Dec. 23, 2018 Your Neighborhood — Your News®
LOCAL
CL ASSIFIEDS
PA GE 19
BY ALEJANDRA O’CONNELLDOMENECH
The Sunnyside community
came together in a time of
need Monday after 12 people,
including seven firefighters,
were injured Dec. 13 as flames
ripped through a row of stores
on Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside,
destroying six businesses,
according to the FDNY.
Fire Department sources said
the five-alarm inferno broke out
Dec. 13 at about 2:14 a.m. inside
the New York Style Eats restaurant
located at 45-02 Queens Blvd.,
near 45th Street.
The flames rapidly spread to
several adjacent businesses.
Firefighters arrived on the
scene within four minutes of a 911
call regarding the fire, according
to Assistant Chief Anthony De-
Vita. The FDNY determined that
six businesses along Queens Boulevard
were affected by the blaze;
firefighters worked to prevent the
flames from spreading to adjoining
residential and commercial
structures on 46th Street, DeVita
said during a press conference at
the scene.
The situation took a more
frightening turn when a number
of firefighters got caught in a violent
backdraft — a blast of flames
and heavy smoke.
DeVita said that the backdraft
is believed to have triggered a
partial collapse within 45-02
Queens Blvd., allowing the flames
to spread further through the adjoining
businesses.
The FDNY reported that seven
firefighters and five civilians were
hospitalized for injuries sustained
in the blaze, according to WABCTV.
One of the civilians was reported
to be in serious condition.
Firefighters worked for nearly
BREAK OUT THE GOLDEN SHOVELS
Officials break ground on the $2M renovation project at Juniper Valley Park. Photo by Daniel Avila/NYC Parks
BY BILL PARRY
The city has received an ultimatum
from the federal government:
it has until Jan. 31, 2019,
to develop a plan of action to
remediate NYCHA’s longstanding
issues with management,
lead, mold, heat, elevators and
vermin or the agency falls into
receivership.
Housing and Urban Development
Secretary Ben Carson
sent the warning in a letter to
NYCHA on Dec. 14.
If an acceptable arrangement
is not reached, HUD intends to
declare NYCHA in substantial
default of its legal obligation to
provide decent, safe and healthy
housing to its residents.
“I will not hesitate to exercise
my legal authority to impose
more serious sanctions,”
Carson said. “The families who
are enduring unimaginably
poor housing conditions deserve
better from their housing
authority. We need bold new solutions
for an old problem and I
earnestly hope the city is seri-
Rich Hill teacher busted
in student assault: NYPD
BY BILL PARRY
A Richmond Hill High School teacher was arrested
and charged Dec. 18 with the assault of a 16-
year-old student at the school.
Officers from the 102nd Precinct cuffed 59-yearold
Paul Ray after he injured the boy, causing a
Kidnapper yet to be arraigned
VAo Cl.N 7G.7G NPou.b 5li1c 5lic1 ation Vol. 7 No. 51 UPDATED EVERY DAY AT TIMESLEDGER.COM
BY MARK HALLUM
The 40-year-old man
who allegedly attempted to
kidnap an 11-year-old girl
in Ridgewood last weekend
has been hospitalized
for a psychiatric evaluation
and his arraignment
has been delayed, according
to court records.
Relyn Estrada, 40, faces
kidnapping and other
charges for the Dec. 15
attempted abduction,
which was allegedly foiled
thanks to the help of a
good Samaritan. Later
that evening, Estrada was
pictured being escorted
out of the 104th Precinct’s
Ridgewood stationhouse.
However, court records
obtained Monday indicated
that Estrada had yet
to be arraigned, as he was
RELYN ESTRADA apparently hospitalized.
Mayor reveals
plans to repair
NYCHA
Sunnyside rallies together after fi re
Five-alarm blaze destroyed row of neighborhood shops on Queens Boulevard
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