Photo Courtesy of the Cabán Campaign

By Michael V. Cusenza

It has been characterized as one of the most important political contests in a generation—complete with Election Day drama that left many veteran pundits and pols stunned.

In what is shaping up to be a striking upset, public defender Tiffany Cabán leads Borough President Melinda Katz in the Democratic Primary for district attorney. As of Wednesday afternoon, with counts at 99 percent of precincts completed, Cabán topped Katz by 1,090 tallies. The Richmond Hill native garnered 33,814 votes (39.57 percent), while Forest Hills’ Katz compiled 32,724 votes (38.30 percent).

More than 85,000 votes have been counted so far, with roughly 3,400 absentee ballots remaining to be calculated.

Still, Cabán, 31, declared victory Tuesday night in Woodside.

“We won the District Attorney’s Office!” she beamed to her elated supporters.

However, Katz, 53, and her allies would not concede.

“I want everyone to know we are doing a recount,” she asserted at her reception in Forest Hills.

“This thing ain’t over folks,” Queens Democratic Party Chairman Greg Meeks added. “Every vote will be counted.”

The political veteran Katz trails Cabán by 1,090 votes.
Photo Courtesy of the Office of the Borough President

A crowded six-candidate race has ultimately come down to two starkly different counselors. Katz is a career elected official, with her legal experience coming in the private sector. She has held seats in the Assembly, City Council, and has been borough president since 2014. As for her platform, Katz has said that preventing crime and stopping people from becoming victims in the first place will always be the better solution. To that end, she has promised arrest, bail and sentencing reforms; ending marijuana prosecution and arrests; and to establish a Conviction Integrity Unit to examine cases and make recommendations for exoneration.

Cabán has been a public defender, “working for people who did not have resources to defend themselves against the brutal system of mass incarceration,” since graduating from New York Law School.

“I am running to transform the Queens District Attorney’s Office after years of witnessing its abuses on the front lines,” she said upon entering the fray.

Cabán garnered headlines, and ultimately the endorsements of The New York Times, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Queens and Bronx), and U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), by running on a platform to end Broken Windows prosecuting; decriminalize sex work and recreational use of marijuana; and work with safe injection facilities to help reduce overdose deaths.

According to the City Board of Elections, the 3,400 absentee ballots can’t be counted until July 3.

Martinez and Velazquez last week allegedly tried to steal mail from this box on Lefferts Boulevard in Richmond Hill.

By Michael V. Cusenza

Two men have been charged with “fishing” mail out of blue U.S. Postal Service collection boxes in Richmond Hill and Forest Hills in October and November, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced on Friday.

Alvaro Martinez, 28, of Manhattan, and Luis Velazquez, 22, of the Bronx, were arraigned Thursday night on three complaints charging them with third-degree burglary, first-degree criminal tampering, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, first-degree identity theft, and possession of burglar’s tools. Bail for Martinez was set at $25,000; Velazquez’s bail was set at $13,000. As of Wednesday afternoon, neither had posted bail, according to City Department of Correction records.

“Mailbox fishing” is a federal crime in which envelopes containing checks and sensitive documents are “fished out” of curbside mailboxes by crooks using a makeshift rod: an adhesive slathered all over a weighted, 16 ounce-20 ounce bottle attached to the end of a string or rope.

According to the charging documents, around 4:35 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 29, Velazquez was seen on surveillance footage standing in front of a USPS mailbox at 64th Avenue and 108th Street, and a second box roughly a block away, in Forest Hills. The video allegedly shows Velazquez inserting an object into the mailboxes and pulling it out again along with pieces of mail.

According to the complaints, shortly after 4 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, Martinez was observed on surveillance video standing in front of a blue mailbox at 62nd Drive and 108th Street, also in Forest Hills. Martinez allegedly could be seen on camera placing something inside the mailbox and then retrieving that item along with mail attached to it, the complaints noted.

And on Wednesday, Nov. 29, Martinez and Velazquez were seen around 3:50 a.m. at the intersection of Lefferts Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill, according to the charges. Martinez was allegedly observed with his hands near the opening slot of a mailbox and Velazquez was leaning on the box. As a detective approached, both men moved away from the box, but a shoestring was left dangling from the slot. A member of the U.S. Postal Police opened the box and found the shoestring attached to a juice bottle that was covered with glue. Velazquez allegedly admitted that a nearby vehicle belonged to him and inside that car police recovered dozens of pieces of both unopened and opened mail along with mouse and rat glue traps. The complaints noted that at least one envelope recovered contained a check for $4,000.

Mailbox fishing has hit Gotham hard in recent years—especially Queens. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service told The Forum on Wednesday that the agency has already replaced approximately 40 percent of the old collection boxes in Queens with new, virtually “fishing-proof” ones.

“The plan has always been to replace all of these boxes; it’s the most prudent approach,” USPIS Public Information Officer Donna Harris said. “We know it works.”

Indeed, since all of the old collection boxes were replaced in the 104th Precinct, USPIS has not recorded a single mailbox fishing complaint in that part of Queens, Harris noted.

“We’ve done a lot, but we’ve still got a ways to go,” the spokeswoman added.

By Forum Staff

The Queens Library on Monday unveiled a plaque honoring a beloved member of the Forest Hills community and devoted patron of the North Forest Park branch.

Library President and CEO Dennis Walcott joined branch staff to pay tribute to Frank D. Esposito, who passed away in 2013, leaving a $50,000 bequest to the North Forest Park Library.

According to the Library, Esposito, who had lived in Forest Hills since 1969, served his country with distinction in Vietnam. When he returned from the war in 1971, he went to work for the City Board of Education as an electrician.

While he worked days, he went to the City College of New York at nights, and earned his college degree four years later. This enabled him to become a supervisor of mechanics, and at the end of his nearly 37-year career with the Board of Education, he was in charge of 300 people and served 1,100 schools all over the five boroughs.

“Mr. Esposito loved his library, and he loved the dedicated people at North Forest Park,” Walcott said. “This plaque represents the permanency of his engagement, and his contribution to the longevity of the library.”

“Frank really cared about people, more than himself,” said his wife, Lisa Wong-Esposito. “He felt like the staff at North Forest Park were part of his family, and he believed that education and knowledge are the greatest foundations in anyone’s life. What better place to give to than the library? I hope this gift encourages more people all over the city to give back to their local libraries.”

By Forum Staff

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz last week announced a $13 million allocation of her Fiscal Year 2017 discretionary capital funds to pay for expansions, renovations, and enhancements at several borough Library branches.

The funds are based on needs assessments and requests made by the Library, Katz said. The allocation includes:

• $3.5 million for an exterior expansion and $92,000 for security cameras at Queens Library at Baisley Park (this comes on top of a $3.5 million allocation in FY 2016 for interior renovations);
• $3 million for the expansion of Queens Library at East Elmhurst;
• $3 million for an interior expansion of Queens Library at South Hollis;
• $1.4 million for interior renovations at Queens Library of Bay Terrace (this comes on top of a $96,000 allocation in FY 2016 for security cameras);
• $600,000 for window and door replacements at Queens Library at Forest Hills;
• $500,000 for an HVAC upgrade at Queens Library of Pomonok;
• $400,000 for the initial outfitting at Queens Library of North Forest Park;
• $385,000 to install an exterior self check-in system at Queens Library of Queens Village;
• $97,000 for a security system upgrade at Queens Library of Laurelton.

“Borough President Katz has put time, energy and resources into insuring a strong library system to serve the educational and informational needs of the borough,” said Library President and CEO Dennis Walcott. “This capital funding will help us move key library projects forward, so the community has expanded, updated facilities for reading and learning. Queens Library joins the community in thanking the Borough President for her support.”

In FY2016, Katz allocated $14 million for Library capital improvements, including security cameras at the South Ozone Park and Woodhaven branches, and a roof replacement at the Ozone Park library.

“Queens Library’s locations serve as centers of lifelong learning and enrichment,” Katz said. “These are substantial investments for not only renovations, expansions and enhancements, but also for the families of Queens. These funds are designed to help Queens Library continue to be a first-class library system of learning, literacy and culture.”

By Michael V. Cusenza

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced plans for the portrait of anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman to be featured on the front of the new $20.

Tubman is set to replace U.S. President Andrew Jackson, whose image has been on the note since 1928.

In an open letter to the country, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said that the reaction to his announcement that a newly redesigned $10 note would feature a woman “has been powerful.” The Forest Hills native added that the decision to put Tubman on the front of the new $20 was driven by the thousands of responses Treasury received following the June announcement.

“I have been particularly struck by the many comments and reactions from children for whom Harriet Tubman is not just a historical figure, but a role model for leadership and participation in our democracy,” Lew said. “You shared your thoughts about her life and her works and how they changed our nation and represented our most cherished values. Looking back on her life, Tubman once said, ‘I would fight for liberty so long as my strength lasted.’ And she did fight, for the freedom of slaves and for the right of women to vote. Her incredible story of courage and commitment to equality embodies the ideals of democracy that our nation celebrates, and we will continue to value her legacy by honoring her on our currency.”

The reverse of the new $20, which should be introduced into circulation by 2030, will continue to feature the White House as well as an image of Jackson, Lew noted.

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

By Forum Staff

State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) and Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) this week announced that they will be hosting their annual Spring Recycling Fair later this month at Forest Park.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, crews will be on hand at the Forest Park Bandshell to accept items – electronics, paper, clothing and certain household articles – to be safely and properly recycled.

Addabbo, a member of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said he cosponsors the event each year as a way to not only encourage more residents to recycle as much as possible, but to create an easier and more convenient method by making it possible to responsibly discard many different items all in one central location.

“There are so many things that people may not know can be recycled, or things that don’t get recycled simply because it’s a hassle to do so,” said Addabbo. “This eliminates those hurdles and provides our constituents with a stress-free way to take care of all their recycling needs. In years past, this annual fair has proved to be one of the most popular events I’ve ever held, and I am confident that will continue into this year and for many to come. I thank our vendors for their support and participation year after year, as well as Assemblyman Miller for his partnership and the Department of Parks and Recreation for their cooperation as we hold this great community event.”

The fair will also feature a paper shredder that will allow documents to be safely and securely recycled on site while residents watch to ensure confidentiality. Electronics recycling will accept computers, monitors, cell phones, fax machines, televisions, PDAs, printers, batteries, cameras, power strips, wires, chargers, cable boxes, fans, telephones and VCR tapes.

However, cardboard and appliances will not be accepted.

Household items such as clothing, coats, bedding, paired shoes, dishes, silverware, lamps and curtains will be accepted. Addabbo and Miller have asked that all donations be clean and dry.

For more information, contact Addabbo’s Howard Beach district office at (718) 738-1111.

By Michael V. Cusenza

Two vital sections of the M Line will soon be getting long-overdue makeovers, according to Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit.

The agency is set to rebuild two decades-old deteriorating overpasses in Queens and Brooklyn: a metal bridge between the Fresh Pond Road and Middle Village-Metropolitan Avenue stations will require a two-month shutdown. The work will begin in summer 2017 in order to cause the least possible disruption for students at nearby Christ the King Regional High School, according to the MTA.

The second section of construction will occur at the century-old concrete viaduct that carries the M Line between the Myrtle Avenue and Central Avenue stations. That section will be shut down for 10 months beginning in summer 2017.

The MTA indicated that it will offer a shuttle bus and subway service changes to customers affected by the closures.

In the first phase of work during summer 2017, there will be no M service between Myrtle Avenue and Middle Village-Metropolitan Avenue for two months.

Two new shuttle bus routes will serve closed stations along the line, while a third shuttle bus route will operate between the Flushing Avenue JM station and the Middle Village-Metropolitan Avenue M station with an intermediate stop at the Jefferson Street L station.

When the metal bridge has been replaced, the second phase of work will start for eight more months until spring 2018. During this phase, an M shuttle will run between Middle Village-Metropolitan Avenue and Myrtle-Wyckoff avenues, where customers can transfer to the L train. The Knickerbocker Avenue and Central Avenue stations on the M Line will remain closed during this period, and will be served by a shuttle bus between Myrtle Avenue and Myrtle-Wyckoff avenues. Those stations are also within a 10-minute walk of alternate subway stations on the L and JZ lines, the agency pointed out.

During the shutdown, M trains to and from Manhattan will be rerouted along the J and Z tracks from Marcy Avenue to Broadway Junction, though peak hour frequency will be reduced by 25 percent. To accommodate displaced M customers, J and Z trains will make all stops between Marcy Avenue and Broadway Junction, while L trains will operate at peak frequency for extended durations each day.

“Both of these structures have deteriorated to the point that there is simply no other option than complete replacement, and undergoing this step will ensure a safe, more reliable experience for customers for decades to come. We will work closely with the affected communities, their elected officials and other representatives to minimize the disruption and address their concerns, and we will do our utmost to complete this work as quickly as possible,” said NYC Transit President Veronique ‘Ronnie’ Hakim.

President Ivan Mrakovcic (l.) and the Richmond Hill Historical Society last Friday hosted Michael Perlman (r.) at the Leonard Center. The Forest Hills native, activist, and author signed copies of his latest tome, “Legendary Locals of Forest Hills and Rego Park,” and regaled the audience with stories of Richmond Hill legends, including social reformer Jacob Riis, RHHS past President Nancy Cataldi, the Marx brothers, actor Jack Lord, Msgr. Thomas Hartman of the God Squad, and others.

By Forum Staff

A congressional committee on Monday convened a rare field hearing in Forest Hills to probe how the U.S. Small Business Administration can make international trade work for borough establishments.

The House Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade, the panel that oversees U.S. policy on exports, conducted “Overcoming Challenges to Exporting for Small Businesses” at Bramson ORT College. The hearing, led by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing), the top Democrat on the panel, examined how the SBA can better help local small business owners export their products abroad.

Area companies, Meng said, could be missing out on valuable exporting opportunities that are worth millions of dollars.

“Promoting more trade opportunities for small businesses in Queens and New York City is critical,” Meng said. “The New York metropolitan area is the second largest exporting market in the United States with over $105 billion in exports. As a result, exporting is essential to job creation and key to our region’s growth. But many entrepreneurs still face challenges in accessing foreign markets including complexities associated with exporting, a lack of financing and confusing federal trade programs. We must do all we can to knock down these barriers so that we can build on our area’s exporting success, and make it easier for area businesses to sell their goods abroad. The SBA can play a critical role in facilitating this and I look forward to that happening. When small businesses succeed, America succeeds!”

Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-Queens/Brooklyn/Manhattan), ranking member, and Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Small Business Committee chairman, also participated in the hearing.

Witnesses who testified before the panel included Pascual Castaño, business advisor at the New York State Small Business Development Center; and Toni Corsini, New York/New Jersey regional manager of the U.S. Export Assistance Center, a division of the SBA.

More than 70 percent of the world’s purchasing power is located outside the U.S., according to Meng’s office, and over 95 percent of the world’s consumers reside abroad. Companies that export their products grow faster and mitigate risk during economic downturns. Some of the top New York export locations include Korea, China, Israel, Canada and Mexico.

“The defendant has been convicted of taking advantage of two vulnerable young women and forcing them to participate in a modern day version of slavery by coercing them to work as prostitutes for their financial gain through threats of physical harm and intimidation,” said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.  “Prostitution is not a victimless crime but a terrifying and despicable offense against society and the young women that it enslaves.  It cannot – and will not – be tolerated in Queens County.”

Gerardi was convicted last November following an eight-week bench trial of two counts of compelling prostitution, two counts of second-degree promoting prostitution, two counts of third-degree promoting prostitution, twenty-one counts of statutory rape, eleven counts of statutory criminal sex act and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child before Queens Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Braun who last week sentenced him to concurrent prison terms on each count, the longest being an indeterminate term of six to twelve years in prison.  Gerardi, who must additionally serve five years of post-release supervision following his incarceration, was also ordered to register on the State’s sex offender registry.

According to court documents, Gerardi, while out on parole, approached and befriended a 13-year-old girl on the street in March 2011.  Shortly thereafter he asked her to perform sexual acts with men in exchange for money and provided her with rules to follow, instructions on how much to charge and told her to lie about her age, among other things.  She reluctantly agreed to prostitute herself for him but that when she didn’t follow through on his orders, he would become violently angry toward her by yelling and grabbing her arms and slapping her in the face. On one occasion when she did get away from him, he found her and grabbed her by the arm, yelled and threatened, “If you ever leave me again I will slap the (expletive deleted) out of you.” Gerardi also had sex with the victim and had her perform oral sex on him on multiple occasions.

Between March 2011 and September 2011, Gerardi made the victim have sex with numerous men in exchange for money, which she was required to turn over to him.  During this time period, Gerardi also forced a 16-year-old girl – whom he also met on the street – to work as a prostitute for him through threats of physical violence.

When Gerardi was arrested on a parole violation in September 2011, the two girls escaped from him. Later, Gerardi called the 13-year-old victim numerous times asking her to make money for him.  When she refused, Gerardi, who goes by the street name “Prince,” had two female friends of his approach the victim and tell her that they were to beat her up on orders from “Prince” because she wasn’t being a good prostitute to Prince. They then repeatedly punched and slapped her. Afterwards, the victim reported Gerardi to authorities.

By Alan Krawitz

Borough native Brian Rafferty has always been something of an information junky, with an abiding aptitude for esoteric trivia and quirky nuggets of information.

So, when Rafferty, a former journalist and newspaper editor who now works as a supervisor in the Long Island Rail Road’s Public Information Office, announced he would be a contestant on the long-running quiz show, “Jeopardy!”, few were surprised.

“When I first learned of Brian competing on ‘Jeopardy!’ I thought, ‘If he wins, there’ll be no living with him!’” said Stanley Davis, manager of the Rail Road’s PIO. “But I believe I speak for our entire team in saying that we are excited for Brian and proud of his achievement. We realize that just making it this far is an accomplishment in and of itself.”

A 1993 graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz, Rafferty worked as a reporter and newspaper editor in Virginia and the Big Apple before joining the LIRR in 2011.

Rafferty, 46, who grew up in Jackson Heights and now resides in Forest Hills, made his “Jeopardy!” debut last Thursday on WABC-TV in New York.

He said that getting on the show wasn’t easy; it was a process that took time and perseverance.

“About three years ago,” Rafferty recalled, “I was far along in the selection process but I just never got the call.”

That notice finally came last November, just before Thanksgiving, when Rafferty was informed that he had made the cut out of a group of about 70,000 applicants to tape for an upcoming episode in Los Angeles.

“It felt great to be selected for the show,” he said.

Describing the initial selection process, Rafferty said the show’s producers wanted “to see how people work in a game environment; they look for entertaining and engaging people who might be good on TV.”

From early on, Rafferty said he was always interested in trivia, and had “an ear for weird facts.”

“My grandmother was an elementary school principal and she ingrained in me the concept of learning something new every day. It always stuck with me,” he said.

As the youngest of four kids, Rafferty said he was always trying to set himself apart from his siblings by getting “the right answer and making a place” for himself.

“I had three older brothers who always knew the answer,” he added.

Asked what it was like going out to L.A. and taping “Jeopardy!”, Rafferty said the trip wasn’t too difficult, but being on the show was more “nerve wracking” than he thought it would be.

He said that rules and legal regulations surrounding the show are taken very seriously.

“All show questions are random, in addition to the order that contestants are picked to play the game…and it’s all in the interest of maintaining the integrity of the game,” Rafferty noted.

Indeed, strict laws that now govern game-show rules came about from the “Quiz Show” scandals of the 1950s, when it was discovered that several game shows were rigged by producers where contestants were given assistance in order to yield pre-determined outcomes.

Rafferty said that challenges of being a show contestant included mastering the timing element to buzz-in ahead of other contestants; which he said “wasn’t as easy as it looks.”

But, he admitted that by far the most difficult part of the filming process was having his wife, Christine, and 16-year-old daughter, Emma, there with him in LA but not being able to acknowledge them during taping due to show rules.

“We were told, ‘Don’t talk to [family members], don’t look at them, no eye contact,’” Rafferty reported.

Although he ultimately finished in third place—taking home a customary $1,000 prize—Rafferty acknowledged that he had been planning a trip to California for a while anyway, so it all “worked out.”

By Michael V. Cusenza

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced this week that he has created an Animal Cruelty Prosecutions Unit, which will work closely with the newly formed NYPD Animal Cruelty Investigations Squad, in pursuing allegations of animal cruelty, abuse and neglect in Queens.

The mandate of the Animal Cruelty Prosecutions Unit – the first of its kind in a district attorney’s office in New York City – will be to investigate and prosecute animal cruelty crimes and to educate the public about how to prevent and detect abuse of animals.

In creating the ACPU, Brown also announced that he has appointed veteran prosecutor Nicoletta Caferri as its inaugural chief. Brown described Caferri as a career prosecutor who has been with the Queens DA’s Office since 1992. Most notably, she handled the appeal of People v. Curtis Basile, in which the state Court of Appeals recently affirmed the 2007 animal mistreatment conviction of Basile who showed a complete disregard for the life of a helpless animal by failing to furnish the basic necessities required to maintain the dog’s health. Since then she has been invited to speak at various prosecutorial forums across the country and has been asked to do law enforcement training nationally and to work on amicus curiae briefs for other prosecutors.

Other animal cruelty cases that Caferri has assisted in prosecuting, Brown noted, include that of a Ridgewood resident who pleaded guilty to a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals last month for failing to properly care for or feed his dog that was emaciated, severely malnourished and did not have the energy to walk when brought to an animal shelter.  The defendant was sentenced to a conditional discharge, with the conditions including that he be banned from owning an animal for three years and that he be required to register with the New York City Department of Health as an animal abuser.

As in the previous case, Caferri is working with Assistant District Attorney Oscar W. Ruiz, the deputy chief of the District Attorney’s Special Proceedings Bureau, in prosecuting a Jamaica man on aggravated animal cruelty and other charges after he was allegedly observed kicking, punching and choking his pit bull-mix puppy over a six-week period.

“Niki is the ideal candidate to head up the newly created initiative,” Brown said. “She is an accomplished appellate attorney who is extremely passionate about her work and has an extraordinary and unparalleled commitment to upholding the state’s animal cruelty laws and in protecting the interests of victimized animals.”

Sgt. Michael Murphy, commanding officer of the NYPD’s Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad, added that his unit “has an extraordinary working relationship with the Queens District Attorney’s Office in regards to Animal Cruelty Investigations. With the new Animal Cruelty Prosecutions Unit created by District Attorney Brown we are looking forward to an even stronger collaboration to stop animal cruelty.”

The new QDA unit hit the ground running this week. A Jackson Heights man has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty and other offenses after allegedly slamming his girlfriend’s 3-year-old Chihuahua against the floor, killing the animal, during a verbal dispute Sunday afternoon.

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

The alleged incident was witnessed by the girlfriend’s 11-year-old daughter.

Carlos Hernandez, 32, was arraigned on Monday on a criminal complaint charging him with aggravated cruelty to animals, fourth-degree criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child.

Bail was set at $7,500 cash or bond. Hernandez posted the surety, and Department of Correction records indicate he was discharged from Rikers Island on Wednesday. His next court date was scheduled for Jan. 25.

According to the charges, Hernandez was inside his girlfriend’s Forest Hills residence at approximately 4:15 p.m. last Sunday and got into a shouting match with her. Hernandez allegedly grabbed the Chihuahua out of her hands and slammed the dog against the floor, causing the dog to bleed from its ears and collapse on the floor, where it died minutes later. The girlfriend’s 11-year-old daughter, who was the Chihuahua’s caregiver, was allegedly present in the room and witnessed the violent incident, Brown noted.

“On the day my office announced the establishment of a dedicated animal cruelty prosecution unit to pursue allegations of animal cruelty, a Queens resident is accused of pulling his girlfriend’s small dog out of her hands during a verbal argument and killing the helpless animal by violently throwing the dog to the floor,” Brown added. “Such acts of aggression toward animals cannot – and will not – be tolerated.”

If convicted, Hernandez faces up to four years in prison.

By Forum Staff

By Michael V. Cusenza

Police this week reached out to the public for help in locating a known suspect wanted in connection with a subway robbery pattern spread out over two Queens precincts and two Brooklyn precincts.

Cops on Monday identified the alleged perpetrator as Richard Brown, 21, and described him as a black man, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, 160 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair, and tattoos on his face, neck, and hand.

According to investigators, Brown has struck at least five times, beginning on Aug. 15 in Forest Hills, when he approached a man waiting on the southbound platform of the 75^th Avenue E, F station, threatened him by saying he had a gun, took the man’s cell phone, and ultimately forced the victim to detrain at 71st Street.

Cops have also attributed a Sept. 17 incident to Brown in which he allegedly threatened a young man at the Boyd Avenue and 88^th Street A-Train stop in Ozone Park by stating he had a firearm and stole the man’s iPhone 6.

Brown allegedly pilfered four more smartphones from victims at Brooklyn A and J stations in the last three attacks in the pattern.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit info by logging onto NYPDCrimeStoppers.com, or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

By Michael V. Cusenza

Four Queens elected officials last week delivered emphatic endorsements of a three-day music and technology festival that heavyweight promoters hope to hold next summer in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens and Bronx) and City Councilmembers Julissa Ferreras-Copeland (D-East Elmhurst), Peter Koo (D-Flushing), and Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills) threw their support behind the Panorama Music Festival last Wednesday in a release issued by Goldenvoice, a division of the Anschutz Entertainment Group, one of five promoters vying for permits from the City to produce the massive event.

“The Panorama Music Festival will provide a fantastic opportunity for Queens to take its rightful place as a New York City showcase,” Crowley said. “I am excited to help bring a world-class music, technology, food and art festival to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.”

Panorama will present three days of “top-tier musical performances, dynamic art installations, and unique technology experiences honoring the park’s history as the site of the innovative and historic 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs,” according to Goldenvoice.

The promoter also said it has outlined a plan for how Panorama “will enrich the borough beyond the event itself. Panorama will provide a donation per paid ticket to the newly formed Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Alliance, which will be used to assist in their endeavors. Goldenvoice has committed to local hiring for jobs associated with the festival and Panorama will further support area businesses by working with local restaurants and food trucks inside the event to showcase the diverse and exceptional cuisines in Queens.”

Ferreras-Copeland called Goldenvoice “a model partner for a festival in our community. They have been engaging the community for the last two years. Panorama’s producers listened to the community concerns and adjusted their application to reflect the community’s desires.”

However, plans to rent out the expansive park for such events have been a source of contention in Queens.

“While public events of any scale that enhance our borough are encouraged, I take issue when it is at the expense of cutting off public access to our treasured parks like Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, which is enjoyed by thousands of families and residents every week in the summer months,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.

Goldenvoice, which has been under the AEG umbrella since 2001, produces the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, consistently among the most in-demand concert tickets in the world. Additionally, according to a 2012 economic impact study featured in Spin magazine, Coachella brought $254.4 million to the desert region that year.

The City Parks Department has confirmed that it has received permit applications from several organizations interested in producing festivals in FMCP, but has not indicated when a final decision will be made.

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

Police on Tuesday pounced on a borough resident who allegedly lit three small-debris fires in roughly 10 minutes in Forest Hills last Wednesday night; but they quickly determined that he was not a copycat emulating the serial arsonist who has terrorized the central Queens community for the last two months.

Instead, Samer Shuaib, 36, reportedly indicated to investigators that the mini blazes set on Austin Street near Yellowstone Boulevard were the result of an alcohol-fueled bender after a bad day.

Shuaib has been charged with three counts each of second-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree arson and second-degree reckless endangerment. According to the city Department of Correction, bail has been set at 20,000 cash or $40,000 bond. As of Wednesday night, Shuaib was still on Rikers Island.

Shuaib’s shenanigans, which NYPD Chief of Detectives Bob Boyce initially characterized as the handiwork of “obviously a copycat,” only fueled the fear that has gripped Forest Hills since late October.

Law enforcement officials from several agencies have intensified their search for the prolific firebug who they say is solely responsible for at least seven arsons—all on construction sites in a Bukharian Jewish neighborhood.

The perpetrator is believed to be a white or light Hispanic man, 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-7, slim build, and dressed in a hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.

The Police Department reward is $12,500. A Bukharian Jewish group has put up $50,000 for information leading to an arrest.

“The string of arson that has occurred in Forest Hills over the last several weeks is putting our entire community at risk and must be stopped immediately,” state Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) said last week. “These fires that are deliberately being set are not just affecting vacant houses or construction sites, they are also causing serious damage to neighboring properties and putting the lives of innocent people at risk. While I am thankful that so far no one has been hurt by these senseless acts, I am hopeful that the person responsible for this will be found before a bigger tragedy occurs. I thank the FDNY and NYPD for working together on this and urge anyone with any information to come forward as soon as possible.”

By Michael V. Cusenza

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

Law enforcement officials over the past seven days have intensified their search for a prolific Forest Hills firebug who they say is solely responsible for at least seven arsons—all on construction sites—since October.

He last hit the community early Sunday morning, lighting up a location on 69 Road.

Frustrated fire investigators reached out to the public last week to help them smoke out the arsonist who has left a normally quiet neighborhood on edge. Authorities initially only pinned four of the fires on him.

However, on Monday cops added three more to his ledger of destruction.

In each case, the suspect entered the site and ignited flammable combustibles before fleeing on foot, according to the city Police Department.

Incident 1: Approximately 9:30 am on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 68-60 112 St.

Incident 2: Approximately 10:10 pm on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 112-35 69 Rd.

Incident 3: Approximately 6:30 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 108-49 66 Ave.

Incident 4: Approximately 11:12 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 108-47 67 Dr.

Incident 5: At approximately 12:18 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 112-35 69 Rd.

Incident 6: At approximately 10:27 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 70-35 113 St.

Incident 7: At approximately 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 108-13 67 Rd.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the reward was at $12,500.

The FDNY, 112th Precinct Detective Squad, and NYPD Arson and Explosion Squad have determined that the seven blazes began on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and have resulted in property damage and one minor injury to a firefighter. Three of the fires actually spread to adjoining properties, causing additional damage and the displacement of 13 people.

“The string of arson that has occurred in Forest Hills over the last several weeks is putting our entire community at risk and must be stopped immediately,” said state Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach). “These fires that are deliberately being set are not just affecting vacant houses or construction sites, they are also causing serious damage to neighboring properties and putting the lives of innocent people at risk. While I am thankful that so far no one has been hurt by these senseless acts, I am hopeful that the person responsible for this will be found before a bigger tragedy occurs. I thank the FDNY and NYPD for working together on this and urge anyone with any information to come forward as soon as possible.”

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz said she met with Police Commissioner Bill Bratton this week to discuss public safety issues, including the arson case. She encouraged her constituents to help investigators.

Based on video evidence, cops said, the perpetrator is believed to be a white or light Hispanic man, 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-7, slim build, and dressed in a hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.

The reward has been jacked up to $12,500. All calls are strictly confidential.

By Michael V. Cusenza

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

The New York Pops is putting their music where their mouth is this summer, and has announced they will give away thousands of tickets to their concerts in Forest Hills Stadium to underprivileged children.

The orchestra will play two concerts at the stadium, which will serve as their new summer home, in August. The first, on August 6, will feature guest artist Sutton Foster and the second, on August 7, Pink Martini.

“This is making a dream come true,” said Steven Reineke, music director for The New York Pops.

Reineke said he always enjoys conducting outdoor concerts, and when he came to New York City he was surprised there wasn’t a great outdoor venue. He said he can’t wait to perform in the stadium, which will provide “an incredible opportunity to reach new audiences.”

The more than 12,000 seat capacity of Forest Hills Stadium let The New York Pops massively expand their “Kids in the Balcony” program, which gives free tickets to underprivileged youth. The orchestra offers 100 Kids in the Balcony tickets to their Carnegie Hall concerts, which are often sold out, and will offer more than 1,000 tickets per concert at Forest Hills Stadium.

“This shows a true commitment to the community and to education and echoes my belief in the importance of music education for all the students in New York City,” said Deborah Dillingham, Queens representative on the Panel for Educational Policy at a press event announcing the partnership.

The New York Pops summer series will also offer family packages. Families can get four free tickets for kids under 16 with the purchase of one adult ticket said Anne Swanson, the orchestra’s executive director. Ticket prices start as low as $10.

“We are strongly committed to making these concerts accessible to all New Yorkers and especially to Forest Hills and Queens residents,” said Anne Swanson, executive director of The New York Pops.
Reineke likes to dance a lot as he conducts and said he hopes the outdoor stadium will allow more freedom for the crowd to move around and express themselves in a way they normally can’t in a concert hall.

“Steve Reineke certainly knows how to get the children participating, and it is a joyous experience to see kids clapping and singing and moving to the rhythm. Certainly the talent is unsurpassed,” Dillingham said.

Forest Hills Stadium was the home of the U.S. Open tennis tournament from 1923 until 1977. The stadium has hosted concerts by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Jimi Hendrix. Ed Sheeran, Mumford and Sons, and The Who have all played at the stadium since its re-opening in 2013.

“I am thrilled that so many children in New York City will be able to benefit from the New York Pops and this wonderful stadium and this historic neighborhood,” Dillingham said.

The orchestra partners with the Department of Education as well as schools and organizations throughout the city to distribute the free tickets. The New York Pops hopes to expand to three concerts next summer, and Reineke joked he would like to perform up to 10.

By Greg Zwiers

Cops responded last Sunday around 6:15 p.m. to a call of a multi-vehicle collision on northbound Woodhaven Boulevard near the Atlantic Avenue overpass. Upon arrival, they determined that two vehicles traveling southbound on Woodhaven side-swiped each other, causing both drivers to lose control and sending the cars over the center median where they struck two vehicles traveling northbound on the boulevard. Another car traveling northbound rear-ended one of the vehicles that were struck by the cars that had flipped over the median. A passenger from that vehicle, Roger Pariente, 90, sustained a head injury and was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Passengers from the other vehicles were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries.

According to authorities, the case remains active with the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad.

By Michael V. Cusenza

Last Friday, an elderly woman was struck by a school bus at the intersection of 108th Street and 70th Road in Forest Hills.
Forum Photo by Michael V. Cusenza

Police this week were still investigating last Friday’s hit-and-run accident in Forest Hills that left an elderly woman with severe injuries to her legs after she was hit by a school bus that kept going, according to officials and published reports.

The 85-year-old woman was struck around 1 p.m. while standing in a crosswalk at the intersection of 108^th Street and 70^th Road, near Queens Boulevard. Investigators have reportedly indicated that the driver of the school bus might not have even realized that someone was hit.

With about a week left in 2014, 209 people have been killed and 36,461 have been injured in automobile accidents in the city this year. Of those fatalities, 101 were pedestrians; and there have been 8,602 pedestrian injuries this year.

Earlier this year, Mayor Bill de Blasio established the Vision Zero initiative, a broad strategy aimed at reducing traffic fatalities to zero within 10 years. According to the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, being struck by a car is the leading cause of injury-related death for children younger than 14, and the second leading cause of injury-related death for senior citizens.

By Michael V. Cusenza