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Seven Indicted for $300,000 Bitcoin Theft from Queens Resident

BQE Admin on August 22, 2024

 

 

Designed by Freepik
Seven people, including Aaron Peterson Jr. and his parents, have been indicted for stealing and laundering over $300,000 in Bitcoin from a Queens resident.

MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

Seven individuals have been indicted in connection with the theft of more than $300,000 in Bitcoin from a Queens resident, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on August 9. The indictment, issued by a grand jury, includes charges of grand larceny, money laundering, identity theft, and related offenses following an extensive investigation into a cyberattack on a private cryptocurrency wallet.

The hack, which occurred in November 2022, saw 5.75 bitcoins stolen from the victim’s Blockchain.com wallet. At the time of the theft, the Bitcoin was valued at approximately $92,000, but its current worth exceeds $300,000. The stolen cryptocurrency was allegedly laundered using a method known as a “peel chain,” involving a series of small transactions to obscure the trail.

The Queens District Attorney’s Office, alerted by Assembly Member Clyde Vanel, swiftly launched an investigation. Over the next eight months, the Cyber Crime Unit and Detectives Bureau uncovered more than 250 transactions used to launder the stolen funds through the “peel chain.” This investigation traced the funds to multiple deposit addresses on Cash App and other financial services, leading to their identification and subpoena.

District Attorney Katz praised the work of the Cyber Crimes Unit and Detectives Bureau.

“The individuals allegedly responsible for this operation went through a meticulous series of steps to hide their criminal activity,” Katz said. “My dedicated Cyber Crime and Cryptocurrency Unit and Detectives Bureau worked this case for months to figure out who was behind these transactions and to bring those people to justice. I thank Assembly Member Clyde Vanel for alerting us to this important case and encourage any Queens resident who may have been a victim of cryptocurrency theft to contact our Cyber Crimes team at 718-286-6673 or CyberCrimes@queensda.org.”

She also urged any other potential victims of cryptocurrency theft in Queens to contact her office.

Assembly Member Clyde Vanel expressed support for the District Attorney’s efforts.

“We are encouraged by the efforts of the Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz to protect Queens residents from technology-related fraud,” Vanel said. “We want to help ensure that Queens residents are able to invest, transact and transfer value in a safe manner. Today shows that we will bring justice to those who attempt to defraud Queens residents.”

Among those indicted are alleged mastermind Aaron Peterson Jr., 20, and his parents, Aaron Peterson, 39, and Autumn Clark, 37, all from Sacramento County, California. They were extradited and arraigned Friday on multiple charges including grand larceny in the second degree and money laundering in the second degree. They face potential sentences of 5 to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count. Co-defendants Dontay Brown, 39, and Ronald Lamar Moland Jr., 22, both from California, are expected to be arraigned at a later date. Two additional defendants remain at large.

According to the indictment, the stolen Bitcoin was moved through a series of transactions to various Cash App accounts. Among the identified accounts, defendant Clark received approximately $22,500 in 18 transactions, Moland received about $22,000 in eight transactions, and Brown received $19,700 in three transactions. Peterson Sr. received approximately $9,500 in 33 transactions. The laundered funds were eventually pooled into an account controlled by Peterson Jr., who used the money for personal luxuries, including a diamond necklace and a Mercedes-Benz.

The investigation, led by Sergeant Linda DenDekker and Detective Investigator Daniel Yi Suh under the supervision of Lieutenant Joseph Falgiano, received critical assistance from FTI Consulting, the California Department of Justice’s Cybercrime Section, and other agencies. The prosecution will be handled by Assistant District Attorneys Elizabeth Speck and Catherine Jahn, among others.

The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

 

Designed by Freepik
The theft, which involved a complex scheme of 250 transactions, was traced through Cash App and other financial services.

Queens Musician and Advocate Sami Abu Shumays Receives Inaugural Taproot Fellowship

BQE Admin on August 22, 2024

Arabic Music Advocate Sami Abu Shumays Named Taproot Fellow

Courtesy Sami Abu Shumays

Sami Abu Shumays, a renowned Arab violinist and Deputy Director at Flushing Town Hall, has been awarded the inaugural Taproot Fellowship.

MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

Sami Abu Shumays, a prominent musician and advocate for cultural arts, has been awarded the inaugural Taproot Fellowship, an honor recognizing his significant contributions to traditional music and cultural preservation. The $60,000 fellowship includes $50,000 as an unrestricted grant and an additional $10,000 for community-focused initiatives.

Abu Shumays, the deputy director at Flushing Town Hall and a renowned Arab violinist, is one of only 25 fellows selected nationwide and the sole recipient from New York. He is also the only Arab musician among the awardees. The fellowship, part of the Taproot Artists & Community Trust by the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, aims to support and highlight accomplished traditional artists across the U.S.

“I see my fellow Taproot Artists as heroes and warriors for cultural survival and independence, and I am humbled to walk among them,” Abu Shumays said. “They’re carrying specific traditions that many other people don’t know about, or that are dying out. It’s very easy for people to want to assimilate and join the mainstream culture.”

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to a Palestinian father and a European descent mother, Abu Shumays initially pursued a career in Western classical music. His journey took a transformative turn during his senior year at Harvard University when he encountered Arab musician Simon Shaheen. This encounter ignited his passion for Arabic music, leading him to study in Egypt and Syria with noted musicians.

“I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, my father’s Palestinian, my mother’s European descent, so I grew up in a mixed household,” Abu Shumays said. “I went to college. I was originally going to study math and physics, but then I switched to music. It was that experience that got me to recognize the value of oral tradition. Learning music was much like learning language. You learn by speaking, you learn by doing.”

During his time studying in Egypt and Syria, the musician immersed himself deeply in the rich traditions of Arabic music, a transformative experience that shaped his career. From the fall of 2001 to early 2003, he lived in Cairo on a Fulbright Fellowship, where he studied Arabic music under the mentorship of esteemed musicians, including the influential Simon Shaheen.

His studies continued in Aleppo, Syria, where he further delved into the intricacies of the music. This period was pivotal for him, as he transitioned from learning Western classical music through notation to embracing the oral traditions of Arabic music. He came to appreciate the superiority of learning by ear, akin to acquiring a new language, and recognized the profound nuances that oral traditions capture. This experience not only solidified his dedication to becoming an Arabic musician but also highlighted the importance of preserving and teaching music through these age-old methods.

Balancing his administrative role with his passion for Arabic music presents significant challenges, as he cannot pursue his art full-time due to financial constraints.

“Learning informally and laterally from your colleagues, rather than just from teacher-student, is super important,” Abu Shumays said. “The informal aspect of making music, learning through doing, is as important or more important than the formal aspect.”

Since 2005, Abu Shumays has led the Arabic music and dance ensemble Zikrayat and has made significant strides in demystifying Arabic music through his book, Inside Arabic Music (Oxford University Press, 2019), which has become a leading text in English on the subject. He has also developed a teaching methodology that simplifies complex Arabic music scales for students, emphasizing oral learning and imitation.

“Arabic music has these complex microtonal scales,”  Abu Shumays said. “For many years, people have tried to give all these complex mathematical definitions to them. But the way I teach it is just like learning an accent, a particular vowel sound. If you just listen and copy and imitate, you can learn these things in a very simple way.”

In addition to his musical achievements, Abu Shumays is deeply involved in the New York arts community. At Flushing Town Hall, a Smithsonian affiliate, he manages government relations, advocacy, and various administrative functions while supporting a diverse range of cultural programs. His role includes championing arts equity and supporting immigrant artists in Queens.

Balancing his role as Deputy Director at Flushing Town Hall with his passion for Arabic music presents a unique set of challenges, particularly since he cannot pursue music full-time.

As the Deputy Director, he manages critical responsibilities such as government affairs, HR, finance, and board relations, which demand considerable time and focus. Despite this, his dedication to Arabic music remains unwavering. The financial reality of the New York arts scene means he must maintain a day job to support himself, as a career solely in Arabic music is not financially viable for him at this stage.

“I will say that I’m honoring myself for keeping alive my passion for Arabic music, despite the fact that I’ve been able to make a living at it and keeping alive, maintaining my energy to keep getting better at it and keep teaching people, even while having my day job at Flushing Town Hall,” Abu Shumays said.

This balancing act requires time management and a deep personal commitment, as he strives to keep his musical passion alive while contributing significantly to the cultural landscape through his role at Flushing Town Hall. His ability to maintain this dual commitment is a testament to his resilience and enduring love for both his professional and artistic pursuits.

As part of the Taproot Fellowship, Abu Shumays will allocate his community grant to Brooklyn Maqam, an organization he has been involved with since its inception in 2018. The funding will support educational programs and administrative costs, including new classes on oud and percussion and the establishment of an Arabic chorus.

The Taproot Fellowship, awarded to a diverse group of artists and cultural bearers, reflects a broader commitment to sustaining traditional arts and fostering community-based cultural practices across the nation.

His book, Inside Arabic Music, has become a leading text in English on the subject, reflecting his commitment to making Arabic music accessible and understandable.

Italian American Heritage Club Supports Martin Luther School Basketball Program

BQE Admin on August 22, 2024

Italian American Civil Rights League Champions Heritage and Local Support

Courtesy Coach Jon Kablack

From left to right: Isaiah Kablack ’16 (Assistant Head Coach), Jon Kablack (Head Coach), Michael Crispi, Gerard Marrone, and Christopher Gotlieb (Board Members and Founders of the Italian American Civil Rights League), with Damien Peterson and Gavin Hugien (Martin Luther Basketball Starters and Co-Captains) kneeling.

MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

In a show of community support, the Italian American Civil Rights League has presented a generous donation to the Martin Luther School basketball team, marking a notable partnership aimed at bolstering local youth sports. The donation, intended to enhance the basketball program’s resources, underscores the club’s commitment to community engagement and support for educational initiatives.

Board Members and Founders of the Italian American Civil Rights League,  Gerard Marrone, Michael Crispi and Christopher Gotlieb spearheaded the partnership with the school.

The Italian American Civil Rights League (IACRL) has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving Italian American heritage while addressing contemporary issues of discrimination. Established in 1970, the organization has a long history of advocating for Italian Americans who face unjust stereotypes and biases. Originally founded to counteract negative portrayals, such as organized crime associations, the IACRL continues to address modern challenges faced by Italian Americans.

Gerard Marrone highlighted the League’s ongoing mission to honor Italian traditions and family values while combating anti-Italian discrimination.

“The Italian American Civil Rights League has been around since 1970, and it’s the premier, most nationally known organization that fights and advocates for the rights of Italian Americans who face discrimination,” Marrone said.

 The organization is currently focused on defending Columbus Day, which it views as a symbol of Italian American heritage rather than a historical figure. Marrone emphasized the importance of this holiday to the Italian American community, linking it to the broader narrative of immigrants building and contributing to the nation.

“In today’s day and age, Italian Americans face different types of discrimination and different types of businesses where they need an advocate,” Marrone said. That’s what we’re doing.”

The IACRL donated $2,000 to the Martin Luther School basketball team, a gesture that underscores its commitment to local initiatives. Marrone, who grew up in the area, noted the personal connection to Martin Luther School and the positive impact of supporting local programs.

“I grew up in Ridgewood, and Martin Luther High School has always been a great place in my neighborhood,” Marrone said. “Meeting Coach John and finding a fit to help out was a natural step for us.”

Looking ahead, the IACRL plans to expand its support for community organizations and address broader issues of discrimination. The League will host its first annual membership drive and fundraiser on October 2, aiming to engage more supporters and bolster its efforts. Membership options range from $50 to $1,000, reflecting various levels of involvement and support, to get involved please visit iacrl.org.

“We want to send the message of equality and alliance,” Marrone said. “We align with any group that experiences discrimination and advocate for their causes as well.”

Jon Kablack, the head coach of the Martin Luther School basketball team, expressed his appreciation for the club’s contribution.

“This helps out a lot because the Martin Luther basketball team comes from a very small parochial school, sixth grade through 12th grade, and we only have about 200 kids. That being said, very limited on the budget.” Kablack said.

Martin Luther School, a small parochial institution serving grades 6 through 12, has faced financial constraints that have limited opportunities for its athletes.

The Italian American Heritage Club, newly revitalized to focus on community outreach, is making its first major impact with this donation. The club’s leader, Gerard Marrone, initiated the partnership with Kablack to support local youth and improve their athletic experiences.

Courtesy Coach Jon Kablack

The Italian American Civil Rights League donated $2,000 to the Martin Luther School basketball team, highlighting its commitment to both Italian American heritage and local youth sports.

 Kablack, who is entering his 10th season as a basketball coach and fourth as varsity coach, has been proactive in fundraising to provide his players with opportunities often available only at larger programs. Last year, he arranged for the team to take an overnight trip to his alma mater, covering all costs through his fundraising efforts.

This donation will support continued initiatives such as team travel, new uniforms, and special events, furthering Kablack’s mission to provide his players with meaningful high school basketball experiences. Beyond athletics, Kablack emphasizes the importance of academic achievement, striving to ensure that his players balance their sports commitments with educational success.

“For me as a coach,  I stress on education and how education has to come first,” Kablack said. “When I talk to somebody or somebody inquires about playing basketball, it’s one of the first questions I ask. What’s your grades like? Because it does neither of us any good if you’re failing classes. My big goal , both academically and athletically, is to get the child to the next level, and ultimately, that goal of college.”

The partnership will also feature the Italian American Heritage Club’s name prominently in the team’s promotional materials, including banners and social media, as a gesture of gratitude for their support. The collaboration highlights the club’s renewed focus on contributing positively to the community and supporting youth development.

To make a generous donation and support the Martin Luther School Basketball team, please visit tinyurl.com/MartinLutherTeam.

Candidate Clark and the Fever Pitch; The WNBA Returns After Olympics Break and All Eyes are on the Short Trail

BQE Admin on August 21, 2024

 

By Alexander Bernhardt Bloom | alex@queensledger.com

 

The campaigns by major candidates in the US presidential election have been, by unusual circumstance, set on a truncated schedule this year, and so they shall reach a fever pitch sooner than is custom as we hurtle through the remaining weeks of the competitive season. So too, the WNBA!

The victorious athletes who occupied the Olympic scorecards for Women’s Basketball Team USA in Paris this month have returned and been restored to their home lineups. For those who stayed behind in the States it was a month off, presumably spent resting and watching medal ceremonies and collecting energy and enthusiasm for breaking back into the WNBA season with just five weeks before playoffs begin. Among the major candidates for rookie of the year and several other categories is Caitlin Clark, who appears to have rested sufficiently and then some for continuing her take-no-prisoners pursuit of first-season glory in the league this summer.

The Indiana Fever are currently ranked seventh overall with a record below .500. It’s a position in the standings good enough to get them into the playoffs if they began tomorrow, but a major candidate it does not make them. Clark doesn’t appear distracted by this.

In their first game back, a decisive win on the Fever’s home court over the Phoenix Mercury, Clark led the team in scoring and assists. She left defenders looking silly, confused, blind and embarrassed, dribbling in pirouettes to deceive and surpass them or else coasting as if on wings on her way through the paint as they looked on with arms by their sides. At sixth in the league in overall points – including those accumulated by measures of three (third most in the league) – we could call Clark a major candidate, only it’s not her scoring that everyone is talking about.

In the Fever’s second game back after the Olympics recess Clark clocked 9 assists, a boost to the team on their way to a 92-75 rout of the Seattle Storm and also enough to earn her a new title: most season assists for a rookie on record. 

She made it look easy; she made it look good. Clark passed half court to beat the press. She passed full court to beat it again. She sky-hooked a lobber to find a teammate below the glass and later, from the same spot, kicked out to another for the three. She shot their lights out too, amassing 23 points of her own including Clark’s standard-issue flickers flung from depths of the back court so far past the frontier they’ve got unincorporated towns.

Anyway. A lot can happen between now and September, as the old saying sort of goes. While we get there we’d best keep our eyes open, for the major candidates are giving us a lot to look at.

(Photo Courtesy of @caitlinclark22 on Instagram)

NYSUT Gears Up to Campaign Hard for Suozzi, Other Swing District Dems

BQE Admin on August 20, 2024

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. 

Gotham EMS Expands Services, Unites Volunteer Ambulance Corps Across Queens 

BQE Admin on August 14, 2024

Courtesy Office of Robert Holden

Gotham EMS, formed from the merger of several volunteer ambulance corps, now serves a broad area including Queens and Brooklyn.

MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

Gotham EMS, a volunteer ambulance organization, has emerged as a crucial provider of emergency medical services across several neighborhoods in Queens and Brooklyn, thanks to the efforts of volunteers like Jesus Rodriguez, a longtime member and chairman of the organization.

Rodriguez, who has been involved in the volunteer ambulance community since 2012, shared how Gotham EMS came to unite multiple volunteer ambulance corps under one banner, expanding its reach and services.

“In 2019, Middle Village approached Ridgewood, seeking to join forces to continue providing services to the community,” Rodriguez said. “We then formed operational partnerships with Glendale, Woodhaven, and Richmond Hill, consolidating our efforts to better serve these neighborhoods.”

The EMS service once known as the Ridgewood Volunteer Ambulance Corp’s collaboration culminated in the official formation of Gotham EMS in 2023, with the group now covering a vast area that includes Ridgewood, Glendale, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, and parts of Bushwick, Brooklyn. The new name became official in 2024 after a lengthy process of securing necessary approvals from the Department of State and the Department of Health.

The transition was a complex process, as Rodriguez detailed, involving significant behind-the-scenes work.

“We’re all volunteers with full-time jobs, so managing this process took time,” Rodriguez said. “We decided to create a strategic planning team, officially, we had everything set up in 2023, and then we did Gotham Day in April of 2024.”

 However, the effort was worthwhile as it allowed Gotham EMS to continue serving the community effectively.

“We still field calls from all four areas, services that we used to provide for one community, but now we’re providing it for all four communities,” Rodriguez said.

Gotham EMS’s services extend beyond emergency transportation. The EMS service provides a range of critical services, including emergency medical response, transportation to medical appointments, and support during community events. The organization also offers hands-on CPR training and emergency preparedness education to the public, helping residents be better equipped in crisis situations.

 “We have volunteers from everywhere,” Rodriguez said. “Business owners, graphic designers, FDNY personnel, who all come together to give back to the community.”

Additionally, Gotham EMS supports the FDNY by assisting with 911 calls, especially during high-demand periods, ensuring that medical help reaches those in need swiftly. Their work is driven by volunteers who are dedicated to serving their communities, often going beyond basic emergency care to provide essential resources like medical equipment to those who cannot afford it.

The official name changing event took place earlier this year in April and was attended by community members and elected officials.

 “We train EMS personnel from the ground up, teaching them everything from CPR to leadership skills,” Rodriguez said. “The biggest thing is we train you at dispatch, we send you to EMT school, you know, we train you at CPR, everything until you become an EMT.”

The volunteer-driven nature of Gotham EMS is central to its mission. With a current roster of about 80 volunteers, the organization operates primarily during nighttime hours when the 911 system is most in need of support as well as organizing educational community events.

“Mainly, we operate at night,” Rodriguez said. “If someone calls and says, ‘Hey, I need to go to a cardiology appointment,’ then we will get a crew to come down for whatever time in the morning.”

The organization’s community-based approach sets it apart from for-profit ambulance services. Gotham EMS offers additional services, such as providing medical equipment like walkers to those who can’t afford them.

“We do hands-on CPR,” Rodriguez said. “We also teach you about things to look for in your house, fire alarms, smoke detectors, stuff like that.”

Gotham EMS continues to be a lifeline for the communities it serves, ensuring that residents have access to the care they need.

To learn more about Gotham EMS or to get involved with their mission, please visit their website at ridgewoodvac.com.

The organization provides emergency medical services, transportation, and community education, relying on a dedicated team of about 80 volunteers.

104th Precinct Celebrates National Night Out

BQE Admin on August 14, 2024

MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

The 104th Precinct’s National Night Out event, originally planned for Juniper Valley Park, was relocated to the Maspeth Federal Savings Bank parking lot due to an unexpected downpour on August 7. Despite the change in venue, the event maintained its focus on strengthening relationships between local law enforcement and the Middle Village community.

National Night Out, celebrated across the United States, is a key initiative in promoting police-community partnerships and enhancing neighborhood safety. Even with the weather disruption, the event saw a strong turnout, showing the community’s commitment to fostering a safer, more connected neighborhood.

While the rain may have altered plans, it didn’t dampen the spirit of the evening, as attendees and officers alike engaged in meaningful interactions, reinforcing community bonds.

 

 

Lime Expands E-Scooter Program Throughout Queens Amidst Booming Ridership

BQE Admin on August 14, 2024

Courtesy Lime

Lime has expanded its Gen4 e-scooter fleet building on its earlier success in southeast Queens and contributing to the NYC DOT’s e-scooter program.

MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

Lime, a leading provider of shared electric vehicles, has expanded its Gen4 e-scooter fleet into northeast Queens, following a successful launch in southeast Queens earlier this summer. The expansion is part of the New York City Department of Transportation’s broader initiative to grow its shared e-scooter program, which has seen significant ridership and a solid safety record since its inception in August 2021.

Since Lime’s launch in Queens on June 27, the company has reported nearly 23,000 new signups and over 56,000 rides.

“Lime is proud to be in Queens and excited to expand all while we remain focused on safe riding and proper parking,” Nicole Yearwood, Senior Manager for Government Relations said. “Queens and Bronx residents have both proven that the demand for safe, affordable, transportation in the form of shared e-scooters is very strong. We are devoting more and more resources every day to ensure we keep streets safe, neat, and tidy while we strive to meet that demand. Eastern Queens is uniquely suited to benefit from the first and last-mile connections our shared e-scooters provide and we’re already seeing people use them to connect to the subways, buses, and LIRR stations. While we launch we are taking in as much feedback as possible from the community in order to provide the best service possible for all road users, especially our riders, pedestrians, cyclists, and other sustainable transportation users,”

The company is currently running a comprehensive parking campaign across Queens and the Bronx to ensure proper parking practices. This initiative includes organic and paid social media, in-app and email messages to riders, and a series of in-person events. The campaign kicked off with a free ice cream giveaway in Jamaica, Queens, where Lime also distributed helmets and shared safety information.

Lime’s approach to parking in northeast Queens involves a multi-pronged strategy. The company’s operations team, supported by AI-assisted end-trip photo technology, is available 24/7 to address and rebalance misparked vehicles. Lime has also implemented Mandatory Parking Zones in high-traffic areas to maintain order on the streets.

Lime launched with detailed plans in place to run a neat and tidy program, with custom deployment and parking plans tailored to the neighborhood.

Communication with riders is central to Lime’s strategy, with ongoing efforts to educate users on proper parking. Lime leverages its global experience, running programs in 280 cities across five continents, to tailor its approach to the specific needs of Queens. Riders are informed of parking rules through in-app messages, emails, and social media, and repeat offenders face potential fines or bans from the platform.

Lime emphasizes the importance of community feedback in refining its service. The company engaged with local stakeholders, including community boards, service organizations, and educational institutions, before launching in Queens. This dialogue continues as Lime gathers input on areas needing focused parking enforcement.

“We will always have an ear to the ground in Queens and we will never stop working to improve our service,” a Lime representative said.

Lime’s e-scooter program in New York City, which began in the Bronx in August 2021, has seen over 2.3 million trips in that borough alone, accounting for 56% of the program’s total rides. The program’s expansion into Queens marks another step in increasing sustainable transportation options across the city.

Courtesy Lime

Since launching in Queens, Lime has seen nearly 23,000 new signups and over 56,000 rides and is actively promoting safe parking practices through a comprehensive campaign.

​​Queens Chamber of Commerce Hosts Roundtable on NYC’s Minimum Pay Impact

BQE Admin on August 14, 2024

MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

The Queens Chamber of Commerce hosted a roundtable discussion with local restaurant owners, community members and Dashers to discuss their negative experiences from the unintended consequences of New York City’s extreme minimum pay rate for delivery workers. The roundtable, organized in partnership with DoorDash, featured discussions around the impacts being felt by Queens small businesses and food delivery workers, along with how more proposed bills in the NYC Council could exacerbate these problems.

The event was hosted at Queens-based restaurant Rincon Salvadoreño, a family-owned Salvadoran restaurant in Jamaica, where owner Elena Barcenes shared her own personal experience with the negative impacts of the City’s policy.

“As the largest business association in Queens representing over 1,400 organizations, we were proud to facilitate this event with local Queens restaurant owners and Dashers for an honest conversation about the impacts of New York City’s minimum pay policy for delivery workers,” said Thomas J. Grech, President & Chief Executive Officer at the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “We’d like to thank all of the participants in today’s discussion who shared how the policy has impacted their livelihood, whether that is through a decline in orders as a small business or a decrease in earnings as a Dasher, and we hope local policymakers will hear out these concerns.”

“New York City’s restaurant industry has been hit hard by the impacts of the City’s minimum pay rate for delivery workers. My restaurant, Rincon Salvadoreño, has lost twenty percent of delivery orders since the rule was put into place Barcenes said. “Thank you to the Queens Chamber of Commerce for helping us to make our voices heard and organizing this important discussion.”

The City’s minimum pay rules have cost millions of dollars in lost orders for local restaurants and lost earning opportunities for Dashers. Based on DoorDash’s estimates, the rule will cost Queens restaurants $19 million annually and the number of new Dashers in Queens has fallen by 37% compared to before the new minimum pay rate took effect. In the first two months since the implementation of the minimum pay rate, NYC restaurants and other local merchants lost $17 million in revenue and NYC consumers have placed an estimated 850,000 fewer orders on the Door Dash Marketplace than they would have had the market remained unchanged.

Joe Mele, a delivery driver from St. Albans, expressed concerns about the impact of New York City’s minimum wage policy on gig workers. He noted that the increased regulation and formalization of delivery work, which was originally intended to be a flexible, part-time job, is reducing opportunities for drivers. Mele explained that the policy has led to fewer orders and less income, forcing him to work longer hours and travel all the way out to Long Island for work.

“I actually head out to Long Island, get orders, and I sit up there, and that’s not good for me,” Mele said. “But what’s key is being able to when you turn your phone and the app on, is to be able to work from start to where you want to finish.”

He emphasized that the flexibility to choose when and where to work is crucial for gig workers. Mele also pointed out that while tips are important, the key to making a good income is having a steady stream of orders. He worries that the new regulations could negatively affect tipping attitudes and overall earnings for delivery drivers.

Janelle Christine, a Dasher from Flushing, raised concerns about recent changes to delivery regulations and their impact on drivers. She described how initial regulations led to increased earnings, but subsequent changes have made it harder to receive orders and affected her ability to work efficiently in her area. As a result, Christine has had to travel further for work, increasing her fuel costs, vehicle mileage, and maintenance expenses.

“All of this also impacts how much gas I pay, how much mileage on the vehicle, and the maintenance of the vehicle,” Christine said. “So, you’re talking about hidden expenses now that would not have been calculated previously to actual dashing.”

The Queens Chamber of Commerce hosted a roundtable to address the negative impacts of New York City’s minimum pay rate for delivery workers.

Christine also mentioned issues with parking, noting that she has received tickets while trying to deliver food. She suggested that temporary parking permits could alleviate this problem. While she acknowledged that tips remain consistent, she emphasized that the regulatory changes and additional costs are significant concerns that need addressing. Christine also pointed out that having the option to pause orders for breaks could improve working conditions for Dashers.

New York State Senator Jessica Ramos of District 13 addressed the economic implications of recent delivery regulations during the discussion. Ramos highlighted the challenges faced by restaurants, particularly in New York City, where profit margins are already slim.

Ramos noted that the requirement for restaurants to adapt their menus for delivery platforms like Door Dash can be financially burdensome, as it may necessitate significant changes to their operations.

“Profitability wise, however, if a third of your revenue is coming through this channel, professional businesses are heavily revenue dependent,” Ramos said. “You need money to keep it running so you will keep producing profit, list sales and generally at the rate, a lot of that goes up before the restaurant business. The profitability of the software company is quite different, right? So, I think we have to take that into consideration.”

She also emphasized the disparity in profitability between restaurant businesses and delivery platform companies, suggesting that the economic pressures on restaurants are distinct from those faced by the platforms themselves.

Ramos brought attention to the underrepresented Latino, Asian, and African American workers in the delivery sector, many of whom face limited economic opportunities and rely heavily on gig work.

 

 

Electeds Urge City to Slow LIC Neighborhood Plan Timeline

BQE Admin on August 13, 2024

By Celia Bernhardt | cbernhardt@queensledger.com

One LIC’s proposed zoning districts. Courtesy of NYC Department of City Planning.

Elected officials and community members urged the Department of City Planning to slow down their timeline for the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan at a public scoping hearing on Monday. 

The hearing, which took place over Zoom, was the first meeting on the topic since the city unveiled a draft zoning framework for the Neighborhood Plan (also called One LIC) at a June 25 town hall. The city released a 65-page draft scope of work on July 12 — a final scope of work, which serves as the basis for an environmental review, is the next step. 

“I want to put on the record that I am displeased that the Department of City Planning did not schedule this hearing for September, despite numerous requests for myself, the Community Board, community groups, as well as overlapping elected officials,” Council Member Julie Won said in her testimony at the scoping meeting. 

One LIC, a neighborhood-wide rezoning plan focused on accommodating growth in the area, has been in the works since October 2023. It was launched by DCP, Won, and an urban design firm called WXY Studio. Eleven public meetings to gather feedback took place throughout the year leading up to the draft zoning framework released on June 25. 

Community boards are often heavily involved in reviewing and providing feedback on proposed zoning and land use changes; they also usually take a pause during the summer months, with meetings and duties ramping back up again in September. In a July 31 letter to DCP Chair Daniel Garodnick that she posted to Twitter, Won slammed the City’s timeline for One LIC updates and meetings. 

“The City’s rapid timeline is leaving my community feeling frustrated and embittered with the city planning process,” Won wrote. “There was no draft zoning framework presented until June 24, 2024, after Community Board 2 had already finished for the year. The draft scope of work was released on July 12, also during the community board’s summer recess. While the City has extended the deadline for written testimony to September 11, this still falls before relevant community board meetings which were scheduled months in advance.”

In a response sent the next day, Garodnick’s office said they would not delay the hearing, arguing that “postponing the hearing date would unfortunately delay our analysis of the environmental impacts and district-wide infrastructure assessment, and would impact the overall project timeline.”

After an environmental review and a period of continued public engagement, DCP is set to release a draft neighborhood plan in the Spring of 2025 and then move into the ULURP process. 

Won was not the only attendee at the hearing who expressed frustration at the project’s timeline. State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Community Board 2 member Danielle Brecker, and others urged the DCP to extend the period for written testimony past September 13 to allow for the board to study the plan and provide feedback. 

Chief among the concerns that attendees voiced about the content of the draft zoning plan was its allotment of affordable housing. Out of 14,000 new units that the plan would allow for, only 4,000 would be income-restricted via the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program — and rent for those 4,000 units would be set for residents earning 60 to 80 percent of the area median income, meaning a one-bedroom would cost between $1,747 and $2,330. Numerous testimonies argued that this fell far below what the neighborhood needs. 

“The vast majority of housing need, as shown by rent burdens, overcrowding, other measures, and the amount of homelessness that we are seeing in our district alone — let alone the whole city at large — is among households with incomes below 50% AMI,” Won said. “New market rate housing will not help these families find sustainable homes.”

Gonzalez agreed. 

“This area is already suffering serious consequences from over development, and it is essential to ensure that any development in this area benefits the community and addresses existing deficits,” Gonzalez said. “I’m calling for the inclusion of the maximum amount of deeply affordable housing.” 

A representative for Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani echoed support for maxing out deeply affordable units.

After an environmental review and a period of continued public engagement, DCP is set to release a draft neighborhood plan in the Spring of 2025. Then, One LIC will move into the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, a final seven-month process which incorporates reviews from the Borough President, City Planning Commission, and City Council. 

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