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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

Students at an overcrowded Long Island City elementary school located at 48-09 Center Boulevard are not getting enough exercise because their playground is too small to accommodate proper recess.

Members of the PS/IS 78 Parent Teacher Association and Community Board 2 joined City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) last Friday calling on the city’s Department of Transportation to provide a safe play space after the agency rejected their application for a “playstreet” for a third time.

“Our students deserve play time,” Van Bramer said. “Kids need time to run, play and burn off energy. Not only is it beneficial for their physical health, but it helps them focus in the classroom as well. This partial, temporary street closure would not negatively impact our community and would improve quality of life for students and families of PS/IS 78. I don’t understand why DOT has denied the playstreet application.”

The request, filed last spring, calls for a street closure on 48th Avenue between Center Boulevard and 5th Street on school days between 10:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. DOT denied the request again last week. Without a playstreet, PSIS 78 students will continue to have recess only twice a week because the playground can not adequately accommodate the school’s 700 students.

“Following two reviews, DOT denied a playstreet on the south side of 48th Avenue, midblock to Center Boulevard, due to safety concerns based on the street layout, (a) nearby parking facility, and frequent commercial traffic,” a DOT spokesperson said. “Typically, DOT implements playstreets on one-way streets due to the predictable nature of vehicular movements and clear sigh lines.”

Due to the shortage of proper play space, the PTA pays $80,000 annually to a third party to walk some students to a play space off site for recess. Not only is this a major expense, the travel time cuts into students’ play time, leaving them with just 10 minutes or less.

“The parent community at PS/IS 78Q has been rallying together for 18 months in trying to secure a partial street closure for 1.5. hours each day,” PS/IS 78Q Co-President Genevieve Bernier said. “The DOT has rejected our requests for a third time, with inconsistent explanations and their suggestion to have our students walk across Center Boulevard into our City and State parks, with no physical boundaries except water, is much more dangerous that the 1.5 hour road closure we seek.”

Van Bramer urged DOT to reconsider the application or to work with the school and PTA to find a solution that provides play space for the PS/IS 78 students.

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

See this story at TimesLedger.com.

By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

A federal judge in Brooklyn ruled in favor of the 5Pointz artists Monday, ordering developer Jerry Wolkoff to pay $6.7 million in compensation for ordering the whitewashing of the world famous graffiti mecca in November 2013.

In his 100-page decision, Judge Frederick Block awarded the maximum of $150,000 for each of the 45 murals that were destroyed in the dark of night without warning at the Long Island City warehouse complex, which was torn down a year later to make way for two residential towers.

The ruling followed a three-week trial at Federal District Court in November with the jury finding Wolkoff had violated the federal Visual Artists Rights Act — which was enacted in 1990 and grants artists the rights to prevent intentional modification of their visual artworks and the destruction or mutilation of artworks “of a recognized stature.” It is the first time VARA has been used to protect aerosol artwork.

“5Pointz was its temple, though it can never be replaced, this judgement is a monumental step for our culture and our art form,” 5Pointz Curator Jonathan “Meres” Cohen told artnet News following the ruling. “Judge Block’s decision will change the art form perception for generations to come.”

In his decision, Judge Block wrote, “If not for Wolkoff’s insolence, these damages would not have been assessed. If he did not destroy 5Pointz until he received his permits and demolished it 10 months later, the Court would not have found that he had acted willfully.”

Wolkoff was stunned by the judge’s ruling.

“What permits?” he asked. “Have you ever had to deal with the City of New York? I could have waited years for those permits. It’s an insane decision and I’m going to go through the appeal process. Why would he think any differently if it was two days or six months? I’ll appeal it and we’ll go from there.”

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

Police were searching for a man wanted for questioning in connection with a grand larceny pattern in Flushing.

Between Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017 and Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018 a suspect removed property from 10 victims in the downtown Flushing area, according to police.

The authorities described the person of interest as a black man in his 40s.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish.

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 Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

An elderly woman was reported missing Friday within the confines of the 113th Precinct, according to the NYPD.

St. Albans resident Elverine Thomas, 70, suffers from poor mental health and was last seen Feb. 9 around 1 p.m. near the vicinity of 116-01 Linden Blvd. in South Ozone Park, according to authorities.

Police describe Thomas as 5-foot-7 inches and 170 pounds.

She was last seen wearing all dark clothing.

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 Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has ended a pilot program that restricted prison packages earlier last month, which Governor Andrew Cuomo, Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Forest Hills) and families of inmates considered flawed.

According to the Governor and Assemblyman Weprin, the pilot program was too limiting of the shipment of books, care packages and food for inmates. Also, the commissaries from the new vendors that prisoners had to buy from were expensive.

The Dept. of Corrections said that before Cuomo and Weprin’s intervention in ending the pilot program with its initial vendors, it already heard the outcry from various inmate advocacy groups beforehand and was already in the process of looking at other vendors.

The purpose of DOCCS reducing the amount of care packages and seeking a secure vendor program was to prevent illegally imported items in their prisons, according to Thomas Mailey, the Director of Public Information for DOCCS.

“As part of a multi-faceted plan to address the flow of contraband, the department recently launched a pilot secure vendor program in three of its facilities, similar to ones already in place in nearly 30 other states,” Mailey said. “However, concerns have been raised by families of inmates regarding the availability and price of products under this program, concerns we do not take lightly.”

According to Carpenter, once additional vendors were secured to meet the needs of inmates, the competition between the different suppliers would have driven down prices.

DOCCS will also continue to meet the dietary needs of Jewish inmates by providing hot kosher meals instead of cold alternatives, and halal meals for its Muslim population, according to spokesman Patrick Bailey.

As the DOCCS seeks new vendors it will continue to redouble its efforts to eliminate contraband and increase safety in the prison system, according to Mailey.

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

As the 2018 tax season got underway last week, state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) launched free tax preparation services at his district office on Junction Boulevard.

Peralta teamed up with Urban Upbound, the Long Island City-based nonprofit, to offer those making $66,000 per year or less with their tax filings.

“Simply put, offering free tax filings for members of the community is all about providing a much-needed service for our working class, especially for my constituents who have tough times making ends meet,” Peralta said. “A good tax return can help families and individuals pay bills or save money for a rainy day. I am glad I was able to partner with Urban Upbound to offer these crucial services.”

Founded by Bishop Mitchell Taylor in 2004, Urban Upbound works to break the cycles of poverty in public housing neighborhoods by providing residents with the tools and resources needed to achieve economic mobility and self-sufficiency. The orientation’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is now in its 14th year and it has expanded across the borough with more than 20 sites.

“NYC Free Tax Prep is a vital service in low income and public housing communities where families depend on their tax refunds to cover living expenses, pay debts, and establish savings,” Taylor said. “Last year, Urban Upbound processed $15 million in returns, and $135 million in total over the last 14 years. In 2018, we are excited to partner with Sen. Jose Peralta to offer free tax prep, as well as access to other critical support services including financial counseling, employment services, banking, and educational services, to residents of the 13th District.”

The free tax preparation service is by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling (718) 784-0877.

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

Construction of the massive Hallets Point development in Astoria has stalled after City Hall pulled funding for Building 7, a 14-story structure with all of its 163 units set to be below-market-rate housing. The Housing Development Corporation diverted the $43.5 million in funding to other projects in November, so while work continues on Building 1 at the site, the Durst Corporation suspended construction of the other six buildings at the complex along the East River, putting the remainder of the project in limbo.

“Three days prior to HDC Board Approval for our 100 percent affordable buildings’ bond financing, we were notified that the bonds were no longer available to us,” Durst Corporation spokesman Jordan Barowitz said. “We have not heard from City Hall since then, and until we do, the future of the project is unknown.”

It is the second time construction of the complex, located at First Street and 25th Avenue, had to be suspended. One day after a ceremonial ground-breaking for the project in January 2016 the state allowed the 421-a tax abatement to expire. Durst Corporation was able to continue with Building 1 because it had already been financed with the tax break, but the work on the remainder of the complex was held up for more than a year before Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the Real Estate Board of New York and the Building and Construction Trades Council agreed on the Affordable New York housing program that provides tax breaks to developers in exchange for desperately needed affordable housing.

“The passing of ‘Affordable New York’ allows the Hallets Point project to continue,” Barowitz said last April. “We are full steam ahead.”

Construction resumed on the project and its 2,400 units, 484 of them “affordable,” until the HDC decision in November around the same time Republican lawmakers were considering private activity bonds in the federal tax bill, and the city was pressed to allocate the limited bond cap efficiently and strategically.

“There are many deserving affordable housing developments that are ready to go, and we constantly make tough choices to stretch precious resources as we ensure we get the best deals for New Yorkers,” Housing Development Corporation Vice-President Elizabeth Rohlfing said. “While this project is in our pipeline, this year’s volume cap allocations haven’t been made yet.”

Funding for the rest of the mega-project is contingent on the completion of the affordable housing building. Without it the project loses the Affordable New York tax abatement that replaced 421-a.

“Our project was ready to go,” Barowitz said. “Last spring we were told we were in the pipeline and then we were asked to wait until November. This November our project was approved by HDC, but they decided not to fund it.”

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

Mayor Bill de Blasio released his preliminary budget for FY2019 on Feb. 1 with no mention of providing funding toward public transportation, even as commuters face an ongoing crisis on the city’s subways.

De Blasio defended the omission of MTA contributions on the Brian Lehrer Show the following day using talking points he has repeated since the summer.

“[The] MTA does have substantial resources. They should apply them the right way,” de Blasio said on the show. “Not to extraneous matters, but to the core problems related to the signals, the electronics, the things that really determine whether trains run on time and run smoothly. Obviously I’ve made the point that the state siphoned off $450 million from the MTA over the last few years. This is the perfect time to put that money back in the MTA budget. That resolves all the short-term issues.”

The mayor also told Lehrer that he tentatively supports the Fix NYC congestion-pricing proposal, a plan that claims the best way to create a dedicated-funding stream for the MTA is to charge an $11.52 toll on vehicles traveling from the outer boroughs into the central business district of Manhattan, which would start below 60th Street.

And De Blasio continued to push his millionaire’s tax plan as a long-term way to establish a dedicated-revenue stream for the MTA, but said he would support any package as long as the state maintained its responsibility over the subways, citing the need to financially protect city services from the state and federal government.

“I think the millionaire’s tax is the best way to go, but again, whatever item or combination of items make up a revenue package, by the end of the June, when the legislature leaves Albany, we must have long-term funding for the MTA,” the mayor said. “From my point of view, that is something that has to be resolved at the state level. We at the city level are responsible for everything else going on in the city when you think about it: police, fire, sanitation, schools, everything you can think of. We have to protect those services and we have to protect our long-term fiscal health which is threatened by both Albany and Washington.”

De Blasio said he believes the inability of the federal government to create a budget and the $1.5 trillion deficit will be detrimental to any infrastructure plan.

The FY2019 budget lays out a spending plan of $88.67 billion with an expected savings of $900 million through a partial hiring freeze and other debt management, and suggests setting aside $500 million of that savings for the executive budget.

The de Blasio Administration plans to put $750 million of the budget toward capital funding to build more affordable housing and preserve the existing stock; $72 million toward Pre-K; and $12 million toward the full roll out of body cameras for all NYPD officers, an initiative that will also receive $5 million from the FY2018 budget.

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