Pathmark in LIC May Be Closed
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May 31-June 6, 2012 Your Neighborhood - Your News ® FREE THE NEWSPAPER OF JACKSON HEIGHTS, WOODSIDE, SUNNYSIDE, ELMHURST, EAST ELMHURST & CORONA West Qns takes aim at after-school cuts Page 3 Pages 4, 5, 28 Van Bramer Pathmark in LIC may be closed gives honors to LIC Asians Despite no offi cial word from store or parent company, union prepares for worst the store workers’ union said the 342. not been given any confirmation. BY REBECCA HENELY BY REBECCA HENELY organization is preparing for the A spokesman from City Meckler said despite repeat- worst. Councilman Jimmy Van Bram- ed requests, Pathmark has not City Councilman Jimmy Van Rumors have been flying “We’re kind of wondering er’s (D-Sunnyside) office and given a “yes” or “no” answer re- Bramer (D-Sunnyside) presented over whether or not a Long Island what’s going on,” said Kate Meck- other sources said they had heard garding the closure. proclamations to four dedicated City Pathmark will be closing ler, spokeswoman for United Food the supermarket, at 42-02 North- But the lease for the building residents of Long Island City and its doors, but a spokeswoman for and Commercial Workers Local ern Blvd., was set to close but had Continued on Page 14 Astoria last week in recognition of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. “These four individuals rep- SALUTES FOR THE FALLEN resent the best in our district,” Van Bramer said. The councilman held his event May 23 at Skinny’s Cantina, a Mexican restaurant at 47-05 Center Blvd. in Long Island City. This was the first ceremony for Asian-American and Pacific Is- lander Heritage Month that Van Bramer has hosted, and he said he wanted to use the opportunity to acknowledge how the commu- nity was enriched by its diversity of residents as well as to thank the honorees, whom he called “unsung heroes.” “They’re exactly the kind of people who should be honored at events like this,” Van Bramer said, “people who are doing im- portant work really, really qui- etly.” The first honoree was As- toria resident Amy Hau, the director of administration and external affairs at the Noguchi Museum. The institution, at 901 33rd Road in Long Island City, David Rosasco (c.) puts his hand over his heart as Sebastian’s Catholic War Veterans Post 870 Commander Gerald Olt and veteran Ed Bergendahl (r.) salute was established by Japanese- after a wreath is placed during the Woodside Memorial Day Parade. See more photos on Page 36. Photo by Christina Santucci Continued on Page 14 A CNG Publication • Vol. 15, No. 22 48 total pages 2 AT Moya hosts small biz talk Hezbollah suspect COM . Jax Hgts roundtable tackle state programs for entrepreneurs charged in forgery genuine parking permits, TIMESLEDGER BY REBECCA HENELY BY REBECCA HENELY this permit did not have An Astoria man who any serial number or offi- State Assemblyman had been convicted of sell- cer’s name, the DA said. 6, 2012 6, 2012 Francisco Moya (D-Jack- ing counterfeit sneakers Elrida told authorities UNE son Heights) and U.S. Rep. and who may have ties to the permits were his and 31-J Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Hezbollah is now in custo- that no one else had ac- AY Heights) told small busi- dy on forgery charges, the cess to the vehicle, and he , M ness owners at a forum last Manhattan district attor- was arrested that day, the Thursday that the state ney’s office said. DA said. He was arraigned EDGER L government has numerous Ali Elrida, 29, was ar- May 17 in Manhattan Crim- IMES T programs for businesses, rested after a 6th Precinct inal Court on two counts of especially those that are officer allegedly found a criminal possession of a women- and minority- forged vehicle registration forged instrument, the DA owned, to get capital. document May 16 at 9 a.m. said. “We wanted to bring in Elrida’s vehicle, which Since the arrest he this information to you,” was parked at the inter- has been held in prison on Moya said. “We want to section of Christopher and $100,000 cash and $300,000 make it as easy and as Hudson Street in the West bond, a spokeswoman for seamless as possible.” Village, the DA said. The the DA said. During the At the invitation of the officer knew the document bail application process, it assemblyman, Empire State was forged because the reg- came up that the FBI has Development President istration’s issue and expira- been investigating whether Kenneth Adams spoke to a tion dates were allegedly Elrida has been launder- crowd of about 70 business written over with a black ing money for Hezbollah, U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (l.-r.), Empire State Development President Kenneth Adams, state owners at Mumbai Grill, marker, the DA said. a militant Lebanese Shia Assemblyman Francisco Moya and Assemblywoman Grace Meng discuss programs to help small busi- at 37-33 74th St. in Jackson A further investiga- Muslim group classified as Heights, about three initia- ness owners at a panel in Jackson Heights. Photo by Rebecca Henely tion of the vehicle allegedly a terrorist organization by tives of Gov. Andrew Cuo- nomic downturn, and he Crowley characterized is a member of the gover- revealed a fake Jersey City the United States and other mo aimed at connecting wanted to bring the infor- the problems of the banks nor’s team to ensure at least Police Department parking countries, the spokeswom- businesses to capital. mation about the programs being the victim of a “bipo- 20 percent of the state con- permit, the DA said. Unlike an said. These new programs straight to the business lar government.” He said tracts will be given to wom- are paid for through $50 owners in his heavily di- while the federal govern- en- and minority-owned million in federal fund- verse district. The assem- ment has been pumping businesses in the future. ing and include Innovate blyman’s district includes dollars into the banks for She said as the daughter of New York, which connects parts of Jackson Heights, loaning small businesses, small business owners, she venture capitalists to Corona and Elmhurst. bank examiners have been realizes how hard business early stage startups for in- “A lot of them are first- questioning any loans that owners work both at their vestment; Capital Access, generation Americans,” could be risky, making the jobs and at home. which backstops loans Moya said of the business banks uneager to lend. He “I can testify person- from financial institutions owners. “A lot of them don’t said the federal govern- ally that the governor’s of- to small businesses; and know how to get certified.” ment has been trying to fice is working super hard Empire’s minority- and The officials took ques- give space to the banks to to make sure we hit that 20 women-owned business tions from business owners provide financing. percent mark,” Meng said. enterprise, which can con- during the meeting, most “Without that we can’t Moya said he is plan- nect small businesses with of which centered around expect you to be able to ning to hold additional state agency contracts if frustrations with both the make payroll or expand roundtables at other areas they meet certain qualifi- confusing process of get- your business,” he said. throughout his district. Ali Elrida, who is charged with forgery in Manhattan and who may cations. ting certified as well as get- State Assemblywoman For more information, have ties to Hezbollah, was once convicted of selling counterfeit Moya said Queens had ting financing from banks Grace Meng (D-Flushing), visit esd.ny.gov. sneakers, which police found in a Sunnyside Storage Deluxe. been hit hard in the eco- unwilling to lend. who visited the roundtable, Photo by Rebecca Henely IN THIS ISSUE HOW TO REACH US Police Blotter ........................................................8 QGuide .............................................................31-35 MAIL: 41-02 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361 PHONE: Display Advertising: (718) 260-4521 — Editorial: (718) 260-4545 Editorials & Letters .......................................10-11 Business ................................................................37 FAX: Editorial (718) 224-2934 — Display: (718) 224-5821 I Sit and Look Out ...............................................12 Sports ............................................................39-40 Classified: (718) 260-2549 People in the News.....................................26-27 Classified .......................................................41-46 E-MAIL: Editorial: [email protected] Focus on Queens ................................................28 Display Advertising: [email protected] Classified: [email protected] TO SUBSCRIBE: Call (718) 260-4521 Copyright©2011 Queens Publishing Corp. ASTORIA TIMES JACKSON HEIGHTS (USPS#025066) is published weekly by News Community Newspaper Holdings Inc., 41-02 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY. 11361, (718) 229-0300. The entire contents of this publication are copyright 2011. All rights reserved. The newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Periodicals postage paid at Flushing, N.Y.. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Astoria Times Jackson Heights Times C/O News Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. 41-02 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, N.Y. 11361. 3 Van Bramer and Dromm criticize city’s after-school cuts A T T IMES L Boro pols want Bloomberg to keep programs running so schoolchildren will have safe havens EDGER , M BY REBECCA HENELY Ave. Yet to Van Bramer and be helped with their home- AY The next day Council- Dromm, as well as hun- work and taken care of,” 31-J Surrounded by chil- man Daniel Dromm (D- dreds of students who held said Ann Marie Wilson, a UNE dren from their communi- Jackson Heights) joined up signs in support of their parent of a student at PS 6, 2012 ties, government officials with other neighborhood after-school programs in 152.