To compensate customers who were adversely impacted by the moratorium, National Grid will pay a $36 million penalty, Gov. Cuomo noted.

By Michael V. Cusenza

The natural gas and electricity utility company National Grid will immediately lift its self-imposed moratorium on gas service in Queens, Long Island, and Brooklyn, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Nat Grid officials announced Monday.

“They blinked,” State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) said of the utility Tuesday evening at the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic Association meeting.

To compensate customers who were adversely impacted by the moratorium, National Grid will pay a $36 million penalty, Cuomo noted. The fine will also support new energy conservation measures and clean-energy projects as instructed by the director of the State Division of the Budget in consultation with the Public Service Commission.

According to Cuomo, National Grid has also identified short-term supply mechanisms that will conservatively meet demand for approximately the next two years, allowing it to restore service to any customers that it had refused and grant all pending applications. The utility has also pledged to present a long-term options analysis within three months, subject to a public review process. The long-term options will be in place and functioning in fall 2021.

Earlier this month, the governor fired off a caustic letter to National Grid CEO John Pettigrew and President John Bruckner giving 14 days’ notice of the State’s intent to revoke the utility’s certificate to operate its downstate gas franchise.

Cuomo indicated that he came to this conclusion following the utility’s failure to provide “adequate and reliable service,” including failing to address supply issues, neglecting the needs of their customers, stalling private development, and the associated diminution of tax revenues to local governments.

National Grid has repeatedly claimed that there are gas-supply constraints in the northeast, and it is unable to provide utility service without a new pipeline. Since NY vehemently opposes the proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement (a.k.a. Williams) Pipeline program for the Rockaway Peninsula—Empire State officials have shot down the plan three times—area customers are the ones that have been left, quite literally, out in the cold.

As part of part of the agreement, National Grid will analyze and present viable options to address the long-term supply issue including: renewable energy sources, conservation strategies, a new pipeline, liquefied natural gas facilities, compressed natural gas facilities, and interoperable systems. National Grid will analyze these options over the next three months and present them to the public through a series of open meetings in Queens, Brooklyn, Nassau, and Suffolk to be conducted in coordination with local elected officials.

Cuomo said the State will appoint a monitor to oversee National Grid’s gas supply operations. The monitor will report to the administration and the Public Service Commission, and will be paid for by National Grid.

“This is great news for anyone who was having issues getting their gas service as the cold winter months approach,” Addabbo added in a statement. “As this had been a constituent-driven matter that my office staff and I have been working on for months, I am grateful that the efforts of the governor and Nat Grid brought this situation to a positive resolution. I look forward to working with the governor’s office and Nat Grid as we move forward to ensure that all customers are provided the natural gas they need.”

Due to the deterioration of the building, DOB issued an immediate emergency declaration allowing a city contractor to demolish the home.

By Michael V. Cusenza

An unoccupied residence that has teetered precariously on the lip of a Hawtree Basin inlet in Hamilton Beach since Superstorm Sandy inundated the area with water in 2012 partially collapsed into the drink on Monday, according to officials and eyewitnesses.
A City Department of Buildings spokeswoman told The Forum that the agency responded to reports of a leaning building at 102-39 Russell St. DOB inspectors found that the vacant, single-family home had shifted 2-3 feet toward the waterway behind it. Any utility services feeding the home were cut. Due to the deterioration of the building, DOB issued an immediate emergency declaration allowing a city contractor to demolish the home.
The spokeswoman indicated that DOB will continue to monitor the edifice until the home is demolished. In addition, the agency issued an aggravated violation to the building owner for failure to maintain the home in a code-compliant manner.
The property owner has pledged to DOB that they will hire a private contractor to perform the work; however, if they do not commence the demolition right away, a City contractor will perform the work and bill the owner.
The City Office of Emergency Management promised to conduct a follow-up probe of the site on Wednesday.
Area residents have been alerting elected officials and authorities about the home and others like it for years. Just last May, residents in Old Howard Beach made several calls to The Forum after a waterfront property located on Bayview Avenue near 163rd Avenue in Ramblersville, abandoned since Superstorm Sandy hit, began to sink further into Hawtree Creek.
Fears had been mounting that the shed and the deck attached to the property would soon break free and clog the waters of the creek, introducing dangerous conditions in the waterway and prohibiting any watercraft from passing.
As with all properties in similar condition, the homeowners were offered the choice to renovate, rebuild, or surrender the property for market value to the City’s Build it Back initiative. Due to the highly restrictive conditions and the extended time frame involved, the owners of the property chose to participate in the acquisition phase of the program and sold their home to the City.
The house, which was under the jurisdiction of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, has been demolished.

By Michael V. Cusenza

In the span of roughly 60 hours, last Friday evening to Monday morning, it seemed that Jon Greenfield put the finishing touches on the coda to one chapter of his professional life, and embarked on the introduction to a new one.

Friday marked Greenfield’s last day as communications director and policy advisor for Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Howard Beach), who announced in June that he will serve out the rest of his third term in office and not seek reelection.  And on Monday, Greenfield joined Democratic consulting firm Red Horse Strategies as communications manager for the Brooklyn-based organization’s election and advocacy work across the state.

“I’m honored to join the Red Horse family and bring my experiences in communications to their work across the state,” Greenfield said. “Red Horse has set the standard for engaged, successful media campaigns in New York politics and being a part of this process is an exciting opportunity for me. I look forward to applying the lessons learned during my time with Assemblyman Goldfeder to this new chapter.”

Greenfield told The Forum on Tuesday that he soaked up as much as possible in his three years in the 23^rd Assembly District.

“I was proud to have been a part of each and every effort by Assemblyman Goldfeder to improve the community and fight for the issues that mattered most to families,” he said. “It was a truly great experience for me to witness firsthand the Assemblyman’s depth of knowledge and passion for making the community a better place. It was a lesson in public service that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.”

Goldfeder said Red Horse now boasts one of the best in the business.

“I have always highly valued my communications operation as the best way to connect with families in southern Queens and Rockaway, and drive the conversation on issues that matter most,” said Goldfeder, who is slated to step in next year as director of Government Relations for Yeshiva University. “Jon was a tremendously valuable member of my staff, a first class Communications Director and most importantly, a great friend. He brought such professionalism and creativity to his role with my office that he made my work easy. He has a bright future ahead of him and I wish him all the best in this new role.”

As part of his work for Red Horse, Greenfield will be providing press and communications support for Stacey Pheffer Amato, who is seeking to succeed Goldfeder; and with Adrienne Adams, who is running for State Senate in the 10th District, which overlaps Goldfeder’s district.

Asked what event, issue, project from his time serving AD 23 really resonated with him, Greenfield said it’s difficult to pick just one, “though I am especially proud of our fight to reactivate the Rockaway Beach Rail Line because improving transportation touches so many parts of people’s lives. It opens up access to new employment opportunities, helps spur economic growth for neighborhoods still struggling from [Superstorm] Sandy, and connects families across the borough. I spent so much time on the fight to reactivate the line – from attending rallies, walking the length of the right-of-way, digging up old planning documents and meeting with advocates – that it will always stand out in my mind.”

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

By Michael V. Cusenza

Finally.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last Friday released the highly anticipated Draft Integrated Hurricane Sandy General Reevaluation Report and Environmental Impact Statement, or Rockaway/Jamaica Bay Reformulation Report, which examines coastal storm risk management problems and opportunities for the East Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and Jamaica Bay project area that was devastated by the impacts of Superstorm Sandy in October 2012.

The long-stalled analysis will ultimately determine the best possible coastline defense to protect the whole Rockaway peninsula and communities surrounding Jamaica Bay from storms and floods in a way that is sustainable over the long-term, both for the natural coastal ecosystem and for nearby neighborhoods.

The Tentatively Selected Plan, with a price tag of several billion dollars, extends along approximately 152,000 linear feet of project area from the eastern end of the Rockaway Peninsula at Inwood, Nassau County, to the western end of the peninsula, at Breezy Point, where the plan wraps around the existing shoreline past the Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge. Near Jacob Riis Park a storm surge barrier crosses Rockaway Inlet landing at Floyd Bennet Field, Brooklyn. The plan continues up Flatbush Avenue before turning west along the existing shoreline and continuing west until Norton Point.  From Norton Point, the line of protection continues on the north side of Coney Island, crossing Coney Island Creek.  From Coney Island Creek it continues north along the shoreline to high ground.

The plan along the Atlantic Ocean Shorefront consists of:

• A reinforced dune (composite seawall) with a structure crest elevation of +17 feet (NAVD88) and dune elevation of +18 feet (NAVD88), and a design berm width of 60 feet extending approximately 35,000 LF from Beach 9th to Beach 149th. The bottom of dune reinforcement extends up to 15 feet below the dune crest.
• A beach berm elevation of +8 ft. NAVD and a depth of closure of -25 ft. NAVD;
• A total beach fill quantity of approximately 804,000 cy for the initial placement, including tolerance, overfill and advanced nourishment with a 4-year renourishment cycle of approximately 1,021,000 cy, resulting in an advance berm width of 60 feet;
• Obtaining sand from borrow area located approximately 2 miles south of the Rockaway Peninsula and about 6 miles east of the Rockaway Inlet. It’s about 2.6 miles long, and 1.1 miles wide, with depths of 36 to 58 feet and contains approximately 17 million cy of suitable beach fill material, which exceeds the required initial fill and all periodic renourishment fill operations.
• Extension of five existing groins; and construction of 13 new groins.

The alignment along Jamaica Bay and Rockaway Inlet (on the Queens side) consists of:

• Reinforced Dune along the shoreline in Reaches 1 and 2 of the Atlantic Coast Planning Reach, from Beach 149th Street to Breezy Point.
• Levee and from approximately B227th Street north overland across Breezy Point, thence eastward from B222nd Street to B201st Street. Approximately 450,000 cubic yards of sediment required for levee construction.
• Concrete floodwall south along B201st Street extending east along north side of Rockaway Boulevard to B184th Street, thence north to existing shoreline. Concrete floodwall continues east to storm surge barrier approximately 2,300 ft. east of the Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge/Marine Parkway Bridge.
• A 3,970-foot storm surge barrier across Rockaway Inlet from near Jacob Riis Park to Floyd Bennet Field.

The public comment period will open on Sept. 2 and end on Nov. 2, according to the USACE. For more information, visit nan.usace.army.mil.

By Michael V. Cusenza

Scientists and researchers have been reaching out to Jamaica Bay-area residents, urging them to complete an online survey that is part of a joint flood-protection project between Princeton University and the Science and Resilience Institute @ Jamaica Bay.

The study’s purpose, according to the SRI@JB, Its purpose is to better understand how residents are affected by flooding and how they value different flood protection options. Its goal is to also understand how public programs can best support the needs and values of the Jamaica Bay community.

​The survey takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete, according to researchers. Responses are anonymous and confidential. For your participation, you will be entered into a raffle for a $500 Amazon gift card. Also, you may nominate a local organization to receive $1,000.

The survey can be found at https://princetonsurvey.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2uuPHmDLQ4oJKQd.

Flood protection took on a greater significance on Oct. 29, 2012. As the SRI@JB puts it, “for communities around Jamaica Bay, Superstorm Sandy’s landfall was a tragic reminder of how much damage a large-scale and rapidly moving disturbance can make. Lives were lost. Transportation, food, and energy were disrupted. Physical and natural infrastructure was destroyed. But successful stories of recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy were a more hopeful reminder of the many ways that people, plants, and animals can potentially re-group, recover, and sometimes thrive in the face of adversity. After Sandy, the human and natural worlds bounced back in various degrees, helped in part through coordinated and innovative efforts of community groups, local governments, the private sector, and state and federal agencies. But Sandy is just the latest catastrophic event in a coming century of unforeseen stresses and shocks. Resilience is about finding ways to recover more quickly and with less disruption not only from future coastal storms but also from other disturbances with intersecting and compounding effects, such as those related to urbanization and climate change.”

Putting resilience into practice

According to the institute, as a vision of the future, a more resilient Jamaica Bay would be able to withstand shocks and stresses to the social, physical, and ecological systems that support the well-being of living populations. To put resilience into practice and meet this vision we need to better understand how systems respond to disturbance but also make decisions about what constitutes well-being and what system interventions might get us there. This is not a straightforward effort. Resilience in practice is interpreted in various ways by different thinkers. Ecologists, for example, extend resiliency practice to the restoration of coastal wetland habitats that can help strengthen the capacity of the ecosystem to absorb stresses or shocks. Resilient local ecosystems can support well-being by protecting the biodiversity of a region and helping meet a range of human needs such as protecting environmental quality, reducing natural disaster risk, adapting to climate change, and enjoying recreation and natural amenities. Distinct from ecologists, engineers often emphasize a different aspect of resilience. They may envision resiliency practice as a structurally defensive notion—for example, building seawalls or abatements to defend against storm surge pushing into the bay. Furthering the complexity, communities of residents may have a still different concept of resiliency practice that focuses priority on strengthening the capacity of the human community to cope with stressors and shocks.

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

This December, when the world drags Howard Beach back 30 years, back to a time when this community was branded with the scarlet “R,” and characterized the world over as the Ground Zero of racism – think about the past nine days.

Think about Karina Vetrano—not as she met her demise in our backyard—as the vibrant, expressive, creative soul who was proud of her hometown.

Think about that hometown, that proverbial tight-knit community, and how it has grown even closer in the oft-divisive wake of tragedy. Think about how Howard Beach, since that awful Aug. 2 evening, has sought to shelter the Vetranos from that singular, unimaginable sorrow in a communal embrace.

And think about how many times – in recent years, even – Howard Beach has emerged stronger than ever in the face of soul-crushing adversity.

Think back four years to October 2012. Superstorm Sandy. Everybody has their own silver-screen ready tale of unmitigated calamity, of helping neighbors escape sure death, and of the struggle to bounce back in the days, months, and years since Mother Nature reminded south Queens and Rockaway who runs what.

But Howard Beach has bounced back. Together. Stronger than ever.

Think back 15 months ago, on that May day, when we learned of the death of little Valentina Allen, the tenacious 2-year-old who succumbed to the heart disease that had cast a pall over her brief life since she was in the womb.

Howard Beach mourned with Danielle and Ryan, but the community didn’t stop there.

The many fundraisers organized in Valentina’s name have helped to raise awareness of hypoplastic left heart syndrome and hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“I love that people still want to support her and come to her events,” Danielle Allen told The Forum earlier this year. “I feel it’s easy to get behind a little girl who’s still fighting, but the fact that people are behind her and supporting her hospital even though she’s gone, is just amazing. We are so thankful!”

#HowardBeachStrong.

And so now the community again finds its resolve, its sense of self, its familial identity tested. Karina, a native daughter of Howard Beach, torn violently from her communal embrace – and almost immediately, members of this large family unit spring into action, thoughts laser-focused on the Vetranos, true justice…and feeding the folks who are sworn to do everything humanly possible to track down the cold-hearted culprit. Neighbors and Cross Bay cornerstones like Lenny’s Clam Bar and Rag Time sent myriad trays of food to the investigators tasked with dragging such vermin in front of Cathy and Philip for some measure of closure.

So, four months from now, remember these days. Remember the power in our numbers.

Remember #HowardBeachStrong.

By Michael V. Cusenza

A Howard Beach couple have been arrested and charged with filing fraudulent Federal Emergency Management Agency claims to collect more than $25,000 in Superstorm Sandy benefits, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown and Department of Investigations Commissioner Mark Peters.

Christopher Poje, 43, and his wife, Margaret Poje, 39, were arraigned on Monday on two separate complaints charging both with third-degree grand larceny. Margaret is additionally charged with second-degree forgery, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing.

According to court records, the Pojes were released on their own recognizance and ordered to return to court on Aug. 15.

According to the charges, Margaret Poje filed a claim with FEMA on Nov. 11, 2012, in which she stated her primary residence was a house on 89^th Street in Howard Beach, which in fact is a secondary property owned by Margaret and her brother.

As a result of damage from Superstorm Sandy, Margaret claimed she had to move to an apartment on West 82^nd Street in Manhattan. She allegedly submitted a lease agreement as well as rental receipts and attached a $3,800 invoice from a heating and cooling company for home repairs for the 89^th Street property. FEMA reimbursed Margaret Poje a total of $19,556 in benefits.

According to the complaints, the lease and rent receipts allegedly submitted to FEMA by Margaret Poje contained the signature of a realtor, who was Margaret Poje’s co-worker at a local real estate agency. The realtor was interviewed by an investigator on July 10, 2013, and said the apartment listed on the documents does not exist, and that he did not sign the lease or rent receipts.

Additionally, Margaret Poje submitted a 1099 tax form (to report income other than salary) that allegedly states her residence as a house on 86^th Street in Howard Beach; and a tenant of the Pojes who previously lived at the 86^th Street property told an investigator that both Margaret and Christopher Poje had also lived at the 86^th Street address before and on Oct. 29, 2012, the day Sandy struck.

According to FEMA, federal recovery funds were only available to residents whose primary residence was damaged by the storm.

According to the criminal complaints, the $3,800 invoice for repairs on the 89^th Street property had been allegedly altered by Margaret Poje. The owner of the heating and cooling company told an investigator that his company did perform work for the Pojes, but on the 86^th Street property—not at the 89^th Street address.

The criminal complaints also allege that Christopher Poje, a City firefighter for the past 12 years, submitted a separate FEMA claim on Nov. 11, 2012, for reimbursement for temporary housing following Sandy. He allegedly attached a lease agreement and two months’ receipts for an apartment on East 37^th Street in Manhattan. Christopher Poje received $6,526 in benefits from FEMA.

Brown said, according to the complaints, the person named on the documents as the owner of the rental property is Margaret’s brother, who allegedly admitted to an investigator that she had signed his name to the document. The manager of the Manhattan building in which Christopher Poje allegedly claimed to have leased an apartment told an investigator that the space had been occupied by two other individuals between Sept. 1, 2012, and Aug. 21, 2013. Margaret Poje also allegedly told an investigator that she generated the rental receipts and the lease for the East 37^th Street apartment.

Brown scolded the Pojes for allegedly trying “to take advantage of a system established to help people who face real crises following a natural disaster. The aftermath of Superstorm Sandy on Oct. 29, 2012, devastated many residents of Queens County and beyond, resulting in many homes being damaged and in some cases destroyed. Those storm victims deservedly needed assistance in rebuilding their homes and their lives. The two defendants in this case are alleged to have lied, fabricated documents and receipts to dupe FEMA into giving them funds to feed their own greed. The defendants must be held accountable for their alleged actions.”

Peters echoed Brown’s sentiment, adding, “That one of the defendants is a City firefighter now charged with bilking the public trust only underscores the troubling nature of this investigation.”

Christopher Poje has been suspended for 30 days without pay, FDNY spokesman Frank Dwyer told The Forum on Monday.

If convicted, Christopher and Margaret Poje each face up to seven years in prison.

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

By Michael V. Cusenza

City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) came out swinging this week, fast and furiously – blasting the mayor for his “poor handling” of a Superstorm Sandy reconstruction program, then demanding the immediate resignation or termination of Hizzoner’s top storm recovery official.

The political pugilism started on Monday morning on Beach 117^th Street in Rockaway Park, where Ulrich ripped Mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference, saying the mayor “refuses to take responsibility for the failure of Build it Back. There is a total lack of accountability and compassion.”

Ulrich lambasted Build it Back and the current administration “for not delivering on their promise to help people get back into their homes after Superstorm Sandy.”

To illustrate his point, Ulrich held the event in front of the unfinished home of the Nichtern family, Ellen and her mom. The Nichterns have been out of their home for the past five months, during which time Build it Back has not done any work on the residence, Ulrich said, nor has Build it Back remained in contact with Ellen to let her know the status of the project.

Ulrich called Build it Back’s treatment of Nichtern “and the many people in the same situation entirely unacceptable.

“Like so many of my constituents affected by Superstorm Sandy, Ellen Nichtern has been let down by the bureaucrats at Build it Back,” the councilman continued. “This program is a complete disaster. Everyone knows it.”

Ulrich, who is openly flirting with a campaign to unseat de Blasio next fall, also said that Build it Back Director “Amy Peterson should resign today and allow new leadership to run the program more effectively. If she won’t resign, Mayor de Blasio should fire her.”

Several elected officials, including de Blasio, quickly came to Peterson’s defense.

“When Mayor de Blasio took office and appointed Amy Peterson to run the program, not one homeowner had received a check or seen construction. That is why this administration immediately overhauled the program and took over direct management – resulting in 80 percent of homeowners served to date. Further, $120 million in reimbursement checks have been issued to residents,” said Raul Contreras, spokesman for the Mayor’s Office. “We are continuing to elevate and rebuild homes across the city to complete the program – as the Mayor committed – by the end of this year.”

And on Monday afternoon, Councilman Mark Treyger (D-Brooklyn) said that “Build it Back may face challenges, but Amy Peterson is not one of them. She deserves much credit for improvement of [the] program post-Bloomberg.”

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

By Forum Staff

Elected officials joined the City Housing Recovery Office last week to unveil a pilot program to address abandoned, Superstorm Sandy-damaged properties in several Big Apple communities.

The plan will allow the City to identify and purchase deserted, run-down 1-4 unit homes in one strategically chosen neighborhood in each of the three major Build it Back boroughs: Brighton Beach in Brookly; Edgemere in Queens; and New Dorp on Staten Island.

Properties, HRO Director Amy Peterson noted, will be identified through a canvassing effort outlined below, vetted by a Technical Review Committee, and their owners will be invited to apply to the Build it Back Acquisition Program for further eligibility review, benefit determination, acquisition offer and closing.

“The pilot program is an exciting extension of Build it Back’s work – leveraging federal dollars provided by HUD to solve a local problem that our selected neighborhoods have faced since the storm,” said Amy Peterson, Director of the New York City Housing Recovery Office. “To ignore the abandoned properties would not only negatively impact the homeowners that Build it Back strives to serve, but would ultimately endanger the investment of public dollars used to restore and improve the housing stock in these communities.

According to the administration, the methodology for determining which neighborhoods to target for the program resulted in a focus on Sandy-impacted neighborhoods in which the problem of abandoned properties is most prevalent. To ensure that the selected neighborhoods matched those where the most recovery work is occurring, only neighborhoods where 50 or more Build it Back repair, elevation, rebuild or acquisition applicants reside were considered.

The City has pledged an external physical assessment that will be combined with a review of other relevant property specific information to create a more detailed assessment of potential abandonment.

“While many residents returned to their homes after Sandy, there are still properties that have been abandoned leaving blight right in the middle of our communities,” said City Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton). “Now, Build it Back is stepping up to secure those properties to find better uses for the land in flood zones, so neighborhoods like Edgemere are not left dealing with eyesores. I’d like to thank Amy Peterson for working to identify these homes across the city and finding ways to use that land to lift up these communities.”

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-Brooklyn and Staten Island) added, “We’ve been working with the City of New York to formulate this plan to address the problem of abandoned properties, which have plagued our neighborhoods following Hurricane Sandy. Many buildings were left structurally-unsound by the storm, in danger of collapsing at any moment, and some have served as breeding grounds for harmful mold. We also fielded an unsettling number of complaints of rodent infestation on properties like these. If these buildings are not surveyed, cleaned and repaired, not only will our recovery efforts be impeded, but a new set of health issues could arise in communities full of families that have suffered enough in the storm’s wake.”

By Michael V. Cusenza

Elected officials joined concerned southern Queens and Rockaway civic leaders last Friday in urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release the draft report and immediately thereafter hold neighborhood meetings regarding the proposed Rockaway Reformulation Study – the long-stalled analysis which will ultimately determine the best possible coastline defense to protect the whole Rockaway peninsula and communities surrounding Jamaica Bay from storms and floods.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Howard Beach) have also penned a letter to the USACE NY District, detailing the significance of the draft report and public forums.

“Families in southern Queens and Rockaway deserve to have ample opportunity to understand the report and provide formal feedback on the plans in the draft report,” Schumer and Goldfeder wrote. “We understand the Corps plans to release the draft report shortly and we urge you do this in a timely manner that maintains the current schedule without delay and looks to expedite it where possible.”

Initially, the Superstorm Sandy relief bill that was signed into law required that the feds pick up 65 percent of the project. Immediately after the bill’s passage, Schumer said he began working with the USACE and Office of Management and Budget to re-categorize the effort as “ongoing construction,” and therefore eligible for full federal funding.

However, the bill was passed into law over two years ago, and the Corps has yet to release the draft General Reevaluation Report publicly or hold formal community meetings—the next steps in the process to start construction.

Schumer and Goldfeder said it’s time for the feds to give Rockaway the update it deserves and one it has been patiently awaiting.
“Rockaway residents, some of whom are still feeling the devastating impact of Superstorm Sandy, deserve to see the essential details on the Rockaway Reformulation Study being planned in their community and have an opportunity to provide feedback,” Schumer said. “The Army Corps should release the draft plan and engage with the community ASAP. Public meetings will allow residents to voice their concerns, improve the plan and ask important questions that affect their future.”

Immediately after Sandy, the USACE allowed for emergency sand replacement to protect Rockaway from future storm surges. The Corps has since completed that work, placing 3.5 million cubic-yards of sand in Rockaway. But since that sand placement, Rockaway already experienced significant erosion. The long term comprehensive coastal storm risk reduction plan for Rockaway and Jamaica Bay requires the completion of hard, protective features including a sea wall, jetties, and groins.

“Communities in Rockaway and around Jamaica Bay are only as strong and resilient as the weakest link in our storm protections,” Goldfeder said. “The Army Corps’ proposed Rockaway Reformulation Study has the potential to strengthen our shorelines and protect thousands of families from the devastation from sea level rise and storms like Sandy. With the future of our communities at stake, families deserve to see the long awaited study released, work commence and the Army Corps ensure our voices are heard at every step in the process.”

The USACE New York District told The Forum that the draft report is on its way.

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers appreciates Sen. Schumer and Assemblyman Goldfeder’s ongoing interest and support for the reformulation report for Rockaway. The New York District is in the process of finalizing the draft reformulation report and it is expected to be released for public review in July 2016. Public information meetings are scheduled to be conducted beginning in late summer regarding the report.

Sen. Schumer and Assemblyman Goldfeder will be informed directly by the New York District of planned public information meetings prior to the meetings.”

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

By Michael V. Cusenza

With the 2016 legislative session – and its last-minute brokering, bloated bills, and late-night votes – in his rearview mirror, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Howard Beach) this week devoted some time to the District 23 campaign, formally endorsing Stacey Pheffer Amato as his successor in the Assembly.

“During my five years in office, we have been able to come together as a community and work to improve the lives of families across southern Queens and Rockaway. For all our progress, there is still so much work left to do. That’s why it’s important that we have a strong voice for our families who will fight for the issues that matter most,” Goldfeder said in a statement issued on Monday. “Stacey Pheffer Amato will be that strong voice who will continue our work to ensure every family can recover from Sandy, have access to transportation, and look forward to a better future for themselves and their children. Audrey Pheffer was a mentor to me and if her experience is any indication, I have no doubt her daughter Stacey will be an equally great advocate for our community. I’m proud to enthusiastically endorse Stacey Pheffer Amato for the New York State Assembly and I urge everyone to join me in supporting her in the upcoming election.”

Pheffer Amato is a Democratic district leader and the daughter of former D23 Assemblywoman and current Queens County Clerk Audrey Pheffer. She declared her candidacy earlier this month.

“Whether in our recovery from [Superstorm] Sandy or ensuring a better future for our children, we have always achieved great things by working together,” Pheffer Amato said. “I look forward to the chance to work together at home and in Albany to continue this fight in the years ahead.”

Retired City public school teacher and Rockaway resident Alan Zwirn is running on the Republican line.

Assembly District 23 includes Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Lindenwood, Hamilton Beach, Broad Channel, and Rockaway.

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

By Michael V. Cusenza

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Howard Beach) caught constituents and contemporaries by surprise last week when he announced that he would not be seeking a fourth term in the Assembly.

The Rockaway native, who was elected in 2011, delivered the news in The Wave, citing his desire to spend more time with his young family: daughter Eliana, sons Asher and Gabriel, and wife Esther.

“This has been, by far, the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make,” Goldfeder told The Forum on Wednesday. “I’ve been thinking about this for a number of months. Once [Gabriel] was born, the time was just right.”

Goldfeder indicated that he will continue to represent the residents and businesses of Assembly District 23 until the current term ends on Dec. 31. While the next stop on his journey is in the private sector, Goldfeder promised that this decision does not mean he is walking away from politics and public service for good.

“I will stay involved with every issue I’ve worked on,” Goldfeder pledged. “You never know what the future holds.”

Looking back on his five years in office, Goldfeder said Superstorm Sandy had a tremendous impact on…everything.

“The time after Sandy really dictated our actions over the last few years,” he noted. “It really consumed our time. It was truly important work.”

That work included fighting for flood insurance reform, working with City agencies to speed up the rebuilding process, and protecting Sandy-ravaged communities from the problems associated with “zombie properties.”

“I believe the communities [of the 23^rd District] are stronger today than they were five years ago,” Goldfeder added. “And I’m optimistic that my successor will keep up the good work.”

Reactions from colleagues and constituents poured into The Forum.

“Phil Goldfeder is a true public servant. He has set the bar high for anyone who follows,” said Joann Ariola, president of the Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic. “As a civic president, it is a pleasure to work with Phil Goldfeder. He is accessible, engaged in community events and community issues. Phil isn’t afraid to tackle the hard issues, and does not play party politics. As a mother and grandmother, I appreciated Phil’s interest in our schools and our students. He was quick to acknowledge their achievements and challenge them to read more. The Civic wishes him the best of luck with his new endeavors.”

State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) said, “I have had the privilege of working closely with Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder for several years as our legislative districts overlap. I have seen firsthand how he is not only working towards creating a better future for New Yorkers, but also making communities like Howard Beach, Rockaway and other neighborhoods in his district a great place to live. I have enjoyed serving with Phil and working with an individual who truly had a hard work ethic. With a family of my own, I know the sacrifices Phil and his family have made while he was a public servant. I wish Phil well as he tackles his next endeavor. ”

And City Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton) noted that Goldfeder “has always been an avid fighter for the people of the Rockaways and his presence will be hard to replace. I’d like to wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

By Michael V. Cusenza

A lifelong Rockaway Democrat with a very familiar name has declared her candidacy for the 23^rd Assembly District seat.

Stacey Pheffer Amato, daughter of former D23 Assemblywoman and current Queens County Clerk Audrey Pheffer, made the announcement on Tuesday. Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Howard Beach) has indicated that he will serve out the rest of his third term in office and not seek reelection.

“I have lived in Rockaway my entire life, raised a family here and worked in our local schools to ensure the best possible education for our children,” said Pheffer Amato, a Democratic district leader. “As a wife and mother, I know the challenges facing our families as we continue to recover from Superstorm Sandy and fight for the services we need. I intend to be a powerful advocate for southern Queens and Rockaway and I look forward to counting on your support in November.”

Pheffer Amato said she intends to focus on many of the issues that both her mother and Goldfeder took on during their time in office, including continuing efforts to expedite Sandy recovery and plans to take up the fight to reactivate the Rockaway Beach Rail Line.

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

By Forum Staff

The Assembly this week approved the New York State Abandoned Property Relief Act of 2016, designed to combat “zombie” properties through foreclosure protections and a new state-wide registry.

With zombie properties, according to the legal guidance network Nolo, the homeowner moves out after foreclosure has been started, but for some reason the foreclosure is cancelled, the sale is never held, or title is never officially transferred to a new owner. As a result, title remains in the homeowner’s name.

Often, zombie foreclosures occur in low-income areas where the lender is not anxious to assume responsibility for the upkeep of the property and wants to save on taxes, as well as other costs. If squatters occupy the residence or it falls into severe disrepair, the bank may simply wash its hands of the property.

Developed in conjunction with the office of State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, the Abandoned Property Relief Act aims to facilitate early detection and maintenance of vacant and abandoned residential properties, as well as:

Expand the existing duty of a mortgagee to maintain vacant residential real property to include “pre-foreclosure” vacant properties; require periodic inspections to determine whether properties secured by a delinquent mortgage have actually been abandoned; allow localities and the attorney general to enforce the maintenance of property requirements; and create a statewide registry for abandoned residential property under the supervision of the state AG and a toll-free hotline for community residents to report the presence of such properties.

“Zombie properties are a plague on our community that drives down property values, threatens public health and undermines the character of our neighborhoods,” Goldfeder said. “For families still struggling to recover from [Superstorm] Sandy, they are also a constant, painful reminder of everything we lost in the disaster. When it becomes law, the abandoned property relief act will finally give communities the tools to fight these zombie properties and give families some much-needed relief.”

The growth of vacant zombie properties has affected many New York communities in recent years. Last year, the Attorney General’s office estimated that there were as many as 16,700 homes in foreclosure across the state. This problem has been compounded by the devastation of Sandy, which left many homes abandoned and unmaintained in the months and years after the storm.

“Here in southern Queens and Rockaway, we pride ourselves on the character of our neighborhoods. Fighting these abandoned properties will help us fully recover from Sandy and make our communities even stronger,” Goldfeder said. “I urge the Senate to act as soon as possible to make this legislation a reality for our families.”

By Michael V. Cusenza

Prior to 2012, June 1, for most city residents, was just another date on the calendar.

That was, however, life before Superstorm Sandy – before Mother Nature tore a hole in parts of the Big Apple, including southern Queens and Rockaway, forever altering the everyday for some and creating a new normal in which the first day of June is the first day of Atlantic hurricane season, not simply another box on a calendar.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last week issued its 2016 hurricane season (June 1 – Nov. 30) forecast. The term will most likely be “near-normal,” according to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center, but forecast uncertainty in the climate signals that influence the formation of Atlantic storms make predicting this season particularly difficult, the agency added.

“This is a more challenging hurricane season outlook than most because it’s difficult to determine whether there will be reinforcing or competing climate influences on tropical storm development,” said Dr. Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the Climate Prediction Center. “However, a near-normal prediction for this season suggests we could see more hurricane activity than we’ve seen in the last three years, which were below normal.”

NOAA predicts a 70 percent likelihood of 10 to 16 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which four to eight could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including one to four major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher). While a near-normal season is most likely with a 45 percent chance, according to the NOAA, there is also a 30 percent chance of an above-normal season and a 25 percent chance of a below-normal season. Included in the 2016 outlook is Hurricane Alex, a pre-season storm that formed over the far eastern Atlantic in January.

Additionally, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, NOAA administrator, called 2016 “a banner year” for NOAA and the National Weather Service.

“As our Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program turns five, we’re on target with our five-year goal to improve track and intensity forecasts by 20 percent each,” she said. “Building on a successful supercomputer upgrade in January, we’re adding unprecedented new capabilities to our hurricane forecast models — investing in science and technology infusion to bring more accuracy to hurricane forecasts in 2016.”

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

By Michael V. Cusenza

If government malfeasance, rampant and blatant violations of the public trust, or greed at the expense of the downtrodden make you want to put your fist through water-logged sheetrock, then stay away from the Frontline/National Public Radio special report “The Business of Disaster.”

The piece, which debuted on Tuesday night, takes a look at what happens when the wind and rain die down and it’s time to assess the damage. Specifically, reporter Laura Sullivan examines the aftermath of Mother Nature’s malevolent 2012 masterpiece Superstorm Sandy, and who stands to actually gain from another’s loss.

“My instructions to federal agencies: Cut through the red tape and bureaucracy,” President Barack Obama said shortly after the storm eviscerated parts of the city, including many south Queens communities. “Get the resources to the people that need it.”

About that “red tape and bureaucracy,” Mr. President…

“I should be at home in my house and part of my community, and instead I’m out here doing this,” said a visibly frustrated Doug Quinn, whose Toms River, N.J., home was destroyed by Sandy.

Quinn’s story is alarmingly not unique. His $250,000 flood insurance policy only paid out $90,000 – not remotely close to what he needed to rebuild his house and life.

“My back was against the wall, because I knew something was wrong,” Quinn said.

So he hired an attorney.

The report goes on to rehash the fraudulent scheme made public by whistle-blowing building engineers. Private engineering companies purposefully altered reports so as to not fully reflect the true impact and damage caused by Sandy to New Yorkers’ homes, which led to the unjust denial or underpayment of flood insurance claims. Hundreds of flood-damage reports were allegedly falsified, and both engineering firms and insurance companies were placed under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for possible criminal conduct.

“I never saw anything worse in my entire life,” said John Houghtaling, a New Orleans attorney who previously fought the Federal Emergency Management Agency and insurance companies after Hurricane Katrina – and won (and won, and won, and won…) “They’re making up fake facts to come up with exclusions.”

As a result, federal officials announced that FEMA had agreed to reopen and review every flood insurance claim—approximately 144,000—filed by Sandy victims.

FEMA takes a beating in “The Business of Disaster.” But the agency is not alone. Insurance companies, represented here by a single spokesman, spend a prolonged period of time in the barrel during the one-hour report.

Sullivan said she pored over documents trying to figure out just how much money insurance companies clocked after Sandy, as, strangely, none of them wished to divulge their profit margin. She believes that altogether they made more than $400 million.

“They can’t begin to fathom the amount of financial wreckage they’ve created for average people,” said Quinn, who was able to get his claim reviewed – but legal fees ate up most of the adjusted payout. “It makes me angry to see these people profiting unfairly off other people’s misery. We’re average, middle-class people…and we’re in ruins.”

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

By Michael V. Cusenza

The City’s Superstorm Sandy employment initiative will be making additional free pre-apprenticeship training opportunities available to low- and middle-income residents of Sandy-impacted areas, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last week.

For the first time, select Sandy Recovery Workforce1 pre-apprenticeship training programs will host certain classes in these Sandy-impacted communities, de Blasio noted last Friday.

“Since the beginning, we have been committed not just to our recovery, but to providing opportunities to New Yorkers in our hardest-hit neighborhoods,” he added. “Build it Back has thus far connected 680 Sandy-impacted New Yorkers to high-quality employment, including many to the construction trades through union pre-apprenticeship vouchers. We are now increasing our capacity so that more Sandy-impacted New Yorkers can access these life changing opportunities.”

De Blasio launched Sandy Recovery Workforce1 in 2014 as part of an overhaul of the City’s Build it Back program and larger reconstruction effort. The program is part of the broader mission of the Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations to connect Sandy-impacted residents with careers in the unionized construction industry and jobs related to the recovery and rebuilding of these communities. According to the administration, residents from the affected communities have been hired through Workforce1 and Build it Back for jobs such as construction managers, procurement managers, residential construction inspectors, administrative assistants, and customer service representatives.

Through the Sandy Recovery Hiring Plan, the de Blasio administration has urged recovery construction managers to hire locally. They have been encouraged to work with community groups and job-training programs to identify candidates for construction-related work.

As a result of collaboration between the City, the NYC Building and Construction Trades Council and pre-apprenticeship training providers, New Yorkers will be able to enroll in designated classes, de Blasio said.

The pre-apprenticeship offerings include: a class in May which will have its first week hosted in the Rockaway Workforce1 Career Center on Rockaway Beach Boulevard, run by The Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills; a class in June run by NYC District Council of Carpenters Building Works open to Sandy-impacted communities; and a class in July for women in Sandy-impacted communities run by Nontraditional Employment for Women.

Additionally, HRO indicated that Sandy Recovery Workforce1 will continue its partnership with New York City Helmets to Hardhats, which serves as a direct entry pathway into construction unions for veterans. Each provider has State Department of Labor-approved direct entry agreements with DOL-registered and City Building and Construction Trade Council-affiliated apprenticeship programs.

All pre-apprenticeship vouchers are funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Program. To date, according to the administration, 84 vouchers have been distributed and 66 people have graduated from the programs using our vouchers, preparing them for union work as roofers, metal lathers, painters, laborers, and carpenters.

Residents in Sandy-impacted ZIP codes interested in taking advantage of the pre-apprenticeship opportunities should visit their nearest Sandy Recovery Workforce1 office at sandyrecoveryopportunities.com. Sandy-impacted Queens ZIP codes are: 11102, 11414, 11420, 11422, 11433, 11434, 11691, 11692, 11693, 11694, and 11697.

By Michael V. Cusenza

For the first time since Superstorm Sandy tore through southern Queens in October 2012, Broad Channel families can once again mail packages and send letters from their own neighborhood.

In early 2014, the Broad Channel Civic Association reached out to area businesses, and The All American Channel Market and owner Rob Pisani agreed to host a new Contract Postal Unit in the store, located at 925 Cross Bay Blvd.

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Howard Beach) and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) worked on behalf of the civic to get its CPU application quickly approved by the U.S. Postal Service.

CPUs are independent retailers under contract with the USPS that, while not considered full post offices, provide many of the same services and products. They are used by the Postal Service to give customers access to services—stamps, stamped envelopes, priority mail, certified mail, USPS tracking—when existing post offices are overcrowded or far from customers.

Here, BCCA President Dan Mundy, Jr. (l. to r.), Goldfeder, and Pisani celebrate mail services returning to the community.

By Michael V. Cusenza

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz this week was effusive in her praise of the Broad Channel Street Raising Task Force’s stewardship of the project that will elevate West 11^th through 19^th roads to help protect the community from flooding caused by high tides from Jamaica Bay.

“This is one of the best working Task Forces I’ve seen,” Katz said on Monday. “The agencies involved have been doing a tremendous job in remaining coordinated and prioritizing the community’s needs. They, the contractor, the designer and the community are all to be commended for working together and ensuring that the agreed upon goals are met, disruptions and inconveniences to the community are kept at a minimum, and timelines remain on track.”

The $28 million Broad Channel Street Raising Project, which began in August 2014, is a two-phase reconstruction endeavor under the city Department of Transportation and managed by the Department of Design and Construction. It involves the raising of streets through a “shared streets design” process borrowed from the Netherlands, where roadways and sidewalks are elevated to the same level with only the color of the pavement serving to differentiate the roadway from the sidewalk.

Phase 1

The first stage involves the raising of West 11^th through West 13^th roads – the streets identified as most vulnerable to flooding; on track for anticipated completion by June 2017, as originally scheduled. According to DDC, work has commenced on 11^th and 12^th roads and is anticipated to be completed by the end of this year; work on 13^th Road will begin this fall.

Phase 2

The second part of the project will cover the raising of West 14^th through West 19^th roads. According to the RBA Group, the project’s design firm, drawings will be submitted to DDC this week and presented to the community in June. The design stages will conclude in early 2017, with the project anticipated for completion by the end of 2020.

Broad Channel Civic Association President Dan Mundy, Jr. this week told The Forum that he, too, feels that “we are making very good progress on the Street Raising project. I attribute much of the success to the involvement of the borough president and her task force meetings. They have been critical in bringing together the stakeholders, the agencies, and the contractor to address issues and resolve them as they come up.”

EIC Associates, the project’s contractor, reported that this week they will begin repaving areas of the Broad Channel American Park parking lot that are most prone to flooding. The repaving is pursuant to an agreement with the community in return for EIC Associates utilizing a portion of the lot as a staging area during construction to store vehicles and equipment. EIC has also committed to repaving the occupied portion of the lot when both phases are completed.

The Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations has indicated that Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts under the Build it Back program would be impacted by the Street Raising project. HRO and DDC reported that they continue to coordinate in order to minimize the delays to the elevations of Build it Back homes.

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

By Forum Staff

Residents in central and southern Queens will have the opportunity to receive free advice from legal professionals next month when State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) hosts a mobile help center in partnership with the New York Legal Assistance Group.

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, May 6, the NYLAG mobile help center will be outside the Little Dolphin School, located at 107-01 Cross Bay Blvd. in Ozone Park, to give free legal advice to residents on civil issues, including housing (for tenants only), foreclosure, public benefits, disability benefits, healthcare benefits, identity theft, debt management, consumer credit, immigration, domestic violence, divorce, custody and visitation, child support, employment, and Superstorm Sandy cases.

“Many issues like housing or health care can often be complex and are much easier to weather with the help and guidance of a knowledgeable attorney who specializes in these areas,” Addabbo said. “Unfortunately, legal help is rarely free and many people do not have access to the quality legal advice that everyone should have the opportunity to obtain. No matter what the topic is, everyone facing a legal battle should be equipped with the proper tools and knowledge to fight back. By bringing the NYLAG Mobile Legal Help Center to different sites throughout my district, my constituents are offered the chance to not only have free consultations with quality professionals about a tough legal problem they may be facing, but they can do it close to home and at a time that is convenient for them. I thank NYLAG for helping to coordinate this event for the public and urge all my constituents to take advantage of this great opportunity to receive free legal help.”

Those who wish to speak with a legal professional must schedule an appointment prior to May 6. To do so, call Addabbo’s office at (718) 738-1111.