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Volume 65, No. 207 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2020 50¢ QUEENS Queens TODAY February 10, 2020 commitments ADDISLEIGH PARK WAS DESIGNATED a New York City historic district during Black History Month in 2011. The New York City Historic Districts Council is celebrating the neighborhood’s rich and distinctive history this month. Mayor Bill de Blasio delivered his seventh State of the City address at the American Museum of Natural History on Thursday. Many of AS RACIAL COVENANTS SEGRE- gated the city’s neighborhoods, Addisleigh his proposals will have a particular impact on Queens. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office Park transformed from an exclusively white neighborhood into one of New York City’s premier African-American enclaves Mayor pledges to protect business, serve by the early 1950s. The area was home to luminaries like Count Basie, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Illinois Jacquet, Jackie youth and build homes during annual address By David Brand will have a specific impact on Queens. deep into the night on Jan. 10, as patrons, in- Robinson, James Brown, Joe Louis, Milt Queens Daily Eagle From reopening communities centers in cluding Mayor Bill de Blasio, toasted a lease Hinton, Roy Campanella, Percy Sutton and Mayor Bill de Blasio delivered his seventh neighborhoods beset by municipal disin- agreement that would enable the 190-year-old Cootie Williams. “State of the City” address Thursday, pledg- vestment to helping small business owners Woodhaven watering hole to stay in business. ing to preserve the city’s affordable housing, negotiate leases with their landlords, Queens Local elected officials, the Queens Cham- expand education and help small businesses. played a key role in the mayor’s annual ad- ber of Commerce and even the de Blasio ERICA VLADIMER, A CANDIDATE De Blasio, speaking at the American Mu- dress. administration stepped in to help broker a challenging Carolyn Maloney in the seum of Natural History, laid out his vision Assisting small businesses new deal that would keep the historic bar in Democratic primary for New York’s 12th for the entire city, but many of his proposals The celebration at Neir’s Tavern lasted Continued on page 10 Congressional District, exited the race Friday. Her departure leaves three other candidates challenging Maloney, who has served in Congress since 1993. Flushing community board set THE NEW YORK SENATE ENVI- ronmental Conservation Committee approved a bill sponsored by State Sen. Joseph to vote on controversial rezoning Addabbo, Jr. to require hard lids or sturdy By Victoria Merlino tarps on top of “trash trains.” The coverings Queens Daily Eagle would prevent putrid goop from falling out of Community Board 7 will vote today on a the train cars as they travel. hotly contested plan to rezone the Flushing waterfront, which would allow developers to build condos, hotels, shops and office space “APART FROM THE FOUL ODORS along Flushing Creek. The advisory vote is and spilled garbage that many of my the latest phase in the city’s land use process constituents are burdened with on a regular for the site. basis, the trash trains have other negative The Queens borough president will also repercussions on the environment, local weigh in before the project goes before the property values and the public health,” City Council, which traditionally votes in Addabbo said. lock step with the local Councilmember Peter Koo on land use measures. The rezoning would allow FWRA LLC, a SAVE THE DATE: THE QUEENS partnership of three developers that own the County Bar Association will host its annual land, to reshape the Flushing waterfront, cre- Judiciary, Past Presidents and Golden ating a 13-tower, mixed-use complex across Jubilarian dinner on Tuesday, March 31 at 6 the 29 acres of mostly unutilized land. Sup- p.m. at the QCBA Office. porters say the plan will include expanded waterfront park space and a system of roads that would be open to public traffic, according THE QCBA WILL THEN HOLD ITS to the Flushing Post. 143rd Annual Dinner and Installation of Councilmember Peter Koo helped inaugurate the new Flushing Creek waterfront Brownfield remediation, or the process of Continued on page 2 esplanade in September 2019. Photo by John McCarten via City Council/Flickr Continued on page 2 Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Visit us Online @queenseagle facebook.com/queenseagle queenseagle.com Flushing community board set to vote on controversial rezoning QUEENS Continued from page 1 decontaminating land, would oc cur before groundbreaking on the project, the Flushing Post reported. Flushing Creek and Flushing Bay are polluted by sewer water, waste and TODAY chemicals from overflowing waste water treat- ment plants. While those pushing the proposal say that February 10, 2020 the new developments would net $28 million of annual revenue, according to QNS.com, critics argue that the current plan would not provide Officers & Managers on Thursday, May 7 at 6 enough affordable housing for the community. p.m. at Terrace on the Park. Instead, opponents say, the plan would inun- date Flushing with luxury condos. “The massive rezoning of the Flushing IF NEWS ABOUT THE METS SALE TO waterfront will exponentially speed up the hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen seemed process of gentrification and displacement,” too good to be true, that’s because it was. Fred MinKwon Center tenent organizer Seonae Community groups say they are concerned the development plan would affect housing and Jeff Wilpon, the Mets majority owners, Byeon told QNS.com. costs in surrounding areas, like Downtown Flushing. Eagle Photo by Victoria Merlino nixed the deal to sell an 80 percent stake in Community members have also complained the club to Cohen for $2.6 billion. Jeff Wilpon of being left out of the process to approve the ing to an op-ed by Queens College professor because Vice Chair Chuck Apelian has served reportedly wanted to retain his role managing development, with many community members Tarry Hum in Gotham Gazette. as a consultant to the developers, but he has day-to-day operations for the club. only hearing of the plan in December, accord- Community Board 7 has received criticism recused himself from the vote. Celebrating Black Council committee to examine History Month city’s massive DNA database By David Brand Queens Daily Eagle The City Council’s Committee on Pub- lic Safety will examine NYPD policies and practices for collecting genetic material from people suspected of crimes, or merely called in for questioning, at a hearing on Feb. 25. The committee, chaired by Queens Coun- cilmember Donovan Richards, has oversight authority over the city’s controversial DNA database, which is fed by the NYPD and maintained by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Police add to the database after ac- quiring DNA samples from convicted felons, criminal suspects and people who were never even charged with an offense. The database included 82,473 samples as of August 2019, according to information NYPD officers collect DNA from people accused of crimes or called in for questioning. obtained by The Legal Aid Society through AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews a Freedom of Information Law request last year. of crimes, while perpetuating racial inequi- ples remain stored in the OCME’s office — NYPD officers often collect DNA from ties in the criminal justice system. often unbeknownst to the men. people called in for questioning by scraping After the murder of Howard Beach resi- “The NYPD’s collection of DNA for the material off items that touch their mouths, dent Karina Vetrano in August 2016, NYPD this databank targets communities of color including used cigarettes and cups of water. officers conducted a DNA dragnet to obtain through dragnets and surreptitious collection The DNA left on those items is fair game for genetic samples from more than 300 black from water bottles and cigarettes,” said Terri cops to collect. The NYPD says the DNA is and African-American men in and around the Rosenblatt, Supervising Attorney of the DNA vital for solving crimes, including cold cases. neighborhood. Unit at The Legal Aid Society. “The public But critics say it violates civil liberties of Though those DNA samples played no role has a right to know about these genetic stop- The Queens Public Library is celebrating people who aren’t convicted or even accused in cracking the case, the men’s genetic sam- and-frisk tactics.” Black History Month with more than 120 events. Image via QPL What's on the docket for the Queens legal community PUBLISHERS: Michael Nussbaum J.D. Hasty [email protected] [email protected] SOUTH ASIAN INDO-CARIBBEAN BREAKIN’ UP IS HARD TO DO: MANAGING EDITOR BAR ASSOCIATION OF QUEENS BASICS OF BUSINESS DISSOLUTION David Brand COUNTY AWARDS DINNER April 23 at 6 p.m. • 2.0 CLE Credits [email protected] Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. Attorneys Matthew Donovan and Franklin McRoberts DIGITAL EDITOR The SAICBA-QC will honor State Sen. Luis Sepulveda and discuss common business divorce issues and owner grievances, Jonathan Sperling attorney Gary Miret at their annual awards dinner. partnership withdrawal, business forms and governing law. [email protected] Agra Palace, 116-33 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills QCBA Office, 90-35 148th St., Jamaica ADVERTISING MANAGER Kat Ramus [email protected] LEGAL ADVERTISING MANAGER FORMER PROSECUTORS FIGHTING FOR YOU! Gina Ong [email protected] Dominic Addabbo, Esq. | Todd Greenberg, Esq ADDABBO & QUEENS GREENBERG LAW To submit op-eds and letters, Experience Equals Results. ‧ Criminal Cases ‧ Personal Injury ‧ Real Estate Matters Contact Managing Is published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Federal Holi- days by Queens Public Media, 8900 Sutphin Blvd., Lower Suite, Addabbo & Greenberg Editor David Brand at LL11, Jamaica, Queens, NY 11435. Subscription price is $130 per 118-21 Queens Blvd.