Astoria Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday soundly beat former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the second time in four months. The 34-year-old Democratic Socialist will succeed Mayor Eric Adams at City Hall in January.

Mamdani garnered 50.4 percent of the vote, while Cuomo earned 41.6 percent, according to NBC News. GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa got 7 percent of the vote. Over 2 million New Yorkers voted—including over 500,000 Queens residents.

“The voters have spoken, and while the results were not what many of us had hoped for, I remain deeply grateful to everyone who stood up, got involved, and made their voices heard in this election.

Our city is at a crossroads,” said City Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park). “Many New Yorkers are concerned about what this outcome could mean for public safety, quality of life, and the future of our neighborhoods. Those concerns are real, and I’ll keep fighting every single day to make sure they’re not ignored.”

Photo Courtesy of Gov. Cuomo
Former Gov. Cuomo votes in Queens on Tuesday.

In a shocking development, Mamdani defeated Cuomo in June in the Democratic primary. Cuomo ran this fall on the Independent line.

Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. earned another term on Tuesday. Additionally, voters gave the green light to three highly contested housing proposals on the ballot that were generated earlier this year by the City Charter Revision Commission.

“New Yorkers desperately need more housing that is affordable to them, but the solution isn’t to take away communities’ power to secure more affordability and essential public goods from developers and the City. These misleading ballot proposals permanently change the City’s constitution to weaken democracy, lasting beyond the next mayor when we inevitably have a mayor who is bad on housing, equity, and justice for communities. This will leave our city without the checks and balances of democracy to protect New Yorkers and ensure outcomes that prioritize them, not simply profits,” City Council spokesperson Benjamin Fang-Estrada said in a statement.

“Tonight’s results are not surprising given the misleading language placed on the ballot to describe these proposals that intentionally sought to deceive voters by hiding what they do. The fact that there is no accountability or scrutiny for ballot language and abuses of mayoral charter revisions exposes a continued threat to our democracy that the State must address. Governor Hochul must sign into law a bill passed by both houses of the State Legislature to prevent mayors, like Eric Adams, from misusing the charter revision process to block ballot access and weaken democracy.”

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Thursday that a South Ozone Park man has been arraigned on an indictment charging him with the death of a construction zone flag person working on the Nassau Expressway in September who was allegedly struck and killed by the man, who allegedly fled the scene.

Daveanand Budhai, 25, was arraigned on Thursday on an eight-count indictment charging him with manslaughter in the second degree, assault in the second degree, leaving the scene without reporting, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the second and third degrees, reckless driving, operating a vehicle at unreasonable speed and failure to reduce speed.

According to the charges, just before 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 19, 2025, Budhai was driving an Infiniti sedan traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed on the Nassau Expressway. Budhai approached Exit 1N, which feeds into the Van Wyck Expressway. That ramp, however, was an active construction zone and the left lane was closed and marked with multiple traffic drums and signage. The posted speed for the ramp was 25 mph.

Photo Courtesy of Google
After hitting Alvarez, Budhai allegedly drove away from the area. He exited the expressway and stopped at 134th Street and South Conduit Avenue.

Budhai allegedly slammed into the traffic drums and then struck Isabel Alvarez, 44, who was the flag person holding a paddle sign that said “STOP/SLOW.” She was also wearing her required safety equipment, including a hard hat and a fluorescent reflective visibility vest.

At impact, Alvarez was thrown approximately 168 feet through the air. Her body landed on the left shoulder of the roadway and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

After hitting Alvarez, Budhai allegedly drove away from the area. He exited the expressway and stopped at 134th Street and South Conduit Avenue—approximately a mile from the scene of the collision. Budhai called 911 to request an ambulance for injuries that he sustained to his hands in the incident.

When police arrived to aid Budhai, the vehicle Budhai drove was observed to have significant front-end damage, including a shattered windshield. There was both blood and glass inside the vehicle and fluorescent markings visible on the hood of the car.

If convicted, Budhai faces up to 22 years in prison.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority this week added more weekday service to the A and L. This increase will improve the A and L lines by providing more frequent service and reduced wait times for more than 100,000 weekday riders, Hochul said.

“When we launched congestion pricing, I made a promise to New Yorkers that we would deliver tangible improvements to transit service and by adding more trips on two of the busiest subway lines, we are doing just that,” the governor added. “More frequent subway service means less waiting on platforms and reduced crowding on trains—two big wins for riders.”

On the A line, there will be increased service during the midday by adding one round trip each to Lefferts Blvd and Far Rockaway, which would extend the span of midday 8-minute average headways between Inwood-207 St and Rockaway Blvd. This change will reduce wait times for customers, improve the reliability of service, and reduce delays associated with moving trains in and out of storage.

On the L line, additional trips will be provided in the AM rush. Weekday evening rush and weekend schedules are being revised to better align service frequency with ridership. Weekday AM peak period service will increase by four additional round trips total, with two additional trains at the height of the AM peak to increase service from 20 to 22 trains between approximately 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. This increase in capacity is enabled by recent upgrades to the line’s traction power system, including three new substations.

In the weekday PM peak period, the span of 4-minute headways will begin approximately 30 minutes earlier.

On Saturdays, trips will be adjusted in the early morning and late evening hours, extending the span of 8-minute headways through the 11 p.m. hour. On Sundays, New York City Transit will start the span of peak 4-minute service two hours earlier, with service reaching the 4-minute headway in the 11 a.m. hour.

These service improvements follow the four-phase implementation of enhanced weekend, evening, and mid-day subway service on 13 lines, which was funded by $35 million secured by Governor Hochul and the State Legislature in the FY24 Enacted State Budget. In June, the MTA increased service on 16 high-ridership local bus routes and eight high-ridership express bus routes following the launch of congestion pricing, funded by the state’s Outer-Borough Transportation Account.

“Fast, frequent, more accessible service is a powerful incentive for New Yorkers to ride, and these latest enhancements on the A and L lines will only help us attract more customers,” MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said.

New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow added, “Adding more weekday trains to the A and L will increase the frequency of service on both lines, greatly improving the trips of 100,000 weekday riders by cutting down the time they spend waiting for the next train. By analyzing the latest ridership and service data trends and listening to customer feedback, NYC Transit is delivering better service for millions of riders who rely on the transit system.”

An Ozone Park man has died in the hospital from injuries suffered in a September e-bike accident in South Richmond Hill, police said.

Jose Mora, 56, was pronounced dead on Oct. 11 at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, cops noted.

Photo Courtesy of Google
The victim died last month at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

According to investigators, on Sunday, Sept. 21, at around 4:20 p.m., police responded to a 911 call of a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of 103rd Avenue and 117th Street. Further investigation by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad determined that an e-bike, operated by Mora, was traveling westbound on 103rd Avenue approaching 117th Street. A 2011 Nissan Maxima sedan, operated by a 30-year-old man, was parked along the north curb-line on 103rd Avenue. The driver opened the front left driver-side door of the sedan, striking the e-bike operator. Mora was thrown to the roadway and sustained trauma to the head. EMS responded and rushed him to Jamaica Hospital. No arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad.

According to City Police Department statistics, traffic fatalities in the 102nd Precinct are up slightly in 2025, compared to this time last year—six compared to four. Motorized two-wheeler accidents are down in the precinct in 2025, compared to the same period last year—75 compared to 91 in 2024.

City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced on Monday that in the first 10 months of 2025, the city saw the fewest shooting incidents and shooting victims in its history.

During the 10-month stretch, the city recorded 596 shooting incidents and 744 shooting victims, compared to the previous all-time lows of 641 and 768 respectively, set in 2018. Additionally, the city saw record-low shooting incidents and shooting victims for the month of October, with 43 shooting incidents and 50 shooting victims—shattering the previous October record of 62 shooting incidents and 74 shooting victims set in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

For the month of October, murders were also at the lowest level in recorded history with 18 murders, tying the previous record set in 2018. Murders declined by almost half compared to October 2024, dropping 48.6 percent (18 vs. 35).

October also was the safest for major transit crime in recorded history, tying the previous record set in 2020, when ridership was at historic lows because of the pandemic. July, August, September, and October combined were the safest months on the subways in recorded history, excluding the pandemic years.

Felony assault is trending down year-to-date after four consecutive years of increases and declined 7.2 percent (2,297 vs. 2,475) in October. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 40 percent of felony assaults in the Big Apple are related to domestic violence. To address this growing crisis, the NYPD launched the Domestic Violence Unit last month — the largest unit of its kind in the nation.

According to Tisch, the record-low crime numbers were largely driven by the NYPD’s Fall Violence Reduction Plan, a data-driven, precision-policing strategy to combat violent crime and shootings. The plan consists of 54 zones covering 38 communities, with up to 1,800 uniformed officers assigned to nightly foot posts in precincts, public housing, and the subway system. Since its inception on Oct. 13, index crime is down 26.6 percent (168 vs. 229) and shootings are down 41.7 percent (7 vs. 12) in the zones during deployment hours. The NYPD’s ongoing work to target and take down the most dangerous gangs also plays a role in driving down shootings and removing guns from the streets. So far this year, NYPD detectives have carried out 57 gang-related takedowns, and the department has seized more than 4,625 illegal guns since January and more than 24,385 guns since the start of Adams administration in 2022.

“For the first 10 months of the year and the month of October, the NYPD delivered the lowest number of shooting incidents and victims in recorded history, and the safest October on our subways in recorded history, including the pandemic years when ridership was at historic lows,” Tisch added. “This isn’t luck or coincidence—it’s the direct result of our precision policing strategy and the relentless work of the men and women of the NYPD who carry out this plan and make our city safer. These historic public safety milestones are reaching every corner of New York City, and I thank Mayor Adams for his continuous support of the NYPD.”

Cops said the suspect, a Black woman, mugged the victim around 6 p.m. in front of 92-30 91st Ave. If you have information on the incident, you can contact the NYPD anonymously at (800)577-TIPS.

Photo Courtesy of NYPD

A geometric origami creator, a comic book illustrator drawing the story of a man and his octopus, a woman who preserves mixed media with resin, a ventriloquist, a musical impressionist, and a 95-year-old Korean War Veteran opera singer  – these are just some of the constituents who were featured at State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr.’s (D-Woodhaven) Artist Showcase, which was held on Oct. 26 at the Forest Hills Jewish Center.

The three-hour event was packed with more than two dozen musicians and still artists.

Barry Feterman had the audience laughing with impressions of Elvis, the Bee Gees, Johnny Mathis, Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias. Silk Feather Sun played original tunes and classic favorites like “Don’t Let Me Down,” by The Beatles. Sarah Keane, 17, displayed vocal range covering tunes by Katy Perry, Pat Benetar and Lady Gaga.

Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo
Addabbo chats with comic book illustrator Mike Gerlich.

Other participants in the showcase included: Steve Fisher (painter), Joanne Davis (ukulele player), Alicia Lo (origami), Amy Handy (mixed media), Sonia Aguila (canvas mounted photography), Jennifer Lambert (collage and freelance), Tom Haeberle (singer), William “Bill” Aiello (ventriloquism), Joseph “The Baron” Pastor, Valentina Battaglia (painter), Los Pitudos (musicians), William Wiggins (oil painting), Laura Litterello Mancini (abstract photo collages), Mike Gerlich (comic book illustrator), Yuki Hladky (Japanese calligraphy), Jiayi He (harmonica player), Lorine Bamberg (photography), Kaylin Roman (mixed media), and DARKRECONSTRUCTION (acrylic and watercolor painting).

“Thank you to everyone who participated in our second Artist Showcase. It was a truly inspiring afternoon and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the rich talent within Senate District 15,” Addabbo said.

Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced a $40 million investment to expand seating at the approximately 8,750 eligible bus stops—those on public property with sufficient sidewalk or island space—across the five boroughs that currently lack seating.

Beginning this month, seating will be installed, where feasible, at 875 bus stops every year over the next 10 years, while maintaining existing seating.

Nearly two-thirds of eligible bus stops currently do not have seating while passengers wait for buses to arrive. To date, seating elements are installed at more than 5,000 bus stops across the city. The City Department of Transportation inspects and maintains seating at over 2,600 locations throughout the five boroughs on sidewalks and at plazas.

“In the hustle and bustle of the greatest city on earth, sometimes there’s no better feeling than resting on a city bench while New York keeps moving around you,” said City Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “For many New Yorkers, having a place to sit at the bus stop is more than just a matter of comfort, it’s a matter of whether they can take the bus at all. With more than 15,000 bus stops used by 1.4 million people every day, many of whom are seniors and people with disabilities, there has never been a better time to step up so New Yorkers can sit down.”

Adams said that more comfortable and efficient bus seating has contributed to a significant decrease in traffic fatalities. According to the recently released Mayor’s Management Report, traffic fatalities decreased 24 percent and were down across nearly all categories in Fiscal Year 2025—this includes fatalities related to motorized two-wheelers, which decreased by 39 percent from 99 to 60; motor vehicle occupants, which saw a 31 percent decrease from 54 to 37; and pedestrians, which decreased by 8 percent from 119 to 110—making Fiscal Year 2025 one of the best years for Vision Zero’s goals in recent history.

“To make New York City the best place to raise a family, and grow old in we have to take care of the big things and the small things,” Adams said. “This $40 million investment will ensure that every eligible bus stop across the five boroughs that lacks seating will be fitted, every year over the next 10 years, with either a bench or a leaning bar. I am proud that this effort will give New Yorkers a break and transform the bus-riding experience for thousands of people.”

Christine Serdjenian Yearwood, founder and CEO of the advocacy organization UP-STAND, added, “Additional bus stop seating will decrease children’s exposure to moving traffic and enable pregnant and disabled riders the respite they need to travel safely.”

Jolyse Race, senior organizer, Riders Alliance, said, “Bus riders deserve a seat at the table and a seat at every bus stop. Bus riders work the jobs that make New York possible, and we have earned the respect of a safe, comfortable place to wait for service. Thanks to the Department of Transportation for holding the line on existing seating and making this new investment, an important step toward universal seating for millions of New Yorkers who take the bus.”

Cops recently reached out to the public for information on a daring, broad-daylight burglary in Jamaica Hills last month in which the three crooks swiped approximately $3.2 million in cash and jewelry.

Courtesy of NYPD
The wheel man backed the Hyundai Elantra into the driveway while his two accomplices removed a safe and jewelry.

According to investigators, the three men—two clad in construction gear—entered a home located in the vicinity of 160th Street and 84th Drive on Oct. 16 by forcibly opening the rear door. Once inside the home, the burglars removed a safe and the jewelry. They then fled in a blue Hyundai Elantra that had been backed into the property’s driveway by the third suspect.

According to PIX 11, the owner of the home also owns a jewelry store. Additionally, the October incident is not the first time thieves have targeted the man. In December 2024, suspects used a sledgehammer to break in to his establishment and snatch $800,000 in jewels.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a Glendale man pleaded guilty on Thursday to fatally stabbing his girlfriend at a Maspeth bar in March 2024.

Marcin Pieciak, 37, copped to manslaughter in the first degree in satisfaction of the charges against him.

According to the charges, on March 30, 2024, at around 6:30 p.m., Pieciak arrived at the Ceili House Bar on Grand Avenue in Maspeth. He walked toward 41-year-old Sarah McNally as she worked, went behind the bar and stabbed her 19 times in the neck, back and chest causing significant wounds and bleeding.

Pieciak then cut his own throat several times with a second knife and attempted to flee, but a patron intervened and prevented him from leaving the premises. When police arrived, Pieciak exited the premises with the two knives and brandished the weapons toward the officers. Police safely disarmed him and recovered the knives.

File Photo
“This murder shocked the community and McNally’s loved ones,” DA Katz said.

McNally suffered a damaged carotid artery and severed spine and was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

“Marcin Pieciak walked into Sarah McNally’s place of employment and viciously attacked the 41-year-old. He stabbed the victim 19 times, severing her spine, and then stabbed himself as he tried to escape the premises. Thankfully, a brave bar patron stopped the defendant and detained him until police arrived,” Katz said. “This murder shocked the community and McNally’s loved ones. With this guilty plea, the defendant has been held accountable for his actions.”

The Hon. Ushir Pandit-Durant is expected to sentence Pieciak on November 21 to 24 years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision.

A Long Island woman has been charged with submitting documentation falsely claiming that she had been treated by a doctor and physical therapists 29 times in 2022 to justify being out on sick leave from her position as a correction officer at Rikers Island, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber announced on Thursday.

Equanna Escalera, 43, was arraigned Thursday on a complaint charging her with grand larceny in the third degree, grand larceny in the fourth degree and 29 counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree.

According to the charges and investigation, Escalera was employed as a correction officer assigned to Rikers Island and was out on sick leave from March 24, 2022, to Dec. 5, 2022.

Photo Courtesy of DOI
“Her conduct falls far short of the City’s high standards for correction officers whose work is critical to maintaining safety and order in the City’s jails,” DOI Commissioner Strauber said.

Under City regulations, uniformed correction officers who report sick for nine days or more during a calendar year may not leave their homes except under certain circumstances such as a visit to a physician or hospital. Those who do leave their residences are required to submit documentation about the trip to the Department of Correction’s Health Management Division.

Escalera submitted 31 letters covering 29 dates to HMD purporting that she received treatment by a physician or physical therapist at Multi-Specialty Pain Management in the Bronx between March 2022 and December 2022. The documents were written on the pain management center’s letterhead.

An investigation revealed that Escalera was not treated at the practice on the 29 dates she claimed and the practice had not given her permission to generate letters saying she had been seen.

On the 29 dates in question, Escalera received $11,200.78 in total pay.

Escalera surrendered to the DA’s Office on Thursday.

“As charged, this former correction officer faked medical documentation supporting her false claim that she was entitled to 29 days of paid sick leave, defrauding the City thousands of dollars in stolen wages,” Strauber said. “Her conduct falls far short of the City’s high standards for correction officers whose work is critical to maintaining safety and order in the City’s jails.”

If convicted, Escalera faces a potential maximum of 2 1/3 to seven years in prison.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority recently released an update to its Climate Resilience Roadmap, outlining the agency’s strategic priorities in mitigating the effects of extreme weather events and climate change on transit infrastructure across the service area.

The Climate Resilience Roadmap Update outlines the need for increased partnership with the City of New York, including identifying 10 priority locations throughout the city where urgent action is needed by the City Department of Transportation the City Department of Environmental Protection to control stormwater flood impacts on neighboring communities and transit infrastructure including:

• Cross Island Parkway, Queens
• Grand Av-Newtown, Queens
• 4 Av between Union St & 36 St, Brooklyn
• Canal/Lafayette/Centre Streets, Manhattan
• Castleton Depot, Staten Island
• Central Flatbush, Brooklyn
• Central Harlem, Manhattan
• Chelsea/Midtown South, Manhattan
• Longwood Av, Bronx
• Mott Haven Yard, Bronx

The report also identifies nine interagency climate resilience actions between the City of New York and the MTA, including:

Heavy rain

• Accelerate the pace of capital investments to increase stormwater management capacity, particularly in vulnerable communities adjacent to transit infrastructure.
• Maintain sidewalk curbs of sufficient size and catch basins of sufficient capacity to manage intense rain.
• Optimize storm sewer networks to send excess stormwater away from overloaded locations adjacent to MTA infrastructure to areas with spare capacity.

Coastal flooding

• Sustain leadership and future-forward strategy towards coastal resilience in the New York City region.
• Manage the coordinated design and deployment of the city’s flood mitigation measures and deepen coordination with the MTA on emergency operations planning.
• Continue to advance City-led climate data collection and monitoring.

Extreme heat:

• Facilitate the development of thermal energy networks between public and private properties that can utilize waste heat from sources like the subway.
• Encourage new heat recovery and geothermal technologies that pull heat from vulnerable sites like subway stations.
• Provide consistent shade for transit customers by increasing tree canopy

In the 18 months since the MTA’s inaugural Climate Resilience Roadmap was released, significant progress has been made in initiating and completing numerous actions under the Roadmap’s 10 goals and related strategies, such as shielding subway stations and tunnels from stormwater.  Some of the highlighted strategies for protecting subways included boosting collaboration with City agencies, protecting subway tunnel walls from leaks, and installing sidewalk-level protection.

The MTA has worked with NYCDEP to clean priority catch basins before heavy rainfall events and cooperated on drainage planning, inspected tunnels and sewers, and identified 2025-2029 Capital Program for sidewalk-level protections at priority stations.

“Transit is the antidote to climate change, but the system can’t work well if it’s constantly getting pounded by severe storms and torrential rain,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber. “Working with Gov. Hochul and the City, we must continue to harden our infrastructure to withstand the effects of increasingly extreme weather events.”

“We are taking action to protect our infrastructure and the New Yorkers that rely on it from the impacts of climate change,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “This roadmap update highlights the progress we’ve made even in the last eighteen months and lays out the path forward in partnership with the City of New York and other stakeholders.”

A new report from State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli found the frequency of severe weather in the state is growing, taking a toll on New York’s residents, property and economy.

While New York is investing to reduce those impacts through the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Bond Act, DiNapoli warned that the federal government should expand its funding and efforts, not claw back funds and leave states and communities vulnerable to extreme weather and flooding.

Since 1998, federal assistance to New York provided for declared disasters and emergencies has averaged $958.6 million in aid annually. While actual annual amounts are variable based on the severity of weather events, the aid provided captures only a portion of the full cost of the damages.

DiNapoli’s report utilized data produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the National Flood Insurance Program, as well as analysis in the State Hazard Mitigation Plan. Major findings include:

Weather-related disasters that cause $1 billion or more in damage have occurred at an increasing rate since 1980.

Severe weather events are increasing in New York and certain types of events, including thunderstorm-related damaging wind and flash flooding, are also increasing.

Since 1998 there have been an average of 2.5 weather events per year in New York that resulted in federal disaster or emergency declarations with authorized annual assistance averaging $958.6 million.

There have been 594 deaths in the state due to severe weather between 1996 and 2024. Heat and extreme heat events caused the most deaths (122), followed by rip currents (62), and flash flooding (57).

New York State has dedicated $1.1 billion of the $4 billion bond act to projects to move structures and infrastructure out of high flood risk zones, restore natural drainage features like flood plains and wetlands that can help control storm water and projects to protect infrastructure from floods. Through August 2025, $129.7 million in restoration and flood risk reduction projects have been awarded.(Report Appendix includes bond act grant awards in specific communities). Other corporate and municipal entities are also undertaking such resiliency investments, which are essential for the protection of lives and infrastructure and future economic growth.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, climate resilience expenditures reduce the cost of cleanup and rebuilding by as much as $6 for every dollar spent and lower economic damage by as much as $7 for every dollar spent. DiNapoli’s report recommends the State Adaptation and Resilience Plan include a clear assessment of associated costs, revenue sources and a timeline for implementation.

The state should also partner with local communities on projects and redouble its efforts to assist municipalities in planning and developing cost-effective initiatives to mitigate extreme weather and to facilitate communities’ ability to access resilience funding in the bond act, Di Napoli added. It should also provide oversight so projects are completed in a timely and affordable way. Given the increase in severe rain events, capacity for storm water management may need to be upgraded in New York’s urban areas. Serious consideration should be given to planning for protecting lives and property in areas at high risk for flooding and limit development in these areas. Attention should also be paid to disadvantaged communities located in areas that may be at greater risk, such as those in flood plains.

South Queens residents this week will solemnly mark the anniversary of Superstorm Sandy—a singular weather event that killed dozens of New Yorkers, wrought billions of dollars in destruction and lost revenue, and lifetimes of inescapable psychological trauma for those who lived through it.

File Photo
The superstorm left death and destruction in its wake.

Sandy resulted in the deaths of 44 city residents and inflicted an estimated $19 billion in damages and lost economic activity across the five boroughs.

“Even now, more than a decade later, many are still recovering from that tragic day, and those who lost their loved ones will forever have a hole in their hearts,” said City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park). “May we pray for all those that were lost, remember and be there for their families, and work every day towards building more resiliency and a stronger community so we can resist whatever comes our way in the future.”

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Widespread flooding destroyed homes and businesses.

Officially categorized as a tropical cyclone, Sandy deluged Howard Beach, Hamilton Beach, and the Rockaways. On Nov. 26, Gov. Andrew Cuomo called Sandy “more impactful” than Hurricane Katrina, and estimated costs to New York at $42 billion. Approximately 100,000 residences on Long Island were destroyed or severely damaged, including 2,000 that were rendered uninhabitable. There were 53 Hurricane Sandy-related deaths in the state of New York. In 2016, the storm was determined to have been the worst to strike the New York City area since at least 1700.

File Photo
Rebuilding in Broad Channel.

The city has arrived on the cusp of what promises to be an historic election cycle—fraught with plenty of drama and political intrigue.

Already, records have been broken. Over 160,000 New Yorkers have submitted their ballots in early voting—that’s five times higher than the first weekend of early voting four years ago, according to a Gothamist report.

Following the shocking Democratic primary earlier this year, in which Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria), an avowed Socialist who counts U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Queens and Bronx) as an ardent supporter, beat former Gov. Andrew Cuomo handily, the path to Gracie Mansion was virtually cleared for the upstart elected official. However, the borough-born Cuomo, who is running as an Independent, has recently narrowed the gap considerably.

“Make no mistake: The race is tightening, and Andrew Cuomo is closing in fast,” Rich Azzopardi, spokesman for the Cuomo campaign, said on Wednesday.

“This is the second poll in a week showing Zohran Mamdani stuck below 45 percent of the vote—despite a lack of scrutiny and glowing press coverage—and Andrew Cuomo gaining.

File Photo
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.

“He’s closed the gap by 3 points from the last [Quinnipiac] poll and his coalition is expanding—keeping a third of Democrats, winning half of Republicans, and leading with independents.

“Most importantly—older voters are breaking hard for Cuomo, and they’re the ones showing up early.

“That’s how you win in New York City.  We’ve seen this movie before—in the Bloomberg and Giuliani races, late polls missed the surge of real, working-class voters who turn out when it counts. The same thing is happening now.

“So while Mamdani continues to spew word salad, he’s stuck in the mud. The momentum is with Andrew Cuomo—and it’s only growing everyday.”

Perennial GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa has garnered nearly 20 percent of the vote, according to polls. Cuomo sycophants have been calling on the political gadfly Sliwa to drop out of the race. The resilient founder of the Guardian Angels has refused.

On to the City Council races that will impact South Queens. In Council District 32, Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) is running unopposed. Communities within the district include Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Belle Harbor, Breezy Point, Broad Channel, Rockaway Park, Neponsit, Roxbury, and parts of South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, and Woodhaven.

“As a common-sense council member, I’m focused on the quality of life and public safety in District 32,” Ariola said.

In Council District 29, which includes Rego Park, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, South Richmond Hill, Ozone Park (North), and South Ozone Park, incumbent Democrat Lynn Schulman is running against Republican Jonathan Rinaldi.

“I am running for re-election to continue making healthcare affordable and accessible to all New Yorkers,” Schulman said. “As chair of the Health Committee, I helped make the city healthier by enhancing women’s health, enacting the first citywide Diabetes Reduction Plan, and improving health options for seniors. With the uncertainty of pending federal cuts to healthcare and other social services, now more than ever, it is vitally important to have a strong, independent voice in the City Council representing Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill and Rego Park.”

Rinaldi, a political consultant running on public safety, quality of life, and economic opportunities, said, “I am committed to restoring safety, improving city services, and creating economic opportunities for all residents of District 29. Together, we can build a stronger, safer community.”

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Thursday that a Richmond Hill man has been indicted for a vicious knife attack against another subway passenger on board the 7 train at the Mets-Willetts Point station in Corona in September.

Luis Pallchisaca, 21, was arraigned on Thursday on an indictment charging him with attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

According to the indictment and investigation, on Sept. 21, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Pallchisaca, who was wearing a sweatshirt and ripped jeans, was inside a 7 train at the Mets-Willets Point station when the 25-year-old victim entered the subway car.

Pallchisaca approached the victim from the front and, without any warning, allegedly slashed the man’s throat and then stabbed him in the back multiple times with what appeared to be a knife. He then fled the scene.

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DA Katz called the attack “every New Yorker’s worst nightmare.”

The victim was taken to an area hospital where he required surgery on his larynx and a chest tube to treat his injuries. He was also treated for stab wounds to his back.

Pallchisaca was arrested at his home on Sept. 22. A court-authorized search warrant of the residence led to the recovery of a knife and the same sweatshirt, ripped jeans and black shoes Pallchisaca allegedly wore during the attack.

“A young man experienced every New Yorker’s worst nightmare when he was stabbed in the throat and back in an unprovoked attack on our subway system,” Katz said. “The safety of our mass transit system is paramount, and we will aggressively prosecute those who bring disorder to our subways and buses.”

If convicted, Pallchisaca faces up to 25 years in prison.

The Cityline Ozone Park Civilian Patrol on Thursday called on the City Department of Transportation and its contractors to improve planning, communication, and coordination following last week’s roadway milling along Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevard that caused considerable traffic disruptions and safety concerns in a section of the borough already fraught with them.

While the milling schedule may have been listed online, the message did not reach the drivers, transit operators, or residents most affected, according to COPCP Communications Director Daniel Coffaro Hill. On Oct. 22, COPCP volunteers observed Woodhaven Boulevard southbound completely closed at Rockaway Boulevard with no advance signage or traffic control measures in place. Vehicles were forced into residential streets, and even MTA buses were caught in gridlock, some with hazard lights on clearly lost, navigating side streets trying to find a route through.

Photo Courtesy of Google
Traffic was backed up on Woodhaven Boulevard all the way to Jamaica Avenue.

Traffic was backed up on Woodhaven Boulevard all the way to Jamaica Avenue. On the way back from assisting a stranded driver, COPCP members saw an even more dangerous situation unfolding as cars coming off South Conduit Avenue were driving into oncoming northbound traffic on Cross Bay Boulevard, while vehicles exiting the Belt Parkway were trapped, unable to turn because milling was taking place directly on the road they needed to access.

“Our volunteers were on the ground last [Wednesday] night, and what we saw was chaos,” Hill said. “We understand that a private contractor performs the milling, but DOT needs to be present. This was a major closure, and there was no visible DOT oversight on-site. Historically, DOT has either coned off one lane on the northbound side to allow southbound traffic to continue or milled three lanes at a time while leaving one open, then switched sides. This time, everything was shut down—it was crazy.”

Hill added that the civilian patrol supports “infrastructure work, but it has to be done with oversight and common sense.”

The planned drive-through facility provides parking for multiple apparatus, as well as ample space for tools and workshops, equipment storage, locker rooms, fitness equipment, and training.  The total cost for construction and design is $40 million, and construction is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2027.

Engine Co. 268/Ladder Co. 137 was formed in 1913 in Rockaway Park. The original firehouse was constructed between 1912 and 1913 and sustained extensive damage during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

“It is an honor to play a part in giving New York’s Bravest the new, modern facilities they deserve,” said City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), chairwoman of the Committee on Fire and Emergency Management.

Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola

Last week was a busy one across Queens Community District 10, as Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. took his office on the road for another “Borough Hall on Your Block” initiative, this time in South Queens.

“Borough Hall on Your Block: South Queens” began on Monday, Oct. 20 at the intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaway Boulevard and Liberty Avenue in Ozone Park, where Borough President Richards announced $1 million in capital funding toward Phase B of Woodhaven Boulevard Select Bus Service.

Phase B covers a two-mile stretch of Woodhaven Boulevard from Union Turnpike in Glendale to 107th Avenue in Ozone Park. Slated to begin in 2026, construction along that section of roadway under Phase B will see upgrades to 16 bus stops, 17 sidewalk extensions, 12 shortened pedestrian crossings and 38 medians. The plan will also include seven new pedestrian crossings, three raised crosswalks and the planting of more than 75 new street trees.

Tuesday, Oct. 21 brought Richards back to Ozone Park for a walking tour of the Liberty Avenue small business corridor, alongside City Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Dynishal Gross and representatives from a litany of city agencies and community organizations. The leaders met with multiple small business owners and customers alike to discuss quality-of-life and economic development concerns, while also supplying them with information about critical city resources to help their business thrive.

Later that day, Richards hosted a South Queens Women’s Health Fair in Howard Beach, connecting attendees to health and wellness resources around reproductive care, cancer prevention and early detection, mental health and healthy relationships, motherhood and more.

On Wednesday, Oct. 22, Richards joined the City Department of Design and Construction at Walter J. Wetzel Triangle in Howard Beach, as the agency hosted a ribbon cutting on an infrastructure effort that saw $1.3 million worth of sidewalk repairs made across the area. That project included sidewalk repairs at the triangle, named for a Howard Beach resident and U.S. Army service member killed in action during the Vietnam War.

A staple of every “Borough Hall on Your Block,” a Jobs Recruitment Fair was next on the schedule, which Richards hosted at the Queens Public Library’s Ozone Park branch on Thursday, Oct. 23. Dozens of job seekers attended and met with a wide variety of employers looking to hire immediately.

After the job fair, Richards made his way to the Conduit Avenue corridor for a walking tour with NYC DOT officials who are currently conducting a holistic redesign study of the notably dangerous roadway. Joining them included local civic organization representatives and the leadership of Community Board 10, with the group observing a number of dangerous conditions along the corridor in need of addressing.

With the MTA’s phasing out of the MetroCard in favor of OMNY just a few months away, Borough President Richards and the MTA hosted an OMNY Card Workshop in Howard Beach on Friday, Oct. 24. MTA representatives explained how to obtain a new OMNY card, apply for a reduced-fare card, transfer existing MetroCard balances and more.

“Borough Hall on Your Block: South Queens” concluded on Saturday, Oct. 25 with a Family Octoberfest Celebration in South Richmond Hill’s Phil Rizzuto Park, hosted in conjunction with the Friends of Phil Rizzuto Smokey Oval Park.

Next month, State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) will host his annual job fair at Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park. Attendance is free for both job seekers and vendors.

On Friday, Nov. 14, representatives from dozens of companies across the state will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Aqueduct, located at 110-00 Rockaway Blvd. (turf and field entrance), to review résumés and meet potential applicants.

Addabbo offered tips for attendees: Dress in business attire; bring multiple copies of your résumé; and arrive early to maximize networking opportunities. Parking is free in the Aqueduct lot and at Resorts World New York City directly across from the casino entrance. Both areas are wheelchair accessible.

File Photo
“In today’s economy, landing meaningful employment can feel daunting,” Sen. Addabbo said.

Vendor opportunities: Addabbo’s office is still seeking prospective employers. Those interested in joining should contact Sean McCabe at smccabe@nysenate.gov or (718) 738-1111.

The senator characterized the event as an excellent opportunity for employers who are seeking a qualified and diverse workforce, as the job fair always draws an impressive and skilled crowd from across the 15th Senatorial District and borough.

“In today’s economy, landing meaningful employment can feel daunting,” Addabbo added. “I’m proud to host this job fair each year to connect capable job seekers with opportunities that lead to stable, fulfilling careers. I’m grateful to Aqueduct Racetrack for hosting us, to the participating vendors for their collaboration, and to my team for organizing an event that helps people move forward.”