A story on Bail Reform

Mohab is a hard working mechanic. After work, he would do side jobs to earn extra income. A friend of his asked him to move a food cart for $150 in August. Unknowingly, the cart did not belong to his friend, and the owner reported it stolen. He and his friend were caught and charged…

Candidate for City Council in 2023
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Theft rising in Forest Hills

“It was never this bad,” residents said. Besides packages and catalytic converters, motorcycle was stolen, several houses were broken into. Has any thief ever been caught and prosecuted under Bail Reform? Many residents had to beg the police to write up a report. Residents should be able to self report, and have statistics compiled by…

Candidate for City Council in 2023
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Feral cats: Problem or solution to city’s rat problem?

Inflation has driven many cat owners to surrender them or turn them out into the street. The City has a Trap-Neuter-Return initiative. How about a rat catching initiative? Cat food and medical expense would be covered by the City for owners who train cats to hunt mice. How is our “Rat Czar”, Kathleen Corradi doing?…

Candidate for City Council in 2023
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Revisiting Local Law 11: NYC Façade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP)

RCNY §103-04 rules. A shareholder in Forest Hills complained that his 200-unit, 7-floor coop paid $250,000 last cycle to a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector. Report was “SWARMP”. The current cycle has the same designation, but the cost tripled to $750,000. Another 130-unit coop in Kew Gardens had one brick off, and its shareholders need to…

Candidate for City Council in 2023
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Brief History of NYC Legal Right to Shelter

Callahan v. Carey (1979) lawsuit by Robert Hayes, co-founder of Coalition for the Homeless, mandated adequate provision for housing single men of “all of the destitute and homeless alcoholics, addicts, mentally impaired derelicts, flotsam and jetsam, and others during the winter months.” The suit asked for 750 beds. The Constitution of the State of New…

Candidate for City Council in 2023
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One of the worst corners in Richmond Hill? 109 Street and 97 Avenue

Water bugs, not rats, are everywhere at dark. Lamppost lighting is weak. Parking space is hard to find. Cars covered and parked for months. It is harder to keep the area clean. Drug selling is observed regularly. “No Parking Anytime” installed meaninglessly… at PS62. Candidate for City Council in 2023

Candidate for City Council in 2023
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Speed Cameras: Friend or foe?

Then Governor Cuomo authorized it in 2013 Section 1180-b of New York State’s Vehicle and Traffic Law allowing it in 20 NYC school speed zones. In 2014, it expanded to 140 school speed zones. In 2019, 750 zones. Starting on August 1, 2022, from 6 am to 10 pm to 24/7. Objective: Eliminating traffic deaths…

Candidate for City Council in 2023
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Fining landlords for leasing to illegal cannabis shop is political theatre!

$10,000 penalty is anti-landlord hurting honest ones, and will not solving the problem. The Local Law 2023/107 passed July 23, 2023 includes unlicensed selling of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, tobacco products, including illicit cannabis. All this law has done is to transfer the selling to other shops and streets. Voters would say it’s about time! But…

Candidate for City Council in 2023
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