Vote for Gomez in D21

With New York facing a hard year, Ingrid Gomez took notice of the needs residents in neighborhoods like Corona, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Lefrak City. We think she is the right person to represent those same communities in the City Council.
Gomez’s Housing for All platform proposes building thousands of low-income housing units in the district. She supports a citywide rent freeze to protect the city’s most vulnerable tenants from rent hikes and eviction.
Unlike Francisco Moya, the current councilman, Gomez does not support building a new soccer stadium in Willets Point. Instead, she wants to bring new youth centers and hospitals to the area.
Gomez’s experience as a social worker for 17 years brings a refreshing perspective to public safety. She wants people with experience dealing with mental health issues to respond to situtation that require de-escalation. She doesn’t feel police officers have that sort of training.
Gomez serves as the chair of the Youth Services Committee for Community Board 4, on the Elmhurst Hospital Community Advisory Board, and is a founding member and organizer for the Corona Mutual Aid Network, an organization that delivered groceries and essential items for the sick and homebound during the pandemic.
We believe Gomez deserves to the be the next representative for District 21 in the City Council.

Monopoly Board Games calling for Brooklyn Businesses

MONOPOLY Brooklyn will replace the perennial board game’s famous Atlantic City squares (from Boardwalk to Park Place) with representations of much-loved Brooklyn cultural sites, historic landmarks, and time-honored businesses. 

From June 2nd through June 23, Brooklynites can share which locations they would like to see featured on the board by emailing the official MONOPOLY Brooklyn team at brooklyn@toptrumps.com 

All submissions will be closely reviewed, tallied and considered throughout the board curation process. The Brooklyn board will also include a customized Community Chest and Chance playing cards, ensuring each detail of the game pays homage to the borough.

“Brooklyn is an unparalleled U.S. city, with an incredible number of seminal establishments and treasured sites,” Benjamin Thompson, representative from Top Trumps USA said. “Since we have just 22 squares for our game, it’s important that we create an accurate portrayal of what this dynamic community loves about their city. That’s why we’re excited for folks to submit their recommendations; we want to know what your favorite place is in exciting Brooklyn.” 

With only 22 squares on the well-known board game, local businesses from shops to restaurants and bars that Brooklynites know and love are taken into consideration. As well as featuring a variety of Brooklyn landmarks such as Prospect Park, Coney Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, Barclays Center and more!

 MONOPOLY Brooklyn will launch nationwide in November 2021, and will be available in stores and online at retail partners including Wegmans, CVS, City Chemist, and more.

Give Richards a full term as BP

Donovan Richards, the south Queens councilman who was elected Queens borough president in a special election less than a year ago, has surprised us during his short time in office.
We especially like his reforms of the borough’s community boards. Community board members are supposed to be the eyes and ears of the community and help legislators respond to quality-of-life issues and advise on the needs in the neighborhoods they represent.
The boards also offer recommendations on issues like zoning, transportation, and parks.
Richards has addressed some of the systematic problems with the culture and structure of the boards to make them more effective. He has taken criticisms from some established and longtime board members of these boards, but we see a conviction to make the boards better ambassadors of local communities.
He has also been fair to all parts of the borough when it comes to capital spending, which amounts to approximately $50 million a year.
The borough president is supposed to be Queens’ biggest cheerleader, and Richards has shown he is just that.
And while he is very accessible, appearing in public nearly every day, we wish his communications staff were the same. We have to assume they will get better at giving the media better access so we can do our jobs and hold them accountable to the public.
Elizabeth Crowley is our second choice in the Democratic Primary. Crowley served on the City Council representing Middle Village and Glendale, and put together an innovative and bold plan to use a rail line that runs through Long Island City, Maspeth, Middle Village and Glendale as a new mass transit option for commuters.
Courage is what we look for in elected officials. Vote for Donavan, put Crowley as second choice.

Brent O’Leary has been doing the work in District 26

The race for NYC City Council in District 26 is another crowded one, but in the field of candidates, only a few really stand out. The district is a large one that spans from the Long Island City waterfront to the BQE in Woodside and includes Sunnyside and Astoria. The district has been represented by Jimmy Van Bramer, who entered the race for Queens BP.
There are a handful of talented public leaders running for the seat, but Brent O’Leary stands out as one who not only will help the district, but has a history of helping the local community. He has an extensive track record and a dedication for public service that makes him a great fit for City Council.
A self-proclaimed “FDR-style” and “Meat & Potatoes” Democrat, Brent believes that strong social safety nets like food security, housing, and healthcare will help empower the working class that makes up a bulk of the borough.
in the midst of the devastating COVID pandemic, O’Leary helped organize a handful of beneficial programs, including a food pantry at the Mosaic Church in Sunnyside. The pantry has been a key resource for thousands of families in the area struggling to feed their families or juggle many different costs of living. O’Leary has also spent time with Woodside on the Move, Hour Children, and helped found the Hunters Point Civic Association, where he helped out thousands access housing, services, and tools to thrive.
Unlike many other politicians who brand themselves as “progressive,” O’Leary has been dedicated to the platform for the past decade. He’s the first candidate in the district to refuse all donations from real estate developers and lobbies, and is set on making sure new developments benefit those in the neighborhoods, especially in a district with so many plans and projects.
When it comes to serving the district, Brent O’Leary has been doing the work. He’s made sure to care for the people of Queens and a role in City Council seems like a perfect fit. O’Leary shows a strong desire to protect his constituents and neighborhoods, pass legislation to support the working class, and most importantly be an accessible public leader willing to handle any problem he’s faced with.

To learn more about Brent O’Leary and his campaign, visit www.olearyforcouncil.com.

Parents want a better Mafera Park

Residents of Glendale and Ridgewood are calling on officials to make much-needed repairs to Mafera Park.
The five-acre patch of green space on Shaler Avenue, formerly known as Farmers Oval, has been a recreational haven for generations of local children and teens alike. But now, broken playground equipment, torn rubber padding, worn football fields and an abandoned garden-turned-unauthorized-dog run have made the park unsightly and unsafe, say concerned parents.
“The park has always been a refuge. It was a little worn, but now it has deteriorated and it is getting progressively worse” said Yong Cao, a mother of two who admits she no longer feels comfortable letting her children play there.
Cao and nearly 100 other parents formed The Friends of Mafera Park several years ago to lobby for needed upgrades. Aside from fixing the vandalized roller hockey rink around four years ago, their requests have fallen on deaf ears.
The group planned to host a rally at the park on June 16 at 5 p.m., inviting elected officials, Parks Department representatives, Community Board 5 members and Community Affairs officers from the 104th Precinct to tour the park so they can see the state of disrepair firsthand.
“We have this big beautiful space but it is underutilized,” said Linda Byszynski, a leading member of The Friends of Mafera Park. “We could have better equipment and fix things up so more people can use the park and feel safer.”
Byszynski said as it stands the playground jungle gym is concentrated in a small area, where adults also use the bars to exercise, and the dog run is adjacent to the baby swings, which poses a health hazard.
What’s more, she said some people loiter in the sports fields, drinking alcohol, urinating on the grounds and leaving their garbage behind.
“We have 140,000 residents who use this park and millions of dollars are spent to upgrade other spaces like Juniper Valley Park, why can’t we have that too?” Byszynski asked.
Connie Altamirano, a community activist who has advocated for a host of local issues, said residents reached out to her for help.
“The pandemic has proven that parks are essential to our well-being and has also shown us the value of parks and open space,” she said. “The parents who asked me for help say Mafera Park is the heart of the Glendale and Ridgewood communities.”

EMU Health Director of Breast Surgery highlights the importance of a yearly 3D Mammogram

National Cancer Survivors Day is an annual celebration of life that is held in hundreds of communities around the world on the first Sunday in June.

The day is a celebration for those who have survived, an inspiration for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of support for families, and an outpouring of thanks to the medical community.

This day provides an opportunity for all people living with a history of cancer – including America’s more than 16.9 million cancer survivors – to connect with each other, celebrate milestones, and recognize those who have supported them along the way.

It is also a day to draw attention to the staggering number of new cancer cases and deaths projected for this year. In 2021, there will be an estimated 1.9 million new cancer cases diagnosed and 608,570 cancer deaths in the United States.

According to a report by the Cancer Research UK, the survival rate for people with eight of the most common cancers is more than three times higher when the disease is diagnosed early.

More cancer research data suggests that just over 80% of those with cancer survive for at least 10 years when their disease is diagnosed at stage one or two but only a quarter of those diagnosed at stage three or four live for at least a decade more. Ten-year survival is more than 90% for people whose cancer is diagnosed at stage one, compared with 5% for those whose disease is found at stage four.

In an effort to detect breast cancer as early as possible, Dr. Darren Sachs, Director of Breast Surgery at EMU Health, recommends that all women forty and over receive an annual 3D Mammogram.

“Screening mammograms provide the best chance of detecting breast cancers when they are small and treatable. If we detect breast cancers when they are small and early stage, not only are more lives saved from breast cancer death, but women are also able to undergo less extensive surgeries and system therapies,” said Dr. Sachs. 

Dr. Sachs completed medical school at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Glen Head, NY, his residency at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, and his SSO Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the prestigious Fox Chase Cancer Center.

He is now a Surgical oncologist at EMU Health and a member of the Surgical Specialists of NY; a multi-specialty practice specializing in general surgery, founded by accomplished surgeon, Panagiotis Manolas.

Besides his work at EMU Health, Manolas is currently the Chief of General Surgery, Ambulatory and Outpatient, at Lenox Hill Hospital, a clinical assistant professor of surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and assistant clinical professor at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine.

Many medical centers still offer conventional 2D mammograms, which have a history of producing unclear results, false alarms, or worse – cancer being missed.

EMU Health offers the Genius Exam; advanced 3D Mammogram technology that allows doctors to examine your breast tissue one layer at a time. The imaging system uses high-powered computing to convert digital breast images into a stack of very thin layers or “slices” for your radiologist to review.

“3D mammography technology provides us with the best breast imaging available, allowing us to detect breast cancer as early as possible. Patient survival outcomes are improved if breast cancer is detected in its early stage,” said Dr. Sachs.

EMU Health doctors also utilize Savi Scout; a new revolutionary method for locating breast tumors. With this machine, EMU Radiologists can precisely identify the tissue that needs to be removed during surgical breast biopsies & lumpectomies.

To schedule your yearly 3D Mammogram appointment with Dr. Sachs at EMU Health, click here and fill out the appointment form, or call 718.850.4368. EMU Health is located on 83-40 Woodhaven Blvd Glendale, NY 11385.

Patients come from near-by areas like Middle Village, Kew gardens, Woodhaven, Ridgewood & Richmond Hill, however, EMU’s award winning facilities and staff are worth a trip from anywhere in Queens, Brooklyn & Manhattan.

Vote Paladino in GOP Primary

City Council District 19, which includes College Point, Whitestone, Malba, Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, North Flushing and Auburndale, has been represented by Paul Vallone since 2013. Facing term limits that prevent him from running for office again this year, the district could elect its first Republican official in over a decade.
We know Vickie Paladino would be an outspoken member of the City Council who would fight to represent her district and the values of its constituents. While some locals view her as a polarizing figure, her work in rejuvenating The Whitestone Republican club is a clear testament to her leadership skills and Paladino’s ability to garner grassroots support among conservatives.
While she has an unproven track record in terms of enacting legislation, we view Paladino’s tenacity as one of her greatest assets and something that would command attention among city officials.
John-Alexander Sakelos is a resident of Bayside and the contender to Paladino on the Republican line. While his campaign is more agenda-driven than Paladino’s, our paper didn’t get the impression that he was engaging door-to-door with voters as much as she was.
We see him as an up-and-coming Republican who is young and full of potential, but in this election Paladino’s fighting spirit and her leadership experience make her our choice.

Schools honored for app concepts

M.S. 358 and I.S. 145 were two of six schools honored with a Diversity in Tech awards.
Students developed concept for original apps to address issues in their communities in partnership with the New York-based tech education nonprofit Mouse.org.
“We implemented this program with our entire 6th grade, which is about 100 students, during their technology class periods,” said M.S. 358 teacher Narin Prum. “We met with students twice a week and assigned work on other days.”
One student group at I.S. 145 in Jackson Heights designed an app for tenant and landlord communication. The app was inspired by an interview the students held with Andrew Sokolf Diaz, president of the 89th Street Tenants Association after a fire in the building displaced residents.
“I’m really hopeful about the future of our students seeing all the creative solutions they came up with as they were interviewing people in our community,” said Pauline Kim, a teacher at I.S. 145.
Meanwhile, a student group in M.S. 358 in Hillcrest created the Feed Poverty End Poverty app. Anyone in need of food can sign up to receive free food.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Mouse trained over 8,000 NYC public school teachers across all five boroughs to be remote educators and keep students learning during the pandemic.
“The proportion of women, Black, and Latinx employees at tech firms in the United States is lower than the private sector average,” said Larry Lieberman, CEO of Mouse.org. “At Mouse, it is our highest priority to prepare historically excluded and underrepresented communities for leadership careers in STEM.”

Vote Lee in the 19th

Richard Lee, a candidate for City Council in northeast Queens, has a reputation in city government as a knowledgeable champion for fiscally responsible budgets, both during he time working in the City Council and more recently as budget director in the borough president’s office.
He is accessible, engaging and articulate, and he is our top choice in a district that includes College Point, Whitestone, Douglaston, Bayside and Little Neck.
People who know Lee say he is easy to work with and knows how to get things done within the system, which we believe will allow him to bring more resources to the district.
Austin Shafran is also a good candidate, has the broad support of the labor movement and the Queens Democratic Party, and he is our second choice for the seat.
While Avella has a long career in government, actually held the same seat for eight years, and is known as a fighter for his community, we think it’s time to give someone else a chance.
Lee is our choice in the Democratic Primary.

Vote Cabán in Astoria

The City Council seat in the 22nd District covering Astoria and Long Island City, Woodside and Jackson Heights has a half-dozen candidates running in the Democratic Primary.
Accessibility is a key issue for us. We had concerns with how accessible and responsive she would be if elected, but our concerns were short lived, as she discussed her passion on issues like health and public safety.
If she can field the district’s needs the way she handled the softball on Sunday at Elmjack Little League field, we’ll be okay.
It is quite rare for a new member of City Council to make an immediate impact. We see her as long-term political figure that represents this generation. We already have heard some scuttlebutt that she will make a bid for speaker if she wins.
Trying to win a leadership role in the City Council might be a handicap for her if she has to juggle a progressive agenda while trying to focus on constituents in the district. If she takes on too much, it won’t be good.
But the community does have a better chance of being relevant if Tiffany Caban wins.
Evie Hantzopoulos is a well known candidate as a member on the community board. However, her opposition to any kind of development in the district is a non-starter for us.

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