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Return to school the right call

webadmin on May 26, 2021

The de Blasio administration made the right call this week announcing that when the new school year starts on September 13, all learning will take place in person.
No more remote or hybrid learning. Pods will be gone. (On a side note, one good thing for kids is that with remote learning a thing of the past, snow days will return!)
Even with the city’s gradual return to in-person learning, over 50 percent of students still don’t go to school at all. Many of the city’s youngest students go to school five days a week, but many of the high schoolers who opted to return to classrooms are only allowed in one day out of five.
The city will still require masks, try to keep students, teachers and faculty three feet apart while indoors, and continue to track COVID outbreaks. Currently, the seven-day positivity rate is well below 1 percent.
Students lost a lot over the past year.
Even under the best of circumstances – and by that we mean a parent or parents who have the time to help with their child’s learning, the technology and Internet access to take part in remote learning, and the ability to stay focused and on task – the education of the one million school kids in the city no doubt suffered over the past year.
But the pandemic didn’t just affect their education, it affected their emotional well-being and set them back socially. That’s especially true for high schools students, who missed out on competitive sports and events like prom and graduation.
For the many students who relied on free school meals, some were even set back nutritionally.
Now that vaccines are readily available, it’s time to get our kids back on the track to success.

Rumors of Cryptocurrency’s Death Greatly Exaggerated

webadmin on May 26, 2021

Elon Musk is a man of many skills. He didn’t just make electric cars sexy, he sent one to space. Perhaps chief among his talents is the ability to roil markets by running his mouth. Lately, he’s aimed that talent at cryptocurrency.
In February, one of Musk’s companies, Tesla, announced that it had purchased $1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin. In March, he announced that Tesla would accept Bitcoin for purchases of its cars.
Then, in mid-May, Musk announced that Tesla was suspending vehicle purchases in Bitcoin over “increasing use of fossil fuels for Bitcoin mining and transactions,” while mentioning that “we are also looking at other cryptocurrencies that use less than 1 percent of Bitcoin’s energy transaction.”
Naturally, the price of Bitcoin in dollars crashed back to the terrible old level of February, only twice what it was worth in December.
And, naturally, the cryptocurrency naysayer chorus emerged from its groundhog hole to yell “told ya so,” just like they’ve been doing every other week since May 22, 2010, when Laszlo Hanyecz paid 10,000 Bitcoins (current value, nearly a half- billion dollars) for two pizzas.
Sorry guys, Bitcoin’s probably not going away, and cryptocurrency in general certainly isn’t.
Yes, Bitcoin mining, the computer activity involved in processing transactions, is energy-intensive.
No, not all Bitcoin is mined using fossil fuels. In fact, many serious mining outfits specifically look for locations with cheap, plentiful hydroelectric power.
And no, not all cryptocurrency mining is nearly as energy-intensive as Bitcoin mining.
So what’s Musk up to? Is he just having fun upsetting apple carts? Or is there business method behind his madness?
Financier and former Trump White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci thinks he knows. Scaramucci suggests, with a small hypothetical wager of 1/200th of a Bitcoin, that Musk’s next big cryptocurrency play will be to send Tesla’s energy subsidiary into “super clean” Bitcoin mining.
That would be a smart move from both directions. It would reduce the financial and environmental costs of mining, while giving solar and wind power a boost in their fight to displace fossil fuels generally.
The technology underlying cryptocurrency is sound. It will survive, and it will become dominant. The only question is whether it will completely displace, or be at least partially co-opted by, government monetary schemes.
Hopefully the former. Getting government out of the money business would be a gigantic leap for human freedom and prosperity, and maybe even a step toward getting government out of business entirely.

Thomas L. Knapp is director and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism.

104th Precinct Police Blotter (5/10/2021-5/16/2021)

webadmin on May 26, 2021

Monday, May 10
Roshan Pradhan was arrested at 53-47 62nd Street for criminal contempt by Officer lama.
Randyl Monroe was arrested at Metropolitan Avenue and 80th Street for aggravated unlicensed operator by Officer Babayev.
Jason Santiago was arrested opposite 1590 Gates Avenue for petit larceny by Officer Incantalupo.
Joseph Rodriguez was arrested at 60-30 Maurice Avenue for robbery by Officer Fitzalbert.
September Johnson was arrested at 71-21 65th Street for petit larceny by Officer Combs.
Jose A. Rodriguez was arrested at 64-02 Catalpa Avenue for criminal possession of a weapon by Detective Fogus.

Tuesday, May 11
Marina Perez was arrested at 1727 Madison Street for misdemeanor assault by Officer Bertrand.
Zachary Lepe was arrested at 64-02 Catalpa Avenue for criminal contempt by Detective Moon.
Hany Nasser was arrested at 53-17 65th Place for petit larceny by Officer Sheehan.
Dawn Echevarria was arrested at 69-79 75th Street for felony assault by Officer Simone.
Sarah Osorio was arrested at 69-79 75th Street for misdemeanor assault by Officer Simone.
Joseph Capella Sr. was arrested at 69-79 75th Street for misdemeanor assault by Officer Simone.
Joseph Capella Jr. was arrested at 69-79 75th Street for felony assault by Officer Simone.
Dawn Capella was arrested at 69-79 75th Street for misdemeanor assault by Officer Simone.

Wednesday, May 12
Louis Frito was arrested at 63-14 Traffic Avenue for robbery by Officer Alban.
Angel D. Lopez was arrested at 1673 Norman Street for criminal possession of a weapon by Detective Fogus.
Edgar Jumbo was arrested at 47-10 Grand Avenue for felony assault by Detective Palminteri.
Elaina Lombardo was arrested at 60-42 74th Street for misdemeanor assault by Officer Petito.

Thursday, May 13
Michael Rodriguez was arrested at 60-63 69th Street for misdemeanor assault by Detective Golden.
Natashya Suarez was arrested at 17-06 Gates Avenue for misdemeanor assault by Officer Jimenez.
Stayborn Jeffrey was arrested at 17-06 Gates Avenue for rape by Officer Jimenez.
Jose Ortiz was arrested at 69-15 69th Place for felony assault by Officer Claybrooks.
Richard Cerrone was arrested at 60-20 59th Avenue for misdemeanor assault by Detective Gerardi.

Friday, May 14
Anthony Chinea was arrested at 708 Summerfield Avenue for third-degree assault by Officer Duran.
Lukasz Sacilowski was arrested at St. Felix Avenue and 61st Street for second-degree assault by Officer Khela.
Brian E. Sanchez was arrested at 77th Street and Eliot Avenue for aggravated unlicensed operator by Officer Jaswal.
Yeica Miguel was arrested at Grove Street and Onderdonk Avenue for aggravated unlicensed operator by Detective Wright.

Saturday, May 15
David Duverglas was arrested at 329 Wyckoff Avenue for petit larceny by Officer Fitzabert.

Sunday, May 16
Juan C. Maza Farez was arrested at 60th Place and 67th Avenue for driving while intoxicated by Officer Subbir.
Magadaline Chavez was arrested at 58-55 57th Road for third-degree assault by Officer Defreitas.
Michael Balarezo Bravo was arrested at 1917 Greene Avenue for criminal contempt by Detective Lodato.
Jonathan Fonzaez was arrested at 71-32 66th Place for third-degree assault by Officer Bayizian.
Sait Muratvic was arrested at 79-63 78th Avenue for third-degree assault by Officer Fitzalbert.
Samuel Cuadardo was arrested at 60-32 70th Avenue for criminal contempt by Officer Bartichek.
Diana M. Ortega was arrested at 60-31 Myrtle Avenue for third-degree assault by Officer Mamanicampos.
Angelica Gonzalez was arrested at 60-31 Myrtle Avenue for third-degree assault by Officer Mamanicampos.

Whitestone street reamed for late St. Luke’s pastor

webadmin on May 26, 2021

The street in front of St. Luke’s Church in Whitestone now bears the name of the man who led the parish since 2005.
Member of the Knights of Columbus, who pushed for the renaming, were on hand for the unveiling of “Monsignor John Tosi Way” last Friday on Clintonville Street at Locke Avenue.
Councilman Paul Vallone sponsored the renaming, and State Senator John Liu, Assemblyman Ed Braunstein and Borough President Donovan Richards joined the councilman at the ceremony.
“It can be a little intimidating to think that I am going to be the pastor on Monsignor John Tosi Way,” said Tosi’s successor, Father John Costello. “Not Monsignor John Tosi Street, not Monsignor John Tosi Avenue, Monsignor John Tosi Way.
“Those of you who know and love Monsignor Tosi know his way could be a little daunting,” he added. “But as pastor, at the very bottom of his heart Monsignor John Tosi’s way was the way of Jesus. So that’s what I hope to model when I see that sign.”
Tosi was born in Flushing and attended St. Ann’s School, Monsignor McClancy High School, Cathedral College in Douglaston and Immaculate Conception Seminary.
He was ordained a priest in 1973 and named a monsignor in 1997. He passed away last May due to a heart condition.
Tosi also spent time at Our Lady of Grace in Howard Beach, Resurrection Ascension in Rego Park, and as rector of St. James Cathedral in Downtown Brooklyn.
During his tenure at the 151-year-old St. Luke’s, Tosi made many renovations to the Queens parish based on his experiences with the Diocesan Liturgical Commission. In Whitestone, he also joined the local Knights of Columbus.
“Once we heard of Monsignor Tosi’s passing, we put our heads together thinking, ‘how can we memorialize him,’” said grand knight Enrico Urgo.
Also on hand for the renaming was Tosi’s sister, Susan Zaretti, and her husband John.
“I really, really appreciate all the love shown to him while he was here,” she told the parishioners gathered for the event. “You treated him like family and he loved this place so much.”

Garden proves that Woodhaven always remembers

webadmin on May 26, 2021

The Garden of Remembrance is one of Woodhaven’s oldest Memorial Day traditions, spanning at least seven decades.
Created by American Legion Post 118, the Garden at at 91st Street and 89th Avenue consists of white markers with the names of soldiers killed in action, as well as members of the Post who are longer with us.
Over time, the Garden has grown to a few hundred markers. And in recent years, as members of the post grew older, the honor of erecting the Garden passed to the Junior ROTC of Franklin K. Lane High School.
Last year, due to COVID-19, the Garden of Remembrance was not erected, the first time in 70-plus years it was not on display for Memorial Day.
And it appeared that due to the cancellation of after-school programs over the past year, the Junior ROTC was not going to be available and the Garden would not see the light of day for the second year in a row.
It’s a quirky thing about the ending of traditions. They don’t end with any fanfare, there’s never any announcement. There’s never even any acknowledgement that something special is ending.
The people who were used to a tradition being a part of their lives quickly become used to the tradition going away. It just stops one year and then stops for another.
And then it fades away. Like Anniversary Day Parades. Like Rollback Days.
That’s why it was important for the Garden of Remembrance to be assembled this year, especially right now, coming out of a long dark year in which so many of us have lost so much. We couldn’t afford to lose this unique and beautiful tribute. We couldn’t take that chance.
And so this past Saturday, a group of local residents had the honor of taking part in this tradition, joining members of Post 118 to place the white markers in the front yard of their headquarters at 91st Street and 89th Avenue.
It was a very hot morning and there was a lot of work to be done. Using stakes and ropes to line up the markers, we started in one corner and slowly made our way across the yard.
Each marker has a name and a story of its own, and behind every marker is a family that grieved. Some of those families are no longer around, but many are. In fact, one of the volunteers had the honor of installing the marker dedicated to her great-grandfather.
Back in 2017, I received an email from a man whose uncle, Lieutenant Harry Schmitt, was killed in a plane crash in July 1958. He was stationed at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware at the time. He was just 19 and looking forward to a trip back home to Woodhaven.
Harry Schmitt went to St. Thomas the Apostle and Franklin K. Lane and had a job delivering the Leader-Observer. In a tribute to this young man, the Leader wrote: “As a boy, Harry had become known to everyone in the office. From the first day when he took his papers out on his route, his spirit of affable friendliness endeared him to everyone.”
That Memorial Day, we looked in the Garden of Remembrance for a marker with Harry Schmitt’s name and we found one.
We sent pictures of it to the family and they were very touched. It meant a great deal to them that over the decades, Woodhaven remembered. Year after year since his death, American Legion Post 118 honored Harry Schmitt and all the other heroes that were no longer with us.
The following Memorial Day, 60 years after young Lieutenant Harry Schmitt perished, his family returned to Woodhaven for the Memorial Day ceremony. Post 118 added a nice new nameplate to Harry So it was important that the Garden of Remembrance returned this year. It was important to show that Woodhaven always remembers.
If you pass by the Garden, please take a moment to stop and look at all the markers. Try not to notice that some of the rows are slightly out of alignment or a bit askew, starting off closer together than they end up.
Take notice of the names and remember. Woodhaven always remembers.

Developer seeks rezoning for McCarren Park apartments

webadmin on May 26, 2021

It is possible that the view from McCarren Park will radically change once again.
A developer is applying to rezone 840 Lorimer Street in order to build a ten-story, mixed-use building across the street from the North Brooklyn park. Applicant Shabsi Parnes is requesting a C4-5D zoning for the property, which would allow for retail and office space beyond the building’s ground floor.
The property has been zoned MX-8 since the large Greenpoint-Williamsburg rezoning in 2005.
If approved, the new construction would build a ten-story building with 74 apartments, 30 parking spaces, and office space and retail space. Nineteen of the apartments would be affordable housing with income restrictions and rent regulations in line with the mayor’s Inclusionary Housing program.
However, developers’ affordable housing commitments have recently been facing heavy skepticism regarding the starting price for units in affordable housing lotteries (the affordable units at 1 Boerum Place in Downtown Brooklyn recently sold at a starting price of $2,000 per month).
The proposed building would wrap around the current building on the corner, home to the bar-restaurant Bernie’s. The location was previously home to the iconic Park Luncheonette Diner for over 30 years, which was known for the feathers customers would sometimes find in their food that were blown in from a nearby factory.
If approved, the rezoning would radically change the corner of Lorimer and Driggs Street and would add to a trend of development along the perimeter of McCarren Park.
Bernie’s is located next to the Grand McCarren park, a new six-story rental building that opened in 2019 in a refurbished industrial building. Rentals at the Grand McCarren average $3,972 per month.
The project at 840 Lorimer Street is the latest of many Greenpoint properties eyed by developers. The Meserole Theater on Manhattan Avenue is currently set to be replaced by a five-story apartment building.
A passionate Facebook group called The Meserole Theater Project is fighting to halt the developer.
Additionally, developer Schlomo Karpen is seeking a rezoning at 1 Wythe Avenue to build an eight-story, mixed-used structure on the triangular lot.
Hudson Companies, Inc. is also preparing for the land-use review process for the massive Greenpoint Hospital redevelopment at 288 Jackson Street across the street from Cooper Park.
Elsewhere in Brooklyn, the Gowanus Rezoning is currently entering the land use review process after a prolonged legal battle.
The project would rezone 80 square blocks of the neighborhood to make way for new developments, including a controversial plan to build housing on the highly polluted “Public Place” site along the Gowanus Canal. The project is currently facing significant community push back.

Young volunteer aims to make a difference

webadmin on May 26, 2021

Valery Carpio, a 12-year-old Middle Village resident, likes to give back.
On May 16, the seventh-grade honor student at The Dorothy Bonawit Kole School worked for hours with Officer Barnwell and Officer Cherenfant of the 112th Precinct, this columnist, aunt Julia Carpio and grandma Judy Pesantez to paint several green relay mailboxes and scrub blue mailboxes in Forest Hills.
Unsightly graffiti and rust that built up for approximately 15 years became a distant memory within hours. The paint was donated by Gleason Paint Place in Woodside.
“A lot of days I walk around or I’m in a car, and I see graffiti everywhere,” Carpio said. “It doesn’t make the community look great. Once we cleaned up the mailboxes, I saw how much nicer and cleaner the whole community is.”
Local residents and business owners, including Yosef Simhayev of NY Hot Bagels & Bialys, thanked Carpio, inspiring her to volunteer more.
“We walked around to each mailbox and saw everybody thanking us and congratulating us for our work,” she said. “The smallest thing you can do can change everybody’s perspective.”
Carpio also volunteered for the Arts For Life competition, a recent breast cancer fundraising initiative in partnership with Paddle For The Cure, Elmhurst Hospital, and Ridgewood Savings Bank.
She even submitted a work of her own, a pink ribbon along with floral elements titled “Love, Life, Nature Forever.” It is now part of a permanent display for cancer patients and their families at Elmhurst Hospital.
“My artwork represents the hope and love that I have for all the patients,” Carpio said. “I am hoping to visit Elmhurst Hospital and see how my artwork is presented.”
Carpio hopes she can encourage other residents and her classmates to volunteer.
“When everybody’s collaborating, we can make a whole community nice and clean,” she said. “We can pick up garbage in parks, do more for our environment, and continue to help like we did last weekend.”
When Carpio is not volunteering, her passions are singing and acting. She was recently in a school production of “The Little Mermaid.”
“We understand that it’s not only important to work hard and get good grades, but find ways to make yourself relevant by going out there,” said her father, Mauricio Carpio. “Valery approached me and said she wanted to find ways to contribute to the community.”

Beep announces new Elmhurst Hospital funding

webadmin on May 26, 2021

Borough President Donovan Richards last week announced two multi-million dollar allocations for new projects at Elmhurst Hospital. The event also served as a celebration of the borough’s healthcare workers who have spent over a year on the frontline fighting the pandemic.
“A year ago, Elmhurst Hospital was the epicenter of the epicenter of the world’s worst public health crisis in a century,” Richards said before a crowd of doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff. “The staff here at Elmhurst Hospital were working double and triple shifts to fight a virus we knew nothing about. They handled the unprecedented crisis with true grace and kindness.”
“The best thing you can do to support health and hospitals is to hire the best people and support the best people,” added Mitchell Katz, president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals
The funding will be used to build a new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Elmhurst Hospital. The facility will be the first of its kind in Queens and will serve children in need of immediate medical attention.
Additionally, the investment will support the conversion of two undersized operating rooms into full-service operating rooms.
“We have secured more than $5 million for projects at Elmhurst Hospital that will expand access to critical care for thousands of families,” Richards said.
He also stressed the need for a more centralized medical center for Queens.
“No family in Far Rockaway or Long Island City should have to travel more than 30 minutes by car or 90 minutes by public transportation to get the care that they need,” he said.
“Over the course of the last year we have been clapping for our healthcare heroes,” said Richards, “but one of the commitments I made when I was elected Borough President was that I would not simply clap for you but that we were gonna put our money where our mouth is.”
Richards also celebrated the over one-million people who have been vaccinated in Queens, a figure that leads all other counties in New York State.
Other elected officials, including State Senator Jessica Ramos, Councilman Fancisco Moya, and Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz also spoke at the event.
“I know that as the years continue and as you continue to be reelected, which I know we aren’t here to talk about but I just got to plug that in, I know that your commitment will always be with the people,” said Cruz, “the people that need it.”
Richards is facing a primary battle against Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer and former councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley next month. He took office last year after winning a special election to fill the seat.
Councilman Danny Dromm, who chairs the Finance Committee, stated his intention to direct more money to Elmhurst Hospital in the finalized $90 billion budget proposal.
“It doesn’t matter if your documented or undocumented, rich or poor, when you come to Elmhurst Hospital you get the service that you need,” he said.

Adams thanks diocese for COVID relief efforts

webadmin on May 26, 2021

Standing in front of Borough Hall this past Friday, Borough President Eric Adams honored the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Emergency Task Force for its year-long effort to assist first responders and frontline workers.
The task force consists of volunteers who worked closely with Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Diocese leadership to distribute food and equipment.
Since the pandemic began, the group has delivered over 500,000 masks, 100,000 bottles of hand sanitizer, and 40,000 gloves to police and fire departments, hospitals, nursing homes, and other entities in need throughout the state.
Additionally, the group delivered iPads to students throughout the borough to assist with virtual learning.
“When we were out there criss-crossing Brooklyn, we saw the borough president out there criss-crossing as well,” said task force member said Vincent Levien. “He has always been there helping us help the people most in need.”
Adams awarded citations to all of the members present before offering his own brief remarks.
“We want to thank all the members of the organization for being the COVID heroes we expect,” he said. “Even during these challenging times, we should acknowledge how our faith-based institutions played such a vital and critical role in getting our city up and moving.”
“We are able to hope to get back to normal life because of dedicated people like them,” added Councilman Mathieu Eugene. “They put themself in danger to help of those in need. If it weren’t for them, the crisis would be worse.”

Residents protest plans for permanent street closure

webadmin on May 26, 2021

More than 50 Jackson Heights residents marched along 34th Avenue on Saturday to voice their opposition to the city’s latest push to turn a 1.3-mile stretch of the busy neighborhood thoroughfare into a permanent park.
“Who are we?” organizer Paolo Peguero asked the crowd as they gathered with placards of protest ready to take to the avenue. “Residents,” they shouted back. “What do we want?” she continued. “Compromise,” they cheered in unity.
Currently, 26 blocks of 34th Avenue from 69th Street to Junction Boulevard is closed to traffic each day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m, with the exception of emergency vehicles and local traffic.
The stretch is part of the city’s Open Streets Initiative, which created 83 miles of recreational space where residents could safely bike, walk and play during the pandemic.
The program, which was originally set to end last October, was extended indefinitely. Earlier this month, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed legislation making the makeshift parks permanent.
Open Streets advocates now want to lengthen the stretch in Jackson Heights and turn it into a 24/7 expanse.
“We want to inform other residents about what is going on in our neighborhood because many don’t realize what’s happening,” said Peguero, leader of 34th Avenue Open Streets Compromise, a group of residents who say their concerns have gone unheard.
“We’ve tried for months to express how we feel to the Open Streets Coalition and the DOT,” Peguero added, noting she has already collected around 1,200 signatures from residents who are opposed to the plan.
Peguero said she and others are willing to compromise, despite how they’ve been portrayed on social media sites such as Streetsblog.org – a website that advocates for reducing the city’s dependence on cars – which claims thegroup is “anti-Open Streets.”
“Perhaps we can have certain days or do studies to see when people use the area the most,” Peguero suggested. “We just want to be part of the process.”
A lack of vehicle access, fewer parking spots and a decrease in quality of life were among the complaints of marchers.
“I’ve lived here for 47 years and I’ve never been through anything like this,” said Louise Ross. “The noise never ends, vendors, many who don’t have permits, are crowding the streets and boom boxes are screaming into the night. This is being shoved down our throats and we were never asked about it.”
Ross said she also worries about the elderly and disabled who need services like Access-A-Ride, which provides door-to-door transportation for those with health conditions.
“Emergency vehicles can’t get down here without stopping, getting out and moving the metal barriers,” she continued. “And what about people with cars with no space to park, what are they supposed to do? Fold them up and put them in their pockets?”
Darren Allicock, who has lived in Jackson Heights for more than 15 years, said he worries the neighborhood changes are going to displace longtime residents.
“Why the focus on Jackson Heights now?” he asked. “All of a sudden there’s an influx of money. Are they trying to attract people from Manhattan and gentrify this neighborhood? It’s always been a diverse place and now it’s just one-sided.”
What’s more, Allicock said the park is attracting picnickers who leave their trash along the avenue and fail to pick up after their dogs.
“Our building staff winds up cleaning up,” he said. “There are no rules as it is now.”

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