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Ardila wins Primary bid for Assembly

Dan on June 30, 2022

Maspeth native Juan Ardila is one step closer to claiming the open seat in the 37th Assembly District, left vacant by soon-to-be retired State legislator Catherine Nolan, who has represented the community for the last 38 years.

The 28-year-old progressive candidate won the 2022 Democratic Primary on June 28, based on unofficial results provided by the State Board of Elections.

Ardila finished the race with approximately 42 percent of the vote—receiving 3,355 votes out of nearly 8,000 local residents who cast their ballots—in a four-way race to represent parts of Long Island City, Maspeth, Sunnyside, Woodside, and Ridgewood.

Opposing candidates: Brent O’Leary, Johanna Carmona, and Jim Magee each put up a valiant effort, taking a combined 54 percent of the vote, but in the end came up short of victory.

O’Leary, a Hunters Point Civic leader and board president of Woodside on the Move, finished second in the election with just over 25 percent of the vote. The 52-year-old attorney previously ran for the New York City Council seat occupied by Jimmy Van Bramer, finishing in third among 15 candidates.

Considering himself the “FDR Democrat” in the race, O’Leary received endorsements from Citizens Union, Voters for Animal Rights, the Asian American Chamber of Commerce and the Stonewall Democrats.

Carmona, an attorney and former Nolan staffer finished the race just short of O’Leary, taking 19 percent of the vote. A political newcomer, her campaign focused on improving the quality of life for residents and educational endeavors including college access programs.

The 32-year-old candidate also carried the Queens County Democratic Party nod, with Congressman Gregory Meeks and Nolan’s endorsement, among others.

Magee, a prosecuting attorney from Sunnyside, finished last with nearly 10 percent of the vote. The former assistant district attorney ran a campaign focused on restoring judicial discretion over bail, wealth disparity, and improving public transportation.

“I thought the district was more concerned about crime than it apparently is,” Magee told The Queens Ledger.

The lifetime Democrat said he reached out to Ardila on Tuesday night and wished him the best.

“I wish Juan the best,” Magee added. “I’ll make myself available to him if he wants to talk.”

Expecting a low turnout at the polls, only 18 percent of the 43,456 registered Democrats living in the district cast their ballots on Tuesday, according to the New York State Board of Elections. The tally also included 252 blank ballots, 28 void ballots, and 10 write-in candidates.

In his previous run for City Council in 2021, Ardila came up short against incumbent Robert Holden, but the overlapping neighborhoods of Maspeth and Ridgewood in the newly-redistricted 37th Assembly district brought out some 2,000 voters who had voted for him in the prior race.

Ardila was endorsed by the Working Families Party, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, State Senator Jessica Ramos, Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, City Councilwoman Tiffany Caban and Councilwoman Jennifer Gutierrez, and Borough President Donovan Richards.

On election night, all four candidates held watch parties within a half-mile radius of each other in Sunnyside, as canvassers with each campaign made their eleventh hour pitch to any last-minute voters outside the polling site at I.S. 125.

Ardila declared victory roughly an hour and 15 minutes after the polls closed at 9 p.m., celebrating with a group of supporters at Bar 43, on 43rd street in Sunnyside.

“You all believed in something that was inclusive, beautiful, and diverse,” Ardila said. “And that’s what we fought for.”

In his remarks, Ardila said it had been a dream to see progressive representation in Maspeth.

“Let the record show, on June 28, 2022, Maspeth voted for progress,” Ardila said.

He then thanked the other candidates in the running, saying that he remains hopeful to work with them in the future.

“Everybody stuck to their message, even if we didn’t agree on the issues.”

In the days leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, Ardila came under fire for traffic violations and tickets reportedly issued to a vehicle he has been seen driving around in.

Ardila told The Queens Ledger that he and his team opted to take the high road, deciding to stick to keeping a tight ship and getting their message across to voters.

“I spoke with my team and we decided not to engage in negative campaigning,” Ardila said.

Thanks to some timely advice from Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, who encouraged running and ultimately winning the race with grace, Ardila managed to pull ahead of the competition without stooping to such tactics.

Local businesses display their work at QEDC’s Queens Rises Higher

Dan on June 30, 2022

Creativity and dedication shine through the stories of local business owners

By Juan Arturo Trillo

news@queensledger.com

Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District played host to Queens Rises Higher, a street market by the Queens Economic Development Corporation that allows local creators and business owners to exhibit and sell their passions and products.

Market in Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District

The market occurred on Saturday, June 25 from noon to 5 p.m., and included live music. The businesses encompassed various sectors, including art, food, and others.

Bianca, founder of Bianca’s Design Shop, said “I just aim to support and be inclusive to all.” Through Bianca’s Design Shop, she creates apparel and accessories that are inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community.

Bianca loves the sense of community which can be found in Queens, and hopes that it continues to remain inclusive.

Gisela’s small business, “Scent by Heaven,” is a small candle store that began in Forest Hills in 2019.

Talisa’s setup for Almonte Studios at the fair

However, candle making had been one of her hobbies before she started the business. It is one of her ways of expressing her creativity.

She started the business so that she could spend more time with her son, who has autism.

Now, Gisela loves that she gets to pursue a passion of hers while also dedicating time to her son.

Illustrator Talisa Almonte founded Almonte Studios, a business where she sells various art prints, earrings, stickers, stationery, and “whatever [she] can get [her] work on.”

Because Talisa does not have a brick-and-mortar store, she appreciates that the fair allows her to connect with the Queens community and other local businesses.

“There’s really no place like Queens,” Talisa said.

Brooklyn school wrestling club finds star support

Dan on June 30, 2022

By Stephanie Meditz
news@queensledger.com

When sixth grade English language arts teacher Victor Perry started a wrestling club with his students, he never imagined that it would catch the attention of the superstars who inspired it.

The Wrestling Club at KIPP AMP Middle School in Crown Heights is both a safe place for students to bond over their love for the sport and a learning opportunity that extends beyond the classroom.

Perry, a big fan of professional wrestling himself, got the idea to start the club when a student overheard him talking about WWE star Bianca Belair’s meet-and-greet in New York City.

Upon learning that this student was also a fan of hers, he took the student to the meet-and-greet, where they won tickets to see her fight at Monday Night Raw that same day.

The idea of The Wrestling Club was born once Perry returned to school and saw that many students were also interested in professional wrestling. The club currently boasts 37 members.

At club meetings, students watch wrestling matches, discuss their thoughts about the outcomes, and analyze the storylines behind each match, paying special attention to each wrestler’s goals and how they achieve them.

For example, after Bianca Belair lost her championship title in 26 seconds, the students wanted nothing more than to see her get her title back.

“When I took the kids to their first event at Madison Square Garden, they got to see Bianca [Belair] fight Becky [Lynch] and she lost, and the kids cried because they had been studying the storyline… and so when she finally got it back at WrestleMania on the biggest stage of them all in the biggest way possible, the kids just erupted,” Perry said. “They finally got to see the culmination of what hard work is and how life can throw us curve balls and catch us by surprise… but the right thing to do is just stay who you are.”

The club received significant attention on social media after Perry posted videos on his Twitter account, “@wallflowerperry,” of the students’ enthusiastic reactions to the matches they watched.

Famous wrestlers including Carmelo Hayes, Ricochet, Bayley, Becky Lynch, and Big E have responded to Perry’s videos.

Among the many respondents was WWE superstar Sasha Banks, who expressed her wish to visit the school and meet the students, which she did on her next trip to New York.

“The kids went crazy when I told them,” Perry said. “They were like, ‘Is she really coming?’ and I was like, ‘I have no idea.’ I don’t have a connection to her or WWE in that regard… If she said she wants to come and she means it, she will. And she did.”

During Banks’ visit, the students got to ask her questions, hear about her experiences as a wrestler on the world stage, and even sing and dance with her.

“It was just such a cool moment because it felt like she was a part of the club,” Perry said. “It didn’t feel like it was a celebrity. It felt like she was like, ‘Hey, I’m here, I enjoy wrestling just like how much you guys enjoy it.’”

The “Wrestling Chat With Friends” podcast likewise applauded the club’s mission by giving them a real WWE championship belt, which the students cherish.

Perry hopes to continue bringing new experiences to the club’s members by bringing them to next year’s WrestleMania in Los Angeles, California.

He started a GoFundMe in collaboration with three podcasts, “Black Rasslin’,” “The A Show,” and “The Black Announce Table,” to send as many students as possible. The fundraising goal is currently set at $15,000.

The Wrestling Club not only helps students make friends by bonding over their shared interests, but it also makes them feel more comfortable expressing themselves in group settings and even exposes them to potential career paths.

“I’ve seen kids come out of their shell who I couldn’t get to speak in my class all year,” Perry said. “I think it’s beautiful how this one little thing has become a safe haven for my kids.”

“I think with the kids that I teach and in the area that I teach, they don’t know about the different opportunities that are out there because they haven’t been presented it,” he continued. “And so it’s my job to present to them different opportunities…When it’s time to make those decisions of figuring out what they wanna do in life, they can go back to this place.”

To contribute to Perry’s efforts of educating KIPP AMP Middle School’s students in fun, engaging ways, donate to his GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-wrestling-clubs-road-to-wrestlemania.

Working to better the lives of their furry friends

Dan on June 30, 2022

Woman-owned Dog Clothing Business “Le Chien Bleu” opens shop during the pandemic

By Alicia Venter

news@queensledger.com

Tucked away in the boutique-style shops at 145 Front Street, Le Chien Bleu NY is serving loving dog owners throughout the Dumbo area and beyond with custom designs for their furry friends. 

Beginning with a primarily online shopping experience, Lee’s has since expanded her business to offer shipping throughout the world. The store offers tops, jackets, dresses, hoodies, collars, dog beds, toys, and more for pets, each created with quality in mind to promote the quality of each dog’s life.

Le Chien Bleu, which translates to “The Blue Dog” in French, began as a hobby by owner JY Lee. Graduating from Parsons School of Design in 2007, the South Korean native was inspired by a coworker at her previous job as a textile worker to open an Etsy shop for dog clothes.

It wasn’t until she met client Anita Lee that the part-time passion that she ran out of her apartment grew into a full-time business. The owner of a Maltese and tiny poodle mix, Anita Lee’s dog, Benji, has hair instead of fur and needed the protection of clothes against the elements. 

“I was online looking for clothes and I couldn’t find anything that was good quality, good fitting, and comfortable,” Anita Lee stated, continuing to share that she thought that independent designers or stylists could provide a service that more general animal supply stores were not. It is through this search that she was introduced to JY Lee, who she purchased custom-measured winter clothes from.

After receiving her purchase, Anita Lee, with her background in business, quickly recognized the growth potential due to the quality of products and offered her services as a partner. 

“I ordered a couple of [items] from her and when I saw the product I said ‘oh my God, this girl is so talented. Then I said I had a crazy idea: here’s my resume. Do you want to work together?”

Their partnership combines the creativity needed for designing fashion-forward, stylish clothes as well as the entrepreneurial drive to expand as a business — and, more important than anything to Anita Lee, they are wonderful friends.

“We are better than any type of relationship I’ve ever had,” Anita Lee said with a strong laugh.

Starting with the design of her website and pop-up stores in Williamsburg and SoHo, the flagship store opened in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, all the products for JY Lee’s clothes are made in the United States, with the fabrics sourced with “style and durability in mind,” according to their website. 

There are five major categories of fabrics that are described in their entirety on their website: the organic cotton top, the premium cotton top, the classic top, the resort top, and the velvet top.

Each item has a list of features that fully explains to customers the benefits of each fabric. However, this is not the limit for products. Recently, Le Chien Bleu has created a cooling jacket to reduce the effects of New York City heat on dogs because they don’t produce sweat to naturally cool themselves.

The business’s mission statement, as found on their website, highlights the importance of the quality of their products: “​​Creating stylish, practical and top notch quality products in its target markets. Providing market trends so we are able to source the most wanted and exceptional fabrics for your fur babies.” 

With each dog differing in dimensions of neck, back, and girth, it can be difficult to find the perfect size for one’s pet. As such, Lee does not simply sell clothes in different sizes to customers — she will tailor pieces to fit all different sizes of pets.

Among the customers that benefited from this custom, sizing is Alexandria Lau, 38, the owner of a French Bulldog. After following them on social media and “coveting over their products,” Lau soon purchased their products and was not disappointed.

“What I like about Le Chien Bleu is that they have awesome unique prints, that are simple and classy, but also trendy and they can be tailored to fit my dog, a French bulldog with unusual proportions,” she shared with The Brooklyn Downstar Star via Instagram. “Now that I’ve received my items, the quality and look is top-notch. Very posh and would be happy to shop there again.”

Though they have certainly grown well beyond JY Lee’s Etsy account, neither partners plan to slow their dreams for Le Chien Bleu. JY Lee, recognizing the numerous exceptional animal supplies brands that are solely online, wants to carry more than her own brand in her next store, located somewhere in the city.

As many of these brands that she deems are high-quality — such as being BPA-free — are owned by women, JY Lee has considered carrying only female-owned businesses. This promotion of the idea of women in business is something Anita Lee greatly supports, stating that “we believe in girl power.”

“I raised Benji like a baby,” Anita Lee said. “I believe we already have that clientele that are in the same boat as I am. We want to prolong [our dogs’] lives… to make their lives and human lives better.” 

Le Chien Bleu is open Tuesday-Sunday from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. For more information on Le Chien Bleu, visit their website at https://lechienbleuny.com or call their store at 908-274-1817.

Flushing High School goes undefeated for the first time in 74 years

Dan on June 28, 2022

For the first time since 1948, the Flushing High School baseball team went undefeated this season, while taking home the PSAL championship title.

On Friday, June 24, New York City Councilwoman Sandra Ung presented the team with certificates in recognition of their accomplishment.

To commemorate the occasion, Ung also announced that she secured $500,000 in funding from the adopted $101 billion city budget to renovate Leavitt Field, where the team practices and plays its home games.

“I don’t remember us having much athletic success when I was a student, so I am going to have to claim this title partially as my own,” Ung, a former graduate of Flushing High School herself, said jokingly. “I want to congratulate the Flushing team on this history-making undefeated season.”

During the ceremony, Ung presented certificates to coaches Joe Gerloven and Antonio Bausone, in addition to the rest of the coaching staff and the players.

Leavitt Field, where the ceremony took place, is used by several athletic teams comprised of students from Flushing High School, Veritas Academy, and Queens High School for Language Studies. All three schools are housed in the Flushing High School building on Northern Boulevard.

It is also used regularly by local athletic leagues and to host community events. The $500,000 in funding will go to help repair the turf fields, fix several sink holes, address ponding issues, and replace portions of the fence.

“I am happy I was able to fulfill the request of school officials and allocate money for this project,” Ung said. “Hopefully when all of the work is done, we will have a sports field worthy of this title-winning team.”

Gerloven said the last time there were any major renovations done at the complex at 32nd Avenue and 137th Street was back in 2010. Since then, the Flushing High School athletic teams have taken the initiative to host several fundraisers to raise money to make minor repairs.

“I’m incredibly appreciative of all this,” Coach Gerloven said. “This will benefit not just the current players, but every group of students after them.”

Peter Magnani Way installed on 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights

Dan on June 28, 2022

Urban planner honored with street co-naming in Jackson Heights avenue he helped beautify

By Juan Arturo Trillo

Named after former Deputy Queens Borough President, “Peter Magnani Way” now stands tall on 81st St and 34th Avenue.

Magnani, who also served as an urban planner and architect, was honored with a street co-naming in his home of Jackson Heights on the morning of Saturday, June 18, 2022.

At 82 years old, Peter passed away on June 23rd, 2021. The street naming ceremony was attended by Peter’s family, friends, colleagues, and teammates.

A variety of speeches by Peter’s friends and community leaders preceded the unveiling of Peter Magnani Way.

The installation of Peter Magnani Way was spearheaded by former Councilman Danny Dromm along with former judge and community leader Rudy Greco.

“We’re here to honor Peter, but I feel honored to have been numbered among Peter’s friends,” Greco said.

Dromm anticipates that students will see Magnani’s name on the street and will be pushed to learn more about his impact.

Councilman Shekar Krishnan spoke of Magnani’s many contributions to Queens, including the Flushing Meadows Corona Park swimming pool/ice rink, Queens Hall of Science, and conversion of the Towers Co-Op in Jackson Heights.

He propelled a variety of projects, including the Flushing Meadows Corona Park swimming pool/ice rink, Queens Hall of Science, and conversion of Jackson Heights’s Towers Co-Op.

Magnani drove the installation and development of new libraries in Long Island City, Glen Oaks, Elmhurst, Far Rockaway, and Hunters Point.

Magnani helped to protect working class communities from developments which would displace tenants from their homes and communities, Krishnan added.

Krishnan said that Magnani understood how people’s environments affect their daily lives.

“His life, his legacy, has not just literally and physically changed the landscape of Jackson Heights and Queens, but it has left its mark on urban planning, on public space, and on how we think about our communities and our city for generations to come,” Krishnan said.

One of Magnani’s largest projects was the median on 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights.

The median now lies in the center of the new 34th Avenue Open Street, where the street is closed to cars from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Krishnan attributed much of its success to Magnani’s median.

Borough President Donovan Richards added that open streets give people an opportunity to build community, learn about each other, and celebrate the borough’s greatest strength: its diversity.

In addition to other initiatives, Magnani’s legacy was cemented through the variety of roles he served within the Queens and New York City communities.

Magnani worked at both the Bronx and Queens Departments of City Planning. He was then appointed as Deputy Borough President under the then-Borough president Claire Shulman. Finally, he became the Director of Capital Program Management for the Queens Borough Public Library.

Former Councilman Barry Grodenchik remembered Magnani as a “voice for his community” in his role as Deputy Borough President.

Former Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer added that Magnani was the “calm in the center of the storm” in his work.

Robert Esnard, former Deputy Mayor under Ed Koch, described Magnani’s career route to his government roles as unique. Esnard attended the City College of New York with Magnani where they played baseball together, and their friendship continued into their later years.

Esnard said that one of Peter’s final dreams was to play half-court basketball with his grandsons.

“[Peter] lived his life with grace, with kindness, and with a concern for his fellow man,” concluded Esnard.

Krishnan, whose district encompasses Jackson Heights, recalled Magnani’s long lasting legacy that will be remembered for generations to come.

“We lead the way as a neighborhood standing on the shoulder of Peter, pushing his work and legacy forward,” Krishnan added. “In changing permanently, a small piece of the landscape of New York City, we are recognizing the incredibly large impact that Peter’s life and work had.”

 

Ridgewood makers market spotlights queer artists

Dan on June 28, 2022

By Stephanie Meditz
news@queensledger.com

While the Pride parade marched on in Manhattan on Sunday, queer artists in the Ridgewood and Bushwick areas came together in a celebratory display of their work.

The Footlight Underground at the Windjammer hosted a makers market for artists of various media, including jewelry, visual art, digital art, clothing, and tattoos, to set up shop for the day, gain exposure, and meet other artists in the area.

Many artists who attended the market see their art as an outlet for self-expression and a way of reconnecting with their roots.

Amy Catherine Welch has been painting since she was a child. She rediscovered her passion when she found an online painting application during her workday as a receptionist.

The bright, neon colors in her work are a welcome change from the white walls that surround her most of the time.

“I feel like I’m a bit of an old soul, so I like having these kind of Victorian women liberated with all the color…I just like playfulness,” she said, referencing her favorite piece. “I just like bringing joy.”

Bushwick-based illustrator and animator Eva Redamonti, @evaredamonti_art on Instagram, describes her extremely detailed artwork as psychedelic and surreal.

She sees art as a way of coping with her emotions in all their complexity.

“I think my art is deeply connected to my mental health,” she said. “So I make art when I’m happy, I make art when I’m sad, and it always makes me feel better. It’s kinda just what I do to survive in this world.”

Hans Rasch of Le Sylphide Tattoos.

Musician and visual artist Michael Rider likewise expresses themself through their art, specifically their experiences as a queer, nonbinary person.

“I find that in my visual work as well as my music, there’s a lot of longing, remembrance, nostalgia, just a lot of fantasizing for a kind of reality that doesn’t really exist,” they said.

Rider’s newest album, “Cycle,” came out in May and is available on most major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music, and Pandora.

Hans Rasch of Le Sylphide Tattoos—“@le.sylphide” on Instagram—places a similar emphasis on queer and transgender experiences in conducting their practice.

They run a trauma-informed practice that creates a soothing, meditative, and private environment for their clients who are mostly people of color, feminine-presenting, or queer.

“A lot of breath work happens in the process, and meditation,” they said. “I’m a professional dancer as well, and so much of dance training has to do with psychosomatics and checking in, so a lot of that sort of vocabulary of listening in to the body… finds its way into my practice.”

Since Rasch works as a tattoo artist once a week, they value the unique personal connections they make with their clients.

Lex Glade

Lex Glade, an artist, costumer, photographer, and prominent force behind the scenes of Footlight Presents, similarly finds it important to make connections and empower others to create art.

A self-described “professional dress-up person,” they love hosting one-on-one workshops to teach people how to sew and apply special effects makeup.

Glade’s brand Sparkle Punk—“@sparkle.punk” on Instagram—sells colorful jewelry, face masks, headbands, scrunchies, and more.

“I found that when I can make something that somebody can wear that makes them feel so good, that makes them feel really authentic and real and them, just made me really happy,” they said. “The most punk thing you could ever do is be yourself.”

Glade runs “@footlightpresents” on Instagram and is responsible for much of the organization’s recruitment for events and engagement with the community.

“That’s how people find us,” they said, referencing social media. “They’re like, ‘I feel the energy and I feel good, I feel safe here’… I think being a fem-owned and run business also really helps with that because we can really create a space that does what we preach.”

Footlight Presents hosts a variety of different events, such as open mic nights, cabarets, and workshops, to give emerging artists a platform and make culture accessible to all people.

It accomplishes these goals with the help of its members, who pay as little as $5 a month to support its efforts.

This funding allows events to have sliding scale admission, meaning that ticket prices vary and people pay what they can.

Footlight Presents also publishes a Zine titled “The Footlighter” that often highlights work by local artists and attendees of past events.

Laura Regan, who runs Footlight Presents, describes it as a need-based, community-oriented organization created “by artists for artists.”

“I go to a lot of events, I follow people on Instagram, I connect with people all the time, I’m always looking for new talent. I do come to a lot of the open mics and stuff too to scout for talent and see if I can book them on events. So it’s just about being invested and part of the community,” she said.

To support Footlight Presents in their mission to empower local artists and amplify diverse voices, become a subscribing member at https://withfriends.co/footlight_underground_at_the_windjammer/join.

 

Jastremski: An Electric Weekend In The Bronx

Dan on June 28, 2022

Yanks/Stros In October Sounds Tasty!

You never want to get nuts with a late June series, one way or another if you’re a Major League team.

That said, there was a heightened sense of adrenaline kicking in the Bronx this past weekend for the Yankees-Astros series.

After Sunday’s finale finished up, my first thought was.

Man, can we get 7 of these come October?

The Yankees and the Astros have developed quite the rivalry over the last couple of seasons.

They’ve played multiple playoff series, both teams have won a whole lot of games, and of course the bad blood from the 2017 cheating scandal.

There is no love lost for the Yankees and the Astros.

There is certainly no love lost for Astros star Jose Altuve from the Yankee faithful.

However, the rivalry has been pretty one-sided in games that really matter.

The Astros are responsible for eliminating the Yankees from the 2015 Wild Card game and the 2017 & 2019 American League Championship Series.

Cheaters or not, the Astros have pretty much owned the Yankees.

I looked at this past weekend as a great litmus test for the red hot Bombers.

As far as I’m concerned, the Yankees passed the initial tough test.

They split the four games, but the wins and losses featured two different subplots.

The two wins on Thursday & Sunday displayed the grit and intestinal fortitude that has been on full display in the Bronx all summer.

On Thursday, the Yankees were down 3 in the 9th inning. Aaron Hicks hit a 3 run bomb to tie it and Aaron Judge walked it off with a double.

Friday and Saturday didn’t go quite as well for the Yankee bats.

They were shut down by Yankee nemesis Justin Verlander on Friday night and on Saturday, the Yankees were no-hit for the first time since 2003.

Ironically enough, the last team to no-hit the Yankees was the Houston Astros, the same exact script that took shape on Saturday afternoon.

Sunday wasn’t looking particularly good for 6 innings.

The Yankees once again were being no-hit, but the difference between the 2021 Yankees and this year’s team was on full display.

The Yankees scratched and clawed their way back. A couple of homers to tie the game and an Aaron Judge walk-off bomb in extras to win it.

It was an electric weekend of baseball in the Bronx.

Two terrific teams, star power all over the field, and exactly the sort of series you’d want to see come October.

The Yankees have a whole lot cooking in 2022. If they want to win it all, they must slay the dragon that is a very dangerous Houston Astros team.

Theater that I would most certainly pay to see!

You can listen to my podcast New York, New York every Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday on The Ringer Podcast Network on Spotify/Apple Podcasts. You can watch me nightly on Geico Sportsnight following Mets postgame on SNY.

Pol Position: Attack Ads target Assembly Candidate

Dan on June 28, 2022

Real estate interests are spending big in local assembly district races across the city, with attack mailers labeling candidates as too far left.

One of these candidates, Juan Ardila, was recently endorsed by The Queens Ledger in the race for Assembly District 37 — which covers Sunnyside, Woodside, Maspeth, Ridgewood, and Long Island City.

The attacks ads are part of a last-minute ad-blitz from the group “Common Sense New Yorkers,” a Super PAC funded by big real estate money.

Records from the State’s public disclosure system show that within the last two weeks, “Common Sense New Yorkers” has received two donations from 360 SLD Management, a foreign limited liability corporation under the White Plains-based Cappelli Organization, for $30,000; and Muss Development, a multigenerational development company based out of Forest Hills.

These are the groups funding the message that Juan Ardila is “bad news” for our community. Pretty rich for people who don’t live in the neighborhood.

The mailer labeling Juan Ardila as “Dangerous! Reckless! Socialist!” are far from the truth. In an interview with The Queens Ledger, Ardila emphasized that he was not seeking DSA’s support in the race, and has received the endorsement of more traditional New York liberals like Senate Deputy Leader Michael Giannaris or the Working Families Party.

The mailers also claim that Juan Ardila wants to “reduce the budget of the police throughout the state” and that it is in his own words. In the Jim Owles questionnaire response, the attack ad which refers to Ardila specifically, talks about funds that have been used to militarize the police and divert them to social programs to be able to tackle the issue of crime. While he does advocate for some reallocation, it is far from the “too extreme for Queens” allegations.

The mailers also attack Ardila for racist, homophobic and anti-semitic comments he made in high school. This is not a new revelation as it was unearthed by The New York Post during Ardila’s previous campaign for City Council. Ardila has previously apologized for the language he used on Facebook as a teenager.

The truth is Juan Ardila has the best interests of district residents. He is an ardent supporter of good cause, a necessary bill that will protect tenant rights, while the cost of living keeps rising.

One of Juan Ardila’s main competitors in the race, Johanna Carmona, is the real estate industry’s pick. Public records show that Carmona received $4,700, the highest possible donation from Neighborhood Preservation, a PAC associated with the pro-landlord Rent Stabilization Association.

With 24 hours left in the campaign, Carmona has raised some key high-dollar donations from other real estate interests. Public records show that she took a $1,000 donation from Dan Tishman, a long-standing member of the Real Estate Board of New York. Carmona also took $1,000 from Ayala Barnett, the wife of Extell Development founder Gary Barnett, who received favorable tax breaks after being a long-time donor to former Governor Cuomo, as the New York Daily News reported.

Juan Ardilla has foregone taking corporate or developer money. While the polls will have closed before this paper is printed, these attack ads only solidify our endorsement of Ardila as the candidate to represent the community’s interests up in Albany.

City complete stabilization of Shore Road

Dan on June 28, 2022

$4.9M project restores roadway damaged by 2018 nor’easter

The New York City Department of Design and Construction and Department of Transportation recently announced the completion of a $4.9 million emergency contract to stabilize Shore Road, between West Drive and Bayview Avenue, in Douglaston.

The roadway, which runs along the coaster perimeter of Little Neck Bay, was severely damaged by a nor’easter storm in 2018, leaving the street vulnerable to inclement weather. The embankment and timber walls that supported the street, along with the pathway used by workers to help maintain the embankment, partially collapsed as well.

“Shore Road is an important part of the fabric of our community,” Douglaston Manor Association President Pia Thompson said in a statement. “It was designed in 1906 as our promenade, a place where we can take a leisurely walk and meet neighbors or just reconnect with nature.”

The project, which was completed $700,000 under budget, was designed by DDC’s in-house design team along with Hazen and Sawyer engineering consultants, to ensure that any potential storms or flooding would not cause future hazards along the route.

“The Shore Road waterfront is a hidden gem in Douglaston, widely enjoyed at all times of the year by both residents and visitors wishing to take in sweeping vistas of Little Neck Bay,” State Senator John Liu said in a statement. “When the 2018 nor’easter threatened to destabilize the entire region, we knew immediate resiliency actions needed to take place.”

During the pandemic, while construction slowed throughout the city, Liu said his office continued to work closely with city agencies and the City Comptroller to expedite the emergency contract and make sure that it remained a priority to the administration to finish the project on time and under budget.

MFM Contracting Corp. began construction in June 2021 with additional engineering services provided by EnTech Engineering. The project includes the installation of steel sheets and 40-foot-deep solider piles to support the roadway. Approximately 700 cubic yards of gabion baskets filled with stone were also installed at various elevations to support the embankment and roadway.

Additionally, the 2,550 square foot walkway along the lower portion of the embankment was restored to allow access to workers, and more than 900 square feet of roadway along the embankment was fully restored.

“It is vital that we maintain the integrity of our coastal communities and protect our shorelines, while also maintaining the beauty and history of Douglaston,” Councilwoman Vickie Paladino said in a statement. “I commend the work of NYC DDC and DOT for the major accomplishment of this project to have been completed swiftly, especially under budget. This is a very exciting time for the Douglaston community.”

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