FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 THE WOODSIDE HERALD PAGE 1

SERVING SUNNYSIDE-WOODSIDE AND LONG ISLAND CITY VOL. 88, NO. 8 WOODSIDE, L.I.C., N.Y. FRIDAY, FEBRARY 19, 2021 FREE

To Advertise E-mail [email protected] or call 718-729-3772 PAGE 2 THE WOODSIDE HERALD FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 19, 2021 FREE ITEMS The following items are available if anyone can use (FREE): - New Bedside commode - Bath/Transfer seat - Rollator - Toothetts (for oral care) - Lemon/glycerin swabs - Jevity 1.5 cal - Tube feeding syringes - Adult diapers - Underpads for bed/chair Email if you’re in need: [email protected] KEEP THE SUBWAYS SAFE MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick J. Foye and NYC Transit Interim President Sarah Feinberg sent a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea asking for an additional 1,000 NYPD Officers to be deployed into the subway and bus system. This request is in addition to the surge of 500 police announced by the NYPD on Saturday.

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43-11 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside, NY 11104 Telephone (718) 729-3772 Marlene Sabba ...... Publisher Sherilyn Jo Sabba ...... Editor CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Sharon Cadiz, Rob MacKay, Peter Ross CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Joe Gurrado, Robert Flanagan, Peter Ross

To Advertise E-mail [email protected] or call 718-729-3772 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 THE WOODSIDE HERALD PAGE 3 SUBWAY SAFETY: GOING DEEP by Dr. Sharon M. Cadiz lack of proactive, long-term, comprehen- The news has been filled with reports of sive problem solving strategies that survive subway platform incidents. This, along with terms in office. For those who are without a the concerns over COVID 19, has created domicile, consider the fact that animals at high levels of anxiety for those who need to the Bronx Zoo are more fortunate. This is travel by subway and make regular or occa- not an excuse for violence; it is an sional use of mass transit; leaving the safety acknowledgement of cause and effect. of home where they may otherwise be “shel- Now, if we can admit that the problems tering in place.” The recent rash of serious have been pushed deep beneath the surface, acts of violence raise concerns about what perhaps we can understand the connection can be done to curtail the actions that create with what we are seeing in the city’s subway peril for commuters. This is not a new system. If we imagine surviving COVID 19 phenomenon. There was an earlier time without a home or safety, combined with a when such incidents were commonplace fragile mental state, we might begin to see and routinely reported in the news. In con- how the stage is set for what we are now trast to the high profile assaults; random acts seeing in terms of subway violence. It should of violence; pushing and slashing; NYPD be noted that the “14 Hour Stabbing Spree in and MTA report a drop in overall crime Brooklyn” last weekend involved a home- while subway felony assaults and random less perpetrator and four homeless victims. acts of violence appear to be on the rise. We Bringing this problem back to our daily hear about stabbings, unprovoked attacks reality, I can comment based on an incident and arguments leading to violence. The that was shared with me by a longtime friend result is a drop in ridership compounding an and aerobics instructor who was on his way already 70% drop attributed to the COVID home one weekday evening at about 7:30pm 19 pandemic. Low level ridership adds to leaving Long Island City for his home in the fiscal difficulties of the already belea- southeast Queens. He stood on the “R” train guered mass transit system. City leaders, platform at Steinway Street and his glasses advocates, authorities and those responsible fogged up as a result of the mask he was for public safety are taking their usual reac- wearing when suddenly a man came up and tionary, adversarial stance. Five hundred hit him in the face before leaving the scene. additional uniformed officers have been He was taken by surprise at that moment and deployed with a pending request for another took follow-up steps with police and MTA thousand. I can’t help thinking that such to report the incident. He explained to me measures will provide some level of com- that he asked about a camera that may have fort and reassurance to riders; many of whom caught the assault on camera and was told are essential workers who require an afford- that there were no cameras at that station. able means to get to and from their jobs; My friend also realized that he had seen this however, I believe that this is a stop-gap individual do the same thing to another measure and not a remedy for what has person on another occasion. essentially pushed many of the city’s chronic Public safety might ultimately just be up problems underground. to the public, so I humbly offer the following It has been strongly suggested that the recommendations of what might help to homeless and mentally ill are responsible keep us safe in the subway system: 1. Stay for this outbreak of deadly violence. alert and aware of your surroundings when Homelessness and mental illness are issues traveling on the subway. 2. Endeavor to stay that have worsened as a result of policies in more heavily occupied cars and plat- that continue to exacerbate conditions by forms. (This might be challenging because institutionalizing homelessness, which can of a notable reduction in ridership). 3. Stay be characterized as a loss of habitat. Devel- away from the platform edge and closer to opment pushes them further and further away secure beams or handrails for holding on to from sight, into the depths of the city, over prevent being pushed. 4. Don’t snooze on decades of displacement. Chronic and per- subways. 5. Communicate your safety con- sistent mental illness has become challeng- cerns to your elected officials, community ing a result of policies and political will that boards, NYPD precinct councils and MTA plays “hot potato” when it comes to where officials who will likely listen because the and how these people are treated. The subway system is essential to the city’s closing of places like Willow in the seven- economy and vitality. 6. Urge comprehen- ties and the move to community-based treat- sive, long-term strategies, policies and at- ment has not always successfully helped tention for the root causes of homelessness those in need. The subway, shelter and crimi- and issues related to the care of those with nal justice systems have all become the chronic and debilitating mental illness. 7. If default systems of care and that is where the subways are not an option for you due to problems are deeply buried. Burying the concerns for safety, consider more walking, problems has not made them go away, and or buses where the above safety guidance so we are seeing some manifestations of a also applies.

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Last Friday, nearly 50 senior citizens in Queens participated in a virtual Valentine’s Day event hosted by Sunnyside Community Services. The free event included a number of fun activities and games, including a Valentine’s Day trivia game, Name That Tune, singing, and dancing. Some lucky seniors won raffle prizes such as cosmetics, lotions, scented candles and gift envelopes. Prizes were sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Sunnyside, led by the club’s president, Howard Brickman. Sunnyside Community Services provides a number of events, educational programs, and fitness classes for seniors throughout the year. The organization also offers assistance to seniors facing physical or cognitive impairments, and supports for family caregivers. For more information, visit online at www.scsny.org, email [email protected], or call 877-577-9337. DONOVANS

We are open for business. A doctor’s visit is one-on-one and very safe. There are never more than 5 people in the whole office at any one time. We will be here for the duration if and when the public needs a foot doctor.

Woodside On The Move, Inc., Executive Director Michael J. Vaz, and Brent O’Leary, presented Donovan’s Pub of Woodside, a contribution for their fundraiser and thank them for all they do to support our neighborhood.

Please note our restaurants and bars are now open at 25% capacity until 11pm, so please get out and support your local businesses.

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To Advertise E-mail [email protected] or call 718-729-3772 PAGE 6 THE WOODSIDE HERALD FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 19, 2021 EMPLOYMENT SERVICES FREE SMALL BUSINESS Health and Hospitals hiring 500 non-clerical staff to help SEMINARS & VENDOR PREVIEW with patient transport, clerical work and cleaning. No After canceling last year, the Queens Night Market plans to return for its sixth season to the medical background is required and hiring will be New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Saturday nights, tentatively targeting an April 17th start date. The season is expected to run through October 30th. expanded to thousands soon. Please visit www.nyc.gov/ “It’s hard to keep up with all the pandemic news and the vaccine rollout, and just like everyone else, we’re constantly hitting the refresh button on our browser,” said John Wang, getwork for more information and to apply. founder of Queens Night Market. “When the light at the end of this tunnel finally emerges, whether it’s in mid-April or later in the summer, we plan to be there, joyously welcoming NYC.GOV FOOD ASSITANCE back New Yorkers in celebration of diversity and solidarity.” Given the squeeze on vendor margins that the price cap on food creates, it doesn’t make Visit www.NYC.gov/GetFood for COVID-19 food assistance financial sense for the event to open while there are significant restrictions on attendance. But the Queens Night Market expects the pent-up demand for social gatherings to be overwhelm- resources. Visit www.FoodHealpNYC to find a location near ing, and even more so for an event with a nearly obsessive focus on affordability, accessibility, and diversity. In 2019, the event averaged almost 15,000 visitors on Saturday nights. your home distributing meals for free, including food 2021 VENDORS & VENDOR APPLICATION: panties and Grab & Go meals at NYC Schools, available for Since it debuted in 2015, the Queens Night Market has helped launch 300 brand new businesses in New York and represented 90 countries through its vendors and their food. all children or adults in need. An anonymous survey of vendors indicated that food vendors averaged roughly $2,000 in sales per night in the event’s last season in 2019, which may be surprising in light of the $5 price cap on food (and some limited $6 exceptions). These numbers provide a glimpse COVID BURIAL ASSISTANCE into the financial impact of a lost season on the vendors who were scheduled to participate. The Queens Night Market has received nearly 150 applications thus far for its 2021 The Human Resources Administration will provide season. Interested vendors should apply online by following the link https://bit.ly/QNM- financial assistance to individuals in need of assistance to Vendor-2021, or directing questions to: [email protected] The curatorial mission of the Queens Night Market is to feature traditional foods that may meet funeral expenses. www1.nyc.gov/HRA be hard to find in NYC, made by the people who grew up eating them. The organizer suspects that vendor recruitment will be much trickier this year, in the wake of the pandemic. The 2021 season is already expected to include Afghan mantu and bolani, Indone- SUNNYSIDE & WOODSIDE MUTUAL AID FOOD PANTRIES sian kue pancong and ote ote, Portuguese paste is de nata, Filipino balut, dinuguan, SATURDAY BETWEEN 1-2:30PM and lugaw, Romanian chimney cakes, Vietnamese grilled nem, Burmese palatas and tea Rain or Shine! Please spread the word! leaf salad, Cambodian fish amok, Colombian arepas, Tibetan momos, Taiwanese LOTS OF NUTRITIOUS PRODUCE! popcorn chicken, Japanese takoyaki; Singaporean chai tow kueh and mee pok, Persian crispy rice, Mexican al pastor tacos and huaraches, Peruvian ceviche, Malaysian - 46th Street-Bliss station, - 61st Street station “ramly” burgers and skate wings, Hong Kongese soy sauce noodles and rice noodle - Woodside Houses (49th & Broadway) rolls, Venezuelan cachapas, Salvadoran pupusas, Puerto Rican papas rellenos, Sudanese sambuxas and aswad, Bengali fuska, Indian clay tandoori kebabs and roti, West African egusi and draw soups, and many more to come. QUEENS NIGHT MARKET HOSTING FREE SMALL BUSINESS SEMINARS: As it continues to track the vaccine rollout in hopes of a season opening in April, the Queens Night Market will host a series of free small business seminars for a sixth year, starting February 23rd. This year, the seminars will be presented virtually in partnership with the NYC Department of Small Business Services, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and the Queens Economic Development Corporation and will cover a range of topics such as business plans, branding and marketing, operational efficiency, social media and technol- ogy, and obtaining permits. The seminars will also cover Queens Night Market-specific topics and feature guest speakers, expert panels, networking, and Q&A opportunities. In years past, as many as 90 aspiring entrepreneurs have attended individual sessions. Anyone interested in attending the seminars can find more details and RSVP for each session at the following: Session I – February 23rd, 6:00-9:00pm: First Steps & Creating a Business Idea that Works: qnm1.eventbrite.com Session II – March 2nd, 6:00-9:00pm: Operations & Profitability: qnm2.eventbrite.com Session III – March 9th, 6:00-9:00pm: Marketing & Social Media: qnm3.eventbrite.com “The pandemic has not only been devastating for small businesses and entrepreneurs trying to make ends meet, but I think it will have a chilling effect on entrepreneurship for years to come,” said John Wang. “The Queens Night Market has aspired to lower barriers to entry for entrepreneurs, and over 300 businesses have made their operational debut at the event. We hope that these seminars will encourage at least a few aspiring entrepreneurs to step into the decimated small business economy that will ultimately fuel New York’s recovery.” “The pandemic has entirely shifted the business landscape, creating a greater necessity for small business resources,” said Jonnel Doris, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “We are thrilled to partner with the Queens Night Market once again, to deliver seminars that will help entrepreneurs launch and maintain a successful business in a post-COVID-19 world and contribute to the City’s diversity.” “The Queens Night Market is a festive celebration of our borough’s diversity and is a wonderful addition to the cultural and culinary landscape of Queens,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. “The Market’s temporary closure last year was a blow to participating small businesses and entrepreneurs, so I’m very pleased it will be back and better than ever this year! I’m also pleased to join with our partners in hosting free small business seminars that will be greatly informative and helpful to small business owners who have struggled so much over the past year.”

VOLUNTEER WRITERS WANTED TO COVER LOCAL STORIES Looking for coverage of community events and community outreach stories [email protected]

To Advertise E-mail [email protected] or call 718-729-3772 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 THE WOODSIDE HERALD PAGE 7 GUN SAFETY PACKAGE COMMUNITY BOARD 1 Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) joined with gun safety advocates to Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris spoke at Queens Community Board 1’s introduce a gun safety legislative package. This comes ahead of the three-year anniversary Tuesday night meeting where he delivered an update on his efforts to further pandemic of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL and is part of recovery. During his remarks, the Senator talked about his efforts to push for more Congresswoman Maloney’s pledge to honor all those lost to gun violence with action. Congresswoman Maloney’s package includes five bills: The Gun Trafficking and small business relief and prevent the siting of a new power plant in western Queens. Crime Prevention Act, The Gun Show Loophole Closing Act, The NICS Review Act, The “Our small businesses have suffered greatly over the last year, as has our Firearm Risk and Crime Prevention Act, and The Handgun Trigger Safety Act. environment. I will continue fighting to get small businesses the relief they deserve, “As the third anniversary of the Parkland shooting approaches this Sunday, we are and to stop yet another fossil fuel plant on our waterfront,” said Senate Deputy called to honor all victims of gun violence with action,” said Congresswoman Maloney. Leader Michael Gianaris. “There is no honor in failing to take action on gun safety. There is no honor in buckling to Gianaris also stressed his availability to assist local residents with vaccination the will of the NRA and refusing to act to save lives. Thoughts and prayers are not enough appointments, unemployment applications and PPE supply. – in fact, they are meaningless when not backed up by doing the work to effect real change. And so today, I am introducing a comprehensive gun safety package of five bills that would deliver on our promise to honor with action.” BILL SUMMARIES The Gun Trafficking and Crime Prevention Act: Prohibits Firearms Trafficking: The bill prohibits the purchase or transfer of a firearm if the intent is to deliver it to someone else who is prohibited by Federal or State law from possessing one. Strengthens Penalties for Straw Purchasers: The bill strengthens penalties for “straw purchasers” who intentionally provide false or misleading material information when they purchase firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees. The bill reclassifies such acts as felonies, instead of misdemeanors, as they currently are under law. Enhances Penalties for Kingpins and Multiple Illegal Purchases: The bill provides enhanced penalties for organizers or managers of firearms trafficking networks and recommends that the Sentencing Commission increase penalties for multiple illegal gun purchases. The bill reclassifies such acts as felonies, instead of misdemeanors, as they currently are under law. THE GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE CLOSING ACT: Subjects gun sales and transfers at gun shows to the National Instant Criminal Back- ground Check System (NICS) and require that transfers are reported to the Attorney General. Requires gun show operators to register with the Attorney General and notify the AG of the details of upcoming shows, including the identity of all firearm vendors, as well as keep a record of all vendors’ identities. Allows the ATF to hire investigators to inspect gun shows and examine records kept by gun show operators and vendors. THE NICS REVIEW ACT: Replaces the current 24 hour maximum with a 90 day minimum retention period to allow the FBI and ATF at least 90 days to audit the background check system to make sure the process is working effectively. Makes it more difficult for dangerous individuals to skirt the law and the safeguards already in place.

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