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By Gina Martinez

TimesLedger Newspapers

Months after the passing of former state Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz (D-Flushing) his State Senate and Assembly colleagues are looking to pass a bill to provide the remainder of his salary to his family.

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Ozone Park) joined Senate colleagues to get a new bill passed that will provide Simanowitz’ widow, Jennifer, with the remainder of his annual legislative salary.

The 45-year-old Assemblyman died in September 2017 after battling an unknown illness. Simanowitz represented the 27th District, which covers College Point, Whitestone, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens Hills, Electchester, Pomonok, Briarwood, Kew Gardens, and Richmond Hill since 2011. Prior to being elected to the state office, he served as the chief of staff to Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn for 15 years until her retirement.

He left behind his wife Jennifer, four children, his parents and his brothers Barry and Alan.

Addabbo, a close friend of the Assemblyman, said this bill will help aid his family following his unexpected death.

“We were all deeply saddened when Assemblyman Simanowitz died and our hearts went out to his wife and family,” he said. “I considered Mike a friend and a legislative colleague. I am glad the Legislature is taking action to lend a helping hand to Jennifer and their children. While nothing will ever bring back their beloved husband and father, this legislation will at least provide Mike’s family with some financial support.”

Similar bills have been approved in the past for families of legislators who have died while serving in office. The bill has also been approved by the state Assembly and will be sent to Gov.Andrew Cuomo for his consideration.

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 Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The city will have to make some changes to its plan to allow a developer to build a massive 1,000 unit residential complex on public land along the Long Island City waterfront, according to City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside).

The project, in which TF Cornerstone would build two towers — one 64 stories tall and the other with 50 stories — would require a zoning change that would need Van Bramer’s blessing during the public approval process as the representative of the district.

“I was never for this project, but I was waiting to see what the final plan looks like,” Van Bramer said.

While the plan has yet to be certified or begin the ULUURP process, Van Bramer is not liking what he has seen.

“The amount of greenspace they’re offering is very small and the amount of affordable housing is insulting,” he said. “You can’t allow a developer the opportunity to build on city-owned land and only offer 25 percent affordable. That is insulting. That’s wildly unacceptable to me and the community.”

State Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-Long Island City) was an early opponent of the project, firing off a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio less than a month after it was presented in August saying the proposed buildings “are too massive for this area.” Nolan suggested instead that the land be used for much-needed parkland while preserving a portion as a wetland to help in flood mitigation.

“I urge Mayor de Blasio and the NYC Economic Development Corporation to take a step back, put the RFP on hold and listen to the community, civic organizations, and residents on what they believe this parcel of land should be,” Nolan said. “This is public property and any plans, now more than ever, should include ideas and alternatives that come directly from local residents.”

The 1.5 million-square-foot mixed use project on the north side of Anable Basin, on 44th Drive near Vernon Boulevard would include a 600-seat school, 100,000 square feet of light industrial space, 400,000 square feet of commercial office space and 25,000 square feet of art space.

“We’re proud that this will deliver hundreds of affordable homes, new industrial and commercial space, workforce training programs, good jobs, a new 600-seat school and more than an acre of open space for Long Island City,” the city’s Economic Development Corporation spokeswoman, Shavone Williams, said. “We look forward to continued discussions with community members in the months ahead, as we look for ideas on how to make this great project even better.”

To garner Van Bramer’s support in what he calls the largest rezoning in his eight years in the City Council, he will need to see changes to the plan.

“We have a crisis with not enough schools and I don’t want to contribute to this overdevelopment in Long Island City without the infrastructure that is needed for the people who are already here,” Van Bramer said. “Schools, a community center, parkland, transportation, this is all part of infrastructure and good city planning would have called for this long ago and instead we’re playing catchup. We’ve got to demand more from Mayor de Blasio, the EDC and from the Office of City Planning. We’ve got to demand more from all of them.”

That is why Van Bramer will join Nolan in support of a March 3 rally organized by the LIC Coalition, a grassroots civic organization that is dissatisfied with the way open space has been used as the unprecedented development of the neighborhood continues unabated.

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 Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

A Queens-born Syosset resident is rising up to challenge freshman U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Huntington), whose district covers the northeastern corner of the borough, in the 2018 Democratic primary.

Josh Sauberman, 35, says he has worked as a policy analyst for the United Nations’ security council, followed by a stint in the insurance business. He has also been a documentary filmmaker. He hopes to address issues of airplane noise over his district and public education.

Born in Oakland Gardens, Sauberman has lived in Syosset since 1991. According to him, there is already a massive amount of airplane traffic in and out of LaGuardia Airport and with Port Authority expansions to the airline hub, there is only expected to be more frequent noise disruptions over homes in Whitestone, Flushing and other parts of Queens.

He sees fast-tracking the latest technology as a solution to bring other travel options to the city.

Sauberman hopes to use congressional power to bring Hyperloop One, developed by billionaire space pioneer Richard Branson, to the region.

“As part of a major infrastructure plan, I’m looking to get a lot of those regional jets that come into that airport out of the sky by bringing Hyperloop One into the area, so that we’re not only moving people in faster from Long Island and Queens into Manhattan, but that we’re moving people at much faster rates between New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, which is where most of the regional traffic comes from,” Sauberman said. “Right now, they’re looking [at] building the first Hyperloop between Los Angeles and San Francisco, I would like to us do the same here in New York and throughout the Northeast.”

Hyperloop One is as futuristic as it sounds, using a pneumatic tube to move passengers and freight at extreme speeds.

Suozzi is a member of the Quiet Skies Caucus, but Sauberman has little confidence in their ability to bring meaningful change.

Sauberman said that although northeast Queens schools are in high demand, they still are not preparing students for a job market with a high demand people educated in science, technology, engineering and math skills.

“In Northeast Queens we have some really great schools that aren’t facing the same difficulties of those in south Queens or the Bronx where they’re under-served communities… But we need more funding for the schools so that we have students who are better equipped to compete on the global economy,” Sauberman said. “We have transitioned from a president who created millions of jobs to a president who’s about to lose millions of jobs. A lot of these jobs have been created and gone unfulfilled because of a skills gap. We aren’t producing as many students skilled in STEM, and that ultimately comes down to the federal government not investing in public schools.”

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 Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

Issues with cashless tolling have provoked a class-action lawsuit by a Westchester resident against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, claiming the state agency is notifying drivers of unpaid mail-in tolls after payment due dates and imposing “unfair and improper” penalties of $100 for each violation.

The plaintiff had racked up thousands in fines over a 10-month period without receiving notification of the charges or fines when scanning equipment failed to read his EZPass tag on multiple occasions, the complaint said.

“Defendants — who operate those systems and collect tolls from drivers — have used the cashless toll system to line their own pockets at the expense of drivers, primarily by collecting improper fees and penalties, in addition to collecting the tolls. Often the fees and penalties are multiples of the actual toll for the bridge, meaning that many drivers are being repeatedly charged more than $100 to cross a bridge or tunnel,” the complaint said. “Compounding the problem, defendants frequently impose these exorbitant charges without giving prior notice to drivers, and defendants often wait weeks before notifying driver about the charges, which leads to more charges.”

The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, also claims the MTA and the two other defendants pursued collection by threatening their credit standing, suspension of driver’s licenses, revocation of their vehicle registrations or seizure of tax refunds if drivers did not pay up.

The other defendants named in the complaint are Transworld Systems, Inc., which was used to collect money from Toll-By-Mail drivers, and Conduent, Inc., a former Xerox affiliate which handles billing and money transfers for EZPass holders.

MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan could not comment on the suit, but said the launch of cashless tolling has been beneficial for drivers.

“Cashless tolling is providing huge benefits to our customers by saving 3.4 million hours in travel time, 1.6 million gallons of fuel and 15,400 tons of carbon emissions,” Donovan said. “We have not seen the lawsuit and cannot comment on pending litigation.”

The primary plaintiff in the complaint, Jason Farina of Westchester County, received a bill for nearly 60 crossings over the Throgs Neck Bridge between the Bronx and Bayside and the Whitestone Bridge, each with $100 attached to the $8.50 toll.

Farina had an EZPass, which his lawyer Joseph Santoli is arguing had not been ready because of toll equipment failing to read his transponder.

The suit follows less than a month after the Fix NYC panel proposal was released in January to implement congestion pricing for vehicles entering the central business district of Manhattan from 60th Street to South Ferry.

The proposal keeps East River bridges and tunnels free as they have been for over a century, but charges drivers a $11.52 EZPass toll for going into the central business district once in Manhattan.

“Trips to and from New Jersey can be less expensive than trips from New York City’s outer boroughs. Tolls vary widely, and they must be rationalized so costs are fair to all,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in January. “[As] a born-and-raised Queens boy, I have outer-borough blood in my veins, and it is my priority that we keep costs down for hardworking New Yorkers, and encourage use of mass transit. We must also find a way to reduce the costs for outer-borough bridges in any plan ultimately passed.”

The congestion pricing proposal was fielded by the state in order to create a dedicated funding stream for the MTA and restore reliable service to the city’s ailing subway infrastructure.

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 Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

A pair of Queens congresswomen called on the Federal Railroad Administration to address a crossing in Maspeth, which it was reported to them has not been signaling to motorists when train traffic comes through.

Christina Wilkerson, president of the Citizens for a Better Maspeth, was near the area on Feb. 11 when she saw a train move through the crossing at 56th Street and Flushing Avenue without the signals being activated or railroad personnel controlling traffic.

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) and her colleague in Congress, Nydia Velázquez (D-Brooklyn), wrote a letter to the FRA to have the issue resolved since the crossing lacks gates, stating motorist and pedestrian safety depends on working signals.

“The Federal Railroad Administration must immediately send an inspector to investigate the highway-rail crossings in Maspeth after this dangerous incident,” Meng said. “There is a history of crossing gate and signal malfunctions in the Maspeth community, and the FRA must investigate these issues with all due haste. I thank Councilman Robert Holden for bringing this incident to my attention and Congresswoman Velázquez for joining me in this effort.”

The two said this issue follows other malfunctioning railroad crossing signals at Maspeth Avenue and Rust Street just blocks away.

“It’s deeply concerning that a train would go through this intersection without any crossing signals activating, leaving no warning for pedestrians or motorists,” Velázquez said. “Maspeth is a significant hub for rail traffic and we need to ensure that the Federal Railroad Administration carefully examines all the rail crossings in this community, before an accident occurs, so residents can feel safe walking about or driving in their own neighborhood.”

Wilkerson reported the issue to newly elected Councilman Robert Holden (D-Middle Village), who passed the word along to the congressional members.

“The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) dispatch a signal and train control inspector to investigate the matter and respond directly to the members of Congress,” spokeswoman Desiree French said.

In July 2015, a locomotive operated by the New York Atlantic Railroad clipped an 18-wheeler and at the Maspeth Avenue crossing, injuring the driver of the truck who narrowly escaped his vehicle as it went up in flames and resulted in a federal probe which found the train operator was at fault.

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

The Clergy United for Community Empowerment, in collaboration with the March of Dimes, is hosting a health forum for expectant mothers March 2 at the Robert Ross Johnson Family Life Center from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 172-17 Linden Blvd. in St. Albans.

The event, which will offer free information and lunch, will be about how women of color can work toward avoiding birth defects, premature births and infant mortality, the two organizations said.

The event will also help future moms gain knowledge about how to get their partners and families to help support the pregnancy process.

The forum will include a free health screening and a free HIV test with swabs (no needles) where mothers can get on-the-spot results.

Partners and family members are encouraged to attend the event, which will go over topics about what causes infants to not fully develop at birth, how smoking or second-hand smoking is bad for a pregnancy and what expectant moms should eat during a pregnancy.

The forum will also tackle how to avoid Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Chronic Disease Management (obesity or diabetes).

Parents can email lridardson@cucegroup.org and call (718) 464-0010 or (718) 297-0720 to sign up.

Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4573.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

Sexual assault survivors would have a greater opportunity to seek justice and expand their rights under proposed legislation authored by state Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) and she urged its passage during a bi-partisan news conference in Albany last week.

Simotas’ bill, A8401A, would prevent the premature destruction of rape kits and create a sexual assault survivors bill of rights.

“Mandating the quick processing of rape kits, which we did in 2016, was the first step to ensuring that untested rape kits are not destroyed and ensuring that untested rape kits are not destroyed is the necessary second step,” Simotas said. “Victims must also be informed of their rights and they must have access to information about the status of evidence analysis. This is common decency and common sense.”

If a victim chooses not to make a police report, the hospital that collects the rape kit currently is only required to retain the evidence for 30 days before it can be discarded. This is often not enough time for a traumatized victim to make a decision about moving forward with a criminal complaint.

The bill requires that such “unreported” rape kits be retained for at least 20 years at a centralized, secure storage facility. Amanda Nguyen, a rape survivor and founder of Rise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and furthering the rights of survivors, supports Simotas’ legislation.

“The DNA evidence in a rape kit is both crucial for survivors seeking justice and exonerating the innocent,” she said. “We are hopeful the state of New York will pass this legislation to meet the federal standard — ensuring rape kits will be preserved for 20 years for the 6.6 million survivors in New York.”

The Simotas legislation would also establish a sexual assault survivors’ bill of rights to ensure that victims are informed of their rights under the New York State law, including the right to consult with a rape crisis or victims’ assistance organization; the right to appropriate health care services including a forensic examination; HIV post-exposure therapies and emergency contraception at no cost; and the right to receive updates on their sexual offense evidence kit and any changes in the status of their case.

“Compassion must always be paramount in the law enforcement response to sexual assault victims,” Simotas said.” It’s the right thing to do and it will help lock up dangerous criminals.”

State Sen. Kemp Hannon (R-Nassau) will carry the measure in the upper chamber.

“Making sure survivors’ rights are clearly spelled out and unreported kits are preserved until the person who has been attacked is able to face going forward are an important reform that New York must make. Doing what we can to strengthen the rights of sexual assault survivors and help them feel safe once again is essential.”

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 Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

The transit advocacy group Riders Alliance has launched a weekly contest for straphangers to win prizes for sharing the worst commute on the out-of-kilter subways throughout the city. Forest Hills resident Jennifer Tang was named the contest’s first winner.

Tang, a librarian who commutes to Manhattan for work, took the prize of a chocolate MetroCard for her story submitted to Riders Alliance about how the R train stalled for two hours just before reaching her home stop at the 67th Avenue station.

“I was in a hurry to get home and didn’t use the bathroom, figuring my 30-minute commute from Manhattan to Queens wasn’t going to be so bad,” Tang told the Riders Alliance. “I was one stop away from home when the R train came to a complete halt. The conductor said ‘signal problems’ at 71st-Continental Avenue (Forest Hills) were to blame. The last five minutes became two hours, as the train was stuck in the tunnel between the 63rd Drive and 67th Avenue stations,” Tang said. “By the time the train pulled into the 67th Avenue station, I had to run to a nearby Starbucks in order to pee. It was unbelievable and I still have post-traumatic stress syndrome from this incident. Now before boarding the subway, even if it’s for one stop, I use the bathroom before I get on the torture chamber that is the MTA subway.”

According to the Riders Alliance, overall on-time performance for subways across the city has plummeted steadily since Gov. Andrew Cuomo took office to 65 percent. The R train itself has seen a decline of on-time performance from 95 percent in 2007 to 61 percent in 2017, the transit advocates said.

Transit advocates across the city praised the release of the Fix NYC proposal in late January to enact congestion pricing for vehicle traffic entering Manhattan below 60th Street, but the Riders Alliance is hoping to hold Cuomo accountable until the state Assembly approves the plan, which will provide a dedicated funding stream to the MTA.

“[This] morning, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers had what could well be the worst commute of the week,” Danny Pearlstein, communications director for Riders Alliance, said Feb. 15. “Gov. Cuomo’s subway system suffered signal problems on eight lines, sick passengers on three and mechanical problems on three more, grinding service to a halt across the city. As a small consolation, the Riders Alliance will reward New Yorkers with a chocolate MetroCard for the worst commute of the week until the governor enacts a sustainable, progressive long-term plan to fund the modernization of the subway.”

The New York Times reported eight trains had experienced setbacks due to signal problems, three to mechanical problems as well as three more stalled due to sick passengers the morning of the news conference.

The MTA’s response to the Riders Alliance news conference launching the contest Feb. 15 praised the agency’s employees for getting the trains back on track.

“Today, 50,000 New York City Transit employees moved nearly 6 million people on the subway and 2.5 million bus riders,” MTA spokesman Jon Weinstein said on the day of the Riders Alliance news conference. “They operated trains, fixed signals and switches, repaired track, navigated the clogged streets of New York City and helped customers find their way – that’s what we’re focused on.”

Fifteen trains were delayed last Friday Feb. 16, while the following Tuesday problems on 10 different lines affected the morning commute of many city dwellers, according to the New York Times.

Cuomo’s congestion pricing proposal aims to charge drivers $11 to enter Manhattan’s central business district, but keeps East River bridges free.

The plan has been adamantly opposed by elected officials in eastern Queens at the city and state level who say the toll would put an unfair burden on their constituents.

Figures have shown an average of about 4 to 5 percent of Queens motorists would be affected.

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

Queens Centers for Progress will hold its 24th annual “Evening of Fine Food” Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

The agency, which has locations in Jamaica and Bellerose, provides services and supports children and adults with developmental disabilities. The event will benefit 2,200 individuals.

According to QCP’s website, the agency helps people with disabilities live independent lives by making sure the individuals are integrated into their community life, that they have sharp decision-making capabilities, that their educational needs are met and that they have work-related skills.

“The Evening of Fine Food is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together to show its support for children and adults with developmental disabilities,” said QCP Executive Director Terri Ross. “We are very grateful to our extraordinary board of directors, our many generous restaurants and sponsors, and everyone who plans to join us for what will be a very special evening.”

The fund-raiser will offer culinary delicacies and brews from some of the best restaurants and beverage purveyors from the area, while also honoring Resorts World Casino President Scott Molina and Investors Bank Vice President Maria Odysseos for serving their communities.

For $135 guests will get to sample gourmet food, play casino games, participate in a silent auction, take selfies at a photo booth, get a makeup refresher from e.l.f. cosmetics and enjoy an open bar.

PIX-11 News anchor Lisa Mateo will serve as the special guest and emcee of the night.

The guest chef, Hugue Dufour of M. Wells Steakhouse in Long Island City, will be preparing a signature dish for the event.

“It is important to give back to the community from which we benefit,” said Dufour. “It’s natural as a restaurateur to make people happy and to feed them! It’s a way of life, and very important.”

Sponsors of the event include Mutual of America, The D&F Development Group, Resorts World Casino New York City, TD Bank, Merritt Engineering, Rotary Club of Flushing, Total Care Rx and Investors Bank.

To participate in the events, guests must RSVP by Monday at www.crowdrise.com/EveningofFineFood.

Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4573.

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Source: Times Ledger