By Michael V. Cusenza

Crews last week installed long-delayed security cameras around Forest Park, three years after a prolific sexual predator – who remains at large – terrorized the borough green space.

Fourteen high-tech surveillance cameras owned and operated by the City Police Department were posted in several spots on the perimeter of the 544-acre park, including at the intersection of Forest Parkway and Park Lane South; the Carousel; and Woodhaven Boulevard and Park Lane South.

State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) and Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) secured $250,000 for the equipment in 2013. That same year, detectives released a sketch of the attacker, who they said has struck half a dozen times from March 2011 to August 2013 during daylight hours inside the expansive flagship green space. His last known assault occurred on Aug. 26, 2013, when he used a stun gun to subdue and rape a 69-year-old woman near Myrtle Avenue and Forest Park Road.

The painfully slow wheels of bureaucratic procedure over the past three years only served to heighten the anxiety of park patrons and area residents. Still, many members of the community last week were thrilled at the sight of the new security measures.

“It was terrific finally to see the cameras being installed after years of waiting,” said Alex Blenkinsopp, director of Communications for the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association. “I had to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating!

“Sometimes patience and persistence are rewarded,” he continued. “That was the case here, and now we’ll have a safer park. Thanks to Assemblyman Miller and Senator Addabbo for funding the cameras. And special thanks to Assemblyman Miller for staying on this for so long.”

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz (third from r.), City Parks Queens Borough Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski (fourth from r.) civic leaders and other guests helped break ground last week on $1.45 million in upgrades to the Joseph DeVoy Playground in Forest Park.

The upgrades are being fully funded by the Borough President’s Office and feature the addition of dynamic playground equipment, including steel drums, accessible swings and a new tire swing. The playground’s main entrance will also be regraded and the entrance gate will be replaced with one that allows for better access to the site. The upgrades are scheduled to be completed by next summer, Katz said.

Joining Katz and Lewandowski at the groundbreaking were (l. to r.) Michael Palermo, president of the Forest Park Trust; Doris DeVoy (widow of Joseph DeVoy, for whom the playground is named); Heather DeVoy (granddaughter of Joseph and Doris DeVoy); Bishop David Benke of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church; Community Board 9 Chairman Raj Rampershad; and Barbara Stuchinski, chair of the Parks Committee of Community Board 6 and co-president of the Forest Hills Community and Civic Association.

By Michael V. Cusenza

Detectives have asked for the public’s assistance in identifying a man wanted in connection with the armed robbery of a Glendale gas station earlier this year.

On Sunday, May 22, around noon, the suspect entered station on Cooper Avenue and asked for a sports drink. Security footage shows that he then proceeded to display a firearm to the employee – a 58-year-old man – inside and demanded cash. The victim complied and the suspect then removed approximately $1,000 in cash and fled.

He is described as a black man, 40 to 50 years old, and 200 to 220 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, (888) 57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit info by logging onto NYPDCrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All correspondences are strictly confidential.

By Michael V. Cusenza

The design phase of the first half-mile of the proposed QueensWay Park will be getting underway this summer, Friends of the QueensWay and the Trust for Public Land announced last Thursday.

The QueensWay project involves converting the long-abandoned Rockaway Beach Rail Line of the Long Island Rail Road—a 3.5-mile, 47-acre swath of the borough, from Rego Park to Ozone Park—into a $120 million public park, similar to the Highline in Chelsea, boasting trails and amenities.

Plans call for the 47-acre park to include a bike, jogging and walking path, upgrades for the facilities of local Little Leagues, schools, community and cultural comforts; and promises “a significant improvement to the environment and quality of life of those living in Central and Southern Queens.”

Phase 1 will focus on a central half-mile section of the QueensWay, from Metropolitan Avenue to Union Turnpike. This section, known as the Metropolitan Hub, will enhance pedestrian and bike access to Forest Park, and will include outdoor classrooms for more than 2,000 students in the adjacent Metropolitan Educational Campus. It will also provide enhanced facilities and new access to the Ridgewood/Glendale Little League.

“I am excited to see that we are now ready to start the design phase of the first part of the QueensWay project,” said Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills). “I am proud to have helped fund this phase, and I encourage the construction of phase 1 after the design is done. The Queensway Plan will benefit our local economy, allow an additional green space in our urban landscape, and will literally link local communities together through the 3.5 miles of property that this project will connect. I look forward to continuing to work with the Friends of QueensWay and my colleagues in government to make this plan a reality.”

More than $1 million from public and private sources has been raised for the project, including a $444,000 grant from the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council; $250,000 from Hevesi; and $250,000 from City Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills).

Recent contributors to the QueensWay include The Tiger Baron Foundation, The Scherman Foundation, The New York Community Trust, Altman Foundation, and Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Inc., according to Friends of the QueensWay.

The design process will be led by Susannah Drake at DLANDstudio Architecture & Landscape Architecture. The design process will involve experts in engineering and environmental sciences, and will provide many opportunities for the community to engage, Friends of the QueensWay promised.

“The QueensWay represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve the quality-of-life of Queens residents and provide a helpful boost to many of the Borough’s incredible businesses,” said Thomas Grech, Executive Director of Queens Chamber of Commerce. “The Queens Chamber of Commerce has been a proud supporter of the QueensWay since its inception and we are thrilled to be part of a diverse coalition advocating for its success and calling on the City to make the project a reality.”

Supporters of the QueensWay are urging the City to allocate the necessary funds to complete Phase 1.

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

The extended Finest Family on Monday found itself among the bereaved, again, as members helped lay to rest fellow NYPD Officer Patrick Winberry, who suddenly died last Wednesday after suffering a heart attack at his home. He was 30.

Winberry joined the city Police Department in July 2012 and served the 75^th Precinct in East New York for nearly two years before being transferred to the 104^th in Ridgewood.

According to 104^th Precinct Community Affairs Det. Tommy Bell, Winberry also was a Levittown Fire Department captain, protecting his hometown as a volunteer smoke-eater since he was 16 years old.

Winberry died less than a week after Capt. Matthew Hanrahan, executive officer of the 100^th Precinct in Rockaway Beach, passed away, also from a cardiac event.

PO Patrick Winberry is survived by his partner, Carmela, his parents, and sister.

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

By Michael V. Cusenza

The City Department of Transportation found itself on the defensive this week, painted into the proverbial corner by comments made by the commissioner regarding estimates and cost of the polarizing Woodhaven-Cross Bay Corridor Select Bus Service Project.

State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) fired off a statement last Thursday, a day after DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg discussed budgets at a City Council hearing.

“With Commissioner Trottenberg’s admission that the cost of the SBS proposal for Woodhaven-Cross Bay Boulevard has risen to $400 million – double the original estimate – it is now more clear than ever that we must examine if the cost outweighs the benefit of the SBS proposal,” Addabbo said. “My constituents deserve better transportation, but is lengthy construction and an absurdly high price tag, paid for with money collected from taxpayers who remain divided with their stance on SBS, worth it? In my opinion, DOT’s plan for Woodhaven-Cross Bay Boulevard could wind up being nothing more than a careless and irresponsible use of city dollars and that should not be tolerated by residents who live and travel along this corridor every day. For $400 million, I believe the city can do better.”

Asked to clarify and if, indeed, a distended estimate is the new reality of the SBS plan, a DOT spokesperson answered, “Commissioner Trottenberg said at last week’s budget hearing that the potential price tag of the Woodhaven SBS project had grown, but that DOT’s adjustments had made the higher estimate no longer applicable. She also noted that DOT would work hard to keep the project on-budget, while at the same time bringing significant transit and safety benefits to Woodhaven/Cross Bay in the next year.  That short-term work, well within the original budget, will allow the project to work as planned – while we manage the long-term project’s cost and schedule. We are also confident that the Woodhaven capital project will be eligible for Federal transportation funds.”

Additionally, the agency noted, this particular SBS plan was split into a short-term and long-term project to bring short-term benefits, reduce overall project costs, and allow time to evaluate the effects of the short-term project.

According to the DOT:

The short-term operational project slated to be completed in 2017 is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $10-20 million.

The full capital project, while still in design, will be significantly less than the $400 million estimate.

And several factors drove higher potential costs, including infrastructure, final scope of capital project, availability of funding, and inflation projections. DOT has indicated that its focus is to reduce costs as the capital project moves forward.

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

By Forum Staff

As state lawmakers kick off another round of legislative work in Albany this month, State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) has outlined some of his key priorities he hopes to help the legislature tackle over the next several months, including ethics reforms, paid family leave, and education reforms.

In 2015, New Yorkers watched leaders of both houses of state government be convicted on federal corruption charges including bribery, extortion, and conspiracy. As Addabbo returns to work in Albany this month, he expressed an interest in fighting for serious change to existing ethics policies, like outside income and influential campaign donations.

“Since 2000, 33 state elected officials have been removed from office in New York after being either investigated or convicted of ethical violations,” Addabbo said, citing a recent study by the good government group Citizens Union. “That number is outrageous and shameful, and it is time to send a strong message. Talk alone is not enough when it comes to ethics reform. We must take action and show New Yorkers that corrupt elected officials who abuse their power and take advantage of their jobs will not be tolerated.”

In addition, the Senator’s bill (S3004) to create Paid Family Leave in New York seeks to fund partial wage benefits for individuals who need time off from work to care for an ill relative or a new baby, while providing businesses with more productive employees.

“It is unfair and irresponsible for us to continue forcing workers to choose between their paychecks and their families at a time of need,” Addabbo said. “Enacting a Paid Family Leave bill into law will be a milestone for working-class families and businesses, and I look forward to being the lead advocate on this journey.”

Further, Addabbo prioritized the issue of raising minimum wage state-wide, along with improving senior health care, establishing more reliable veterans programs, and renewing mayoral control of city schools.

In addition, Addabbo restated a commitment to supporting reforms to Common Core, including altering a testing process that falls far short of credibly evaluating our children and their teachers.

“It is time to stop pretending that the success of students and educators can be properly measured simply by scores on standardized exams,” said Addabbo. “This process unfairly labels a students’ progress over an entire school year based on their performance on a few state tests, while also subjecting teachers to unreasonable evaluations.” The Senator gave credit to the teachers, administrators, parents, and students for speaking out on the Common Core issues and working with elected officials to effectuate the changes already implemented with the state tests.

Improved transportation in southern Queens, with an emphasis on public transportation, will be a major issue throughout the budget process and legislative session, according to Addabbo. Finally, other issues the Senator wants to promote during the session are assisting seniors and veterans, along with the need to create job growth.

Detectives this week were still hunting for three bold thieves who robbed a Glendale pharmacy at gunpoint last Wednesday afternoon, pillaging its inventory of thousands of extremely valuable, highly addictive pills.

The small Myrtle Avenue apothecary’s security cameras chronicled the daring daylight heist as the trio, donning dark masks and hoods, terrorized the pharmacist and another employee.

“With the gun he was pointing and said sit down here if you don’t want to get hurt,” the still-shaken pharmacist told WABC-TV Eyewitness News.

According to several published reports and footage of the robbery, one of the men displayed a written list of medication and demanded the pharmacist show them where they were kept.

The men made off with 10 different Schedule II substances—defined by the Drug Enforcement Administration as “drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence.” Examples include pain-pills such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl. And all of the medications come with lucrative street-value price tags.

The three suspects also robbed the register, zip-tied the two workers and took their wallets before calmly exiting the establishment onto Myrtle Avenue on foot.

The incident occurred less than a week after city cops and federal investigators raided a mom-and-pop pharmacy on Fresh Pond Road in neighboring Ridgewood. The owners of Chopin Chemists have been indicted for their alleged roles in a multimillion-dollar oxycodone distribution scheme that flooded city streets with more than 500,000 pain pills over a five-year period.

By Michael V. Cusenza   michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

Just as we recall the pain, anguish, and profound sense of loss wrought on that pristine September morning 14 years ago, we must never forget the unity, the dignity, and that powerful feeling of family that it also birthed.

We can, each Sept. 11, with the help of these memorial moments in Queens:

Rockaway: 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at Tribute Park; 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Beach Channel Drive between B. 116th Street and B. 117th Street.

Woodhaven: The Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association is hosting a candlelight memorial service at 7 p.m. at the 9/11 Memorial at the Seuffert Bandshell in Forest Park.

Glendale: 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony; Sunday, Sept. 13, 12:30 p.m.; 9/11 Memorial Garden at Dry Harbor Playground; Myrtle Avenue and 80th Street.

Middle Village: Juniper Valley Park annually hosts the moving Candlelight Vigil; 7:30 p.m. at the 9/11 Memorial; 78^th Street and Juniper Boulevard South.

Maspeth: Though the Maspeth community holds its annual memorial a couple of days prior to the 11^th, those interested are still encouraged to visit Maspeth Memorial Park to reflect; 69th Street and Grand Avenue.

East Elmhurst: Each year, St. Michael’s Cemetery hosts the two-mile “Remember Me Run” in honor and celebration of the first responders who sacrificed their lives to save others on 9/11 at the World Trade Center; Saturday, Sept. 12, 2 p.m.; St. Michael’s Cemetery, 72-02 Astoria Blvd., East Elmhurst, NY 11370.

 By Michael V. Cusenza 

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

Got him.

Area residents who frequent Forest Park breathed a collective sigh of relief this week as police nabbed the suspect they believe is responsible for the murder of 23-year-old Diego Piedrahita, whose badly bludgeoned body was found two weeks ago in a remote part of the 544-acre green space.

Zoltan Forai, 44, also known as Steven Forai, a borough native who is homeless, was arraigned last Saturday on second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon charges, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

According to the charges, Forai was spotted by police last Friday at Woodhaven Boulevard and Myrtle Avenue in the Glendale section of Queens near Forest Park. He was allegedly observed drinking a can of beer less than a mile from the crime scene, and subsequently arrested for drinking in public. Forai, who allegedly had shaved his beard to distinguish himself from looking like the suspect wanted for questioning in the homicide, was re-arrested hours later on murder charges.

According to the criminal complaint, Forai and the victim were acquaintances. Between June 8 and June 9, Forai is alleged to have kicked Piedrahita in his head and body and then used a rock to strike him multiple times in his face and head. Piedrahita, who suffered numerous skull fractures, died at the scene.

“The victim was brutally kicked and bashed in the head with a rock. The defendant has shown a total disregard for life and if convicted should be locked behind bars to keep the public safe and to punish him for this senseless crime,” Brown said.

Forai, who faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted, was ordered held without bail and to return to court on July 2.

By Michael V. Cusenza

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

An Ozone Park girl this week was remanded into custody after she was charged with first-degree manslaughter for her alleged role in the shooting death of a man on a Glendale street early Sunday morning, according to authorities and published reports.

Jordan Paulino, 17, was additionally arraigned Monday night on one count of second-degree hindering prosecution and one count of conspiracy in the fourth degree.

Paulino was allegedly sitting in the passenger seat of Jordan Santos’s Lexus SUV when a gunman walked up on the driver’s side and opened fire, hitting Santos, 21, at least once in the neck. He later died at the hospital.

According to reports, Paulino allegedly lured Santos to the spot on Edsall Avenue, which runs parallel to freight-train tracks, where he was killed. Cops have not released a motive, and have not yet apprehended the shooter.

Paulino is in protective custody Rikers Island until her next court appearance on April 6. According to the New York Daily News, Paulino has received death threats on social media since her arrest last Sunday.

By Michael V. Cusenza michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

Simon Property Group has reportedly made a bid for Macerich, the company which operates both Queens Center (above) and the Shops at Atlas Park. Photo Courtesy of Yelp.

Despite the fact that large-scale shopping malls have generally struggled to find customers in recent years, two major Queens retail destinations—the Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst and The Shops at Atlas Park in Glendale; both Macerich Company-owned properties—have maintained a steady rate of progress.

The retail successes have not gone unnoticed.

The Simon Property Group, widely recognized as the top mall owner/operator in the country, with annual retail sales topping $60 billion, last week made an unsolicited, or “hostile” bid, to acquire Macerich for $91.00 per share in cash and stock—about $16 billion. As part of the deal, Simon would also assume $6.4 billion of Macerich’s debt.

In a statement, Macerich Chief Executive Officer Arthur Coppola indicated that the board had rejected Simon’s offer, characterizing it as an “unsolicited, conditional proposal [that] substantially undervalues Macerich and is not in the best interests of Macerich and its stockholders.”

Simon CEO David Simon called the declination “truly disappointing,” in part because Macerich representatives “would not even meet to discuss our proposal.”

In New York, Simon operates Roosevelt Field in Nassau County, Walt Whitman Shops on Long Island and Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in Central Valley.

Macerich also owns the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, Kings Plaza Shopping Center in Brooklyn and the Cross County Mall in Yonkers.

Retail analysts have regarded the Simon bid as a way to further expand the company’s national footprint and lure more shoppers to higher-end, lucrative destinations, known in the industry as “Class A” properties, such as Queens Center, one of the most densely populated and highly profitable shopping malls in the country; and Atlas Park.

In a recent letter to Coppola, David Simon sought to outline why the bid would be a win-win for both companies.

“We believe Simon’s cash and stock offer would bring compelling value to shareholders of both companies. Macerich shareholders would receive a significant current cash premium as well as the long-term upside potential of an investment in Simon, which is widely recognized for its high-quality portfolio and industry-leading operating performance,” Simon said.

He added that the group has “consistently delivered outstanding returns to its shareholders and for a decade has outperformed Macerich in virtually every key operating and financial category… We are confident our proposed transaction provides a highly attractive value proposition to Macerich shareholders.”

In addition, Simon, which already owns a 3.6-percent stake in Macerich, said that, as part of the deal, it would also sell “selected Macerich assets” to General Growth Properties, another mall operator. Insiders have speculated that Simon would sell its small stake to avoid possible anti-trust questions that could arise from the bid.

“Simon’s appetite for more Class A malls speaks volumes to the asset class,” D. J. Busch, a senior analyst with Green Street Advisors, told The New York Times. “Simon’s menu of options to allocate its capital are vast. They have opportunities in Europe and Asia. For them to put their weight behind A malls in the U.S. is an indication of where they believe the growth is.”

By Alan Krawitz and Michael V. Cusenza

Randolph Ardila, 30, who has been held on Rikers Island in lieu of $150,000 bail since his arrest in February, formally entered a guilty plea last Thursday. His next court court date is Feb. 13, at which time Ardila will be sentenced to six years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision.

According to the charges, Ardila acted as a lookout between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Feb. 21, 2014, while two other unapprehended individuals allegedly attempted to burglarize residences on 77th Avenue in Glendale. Pry marks made with a tool like a screwdriver were observed on the front doors.

At approximately 4:50 p.m. on the same day, police allegedly saw two people enter an apartment building on 103rd Avenue in Ozone Park and Ardila park a gray BMW near the same building before exiting the vehicle and acting as a lookout. A few minutes later, three people exited the building, two of whom were carrying bags, Brown said. One of the bags was placed in the gray BMW that Ardila was driving. Police then observed Ardila entering the BMW on the driver’s side and saw what appeared to be a container on or with the bag. The other suspects allegedly entered a blue Honda and the two vehicles then drove away.

At the time of Ardila’s arrest, he was carrying a blue plastic container filled with change and a twenty-dollar bill—which had been reported missing from an apartment at the Ozone Park location—and had a screwdriver in his possession. Police also recovered a box containing the cremated ashes of a tenant’s mother—which had been reported stolen from a second apartment at the Ozone Park location in the other vehicle.

Thousands attended the funeral of slain Det. Rafael Ramos in Glendale.
Forum Photos by Robert Stridiron

Law enforcement personnel from all over the country paid their respects to the fallen Finest at Christ Tabernacle Church on Myrtle Avenue.
Forum Photos by Robert Stridiron

Tens of thousands of mourners last Saturday morning turned out in Glendale to pay their last respects to a city police officer who along with his partner was gunned down in Brooklyn on Dec. 20.

City cops, community members and law enforcement officials from across the country packed Christ Tabernacle Church and surrounding streets for the funeral of Rafael Ramos, 40, who was posthumously promoted to detective first grade by NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton.

Ramos and his partner, Wenjian Liu, 32, were ambushed as they sat in their marked vehicle outside a Brooklyn housing development by a crazed gunman in what he characterized on social media as an act of vengeance on behalf of unarmed black men recently killed by cops.

Ramos is survived by his wife and two sons.
Forum Photos by Robert Stridiron

Ramos, who is survived by his wife and two sons, was eulogized by Vice President Joe Biden, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Bratton and Mayor Bill de Blasio. City cops turned their backs on de Blasio for the duration of his remarks.

“His life was tragically cut short,” de Blasio said of Ramos, “but his memory will live on in the hearts of his family, his congregation, his brothers and sisters of the NYPD, and literally millions of New Yorkers. We will not forget. “

By Michael V. Cusenza

Cops allegedly found guns, brass knuckles and bulletproof vests inside the Glendale home of Elvin Payamps.
Photo Courtesy of NYPD

A Glendale man this week remained on Rikers Island on $500,000 bail following his Christmas Day arraignment on multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon, aggravated harassment and other charges after he was allegedly overheard telling someone that he was going to kill police officers and a cache of guns, ammunition and bulletproof vests were found in his home, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

Elvin Payamps, 38, of Edsall Avenue, was overheard talking on a cell phone reportedly in the Middle Village branch of a TD Bank on Christmas Eve when, according to the complaint, a witness heard him say that he was going to kill another cop; that it should happen before Christmas; and that last weekend’s shooting should have killed white officers.

According to the charges, during a search of Payamps’ home police recovered brass knuckles, a loaded black Jimenez Arms JA 9mm pistol, a black Mossberg Maverick Model 88 12-gauge shotgun with a defaced serial number, ammunition and two bulletproof vests. One of the vests was labeled as being from the Brooklyn Detention Complex.

Following his arrest, Payamps allegedly admitted to saying that the two officers shot and killed in Brooklyn last weekend—Detectives Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu—should have been white instead of Hispanic and Asian, if the shooter wanted to send a message.

Payamps, who as of Monday evening was listed as being housed in the North Infirmary Command on Rikers Island, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

By Michael V. Cusenza

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder hailed a new MTA report as a significant step towards reactivation of the abandoned Rockaway Beach Rail Line.
Photo Courtesy of Assemblyman Goldfeder’s Office

A recently released Metropolitan Transportation Authority Reinvention Commission report calls for the “aggressive expansion” of the city’s rail capacity through means including the reactivation of unused rail rights-of-way.

And Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Howard Beach) this week seized on the development as support for the reactivation of the abandoned Rockaway Beach Rail Line.

The report recommends seven strategies for improving transportation in the city. Among these is the recommendation for expansion of the existing transit system to meet the needs of growing ridership and create new travel patterns between growing outer-borough neighborhoods under-served by current MTA services. In order to achieve this, the commission recommends taking advantage of unused rail line rights-of-way, such as the Rockaway Beach Rail Line, as a way to quickly add new rail service. According to the report, by increasing capacity, the MTA can also increase resiliency in the face of major storm events, such as Superstorm Sandy, by increasing riders’ transit options when service to lines is down or overburdened.

“Support for reactivation of the rail line continues to grow and this new report drafted by leading transit experts is a huge step in the right direction,” Goldfeder said. “The commission recognizes that reactivating unused rights-of way such as the Rockaway Beach Rail Line is the best and most cost-effective way to improve access to transit for hundreds of thousands of Queens families.”

Before the Thanksgiving holiday, Goldfeder sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, urging him to direct a portion of the $5 billion budget surplus, created by settlements and fines from major financial firms, to restore the RBRL.

Two weeks ago, Goldfeder helped detail the findings of a Queens College study that surveyed thousands of residents and researched available census data to gauge the transportation and park needs of Rego Park, Forest Hills, Glendale, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven and Ozone Park—the neighborhoods surrounding the abandoned line. According to the resulting data, “nearly half of all business owners who completed the study said using the rail line right of way for public transit would have a ‘significant positive’ impact on their business.” Additionally, the study found that the reactivated line could generate up to 500,000 rides a day.

In October, Friends of the QueensWay and the Trust for Public Land released the QueensWay Plan, a project that involves converting the RBRL into a $120 million public park boasting trails and many amenities.

By Michael V. Cusenza

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (at lectern) this week urged Gov. Cuomo to allocate a portion of the budget surplus to restarting the Rockaway Beach Rail Line.
Photo By Michael V. Cusenza

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Ozone Park) this week ramped up efforts to help fund the revitalization of the defunct Rockaway Beach Rail Line by penning a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, urging him to direct a portion of the $5 billion in state dollars from the budget surplus, created by settlements and fines from major financial firms, to restore the line.

Last week, Goldfeder helped detail the findings of a Queens College study that surveyed thousands of residents and researched available census data to gauge the transportation and park needs of Rego Park, Forest Hills, Glendale, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven and Ozone Park—the neighborhoods surrounding the abandoned line. According to the resulting data, “nearly half of all business owners who completed the study said using the rail line right of way for public transit would have a ‘significant positive’ impact on their business.” By comparison, less than a third believed that the proposed QueensWay Plan would have a similar impact.

In his letter to Cuomo, Goldfeder noted that the student-led survey concluded that reactivating the RBRL, which would cost between $600 million and $900 million, could generate 500,000 subway rides a day.

“This is a one-shot infusion of money that should be used for infrastructure that could provide Queens and the entire city with the transit options it so desperately needs,” Goldfeder said. “What better use of state dollars than for the restoration of an abandoned rail line that could create jobs, remove congestion from our roadways and improve transit options for up to 500 thousand riders per day.”

Last month, Friends of the QueensWay and the Trust for Public Land released the QueensWay Plan, a project that involves converting the RBRL into a $120 million public park boasting trails and many amenities.

By Michael V. Cusenza

State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr., a Democrat, has represented District 15 since 2009. Photo by Michael V. Cusenza

With the midterm elections less than a week away, state Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) is hoping that he can turn his three-term run in the 15^th District into an even four.

Addabbo, 50, who served seven years on the City Council before being elected to the Senate in 2008, has the decided advantage of name recognition over his relatively unknown GOP challenger, Rego Park resident Michael Conigliaro, who was urged to run against Addabbo by City Councilman Eric Ulrich’s (R-Ozone Park) chief of staff.

Conigliaro noted recently at a public forum that if he hadn’t decided to run against Addabbo, then Addabbo would have been running unopposed; a concept that Conigliaro said ran counter to his belief that elections should always have an incumbent and a challenger.

During his three terms in office, Addabbo said he has consistently “been there” for his constituents when it comes to working towards reducing income taxes for the middle class, providing property-tax rebates for homeowners and renters, and passing tax incentives for small businesses to expand their workforce by hiring veterans, seniors and youth.

Addabbo also talked about helping residents and businesses during some of the borough’s darkest days—the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

“I was there for my constituents immediately after Superstorm Sandy, and I have continually advocated for the storm victims, [and] worked with FEMA, Rapid Repair and Build It Back to ensure residents get the services they need,” said Addabbo, who resides in Tudor Village in Ozone Park with his wife and two daughters. “That is something that will never change—I will always fight for Sandy victims until we are 100 percent whole.”

While Addabbo and his opponent may not see eye to eye on many issues, they do have some positions in common. For example, both the senator and Conigliaro, who manages a law office in Floral Park, agree that the state’s Common Core curriculum is in need of revamping; and both men also oppose the controversial homeless shelter proposed for Cooper Avenue in Glendale.

But when it comes to gay marriage, the two men are not on the same page. Conigliaro has said he opposes marriage equality, while Addabbo has most recently, in 2011, voted for same-sex marriage legislation, despite initially voting against similar legislation in 2009.

“I was there for my constituents during the state budget that cut wasteful spending and made our government more efficient and responsive to the people,” Addabbo added.

As far as other contentious issues, such as hydrofracking, the senator has said that “I have stood against the process of hydraulic fracturing since it was brought to my attention in 2009, and remain opposed to this practice for the detrimental effects are great and numerous in such states as Pennsylvania, which had adopted hydraulic fracturing operations several years prior.”

To that end, Addabbo cosponsored legislation to suspend fracking for the extraction of natural gas or oil, and prohibited the issuance of new permits for the drilling of a well utilizing the practice of fracking.

Additionally, the senator has said he has helped his constituents in working towards improved public transportation, including advocating for a permanent Rockaway ferry and working to find a solution to traffic problems on Woodhaven and Cross Bay boulevards.

Addabbo noted that he has shown his willingness to get involved in issues great and small across the 15^th District, which includes—in whole or in part—Broad Channel, Elmhurst, Forest Hills, Glendale, Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach, Kew Gardens, Kew Gardens Hills, Maspeth, Middle Village, Ozone Park, Rego Park, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, South Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Woodside and the Rockaways. For example, next month, he is bringing the Mobile Care Clinic to several locations in the district to provide women with low-cost and free mammograms and breast exams.

“With the support of my district, it would be a continued honor to serve them as a full time senator and be there whenever needed,” Addabbo said.

By Alan Krawitz

City Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton) hosted the Tuesday morning event, announcing support from fellow councilmembers and bus riders, and unveiling a “BRT For NYC” movement petition, boasting 5,000 signatures, for the service along the Woodhaven and Cross Bay corridor, extending into Far Rockaway.

Bus rapid transit, according to Richards, combines the permanence, speed and reliability of rail with the flexibility of buses, all at a fraction of the cost of a subway system.

“Building on the success of Select Bus Service, the Woodhaven and Cross Bay corridor represents an opportunity to deliver BRT for the more than 30,000 residents relying on bus service along the corridor every day,” Richards said. “Protected bus lanes and center-median stations will help make one of the most dangerous and extensive transportation corridors in the city more safe, reliable and equitable for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike.”

Additionally, councilmembers Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria), Elizabeth Crowley (D-Glendale), Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights), Julissa Ferreras (D-East Elmhurst), Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills) and Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) have signed a letter to the MTA and city Department of Transportation outlining recommendations for full-featured BRT along the bustling thoroughfares.

The petition is being handled by the “BRT For NYC” Steering Committee, which is composed of representatives from the Association for a Better New York, the New York Public Interest Research Group Straphangers Campaign, Pratt Center for Community Development, Riders Alliance, Transportation Alternatives, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Transit Workers Union and Working Families Party.

To sign the petition, log on to: http://salsa.ridersny.org/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=9664

By Michael V. Cusenza