Mercury Spill at MS 202

Emergency vehicles were dispatched to Middle School 202 located at 138-30 Lafayette
Street in Ozone Park on Tuesday morning after a barometer broke in the school’s science lab spilling mercury out into the room.

Students were quickly removed from the lab and the room was closed and cordoned off.

According to Department of Education (DoE) spokeswoman Marge Feinberg, air testing and cleaning of the room was conducted overnight and as of the start of class day on Wednesday, the room remained closed with further testing was scheduled.

There were no injuries reported and no students were treated as a result of the spill.

Homeless Woman Found Murdered in Park

Residents Shocked at Discovery near 106th Precinct

By Conor Greene

An unidentified homeless woman who was a fixture in the playground adjacent to the 106th Precinct was found dead Monday morning on a park bench, apparently bludgeoned to death.

A homeless man made the gruesome discovery at about 9:30 a.m. inside Ozone Park’s Officer Nicholas DeMutiss Playground on Liberty Avenue at 102nd Street. Police and a team from the city’s Medical Examiner’s Office spent several hours going through the crime scene as neighbors looked on. The woman’s belongings, including a shopping cart, were strewn around the bench where the body was found.

The violent murder shocked and horrified residents, some of whom would bring the woman food and clothes from time to time. That the incident occurred next door to the precinct headquarters, inside a park fre- quented by neighborhood children, only added to their concerns.



Neighbor Charlotte Chavis said that she had brought the woman food and clothes several times since noticing her sleeping there this past winter. “She was a very nice old lady,” said Chavis, adding that the park is generally quiet, in part due to its proximity to the stationhouse.

Another resident echoed the feeling that the park is considered safe for children to play in. She said she saw the woman there last week, and said the victim kept to herself. “Somebody had to drop that there last night,” she said of the body. “This park is loaded with children during the day. This is insane. The precinct is right there – why wouldn’t you feel safe. This is a total shock.”

Paul Ramroop said he believed the woman was in her 60’s and was often seen in a nearby Laundromat. “People gave her food... she felt comfortable in the park,” he recalled.

Neighbor Simoa Santiago said it is unusual to hear about violence in the popular neighborhood playground. “It’s scary. We live a few houses down, and there are a lot of children in this area,” she said. “Nothing like this has happened before. She minded her own business and didn’t bother anybody.”

As of press time Wednesday, police hadn’t released any additional details on the incident

Ribbon Cutting at Locust Grove Triangle

Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski joined City Council Member Eric Ulrich and members of the Locust Grove Civic Association on Monday morning to cut the ribbon on the newly renovated Locust Grove Civic Triangle in South Ozone Park. The project to redo the triangle, located at Lefferts Boulevard and North Conduit Avenue, has been on the books for years.

Thanks to $200,000 in capital funding allocated during the term of former Councilmember Joe Addabbo, the project has finally been seen through to fruition. The renovation includes a new guard rail, electrical service, the rebuilding of planters, repair of the existing fountain, as well as the planting of a new lawn and shrubs. A new sidewalk, timber barriers and a concrete barrier planter have been installed to improve the overall quality of the triangle.

Councilman Eric Ulrich told a crowd of spectators that he was thrilled to be part of the long awaited completion of the project. “Since I took office last February this project has been a priority. Looking at what’s been done, it was worth the wait.”

Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski praised civic President, Donna Gilmartin, for her personal dedication to seeing the job through and also commended civic members for their attention to the triangle. As for the freshman councilman, Lewandowski said, “You’ll be seeing many parks projects come to pass in this area. Councilmember Ulrich has committed money to many of these projects in his district. He is young and vibrant and has a long future ahead.”

“Everyone said not to even try to get this done,” said Gilmartin, “but thanks to Doris Peterson and her vision, we kept this plan alive. Today represents a great achievement and we are all so proud of what’s been done.” Gilmartin also said that the triangle represents the first of such civic undertakings but that it has been implemented throughout the community by other civics that have followed suit and taken on triangle projects. “They add a lot to the community,” she said, “the triangles have a great positive influence.”

The Locust Grove Triangle has dramatically improved through the unrelenting efforts of the Locust Grove Civic Association,” said Lewandowski. “Parks applauds the dedication of the association and is pleased to have coordinated with them on this improvement project.”

Photo: Doris Peterson- Vice president of the Locust Civic Association; Helen Ogrinz- Park Designer; Mr. M. Shah- CMC Construction,Contractor; Donna Gilmartin- President of the Locust Civic Association; Eric Ulrich- Council Member; Dorothy Lewandowski- Queens Parks Commissioner; Karyn Peterson- District manager, CB 10; Peter Delucia- Aide to Senator Addabbo

Thousands Attend Job Fair Sponsored by Addabbo

By Patricia Adams

One of the larger crowds seen at Aqueduct in the recent past lined up on three floors of the raceway last Friday afternoon - none of them in attendance because of their racing interests.

Instead, more than 2,800 people were there for a job fair hosted and organized by Sen. Joe Addabbo. Thousands of people stood together in the ailing venue in hopes of finding a solution to their own struggles. The crowd, mixed among men and women, young and old, the experienced and the very willing to learn, all came together with the common goal of finding a job.

Vendors from more than 140 companies were on hand to screen the applicants, accept their resumes and discuss job potential. “I am delighted with the response that we got,” said Addabbo, “however the size of the crowd is indicative of just how serious the unemployment crisis we face is, and that is certainly quite upsetting.” In addition to the standard job fair offerings, attendees also had the opportunity to attend seminars offered by vendors and job counselors.

“We took this approach and included other components in the fair because such a diverse group of people does not have cut and dry needs,” the senator said. “What we are trying to do is to offer everyone a viable chance at finding work.”

And to the delight of those standing on long lines, it was well worth the wait. Kathy Vitello was born and raised in Richmond Hill and now lives in Kew Gardens. After working as a project manager in production and design for more than 23 years, the ad agency she worked for closed down last year.

“I have been searching since I am out of work but nothing has happened,” said Vitello. “What Joe Addabbo has done here today is amazing. I am both grateful and impressed.” Vitello said that her job hunting has proven to be fruitless and often frustrating, but she said, “today for some reason I feel hopeful. I am now willing to look at freelance opportunities to get something going.”

And many like Vitello were quick to offer praise and thanks for the senator and his staff. “This is a great opportunity,” said Jack Sampson. “I have had the chance to see companies here that would not even let me in their doors. We all owe this guy [Addabbo] big time for helping all these people like this.”

Another integral component to the job fair was the provisions made for one of the most rapidly growing unemployment faction’s today - seniors. “There is a tremendous need today for senior positions,” Addabbo stated. Because of the downturned economy and the rising cost of living, seniors find themselves faced with the unexpected—seeing their retirement funds run out long before the end of their lives. One group on hand to address the special needs of seniors was AARP.

There were also groups of professionals who were there to offer advice and the potential of jobs later down the line. Helmets to Hardhats, Dressing for Success and Vets Helping Vets, were just a few of the organizations present to discuss possibilities and plans of action for future employment opportunities. Candidates planning career changes also had many opportunities to discuss details with a variety of companies.

According to Sen. Addabbo, one of the most beneficial features of the fair is that the help available on Friday did not end with the close of the day. The senator’s office is in close contact with many of the vendors who maintain that they received a large quantity of quality resumes from the day. In addition, any candidates for employment that ran out of resumes or missed a particular vendor can still reach them through the senator’s office. “We will forward resumes for people that ran out of them or missed an employer that might have left for the day.

Former CTK Basketball Coach Indicted on Child Sex Abuse Charges in Boston

By Conor Greene

It has been an up and down week for the Christ the King High School basketball program, as former longtime head coach Bob Oliva was indicted in Massachusetts on sex abuse charges, four days before both the boys and girls programs captured a state title.

Authorities in Suffolk County announced last Thursday that Oliva, 65, has been accused in a three-count indictment of molesting a young player and showing him pornography during a trip to Boston in 1976. Oliva, who resigned last year after 27 years at the helm of the school’s basketball program, is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges on April 12. If convicted, Oliva could spend the rest of his life in prison.

The Suffolk County District Attorney didn’t identify the alleged victim, but in 2008 Oliva notified the Middle Village school’s board of directors that he had been accused of abusing longtime family friend Jimmy Carlino. In May 2008, a Florida attorney sent Oliva a letter informing him that Carlino would drop the matter in exchange for a $750,000 payment and Oliva’s resignation by the end of that school year.

At the time, Oliva denied the charges before stepping down in January 2009 as head coach, citing heart problems caused by the stress of the allegations. He compiled a record of 549-181 and won four city championships while coaching several future NBA stars including Lamar Odom and Jayson Williams.

While the statute of limitations has expired in New York for any alleged incidents that took place between Oliva and Carlino in the 1970s, the Suffolk County DA is able to pursue the charges because time a suspect spends outside of Massachusetts is not counted against the statue of limitations. Prosecutors allege that the abuse took place at the Boston Sheraton during a trip Oliva and Carlino, then 14, took to see a Yankee-Red Sox doubleheader at Fenway Park.

“Cases of child sexual abuse are some of the most painful we see as prosecutors,” said Suffolk County DA Daniel F. Conley in a statement. “The victims can carry feelings of shame and guilt for decades before they’re ready to tell what happened to them. Oftentimes, it’s only in adulthood that they realize the abuse was not their fault.”

Suffolk prosecutors say the victim disclosed the abuse to Boston police last year. An extensive grand jury investigation was then launched, with “numerous witnesses” called to testify. According to the Daily News, Carlino and others connected to Christ the King, including former major league baseball pitcher Allen Watson, testified before the grand jury in February. Two other men told that newspaper they testified before the panel and had also been abused by Oliva. Additional charges could be levied against Oliva as a result.

Oliva met Carlino, who attended Archbishop Malloy High School, when the coach owned an Ozone Park bar called the Short Porch, where the youngster’s father bartended.

In a bright spot for the school’s basketball program, the Royal’s defeated Boys & Girls, 52-49 in the state Federation Class AA game on Sunday in Glen Falls. It was the first championship for the boy’s program since Oliva led the 1989 team to the title. In addition, the school became the first in tournament history to win both the boys’ and girls’ titles, after the lady Royals defeated Sachem East earlier Sunday.

Storm Report: Damage Control and the Aftermath

By Patricia Adams

The storm that hit the city this weekend damaged cars, homes, roads and subway lines throughout our readership area. Coastal areas experienced hurricane-like flooding conditions and electricity outages.

The New York City Parks Department has labeled it as one of the worst storms of the past decade, based on volume of calls. As of Tuesday morning, Parks had received more than 3,000 phone calls citywide about emergency tree conditions through 311. More than 1,458 trees down, split, or uprooted, including more than 150 calls about trees down on houses, and hundreds of limbs hanging or down.

Brooklyn had the most recorded calls with 1,201, Staten Island with 908, Queens with 817, the Bronx: 258 calls and Manhattan with a total of 38 calls. Citywide there were more than 1,600 trees that suffered damage.

About 350 staffers were assigned by Parks to work exclusively on storm response including 36 forestry crews and 50 field managers. An emergency contingency plan was activated and private tree service contractors assisted in removing trees from houses, streets and sidewalks. Parks is now concentrating on trees that landed on homes, cars and playgrounds.

According to the Parks Department the hardest hit areas were in Southeast Queens especially at Bayswater Park and Brookville Boulevard. One tree fell on two houses at 126th Street and 104th Avenue and at King Park in Jamaica one of five surviving trees planted more than 200 years ago by Rufus King, in honor of the 13 colonies, was toppled during the storm.

Council Member Eric Ulrich’s district which covers Howard Beach, parts of Ozone Park Richmond Hill, Woodhaven and Rockaway was especially hard hit by the storm. “We have experienced severe rain and high winds throughout this city, but my district has been hit extremely hard,” said Ulrich. “My office has received a number of calls from Hamilton Beach and Woodhaven during and after the storm, and we are dealing with each constituent on a case by case basis. I am asking all of my constituents to report any property damage to 311 and to report continued power outages, should they re-occur, to Con Edison as soon as possible.”

As of early Wednesday morning 26,000 customers remained without power. Thousands of company support personnel continue to work around the clock to help the crews that are addressing the most destructive rain and windstorm to hit New York City and Westchester in decades. Utilities from Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Kentucky and Massachusetts are assisting Con Edison’s crews. All Queens and Brooklyn customers affected by the storm have been restored.

Aqueduct Project on Shaky Ground

By Patricia Adams

Although a casino operation is planned for development at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, the continued drama surrounding the project is more of a circus than anything else.

Earlier this week, Rev. Floyd Flake announced that he would remove himself as an investor in the Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG), the consortium that was chosen to develop the long awaited video lottery terminals at the struggling raceway.

Insiders speculate that the Rev. Flake, as well as rapper Jay Z, had both dropped their investor positions with AEG due to a requirement by the State Lottery Division for the provision of extensive financial documentation from small investors.

Other sources maintain that Rev. Flake was under pressure from his congregants to exclude himself from any affiliation with a gambling venture. While Flake remained unavailable for comment, he did release a statement in which he said the Aqueduct project had caused him to be distracted from his many obligations at his church.

Still, officials at the State Lottery refused to comment on AEG’s status or if they had met the state filing requirements. If the deal with AEG does fall apart on or before the March 31 deadline, it would result in the state losing the promised upfront payment of $300 million. According to published reports, AEG “remains committed to obtaining state licensing of all investors by month’s end, and has access to the needed cash.”

On Tuesday afternoon at a press conference, Gov. David Paterson recused himself, on the advice of his attorneys, from all pending negotiations concerning Aqueduct.

When reporters pushed the governor about choosing AEG in the first place, Paterson responded that he “certainly thought it was right at the time,” adding “whether or not they are able to comply with the protocols is the same problem that one of the other companies was unable to do last year, and so we’ll just wait and see whether that application is valid.”

According to published reports in the Daily News, AEG could lose their rights to develop the project because they failed to meet state requirements. Reportedly, the Lottery Division informed Gov. Paterson’s staff by memo on Tuesday evening that AEG is “unlicensable” for numerous reasons.

Local officials remain concerned as to the fate of the project and there is no confirmation as to what will happen in the eventuality that AEG is bumped from the project. “It is sad that after eight years this questionable process has not resulted in a signed agreement to get the project underway,” said Betty Braton, Chair of Community Board 10.

In the meanwhile AEG says they are continuing with their plans for development and are hosting a job fair associated with the project at a middle school in the area on March 20.

DA: Ozone Park Man Bit, Battered Infant Daughter

An Ozone Park man was arrested and charged with first-and-second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child in the brutal assault of his infant daughter, Hailey.

Juan Gomez, 23, of 104-01 Liberty Avenue allegedly caused extensive injury to the child left in his care while her mother went to work.

The infant was taken Schneider Children’s Hospital last week with bruises to her chest and eye, a healing fracture in her foot, a fractured ankle, a healing fracture to the lower leg, a bite mark to the right leg, seventeen fractured ribs (sixteen of which were healing), a lacerated liver and difficulty breathing due to a disruption to the lining of the lung.

District Attorney Richard Brown said, “The extent of the physical injuries that this innocent and helpless child suffered in just the first few weeks of her life is beyond comprehension. That they were allegedly committed by her father boggles the mind. This case will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

According to the charges, Gomez was alone with Hailey and became frustrated because she would not stop crying. He then allegedly bit her on the right leg, leaving a bite mark. To conceal what he had done, Gomez allegedly bathed the baby for the following week so nobody could see the bite mark.

In statements made to police and prosecutors Gomez said that he would grab his daughter by the feet and ankles and push her legs back until the feet and ankles were bent back onto her chest, that he head butted the baby in her head and that his head piercings caused bruising to her head, and that he would throw his daughter up in the air – about a foot – and catch her by placing his hands over her rib cage.

If convicted, Gomez could face 15 years in prison.

PAINTING HER TOWN: Renowned Artist Madeline Lovallo Shows Locally

By Patricia Adams

The work of Howard Beach resident and renowned artist Madeline Lovallo is currently being shown at the Ozone Park district office of Council Member Eric A. Ulrich. Inspired by local scenery, Lovallo’s work includes a selection of oils on canvas ranging from the Carousel at Forest Park, shoreline images of Jamaica Bay and views from the sidewalks of Jamaica Avenue. The artist has completed works capturing Woodhaven Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach and Broad Channel.

For the last thirty years, Lovallo has been delighting art enthusiasts with her work in oil on canvas and watercolors. Her formal training began in 1973 when she attended the Brooklyn Museum Art School, as well as The Forest Park School of Art and The Drawing Room in Manhattan.

In 1983, Lovallo relocated with her family to Paris for her husband’s job. Upon her arrival in Europe she was taken by the classical beauty of France, especially captivated with the charm of the winding streets. She wanted to become a part of the Parisian art world and began studies at the American Academy of Paris and Lancaster’s Studio. When she returned home several years later, Lovallo became a member at The Art Students League in Manhattan and the Alliance of Queens Artists.

She has continued with her work and has taken her love of painting to the level of instruction. Lovallo has offered workshops for children with the cooperation of the New York Public Library system and continues to teach drawing to students at her Howard Beach home.

Madeline Lovallo has been showing her work in single shows and group exhibitions since 1985 in the United States and in France. She has been commissioned by numerous museums, galleries and individuals for works in the mediums of oil, watercolor and pastels. Lovallo has been the recipient of many awards and honors, having been recognized for her achievements with various proclamations and citations. In 2005 she was presented with a Certificate of Recognition by Mayor Bloomberg.

Locally, the artist’s works have been purchased by the New York City Parks Department and collectors throughout the city and the tri-state area. Councilman Ulrich says the unusual offer to use his district of- fice as a venue for Lovallo’s one-woman show came so that his constituents would be able to enjoy her work. “Madeline is a truly distinctive and talented artist—an absolute jewel of Queens.”

Madeline Lovallo is very clear when describing the inspiration for her ability to capture the beauty of her local surround- ings. “I am very blessed to live in a beautiful area surrounded by inspiration from the waterways, parks and neighborhoods of south Queens.” And whether she is depicting shoreline scenes from Hamilton Beach or Broad Channel or portraying familiar retail establishments of yesteryear, Lovallo’s passion and sentiment about her surrounding communities is evident.

Ms. Lovallo is affiliated with the Salmagundi Club in Manhattan and her work can be seen online at madelinesstudio.com. Council Member Ulrich’s district office is located at 93-06 101st Avenue in Ozone Park and is open Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Officials Have Differing Views on Aqueduct Redevelopment

Addabbo, Pheffer, Braton Call For End to Delays

By Conor Greene

Local officials and community leaders have mixed feelings on whether the Aqueduct redevelopment project should immediately move forward after the governor’s pick has been criticized as politically motivated.

The decision to pick Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG) to rebuild the Ozone Park racetrack into a racino featuring 4,500 video lottery terminals has come under fire over the past few weeks. Critics say AEG was chosen in part because of connections between Gov. David Paterson and several of the consortium’s key partners. There are also complaints that AEG was allowed to unfairly revise its bid to beat out the other competi- tors.

According to reports, the U.S attorney’s office has issued a subpoena to the state for all documents related to the bidding process, and federal investigators have been discussing the process with losing bidders.

This week, the Daily News reported that Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is waiting until the Inspector General completes his investigation before signing off on the deal. “I think everything should wait until that information is available,” the Manhattan Democrat told the paper. “I think what’s important is we know we’re signing on to something that’s appropriate, and if not, we’re not going to.”

The decision to choose the politically-connected AEG over other bidders with more experience in the casino industry has been widely criticized since it was announced. In an effort to quell the skepticism, Gov. Pater- son last week released certain documents related to the bidding process. However, a recent Siena poll revealed that only three percent of respondents view the deal with AEG as “fair and appropriate”.

However, local officials say, despite legitimate questions over the process, the time has come to move forward on the project, eight years after the state approved video lottery termi- nals at Aqueduct. In a joint statement, Senator Joseph Addabbo, Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer and Community Board 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton argue that, “two governors later, VLTs are still not up and running at Aqueduct, a community is in a frus- trated limbo, and our cash-strapped state is still not realizing much-needed income.”

In the statement, Addabbo, Pheffer and Braton argue that the same selection process was used this year as last, when Delaware North was initially chosen but backed out after it was unable to provide the state with the promised upfront payment. “There was controversy then, as there is now, about the use of that previous process,” the officials wrote. “That selection was met in the local community with much skepticism... Yet no call for a special investigation or media attack was evident then.”

Now, according to the officials, “the media- driven firestorm now calling for details, criteria used and investigations, is to some, unfortunate and very late.”

Addabbo agreed that the selection process created a year ago is “flawed” due to its lack of transparency and objective criteria. “But what is not fair game is to scrap the entire project at this point... The potential jobs this racino project offers are needed now, not later,” he said in the statement. “The state has to deal with its budget now, not later.” He added that many area residents have been calling for this project to move forward for years.

Pheffer said it is “imperative” that the state moves quickly to finalize the contract with AEG and called the project “an economic engine that is vital to the future of the local economy.” She criticized the attacks on AEG at this point, as there has “been ample time for all the calls for documents from all bid- ders to be released and calls for scrutiny of all investors in each of the bids over the past year.”

While also agreeing that the process employed in Albany is “not the best way to make this kind of decision,” Braton also called for the project to move forward without delay. “Our criteria in looking at the information provided to us by all the bidders could be summed up by five questions,” she said. “Can they build it? Can they run it? Will this proposal mesh well with our community? Will the company be open to working with us to minimize any negative impacts? And will the state realize a big pot of money that will help ease the burden on New York taxpayers? The AEG selection meets our criteria and we can work with them.”

Richmond Hill Man Arrested in NJ Double Homicide

Victims are from Howard Beach and Ozone Park

By Patricia Adams

A Queens bar owner was arrested on Saturday and charged with two counts of Murder, and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose after a homicide investigation conducted by New Jersey law enforcement officials.

Nicholas D. Kiriakakis, 25, of Richmond Hill, was charged in the shooting deaths of two other men from Queens. Jonathan Beneduce of Howard Beach and Michael Mirasola from Ozone Park were shot and killed in their vehicle on Wednesday while parked on a residential street in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Police officials say Kiriakakis met with both victims in Queens and that the three men then drove to Teaneck in separate vehicles. The alleged killer drove his own vehicle, with the two friends driving a 2007 Ford Explorer.

Police are investigating the reasons that the three men travelled to the location. Multiple searches conducted at the Kiriakakis’ residence, his place of business at Pearl, a restaurant/bar on Bell Blvd, and his vehicle resulted in theseizure of two simulated handguns, a stun gun, and illegally obtained prescription drugs.

Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said the three men headed to New Jersey around 7:30 pm and that there is no evidence to show that anyone else was involved in the double murders. The prosecutor also said that law enforcement is investigating the possibility that the incident was tied to a drug transaction. Molinelli told reporters however, that no drugs were found on either or the victims or in their SUV.

The distraught father of one of the victims, Nick Beneduce, told The Forum that he was unable to comment on the case because of a request from police not to comment during the ongoing investigation.

Bail for Kiriakakis was set at $3 million. He was also charged by the NYPD with Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Possession of Prescription Ledger Drugs without a Prescription, and with being a Fugitive from Justice for the Bergen County charges. He is currently being held in the Queens Detention Center awaiting extradition to New Jersey.

Rising Republican: Ulrich Looks at Year Ahead

By Patricia Adams

Three months after a powerful re-election victory — capturing 58 percent of the vote — Councilman Eric Ulrich is meeting the challenges of his work at City Hall head on, and with a smile. “I love my job,” the 25-year-old quips, and behind the big toothy grin that accompanies the statement, is a definable air of truth.

Ulrich, one of five Republicans on the council, speaks plainly about the current economic and political climate he is facing. “The city is going through unprecedented challenges and there are so many difficult decisions to be made by the council.”

Among the most crucial are those that involve consolidating services and cuts to funding. “It’s almost like robbing Peter to pay Paul,” a look of concern appears as the newly appointed Minority Whip continues; “Do you fire cops, teachers? Do you close firehouses? The decisions we make obviously have to be the ones best for everyone, but none of them come easily or without consequence.”

While it’s much easier to be an elected official in good times, Ulrich seems determined to make the most out of whatever these times can bear. On his agenda for the upcoming year is a pilot program he is investigating for high school students. “There is tremendous focus on Regent’s testing in our public high schools, but no focus on a crucial step in the preparation for college, the SAT’s.”

The councilman has met with executives from Stanley Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions and is currently in negotiations for institutional instruction rates with the testing experts. “Kaplan has a strong track record and they guarantee elevated scores.” The program would be the first of its kind in Queens and ongoing negotiations also include a strategic progress tracking for enrolled students.

In addition to meetings with Kaplan, Ulrich sat with each of the high school principals in his district and discussed establishing one SAT prep course in each of the 5 schools. The focus is on results and he says it’s imperative to give students who want to succeed the opportunity to do so. “For these kids a boost in their SAT score could mean admission to a more desirable college or a scholarship.” The program, which will be funded entirely through the councilman’s budget, will make the course available to those who would otherwise be unable to take it due to prohibitive costs.

Among other items on his agenda for the district is the expansion of the successful graffiti cleanup program he began back in August. “We’ve had great results and people really feel the impact of the program on their quality of life.” He is particularly enthusiastic about adding the Liberty Avenue corridor to the project and also about taking the initiative to a “higher” level. “In addition to the same type of cleanup initiative, we will expand the program to target graffiti on second floors and the tops of buildings.

Education is a priority for Ulrich and this year his plans are to direct more capital money to district schools. “I’ve met with principals and administrators throughout the district and we have successfully identified the needs of individual schools.” To that end Ulrich says he is committed to addressing the diverse needs of district schools.

On the immediate horizon for the councilman is a trip to Israel as part of a 13-member contingency from the New York City Council. The group that includes Ulrich and Council Speaker Quinn will travel to the Middle East on Saturday and return on February 26.

One of the real upsides of the venture according to Ulrich is that it is not being funded at all by taxpayer dollars. “The entire trip has been arranged and paid for by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the City of New York.” The purpose of the trip is for council members to meet with journalists, elected officials and state leaders, police and military.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for us to speak with people who deal with the looming threat of terrorism every day,” Ulrich said. “There are so many ideas and valuable experiences we can bring back to the city with us.” The delegation was chosen by the speaker and put together to include ethnic, political and gender diversity. “It’s a true reflection of the makeup of our city council,” said Ulrich, “and it’s a very unique and exciting opportunity.”

And on the more “normal” side of life for the City Council’s youngest member, he celebrated his 25th birthday on Saturday evening with a few close friends and family members at a quiet dinner party hosted by wife Yadira. “I was a little disappointed they didn’t bring Tiny with them,” Ulrich says laughingly referring to the couple’s Yorkshire terrier. His joking is something Ulrich maintains everyone around him has had to get used to. “I always try to introduce a little levity and keep my sense of humor on deck. I take my responsibility very seriously but we have to maintain good spirits—we’ll get through all of this. We just have a lot of hard work to do.”

As for the whirlwind Republican climate he’s a part of, Ulrich says there’s much to be hopeful about in the future. “Electing Republicans on a local level is a testament to the decision by voters, to cross party lines and elect candidates on issues not ideological platforms.” And Ulrich says he believes strongly that the trend will continue. “I value and respect the honor that my constituents displayed in electing me. And if I didn’t deliver for them, I fully expect they would not return me to office.”

The immediate future for Eric Ulrich is crystal clear — “I have no plans beyond doing the best job I can in the Council. Anyway for me it’s not a job, public service is a calling.” And then comes the levity again—“I am sure my wife has a few things to add to the list of my future plans, and if you think you can’t fight City Hall…”

Ex-Assemblyman Seminerio Sentenced to Six Years for Accepting Illegal Payments

By Conor Greene

Disgraced former Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio has been sentenced to six years in prison for illegally accepting consulting fees from individuals and companies doing business with the state over the past decade.

Seminerio, 74, pleaded guilty last year to theft of honest services for accepting about $1 million from companies including Jamaica Hospital through a consulting firm he ran from his home. Last Thursday, he was sentenced to prison by a federal judge, despite pleas from his attorneys to grant him home confinement. He must repay $1 million.

“When you were elected, you were given a great privilege,” the Justice Naomi Reice Buchwald, told Seminerio while handing down his sentence. “You abused the trust placed in you... You decided to take a piece of the action.

Seminerio represented the 38th Assembly district for more than 30 years before resigning in disgrace last year after the consulting scheme came to light. When pleading guilty, Seminerio admitted to pulling strings in Albany for Jamaica Hospital while accepting more than $300,000 from the facility. In return, the hospital received state funding.

“I’ll be OK,” the fallen politician reportedly told friends and family as he exited the federal courtroom in Manhattan last week. When approached by reporters, he added: “I’m 74 years old. How much time have I left? I’ve been through enough, please. Be kind.”

Following Seminerio’s resignation last year, Democrat Mike Miller was victorious in a special election to represent the district, which includes Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Glendale and Ozone Park. “The criminal justice system has run its course, and as a result of his criminal conduct, Tony Seminerio now faces several years in prison and the forfeiture of $1 million,” said Miller in
a statement issued to The Forum.

Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D- Ozone Park), who has served in Albany for more than two decades, said the sentencing is the culmination of a long and painful investigation into the behavior of a former colleague. “I think he thought it wasa death sentence,” she said. “He is not young, and he’s not doing well, but the judge could have given him 14 years. The judge said it – he violated the public trust. It’s about integrity. People expect that we’re not doing anything illegal.”

The impact of Seminerio’s fall from power on the district includes problems with funding earmarked for various local non-profit and community groups that never material- ized, something both Miller and Pheffer touched on. “While the Seminerio case is closed, vital community groups continue to suffer as a result of his scandal,” said Miller. “The time has come for our community to move forward and focus on rebuilding these programs.”

Said Pheffer: “It seems that the district was upset about the delivery of member items and discretionary funding. There was money lost in the turnover. I think some groups were adversely affected by the loss of funding.”

Questions Surround Gov's Aqueduct Pick

By Patricia Adams

The sigh of relief that came with last week’s award of the bid to redevelop Aqueduct Racetrack was followed this week by a sigh of contempt from local elected officials and residents alike.

The focus of local furor centers on allegations swirling rampantly about Albany that David Paterson is on the cusp of a possible resignation from the governorship -- and that the bid award was motivated by political agenda. The contract in question is for the installation of 4,500 video lottery terminals at the struggling Ozone Park venue.

On Friday afternoon Paterson’s lead counsel, Peter Kiernan, made statements admitting politics was a critical factor in choosing the Aqueduct Entertainment Group as the winner. Kiernan’s statements came on the heels of protestations from groups who lost out on the bid, citing a flawed process complicated by what they called political favoritism.

James Featherstonhaugh, a veteran Albany lobbyist who represented Delaware North in the bidding, called the process and its associ- ated delays, “bizarre,” adding that he “never witnessed anything like it in 40 years of experience in Albany.”

State Senator Joe Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) spoke out on Friday during an interview with NY1. “I have been a critic of it [the process] ever since I felt that we had the same number of bidders for the last eight months and we’ve had all their financial information for the last eight months. We could have made this decision some time in 2009,” said Addabbo, “it took us this long to make this decision and then when the decision is made, it’s questionable.”

Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer has been involved from the inception of the Aqueduct proposal. “It’s a very serious issue that we have these potential complications,” Pheffer told The Forum. “The state needs this money by April 1 and we can only hope that everything will move forward. I assume they [AEG] are going to come up with the $300 million and if they can’t I trust that they’ll tell us so that we can move on.” Pheffer says she was particularly encouraged by the transparency AEG displayed throughout the process.

During an interview with The Forum, Community Board 10 Chair Betty Braton expressed confidence in the winning bidder. "AEG's proposal to develop the VLT facility is a solid one, the company has been communicating with us and has been forthcoming over the course of the past year with any information the Community Board requested,” she said. “The conditions set forth as part of the decision are certainly reasonable ones and AEG has indicated the company can meet them. We expect that it will.”

Braton indicated that she shares the dismay of both Addabbo and Pheffer over extended delays and agrees that the focus must be on progress. “It's time this project become a reality. We look forward to working with AEG and their NY and Queens partners: Levine Builders, Turner Construction, and Green- Star Services to create the VLT facility along with the thousands of much-needed jobs it will create.”

Jeffrey Levine, a partner in AEG, said his group “was selected by Governor Paterson, Senator Smith and Speaker Silver because our bid represents the best value for the taxpayers of New York and the best plan for the residents of Queens. We will pay the $300 million upfront licensing fee by March 31, 2010, and are working towards signing the MOU and breaking ground as soon as possible."

Andrew Frank, a spokesman for AEG said the consortium was “very pleased to have been selected. We understand that the other bidders are disappointed. Had we lost we would be [disappointed] too.” Frank expressed confidence in the future of Aqueduct project under AEG’s lead. “We put ourselves in a po- sition to have been selected and we’ll get through it. We are going to pay the state $300 million, provide the jobs we promised and build it.”

On Tuesday, Paterson called a press conference and struck what was defined by one observer as “an almost defiant pose” following an interview with the Albany bureau of the New York Times. Paterson maintained that he would not be leaving the governor’s mansion unless the decision was made “at the ballot box” by the voters. The only option for Paterson leaving office before his termwould be “in a box.”

Now the state and local community sur- rounding Aqueduct will wait to see if AEG can meet the conditions imposed by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in order for the deal to be final and move through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) process.

As part of the agreement to accept AEG, Silver laid out four “non-negotiable” terms:

--AEG must pay a $300 million up-front licensing fee.

--Anyone with a felony conviction within the past 15 years is barred from being a partner in the deal.

--The project must be environmentally sound.

--Legislative leaders must have veto power over any subsequent changes to the plan.

Following the announcement by Silver, AEG announced that the Darman Group would step down as a key partner in the project because of a misdemeanor conviction against one of its leaders, Darryl Greene. Greene has closes ties to AEG partner former congressman Floyd Flake, and state Senate President Malcolm Smith.

AEG released a statement on Tuesday to address the situation regarding political affiliations. "We can unequivocally state that Senator Smith nor any government official involved in this process will ever be employed by Aqueduct Entertainment Group or any of its partners, investors or affiliates.”

Firm Finally Chosen to Develop Aqueduct Racino

AEG Will Have to Meet Further Conditions

By Patricia Adams

After eight months of delays, Gov. David Paterson announced Friday that he and legislative leaders have chosen the Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG) consortium that includes multiple builders and a former Las Vegas casino executive to construct and operate Video Lottery Terminals (VLT’s) at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens.

“After an extensive review of the five remaining bids to operate the video lottery terminals at Aqueduct racetrack, I have chosen and the leaders (of the state Assembly and Senate) have agreed the organization that best fulfills our selection criteria,” Mr. Paterson said, in a press statement. “All of the groups have valid proposals, but AEG presented a comprehensive bid that enjoys community support and also offers strong marketing appeal.”

The selection of AEG is however, subject to conditions according to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who said he agreed with the governor’s choice. The award of the bid ends delayed construction at Aqueduct since it was first approved in 2001, and one big modification is the additional $100 million dollars AEG will have to add to its upfront payment to the state. Now the deal will include a boost to licensing fees--from $200 million to $300 million.

The increase comes as a result of matching the highest offer that had come from Penn National Gaming Inc. A series of other demands have also been imposed at the last minute to get final legislative approval, including a serious investigation of all individuals tied to AEG before a contract will be awarded.

The announcement of the winning bidder comes on the heels of recent pressures in Albany to make a choice. Paterson said AEG had financial viability and best fulfilled the selection criteria, though all five groups under consideration had valid proposals.

Lawmakers originally approved a plan to install as many as 4,500 VLT’s at the track more than eight years ago, with a percentage of revenues paid to the state. Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook said Friday that the administration hopes to have the memorandum of understanding signed within 30 days, with the upfront payment due then.

Jeffrey Levine, Founder and CEO of Levine Builders and partner in AEG spoke on behalf of the consortium. "Aqueduct Entertainment Group is honored to have been selected to operate the video lottery terminals at Aqueduct racetrack. As we have said since day one, Aqueduct Entertainment Group has the best team to design, develop and operate the facility. We know we will be a great partner with the state and the residents of Queens for years to come. We look forward to completing the memorandum of understanding and beginning construction."

Local lawmakers Senator Joe Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) and Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Ozone Park) have both involved in the project since its inception.

“Months ago, AEG claimed that they can deliver the racino faster than their rivals, which would start an expected flow of $1 million a day to the state that much sooner,” said Sen. Addabbo. “AEG has strong New York partners, such as Turner Construction Company and Levine Builders. After many discussions with them, I am confident that my district office and I can work with AEG on creating an environment at Aqueduct that is beneficial to New York State, NYRA and the people of the surrounding communities.”

“The racino will bring welcomed economic growth to our community by providing jobs, both during the construction and also full-time permanent jobs for the operation of the facility,” said Pheffer. “This project will be a strong economic engine for the local economy by providing added revenue for New York State, increased educational funding and much needed employment.”

According to Pheffer, AEG has widespread support from local groups including Community Board #10, the Queens Chamber of Commerce and many community and civic organizations. “We have had many false starts in the past and I am thrilled that we will now begin to move forward with a successful project for Aqueduct,” stated Pheffer.

The partners in AEG, are the Navegante Group led by Larry Woolf, former chief executive of MGM Grand Hotels in Las Vegas; building contractor Greenstar Services Corp.; Turner Construction Co.; Levine Builders; the Darman Group Inc. and Empowerment Development Corp.; PS&S Design; Siemens; and merchant bank Clairvest Group Inc.

Fire Companies Again on Chopping Block

Mayor Seeks to Close $4.9 Billion Gap in Preliminary Budget

By Conor Greene

With a sense of déjà vu, local elected officials are ready to fight back against Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal to eliminate at least 20 fire companies in an effort to close the $4.9 billion gap in the city’s $63.6 billion budget.

The fight is a familiar one for City Council members – last year’s budget also included the elimination of 16 fire companies, including Engine 271 on Himrod Street. Those closures were eventually avoided when Council members used discretionary funding to restore the FDNY budget. However, that was a one-time solution that is unlikely to be repeated year after year, especially with the number of closings increased by four.

Last Thursday, Mayor Bloomberg unveiled his preliminary budget for 2011, which includes reductions to almost every city agency. However, as bad as it is, he warned that deeper cuts would be needed if Governor David Paterson’s proposed budget is adopted. That would result in an additional $1.3 billion gap, forcing the firing thousands of city employees, including 8,500 teachers and 3,150 police.

“New Yorkers continue to feel the harsh impact of the deepest national recession in more than 60 years, and as many businesses and families continue cutting back on their budgets, so too must city government,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Because of the early steps we took to diversify our economy and keep our fiscal house in order, we’ve avoided the very worst-case scenario, but we still face a very large deficit that will require very difficult decisions.”

However, as bad as the economic situation is, and as difficult as the decisions are, local Council members all say that cuts to emergency services shouldn’t even be considered.

Immediately after the preliminary budget was released, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village), who is chair of the fire and criminal justice committee, released a statement vowing to fight against the closings of any fire companies. “It is alarming that so many fire company closures are even being proposed in the mayor’s preliminary budget,” said Crowley. “We have a responsibility to our taxpaying New Yorkers that when it comes to safety, we deliver.”

Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) said haven’t been announced, “we do know that every year when we go through the budget dance there is always one on the chopping block that would affect our community.”

He agreed that funding for emergency services “should be baseline in the budget and not up for negotiations… That should be standard, and if we have to make cuts outside that to balance the budget, so be it, but you can’t balance the budget by putting lives at risk, and that’s what the city engages in every year around this time… There are going to be cuts that will be painful, but we have to minimize the negative impact it is going to have on people, and in my opinion, closing firehouses and laying off cops is just unconscionable.”

Crowley stressed that any closings will have a ripple effect across the city. “When you start closing one company here and one there, you’re spreading the whole service thinner,” she said. “I believe we have to maintain a level of protection that is critical for all New Yorkers, and when you start closing companies, it impacts the safety of the whole city.”

Last year, the Council was able to avoid the closures by reallocating $17 million in discretionary funding to the FDNY budget. This year’s preliminary mayoral budget cuts about $22 million needed to keep the companies open, which Crowley called a “drop in the bucket” considering the city’s budget is more than $60 billion. “It is tough budget times, but I firmly believe the budget for 2011 is not nearly as bad as it was anticipated to be,” she said. “The economy is showing signs of improvement and anticipated tax revenue is higher than anticipated.” As a result, she hopes that non-essential spending will be able to be cut from the FDNY budget over the next few months.

Newly-appointed FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano said recently that closing even a few companies will require an overhaul of the city’s network of engine and ladder companies. “If we have to close 20 companies, which is a six percent reduction in the number of companies we have, it is going to tax us,” he told the New York Times. “It is certainly the most challenging thing we have faced in decades.”

Several other Council members joined the chorus demanding that the fire companies are removed from the potential chopping block. “This is a very serious problem. Public safety is something we can’t cut corners on,” said Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills). “Fire companies are something we should not close, or even think about closing. It is not an option as far as I’m concerned.”

In a statement, Councilwoman Diana Reyna (D-Ridgewood) said: “In these tough economic times we must use our discretion and act strategically, going line-by-line to protect the funding that allows the brave men and women of the FDNY to continue to serve our residents with the quality and excellence they have come to expect.”

Teacher Charged with Letting Students Wrestle in Classroom

A teacher and an aide assigned to PS 65 in Ozone Park have been arraigned on child endangerment charges for allowing two fourth graders to wrestle in the classroom in order to settle a dispute, authorities announced.

Teacher Joseph Gullotta, 29, and para-professional Abraham Fox, 43, both of Long Island, were arraigned over the weekend in Queens Criminal Court and released on their own recognizance. They are due back in court on February 25 and face up to a year in jail.

According to the charges, a 10-year-old student was having a dispute with a student inside the classroom on January 28 when Gullotta told him that he should instead take it out on a nine-year-old student. When the two boys began grabbing each other’s arms and shoulders and wrestling, Gullotta allegedly told another student to close the door.

During the wrestling match, the older student’s head struck the younger student’s mouth, resulting in injuries to both children. Even though he was inside the classroom at the time, Fox didn’t attempt to stop the boys or offer them assistance for their injuries. In addition, despite the students’ injuries and Fox’s observation that the younger might need stitches, neither adult offered the boys the chance to go to the nurse’s office until two periods later.

Finally, two hours after the wrestling match, Gullotta allowed just the younger boy to go to the nurse and allegedly instructed him to lie about how his injuries occurred. However, the student voiced concern about the other student, who had complained that his head hurt. The nurse told the student to go back to the classroom and get the other student. Gullotta is accused of escorting the older student to the nurse’s office and ordering him to tell the same made-up story the younger child had told the nurse.

The incident came to light when the parent of one of the students involved in the incident overheard them talking about it. The investigation at the school, located at 103-22 99th Street, was conducted by the 106th Precinct.

Fire Destorys Building; Tenants Escape Injury

By Patricia Adams

Xavier Batista was awakened by a smoke detector Monday morning at about 7:15 in his Ozone Park apartment. “I opened the door to check on my neighbor.” Batista said he was met by heavy smoke in the hallway and tried to kick in the front door but it wouldn’t budge.

“I was afraid that he was in there sleeping but the door wouldn’t move.” The DEP worker raced back to his own apartment, called 911 and ran from the burning building escaping injury.

“The fire department was here very quickly. It seemed like no more than a minute or two, and they did a great job.” His neighbor, he learned later, had left for work at 4:30 that morning. “Thank God he wasn’t in there and that no one else got hurt. We are all very lucky.”

“My apartment is completely destroyed,” Batista said. “The firemen had to chop up the roof to get the fire out and now there is about 4 feet of water in the basement.” Until he finds a new apartment or his is rebuilt he will be staying nearby with his daughter and son-inlaw.

Fire marshalls are still investigating the cause of the three-alarm blaze at Crossbay and Linden Boulevards that began in on the top floor above the E Studio Salon and Spa and spread to the adjacent Best Cleaners and to an apartment above Heavenly Florist at the corner. Three apartments above the stores were destroyed in the fire; the building that Batista has lived in for nine years now has an order to vacate pasted to its doors.

Marlo Hirshfield and her sister Rosemarie Rossomangno, the owners of Heavenly Florist, say they began receiving calls on their cell phones to say that the store was burning. “We were devastated when we heard the news,” said Marlo, but upon arrival at the store, their devastation turned to joy. “It’s absolutely unbelievable but our store is completely intact. Nothing was damaged. We don’t even have any water in the store.”

“All I can say is that this is a blessing from God,” said Hirshfield. “We have a bride this weekend, Valentines Day is coming up and with things the way they are with the economy we would have been out of business if the fire had reached us. We are blessed.” Another tenant, living above the florist was rescued with her two children, an infant and a toddler, and taken from the burning apartment by firefighters.

Seller Beware: Wide Range in Prices Offered for Gold

Sellers Must Shop Around Before Parting with Jewelry

By Conor Greene

With the economy down and the price of gold up, many residents are turning to their old and broken jewelry for a source of some quick cash. However, if you’re not careful and don’t take certain steps, there is a good chance of being ripped off in the process.

In light of this trend, a local elected official is warning would-be gold sellers about one particular scam, in which a company called Cash4Gold often pays between just 11 percent and 29 percent of the current market price for gold. Local pawn shops are only marginally better, generally offering between 35 percent and 70 percent of the value.

On a recent afternoon, The Forum took a first hand look at the market residents face in order to get a better idea of how close local pawnshops and jewelry stores come to offering full market value for an assortment of old gold bracelets and pendants. To do this, a reporter took the items to Marlowe Jewelers in Howard Beach, where owner Dennis Croce determined that the jewelry was worth about $1,995.

While the reporter knew exactly how much the items were worth, he set out to six local buyers, playing dumb in order to see what kind of offers would be made. First up was Gold Rush, located at 105-14 Crossbay Boulevard in Ozone Park, just south of Liberty Avenue. After checking each piece of gold, the clerk offered just $1,125 for the jewelry. Likely based upon the expression on the reporter’s face, he quickly said he could make a much better price and punched some numbers into the calculator before offering $1,350.

Next up was Village Cash for Gold at 80-10 Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven. The clerk immediately boasted that he doesn’t “play around” and makes fair offers. He came pretty close to the gold’s actual value, offering $1,700. However, the clerk looked like he expected a deal to be made, and it took a minor amount of insisting that the offer needed to be mulled over before the clerk handed the gold back to the reporter.

A few blocks down at Metropolitan Pawnbrokers, 92-16A Jamaica Avenue, the reporter encountered what would ultimately turn out to be the fairest offer of the day. The clerk, who was one of just two who asked where the male reporter had gotten the women’s jewelry, urged him to shop around and then come back with the highest offer, and said the gold was worth at least $1,900. He also advised not to tell other buyers what offers had been made prior in order to get the best price possible.

The fourth store visited was The Gold Standard on Austin Street in Forest Hills, where the clerk first offered $1,500 before upping the price to $1,650 – at least in the ballpark of the gold’s value. However, the reporter noticed that the scale there only read 85.5 pennyweight, while the jewelry actually weighted 86.7 pennyweight.

From there, The Forum headed to Ridgewood, stopping first at Gemelli Jeweler’s Fresh Pond Road store. Despite being a jewelry store that carries many expensive items, the girl behind the counter there offered just $1,385 before saying she could pay $1,400 at most. The last stop was Liberty Pawn Brokers on Weirfield Street, which offered $1,400.

The Forum’s look at the local gold buying industry comes after Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Forest Hills) released a study showing that Cash4Gold, which advertises on late-night television, is preying on cash-strapped New Yorkers through deceptive marketing, low payment policies and misleading return policies. Residents mail the gold in an envelope, and the company assesses it and sends a check in return.

According to Weiner’s study, Cash4Gold intentionally low-balls offers to customers and then, if a customer complains, increases the offer. Customer service agents are reported to receive a commission for keeping the payout low, the congressman added. As a result, Weiner has asked the Federal Trade commission to investigate the misleading practices and plans to introduce the GOLD Act, which would seek protect consumers.

“It’s time for the government to take a stand against predatory companies like Cash4Gold,” said Weiner. “There’s no reason to allow Cash4Gold to continue their policy of kicking struggling consumers while they are already down… Cash4Gold is using these tough times as a golden opportunity to fleece customers. These deceptive practices must end.”

On the local level, there are simple steps sellers should take to ensure they receive a fair deal, according to Marlowe Jeweler’s Croce, who says his store has seen more people getting rid of old jewelry in recent years. “It seems to me like every time there is a spike in gold on the up side, you get a rush of people,” he said. “I guess people are definitely following that trend, we get a lot more people paying attention to the price than a few years ago.”

He says the typical sellers are either older folks who need the money to squeeze by in these tough times, or younger people who don’t necessarily need the money but just want to get rid of old jewelry while the price of gold is still high. “Some older people tell me they can use the money to pay bills,” said Croce. “The older people are more sentimental, but have to pay the bills, while the younger generation, once they’re tired of it they don’t care [about holding onto old jewelry].”

Croce’s advice is to simply shop around and only go to reputable stores that are licensed. While there is no law regulating how much a store has to offer, there are other regulations that licensed brokers must follow. “If you don’t feel comfortable with the place, don’t use them,” he added.

Other tips include getting an offer without revealing the amount other stores suggested, and to try to sell plain gold that doesn’t include stones in order to get a clearer idea of what the jewelry is worth. “Shopping is the most important thing. If they shop around, they are usually going to come back to me, since I give them a fair number,” said Croce.

Addabbo to Paterson: "You're Not a Leader"

Senator Slams Governor Over Aqueduct

By Patricia Adams

“It’s an absolute embarrassment.” That is how Senator Joe Addabbo described Gov. David Paterson’s failure to deliver on a promise made three weeks ago to finally name a Video Lottery Terminal operator at Aqueduct Racetrack. “If we judge the governor by the leadership decisions he makes he will not be judged well.”

And then there are the indecisions. The senator says that there is no reason in the world that the decision has not yet been made and he says at this point other action must be taken. “David Paterson is clearly not a person of leadership or decision. He’s in true jeopardy. He is in the process of tossing away 200 million dollars. It’s absurd.”

Now after eight months of waiting and procrastination, Addabbo contends there must be an alternative plan of action. “We are investigating any and all possibilities to settle this matter outside the governor’s office.”

The extreme urgency of the situation is further compounded due to the impending close of the state’s fiscal year—it’s slated to include the $200 million upfront money from the chosen VLT bidder. “Can you imagine if this deficit has to be applied to next year—it’s a state disaster in the making.”

According to Addabbo the governor is not paying attention; the consequences of his “fence parking” are presenting a grave danger to the financial health of the state. Widespread concerns from civic and community leaders throughout the Aqueduct community are being expressed in the form of letters, e-mail and phone calls to elected officials.

“We have to take action to address this issue outside of the governor’s office,” Addabbo stated. The senator says he will again speak to the Democratic State Senate Leader John Sampson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. “They have to pressure the governor too—both sides of this decision have to force a decision.”

In the process to choose the vendor all necessary reports are in according to Larry Love, legal counsel to Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer. “All the information on these bidders is in. Their financials are in. The only thing missing is a decision.”

Love says the governor has put off the decision long enough and has to pick someone. “To be losing that kind of money—how foolish.” Pheffer maintains that she and Addabbo have been struggling with this process for what seems an endless time.

“We don’t know for sure that the vendor chosen will be the absolute perfect choice. But what we do know is that without any choice we are losing at least $1 million per day,” said the senator. And if Addabbo’s figures are on the money, the delay has already cost the state and the local economy almost $250 million in desperately needed revenue, since the last stall in the process ensued.

The Aqueduct situation was introduced for discussion at civic meetings this week in Ozone Park and again in Woodhaven. “The people here want answers,” Joe Addabbo told The Forum. “They’re certainly not being unreasonable—they—we all have waited patiently for far too long.”

To that end Addabbo says he will take action and will likely be joined by his colleague in the assembly and many civic and community organizations. “We’re in the process of having discussions about some plan of action for the very near future, and it could very well come in the form of a rally to be held at Aqueduct.”

As part of the trickle down-effect of the stunted process, an already struggling New York Racing Association has recently been hit with pollution violations for dumping manure into Jamaica Bay. The racing operator is recorded as having more than a dozen violations which could amount to fines totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The possible fines come on the heels of talk by NYRA about requesting a state bailout of about $30 million if a bidder is not chosen almost immediately to begin development of the property at Aqueduct.

Sen. Addabbo has stated that he is focusing on a tentative rally date no more than two weeks away.