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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

A homeless man was charged in the brutal assault of a 52-year-old woman near 72nd Road and Kissena Boulevard moments after she dropped off her son at school in Kew Gardens Hills on April 30, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced Thursday.

Ronald Williams, 21, was taken into custody Tuesday morning by detectives from the NYPD’s Regional Fugitive Task Force and Special Victims Unit with the help of U.S. Marshals at a hotel in Columbia, S.C.

Williams was extradited back to New York City, where he was arraigned Thursday morning before Queens Criminal Court Judge Jeffrey A. Gershuy on a criminal complaint charging him with assault, sexual abuse and unlawful imprisonment. Gershuny held the defendant without bail and ordered him to return to court June 8. If convicted, Williams faces up to 25 years in prison.

“The defendant brutally attacked a Queens mother so viciously that she was unrecognizable when she was found unconscious at the bottom of a building’s stairwell,” Brown said. “No one should have to worry about fending off a sexual attack on the streets of our county at any time of the day or night. Despite the defendant’s efforts to escape justice, he was fortunately apprehended and will now stand accountable for this horrific crime.”

The victim was dragged to an outdoor stairwell, sexually assaulted and beaten, according to the criminal charges. Police from the 107th Precinct responded to a 911 call of a possible sexual assault and found the woman unconscious with trauma to the face and body, according to the NYPD. EMS arrived and took the victim to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Queens, where she remains in serious but stable condition, police said.

Her injuries include a fractured vertebrae in her neck and a fractured orbital bone, according to the Queens DA’s office, and she needed four staples in her head as a result of an injury, which is consistent with blunt force trauma.

During his arraignment, prosecutors said Williams made a videotaped confession. They read a statement Williams allegedly gave to investigators in South Carolina.

“I pushed her down the stairs,” Williams allegedly said. “I wasn’t going to rape her. I don’t know how her pants got pulled down. I get angry and black out sometimes.”

Williams, whose last known address was at the Saratoga Family Inn shelter in Jamaica, said nothing in court, and his legal aide attorney entered a plea of not guilty.

The NYPD identified Williams as a suspect in the case last Saturday, warning he was extremely dangerous and could attack again. Police released video of him riding the Q44 bus about an hour before the April 30 attack and the investigation that led to William’s arrest in South Carolina was carried out by a 40-member special tactical team of investigators working the case which they called a top priority.

“It’s been proven over time that we have a very long reach and a very long memory,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said. “I have confidence, the utmost confidence, in my detectives as well as our partners and a special thank you to the marshals for our help in that case.”

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

Elected officials in western Queens are united in staunch opposition to the de Blasio administration’s plan to build a deck over much of the 180-acre Sunnyside Yard and construct a small city with 24,000 apartments at a cost of $19 billion.

They were annoyed the city and Amtrak announced their agreement May 1 to formalize their collaboration and select a consulting team to lead master planning beginning this summer without having input in the process.

“I am opposed to the mega-development being proposed for Sunnyside Yards,” City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) said. “Sunnyside, Long Island City and Astoria are already underserved by transit and this proposal does nothing to assure me that transit infrastructure is being taken into consideration here. As the population of Long Island City continues to grow exponentially, the city is not doing enough to meet the needs of the residents and now the administration wants to add another 24,000 units with this proposal. Once again, this administration is imposing their vision for this community on us and it is not our vision. Moving forward with a plan to deck and develop Sunnyside Yards is outrageous and I will not support it.”

State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) has watched the unprecedented development in Long Island City and is concerned with the lack of infrastructure.

“Western Queens is home to New York’s fastest growing neighborhoods and our infrastructure is already stretched to its limits,” Gianaris said. “I will not endorse any proposal for development at Sunnyside Yards that is not supported by the community and fails to include improvements for mass transit, schools parks, and other community needs.”

U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) also objected to the process that included little or no community feedback.

“Many of my constituents’ concerns about the impact this development would have on their lives and communities have not been heard or addressed,” Crowley said. “That must happen before the project could move forward.”

State Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-Long Island City) was angered that the city and Amtrak announced the creation of a Steering Committee comprised of 28 community leaders that will spend 18 months hosting public meetings and workshops, attending civic meetings and canvassing to better understand the needs of individuals in western Queens. Nolan was not consulted on the makeup of the group.

“I am incredibly disappointed that Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen did not reach out to get my input as the elected representative of this district for over 30 years,” Nolan said. “I have worked closely with the mayor on many issues and it is shocking to me to see community voices denied in this process at the very beginning. I commend the many talented leaders on this group, but it must be more diverse and reflective of our western Queens community. I must insist that locally elected officials be able to recommend community leaders to this panel, that it be expanded to include more voices and that more residents and businesses, not just nonprofit groups, be included.”

Nolan announced she would be introducing legislation to give Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature more input into the planning process. Meanwhile, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, which is overseeing the master planning effort, maintains that elected representatives will have a seat at the table.

“All local elected officials have been invited to participate in the Sunnyside Yard Steering Committee,” a NYCEDC spokeswoman said. “The master planning process will include many opportunities for elected and stakeholder engagement. It’s our goal to ensure that the many diverse communities surrounding Sunnyside Yard have a seat at the table in the planning and visioning process.”

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Gina Martinez

TimesLedger Newspapers

One of the parties responsible for the Flushing lot said neighbors should be thankful to them for clearing out a lot that had been abandoned for more than 25 years.

Two weeks ago, neighbors celebrated the clearing of a Flushing lot that they said was being used illegally as storage for a tree service. The 40-24 149th St. residential lot was taken over Oct. 12 by Fresh Meadows-based Arnoldo’s Tree Service, according to neighbor Daniel Hollingworth. The lot has been under the management of Frank Camisi of Whitestone-based Camisi Construction LLC, since last year. Neighbors believed Camisi was loaning the lot to Arnoldo’s for storage of their trucks.

But one of the parties managing the lot, who did not want to be identified by name, said neighbors have the story all wrong. He is disputing neighbors’ claims that the company was using the lot as illegal storage and said the lot was being cleared out because it was unusable and disgusting after years of neglect.

“It was not storage,” one of the managers said. “The tree company cleared up all the mess that had been there for the past 25 years. They were there for three to four months because there was a lot to clean up. DOB contacted us. We were not completely aware of what happened, but once they contacted us we completely cleared it. I’m surprised the neighbors are complaining. That place was a complete disaster, it was horrible.”

The manager said it cost almost $50,000 to clean the lot because it was in such poor condition and the owners would not have gotten insurance unless it was cleared. He also added that they understood the neighbors’ complaints about the excessive noise Arnoldo’s would make and that they were there for longer than planned, but as soon as the owners received a notice from the Department of Buildings to clear the lot, the tree service crew left immediately.

“It took that long to cut all trees and shrubs and then they brought in a lot of dirt and gravel,” he said. The manager said when contractors first began the cleanup, they thought they would find dead animals. He said he expected neighbors would be happy that someone finally took the steps to clear the lot and was shocked that they complained.

Arnoldo’s crew left the lot on April 22, but neighbors said the remaining debris is still an eyesore

“We’re happy, yes, but not 100 percent because of the way they left it,” Hollingworth said. “It stinks. If you would take a look at it, there are holes all over the place with cement blocks everywhere and left-behind wood. The dirt is all messed up and I noticed there is this white crustation. I don’t know if that’s because of chemicals that were spilled.”

The manager said the neighbors complaining about left-over logs is nonsense and that they should be on cloud nine.

“How can they possibly even compare that property to what it was for so many years, I don’t get it,” hesaid. “There were weeds 15 feet high, trees 30 feet high. The lot is parallel to the Long Island Railroad tracks and LIRR sent notices to the owners to try to clean up in case of any maintenance. God forbid if there was an accident or any repairs to be made to the retaining walls. Engineers would not have set foot on the property. Now they’re complaining because of a couple of logs. You couldn’t even open the gate with the mosquitoes and animals. We cleared away a 30-yard-long container of trash, not even counting the trees.”

Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmartinez@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4566.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

Borough President Melinda Katz issued a recommendation Thursday to approve a zoning change that would allow developers to build 13 stories instead of 10 on an empty lot in Elmhurst with a set of conditions.

The city Board of Standards and Appeals will now make the final decision whether or not to allow the widely opposed building slated for 40 percent affordable housing and a Target center.

The developers changed recently course on the project by adjusting the rental rates they intended to establish for low-income residents after public outcry at a series of advisory board meetings.

Sun Equity Partners and Heskel Group revealed their revised plan for the 13-story housing and retail structure, with a Target store slated for the ground level, to an advisory land use hearing before Queens Borough President Melinda Katz May 3.

Katz only request that the developers maintain a minimum of 30 percent affordable units, manage traffic congestion and that the Target hire neighborhood residents only.

Community Board 4 had already voted against the requested zoning change to allow the developers to build three stories taller than the 10-story cap at 40-31 82nd St. Instead, CB 4 recommended the city Board of Standards and Appeals downzone the property to prevent gentrification.

At the May 3 hearing, attended by anti-gentrification groups from western Queens, Sun Equity attorney Nora Martins said they were shooting to accommodate $41,000 annual median income combined per household now as opposed to the earlier proposed $61,000.

“We decided to go with a deeper affordability option under the mandatory inclusionary housing program, which requires 20 percent of that to be an average of 40 percent annual median income, which is considered very low income,” Martins said. “We heard the feedback from the community and we’ve been speaking with the Council member and the borough president, and we understand that we have to serve this community as part of this project.”

But the hearing at Borough Hall, although well-attended by opponents of the housing and retail structure slated for a Target store, was in stark contrast to the March CB 4 meeting, which saw the auditorium at Elmhurst Hospital packed with protesters.

This time supporters of the housing and retail structure had the majority with 19 out the 31 public speakers arguing there is not enough of the current housing stock, which is old and deteriorating, to support the crowded neighborhood, while Target could bring economic benefits.

Bishop Mitchell Taylor, the CEO of Urban Upbound, which advocates for affordable housing, backed the plan because of the overcrowding in Elmhurst, where he said “people are living on top of each other in the neighborhood.”

Queens Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tom Grech supported the plan for its potential to create jobs.

“From our back and forth with the folks involved, over retail 200 jobs [are expected from the Target location] in an environment where retail is under assault in many parts of the country for lots different reasons, but we support this project based upon the inclusionary housing… as well as the community space being offered,” Grech said.

City Councilman Francisco Moya (D-Jackson Heights) issued a letter to Katz’s office in support of the project as his predecessor Julissa Ferreras-Copeland did, but his support was only based on the developers’ agreement to meet more affordable rates.

Queens Neighborhoods United members were also at the hearing in force to challenge the perception that the Target would create jobs while bringing new and affordable living arrangements.

“I will see my community completely displaced if this rezoning happens,” said Tania Mattos, organizer for QNU, who claimed to have over 600 petition signatures and 15 business owners from 82nd Street who are opposed to the Target project. “If there is a Target, we’re going to boycott that Target.”

Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, a candidate for Congress facing U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) in the upcoming primary election, said she opposed the project because there are three times the amount of vacant units in the city as there are homeless people, which ranges between 60,000 and 70,000.

“The problem isn’t space, its unaffordability,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “[Forty] percent of these units are unaffordable, that means that [40] percent of the people in this community will not be able to live here or to stay, which is the core of the problem of displacement.”

Those against the rezoning remembered the movie theater that used to occupy the space as one of the few in the city to offer Spanish subtitles for the heavy Latino population in the area. The building formerly occupied by the theater is no longer standing.

The borough president’s office has yet to release its advisory decision on the Sun Equity’s rezoning request, which will go to the city Board of Standards and Appeals for a final determination.

Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon came back to Queens to help plant trees in Jamaica Saturday.

The actress, who was born in Jackson Heights, appeared in collaboration with the New York Restoration Project, and NYC Film Green Saturday to plant 20 fruit trees she donated at NYCHA’s South Jamaica Houses in Jamaica.

In 2015, NYRP helped South Jamaica Houses grow a small garden into a large and vibrant community space through the Gardens for the City program, which lends materials, labor, and support to neighborhoods throughout the city. In the last three years, residents have grown tomatoes, sweet potatoes and kale and shared it with elderly residents living in the houses.

Sarandon complimented the South Jamaica House residents on their thriving garden and said she was sure the fruit trees were going to be well taken care of.

“I was born and raised in New York in Jackson Heights and I raised my kids here,” she said. “So I’m very proud to be a New Yorker, as are my kids, and the city has been so generous to the film and TV community, so it was a really easy thing to talk to people about offsetting their carbon footprint by planting trees. It excites me so much, everybody was enthusiastic about the project. In the future I look forward to showing everybody where the trees went and to be able to say more tree are being planted.”

Eleanor Ince-Roberts, a resident of the houses and the Green Committee captain, said she was thankful for Sarandon’s investment and that she has loved caring for the community garden.

“I want to teach others how to grow their own food because I believe your diet should be life-giving, not life-threatening,” she said.

NYRP Executive Director Deborah Marton said the organization hopes to expand its footprint and make a difference in all five boroughs to create a safer, healthier, and happier city.

“We’re here because we know everyone who lives in South Jamaica Houses believes in the power of green spaces to forge stronger communities,” she said. “At NYRP we know access to nature is a fundamental human right and that clean, safe and beautiful open spaces make for safer happier communities. Susan is here because she is an incredible advocate for NYC and social justice.”

Other donors to the NYC Film Green program include producer Ryan Murphy, and actors Ben Stiller, Edward Norton and Naomi Watts.

Singer, actress Bette Midler founded New York Restoration Project in 1995 to plant trees, revive public gardens and bring green back into city life.

Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmartinez@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4566.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

Ferry service will be getting a major boost from the city’s executive budget, just in time for summer.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the expansion of the NYC Ferry program with $300 million from the FY 2019 executive budget, which will mean twice as many boats in the fleet, while bringing more of the larger craft and improving piers.

“It will allow us to immediately increase service this spring and summer because we saw what happened last summer. Demand was astronomical,” de Blasio said. “So, we’re going to be able to increase service right away and cut wait time in the process. We’re going to be doubling the size of our fleet and there’s going to be a lot more of the bigger boats that will allow us to get a lot more people where they’re going and reduce the wait, reduce the lines.”

The city plans to increase its capacity on the water at the beginning of summer and double its fleet with normal-sized ferries, which carry about 150 passengers, and the larger boats, which transport about 350, with three of the heftier vessels arriving for beach season, according to the mayor’s office.

The $300 million slated for the expansion tacks onto the $325 million investment already made by the city, as well as the $30 million required for annual operations.

“Not only is this about people getting around more easily and having more and more New Yorkers not have to live a life of frustration in that traffic jam or on that crowded subway train,” the mayor said. “This is also about fairness, reaching a lot of communities that were underserved, getting a lot of people opportunity that didn’t have it, and fairness because it’s creating job opportunities for a lot of New Yorkers who deserve them.”

Ferry service, however, is perhaps the only transit infrastructure project de Blasio is eager to subsidize.

In the release of the city’s $89 billion budget, the mayor made his animosity clear toward the state and MTA for their budget, which required City Hall to pay for half of the $836 million Subway Action Plan to bring stable service to the failing public transit system.

De Blasio has long held his ground in the belief that infrastructure under the purview of the MTA should be paid for by the state despite criticism urging his office to fund the $212 million Fair Fare proposal — half-priced fares for low income New Yorkers — and bus improvements.

Wait times will also be cut in half from 35 minutes to 25 between boats and express service to the Rockaways, which saw heavy ridership last summer, will be introduced from Pier 11 at Wall Street.

James Patchett, CEO of the city Economic Development Cooperation, said the current fleet was based on projections, which set an expectation of 4.6 million riders per year, but that number has now gone up to about 9 million per year.

Following last summer’s economic boom in the Rockaways, along with freshly installed boardwalk up and down the beach, ferry service was recognized by the city for its role bringing day-trippers back to the peninsula and bring in money to businesses in those communities.

Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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Source: Times Ledger

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TimesLedger Newspapers

Residents in the Jackson Heights community along with safety advocates and elected officials gathered Saturday at IS 230 for a rally and vigil in remembrance of 9-year-old Giovanni Ampuero, who was hit and killed by a driver on 70th Street along Northern Boulevard April 28.

Upon entering the IS 230 schoolyard located at 34th Avenue and 73rd Street, dozens of residents were given a photo of Giovanni Ampuero to tape to their jackets. The community shared their suggestions about improving traffic road safety along Northern Boulevard and offered support to Giovanni’s father, Raul Ampuero, mother Karen Manrique, and brothers Giancarlo, 14, and Johnathon, 20. Afterwards, they walked in silence to a makeshift memorial site adorned with flowers, candles, teddy bears, and photos of Giovanni where they said prayers and offered condolences to the family.

Street safety organizations such as Make Queens Safer, Families for Safe Streets, and Transportation Alternatives Queens Volunteer Committee organized the vigil and rally.

Hours before the vigil, Raul Ampuero, 46, of Fresh Meadows, visited the park where he used to take his son Giovanni and buy ice cream afterwards.

He remembered Giovanni as a “tremendous, happy, loving kid with pure eyes” who enjoyed playing with other children at the park.

“Giovanni will always be in our hearts, and in my heart for the rest of my life,” said Ampuero. “I want to thank the community and every single person here for their support.”

Ampuero had contacted Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office to offer suggestions of how to make Northern Boulevard safe for children and to express the grief he is feeling after Giovanni’s death.

“I know his agenda is busy, but at least a phone call would be nice,” said Ampuero. “It hurts me as one father to another that he didn’t reach out to me. I don’t believe I have the support of the mayor and that’s what hurts me.”

Ampuero said he would like to become involved in community efforts to prevent wreckless driving along Northern Boulevard. His goal is to make sure another child does not suffer the same fate as his son, and a parent mourning the loss of their child.

“I would like to see speed cameras that would prevent or minimize a lot of pain,” said Ampuero. “I notice kids like to go to the park on the weekends and they want to go with mommy to Wendy’s and get ice cream. It would help if we had cross guards at certain point areas because that’s an extra life you’re going to save.”

According to Make Queens Safer, an organization formed by two Queens mothers fighting for safer street designs and stronger enforcement of traffic laws, Giovanni Ampuero is the fifth child killed in less than six years on Northern Boulevard from Broadway to Junction Boulevard.

“We are asking the New York City Council to adopt the Vision Zero design standard to prevent dangerous driving and prioritize safety, expansion of speed safety cameras, hit-and-run legislation to increase penalties, and a comprehensive school traffic safety plan,” said Christina Furlong, co-founder of Make Queens Safer,

Other parents voiced their concerns and suggestions for safe roads in the neighborhood.

“One child’s death is one too many,” said Shekar Krishnan, 33, who has a 2-year-old child learning to cross the street. “Let’s never forget this moment and take action together to stop this, because if we don’t, we are failing as a community, our hearts and conscience.”

Lucy Martinez, 41, a parent of two children, said the installment of speeding cameras and more policing around the neighborhood should be considered.

“I always have to remind my kids to look both ways before crossing the street,” said Martinez. “Maybe something can be done this time around if we all come together. We’ll have to try and see.”

Ampuero said there are no words that can give him comfort or that can relieve the pain he’s going through of losing his son. He would like to have a sign of Giovanni’s name placed on 70th Street where he died.

“I want everyone to know that Giovanni didn’t die for no reason,” Ampuero said. “I want this to be a good reason to improve the streets and to do something on behalf of Giovanni.”

Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4526.

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Source: Times Ledger