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. VOLUNTEER POSITION 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. To Advertise E-mail [email protected] or call 718-729-3772 PAGE 4 THE WOODSIDE HERALD FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 19, 2021 VIRTUAL VALENTINE’S 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. To Advertise E-mail [email protected] or call 718-729-3772 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 THE WOODSIDE HERALD PAGE 5 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.