20170518_XQC_QNE_p019

QC105182017

FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 18, 2017 • THE QUEENS COURIER 19 Council bill targets illegal conversions On May 10, a bevy of local lawmakers gathered on the steps of City Hall to announce that the City Council had voted unanimously for legislation that will increase penalties for illegally converted homes and hopefully curb the issue as a whole. Th e bill, Intro 1218-A, also known as the Aggravated Illegal Conversion Bill, raises the stakes for those who allow three or more illegal dwelling units to be created within one structure due to the dangers it causes to tenants. Th e bill passed 49-0. Th e bill creates a heft y $15,000 fi ne for each individual unit that is three or more units above the Certifi cate of Occupancy. If the fi ne is unpaid for one year, the lien can be sold by the city. Under the new bill, aft er two unsuccessful attempts to gain access, the city Department of Buildings (DOB) will then request the Law Department apply for an access warrant, allowing for a much smoother entry process. Queens lawmakers supporting the measure include City Councilwomen Elizabeth Crowley and Karen Koslowitz and City Councilmen Barry Grodenchik, Daniel Dromm, Peter Koo, Rory Lancman, I. Daneek Miller, Eric Ulrich and Paul Vallone. Jaime DeJesus Howard Beach man dies after being hit by car An 89-year-old man died a week aft er he was hit by a car while crossing a busy Howard Beach street. According to police, at 12:48 p.m. on May 7, Robert Falk of Howard Beach was walking across Cross Bay Boulevard at the intersection of Cross Bay Boulevard and 160th Avenue.\ A 2002 Honda was traveling west on 160th Avenue and turned left onto Cross Bay Boulevard, hitting Falk and pushing him to the ground. Falk suff ered head trauma and was rushed to Jamaica Hospital. Falk was pronounced dead on Sunday, May 14. Th e driver of the Honda Pilot, a 39-year-old male, stayed at the scene. No arrests have been made at this time. Emily Davenport One dead, another injured in shooting Police continue to investigate a shooting in Springfi eld Gardens on Sunday morning that left a man dead and another injured. At 8:30 a.m. on May 14, police responded to a 911 call of people shot at the corner of 144th Avenue and 227th Street. Upon their arrival, cops from the 105th Precinct found two men who were shot at the location, a 38-yearold man with gunshot wounds to the head and 40-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the torso. Both victims were transported to Jamaica Hospital. Th e 38-year-old victim, whose identity has yet to be released, was declared dead at the hospital. Th e 40-year-old victim is in stable condition. No arrests have been made at this time, and the investigation is ongoing. Emily Davenport Southeast Queens lends a hand to Nigeria BY THE QUEENS COURIER STAFF [email protected] @QNS Th e When In Need Foundation (WIN) recently went on a mission trip to Nigeria to bring medical supplies to areas that do not have access to medical care. In attendance on this trip was state Senator James Sanders Jr. Sanders held a press conference on Friday, May 12, to discuss the recent mission with African dignitaries Kate Igbodike, consul in charge of information, culture and education for the Nigerian Consulate General in New York and Oheneba Boakye, the younger brother of the President of Ghana, his Excellency Nana Aakuff o Addo. WIN and Sanders went down to Nigeria with 30 doctors as well as medicines to combat illnesses like malaria, typhoid, cholera, diabetes and high blood pressure. Th ey provided eyeglasses to those who were visually impaired and treated many who suffered blindness and glaucoma. Additionally, 3,000 people aged 18 to 96 were given medical examinations and more than 600 children received care. “These people are living in rural areas where they do not have access to medical centers, and they are not able to pay for medical assistance,” said Chetachi Nwoga- Ecton, president and executive director of WIN. “I call them the forgotten ones.” Ecton went on to explain that many people in that area have never been examined by a doctor before or even have access to aspirin, which causes a lot of preventable diseases to get worse. During the press conference, Igbodike stressed the importance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in helping the “downtrodden,” and expressed her gratitude to Senator Sanders and the WIN Foundation for their good work. Boakye said he knows fi rsthand how a lack of access to medical facilities with functioning equipment can lead to fatalities. “In Africa in general and as a whole, we need help and we need people to speak, because if you’re quiet, no one is going to hear about it.” While in Nigeria, Sanders took some time to discuss the possibility of strengthening relations between the United States and Nigeria, even though Nigeria is already an ally. Sanders joined the When in Need Foundation in distributing medicines in Nigeria. Four Kings conferred Senator Sanders (third from left) with the title of chief. They are Obi Ajarogu -Paramount Ruler of Ogwume; Eze Kyrian Chiedo -Eze Oha 11; Eze Christopher Obi - Eshill 11; and. Eze U.C.E Onuoha Okpautorokpu of Obioha. One Stop center in Richmond Hill honors local leaders Th e One Stop Richmond Hill Community Center honored a number of local residents for their contributions to the community during its annual comedy night fundraiser on May 6 at the Holy Child Jesus Auditorium. Each of the honorees received plaques and other awards from the center’s president, Simcha Waisman. Th e award recipients include former Holy Child Jesus School teacher Anthony Montenegro, P.S. 60 Principal Adrienne Ubertini, P.S. 66 Principal Phyllis Weinland, Assemblyman Mike Miller, Paul Michael Kazas of the Knights of Lithuania, Florence Photo by Robert Pozarycki D’Souza of the One Stop Richmond Hill Community Center, NYPD Assistant Chief David Barrere, NYPD Inspector Milt Marmara and Queens Courier/Courier Sun Co-Publisher Joshua Schneps. City Councilman Eric Ulrich presented proclamations to each of the honorees.


QC105182017
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