Last month, Sen. Jessica Ramos of the New York State Senate issued a proclamation honoring Mohammed Jabed Uddin for his efforts as the secretary general of the Astoria Welfare Society.
The Astoria Welfare Society provides resources and food to people in need in Astoria and the surrounding area.
They assist families in need, operate food pantries, and collaborate with shelters in the area for the homeless and asylum seekers.
Nino Todua
News@queensledger.com
Each year, we celebrate Earth Day – a time where we reflect and remind ourselves on how we should be taking care of the planet’s ecosystem for the upcoming new generations that will inherit the Earth. On April 22, the Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens (VBGCQ) in Sunnyside celebrated Planet’s day. The VBGCQ offers a safe, supportive space where children can thrive academically, physically, and emotionally. Through after-school tutoring, sports, creative arts, and leadership programs, the Club helps kids build confidence, stay active, and explore their talents.
As part of its ongoing commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles and environmental awareness, the Club recently opened a rooftop farm designed specifically for the children who attend its programs. This vibrant space offers a unique blend of fun and education, where kids can actively engage in hands-on gardening – planting, nurturing, and harvesting crops themselves. Through this interactive experience, they not only enjoy outdoor entertainment but also develop valuable habits centered around sustainability, responsibility, and care for nature. The rooftop farm serves as both a physical activity and a learning tool, inspiring a deeper connection to the environment and encouraging a healthy, well-balanced way of life from an early age.
The opening of the event was attended by members of the local community and civil servants including Justin E. Driscoll, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Power Authority (NYPA), among others. The attendees spoke about the importance of the Club in the daily lives of the youth and future generations, emphasizing the need to raise and support them in a healthy environment. They expressed their full support for the Club’s administration in order to promote active participation of children in the organized activities, which they believe is essential and vital for shaping a healthy lifestyle for the new generation.
By encouraging movement, play, and awareness, the club reminded us that caring for our planet begins with nurturing the next generation — the stewards of our future. After all, the energy and well-being of our children mirror the vitality we hope to see in the world around us.
By Robert Hornak
Now that petitioning is over and people are getting a good look at who is really running for mayor this year for both the Democrat and Republican Party lines, people are asking a question they often start asking around this time of the year – Is this the best we have for this important job?
But this year’s race offers a new dynamic. The two front runners aren’t just controversial or with limited appeal, but are truly despised by many voters in their own party.
Andrew Cuomo has tremendous baggage, but many Democrats clearly think he’s the best option in this field. Polling puts him well ahead and over 50% without undecideds.
Take your pick, Cuomo is blamed for signing the incredibly unpopular bail reform law, for the covid nursing home tragedy that killed many elderly, and there’s the accusation of him mistreating women on his staff. And while people acknowledge he’s a nasty bully, some Democrats see that as a positive given all the problems in NYC now.
Then there’s Zohran Mamdami, a distant second at 25% without undecideds. Mamdami is likewise despised by many for his anti-Israel antisemitic views plus his embrace of socialism and support from the radical DSA (Democratic Socialists).
These slim pickings have many people looking to improve things by changing how we hold elections. Two ideas have been floated, but neither actually helps. One is to move city elections from odd years to even years when we would have either a gubernatorial or presidential election on the ballot.
But that doesn’t address the problem of low primary turnout. Four years ago we had 942,000 Democrats vote in the primary for mayor. But just a year later in the primary for governor only 486,000 Democrats voted. Republicans were a little more consistent, with 52,600 voting in their 2021 mayoral primary and 60,000 voting in the primary for governor the following year.
In the November elections, citywide we had 1.1 million vote in 2021, 1.8 million in 2022 and 2.8 million in 2024. We can certainly assure the maximum vote for every office by just having elections every four years. Or would we?
We would have many more offices to vote for all at once, creating the most unwieldy ballot ever imagined. Especially with ranked choice voting only for the municipal elections, multiple languages required, and compatibility with the electronic scanning machines that tally votes, and down ballot drop off.
There are some people who will vote for the race at the top, but as you go down the ballot with federal and state legislative offices, judicial offices and other local races like borough presidents and district attorneys that are also in odd years, by the time you get to the propositions, the vote has diminished tremendously. Adding more offices for people to skip is not the answer.
The other idea is to open primary elections for city offices to voters not enrolled in that party. So, if there should be both a Democrat and Republican primary, each voter would choose which primary to vote in, and they would get either the Democrat or Republican ballot. But would this really increase the appeal for people who didn’t care before to turnout in primary elections? And it does nothing to help the general election.
The best option is going to a non-partisan voting system, an idea that was proposed during the Bloomberg years, but party leaders did everything they could to kill it. Now we have it only for special elections to fill vacancies, like the non-partisan election this Tuesday for the vacant council seat in Staten Island.
We already know how to run these elections and adopting them would allow us to eliminate the June primary altogether and just hold a ranked choice non-partisan election for city leadership every four years in the odd year. This way, we eliminate the excuse that the only election that matters is the June primary. It allows every candidate to run in the election that matters and would make many of these elections more competitive.
And it very likely might have the added benefit of making the outcome more mainstream instead of the current partisan process now that caters to most radical candidates in many districts. Increasing voter participation, making outcomes more mainstream, and saving money. That’s the solution we need.
Robert Hornak is a veteran political consultant who has previously served as the Deputy Director of the Republican Assembly Leader’s NYC office and as Executive Director of the Queens Republican Party. He can be reached at rahornak@gmail.com and @RobertHornak on X.
Polonia SC and FC Sandzak battled at Randall’s Island to a 1-1 draw last Wednesday night. The CSL title race remains razor thin. (Photo: NZ Media)
The top division of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League has been locked into a wild title race since the opening weeks of the season. NY International FC, Polonia SC, FC Sandzak, and Central Park Rangers II have been separated by just a few points for months, with multiple clubs spending time atop the D1 table.
With just a few matches remaining, Polonia and International have been trading places at the top of the league. After last weekend’s matches, NYIFC held a three point lead with one more match played than the other title challengers.
With a win over Borgetto FC this Thursday night, Polonia would match International with 45 points, but their 3-1 win in the Fall would propel them back into a lead, as head-to-head serves as the first tiebreaker.
The real tiebreaker is coming up this Sunday in Brooklyn when NY International visit Polonia at their longtime home at McCarren Park. The two top dogs of the CSL will face off to likely decide who ends up lifting the league title. The league winner will also earn promotion to the American Premier Soccer League (APSL).
Kickoff will be at 10am on Sunday on what should be a beautiful morning in Brooklyn. The McCarren Park soccer field, located on Lorimer St between Driggs Ave and Bayard St, is open to the public. You can also watch the match live on Game in Frame, who have been broadcasting the CSL title race alongside their coverage of academy, amateur, and semi-professional soccer in the Northeast.
“Sunday’s title battle has a special feel to it, we’ve covered a lot of great matches, but it’s rare you get a game where an entire season rides on one result,” said owner and commentator Josh Pratt. “These teams have been fighting for the CSL D1 title dream and promotion to the APSL since September, the emotions will be high, we are looking forward to broadcasting the drama.”
Livestream coverage will begin just before kickoff at www.gameinframe.com as well as their YouTube page.
Sandzak took on FC Ulqini on Tuesday night in Staten Island with a chance to pull within four points of the leaders. CPR II will play their game in hand next Thursday against KidSuper Samba AC II, who are locked into a relegation battle with Manhattan Celtic II.
Hoboken FC 1912 II held 1st place for a good portion of the Fall, but a 7-game losing streak dropped them down to 5th. They are still in reach of the Division 1 playoffs; 34 points with three matches to play.
Meanwhile in the APSL, the NY Pancyprian Freedoms are close to lifting the league title, up three points on the NY Greek Americans with a game in hand. They’ve only conceded a remarkable 14 goals in their 18 matches. Four of those goals were scored by the Greek Americans, coming in a 1-1 draw and a 3-1 win, the only defeat suffered by Pancyprians this season.
Pancyprians head to Staten Island on Sunday night for a match against newly promoted Richmond County FC, who won CSL Division 1 last season. Richmond are close to securing safety in their debut APSL season, a rare feat in a very competitive league. They’ll take on the Greek Americans the following week before finishing the season against SC Vistula Garfield.
NYGA will take on Doxa FCW at their home field at Hofstra University. After that they’ll only have two matches remaining to catch Pancyprians, who would need to drop points to open a window for a late title push.
The relegation battle is also razor thin, with the bottom four of Vistula, KidSuper Samba AC, Doxa, and Central Park Rangers separated by a few points. Richmond sits just one spot ahead of them in 8th.
Hoboken FC 1912, NY Athletic Club, and Zum Schneider FC 03 sit in the 5th, 6th, and 7th positions respectively. They are all out of reach of the APSL playoffs, but well clear of the relegation battle.
By Alice Moreno
For 70 years, the non-profit organization Variety Boys and Girls of Queens Club (VBGC), located at 21-12 30th Rd in Astoria, has been a vital resource for children in the area, granting them access to various activities to help them grow as people. Now, the VBGC will be undergoing a massive change that will bring more benefits to the community.
On April 16, the VBGC received a $2.5 million investment from the office of Senator Jessica Ramos to provide new pool facilities. It is a component of the $293 million expansion of the VBGC, which, upon completion, will make it the largest Boys and Girls Club in the country at 116,000 square feet.
The state-of-the-art pool renovation, titled “The Senator Ramos Aquatic Center,” will include a bevy of new features, including a regulation pool, a wading pool to host “Mommy/Daddy and Me” classes, and a new wet locker. The pool was last updated in the early 2000s.
“My own son was one of those kids who learned how to swim right here at the Boys and Girls Club, and it’s been a resource for our young people in this area,” said Costa Constantinides, the CEO of VBGC of Queens. “Which includes the Queensbridge Houses — the largest public housing development in the country — Ravenswood houses, Astoria houses, and Woodside houses, less than a mile away.”
The Senator Ramos Aquatic Center will also be open year-round, a stark contrast from neighboring Astoria Pool, which is typically only open during the summer.
In addition to the new pool features, a plethora of amenities will also be built at the VBGC, such as Queen’s first planetarium, a 400-seat school, and a 1,500-seat arena. The expansion can house over 16,000 people, which increases the number of children being served at the club by 34%. The VBGC will also include 230 units of affordable housing, with 70 of the units being set aside for those aging out of foster care. The entire building will also be carbon-neutral, ensuring sustainability and a healthier planet.
Furthermore, a mental health clinic will be provided on the first floor, making sure that every child is supported and has someone to talk to.
“I remember playing here as a kid growing up, and remember making lots of friends here,” said Senator Jessica Ramos. “We need more spaces like these, so that we are keeping our youth busy and safe. We are giving parents peace of mind, and of course, even the whole family is able to enjoy the resources.”
The new pool expansion will break ground this December and will roughly take 30 months to complete. According to Constantinides, he hopes that every child can use the resources provided to help them grow into strong adults with flourishing careers.
“We want it to be a space where every child, regardless of their zip code or their income, are able to come here and enjoy themselves and to find their passions, and to be able to carry that forward into their lives,” said Constantinides.
By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
The 2025 summer concert season at Forest Hills Stadium is officially moving forward following a tentative agreement between city officials, the NYPD, and the stadium’s concert partner. But a lingering dispute over the use of private roads has reignited tensions with the historic venue’s neighbors, casting uncertainty over the concert series just weeks before it’s set to begin.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced last week that an agreement had been reached to allow the stadium to host concerts this summer, despite earlier concerns raised by the NYPD, which had revoked sound amplification permits due to access restrictions on privately owned streets surrounding the venue.
Under the agreement, Tiebreaker Productions—the company that manages the concert series—committed to hiring private security to monitor and close surrounding streets with blocker vehicles and barricades before and after each event. That condition satisfied the NYPD enough to issue a conditional sound permit.
“Forest Hills Stadium is a unique cultural destination that annually draws hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world, with its operation providing immense local economic benefits to surrounding businesses, creating hundreds of good-paying union jobs and generating critical tax revenues,” Borough President Richards wrote in a statement. “To expect the stadium to cancel their operations… would be financially devastating.”
But the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation (FHGC), which owns the streets around the venue, pushed back on Tuesday, saying it never authorized the use of its roads and accusing Tiebreaker of misrepresenting its authority to city agencies.
“Tiebreaker has apparently represented to the NYPD that it has an agreement or other legal authority to do what NYPD has concluded it can no longer do—seize private streets for a third-party commercial event,” the group said in a statement.
FHGC also issued a broader statement expressing its growing concerns over the situation. “The Forest Hills Gardens Corporation (FHGC) is deeply troubled by the recent actions of Tiebreaker Productions LLC (Tiebreaker) in connection with the concert operations at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium,” the organization said, reiterating that “Tiebreaker has no authority to operate or deploy any personnel within the private streets of the Gardens or close streets without an explicit license granted by FHGC.”
The group cited a March 19 letter from NYPD Legal Bureau Deputy Inspector William Gallagher, which stated that “the NYPD is not permitted to close the privately-owned streets adjacent to the Stadium.”
FHGC noted that although it had agreed to enter professional mediation with the West Side Tennis Club and Tiebreaker to resolve the long-running dispute, it believes the promoter has since circumvented the process. “Tiebreaker’s attempting to secure a unilateral backchannel agreement to use private security forces to close FHGC’s private streets to its residents is not productive,” FHGC wrote. “Engaging in this agreed-upon mediation process based on this framework is the only path forward.”
The group emphasized it is willing to return to the pre-2023 arrangement, which included a limited number of concerts, strict adherence to the city’s noise code, and a formal licensing agreement for street use.
“FHGC does not and will not accept any ‘private security plan’ that purports to allow unauthorized access, use and closure of our private property,” the organization stated. It also highlighted that “in 2024, 85% of concerts tested by the NYC DEP exceeded official noise limits,” urging the NYPD to strictly enforce noise regulations moving forward.
Despite the mounting objections, Forest Hills Stadium publicly declared that the season would proceed as planned.
“Forest Hills Stadium is moving forward with our 2025 concert schedule as planned and our permitting timeline is on its standard schedule,” the venue wrote on social media. “As happens every season, the vocal NIMBY minority of Forest Hills Gardens are attempting to roadblock yet another enjoyable season of music.”
Concert organizers also issued a celebratory announcement:
“FOREST HILLS STADIUM 2025 SEASON OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF MAY 31,” the venue wrote online. “As anticipated, we’re pleased to announce that the City of New York has given Forest Hills Stadium the green light for our 2025 concert season to proceed as planned… We’re excited to welcome fans back this summer and proud to continue our role as a cultural cornerstone of the Queens community.”
The season is scheduled to begin May 31 with a performance by English rock band Bloc Party.
While acknowledging the challenges of living near a major concert venue, Borough President Richards has urged FHGC and residents to negotiate in good faith, emphasizing the broader community’s economic reliance on the stadium.
“But most of all, such a cancellation would economically devastate many nearby restaurants, bars, shops and other establishments who see a surge in patronage on days when events are scheduled at the stadium,” Richards wrote. “The loss of that revenue would undoubtedly put those businesses and the employment of their workers at risk.”
Originally opened in 1923, Forest Hills Stadium has hosted some of the most iconic acts in music history—from The Beatles and Frank Sinatra to Drake and Ed Sheeran. It was named the best amphitheater on the East Coast by Billboard last month. Still, its future now hinges on whether compromise can be reached with the neighbors who share its quiet suburban setting.
Photos from an overturned vehicle incident around 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, 48 St. Woodside, between Laurel Hill Blvd. and 50 Ave.
24 Thursday. The Local Eatery and Craft Beer Bar in Forest Hills presents “Bring Your Own Vinyl.” This month’s theme is the 1970’s. Share your vinyl and craft beer.
7 pm. The Local 66-75 Selfridge St., Forest Hills
24 Thursday. Bloom presents “Jasmine Thursdays.” Enjoy 20% off the bill with an advance reservation. This week’s featured instrument is the jazz harp with the Margo Sergent Trio.
7 pm to bedtime. Bloom Botanical Bistro, 103-19 Metropolitan Ave.
25 Friday. Singer David Cerreta performs with his Jazz Quartet at Bloom.
7 pm. Bloom Botanical Bistro
25 Saturday. Nancy Goudinaki is at Neir’s. I recently saw Nick Russo’s band here and enjoyed the brunch. Reservations recommended. No cover.
2-4 pm. Neir’s 87-48 78th St, Woodhaven
26 Saturday. Queens Symphony Orchestra’s Brass Quintet performs a variety of fanfares and vibrant melodies guaranteed to wake the dead.
4-5 pm. The Center at Maple Grove Cemetery, 127-15 Kew Gardens Road. Parking available.
26 Saturday. Forest Hills Choir presents Spring Carols, their annual cabaret fundraiser. Have fun supporting your local choir! Cash bar, food, entertainment, raffles. Tickets are $25 from fhchoir.org
7-9:30 pm. Our Lady of Mercy Church Hall, 72-02 Juno St.
26 Saturday. Local favorite, Musiquita, plays two sets at the Climate Arts Festival sponsored by the Queens Botanical Garden.
11 am to 4 pm. Queens Botanical Garden 43-50 Main St, Flushing (not so far!)
29 Tuesday. Aaron Adler’s Kew Gardens Musicians jam at Austin’s Ale House. Local musicians still gather in honor of Mr. Adler and keep the tradition alive. Expect to hear a variety of talented people you might see on the street.
7-10 pm. Austin’s Ale House 82-72 Austin St. Kew Gardens
30 Wednesday. Quintet of the Americas (from Queens) presents a concert featuring living American composers including Sunny Knable from Forest Hills. His piece is “Satchmo in New Orleans.”
4 pm. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St
Please check social media to confirm information before you go.
To share an event with the readers of the Forest Hills Times, contact danolson@olsontfp.com
By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
Michael Blake isn’t just running for mayor—he’s running on a lifetime of service, shaped by the streets of the Bronx and sharpened in the halls of the White House. Now a Democratic contender in the crowded 2025 mayoral race, he offers a rare combination of national experience and hometown heart—with a vision of a New York City where opportunity isn’t a privilege, but a promise. A son of Jamaican immigrants, Blake’s journey has been shaped by his family’s hard work, faith, and dedication to public service.
Blake, now 42, began his path to the mayoral race with a commitment to creating opportunities for all. As a White House aide during the Obama administration, he was part of the team that helped defeat Donald Trump in 2016. Blake, who helped launch the Urban Entrepreneurship Summit, worked tirelessly to create jobs across the country. Later, during his six years as a member of the New York State Assembly, Blake spearheaded efforts such as the My Brother’s Keeper initiative, aimed at supporting Black and Brown boys in education and career pathways.
“My goal has always been to help people achieve their dreams in a very practical way, helping people who didn’t get a chance before now have a chance,” Blake said during a recent roundtable with the Queens Ledger.
Blake is no stranger to the struggles New Yorkers face. Growing up in the Bronx, he learned from a young age the importance of community and hard work. His mother worked at a manufacturing plant for 40 years, commuting two buses a day across the bridge to Jersey, while his late father worked as a janitor in a Bronx union.
Named after two of Jamaica’s most iconic leaders—Michael Manley and Alexander Bustamante—Michael Alexander Blake carries not just a name, but a legacy of bold leadership and a commitment to politics woven into his very identity.
“When your parents name you after Jamaican prime ministers your parents definitely cared about politics.”
Blake’s candidacy is built on a legacy of public service. From expanding the My Brother’s Keeper program to helping implement the first statewide initiative for boys and young men of color in New York, Blake has always fought for policies that uplift marginalized communities. Through his work in the Assembly, Blake helped secure initial funding for My Brother’s Keeper—”$25 million to $18 million state funding to help school districts across state with their college and career community engaging programs to help more Black and Brown boys graduate school and was successful and still goes on till today,” Blake said.
But it’s his vision for New York City that sets him apart. Blake is not just focused on policies that serve the city’s immediate needs, but on creating long-term solutions for affordable housing, economic equity, and public safety.
On the housing crisis, Blake advocates for building on every available plot of land to meet the city’s growing demand for housing. “If we’re serious about this, let’s find every plot of land that’s available and figure out how to build on that and increase the opportunity for more people to get in the game.” Regarding the City of Yes proposal, he added, “On the city of yes it should have went further; it didn’t address affordability just building more units. ‘Affordable to who?’”
His vision for “true economic fairness” extends to addressing New York City’s budget challenges. Blake supports reforming how income and creditworthiness are assessed in housing.
“End credit scores for home ownership applications, change local median income.” He also distinguishes between policy approaches: “Guaranteed income is different than universal income, creating the floor with everybody, assessing who actually has a gap and helping them is a more equitable approach.”
On the topic of the ever emerging notion of city casinos, Blake sees opportunity where others criticize. “I Believe it will help create jobs and wages and create a full dynamic opportunity that the community benefits from,” and added, “At the end of the day it’s a person’s choice what they’re doing with their funds.”
Blake also reflects on his unique approach to working with the federal government, informed by both personal and professional experience. “It is impossible to lead New York City if you don’t have an understanding of DC, if you’re laying out a plan you should be able to articulate how exactly you’re paying for it,” Blake said.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Blake took swift action to support New Yorkers. “We brought World Central Kitchen to New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked with restaurants, Small Businesses and nonprofits to feed and provide P.P.E. to New Yorkers.”
He also led efforts on Capitol Hill. “I led an effort to work with US Senate members on how to get funding for small businesses faster and better because the PPP did not work and they could not access the funds. I helped change that in a significant way.”
Blake’s approach to the economy includes cracking down on empty storefronts and rentals. “Vacant apartment tax, vacant storefront tax, landlord is making a conscious decision to weigh out this small business for a bigger market rate, for Blake behavior like that hurts everybody, look into rescinding licenses.”
His extensive leadership experience, he says, is central to why he’s running. “I fundamentally believe that we are in a moment in time right now where there’s a lot of people who are talking about different ideas that are not realistic given the environment that we’re in.”
Blake also hasn’t shied away from sharp critiques of former Governor Andrew Cuomo, questioning the circumstances around his resignation and the nursing home scandal. “He still hasn’t said if he didn’t do it, why did he resign then?” and “the nursing home issue during COVID and people died because of a book deal.”
As a reverend licensed since 1995, Blake’s faith is a constant thread through both his personal and political journey. “Born with a heart murmur in Bronx hospital on Christmas night 1982, it’s the reason I still have a portrait of the Last Supper in my living room,” he shared, reflecting on the role faith has played in his life. He recounted a near-death experience in 2001, when he fell asleep at the wheel and miraculously survived—an event so pivotal that the words he wrote afterward still hang on his mother’s fridge. And while his career has taken him to the national stage, Blake remains deeply rooted in his Bronx upbringing: “From a local dynamic I’m still that kid who would get pizza from Vinny’s hanging at Van Cortland Park.”
He’s also the CEO of KAIROS Democracy, which works on “positive storytelling of the impact of democracy, people think democracy is not working for them and show them when it is done correctly how it impacts them,” and he’s a partner at the Atlas Strategy Group, focused on applying “consciousness to capitalism.”
For Michael Blake, it’s not about lofty promises—it’s about showing how his leadership can help people “keep the lights on.” He summed up his candidacy by pointing to the connection between his life, his service, and the city: “People are genuinely wanting to understand how my policies are helping them keep the lights on.”
Blake’s campaign is not just about politics. It’s about service—a lifelong dedication to his community, his city, and his faith. As mayor, Blake wants to leave behind a legacy that empowers New Yorkers to keep money in their pockets, build their dreams, and create a more equitable city for future generations.
The Maspeth Lions Club made a trip with the Easter Bunny to spread the cheer of the season this week to a shelter in Ridgewood. “The Lions Club focuses on helping people who need a boost sometimes,” said Maspeth Lions member Maryann Lattanzio. The Maspeth Lions Club meets every other week at O’Neills, Maspeth.
