LOCAL CLASSIFIEDS PAGE 15 June 11, 2017 Your Neighborhood — Your News® Astoria man Tenants oppose any rent increases charged with Queens residents rally in Jamaica as stabilization board members hear testimony graffi ti slurs BY NAEISHA ROSE Church at Parsons Boulevard day. tween having food or a home. to the Jamaica Performing Arts They were fighting to pre- “Every year they try to raise BY BILL PARRY More than a hundred ten- Center at 153rd Street a few serve their rent-stabilized apart- the rent on the apartment 3 per- ants, advocates and community blocks away in Jamaica, to have ments out of fear of becoming cent on us,” said Bohorquez, who Officers from the 114th Pre- organizers from all over Queens their voices heard during a rent homeless, or as Angelica Bo- lives with her elderly mother. cinct arrested an Astoria man marched from Presentation guidelines board meeting Mon- horquez’s sign read choose be- “Our rent is $1,500, but with our last Friday morning in connec- utilities that is more than $2,000. tion with a series of homophobic I want a better salary, but be- graffiti, often referring to for- cause I’m a woman I get paid less mer President Obama on build- MARCHING IN STYLE than a man,” said the 51-year-old ing, signs and garages across telephone assistant who makes the neighborhood starting in $18 an hour. December. The New York City Rent Yaacov Shemesh, 53, a resi- Guidelines Board meets every dent of Newtown Avenue near year to set rents on stabilized 23rd Street, was arrested and apartments throughout the city. charged with multiple counts in As part of the process of nego- each of 22 incidents, including tiations between landords and criminal mischief, aggravated tenants, the board holds hear- harassment, making graffiti and ings in the five boroughs to criminal mischief with the in- track New Yorkers’ reaction to tent to damage property, accord- the proposed rent increases. In ing to the Queens DA’s office. May the board decided on a hike “The man pictured is now ap- of between 1 percent and 3 per- prehended,” Deputy Inspector cent for a one-year lease and a 2 Peter Fortune, the command- percent to 4 percent increase on ing officer of the 114th Precinct, a two-year lease, effective Oct.1. posted on Twitter. “Great job by This followed two years of rent POs Kenefick & Lichte, keep up freezes. The board will vote on your hard work and dedication the increases June 27. to make Astoria safe.” The Pride Parade in Jackson Heights — the largest gathering of gay activists, their families and friends outside Members of the Guidelines T h e N Y P D ’s H at e C r i m e s T a s k Manhattan — turned 25 this year with a march that stretched out over nearly 20 blocks down 37th Avenue. See Board, which is made up of nine Force had been investigating the story on Page 4. Photo by Michael Shain mayoral appointees, listened to Continued on Page 12 Continued on Page 14 Koo arranges cleanup Elmhurst playground reopens of Old Towne grounds BY BILL PARRY city Parks Department. Playground, featuring an Borough President upgraded dog run, new BY GINA MARTINEZ An Elmhurst Park Melinda Katz joined swings, improved steel dedicated to those lost in City Councilman Dan- fencing, a new drinking A historical African-American and Native battle during World War iel Dromm (D-Jackson fountain, bike racks and American burial ground in Flushing was recently City Councilman Daniel Dromm (c.) I has reopened months Heights) and Parks offi- an interactive sprinkler. cleaned up after complaints of overgrown weeds celebrates the reopening on Veterans ahead of schedule after cials for a ribbon-cutting “Veterans Grove Play- and grass. Grove in Elmhurst months ahead of receiving a full $2.3 mil- ceremony at the newly ground is now a crown City Councilman Peter Koo (D-Flushing) host- lion makeover from the restored Veterans Grove jewel of Elmhurst, thanks schedule. Courtesy NYC Parks Continued on Page 12 Continued on Page 14 A CNG Publication Vol. 6 No. 2423 UPDATED EVERY DAY AT TIMESLEDGER.COM 2 11, 2017 UNE , J Sherbee EEKLY W UEENS Q Est. 1940 Antiques All Diamonds & Estate Jewelry WANTED 718-762-7448 ANTIQUES & STERLING WANTED TOP DOLLAR PAID We Come To You! We purchase all Gold, Antiques, Mid-Century & Pre-1950 Furniture, Paintings, Rugs, Sterling Silver, Bronzes, Jew- elry, Bric-a-Brac, Marble Figures & Marble Top Furniture, Fine Por- celain, Entire Contents of Estates. RUGS & PAINTINGS WANTED All Tiffany Items Prompt & Courteous Wanted Service SHERBEE ANTIQUESs!NDREW+ORMAN Proprietor 917-748-7622 Court of Appeals denies Willets Point mega-mall 3 BY GINA MARTINEZ a 1961 law allowing the con- The Queens Development public trust doctrine and struction of Shea Stadium in Group, which includes the residents across New York Q The future of Willets West Flushing Meadows Park. Wilpon family — owners of state,” Avella said in a state- UEENS is once again unclear. In a 5-1 decision, the court the Mets — said it was unhap- ment. “In a city where public In a victory for state Sen. decided that the developers py with the court’s ruling. land is in short supply, sim- W Tony Avella (D-Bayside), the needed consent from state The group said the decision ply handing over parkland EEKLY New York Court of Appeals legislators before moving will further delay a project would be an absolute dis- , J blocked the development of forward. that would have reversed grace and a betrayal of the UNE a proposed megamall proj- “There is no dispute that 100 years of pollution, create public trust. This victory 11, 2017 ect near Citi Field, ruling the Willets West development thousands of good-paying sets a precedent for decades that the developers needed is proposed to be constructed jobs and turn vacant lots into to come that our govern- approval from the state Leg- entirely on city parkland,” a vibrant community. ment cannot give away our islature before moving on Judge Rowan Wilson said. The state Court of Appeals decided that any development “At a time when Queens parkland or be complicit in with the project to be built “The public trust doctrine in Willets West, currently home of auto shops and unpaved needs private investment a developer’s heist of public on parkland. is ancient and firmly estab- streets, needed consent from state legislators before moving more than ever, the court’s land.” Queens Development lished in our precedent. forward. decision disregards the City Another plaintiff, an Group has been fighting to His opinion went on to Council, the local commu- advocacy group called City build a proposed megamall say, “Only the state Legisla- few months and called the she said in a statement. “Wil- nity board and other stake- Club of New York, said it and movie theater on the 30- ture has the power to alien- mega-mall development plan lets Point redevelopment holders who have already brought this action to pre- acre site where Shea Stadi- ate parkland (or other lands a “desperate land grab” that must meet the city’s critical approved the Willets West vent other public parks and um once stood. The lawsuit, held in the public trust) for doesn’t benefit the neighbor- needs and ever-growing de- plan. We are in the process places from being treated as filed in Manhattan Supreme purposes other than those hood and only profits the de- mand, as was promised long of evaluating our next steps,” “dumping grounds.” Court in February 2014 by for which they have been velopers. ago.” the group spokesman said. “The city was clearly Avella, along with the City designated.” Regardless of what is A spokeswoman for City The megamall project cutting procedural corners Club of New York, Queens Alienating parkland done, Queens Borough Presi- Hall said the mayor also was added to the Bloomberg in attempting to bypass the Civic Congress, members must be “plainly conferred” dent Melinda Katz wants wants to move forward to re- adminstration’s initial $3 state Legislature,” City Club of Willets Point United and through the “direct and spe- to focus on the future of the juvenate the blighted site. billion redevelopment plan President Michael Gruen nearby residents and busi- cific approval of the state leg- site. She has emphasised the “Our priorities remain and the affordable housing said. “We objected to the im- ness owners, challenged the islature,” he ruled. need for affordable housing the same: Jump-starting the component was pushed back plication that the ends jus- transfer of Queens parkland Willets Point is cur- and has suggested a soccer affordable housing, schools, to 2025 after the City Coun- tify the means. We success- worth about $1 billion. rently home to auto shops, or hockey stadium to attract libraries, retail and open cil had greenlighted what fully fought it here. We hope The lawsuit focused on unpaved roads and scrap more visitors and boost the space this community was turned out to be the first that we will not have to fight the proper use of the land. yards. Current development economy. promised,” she said in a draft. it again, but we do not intend The megamall was slated to plans include a contractual “We look forward to work- statement. “This ruling does Avella, the lead plaintiff to stand by if and when the be built on the parking lot escape clause that does not ing together with the current not alter the city’s ability to in the case, celebrated the issue arises again.” east of Citi Field, which is guarantee affordable hous- administration and the com- move ahead with a dynamic decision.