750 to $305,800; the public advocate’s from $184,800 to $218,400; the comptroller’s from $209,050 to $247,100; Council members’ from $148,500 to $175,500; the Council speaker’s

from $164,500 to $194,400; borough presidents’ from $179,200 to $211,800; and district attorneys’ from $212,800 to $251,500.

The report states that the cost of living has skyrocketed over the past decade, with inflation rising 31 percent between 2016 and 2025. Most of the increase occurred in and after 2021, it continues, and most sitting elected officials started their first full terms in 2022 or later.

“The proposed salary increases are calculated to restore the lost purchasing power in the salaries elected officials reasonably expected at the time they took office,” the report reads.

The measure also changes the timing of future commissions to the third year of a term of office rather than the first, giving each panel 120 days to complete its work.

Williams said at the July 16 meeting that the legislation reflects the Council’s commitment to a “transparent, independent and predictable process” for reviewing elected officials’ compensation.

“Government is strongest when New Yorkers understand not only the decisions we make, but the process behind them,” she said.

But not all officials are looking to give themselves a raise. Among those who voted against the bill were Queens Councilmem-

bers Joann Ariola (R-Howard Beach) and Phil Wong (D-Maspeth).

“In my district, there’s so, so many constituents living paycheck to paycheck and having problems making ends meet,” Wong said at the meeting. “With that in mind — and also, I spent many months advocating for savings into the city budget, of identifying savings — so I cannot consciously vote

onto a bill to increase salaries for myself.”

Abstaining was Council Speaker Julie Menin (D-Manhattan), who said she would not accept a raise. The measure awaits a signature from Mayor Mamdani, who said last week that he would not take a pay bump either — he told reporters he has never heard a New Yorker express concerns that the mayor is making too little. Q

Soccer is coming home to queens

Etihad Park opens in 2027 as New York City FC’s permanent home and the first purpose-built soccer stadium in the five boroughs. Be a part of a historic new chapter for Queens, the Club, and the city.

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Talk of proposed horse carriage ban heats up

Activists, drivers divided at hearing on a bill to phase out the industry

by Stephanie G. Meditz Editor

After years of pushing from advocates, the City Council on July 15 held a nearly 10-hour hearing on a bill that would ban horse-drawn carriages in the city.

Intro. 943 by Councilmember Christopher Marte (D-Manhattan) looks to phase out the industry by stopping the issuance of new licenses and prohibiting the cabs’ operation altogether by June 1, 2028. It also would require the “humane disposition” of the carriage horses, and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection would have to launch a workforce development program to help drivers transition to other fields.

The measure is known as Romanch’s Law, named for an 18-year-old tourist who died after he jumped from a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park last month to try to save his mother. She had fallen off after the driver dismounted to take a picture of the family, and the horse took off running.

His family spoke at the hearing via video call, with his parents saying their son would still be alive, had a similar bill before the Council last year — Ryder’s Law, by former Councilmember Bob Holden — passed.

“This was not an unpredictable accident,” Deepak Mahajan, Romanch’s father, said. “It was a safety violation, a system failure to protect the people who visit New York City.”

It was hardly the first horse carriage related tragedy to strike. On past occasions, including an incident just a week before Romanch’s death, horses have collapsed on the streets of Manhattan and died.

Holden first introduced Ryder’s Law, named for a sick, elderly horse that collapsed on the job that summer and was later euthanized, in 2022. Ryder’s carriage driver faced animal cruelty charges but was acquitted.

Ryder’s Law was killed in committee last year after Holden forced a vote on whether to send it to the Council floor.

“At the vote in November, I said, it’s going to take a death for the City Council to act,” Holden told the Chronicle in a phone interview last week. “Unfortunately, I was right.”

He said he spent years pushing for a hearing on Ryder’s Law, adding that former Council Speaker Adrienne Adams “refused to allow it.” He noted at the hearing last week that his bill would have banned carriages on June 1. Romanch was killed June 17.

Edita Birnkrant, the executive director of New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets who hails from Fresh Meadows, during her testimony read written communication from Anita McGill, whose family formerly owned Manhattan’s Chateau Stables.

“I’ve been asked to submit a statement by some current horse and carriage owners to seek some relief and get help for them to be offered an option to get out of the carriage business,” Birnkrant read. “My opinion talking with them is the quaint, leisure horse and carriage ride is no longer like it used to be. They are now squeezing past Citi Bikes, pedicabs, runners, baby stroll-

Bob Holden has long led efforts to ban horse carriages in the city. The July 15 hearing on a bill to do so follows an 18-yearold man’s death last month, and other incidents such as horses collapsing on the job.

SCREENSHOTVIAYOUTUBEVIDEO/NYCCOUNCIL AND,INSET,COURTESYNYCLASS/FILE

ers and millions of extra park goers.

“This is a safety issue. I feel there are no more safety solutions that can be applied to lower the risk of more and more accidents happening.”

Marte said at the hearing that there have been 128 documented horse carriage accidents over the past 34 years. Thirty horses have died, he said, and dozens of both them and people have been injured and the latter hospitalized.

John Chiarello, president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents carriage drivers, said in his testimony that 10,000 horses have died at racetracks over the last 10 years, adding: “I don’t see anything happening there.” Chiarello also claimed that food delivery workers “maim and kill people every single day.”

“But this small microcosm of an industry that has been iconic to Central Park is now under attack, and it’s been under attack for quite some time,” he said. Chiarello said also that his members in the industry are mostly immigrant workers, saying, “What about my members’ American Dream?”

He urged lawmakers to table Romanch’s Law and take up a measure by Councilmember Jim Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows), Intro. 937, that looks to make carriage rides safer with more regulations, including tougher driver training. It has eight sponsors, and was referred to the Committee on Health in June.

Carriage drivers on the panel with Chiarello spoke positively about the job and Gennaro’s proposal. Gabriel Cook, an equine

surgeon, testified that carriage horses are not abused. neglected, starved or overworked.

Cook said also that horse sanctuaries and rescues are underfunded and sometimes overburdened, meaning displaced horses would likely end up in slaughterhouses.

Council Speaker Julie Menin (D-Manhattan) said at the hearing that lawmakers are committed to ensuring workers’ livelihoods and looks forward to sitting with union members to negotiate more language in the bill about worker training. She announced July 14 that she supports Romanch’s Law “for the safety of New Yorkers, visitors from around the world, and the horses themselves.”

“I look forward to working with workers, labor, advocates, and stakeholders throughout this process to achieve a transition that is safe, fair, and worthy of one of the world’s greatest public parks,” she said in a press release.

Councilmember Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills), who chairs the Committee on Health, said at the hearing that Romanch’s death was “entirely preventable.”

“This is an industry with a long history in New York City and for generations, carriage drivers have built their livelihoods around this work,” Schulman said. “But times are changing, and we cannot ignore these tragic incidents or the serious public safety concerns they have raised.” She is a co-sponsor on both Marte’s and Gennaro’s bills.

As of press time, 28 of the Council’s 51 members had sponsored Romanch’s Law. Its backers come from all over the political spectrum. Republican Councilmember Joann Ariola (R-Howard Beach), conservative Democratic Councilmember Phil Wong (D-Maspeth) — Holden’s successor — and uber progressives such as Councilmember Tiffany Cabán (D-Astoria) have all signed on.

Mayor Mamdani has voiced support for a ban, but wants to see more worker protections in the bill.

Per a Council spokesperson, there is no timeline for a vote yet, as testimonies from the hearing are still under review.

TWU Local 100 in a press release after the hearing referred to the process as “decidedly unbalanced” and a “kangaroo court.”

“I’m the longest serving active Council member. This is not how the Council is supposed to work,” Gennaro said, criticizing Menin’s public support for the bill ahead of the hearing and saying, “in her mind, it’s already done.” Q

OMNY van coming to S. Queens

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) is bringing the MTA’s OMNY Card van to South Queens on July 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at her district office, located at 83-91 Woodhaven Blvd.

MTA employees will be on site to help residents with reducedfare card applications, OMNY sign-ups, transferring MetroCard value, adding funds and resolving other OMNY-related issues. Q

Wong proposes more car meet enforcement

by Stephanie G. Meditz Editor

Months after a fiery street takeover in his district, City Councilmember Phil Wong (D-Maspeth) is pushing for more targeted enforcement.

Wong on July 16 introduced a bill, Intro. 984, that would require the NYPD to organize a dedicated street takeover unit that would respond to such incidents and remove the cars involved. A surveillance unit also would monitor public information and identify when and where takeovers may occur.

Within 30 days of each deployment, the NYPD would have to report information such as the

number of tickets issued, vehicles towed and arrests made to the mayor and City Council. The bill also would require regulations on controlled tire deflation devices that can immobilize involved vehicles without causing tire blowouts.

Patrol Borough Queens North already deploys a team to address car meets in its area, but Wong’s bill would make those efforts permanent and citywide, per his office.

The legislation came in response to an April 18 takeover at 69th Street and Eliot Avenue on the Maspeth-Middle Village border, during which cars drove donuts around a ring of fire between two gas stations. Per Wong’s office, nearly 100

cars were involved, and perpetrators jumped on and damaged a marked NYPD vehicle.

Wong was told after the fact that two cars had been seized, and an NYPD team assigned to combat car meets had been responding to another incident that same night. Two suspects have been arrested for the takeover so far.

Several other raucous meetups have taken place in Queens recently, including ones in Ozone Park and Malba last year.

“I ask my colleagues to sign on to Intro 984 so we can provide a serious, coordinated, and accountable response to this growing public-safety threat,” Wong said in a press release. Q

Don’t gamble with our future at Aqueduct site

by Phyllis Inserillo

I grew up as an Aqueduct kid. Horse racing wasn’t just entertainment for my family. It was their livelihood. I spent most weekends and afternoons after school on a bench inside the first-floor Clubhouse reading my Babysitter Club books.

Aqueduct Race Track is part of my life story and part of the identity of South Queens. Never did I imagine the day would come when Aqueduct would close. And I certainly never imagined I would be urging New York to make sure its final race doesn’t leave the surrounding communities holding a losing ticket.

For months, the state has made grand promises about redeveloping the Aqueduct site. We hear words such as transformation, housing and economic opportunity. But amid all the excitement, one question keeps getting scratched from the program. Can the surrounding communities actually support it?

Before any redevelopment leaves the starting gate, the state owes the residents of Howard Beach, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Woodhaven and neighboring communities an honest conversation about infrastructure. Because, while officials are handicapping tomorrow’s possibilities, homeowners are dealing with today’s failures.

Pneighborhoods we already have, how can anyone expect it to carry thousands of new homes across the finish line? And electricity is only part of the equation.

Every major rainstorm strikes fear in southern Queens homeowners. Flooded streets, backed-up sewers, water-filled basements and damaged vehicles have become far too common. Residents have spent years asking for meaningful investments to upgrade aging, inadequate infrastructure, while studies and promises continue to circle the track.

Planning large-scale development before modernizing our electrical, sewer and stormwater systems isn’t smart planning. It’s courting disaster.

utting large-scale development ahead of modernizing our infrastructure would be a major mistake.

Just weeks ago, when a record-breaking heat wave hit the city over the Fourth of July weekend, thousands of residents in Howard Beach and many surrounding communities lost power for approximately 36 hours. Families were displaced, seniors endured dangerous triple-digit temperatures, businesses lost revenue and food spoiled. Con Edison acknowledged it intentionally shut off power because the electri-

Instead of placing an even greater burden on overtaxed systems, it’s time to think differently. Rather than covering one of the largest remaining open spaces in southern Queens with more concrete, we should turn Aqueduct into a regional park. Preserving its history with open green space would allow rainwater to be absorbed naturally instead of overflowing from our already overwhelmed sewers. Trees, wetlands, athletic fields, walking trails and recreational areas would not only improve the quality of life in these communities, but also provide environmental benefits this region desperately needs.

Meanwhile, the state should follow through on its promises to modernize our electrical grid, rebuild our sewer infrastructure, and mitigate flooding before even considering any new development. Our first responsibility must be to the people who have already invested their lives in these neighborhoods. Once those improvements are made, we can have a thoughtful conversation about future growth.

Sometimes the smartest bet isn’t building more. It’s protecting and improving what we already have. The winning ticket at Aqueduct isn’t massive overdevelopment. It’s giving southern Queens the green space, flood protection and infrastructure investment our communities need and deserve. If New York truly wants to build for the future, it must first protect the people who already call these neighborhoods home, including this Aqueduct kid. Q

Phyllis Inserillo is co-president of the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic Association.

Last auto shops staying, for now

City says it’s saving the remaining Willets businesses for Phase 3

by Andrew Karpan Associate Editor

For decades, an archipelago of auto shops and junkyards dominated commercial life in Willets Points, even as first Shea Stadium, then Citi Field and, most recently, the newly built towers of affordable-rate apartments began to shadow over them.

These days, a handful of auto shops persist in the area — and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon.

“That land is privately owned and there are no plans at the moment to acquire them,” wrote Nico Aguilar, a spokesperson for the city’s Economic Development Corp., which has been coordinating the larger redevelopment of the neighborhood with developers, a project the city has been actively involved in since the Bloomberg administration.

Aguilar says that the auto shops are operating out of what is estimated to be 40 acres of land that the agency’s redevelopment plans have yet to touch.

But replacing the remaining shops in the area is something the city still eventually plans on doing, Aguilar added. It’s part of Phase 3.

Phase 1 was the planned construction of 1,100 apartments in the area, all marketed at affordable rates. Some 880 of those

Food for furry friends needed

Councilmember Joann Ariola (R-Howard Beach) and Zion’s Mission Animal Rescue have teamed up to launch Operation Food Bowl, a summer pet food drive.

Dog and cat food can be delivered in person to Ariola’s office, at 162-38 Cross Bay Blvd. in Howard Beach, or shipped there via Amazon. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The drive has collected over 100 pounds of food for Zion’s Mission so far, Ariola’s office said, and the organizers hope to double that before the end of the summer.

“Animal rescue groups are truly unsung heroes in our communities,” Ariola said in a statement. “Through drives like this, we can work to alleviate some of the financial strain these amazing organizations are under, and help them to care for even more animals in need.”

stadium .PHOTOBYGREGGCOHEN

While development for the first two phases has been handled by the Manhattan developer Related Cos. and Sterling Equities, a developer has to be selected for the last phase.

“We are focused on executing our neighborhood development plan, bringing to life Queens’ next great neighborhood,” read a statement from a Related spokesperson, who declined to comment about any involvement in the third phase of the plans.

Plans for the third phase remain somewhat ambiguous between city agencies as well.

“Phase 3 includes the largest tract of land of the three phases, with completion planned by 2039,” reads a report from 2024 from the city’s Independent Budget Office.

Aguilar told the Chronicle that the 2039 date “is from the environmental impact study which was required as part of the analysis but that is not a date the city is targeting.”

apartments opened at a ribbon-cutting this past May.

The next phase of development in the neighborhood involves another 1,400 apartments, as well as a promised new retail corridor, a new hotel and Etihad Park, the new soccer stadium that will serve as home field for New York City FC and Gotham FC. The

stadium is under construction, with plans to open in July, 2027.

“Our focus is on the first two phases,” wrote Aguilar to the Chronicle. “Because of all the work that has gone into the first two phases, when the city decides to move forward with the remaining 40 acres, it will likely be done in one phase.”

Cleanup crew takes on Liberty Avenue

by Andrew Karpan Associate Editor

With new funding, Liberty Avenue is getting seriously cleaned up.

Earlier this week, signs began going up around the bustling corridor in Richmond Hill announcing that the city would now begin conducting weekly street cleaning efforts.

The move was part of a new allocation secured in the most recent budget by the area’s city councilman, Ty Hankerson (D-Jamaica).

“For years, residents and small businesses have been calling for stronger and more consistent cleaning along Liberty Avenue,” Hankerson said in a statement.

sanitation service our community has long deserved,” said Hankerson.

The IBO report says that Phase 3 would tentatively involve “an additional residential development with 35% of units reserved for affordable housing, another hotel, and office, retail, community, and public open spaces.”

The report also notes that the nature of that final leg of development remains, then as now, “somewhat uncertain.” Q

Storefront gates

continued from page 2

neurs who keep our neighborhoods thriving.” Cathy Williams, executive director of the Woodhaven Business Improvement District, said small business owners in the area have had mostly positive feedback on the repeal.

“They are, overall, happy,” Williams told the Chronicle. “I have spoken to several who are not, because they paid to have their gates fixed to make them compliant. That was sad.” She said that while the new grilles look good, they were an expense that should not have had to be taken on.

“They had perfectly working gates before,” she said. “But overall, the feedback is that they are quite happy.”

On Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill, the repeal was news to at least one shop owner who had already made the switch.

“Animal rescues everywhere are really feeling the strain right now economically, small nonprofits like us more than ever,” said Maribel Cosme-Vitagliani of Zion’s Mission. “Every bag of food donated eases that financial burden and reminds us that our community not only stands with our mission, but cares for the animals as well.”

The latest budget included a new baseline funding of $1 million to conduct street cleanings in the area, as well as an additional $470,000 for this current year for employment groups such as ACE, CEO and NYC H2O to support graffiti cleanup and other sanitation services.

Q

“My office made sure Liberty Avenue was a major focus in this budget, not only for this year, but as an ongoing priority. This funding will help deliver the reliable

Clive Destiny, the councilman’s deputy chief of staff, told the Chronicle that signs announcing the cleanup effort were installed along Liberty Avenue for the first time this week.

“Liberty Avenue has been lacking,” Destiny said. “It has been one of the largest complaints from the community that Liberty Avenue, one of our busiest business corridors has been just, you know, filthy for a very long time,” he added. Q

A fruit vendor there said he replaced his solid metal gate with a see-through grille a few years ago — not because the city required it, he said, but because his old gate needed replacing anyway and he wanted to cut down on graffiti.

His current grille happens to comply with the now-repealed law, though he said he wouldn’t have gone back to a traditional solid roll-down gate regardless.

Still, he said the repeal raises a fairness question for owners who spent money specifically to meet the city’s mandate.

“Whoever replaced their gate like the city wanted should get a refund,” the store owner said. “It is not fair to make businesses spend money for no reason.” Q

Richmond Hill student races to a milestone

Johan Guzman represented Queens at the International Soap Box Derby

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

Johan Guzman, a student at Richmond Hill’s PS 66, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, became the second driver from New York City in the history of the International Soap Box Derby to win a qualifying heat and advance past the opening round, a milestone he clinched last weekend in Akron, Ohio. Johan’s road to Akron started a lot closer to home. On May 9, he took first place at District 27’s inaugural Soap Box Derby and Family Day, an event built to blend science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning with perseverance, friendly competition and old-fashioned gravity-powered racing. That win earned him the right to represent Queens on an international level.

Johan and his family spent more than a week in Ohio for race week, rubbing elbows with competitors from across the country and around the world before his heat win July 18. He raced again in the next round on July 19, and reflected on the experience with excitement.

“Competing in the Soap Box Derby was amazingly fun!” Johan said in a statement provided by school officials. “I loved every part of the experience, from the preparation and the races to meeting other racers, attending all the events, and being part of such a big competition. It was exciting to be in Akron and represent Queens. I learned a lot, made great memories, and had the best time with everyone. I hope I get the chance to do it again one day because I absolutely loved it!”

District 27 Superintendent David Norment said the win reflects the district’s broader mission.

“This experience shows what can happen when we focus on student engagement and creating opportunities for growth,” Norment said. “This is in the DNA of District 27. We believe every child deserves opportunities

Estate Planning Fundamentals: Summer Review

By Cynthia J. Conza, Esq.

July marks the approximate halfway point of the calendar year, and is the ideal time to take a moment and review and update your estate plan to ensure it properly aligns with your current circumstances and intentions. An updated estate plan gives both peace of mind and lasting control over your future, protecting both your family and your fi nances.

Three areas to consider as you review your estate plan:

1. Consider Your Healthcare Documents and Power of Attorney: Evaluate whether you still have the right people in charge during an emergency. Your Health Care Proxy guides decisions about your healthcare if you are incapacitated, while your Power of Attorney designates someone to handle your fi nancial matters if you are unable to. Life and circumstances change, and make sure the person you previously designated in each document is still the best person for the role.

2. Examine Your Will or Trust: A Will or Trust is the foundation of most estate plans, and it is important to keep these documents up to date. Significant life changes - such as acquiring property, opening a business, or welcoming a new child or grandchild to your family - may require adjustments to your estate plan. Similarly, consider whether your executor or trustee you named still has your confidence, and if the distributions in your Will or Trust still reflect your fi nancial priorities.

3. Adjust for Changes in the Tax Law: Since the tax laws are always changing, it is important to adjust your planning accordingly to maximize the amount you leave to your family and beneficiaries. Working with an estate planning attorney will help you navigate the numerous laws that impact your estate and beneficiaries.

If you have any estate planning questions or issues you would like to discuss please feel free to contact me at cynthia@con zamcnamara.com or (718) 845-5555

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that challenge them, inspire them, and help them discover what they’re capable of. Watching Johan represent District 27 and Queens on the international stage made our entire community proud.”

Johan’s teacher and coach, Michael Mastrogiovanni, traveled with him to Akron and coached him through every stage of the competition.

Johan’s parents described the experience as unforgettable for their family.

“We couldn’t be more proud of our son, Johan, for representing our community at the Soap Box Derby,” they said in a statement. “Qualifying for this event was an incredible achievement in itself, and watching him compete in Akron was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our family.” Q

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byMarleeW

Wollman

by Marlee Wollman

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Isamu Noguchi’s relationship with New York City, and specifically Queens, was fundamental as well as compensatory. As an artist whose transnationalism shaped his identity profoundly, the sculptor found that settling in the city ultimately provided him a place he could not only belong to, but also engage with, integrating and shaping the environment he proudly inhabited. Noguchi believed that art should not only be viewed, but rather experienced bodily and socially.

“I am not Japanese, not a citizen of the world,” he once remarked. “Just a New Yorker that goes wandering around.”

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Many of Noguchi’s most ambitious proposals were innovative and avant-garde imaginations for public spaces. His unrealized design “Play Mountain” envisioned a playground large enough to occupy an entire city block or even a section of Central Park. The design transformed the landscape itself ARTS, CULTURE

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First moving to New York at age 17 in 1922, Noguchi lived on and off in the city until his death in 1988. During these years, he fastidiously designed a plethora of structures including interior and exterior spaces. Many of his works sparked an ongoing conversation with the environment they occupied or intended to occupy. This conversation continues today, as residents of Queens and beyond tour the substantial Noguchi Museum at Vernon Boulevard and 33rd Road in Long Island City.

Through Sept. 13, the museum is running “Noguchi’s New York,” an exhibit examining his relationship with the city. Museum hours and other details are at noguchi.org.

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New York provided Noguchi with a sense of belonging while also serving as a launching point for his international artistic practice. His studio in Queens allowed him to maintain both physical and creative proximity to the city without being overwhelmed. It was a setting where he could get a reprieve from the intensity of Manhattan while remaining closely connected to the manufacturing and stone yards of LIC, areas where he would source his stones, metals and industrial materials.

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continued on page 21

King Crossword Puzzle

I HAVE OFTEN WALKED

Candy Darling’s walk to the wild side started in FoHi

by Ron Marzlock Chronicle Contributor

James Lawrence Slattery was born in Queens on Nov. 24, 1944, into a complicated family. His mother, Theresa Phelan, was the eldest of eight children whose father was a union-card musician, always employed.

Warren Law and his wife, Edna, were successful real estate brokers, builders and developers in Queens. Theresa gave birth to his boy, Warren Law Jr., in New Jersey on April 20, 1940.

The early childhood home of Candy Darling, at 69-11 Nansen St. in Forest Hills, as it looked in the 1940s when she lived there. INSETBYPABLOPICASSO/ ESQUIREVIAWIKIPEDIA

Theresa soon met and married Belmont Race Track cashier John F. Slattery. They moved into her parents’ home at 69-11 Nansen St. in Forest Hills. She and John raised Warren, along with James, in the house. They moved to Apt. 2J at 70-11 108 St. in Forest Hills and then bought a brand-new, 1,100-square-foot home at 5 Crocus Ave. in North Merrick, LI, in 1947, eventually buying a larger house in Massapequa years later.

James binged-watched “Million Dollar Movie” on TV several times a day and became obsessed with the Hollywood glamour of the past. He identified with actresses and wanted to become one himself.

He met Andy Warhol in 1967 and became a pioneer for transgender visibility, starring in his movies. He became Candy Darling and never looked back.

In 1972, Tennessee Williams’ play “Small Craft Warnings” showcased Darling as the first man to play a woman’s part in either a Broadway or off-Broadway play.

Darling self-administered unregulated female hormone pills, which likely were carcinogenic and may have contributed to those using them getting lymphoma. Darling died of the disease on March 21, 1974 at age 29. Darling’s mother remarried and, as Theresa McLean, passed away on Feb. 21, 2014, a few months short of her 103rd birthday. B

B SPORTS EAT

Gotham heads to Queens

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

The listed attendance for the National Women’s Soccer League’s Queens Cup between the Washington Spirit and Gotham FC, held last Wednesday night at Citi Field, was 42,175. It marked the largest crowd to ever witness a women’s sporting event in NYC. The previous record-holding event, garnering 28,143 attendees, was across Roosevelt Avenue: the 2023 US Open women’s tennis final between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka.

Gauff prevailed in that match, while Gotham FC was victorious 1-0 thanks to a beautiful arching kick by Rose Lavelle in the first half. The game was seen nationwide on ESPN. Given the poor air quality caused by the Canadian fires, combined with the oppressive heat, it is a tribute to the dedicated Gotham FC fans, and to the determination of the players who showed no signs of being affected by the harsh conditions.

It was not a coincidence that the Queens Cup was scheduled during the final week of the World Cup. Carolyn Tisch, the CEO of Gotham FC, was a panelist at the Playmakers conference sponsored by Telemundo at NBC headquarters last Wednesday. “The best female soccer players in the world play in the NWSL,” Tisch said. While she did not mention the NWSL’s male counterpart, Major League Soccer, whose commissioner is Bayside High School alum Don

Garber, it was a clear knock on the fact that MLS is the one American sports league in which the best at their sport do not automatically participate. The quality of MLS players has improved over the years, however.

Two weeks ago, Gotham FC announced it will relocate its home games from Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ, to Etihad Park, home of the New York City FC, which will open next summer across the street from Citi Field. Gotham FC will not play there until 2028.

Tisch said the NYCFC was fine with having Gotham FC as a tenant. She also told me that New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill tried her best to keep Gotham FC in the Garden State to no avail. The world’s game should be played at the highest levels in the World’s Borough.

Telemundo hosted the Playmakers conference as a way of taking a victory lap for its ratings. The World Cup broadcasting rights are up for negotiation, and Comcast, which owns Telemundo and NBC, is hoping to wrest away the American rights from the incumbent, Fox Sports.

NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas joked that it was hard to concentrate on prepping for his newscast due to the cheering at the World Cup fan hub at Rockefeller Center. “The fans were particularly adept at mimicking sportscaster Andres Cantor’s lengthy ‘Goal!’ call!” Q See the extended version of Sports Beat every week at qchron.com.

All that rhythm and jazz: Find it at Rufus King

by Andrew Karpan associate editor

The drummer Steve Kroon has toured the world with Luther Vandross, playing the congos for decades behind the popular R&B crooner. But Kroon says his own heart never strayed far from the quiet streets of Southeastern Queens that he grew up in.

“My family came here in the ’50s, so I came up during the great jazz era when, you know, all the great stars were here,” Kroon told the Chronicle, waxing nostalgic about his youth growing up on 173rd Street.

“Around the corner from me was Eddie ‘Lockjaw’ Davis,” he said. “Arthur Prysock was three blocks away. Lester Young — they call him ‘The Prez’ — he was four blocks away. And then about six blocks in the other direction was Addisleigh Park, that’s where everybody was.”

These days, Kroon has been helping book the two-day Downtown Jamaica Riddim and Jazz Festival, put on annually every summer since 2021 at Rufus King Park, by the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning.

This year, Kroon opted to book both himself and the singer Dennis Collins, a longtime studio musician.

“This year, I thought that I hadn’t done the festival in a couple of years, so I said,

‘hey, I’m going to do it this year,’ because it’s really exciting to get to see a lot of old friends that I grew up with and people from the neighborhood,” Kroon said.

“And the other act I picked, Dennis Collins — he’s an old friend of mine and a great R&B vocalist and he’s worked with everybody,” from the late Luther Vandross to more recent Grammy-winning crooners

such as Jon Batiste.

Collins and Kroon will kick off the festival on Friday, July 24, at 7 p.m., and they’ll be followed on Saturday at 6 p.m. by a quartet led by Branford Marsalis, the iconic New Orleans saxophonist (and older brother of Lincoln Center’s Wynton Marsalis), who helmed a handful of celebrated albums in the late ’80s and early ’90s, appeared in the

Spike Lee movie “School Daze,” and served a stint operating the house band when Jay Leno took over “The Tonight Show,” a post he quit after just about three years.

He’s kept busy in the years since, and his most recent release, a reinterpretation of an ’80s Keith Jarrett album, his debut on Blue Note, netted Marsalis a Best Jazz Instrumental nod from the Grammys.

Marsalis was the choice of Rio Sakairi, the longtime booker at the Jazz Gallery in Manhattan, a well-connected spot in the city’s jazz scene and part of the festival’s connection to the present.

“Jazz is still living and it’s alive to this day,” David Smith, the main artist liaison for the Jamaica Center, told the Chronicle. All the festival’s jazz picks went through Sakairi, Smith said.

“What success looks to us like is just seeing different people from different backgrounds, sharing the same experience, discovering new artists, reconnecting with their culture,” said Smith. “If people walk away feeling more connected to another, to one another, and to Queens, then we’ve accomplished our goal.”

The festival takes place July 24 and 25 at Rufus King Park and is free and open to the public. Visit jcal.org for more about the festival, performers and set times. Q

How New York shaped Noguchi, and vice versa

continued from page 19

into a space for climbing, sliding, gathering and exploration, a stark contrast from the conventional cookie-cutter play areas that plague today’s city blocks. Noguchi believed strongly that play should be openended, flexible and unrestricted, encouraging creativity and social interaction instead of prescribing specific activities. His revolutionary take on playgrounds can be felt across his models for “Play-

Crossword Answers

scapes for Great Apes House, Bronx Zoo,” “Contoured Playground,” “United Nations Playground” and “Riverside Playground.”

“I think my kids would enjoy playing here,” said one visitor of the recreational space designs.

“Sculpture for NY World’s Fair Labor Pavilion” is Noguchi’s monumental work designed for the 1939-40 World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, but never installed. Conceived as a tribute to the dignity and strength of labor, the sculpture reflects the power of the worker.

Not all of Noguchi’s public works remained unrealized. “Unidentified Object” still stands in Central Park, as does “Sunken Garden” at 28 Liberty St., continuing his dialogue with New York’s public landscape.

During a recent visit to the museum, one visitor, José, reflected on the archaic nature of Noguchi’s enduring forms, observing, “This is like very old art. We have this in my country [Mexico], too.” These monumental configurations, such as “Sculpture for Chase Manhattan Bank Plaza” and “Memorial to the Atomic Dead” draw on ancient artistic traditions while remaining strikingly modern.

Another visitor, Paul, wished more of Noguchi’s proposals had come to fruition.

“What I’ve gathered most is just how much better this city could have been if he’d been allowed to do some of the public works in the parks that he wanted to do,”

Paul said. “Politics at the time and things like that prevented what would have become something for the city. I think if it had happened today we would have been a lot more open to it. That’s kind of been the biggest takeaway for me.” Q

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NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF QUEENS, BLUE CASTLE (CAYMAN) LTD, Plaintiff, vs. VANESSA HOLMESBENJAMIN, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on March 17, 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, NY 11435 on August 7, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., premises known as 130-65 227th Street, Springfield Gardens, NY 11413. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Queens, City and State of New York, Block 12905 and Lot 5. Approximate amount of judgment is $787,660.31 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #711867/2017. Sally Attia, Esq., Referee Vallely Mitola Ryan PLLC, 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 165, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff

Notice of Qualification of 39 WICH LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/06/26. Office location: Queens County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/22/26. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 47-55 37th St., Long Island City, NY11101. DE addr. of LLC: c/o Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 42-25 9th Street LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State (SSNY) on 7/1/26. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Cogency Global Inc., 122 E 42nd St, 18th Fl, NY, NY 10168. Purpose: any lawful activity.

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Supplemental Summons and Notice of Object of Action SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF QUEENS ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE INDEX #: 710960/2024 PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION Plaintiff, vs JOSHUA L. CLAY AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, STEPHON L. CLAY, SR. AKA STEPHON L. CLAY AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, RODNEY L. WILLIAMS AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, ROBIN A. WILLIAMS AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, ROBERT LEE WILLIAMS AKA ROBERT L. WILLIAMS, AKA ROBERT WILLIAMS, JR. AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, UNKNOWN HEIRS OF ELIZABETH WILLIAMS IF LIVING, AND IF HE/SHE BE DEAD, ANY AND ALL PERSONS UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, CLAIMING, OR WHO MAY CLAIM TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN, OR GENERAL OR SPECIFIC LIEN UPON THE REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THIS ACTION; SUCH UNKNOWN PERSONS BEING HEREIN GENERALLY DESCRIBED AND INTENDED TO BE INCLUDED IN WIFE, WIDOW, HUSBAND, WIDOWER, HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DESCENDANTS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, LIENORS, AND ASSIGNEES OF SUCH DECEASED, ANY AND ALL PERSONS DERIVING INTEREST IN OR LIEN UPON, OR TITLE TO SAID REAL PROPERTY BY, THROUGH OR UNDER THEM, OR EITHER OF THEM, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE WIVES, WIDOWS, HUSBANDS, WIDOWERS, HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DESCENDANTS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, LIENORS, AND ASSIGNS, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES, EXCEPT AS STATED, ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE IRS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, CITY REGISTER OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF QUEENS “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the Subject Property described in the Complaint, Defendant(s). MORTGAGED PREMISES: 11825 179th Street St. Albans, NY 11434 To the Above named Defendant: You are hereby summoned to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Supplemental Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this Supplemental Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Supplemental Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Queens. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. TO Unknown Heirs of Elizabeth Williams Defendant In this Action. The foregoing Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. Denise Johnson of the Supreme Court Of The State Of New York, dated the Sixth day of March, 2025 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Queens, in the City of Jamaica. The object of this action is to foreclosure a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by Elizabeth Williams (who died on May 20, 2023, a resident of the county of Queens, State of New York) dated the February 13, 2018, to secure the sum of $787,500.00 and recorded at Instrument No. CRFN 2018000069070 in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County on February 27, 2018. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed July 28, 2023 and recorded on August 2, 2023, in the City Register of the City of New York, Queens County at CRFN 2023000194256. The property in question is described as follows: 11825 179th Street, St. Albans, NY 11434 NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this Foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. DATED: June 24, 2026 Gross Polowy LLC Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s) 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221 The law firm of Gross Polowy LLC and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. 90656

NOTICE OF SALE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK (ISLIP)

Allison Lending, LLC.; Plaintiff v. NLL Properties Incorporated et al; Defendants Attorneys for Plaintiff: Hasbani & Light, P.C., 450 7th Ave, Suite 1901, NY, NY 10123; (212) 6436677 Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on 12/30/25, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder in EDNYIslip, 100 Federal Plaza, Central Islip, NY 11722. On August 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM Premises known as 109-09 211th Street, Queens Village, NY 11429 and identified on the Queens County Tax Map as Block: 11 Lots: 7-9 All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the County of Queens, City and State of New York. As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale. Sold subject to all the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale. Approximate amount of judgment: $297,011.18 plus interest and costs. Docket Number: 23-cv-9385 Janine T. Lynam, Esq., Referee

Notice of Formation of Desi Asian Nepali Job Agency LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on May 11, 2026. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to the LLC at: 72-35 Broadway, Suite 210, Jackson Heights, NY 11372. Purpose: Any lawful business activity.

Notice of Formation of FRONTIER SUMMIT LOGISTICS LLC

Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/22/2026. 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: FEI DONG, 58-01 215TH STREET, BAYSIDE HILLS, NY 11364. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

EQUAL HOUSING. Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, familial status or disability in connection with the sale or rental of residential real estate. Queens Chronicle does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect housing discrimination call the Open Housing Center (the Fair Housing Agency for the five boroughs of New York) at 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.

Sunnyside, 50-22 40 St, #5E. 1 BR, 1 bath apt. $2,600/mo. Newly renovated, elevator Co-op bldg, brand new carpet, full kitchen, brand new countertops, board approval required. Avail NOW. Call Javier Cortes (347) 200-0315. Capri Jet Realty

Legal Notices

GILSID, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/21/26. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 164-34 89th Street, Howard Beach, NY 11414. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of JUSTIN LIU VENTURES LLC

Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/30/2026. 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: JUSTIN LIU, 48-10 202ND STREET, BAYSIDE, NY 11364. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Williamsburg, 141 N 8 St, #1R. 2 BR, 1 bath apt. $5,500/mo. Newly renovated, W/D, SS, new kitchen, HWF, decorative fireplace. Avail June 1. Call Theo Eastwind (718) 536-7787. Capri Jet Realty Williamsburg, 99 Meserole St. #4. 3 BR, 2 bath duplex apt. $4,700/ mo. Fully renovated, shared courtyard, separate kitchen, LR. Cats OK. Avail NOW. Call Agata Landa (914) 255-7284. Capri Jet Realty

Call 718-205-8000

Legal Notices

NY Tour Planner LLC filed 7/13/26. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail to: 2341 204th St., Bayside, NY 11360. Reg Agent of LLC: Yonsei Accounting, Inc., 213-33 39th Ave., #320, Bayside, NY 11361. Purp: any lawful.

PRINCE RESTAURANT LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/16/2026. 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, 33-33 Prince Street, 4th FL, Flushing, NY 11354. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

For