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Greenpoint ferry stop suddenly closes

webadmin on June 2, 2021

The India Street ferry stop in Greenpoint suddenly closed on May 23 and will remain closed until further notice. The announcement was made via a message on Twitter that attributed the service change to a “mechanical issue.”
Since the closure, the MTA has set up a free shuttle bus between Greenpoint and Hunters Point South. The bus runs every 40 minutes in both directions.
The NYC Ferry service is operated by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) rather than the MTA, and has been in operation since 2017.
The expansive transportation system spans 60 nautical miles and stops at 21 landing sites. However, three of those stops – South Williamsburg, DUMBO, and now Greenpoint – are currently closed.
“On Sunday evening, service was suspended to the Greenpoint landing after a captain noticed an issue with one of the pier piles,” read a statement from NYCEDC. Yesterday, the landing and piles were removed from the site to be inspected. At this time, the Greenpoint landing remains out of service in both directions.
“Lendlease [the real estate company that owns the landing] is currently performing an examination of the pier’s infrastructure and we anticipate they will share a timeline for repairs next week,” the statement continued. “As always, safety remains NYC Ferry’s top priority.”
“We expect to have a clearer picture of the extent of the needed repairs, and a timeline for restoring ferry service next week,” stated a spokesperson from Lendlease. “We are dedicated to restoring the ferry as quickly and safely as possible.”
The NYC Ferry recently made headlines when a ship crashed into a docking barge at Brooklyn Bridge Park on May 13. The incident shattered multiple windows on the vessel, but luckily none of the 27 passengers onboard were injured.
Service alerts, schedules, and other updates for every line of the NYC Ferry system can be found on ferry.nyc or the NYC Ferry app.

Brooklyn DA, clergy work to stop gun violence

webadmin on June 2, 2021

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez last week announced a new partnership with local clergy to help limit gun violence. The announcement comes as New York City gun violence rises to the highest rates in more than a decade.
Over 500 people have already been shot in 2021, a figure that will likely rise as the warmer summer months approach.
“Trusted community members can do a lot to stem violence,” Gonzalez said during a press conference in Bedford-Stuyvesant. “With the right training and support, community members can effectively intervene in disputes and conflicts.”
The DA’s partnership with local clergy is meant to prevent shootings before they happen by bringing new programs of support to various communities. They will work with NYPD officials to provide counseling to at-risk children and organize paid internships to get kids working and off the streets.
The new program will be piloted at the 67th Precinct in East Flatbush, the 69th Precinct in Canarsie, the 70th Precinct in Flatbush, the 79th Precinct in Bedford-Stuyvesant, and the 83rd Precinct in Bushwick.
Gonzales emphasized the importance of community-based solutions, and expressed his hope that the partnership with the clergy would open the doorway to other innovative programs.
“Finding community-based solutions to violence must be a priority in our fight against gun violence,” said Gonzalez. “I believe our faith leaders have an important role to play and can help us turn these crime upticks around because they have the experience, credibility and the resources to support victims of crime and to reach vulnerable youth and set them on a better path.
“Law enforcement has to take a step back,” he added. “We can’t arrest our way out of this problem.”
The new program builds upon the preexisting GodSquad that Pastor Gilford T. Monrose, president of the 67th Precinct Clergy Council. operates out of the precinct.
GodSquad has worked in collaboration with the NYPD and other community groups for over ten years to reduce gun violence in East Flatbush.
“Clergy councils have long served as a liaison between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” said Monrose. “By building on this collection of clergy leaders, this partnership will embody a holistic, multi-pronged approach with the help of our very diverse Brooklyn clergy.”
DA Gonzales’s announcement comes at a time when New York City’s gun violence has spiked to the highest levels in over a decade.

Advocates rally for reforms to parole system

webadmin on June 2, 2021

Families with incarcerated loved ones and formerly incarcerated individuals rallied in MacDonald Park in Forest Hills last week demanding state lawmakers pass the People’s Campaign for Parole Justice platform.
The People’s Campaign for Parole Justice is a statewide, grassroots campaign pushing for parole reform in New York State by calling on lawmakers in Albany to pass two pieces of legislation.
The first bill would allow the state Board of Parole to provide an evaluation for potential parole release for incarcerated people aged 55 and older who have already served 15 or more years.
The second piece of legislation would provide more meaningful parole reviews for incarcerated people who are already parole eligible.
“We are facing a crisis of mass incarceration and must enact change to foster a culture of rehabilitation over punishment,” said Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi of Forest Hills. “These bills would promote racial justice and ensure that older adults serving long sentences have an opportunity to demonstrate their transformation, safely return to their communities, and save the state hundreds of millions of dollars that could be reinvested to meet critical community needs.”
The rally was joined by other organizations like Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) where
Roslyn McLeod of the group Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) lost her husband while he was still behind bars.
“My husband was supposed to come home May 6, but somehow something happened and he wasn’t released,” said McLeod. “So they sent me his torn up clothes and today I have his death certificate. It is undetermined, I still don’t know why he died.”
Jamell Henderson of New York Communities of Change said bills do not guarantee parole, but rather guarantees opportunities for parole for everyone eligible.
“Someone is crying behind bars because they were before the parole board not the fifth time,or sixth time, some cases not even the tenth time, and were denied parole,” said Henderson. “They were told that they need to continue on the path of punishment rather than the path of progress and redemption.”
“The thing about The People’s Campaign for Parole Justice is that we are fighting for something that should already exist: a fair, timely, and just parole process,” added Sandrea Mandell of One Queens Indivisible. “We all believe in redemption, rehabilitation, second chances, and helping families and communities heal.”

Brooklyn Diocese asks for more police protection

webadmin on June 2, 2021

The Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn recently requested the NYPD increase patrols near churches in Brooklyn and Queens. The response comes after a series of recent incidents on Church properties throughout the city.
“It is disheartening to see acts of religious intolerance against the Catholic Church, most recently at St. Athanasius and our Diocesan offices,” said diocese deputy press secretary John Quaglione.
The two incidents Quaglione referenced happened within a week of each other. In the early morning hours of May 14, a crucifix was toppled and damaged and an American Flag burned at St. Athanasius Roman Catholic Church in Bensonhurst.
The damaged crucifix was discovered by Monsignor David Cassato around 8 a.m. on his walk from the rectory to the academy to greet the students. The crucifix was installed as a tribute to the monsignor’s late mother.
On May 17, a statue of Mary holding the baby Jesus was found vandalized near the diocese’s administrative office in Windsor Terrace. Jesus’s head was removed. Diocese officials are working towards repairing the statue to its original form.
The incidents come after a year in which New York’s places of worship have been either closed or seen their capacity greatly limited.
“Many people are now just getting comfortable returning to church after more than a year of hesitation and fear stemming from the coronavirus pandemic,” explained Quaglione. “We have now reopened our churches at 100 percent capacity and the last thing we want is our faithful to feel unsafe attending Mass.”
Despite the incidents, Quaglione is confident that the diocese can thrive and be of service as the pandemic slowly comes to a close.
“As we continue to see the light at the end of the tunnel of the COVID-19 pandemic, there may be people who are experiencing anger and frustration over the loss of a loved one, employment, or income,” said Quaglione. “Our message to them is to let the Church help you through the mental health services offered through Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens.”
The diocese is not the only religious community experiencing a surge in hate crimes. On May 13, worshipers at the Tayba Islamic Center in Sheepshead Bay were shocked to find anti-Palestine phrases scrawled on the side of the building.
On May 22, a group of Jewish worshipers were verbally assaulted outside of a Borough Park Temple. Both episodes occurred while tensions between Israel and Palestine remained extremely high.

Ingrid Gomez challenging incumbent for council seat

webadmin on June 2, 2021

Although she may be soft spoken, it doesn’t take long to realize that Ingrid Gomez has a bold vision and concrete plan to improve the neighborhoods of Corona, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Lefrak City.
With the Democratic Primary just around the corner, the first-time candidate is looking to unseat incumbent Francisco Moya and bring her own fresh perspective to City Hall.
Ingrid Gomez was born in Colombia and moved to the U.S. with her family when she was seven. After growing up and going to school in the Bronx, Gomez moved to Corona where she has lived ever since.
She is also a social worker at a pre-K center in the district she hopes to one day represent.
“We have a very needy population,” Gomez explained of District 21. “There are a lot of social and emotional needs that children have. As a social worker, I am helping people with their everyday problems.”
The district is one of the most diverse in the city, with a 60 percent foreign-born population that includes large Latino, Asian, and Black communities. Gomez believes that her experience as a social worker gives her insight into the area’s equally diverse issues and needs.
“I saw the conditions of our neighborhood as a social worker that lives in our community,” she said, “be it high rents, access to healthcare, or transportation issues like when the Q23 takes forever. I am living those issues too.”
In addition to social work, Gomez serves as the chair of the Youth Services Committee for Community Board 4, as a board member of the Elmhurst Hospital Community Advisory Board, and as a founding member and organizer for the Corona Mutual Aid Network, an organization that bought groceries and essential items for the sick and homebound during the pandemic.
Despite her long-standing commitment to community service, Gomez did not consider running for office until she was inspired by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 2018 win against incumbent Joe Crowley.
“It really helped me to see that I could also run against an incumbent,” Gomez explained, “that I could throw my hat in the ring and do this.”
Gomez volunteered for Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign and later for Tiffany Cabán’s bid for district attorney. She launched her own City Council campaign in 2019, with the help of some veterans fromthos two previous campaigns.
Gomez has been reaching out to voters for over a year.
“People don’t really understand how absent Moya has been in the district,” Gomez said of her challenger.
She specifically criticized Moya for lackluster garbage pickup and for keeping his office closed since the beginning of the pandemic.
“I was on the ground and Moya was nowhere to be seen,” Gomez continued. “I saw the neglect in the neighborhood.”
Gomez labels herself a progressive, but is quick to highlight concrete plans for achieving her goals.
“When someone asks what progressive means to me, I saythree things, housing is a human right, everyone deserves healthcare, and everyone deserves a dignified living wage,” she said. “I think progressives need to be more specific on how we get there.”
In terms of housing, Gomez advocates for the use of hyper-local area median income numbers rather than numbers that include upstate counties to price affordable housing units.
Additionally, she hopes to abolish the Major Capital Improvement program, which is often abused by landlords and disproportionately impacts low-income New Yorkers.
Additionally, Gomez has her sights set on bringing new youth centers and hospitals to her district. She is particularly eyeing a large plot of land in Willets Point that would be ideal for a new medical facility.
Ironically, it is the same plot where Moya hopes to build a soccer stadium.
“After seeing the pandemic at Elmhurst, I would love to bring another hospital to Corona,” said Gomez. “Willets Points is a prime piece of real estate for that.”
Gomez also believes that her social work experience will add meaningful insight into the citywide discussion about police reform.
“There are certain situations where someone with mental health experience and de-escalation skills are needed,” Gomez explained. “I don’t think the police have that sort of training.”

National Grid to raise rates for NYC customers

webadmin on June 2, 2021

The New York Department of Public Service and National Grid filed a joint proposal that would increase energy rates for approximately 1.9 million customers in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and parts of Long Island.
The agreement would raise bills by an average of $5.56 per month in 2021, and then by $4.89 per month in 2022.
The increase would finance the construction of the highly controversial North Brooklyn Pipeline, as well as other projects in the outer boroughs.
The news comes after two years of negotiations between National Grid and the Department of Public Service amid constant protests against the pipeline project.
Despite the criticism, National Grid holds that the new construction will allow for a safer, more reliable, and more efficient gas supply. vironmental Protection Committee to pitch the pipeline project.
The project would install a new gas pipeline underneath parts of Brownsville, Greenpoint, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Williamsburg. Detractors argue that the pipeline would pollute the ground and water of multiple communities of color and low-income communities, as well as further the city’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Groups such as the Sane Energy Project have opposed National Grid at every step during the pipeline approval process.
“This project is not a replacement of leaking pipelines, it is an expansion to charge us, the rate-payers, millions of dollars in rate hikes to fill their shareholders pockets,” reads the Sane Energy Project’s mission statement. “Our goal is to stop this project and push Governor Cuomo to mandate that our Public Service Commission invests our rate-payer dollars in renewable energy and efficiency that is affordable and accessible to all New Yorkers regardless of income or zip code.”
The New York Department of Public Service must hold evidentiary hearings to approve its agreement with National Grid, during which it will collect statements of opposition and support. The hearings are tentatively scheduled for July and August.

Shafran, Weprin to endorse each other’s campaigns

webadmin on June 2, 2021

Austin Shafran and David Weprin will endorse each other in their races for City Council and comptroller, respectively.
The will make the announcement at 3 p.m. today in northeast Queens.
More than 15 years ago, Shafran took a job with Weprin while the latter was serving his own stint on the City Council.
“He is an experienced and trusted leader and a valued member of our Queens community,” the current assemblyman said of Shafran. “He will make a terrific City Council member, one who will put the needs of his constituents first because he understands them and will fight each and every day for them.”
While on the City Council, Weprin served as chair of the Finance Committee, and Shafran said he watched firsthand as he guided the city through that fiscal crisis.
“There is no one I would rather have as our fiscal watchdog to help restore and rebuild our economy from the COVID crisis,” said Shafran. “From investing our pension funds to municipal bond and city contract oversight, David has decades of experience that I trust to protect the interests of my family and families like ours across the city.”
Shafran has already picked up dozens of endorsements in his big to replace Paul Vallone on the City Council.
They include Shafran has already secured the endorsements of the New York City Central Labor Council, 32BJ, Hotel Trades Council (HTC) District Council 37, NYS Nurses Association (NYSNA), Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 1, and Teamsters Local 237, 817 and 831, and the United Federation of Teachers, as well as the support of State Senator John Liu and the Queens Democratic Party.

St. Michael’s dedicates facuty room to Sisters

webadmin on June 1, 2021

St. Michael’s Catholic Academy at 136-58 41st Avenue in the Flushing honored the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood at a plaque dedication ceremony in the school’s faculty room.
The Sisters of St. Joseph maintained a strong presence at St. Michael’s since shortly after the school opened in 1851, where they served as administrators, teachers, and counselors.
Sister Tesa Fitzgerald and Sister Joan Gallagher represented the Sisters of St. Joseph at the ceremony. They were joined by Sister Miriam Blake, the last nun to serve as principal, as well as her former assistant, Sister St. William McMahon.
Sister Blake and Sister McMahon are the last Sisters of St. Joseph to serve on the staff at St. Michael’s.
“For over 150 years while ministering at St. Michael’s School, the Sisters of St. Joseph showed strength and courage to face the challenges of the times in Flushing, and globally in their mission as women religious,” said Principal Maureen Rogone. “Their progressive and inclusive approach, not only in education but in social issues, continues to inspire the teaching staff at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy as we are challenged with educational reforms while preparing our students to be responsible global citizens.”

Asian-owned businesses receive $10K grants

webadmin on June 1, 2021

Ten Asian-owned small businesses received a helping hand from Fiserv, a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology.
At last week’s event at Citi Field, which was hosted in recognition of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, each small business received a $10,000 grant to support their ongoing operations and continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Minority-owned businesses continue to be disproportionately impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many Asian-owned businesses encountering prejudice in addition to economic impact,” said Fiserv senior vice president Mia Shernoff. ”Today’s grant recipients are pillars in their local communities.”
Grants were awarded as part of the Fiserv Back2Business program, a $50 million commitment to support small, minority-owned business that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic and social unrest.
In addition to the grants, each small business was presented with a Clover Flex handheld point-of-sale device from Fiserv, with built-in capabilities to accept payments, conduct business, and track sales. Businesses also received a customized New York Mets jersey and tickets to an upcoming Mets game at Citi Field.
“We are proud that our home in Flushing is also home to more Asian and Pacific Islander New Yorkers than any neighborhood in the City,” said Mets president Sandy Alderson. “These grants will bring awareness and assist minority-owned businesses to get back to business.”
The small businesses receiving grants included:
• 3N Convenience – Binita Shah’s convenience store serves customers in the Bronx.
• 886 – Eric Sze and Andy Chuang fuse their Taiwanese heritage with New York City to create an ingenious, exciting restaurant experience.
• Big D’s Grub Truck – Dennis Kum offers food influenced by Chinese and Ghana roots. In 2020, his truck served first responders, hospital workers and others in need.
• Coffee Project New York – Owners Chi Sum Ngai and Kaleena Teoh not only serve coffee, they teach others how to make it professionally.
• Contra – Jeremiah Stone and Fabian von Hauske’s restaurant showcases New York state’s best produce, with a focus on natural wine.
• Erawan Thai Cuisine – Paul Lim’s restaurant has been part of the Queens community since 1999.
• Heart of Dinner – Yin Chang and Moonlynn Tsai fight food insecurity and isolation among Asian American seniors in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.
• Maxi’s Noodle – Maxi Lau’s restaurant serves dumplings and Hong Kong-style foods.
• Pho Che – David Lee oversees this local Vietnamese restaurant that’s a favorite for delivery.
• Wowfulls – David Chan brings Instagram-worthy 1950’s-style egg waffles, a popular Hong Kong dessert, to New York City.
“The past year has been tough for small businesses in Queens, as we were the epicenter of the epicenter of the pandemic,” said Thomas Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “As the most diverse county in America, minority-owned businesses add to the unique character of our neighborhoods, are essential to our local economy and will play a pivotal role in our borough’s recovery.”

New retirement home for park animals

webadmin on June 1, 2021

The Parks Department is sending the concrete animals children have been playing on for decades into retirement.
Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver last week announced plans for the creation of the very first “NYC Parks Home for Retired Playground Animals.”
The new grove, located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, will be a contemplative space where New Yorkers can visit these concrete creatures to enjoy a moment of nostalgia and salute some of the city’s hardest working public servants.
“After decades of service to New York City, and with perfect attendance records across the board, it’s time for these Parkies to hang up their hats and enjoy a life of leisure,” said Silver. “Instead of moving down south to Florida, they will get their place in the sun in Flushing.”
Five animals – two dolphins, one aardvark, one camel, and one frog who until now were living out their last years in storage – will be the first residents in the new space, which is set to open this fall.
The animals will remain in their current state, without repainting or touchups. The space will include new plantings, as well as benches. New pathways will allow parkgoers to easily access the area from three separate points.
Most of the concrete animals in city parks were added in the 1980s and 90s under former Commissioner Henry Stern, who tasked Parks designers to incorporate animal art into every new playground project.
While some features were designed by staff in-house, most (like the frog, which can be found in many New York City playgrounds) were prefabricated by manufacturers.
As these playgrounds are renovated, the objects are often removed to make way for new play features and to add more accessible play space.
The concrete animals were discarded when they reached the end of their service, but starting now these worn and much-loved figures will make Flushing Meadows their home.

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