Public Advocate Bill de Blasio Slams Mayor At Forest Hills Meeting by Rob MacKay - Forest Hills, NY Patch

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Sounding a lot like a candidate for Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s job, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio blasted Hizzoner during a visit to Forest Hills Wednesday night, criticizing City Hall’s handling of everything from the budget to taxi cab contracts.

Citing “moral reasons,” de Blasio ripped the Bloomberg Administration’s threat to eliminate roughly 6,000 teacher positions throughout the New York City public school system. Not only would this plan reduce some school’s staffs by five percent, but it is completely unnecessary, according to the public advocate.

Addressing a joint meeting of local Democratic Party clubs, de Blasio calculated that the purported teacher layoffs would slash only $300 million from the school system’s $22 billion-plus annual budget. He suggested investigating other expenditures, such as some teacher training programs, that could be eliminated with less impact on students.

“There’s a lot of other things you can cut,” de Blasio said.

He also expressed opposition to the Bloomberg Administration’s threat to disregard LIFO (Last In, First Out), a policy of applying seniority preferences to teacher employment issues. “Seniority should be respected,” de Blasio said.

The other hot topic was the Taxi & Limousine Commission’s contest to award an exclusive contract to sell and service city cabs for the next decade. The TLC chose Nissan, whose proposal had no guarantee to create jobs in the five boroughs, even though runner-up Ford had pledged to build the taxis in Brooklyn in its application.

“The TLC asked for nothing in terms of jobs in New York City,” he said. “We want the maintenance done in the city.”

The public advocate also promised to step up efforts to eradicate illegal boarding houses. He said that the city is filled with two-family houses with 20 or more residents.

“It’s a huge fire hazard,” de Blasio said. “The Department of Buildings has not done a good job in my opinion.”

Woman Attacked In Forest Park Speaks Out - by Mathewt Hampton Forest Hills, NY Patch

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On Friday, March 25, a Forest Hills woman was savagely attacked in Forest Park, by a man in a black mask. Now the victim is speaking out, in the hope that her attacker can be brought to justice, and other women won’t have to suffer the same fate.

The victim, Patricia, was jogging early in the morning when a man wearing a black ski mask grabbed her from behind and attempted to pull off her running tights.

The victim described her attacker as between five-foot-six and five-foot-ten, wearing a black mask, black jacket, dark shoes and dark pants.

“I was shocked and horrified, I couldn't believe it was happening,” the victim said. “I screamed, but he kept trying to cover my mouth.”

Patricia added that the only reason she was able to escape from her attacker is through a series of strong kicks to the groin she delivered while he wrestled with her on the ground.

Once she fought back, she said, the man backed off and disappeared into the large wooded area from which he had emerged.

The park, which is located almost entirely in the 102 Precinct, is a largely wooded area with plenty of places for would-be attackers to hide. Police said that since the attack, NYPD officers have worked with Parks department patrols to step up the presence in the area.

“I never thought I was an easy target,” Patricia said. “I’ve always felt pretty safe on my own, but not anymore.”

No arrest has been made in the incident.

If anyone has any information contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.

Local Pols Upset Over Paterson Hydrofracking Veto By Matthew Hampton - Forest Hills, NY Patch

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Executive Order to Prevent Drilling Not Good Enough, Addabbo Says

State Sen. Joe Addabbo, D-South Ozone Park, blasted Gov. David Paterson on Wednesday morning for his dismissal of a hydrofracking moratorium that had passed both the state Assembly and Senate.

Paterson vetoed the bill, which passed the state Senate earlier this month, and instead signed an executive order banning the process through June 2011.

Addabbo's concern, he said, is that an executive order can be easily reversed by the incoming Cuomo administration as early as January.

"Over the weekend, instead of signing this hydrofracking moratorium bill approved by both the Assembly and the Senate, the Governor chose to veto the bill," Addabbo said. "He issued an Executive Order instead, which does not fully protect the millions of New Yorkers whose access to a safe and healthy water supply could be jeopardized."

The city's water comes from upstate aquifers, which are affected by multitudes of environmental factors. For years, New York City has enjoyed a reputation for having quality drinking water despite its status as a mega-city.

Now, Addabbo said, the upstate reservoirs that provide the city's water could be adversely affected.

"Just imagine that your son or daughter pours themselves a cup of water, and it's brown. Or it's cloudy with particles and chemicals. That is exactly what is happening to families in other states--Texas, Colorado, and Pennsylvania--who have rushed into drilling for natural gas with a procedure known as hydrofracking," Addabbo said.

Hydrofracking became an issue during the gubernatorial debates in October. While the candidates were split on the issue, Cuomo said it could be a potential job-creator for the state, and refused to say whether he would support it or not, only saying the procedure had to be proven safe for him to get behind it.

Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, D-Forest Hills, was also in favor of the state's moratorium on the subject, saying earlier this month that a moratorium on the procedure would "remove any 'time pressure' and allow DEC to do its job correctly."

OTB Restructuring Fails Senate, Corp. Set To Close Tonight by Matthew Hampton - Forest Hills, NY Patch

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Closed OTB on Crossbay Blvd/Liberty Avenue in Ozone Park. Photo: Lost in the Ozone 

The restructuring bill that would have saved New York City's Off-Track Betting Parlors in the city was voted down in the senate Tuesday afternoon, possibly sealing the fate of up to 1,000 workers in New York City.

The rescue, which required 32 votes for passage, received 29 out of 50 votes in the senate on Tuesday afternoon.

The vote broke down almost perfectly along party lines, with State Sen. Frank Padavan, R-Bellerose, and Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga, the only Republicans who voted for the plan.

In and around Forest Hills, every local senator voted in favor of the restructuring.

State Sen. Toby-Ann Stavisky, D-Whitestone, voted yes on the restructuring plan, which was put together by Gov. David Paterson and passed the assembly earlier this year. State Sen. Joe Addabbo,D- Ozone Park, who spent much of his first term working to put together the Aqueduct revitalization, also voted yes on the restructuring. State Sen. Shirley Huntley, D-Jamaica, voted yes.

Stavisky said she was extremely disappointed in the vote because of the jobs which are likely to be immediately eliminated in the city.

"I was hoping to save the 800 jobs, quite frankly. This is not the time of the year when you tell 800 people goodbye," she said. "But it just continues the Republican pattern of voting 'no' on anything."

Stavisky added that in a state where horseracing used to be king, the repurcussions of the loss of off-track betting in New York City would be widely felt.

"This is going to have a statewide impact. Horsebreeders, farms, this affects way beyond the five boroughs," she said.

There were 10 senators who did not attend the vote, including several from New York City.

New York City Councilman David Greenfield, of Brooklyn, took to Twitter to register his frustration.

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Notice on Door of OTB at Ozone Park branch. Photo by - Lost in the Ozone 

New York State Senate rejects OTB bailout by three votes. It might have passed, but 10 Senators didn't even show up," Greenfield wrote.

Many in the chamber voiced their displeasure with the fact that there was no way to work with the state Assembly on a compromise bill, since the Senate went into extraordinary session alone.

A statement on NYC OTB's website stated that the corporation would begin closing processes effective immediately.

"Due to a lack of unrestricted funds to continue in business, NYC OTB will be ceasing all pari-mutuel wagering operations today, Tuesday, December 7, 2010 as per our Board of Directors vote, and will proceed to the orderly winding down of its business affairs," the statement read.

Three sites, including the OTB parlor in Forest Hills, will be open for six extra days, starting Dec. 8, to allow customers to cash out accounts.

Queens Holds Back On Black by Nathan Duke and Matthew Hampton- Forest Hills, NY Patch

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While many New Yorkers have already made up their minds about incoming Schools Chancellor Cathie Black, Queens politicians have so far been fairly reserved on the subject. With several saying they're going to withhold judgment on Black until she's answered a few questions from the City Council.

Karen Koslowitz, D-Forest Hills, has said at recent community meetings that her plan is to take the wait-and-see approach with Black, though she has seemed hesitant to give her any kind of endorsement.

"I'm not sure how good this one's going to be — the last two chancellors had no experience in education," Koslowitz said at a Forest Hills Civic Assocation meeting after the appointment. "I hope she understands public schools. I think her kids went to private schools."

Koslowitz pledged to try and work with Black at a Community Board 6 meeting the next night, though she's withheld comment on the subject since.

Koslowitz's colleague, Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone, originally joined other City Council members asking David Steiner, the state's education commissioner, to deny a waiver that would allow Black to become chancellor. The councilman later said his move was "premature" and asked for his name to be removed from the Council's resolution.

"I realized this was a rush to judgment," Halloran said. "I would like to ask my colleagues on the City Council to give Ms. Black a chance. I want to hear more from the mayor on her qualifications to be chancellor and the process used in her selection. And I want to hear more from Ms. Black on her plan to improve our city's public schools. It is premature to call for the denial of her waiver at this time."

Halloran said he believes the Council should give Black a "fair hearing" at which she could testify about her plans for city schools.

On Tuesday, Bloomberg picked up support on his schools chancellor pick from three former city mayors, Rudy Giuliani, David Dinkins and Edward Koch.

In a letter to Steiner, the former mayors wrote that Black had "an extraordinary track record of managing large organizations through trying circumstances."

"These are three individuals who understand the need to have someone who is talented and competent running an agency of this size and that, at the end of the day, the buck stops with the mayor," Bloomberg said in a statement.

A bevy of elected officials have also thrown their weight behind the mayor on the matter, including Councilman James Gennaro, D-Fresh Meadows, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and former Council Speaker Peter Vallone.

Addabbo Wins Reelection by Matthew Hampton and Brendan Brosh- Forest Hills, NY Patch

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Senator Joe Addabbo with wife Dawn - Photo Brendan Brosh

Joe Addabbo Jr., freshman state senator from Ozone Park, retained his seat on Tuesday night over challenger Anthony Como, despite a wave of anti-incumbent sentiment that characterized the campaign season.

Addabbo, who spent much of his first two years in state office helping to put together the Aqueductdeal and attempting to create jobs in the community, saw his work pay off on election night, when he finished with a more than 5,000 vote unofficial margin over challenger Anthony Como.

Como, a former city councilman, had the backing of the entire state Republican caucus, who saw the seat as a key to taking back the state Senate.

At his party on election night at Russo's On The Bay, Addabbo said he was thrilled with the chance to return to his seat.

"I'm so grateful all the people came together," he said. "We had 500 volunteers."

Without conceding, Como addressed supporters in his office in Glendale. He struck some conciliatory tones with his somewhat crestfallen staff, but tried to keep a stiff upper lip.

"I'm very proud of the race we ran together as a family, as a team," Como said. "Many of you were here day one, many of you were here before day one….unfortunately here we're not exactly happy with the way that it went, but until all the numbers are in we're just going to wait and see."

Como pointed to some voter discrepancies and irregularities at the polling sites to give his supporters a glimmer of hope, but by the time most of them had gone home, his deficit had grown to more than 5,000 votes.

Addabbo volunteer Sean McCabe, 27, of Ozone Park, said he thought the voting system had a few problems but that ultimately the board of elections got it right.

"The new system has a few hiccups. They could get better with it," McCabe said. He also added that he was hopeful that Addabbo could help turn the economy around during his second term in Albany.

After his victory speech, Addabbo admitted that he and his colleagues have a lot of work to do.

"We have a lot of repairs that go beyond politics," Addabbo said. "When we talk about dysfunction it's unbiased."