For the second time in three years, it will be the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles for all the marbles down in New Orleans.
It’s not necessarily a matchup that most of the country and especially New York is dying to see once again.
The level of Kansas City Chief fatigue has reached an all time high.
This is what happens when you dominate, people get sick of seeing you.
The Chiefs have been in the Super Bowl five of the last six years. So for Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the rest of the gang.
It’s a whole lot of, been there, done that.
You’re not going to get the same sense of Philadelphia Eagles fatigue throughout the country, but after all we are living in New York City.
For many Giants fans getting set for Super Sunday, the idea of the hated Eagles with former Giants star Saquon Barkley leading the way is a nauseating thought.
Look, I totally get the sense of not having a particular rooting interest in this year’s big game.
You may not like either team, but it doesn’t mean that Super Bowl 59 doesn’t have the makings of another potential classic.
The Kansas City Chiefs in case you missed the memo, don’t win in decisive fashion.
Not their thing.
If you are going to witness the first 3-peat in the Super Bowl era, odds are it will be an exhilarating, edge of your seat Kansas City Chiefs drama in which they somehow, someway find a way to win.
The Eagles go into the game with the better roster.
They are a better team that lost a nail biter to the Chiefs two years ago because of the emergence of Saquon Barkley and what he has provided the running game.
Can Philly avenge the loss from two years ago and stop history?
Or is it as simple as Reid, Mahomes & crew being as inevitable as it gets…
You may not like either team, but come Sunday, you’ll have a lot to ponder at your Super Sunday extravaganza.
You can listen to my podcast New York, New York every Sunday & Thursday on The Ringer Podcast Network on Spotify/Apple Podcasts. You can watch me nightly at 11 PM on Honda Sports Nite on SNY.
The red dress, who had been seemingly inserted in every photo
with Mayor Adams prior his legal troubles, announced a run
for city comptroller in November. Woodhaven Assembly
member Jennifer Rajkumar announced then, with great
fanfare, that she could turn the city around. Her blanket
political promises, of course, covered little specific substance,
just outlined that she fixes things and NYC needs to be fixed.
When others saw she was running, they thought she was quite
vulnerable. Senator Kevin Parker was in the race early. The
political playbook says, ‘raise a lot of money and you scare
people away from running against you.’ Well, it didn’t work
here. Seeing Rajkumar had raised a significant amount of
money entering the race, our sources tell us that Councilman Justin Brennan and Mark Levine didn’t flinch, saw a path to
win the Comptroller race and joined in on the fun. After all,
Rajkumar’s claim to fame, according to legislators we speak
with, is appearing wearing a red dress, in nearly every photo
op. with the mayor. And as soon as he, and those around him
got caught up in probes and cell phone confiscation, she was a
ghost.
It’s not really her fault though. We were the first to talk to her
when she announced she was running for the Assembly and
faced incumbent Mike Miller in a primary in Woodhaven &
Richmond Hill. Our Leader Observer newspaper has been the
weekly paper of record in that area since 1909. She admitted
she moved here from Manhattan, specifically to run against
him in a district that had a low voter turnout. It’s a great story.
We loved her honesty and gave her a bunch of credit for
wanting to get into the political game any way she could. It was
brilliant. But early success, as we all know, sometimes leads to
a false sense that it’s going to be easy to move up in the
political world. By the way, not every legislator wants ‘to move
up’ as they say. Being an Assemblyman, Council representative
or Senator is a pretty successful thing – and many we report on
here see their service in these positions as a goal. But no doubt
some feel the need to move ‘up.’ But we digress.
The ‘Red Dress’ thing is a great prop. It’s a good way for people
to remember you. But people aren’t easily fooled. These days
they want substance. It’s too easy to run for office now, so we
are getting people who are movers and shakers, civic leaders
and business leaders. They don’t solely come out of democratic
clubs any longer. She happens to be sort of an outcast in the
Queens Assembly Caucus. Why? Because she wants more and
her colleagues see it. There’s time, one Queens Assembly
member told us. You can’t just move up because you are smart,
or because you have a brand. Getting elected takes work. It
takes going door-to-door to talk to the people. “… it takes
proving you can get things done.”
Cuomo Still On Top
Case in point … Andrew Cuomo. This week another poll came
out showing he still has a 25-point lead in a run for mayor ….
and he didn’t even announce. You have Stringer, Williams, Ramos, Landor, Mamdani and Adams, each under 10%.
Cuomo has a track record of getting something done. Whether
you like it or not.
As of last week, the path to the next level for Rajkumar is in the
Public Advocate office. Moving The Goal… brilliant with
unapologetic moxie.
R&G Produce from Orange County, New York. Credit: GrowNYC
To find fresh produce, one needs to go no further than 34th and 79th in Jackson Heights, Queens.
Here, tents are pitched along the two-block radius in an L-shape, selling everything from freshly harvested fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry, baked goods, dairy products and more. The market is open year-round, every Sunday morning.
Jackson Heights Greenmarket is run by GrowNYC, a non-profit organization looking to supply New Yorkers across the five boroughs with fresh and locally grown produce. Founded in 1970, the organization is responsible for over 160 community gardens and 46 Greenmarkets across the city.
In order to maintain the quality and authenticity of their products, GrowNYC requires farmers looking to sell at Greenmarkets to meet a rigid set of requirements: they must only sell what they grow or produce, be in full control of their products, come to the market themselves, and be located within their predetermined Region, a circle extending 120 miles to the south, 170 miles east and west, and 250 miles north of New York City. Farmers may not sell anything irradiated or genetically modified.
“Health is number one,” said Naho Matsuzawa, a regional manager of GrowNYC’s Greenmarket program. “To be able to talk to these producers on their farming practices, their organic methods, how they’re utilizing the crops from last year to fertilize future crops — I think all that is very important for the community to know and have access to.”
Matsuzawa says that the 250 mile radius that producers are required to be located within means fresh food, a lower carbon footprint, and local support for local farmers.
The Greenmarket program is also a good chance for all New Yorkers, regardless of income, to eat healthy.
A shopper browses the selections available at Nolasco Farm, specializing in Mexican produce. Credit: GrowNYC
While the city has launched programs that make it easier for low-income New Yorkers to access healthy foods — Green Carts are food trucks that bring fresh produce to neighborhoods that may otherwise lack access to them, and the Shop Healthy program partners with food retailers in neighborhoods with high rates of nutrition-related diseases to stock healthier foods — more needs to be done.
About one in three lowest-income households, meaning $25,000 or less, in New York reported food insufficiency in 2023. Since the rise of the COVID pandemic, food insecurity has remained high. While state intervention programs like SNAP Emergency Allotments and free school meals filled in some of the gaps in the food chain, these programs have since been rolled back and left New Yorkers struggling once again.
The prevalence of nutrition-related diseases like diabetes and obesity vary largely by zip code. Determining walkability, access to healthy food, transportation, and prevalence of sodium-filled fast-food chains, where New Yorkers live greatly influences their diet. In a neighborhood like Manhattan’s Upper East Side, 8.8 percent of residents are considered obese. In the South Bronx, that number is a staggering 37 percent.
But programs like Greenmarkets are looking to change that — all of their locations accept SNAP/EBT and Healthfirst OTC cards. For every two dollars spent using SNAP/EBT, two dollars are earned in Health Bucks, which can then be used to purchase fruits and vegetables at all farmers markets across the city.
In 2023, $4 million in SNAP/EBT was redeemed at GrowNYC Greenmarkets.
“Everyone thinks farmers’ markets are expensive,” said Christopher Novak, co-owner of Abundance Acres Farms in Stone Arabia, New York. Ten years ago, Novak and his life partner Pam MacKenzie decided to start a 200-acre homestead home to various kinds of poultry, swines, sheeps, and goats. Since then, they’ve sold to a variety of markets in the metropolitan area and have been at Jackson Heights Greenmarket for six years.
Christopher Novak, co-owner of Abundance Acres Farms in Stone Arabia, New York. Novak and his life partner Pam MacKenzie started their homestead ten years ago. Credit: Stella Raine Chu
“You can go to any upscale chain, I won’t mention names — Whole Foods — and you will find our quality just kicks ass and our price is comparable,” he said. But Novak says it’s more than the cost — it’s knowing where your food comes from and where it’s been.
“When you eat a hamburger from a fast food chain, it can contain ground beef from 2,000 animals,” he said. “But ours is all single source. I picked up the cow when it was born, it’s been with Mama, it gets real milk, sunshine and grass. It gets one bad day, and after that it comes here.”
But for all the value that farmers provide their customers — competitive price points, fresh and healthy food, and a community on the basis of said food — there are serious struggles.
As of 2023, the average age of an American farmer was 57.5 years old. That’s up sharply from 1978, when the same figure was a little over 50. Young people don’t want to become farmers — and for good reason. The barriers to entry are mounting against them, including but not limited to: cost of land, student loan debt, climate change, housing, healthcare and equipment costs.
Additionally, the overall stress of the agriculture industry leaves more to be desired. Farmers are often at the mercy of the weather, supply shortages, volatile markets and other uncontrollable factors.
But if the younger generation won’t take up the job of feeding America, no one will. That spells out a big problem for the future of the country’s food chain.
Anticipating this problem, the USDA has launched programs to aid new farmers, particularly female farmers and farmers of color, providing farm loans and crop insurance to those looking to start their own farms.
For more seasoned farmers, GrowNYC runs the Beginning Farmer Program to provide those already with agricultural experience the boost they need to establish their own farms, for free. In 2023, the program helped 40 farmers receive legal and financial assistance, and 10 farmers received help launching their own farm businesses.
“Farmers don’t plan for tomorrow, we plan for a generation ahead,” Novak said. “I’m planting trees I will never see to mighty maples and oaks — but I plant them to leave something for someone that I’m going to leave my stewardship of this land to.”
For now, farmers like Christopher Novak will continue to feed New Yorkers by providing fresh, locally grown food, no matter their tax bracket. Despite the hardships, they’ll continue to pitch their tents on 34th and 79th every Sunday morning, without fail.
“We haven’t had a vacation in a decade, but it’s alright,” Novak said. “Because some days you sit at the farm, you share an adult beverage and watch the sun go down — nothing’s run away, nothing’s died. And it’s good. It’s a good day.”
LGuardia Community College students meeting recruiters from private companies, city agencies’, retail and community outreach
At the start of the new Spring semester, LaGuardia Community College held its Job and Interview Job Fair on March 20, 2024. The jam-packed event held endless opportunities as was designed for every type of LaGuardia student: from current students to recent graduates, and alumni. This was created for employers can select from various skills and work experience. The fair catered to all the needs of the students helping them to meet the goal of graduation and being successful afterwards.
The fair brought in numerous recruiters from various private companies, retail companies, and city agencies to meet and greet with students of all majors. Students looking for a summer job or a part-time job with schedule flexibility with the school schedule. Retail pharmacy chain pharmacy Walgreens was meeting with students and giving resumes to store manager recruiter Tyler Huff. He and other managers from the company took resumes from students with no job experience looking for entry-level jobs. The popular retail chain was recruiting customer service associates and offered flexibility for students. Students who submitted resumes were also directed to fill out: applications. jobs.walgreens.com for the area they desired to work in.
Another opportunity for summer jobs in education is becoming a tutor with the Go Foundation. The Go AmeriCorp Fellows Program community tutoring program with an intense focus on student’s developmental needs. The program is a full-time opportunity to tutor students from K-12 predominantly ELA and math classes with weekend flexibility. This is a great opportunity for students looking to gain experience in education and working with children all before graduation. “We are looking for those who are interested in giving back to the community, mission-driven, and open to new challenges” explained campus recruiter Jeunet Fidelino. “ We are looking for someone who can commit to 10 months of full-time service from August 2024 to June 2025,” she explained. You can connect with Fidelino about the next session with the Go Foundation can be mailed to: jfidelino@gofellows.org
If you like with children but want an adventure outdoors, positions for a camp counselor, come with room and board, with the Fresh Air Summer Camp in Sharpie Reservation in Fishkill, New York. The Fresh Air Fund is a not-for-profit youth development organization for New York City’s underserved communities in New York. Other positions, recruiter Freddie Wade, was looking for were lifeguards, office associates, and driving staff for the upcoming Summer of 2024. Resumes for this position can be submitted at: camping@freshair.org.
If you are an expert on tech and social media, The Pursuit Fellowship can prepare you for a career in app development and computer coding. Past participants are now employed with companies like Twitter, Microsoft, and Uber. The goal of the Pursuit Fellowship is a rigorous program that trains adults from under-resourced communities. The Fellowship also provides career services to assist with job searching. Along with submitting resumes to a recruiter, students can fill out the online application at pursuit.org/fellowship.
LaGuardia students looking to fulfill their internship credits for graduation got to meet a representative from the District 30 New York State Assemblymember Steven Raga Summer 2024 Internship Program. The internship can be virtual or in-person at the district office located at 55-19 69th Street in Queens. District 30 served the communities of Woodside, Elmhurst, Maspeth, Middle Village, Jackson Heights, and Astoria. The office is looking for interns interested in their local and citywide government, public policy, and knowledge of social media. They have three internship positions in Graphic Design, Communications, and Public Affairs.
The internships are a minimum of 12 hours per week part-time or full-time Monday-Friday. Interested candidates can mail to Victoria Leachy, at lachyv@nyassembly.gov
Students approaching graduation, have many opportunities to look forward to. Many city agencies and private companies came to speak to students about positions they are eligible for and start applying for, such as a new position with the New York Police Department as an NYPD Special Officer. This is a news position that works with the Administration for Children Services[ACS] to help the City’s vulnerable youth and families. Representatives gave information on the Civil Service Exam and the job benefits: Pension and Union Benefits, higher education opportunities, student loan forgiveness and raises after three years of service. Interested candidates, can get detailed information at the NYC Special Officer page.
The Youth Development Specialist is a position on a team with ACS and the Youth Protective Specialist is an entry-level position with the City of New York that starts at $55,000 yearly with raises after 18 months of services to $60,000.
For students interested in healthcare, companies like CityMD are hiring for non-clinical positions in Queens. “We are hiring for Patient Service Representatives and Office Supervisors all over Queens” explained recruiter Lexie Morales. “We are looking for on-site clinical X-Ray Techs, and LPNs,” explained Morales. “Anyone interested can mail their resumes at amorales5@summithealth.com or feel free to reach out with any questions,” she explained.
Other private companies were hiring for healthcare positions at 61st Street Service Corporation. That was recruiting for non-clinical positions in their Manhattan locations as a Certified Medical Assistant position and Billing and Coding and White Glove Community Care, recruiting nursing graduates of the LaGuardia’s Practical Nursing Program. White Glove offered paid training and experience with ICU-level patients. “We are excited to meet everyone and take resumes on the spot” explained Dianelis Negron, Talent Acquisition Specialist with White Glove. Resumes can be mailed to her at:
As the fair started closed, recruiter Fidelino highlighted her favorite part of her visit to LaGuardia “My favorite part of the fair was interacting with LAGCC students, they were all engaged and intentional with their time and questions about our organization and my work.” she explained. “It was such a productive fair where I was almost talking the whole time and I even ran out of collateral!”
“My path was quite abnormal” explained Caitlin King. King, a 2018 graduate of Queens College, visited her alma mater to speak to students at Queens College’s School of Business 2nd #QCBusiness Breakfast in the Q-Side Lounge. King answers questions from current Queens College students about her career and her advice on being successful after graduation.
King, an Honors Economics major and Environmental Studies minor, has been growing a career in successfully improving product merchandising and helping with retail financial strategies to generate more sales and profit for major retail companies. Her career path started as a sustainability intern with an ITAC advisement firm and a manager in Idiel Showroom from 2013-2015. After graduation, she became a freelance Independent Consultant in 2019. She next moved on to being a Planning Analyst and Merchandiser for L Brands. Working with L Brands, she was in the licensing division for Victoria’s Secret Swim. In 2020, she became a Planner of LG Household & Health Care with Avon Cosmetic, next she moved on to be a merchandise planner for ANN .Inc., companies: Ann Taylor Loft and Ann Taylor Factory, Since March 2022, King has been Senior Strategy Analyst for Burlington Stores, Inc. Here, she won four Winner of Excellence Awards and a Spotlight Award in 2023.
“I am passionate about fashion and product development, merchandising, and financial modeling” explained King. Her passion began as a professional model to get through college. She transitioned from being in front of the camera to joining the business team and becoming the mastermind in improving the development of the financial landscape against top competing retail brands.
She came in bright and early to speak to current Queens College students and faculty, about what she learned and what current students can learn from her career, insights, andtransition in careers. The Q&A portion was an engaging session with students and alumni getting King’s perspective on what she had observed and achieved in the retail environment. “ My favorite part of my job is seeing the impact it has on the firm,” said King. “ All the hard work that’s done has tangible outcomes on the success of the firms,” she said. During the Q&A students asked what advice would she give a current student looking for direction. “ I would recommend trying the traditional route of doing an internship that leads into a division they’re interested in getting proper training within that field. “ she explained to the students.
The topic of resumes came up and students wanted to know what helps potential employers look for in the thousands of resumes that are submitted for a job opening. King advises that when she looks at resumes she looks for achieving metric results. “ On your resume, each bullet should be result-driven,” she explained. “I would be looking for growth in numbers, such as sales, or profit.” she explained “ This can say achieve growth in sales by 10% or achieve X dollars in sales.”
After the Q&A, King spoke one-on-one with students. King liked how engaging the students were and how they came up with great questions. She was next asked her goals for the upcoming year. “ I hope to lead a team this year” she explained. “ But, if someone wanted to follow in my footsteps they need to be resilient and driven”
As the King enjoyed breakfast and met with staff and alumni, she networked with Queens College’s student clubs. She explains that student engagement and community outreach are important to keep students in school. King and her strategy team at Burlington volunteer at local food pantries distributing essential food. King is also continuing to learn with Google Career Certificates.
King’s visit to the #QCBusiness Breakfast was rewarding, “ I’m honored to be able to share my journey and hope it gave insight into the retail space.” she replied. She ended the Breakfast with a piece of advice that any student can use in their journey at Queens College and life after graduation, “Don’t give up!”
The next #QCBusiness Breakfasts will be on Tuesday, April 16th and Tuesday, May 7th. The School of Business is also excited to offer summer courses to CUNY and non-CUNY visiting students. Those wishing to enrich their careers are encouraged to contact Queens College Admissions.
Christos Terzidis is one of the most prominent professionals in the TV and Event Production World. He has participated in major international TV Productions such as the Olympic Games and Soccer World Cups. He has, so far, 3 Emmy Nominations of which he was awarded with 2 Emmy Awards. He is also a creative artistic manager with decades of experience in that field.
“I was honored to be part of 7 Olympic Games as a member of TV Production and more specifically working with OBS (Olympic Broadcasting Company), the company that produces the initial TV material of Olympic Games that is distributed to the rights holders and the main shareholder the IOC (International Olympic Committee). My journey started back in 2004 in the Olympic Games of Athens where I was part of the Production team for the Opening and Closing Ceremony and Athletics. Since then I have worked in Winter Olympics in Torino (2006), Olympic Games of Beijing (2008), Olympic Games of Rio de Janeiro (2016) and Winter Olympic Games of Pyeong Chang (2018). My last project, with this company, was the Olympic Games of Tokyo where I was running the Production of the Golf Course and Paralympic Games.
“I have collaborated as well with FS1 (Fox Sports) for the Production of their Remote Studios Shows on the Soccer World Cups of Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022) and the Women’s Soccer World Cup in France (2019).
“My main role in those productions was administration, logistical support and Technical Supervision. Of course, my creative experience helped me with those productions because it made me aware of the final product we delivered.
My collaboration with the art department of those productions is important due to the fact that I have an excellent sense of art, hence I can support and fulfill their needs.
TV Production is a teamwork sport and every member of the Production crew has to have a basic knowledge of all aspects of TV.
“I was nominated 3 times for the Productions I delivered with FS1 in Moscow, Paris and Doha for the Soccer World Cups – both Men and Women – and I have received the highest honor of being an Emmy Award Winner for Paris (2019) and Doha (2022).
“It is the dream of any professional to be on the league of those who have received this honor. It was the highest point in my professional life, so far. I hope that, in the near future, I will make a higher leap in the industry.
“It was significant for me, the collaboration that I had with the Times Square Alliance on events like the New Year’s Eve Drop Ball Event and the Summer Solstice/International Yoga Day. Apart from the numerous corporate events and business forums, it is very important to me the times I collaborate with organizations connected to Greek American community. I have helped and supported the community to organize important events that a lot of times serve charity purposes. Amongst the numerous events, like premieres and screenings at The Museum of Moving Images, I choose as the most special, the event that I had planned and organized to Honor the NBA Mega Star Yiannis “Greek Freak” Antetokoumpo.
“Even though this period is dominated by the turbulence of the recent strikes from SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood screenwriters, I intend to be an optimist. AI’s implementation on these industries and regulations of streaming royalties are matters that’s good to be right on the surface, so they can be sorted out by common decisions and open the path for a more prosperous time both for corporations and creators/artists.”
What if your income determined how much you would pay for a parking ticket in NYC?
South Brooklyn City Councilman Justin Brannan (D), introduced a bill last week that would implement a sliding scale pay structure for civil infractions such as double parking. Low-income New Yorkers would not be obligated to pay the same price as their high-income neighbors under a “day fines” structure.
Currently there is over $2 billion in unpaid tickets that the city is owed, according to the Independent Budget Office (IBO). This includes parking tickets, as well as camera generated violations for speeding, driving in a bus lane and running a red light. Close to a billion of the sum is made up of penalties.
According to the IBO, the percentage of unpaid tickets has almost tripled in the past five years. In 2017, only ten percent of fines went unpaid. But last year, 29 percent of tickets were unpaid, indicating that the accumulated balance is growing faster than fines per year since the pandemic.
“Why should the guy who double parked his 1988 Toyota pay the same as the guy with the 2024 Bentley?” Brannan told the Daily News. “Fines should be high enough to discourage people from breaking laws that endanger or inconvenience our neighbors but low enough that they don’t arbitrarily upend anyone’s life.”
Brannan’s legislation encourages the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings to develop and release a pilot program that implements the sliding scale. He did not specify what types of fines should be considered, except for his mention of double parking which currently costs violators $115 per incident.
While flat-rates are normal in the United States, in several European countries including Germany and Switzerland, much heftier fines are handed out to the wealthy for violations such as speeding or drunk driving.
In 1991, the Bureau of Justice Assistance funded four day fine pilot projects that determined the penalty based on the offenders’ daily income in Arizona, Iowa, Oregon and Connecticut. According to their report, day fines impose fewer system costs and reduce recidivism while also achieving equity in sentencing.
A spokesman for Mayor Eric Adams said that their office will review the bill. Ultimately, the Mayor’s support is needed for the pilot program to launch and generate findings for elected officials.
What started off as a lifeline for restaurants during the pandemic is now becoming a nuisance for residents and businesses alike.
Under the Open Restaurants program, 12,000 outdoor dining permits were issued by the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) which allowed restaurants to construct and place structures on the streets, given they follow some guidelines.
Even the simple sheds, generally constructed with plywood and nails, cost several thousand dollars and required even more in maintenance costs, according to restaurant owners that spoke with the Queens Ledger. The more extravagant structures, built with sturdy materials and decorated to the nines could climb over tens of thousands of dollars.
Some community members complain that sheds are falling apart after not being utilized or maintained, creating eyesores for the neighborhood. But the steep cost involved in maintaining these structures, combined with overall rising costs of food and other necessities, is posing a challenge for businesses.
The DOT says that “The City is committed to retaining the temporary program until the permanent program is in place,” according to their website that was updated in March. No further timeline on a permanent open restaurants plan that is currently “in development” has been unveiled.
“Some of the sheds that are out there now are ugly and just an eyesore,” said Theodore Renz, a Queens Community Board 5 member. “I hope that the criteria that they come up with is something that is aesthetically pleasing to the community, and at the same time is cost effective for the restaurant.”
Some restaurants said that given the opportunity, they will keep their dining sheds up permanently. Especially for businesses with limited indoor space, an outdoor area can be crucial for servicing more customers and providing them with other options.
“It really, really, really helped our business. I don’t know if we could have survived without it,” said Jackie Gorzelnik, the owner of Plein Air cafe in Ridgewood on the impact of outdoor dining when her business opened during the pandemic.
“It’s not fancy. It’s very utility. And to maintain it, it’s just like a coat of paint here and there,” said Gorzelnik, who reported that the outdoor structure cost a couple thousand dollars to build, and another couple thousand for a rebuild.
While she says that issues such as graffiti and rodents entering the space occasionally arise, the benefits of having more space outweigh the negatives.
The owners of While in Kathmandu, a Nepali restaurant in Ridgewood, dealt with the same issues when they had their shed up. They also struggled to deal with noncustomers who would congregate in the shed and utilize free electricity. Loiterers did not leave the space better than they found it.
Bikash Kharel, the manager and co-owner, says they took down their outdoor dining hut on the sidewalk two months ago because they felt it was no longer necessary, especially since they have a backyard. But they said that the removal process was just as difficult, and costly, as the installation.
“I did start noticing that it was falling apart in some ways because it was not utilized every single day. It was not taken care of in the best possible way,” said Kharel.
During a DOT inspection, the department inquired about whether the structure was still being utilized and offered to remove it within a week if it wasn’t being used anymore. After Kharel agreed, his team began to dismantle the shed and removed the roof and lights in preparation. But four weeks later, the DOT still had not arrived to complete the removal.
“I finally got to speak with somebody and they told me that we are on the line to be processed for it but it’s not going to be anytime soon. Maybe two or three months,” recalled Kharel. “So that left us in a limbo. Do we wait for the city to come to do it or do we experience a hazardous situation where something might happen.”
With the aesthetic of the restaurant in mind and a half broken shed out front, they decided to proceed and dispose of the entire structure themselves. With the cost of labor and rental equipment combined, the total price of removal exceeded a thousand dollars.
“But this is all about the socio-economics of the restaurant,” said Kharel. “The more upscale places have been able to maintain really nice beautiful looking locations versus restaurants that are not in the same demographic. They’re making that kind of money to spend that kind of money.”
One Ridgewood business owner with an outdoor structure, who wants to retain anonymity, says that their neighbor’s hut is an eyesore for the block. They complained that a lack of maintenance and adherence to code is spilling over into their hut, that is meticulously maintained and invested in.
They also complained that the neighboring business owners do not discourage non paying individuals from using the space to sit and smoke, which is not allowed under DOT guidelines.
“By participating in the program, you are taking responsibility for maintaining the cleanliness of the roadway curb space in front of your business,” reads the DOT guidelines. “Smoking and electronic cigarette use is not allowed in outdoor dining areas.”
According to the DOT, inspectors will make both proactive and complaint-driven visits to restaurants part of the program. Typically they do not require interaction with the business owner.
“I would say it is a responsibility of the business owner to maintain the structures and make them clean and rodent proof,” said Gorzelnik. “That’s our responsibility. That’s not on the city.”
Without significant snowfall this past winter, many sheds remained outside for longer than ever. The wear and tear is showing on many, especially when graffiti is also present.
Jonathan Forgash, far right, works with volunteers to deliver food to local residents.
This March, Eats In Queens Restaurant Month partnered with over 200 diverse eateries across the borough — and raised thousands for local food relief.
Unlike NYC Restaurant Week, a twice-yearly event that offers discounted pre-set menus at restaurants across the city, the organizers of EIQ wanted to do more than help restaurants gain business during the slow season. Their goal was generating funds for food relief through restaurant promotion and partnership.
The event was formulated by Jonathan Forgash, Executive Director of Queens Together, along with volunteers who share a passion for the multinational Queens restaurant scene. They set out to address food insecurity in their neighborhoods that affects Queen’s most vulnerable residents — Black, Latino and Asian New Yorkers, as well as recent or undocumented immigrants, older adults and those with children.
So far, Queens Together, the nonprofit organization behind the event, raised $30,000 to address food insecurity through individual donations. Their model provides patrons with a discount at all participating restaurants with a minimum of a $25 donation to the organization.
“It wasn’t just about promoting the restaurants. I saw it as an opportunity to encourage people to donate for food relief,” Forgash said in a phone interview. He says that the main goal of Queens Together is “creating a powerful voice to fight for our needs” by cultivating the resources necessary to be impactful in the community.
Forgash, a longtime Astoria resident with over 30 years of experience in the food and restaurant industry, started providing food relief to Queens residents during the early days of the pandemic. He and other volunteers raised money through social media to pay restaurants to prepare meals for local hospitals. They pivoted to feeding neighbors who were sick at home or out of work, all with the help of restaurants who lost all their dine-in business overnight and were grateful to generate income while supporting their neighbors.
“Everyone came together during COVID to help the people who needed it most. And it was really beautiful to see,” said Forgash, who estimates that they fed 300,000 neighbors in need over the course of three years.
In March 2020, Beatrice Ajaero was days away from opening the doors of her West African restaurant, Nneji, in Astoria. The focus immediately shifted to providing food relief to her neighbors, some of whom lived in districts hit hardest by high COVID rates, Queensbridge and Astoria.
“It was really difficult, I think, to separate that reality from our opening,” said Ajaero, who worked with Forgash to distribute groceries and hot meals to residents in western Queens throughout the pandemic.
Since then, the goals of her restaurant are inseparable from the goals of feeding the community in a way that is culturally in tune. She believes that the most effective way to provide food relief in an immigrant haven like Queens is through aligning food aid with the recipient’s culture or restrictions. This can be achieved by partnering with community and faith organizations that know the needs of the group they represent the best.
“For someone who’s come through many, many, many, miles, the added stress of having to try to nourish themselves with food that doesn’t speak to them, that is not from their cultural background, it’s very, very difficult and sort of poses an added layer of challenge and distance,” said Ajaero.
Today, Nneji is one of the restaurants part of EIQ Restaurant Month and is offering patrons a ten percent discount. She says that the restaurant’s participation in the event has already brought more diners through her doors.
Ralph Trionfo, 53, is a longtime Jackson Heights resident and part time Queens Together volunteer. In his full time role he works as a liquor representative for Empire Merchants based in Astoria. But his proximity to the restaurant industry in his daily work gave him the opportunity to solicit restaurants.
“When we were in the pandemic, my biggest joy or source of happiness came from working with Jonathan and Queens Together, providing food relief for my neighbors,” Trionfo said. “Now they know that the organization has legs, and it’s not going anywhere, we’re gonna keep moving forward. Meaning they can count on us.”
Spanish speaking volunteers with Queens Together worked to recruit Hispanic restaurants in Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights to participate. And Gordon Yu, a Queens native fluent in Chinese, went door to door in Flushing where he could relay the mission of the event more effectively. His efforts resulted in 17 partnerships with restaurants in Flushing.
“Addressing the food access issue is really top of mind because when we can empower families with nutritious ancestral meals prepared by local restaurants who have local suppliers who often have local employees, the recirculation benefits are really powerful,” said Ajaero.
The debate over mayoral control of New York City public schools remains a hot-button issue in Albany, as the Adams administration continues its push for a four-year extension. Adams has had a lot on his plate–in addition to his efforts to revive New York City following two years of the COVID-19, efforts to increase public safety amid a surge of gun violence nationwide, and efforts to construct affordable housing amid a homelessness crisis, he also found himself confronted with criticism from parents, students, and teachers regarding the mask mandates and COVID vaccination requirements.
Mayoral control gives Adams the authority to hire and fire the Schools’ Chancellor along with nine of the 15 members on the Panel for Education Policy. It is a policy that has been around for the last twenty years, and yet despite support from Gov. Hochul, state lawmakers have indicated they may look to reduce the extension to a single year.
According to Chalkbeat, last month, Adams joined Chancellor David Banks for a rally on the steps of City Hall to plead his case with state legislators to continue and grant the administration the authority to oversee the city’s school system.
“The chancellor and I have laid out a bold new vision for our children and for the families that attend our public school system,” Adams said. “This is the first time in history where we have two men who grew up in the public school system with two different experiences — one dealing with a learning disability, another dealing with the Gifted and Talented program.” State Senator John Liu also told Pix11 News that while Adams will likely keep mayoral control, he expects changes to strengthen the ability of parents to give input and could even allow lawmakers to hold Adams accountable over his performance.
“The likely outcome will be a system in which the mayor still has control, and therefore, we can hold him accountable for school success or failure, but a system that also provides a meaningful mechanism to bolster parental input,” Liu, who chairs the Senate’s committee on New York City education, told Chalkbeat in a recent interview. “That is the main issue — that parents feel they have no way to engage, that their suggestions and complaints aren’t even heard.”
Although it seems likely that state lawmakers will approve the revised extension, there are a number of issues facing the nation’s largest school system that still need to be addressed.
One key concern is chronic absenteeism in schools. Thanks largely to the pandemic, the rate of absenteeism over the past year has reached its highest level in over twenty years. Student enrollment is down, class participation is down, and keeping teachers in the City school system has been a struggle.
Another major concern is parent involvement. Several parents are in favor of returning control of city schools to the state in light of recent decisions by the Department of Education Chancellor Banks. The recent dismissal of District 30 Superintendent Philip Composto and District 24 Superintendent Madelene Chan had parents in a frenzy over Adams-controlled DOE, which they feel did not consider the input of parents before making such a major decision. DOE officials have since stated that they plan to allow the Superintendents to reapply for their jobs, despite the likelihood that they will be replaced.
However, some say that the effort of the Adams administration to be more inclusive has been an improvement from years past.
With mayoral control set to expire, New York State lawmakers have until the end of session to decide on Mayoral Control.
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