Volume 65, No. 163 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 50¢ QUEENS TODAY December 5, 2019 PEOPLE CONVICTED OF SERIOUS crimes were allowed to become city bus drivers according to a new probe from the MTA inspector general that was first reported by THE CITY. At least 11 bus operators were hired without disclosing past convictions for felonies that included rape, robbery and gun possession. City gun buys decline O’NEILL’S IN MASPETH WILL HOST the NYPD Honor Legion’s Annual Widows Queens DA-elect Melinda Katz said she plans to institute a 24/7 gun-buyback program. Such programs have waned across the city in and Orphans Christmas Party on Friday, Dec. recent years. Photo via the Katz campaign 6, the Queens Courier reported. A once common practice has tapered off in recent years By Noah Goldberg could turn in operable, unloaded guns, no scaled down — nearly to the point of nonex- MONDAY’S SNOW PUT THE MTA’S questions asked. The city would then give the istence. Queens Daily Eagle signal system on the fritz along the No. 7 Train former gun owners about $200 per weapon. Only one gun buyback has been held any- line, the Daily News reported. The system, It was a fairly common occurrence in New It was a simple way to get thousands of where in New York City by police and dis- designed to speed up trains by tracking their York City over the last 20 years: A county guns off the street. But after two decades, a trict attorneys in 2019. It took place in Staten spacing, was unable to locate the computer- district attorney, in collaboration with the program called Cash for Guns that began in Island, at an annual event that Staten Island driven trains along the line starting around NYPD, would host an event where people Brooklyn and extended citywide has quietly Continued on page 10 12:30 p.m. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION announced stricter work requirements Hon. Alan Schiff inducted into judiciary for recipients of federal SNAP benefits, See pages 15 and 16 prompting hunger advocates across the city to say that the proposal would effectively leave hundreds of thousands of SNAP recipients without food on the table. Housing advocates demand racial impact “THE REALITY OF HUNGER IN studies ahead of large-scale rezonings America is that a job is no longer a balm against poverty and hunger. The By Victoria Merlino administration’s latest attack creates hunger, Queens Daily Eagle not a work incentive,” Food Bank For New Housing advocates and lawmakers rallied York City President Margarette Purvis said on the steps of City Hall Wednesday to de- in a statement. “Hunger is as likely to make mand the city do more to recognize the toll a better job candidate as a low wage job in an that large-scale rezonings take on communi- expensive city like New York will keep New ties of color. Yorkers off of pantry lines.” Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration has championed large, transformational rezon- ings in up to 15 low-income neighborhoods NEWLY RELEASED DATA FROM THE throughout the city. Since 2016, the City city shows how much money New York City Council has approved six of the rezonings parent-teacher associations raise per student. proposed by de Blasio, including a plan to Some PTAs reported raising more than $1,000 permit taller, larger residential buildings in per student, while groups said they raised Downtown Far Rockaway. Public advocate Jumaane Williams said no money at all, a fact that Councilmember the city does not sufficiently assess the im- Mark Treyger called a “cause for alarm,” in pact of the new zoning regulations on com- an interview with Chalkbeat. munities of color before beginning the land use process. “Race is a difficult issue to talk about. “I THINK THIS DATA IS A STARTING Councilmember Antonio Reynoso joined Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, But we were elected to talk about difficult point in a call for much further action to Comptroller Scott Stringer and various housing advocates Wednesday to demand issues,” he said. Continued on page 2 community impact studies ahead of large-scale rezonings. Eagle photo by Victoria Merlino Continued on page 15 Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Visit us Online @queenseagle facebook.com/queenseagle queenseagle.com Local lawyers host immigration clinic at LaGuardia College QUEENS By David Brand Queens Daily Eagle TODAY Attorneys from New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and Catholic Migration Ser- vices are partnering with various local law December 5, 2019 firms Saturday to conduct a naturalization clinic for green card holders in Long Island address very glaring and alarming inequities City. in our school system,” Treyger told Chalkbeat. The clinic at LaGuardia College will fea- ture attorneys from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver EAGLE STAFF REPORTER VICTORIA & Jacobson LLP; and Goldman Sachs. It will Merlino was invited to appear at a citywide take place Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 panel on Dec. 11 as part of a discussion on p.m. the importance of neighborhood reporting. Lawyers from some of the same firms “Neighborhood Reporting in New York partnered with NYPLI and Catholic Migra- City Today,” hosted by Tribeca-based arts tion Services for a series of similar clinics nonprofit Apexart, seeks to uncover how local last year. Green card holders will have the Volunteer attorneys from the law firms of Arnold & Porter; Cleary Gottlieb, Fried Frank opportunity to receive free legal services as and Simpson Thacher, as well as volunteers from Goldman Sachs, assist immigrants publications, such as the Eagle, have adapted to shifts in news media. Visit apexart.org/ they apply for U.S. citizenship. with naturalization forms. Photo Courtesy of NYLPI Attorneys and trained volunteers will meet neighborhood.php for more information. one-on-one with pre-screened clients to pro- to the organization to find out how they could volved in immigration law,” Santamaria told vide naturalization application assistance assist noncitizens, including green card hold- the Eagle in 2018. “The attorneys volunteer- and answer questions in English and Spanish ers. ing are committed on a personal level and RIDE-HAILING APP LYFT HAS Last year, Annamaria Santamaria, the “There has been a lot of motivation, par- they are invested. We have had a lot of people launched Lyft Pink in the New York City program associate of Pro Bono Programs at ticularly post- [2016 Presidential] election, coming back because the nature of the work area. The monthly membership, which costs NYPLI, said lawyers had been reaching out because people are interested in getting in- is so close to home.” $19.99, can be purchased in the Lyft app and offers savings on rides, priority airport pickups, relaxed cancellations and surprise upgrades. Judge-elect Claudia Lanzetta ONE OF NEW YORK CITY’S MOST to be sworn in to the judiciary popular Uber destinations in 2019 is the By David Brand “ADR is something I’m so passionate Queens Center Mall, the ride-hailing service about because it’s an incredible opportu- Queens Daily Eagle told The New York Post Tuesday. The nity for attorneys and litigants,” she said. borough’s beloved shopping center, located Judge-elect Claudia Lanzetta will be Before joining the court system, sworn into the Queens judiciary today Lanzetta, a Bayside native, worked as a in Elmhurst, even beat out The Metropolitan during a special ceremony at the Civil private attorney handling family disputes Museum of Art. Courthouse in Jamaica. and working on cases in Surrogate’s Court. Lanzetta, the principal law clerk for Su- Lanzetta graduated from St. John’s Law preme Court Justice Rudolph E. Greco, Jr., in 2003 and began working in the Law Of- Judge-elect Claudia Lanzetta is the KEEP YOURSELF INFORMED ABOUT has worked in various capacities in the legal fices of Mike Mongelli. She moved on to principal law clerk for Supreme Court the hottest topics in Queens, courts, profession and has championed the use of the Law Offices of Ann-Margaret Carroz- Justice Rudolph E. Greco, Jr. communities and politics by visiting our Alternative Dispute Resolution, or ADR. za. Photo courtesy of Lanzetta website at queenseagle.com. What's on the docket for the Queens legal community THIS WEEK’S JUDICIAL INDUCTION CEREMONIES MACON B. ALLEN BLACK Judge-elect Claudia Lanzetta • Thursday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. • Civil Court, Jamaica BAR ASSOCIATION HOLIDAY DINNER Tuesday, Dec. 17 QUEENS COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION HOLIDAY PARTY 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Get 'The Best of the Nest' Thursday, Dec. 12 • 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The annual holiday event The Queens County Bar Association, Brandeis Association, Hellenic Lawyers Associa- will feature an open bar, din- delivered to your tion, Latino Lawyers Association of Queens County, Macon B. Allen Black Bar Association ner and DJ. inbox every week: and Queens County Women’s Bar Association will host Queens' annual holiday party. Antun’s, 96-43 Springfield Douglaston Manor, 6320 Commonwealth Blvd., Douglaston, NY 11362 Blvd., Queens Village QueensEagle.com/Subscribe DIVORCE & FAMILY LAW PUBLISHERS: Michael Nussbaum J.D. Hasty Paul E. 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