By Celia Bernhardt | cbernhardt@queensledger.com 

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards gave a conditional thumbs-up to the Adams administration’s hotly-contested City of Yes housing plan on Monday.

Richards is the final borough president to weigh in, following three statements of support from Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn, and one rejection from Staten Island. Queens has seen a strong organized opposition movement to the plan, especially in more suburban neighborhoods. Richards, a generally pro-development representative who touts his achievements in increasing housing stock in the borough, has had to walk a fine line in navigating the issue. Earlier in August he held his own public hearing on the City of Yes, inviting over four hours of critique from testifiers. 

The approval is tied to seven total conditions that diverge from the existing plan. Key among them is retaining parking mandates for new developments in low-density areas of the borough that lack access to public transit, called Outer Transit-Oriented Development Areas in the borough president’s official recommendation document. 

“The Long Island Railroad (LIRR) serves OTODAs like eastern and southeastern Queens,” the recommendation reads, “but service is infrequent and many commuters must drive to LIRR stations.” 

Richards agreed, however, with making parking creation optional in denser transit hubs like downtown Jamaica, Flushing and Long Island City. 

Beyond parking, Richards called for the Departments of City Planning and Housing Preservation & Development to provide stronger affordability options in the plan’s Town Center Zoning proposal, emphasizing concern that the new units would be majority market-rate and calling for the City to allocate funds for rental subsidies.

He also devoted two different conditions to the issue of basement apartments, recommending that the city establish a $1 billion dollar fund for the Basement Apartment Pilot Program, set transparency guardrails to ensure that regulations are enforced equitably, and establish an amnesty program to allow homeowners who already have basement apartments to legally bring them up to code. Additional conditions focused on monitoring and preventing adverse impacts on the borough’s infrastructure. 

The full recommendation document is available here. 

Richards made sure to voice his enthusiasm about City of Yes overall in his evaluation. “Queens and New York City as a whole are facing housing and affordability crises the likes of which haven’t been seen in generations … It is abundantly clear that the only realistic solution to these crises is to build more affordable housing as rapidly and strategically as possible,” the borough president wrote. “It is important to recognize that all Community Boards highlighted significant concerns about potential impacts on Queens infrastructure and the need for deeper, affordable housing. Balancing these two critical issues will require thoughtful collaboration and robust commitments from the City and the State.”

With all five borough presidents’ non-binding recommendations accounted for, City of Yes’s next stop is a review and vote from the City Planning Commission. After that, it will be sent before the City Council for a vote.

Courtesy ASPCA

Elizabeth Grant, 56, has been indicted on 88 counts, including animal cruelty, after over 20 pets were found in deplorable conditions.

MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

Elizabeth Grant, 56, has been charged in an 88-count indictment with aggravated cruelty to animals, criminal contempt, and other offenses following the discovery of more than 20 dogs and cats living in deplorable conditions at her Jackson Heights home.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the charges on August 15, detailing the squalid state of the residence, where three cats were found dead.

““Pets are not collectibles. They require care, adequate food and water, and a clean place to live,” Katz said. “Sadly, this defendant is charged with doing little more than accumulating pets and failing to provide the basic sustenance for life. Three animals are dead as a result of this defendant’s alleged negligence and the others suffered from diseases and other ailments.”

According to the indictment, police executed a search warrant at Grant’s home on May 21, 2024. They reported a strong odor of ammonia at the entrance and observed numerous dogs on the first floor, as well as one deceased cat. Upon entry, officers found feces, urine, and flies throughout the residence. The environment was described as severely deteriorated, with stairs in disrepair and a ceiling showing signs of rot.

Stacy Wolf, senior vice president of ASPCA Policy, Response & Engagement, commented on the indictment.

 “The severity of this recurring hoarding situation – which has resulted in the suffering of countless animals and has put a tremendous strain on local resources – shines a light on the complexities and far-reaching effects of animal hoarding and how incredibly challenging it can be to effectively address and prevent,” Wolf said. “These animals – and the rescue teams that helped bring them to safety – were exposed to severely dangerous hazards and deplorable conditions. We thank our partners at the NYPD and the Queen’s District Attorney’s Office for continuing to pursue justice in this case, and we hope to see an end to the ongoing pain this situation has caused for all of those involved over the years – animals and people alike.”

The indictment includes charges of aggravated cruelty to animals, overdriving, torturing or injuring an animal, criminal contempt, and failing to provide proper food and drink to an impounded animal. The criminal contempt charge stems from an alleged violation of a court order barring Grant from owning or controlling any animals through April 30, 2028.

The indictment of Elizabeth Grant underscores the critical responsibilities outlined by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) for responsible pet ownership. The AVMA emphasizes that owning a pet is a privilege that comes with significant duties, including providing lifelong care. This means committing to the well-being of a pet for its entire life, which involves choosing animals that fit one’s lifestyle and avoiding impulsive decisions that could lead to inadequate care.

Grant’s case highlights a failure to meet these fundamental responsibilities. The AVMA stresses that pet ownership requires a substantial investment of both time and money. Grant’s alleged negligence in providing basic necessities such as food, water, and medical care reflects a disregard for these essential commitments. Moreover, the AVMA advises that pets should be kept in a safe and suitable environment. The conditions described in Grant’s home—marked by squalor, lack of clean water, and inadequate shelter—violate these guidelines.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz criticized Grant for failing to provide basic care, violating a court order.

For animals that spend extended periods outside, the AVMA recommends providing habitats that protect their health and safety. In Grant’s case, the lack of proper care and shelter for the animals, combined with the severe environmental degradation in her home, illustrates a breach of these standards. Furthermore, the AVMA underscores the importance of proper identification and registration for pets, adherence to local laws, and managing pet overpopulation through practices such as spaying and neutering.

The indictment also brings attention to the AVMA’s emphasis on regular veterinary care, which includes preventive measures like vaccinations and parasite control. The poor health conditions of the animals rescued from Grant’s home, including severe underweight and untreated medical issues, point to a lack of appropriate veterinary attention. Additionally, the AVMA highlights the need for socialization, training, and environmental considerations to ensure that pets do not negatively impact others.

Justice Toni Cimino arraigned Grant and set a return date for September 27, 2024. If convicted, Grant faces up to two years in prison.

The investigation led by the NYPD’s 115th Precinct resulted in the rescue of 26 dogs and 12 cats. A veterinarian’s examination revealed severe health issues among the animals, including extreme underweight, matted fur, inflamed skin conditions, and eye problems. The animals were taken to the ASPCA’s Animal Recovery Center in Manhattan for immediate care, with many eventually being adopted into new homes.

Assistant District Attorney Justin Bobko is prosecuting the case with oversight from Supervising Assistant District Attorney Nicole Reid and other senior prosecutors.

Criminal complaints and indictments are accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Grant faces up to two years in prison if convicted; the animals have been rescued and are receiving treatment.

Rep. Tom Suozzi speaks to a crowd of NYSUT members. Credit: Celia Bernhardt

By Celia Bernhardt | cbernhardt@queensledger.com

New York State United Teachers kicked off its election season operations last week, doling out seven endorsements to Democrats running in competitive House districts across the state and launching its “Common Ground Over Chaos” campaign. Tom Suozzi — NY-03’s representative who won the seat in February’s special election after a disgraced George Santos was ousted from Congress — was among three local endorsees who signed NYSUT’s “Common Ground” candidate pledge during an event in Elmont last Friday. 

The campaign is a break in tradition for the union, which directs much of its energy towards state and local-level elections. 

“Historically, we’ve relied on our national unions to handle Congress,” NYSUT President Melinda Person said. “This time around, knowing that the path to the House majority runs through the state of New York, we thought it was really important that we get involved in a big way.” 

Suozzi’s district, the wealthiest in New York state, encompasses Northern Nassau County and some neighborhoods in Northeastern and Eastern Queens: Little Neck, Douglaston, Whitestone, Queens Village, and others. NY-03 swung for Biden by approximately 10 points in the last presidential election. Prior to leaving his seat for an unsuccessful run for governor, Suozzi had represented the district for three terms, rendering him a familiar face and name among voters this past February when he beat Republican candidate Mazi Pilip by about 8 points. But Santos won his seat over Democrat Robert Zimmerman in 2022 by nearly the same margin, and the Nassau County GOP has argued that they have another chance at victory this time around — although a recent internal poll shows Suozzi leading Republican challenger and former Assemblymember Mike LiPetri 57% to 37%.

“We’re in some of the swingiest districts in the whole country. So listen, I’m gonna work as hard as I can,” Suozzi said to the Ledger when asked how he felt about the road ahead. “There’s only two ways to run a race: scared or unopposed. I’m not unopposed, so I gotta run scared.”

Along with NY-04 candidate Susan Gillen and NY-01 candidate John Avlon, Suozzi delivered remarks to a crowd of NYSUT and UFT members on Friday. All three candidates signed NYSUT’s Common Ground Over Chaos pledge, which lists “practical solutions over partisanship,” “strengthening democratic institutions,” “transparency and accountability,” and “practical solutions over partisanship” among its key points. 

Suozzi, for his part, has not shied away from bucking the party line when it comes to issues like immigration as he works to maintain the support of a relatively conservative district. The congressman said the pledge was a good fit for his campaign. 

“This is what I’ve been running my whole life, quite frankly, but certainly in my last few campaigns,” Suozzi said. “Democrats and Republicans need to reject extremism on both sides. Find common ground in the middle and try and help in people’s lives. People are sick of all the attacking. They want us to work together.”

Person said that the values of the pledge first developed while organizing NYSUT members to canvass for Suozzi this past winter. “That’s where we first tested it. You know, I was visiting with our rank and file members, knocking on doors and talking to them about what mattered to them, and they were saying ‘I miss the days when we had Republicans and Democrats that could disagree on issues but find compromise, and that they could find the middle ground and pass bills and at the end of the day, they could shake hands and and still be colleagues and not hate each other,’” Person said. “So we tried that messaging in our Suozzi campaign with our rank and file, and we think that’s what the American people want.” 

NYSUT is set to spend at least $2 million in independent expenditures as part of their campaign. They will also work to mobilize their base — earlier than in past election cycles — to canvass for their selected candidates. Person emphasized the NYSUT members and their families comprise a significant presence in the state’s electorate, accounting for 13% of Suozzi’s votes this past election.

Nassau County, which comprises much of NY-03, has certainly not taken a backseat when it comes to divisive rhetoric — it made headlines in recent months when its legislature passed a ban (now facing challenges from State Attorney General Letitia James and the NYCLU) in late June on transgender girls and women participating in women’s sporting events at county-run facilities, and more recently a county-wide mask ban. Person said these developments are prime examples of the “chaos” she’s looking to combat this November. 

“The candidates that are lifting up those issues —  the very purpose of raising those issues is to divide us and to deceive us in terms of what the real issues are,” Person said.