webadmin, Author at Brooklyn Downtown Star

Two lives ruined at a speed of 92 m.p.h.

webadmin on August 10, 2021

This week, a young man’s life was needlessly destroyed. The 29-year-old man, a resident of Ozone Park, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three to ten years in prison.
The sentence was just and could have been (and should have been) much harsher. But nonetheless, his life has been destroyed by the decisions he made on July 25, 2019.
Even in the future, when he has finally finished his sentence, he will need to live with the memories and knowledge of how he took another human being’s life in a colossal act of stupidity.
He may have destroyed and thrown away his own life, but he is not the victim in this story. That tragic honor belongs to Sivananaintha Perumal, a resident of Woodhaven who was on his way to work at Dunkin’ Donuts in Howard Beach when his life was taken away.
Mr. Perumal was crossing Woodhaven Boulevard at 91st Avenue at 5 a.m. to wait for a bus when he was struck by a car that had been clocked traveling 92 miles per hour. The details of the collision are gruesome and heartbreaking.
The driver struck the man so hard — warning, it’s hard to read this — that he dismembered parts of his body. The front of his car was smashed.
Life is a series of choices. Sometimes we make bad choices and, hopefully, we do a course-correction and make a good choice to balance it out. But this young man made a bad choice followed up by another bad choice followed up by another.
He decided to speed on Woodhaven Boulevard. He struck a man and did not stop. And then he said nothing for two weeks until the police found and arrested him.
And just like that, this young man’s life was needlessly destroyed. I say needlessly because what was this young man trying to accomplish by speeding on Woodhaven Boulevard?
He took Sivananaintha Perumal’s life for nothing. And he will have many long nights behind bars to live with the memories of that night echoing in his head.
If you’re out really late or up very early, you’ll see a lot of speeding cars on Woodhaven Boulevard. Maybe not so many topping 90 miles per hour, but you’ll see more than a few cars cruising past the speed limit.
And for what? To beat the next light? To get where you’re going two minutes faster?
If you’re the kind of person who likes to speed, congratulations for reading this far. I know you think this would never happen to you, or you justify it by saying that you only do it when the road is empty.
Or you might convince yourself that you’re just too gifted a driver to ever let that happen.
The young man behind bars for killing Sivananaintha Perumal once thought the same thing.
Then he made a series of bad choices and his life is in ruins, his freedom gone. Don’t make the same mistake. Don’t throw your life away.
Shortly after Mr. Perumal was killed, close to two-dozen residents joined the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association holding homemade signs with simple messages laong Woodhaven Boulevard.
One asked drivers to slow down. Another reminded drivers that a man was killed at this spot by a car going 92 miles per hour. Some drivers acknowledged the message with a wave and a smile. Others, believe it or not, were not so friendly.
After reading the signs while sitting at a red light, some drivers sped off at the first sign of green, exerting a little extra “oomph” on the gas pedal as they drove away.
Seriously, what kind of person sees a sign that a man was killed by a speeding car at that very spot, and then speeds off to make some sort of point?
When it was announced back in May that the speed limit on Woodhaven Boulevard was being reduced from 30 to 25 miles per hour, I read several complaints about this online.
Perhaps one of those speeding drivers or online complainers can explain their need to speed to the family of Sivananaintha Perumal.

JetBlue to remain in LIC

webadmin on August 10, 2021

New York City-based airline JetBlue announced that they will renew the lease at their Long Island City headquarters, which was set to expire in 2023.
The announcement confirms that the airline will remain in the Big Apple, despite rumors that the company would move a bulk of its office jobs to a facility in Florida. JetBlue’s headquarters at 27-01 Queens Plaza employs approximately 2,000 people.
“JetBlue is a valuable corporate partner here in Queens, and I am overjoyed they will keep their headquarters in Long Island City,” said Borough President Donovan Richards. “By remaining here in Queens, our borough is connected to one of the world’s largest airlines and entrusted with thousands of jobs that will surely revitalize our economy.”
JetBlue, like all airlines, was skating on thin ice after the COVID-19 pandemic grounded flights. JetBlue received a whopping $935 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act last year to keep the company operational.
Despite these setbacks, the airline is still undertaking a number of large projects. JetBlue is moving ahead with a $2 billion plan to renovate Terminal 6 at JFK Airport.
The renovation is also a top priority of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and is expected to receive upwards of $294 million under the $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure plan currently under consideration in the Senate.
“JetBlue’s decision to recommit to Queens is a welcome one for our borough’s entire business community, as we forge ahead together in the wake of the pandemic,” said Queens Chamb er CEO Thomas Grech. “JetBlue has long been known as New York’s ‘hometown airline,’ and we are thrilled that they intend to keep it that way, assuring jobs will remain in Queens and providing a special boost to the Long Island City economy.”

Residents rally against Kew Gardens prison

webadmin on August 10, 2021

Opponents of a plan to buid a new jail news to Borough Hall in Kew Gardens protested near the site last week.
This jail is part of a plan to replace Rikers Island Prison with four smaller jails in every borough but Staten Island.
Rikers Island has a notorious reputation of overpopulation and abuse. Stories of corrupt officers and inhumane treatment of inmates compelled Mayor Bill de Blasio to introduce a plan that would close the city’s largest prison.
According to the original 2018 plan, Rikers Island is supposed to close by 2027. Replace the complex are the four jails, which will cost $8.7 billion.
The project was delayed in October of 2020, and now with de Blasio ending his term as mayor, the path forward is becoming increasingly unclear.
Many Queens residents were displeased with the plan even before it was approved, mainly because the jail would be near businesses, homes, and schools.
“It’s not safe because all the kids walk to school,” said Yan Ling, a Middle Village resident and parent. “We already have ten homeless centers in this area. They already harass young kids, imagine you have more inmates here.”
Residents fear the prisons will result in more criminals on the streets.
“Skyscraper jails don’t work,” said Councilman Robert Holden of the current design. “How do you evacuate the population in case of a fire or some other problem? And can you offer enough space to actually have a gym or recreational space?”
Holden argued the jails at Rikers Island should be restored instead of building new ones.
“Instead of closing Rikers, how about rebuilding Rikers?” he said. “Make it a state-of-the-art correctional facility with a mental health facility. And how about a court on the island to actually speed up some of the hearings?”

Grand Avenue Freeze-Out

webadmin on August 10, 2021

The BStreetband performed the songs of Bruce Springsteeen at the parking lot of Maspeth Federal Savings at Grand Avenue and 69th Street last week.
“They were really good,” said Kathleen Connell. “I felt like I was actually at a Bruce Springsteen concert. Their saxophone player would have made Clarence Clemons proud.”
The BStreetBand debuted as Backstreets in 1980 in Asbury Park before an audience of over 2,000 Boss fans.
Nearly 6,000 performances later, they still thit the stage, playing over 175 shows per year throughout the country.
Maspeth Federal’s upcoming “Movies Under the Star” program include Guardians of the Galaxy on August 18 and a drive-in movie night featuring The Little Mermaid on August 25. That performance requires registration beforehand.

Redistricting Commission holds hearings in Queens, Brooklyn

webadmin on August 10, 2021

sidents.
To coordinate such a huge task, the New York Independent Redistricting Commission is holding a series of hearings throughout the state to gather input.
The redistricting process traditionally happens every ten years after the Census count, and has long been subject to the whims of partisan policymakers. This has resulted in oddly shaped districts that divide communities, gerrymandered to favor the candidates of a political party.
However, a referendum was passed by New York State voters in 2014 that created a new Independent Redistricting Commission to replace the partisan process. Composed of five Democrats and five Republicans, the commission will take into account the information gathered from hearings and propose new districts that, in theory, will be less politically motivated.
The commission is expected to propose new district maps before the end of the month.
The commission recently held hearings in Queens and Brooklyn. Lasting multiple hours, the hearings were attended by a large number of New Yorkers who highlighted gerrymandered, problematic, and ineffective districting throughout the boroughs.

QUEENS
The Queens hearing received input from residents from Astoria to the Rockaways, however a few areas were mentioned multiple times because of their clearly poor district maps.
The districts that include Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens, and other nearby neighborhoods received the most attention for the way the district lines divide communities.
Speakers discussed the ways that Asian, Black, Indian, and Latinx communities are particularly disenfranchised by the current district maps.
“The area from the Van Wyck Expressway all the way down to Nassau County is not just a road, it is the spine of a community,” explained John P. Albert, who testified at the hearing on behalf of the nonprofit organization Taking Our Seat. “It is home to a significant Indian American population that is split among three assembly districts.”
Maria Calfer, a Taiwanese immigrant and mother from Forest Hills, echoed a similar sentiment.
“There is a very active and vibrant civic community in Central Queens, but my neighbors and I have found it hard and at times disenfranchising to engage in politics,” she said. “We are represented by four different state senators, but only one of them has an office in central Queens.”
After the hearing, some Muslim residents expressed anger that the hearing was held during Eid al-Adha, a major holiday that lasts multiple days. The commission will continue to accept testimony from residents online through the middle of August.

BROOKLYN
Like Queens, the Brooklyn hearing featured testimony from residents throughout the borough but clearly highlighted a few key areas.
Primarily, residents spoke of the need to change districts in the southern half of Brooklyn, an area that at points even shares representation with Staten Island across the Narrows.
For example, the neighborhood of Sunset Park is currently divided among four different state senate districts, dividing the area’s growing Asian population and preventing them from having a cohesive voice in government.
L. Joy Williams, a representative from the Brooklyn branch of the NAACP, explained how similarly poor districting affects Black communities throughout the borough, particularly in and around Flatbush.
“The communities of African descent are diverse in Brooklyn, but well connected,” she said. “Our districts should reflect that.”
Residents testifying during the Brooklyn hearing directly called out partisan gerrymandering as the root of the problem, pointing to obtuse maps that were intended to favor Republican candidates.
“There is a pro-Republican bias in the New York Senate map, especially in Brooklyn,” said Martin Asher, an attorney testifying during the hearing. “This is clear partisan gerrymandering that does not benefit residents.”
State Senator Andrew Gounardes, who represents an oddly drawn southern Brooklyn district that includes parts of Bay Ridge, Gravesend, Gerritsen Beach and Flatbush, offered his own comments separate from the hearing.
“With the population density of Brooklyn being what it is, there’s no reason why my district would extend from the Narrows waterfront all the way to Flatbush Avenue, but cut out about half the population that lives in between that span,” he said.

DOT, NYPD celebrate Queens Blvd. bike lane

webadmin on August 10, 2021

Representatives from the Department of Transportation (DOT), NYPD, and local government officials gathered Thursday at the intersection of Yellowstone Avenue and Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills to celebrate the installation of a new protected bike lane.
The infrastructure project is part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s ongoing Vision Zero program, which aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Known locally as the Boulevard of Death, Queens Boulevard has a storied reputation for fatal traffic accidents. The new bike lane is separated from traffic by plastic pylons. Work is ongoing.
In addition to the bike lane, the Queens Boulevard redesign is adding new loading zones and parking spaces along nearby Ascan Avenue and Austin Street in the hopes of easing congestion on the arterial boulevard.
“By combining strong, targeted enforcement with the kind of bold engineering changes that have led to a dramatic drop in fatalities and injuries on Queens Boulevard, we’re protecting cyclists and promoting the sustainable mobility that’s an essential part of New York City’s recovery,” explained Kim Wiley-Schwartz, assistant commissioner of Education and Outreach at DOT.
Thursday’s event in Forest hills also coincided with the beginning of a month-long free helmet giveaway sponsored by DOT. Free helmet fittings will be available during select times at parks throughout the city, includingThomas Green Park in North Brooklyn.
In New York State, helmets are required for all cyclists under the age of 14.
The Forest Hills event also turned its attention to the question of traffic law enforcement, particularly as it pertains to electric scooters. The proliferation of e-bikes and electric scooters has been an issue throughout the city with scooters, many of which are unlicensed, travelling at speeds over 40 miles per hour in bike lanes.
Electric scooters are not permitted in bike lanes, and unlicensed scooters are illegal to operate anywhere in the city.
NYPD officials at the event detailed strategies to combat these issues, including the implementation of more traffic enforcement agents and traffic safety personnel throughout the city.
Additionally, DOT and NYPD are working together to circulate literature that enumerate the differences between bikes and electric scooters.
“Ensuring the safety of cyclists within New York City is at the foundation of the NYPD’s Vision Zero program”, said Chief of Transportation Kim Royster. “As the city continues to reopen, the NYPD will be continuing our bicycle safety citywide initiative aimed at protecting cyclists and pedestrians.
“Education and enforcement action will continue to be aimed at drivers that make the choice to block lanes and fail to yield to our most vulnerable road users,” Royster added.
So far, there have been fewer bike fatalities year to date in 2021 compared to 2020, with ten and 18 fatalities respectively. With the mayor’s office pursuing the goal of 30 miles of new bike lanes citywide by the end of the year, Vision Zero advocates are hopeful that those statistics will continue to decrease.
However, concerns remain regarding how the installation of bike lanes, particularly protected bikes lanes that occupy a full lane of traffic, will affect car traffic, buses, loading zones, and parking.
In Forest Hills, residents have raised concerns about the additional burden the Queens Boulevard renovation project will place on already busy nearby streets.

Guest rooms joins gaming rooms at RWNYC

webadmin on August 10, 2021

Resorts World New York City (RWNYC) has officially opened the Hyatt Regency JFK, a new 400-room hotel located next to the casino.
The eight-story hotel features restaurants, fitness center, and conference space next to Aqueduct Racetrack.
Dave Fuego, a spokesperson from Resorts World and the emcee of Friday’s event, spoke about the casino’s long road to opening during the pandemic.
“In just over a year, we were able to transform this lot into what you see before you today,” said Dave Fuego of RWNYC at a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday. “New York is not coming back, New York is back.”
Genting American East president Bob DeSalvio, who oversees operation in Queens and as well as a casino in the Catskills, highlighted the 10th anniversary of RWNYC and the recent opening of a new casino in Las Vegas earlier this ummer.
“There is no better way to celebrate Resorts World’s 10th anniversary than with the opening of this world-class hotel,” he said. “While the hotel has always been part of our vision, today’s ribbon cutting takes on additional significance as we celebrate the Queens community and do our part to move New York forward.”
Borough President Donovan Richards said the new jobs – the hotel is expected to create over 1,000 of them – and other opportunities will help the Queens economy recover from the pandemic.
“Queens is back in business,” Richards said, “and what better way to bounce back from the pandemic than bringing new jobs. We are not just looking to get back to normal, but to something better than normal.
“We are not just talking about jobs, we are talking about good jobs that offer people upwards mobility,” he added. “Manhattan is a thing of the past, come spend your money in Queens.”
State Seantor Joseph Addabbo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming, and Wagering, guaranteed that Resorts World will get a full gaming license from the state to loud applause.
“Resorts World is not just a symbol, they are in the weeds of the community,” Addabbo said. “They are at the street festivals and all the local parades.”

Climate-themed music-and-art installation in Bushwick

webadmin on August 10, 2021

Undercurrent, a new show that combines art and music, will open its doors at 455 Jefferson Street in Bushwick on September 9.
Thematically focused on the climate crisis, the show will feature immersive experiences created by a lengthy list of talented musicians, including Bon Iver, Grimes, The 1975, Jojra Smith, and more.
Steve Milton discusses Undercurrent’s origins, message, and desired impact in Brooklyn and beyond.
“Undercurrent began as a passion project,” Milton said during a virtual interview. “We were thinking of this as a new type of music and art event in which we were collaborating with musicians, artists, and technologists to do something that’s a little bit more non-traditional.
“It’s a new way for fans to experience the work and a new way for artists to share their creativity,” he added.
Milton and co-creator Brett Volker have worked in the intersection between art and technology for many years now. The two previously worked together at innovation and design agency ADA and sound design agency Listen., experiences that allowed the pair to collaborate with notable artists such as Childish Gambino, Briano Eno, and Saint Vincent.
Milton and Volker are bringing their industry knowledge – and their extensive contacts – to Undercurrent. The duo have long dreamed about a project that combines music and technology on such a massive scale, and knew that such a project would need to focus on an important central theme.
They quickly settled on the climate crisis.
“When we started thinking about Undercurrent, we wanted to use this new experience to focus on something that we’re passionate about or that we care about and that means something to us,” Milton explained. “We landed on the idea of the climate because it is a huge existential threat and, admittedly, something that is really hard to wrap your head around.”
All of the installations featured in Undercurrent will focus on the climate in some way, be it abstract or literal. Milton and Volker are hopeful that the work of talented artists will mesh with the innovative format, giving people insight and possibly even hope to help them confront the impossibly large challenge that climate change presents.
“Sometimes it can get to the point where it seems like there is nothing you can do about it,” Milton said. “The answer, we think, is working with artists to inspire action and to open people’s minds to new ways of thinking about both the problems and the solutions.”
In addition to the list of artists contributing to Undercurrent, Milton and Volker have partnered with multiple nonprofit organizations that will have a presence throughout the show’s run. These include The Ocean Conservancy, Kiss the Ground, and the Global Forest Generation.
Undercurrent is focused on the global scale of the climate crisis, but its creators are also optimistic that the event will help to confront climate challenges within Brooklyn specifically, a borough that much of the Undercurrent team lives in.
“It’s our hope that we’re going to bring thousands of people through this thing,” Milton said, “and they’re going to all walk away empowered with the tools from each of these nonprofits to go and make a difference, hopefully directly within their own neighborhood and within their own community.
“That would be a wonderful outcome if we can make some progress on the local front,” he added. “And we expect to because a lot of people who live in Brooklyn and love the area are coming to this.”
Undercurrent will open on Thursday, September 9, and will occupy a 60,000-square-foot space in the heart of Bushwick. While there is still work to be done before the show’s opening, Milton is excited to see people’s reaction to the innovative and immersive experience.
“I think people will be inspired to think and to be creative,” Milton said. “When people see all of the artists and the great work that they’ve done, they will be inspired to make a difference when it comes to the climate, instead of feeling like they are unable to do anything.”

Adams launches general election campaign

webadmin on August 10, 2021

After a long and arduous campaign for the Democratic nomination, Borough President Eric Adams officially launched his general election campaign for mayor.
Standing in front of Brooklyn Borough Hall and flanked by allies, Adams spoke optimistically about the city’s expansive and diverse Democratic party.
“I am honored and humbled to receive the support of so many leaders from every corner of the city,” Adams said at the campaign kickoff event last week. “This is an incredible show of unity. We may not all agree on everything, but there is one thing all of us can support: this city must be led by a Democrat who will put working people and struggling New Yorkers first.”
A slew of Democratic elected officials announced their endorsement of the mayoral hopeful, including both of New York’s Senators, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand.
“I am proud to endorse my fellow Brooklynite to be the next mayor of the Big Apple,” Schumer said. “Borough President Adams brings decades of substantial professional bona fides and a unique lived experience to the job.”
Adams’ bid in the general election comes on the heels of a hotly contested Democratic primary. Running in a crowded field, Adams won with 50.4 percent of vote in the first citywide test of ranked choice voting, which allowed voters to cast their ballot for multiple candidates.
Despite the hectic weeks following the primary, a number of Adams’ former rivals have now come out in support of the Democratic nominee.
“This is a critical time for New York City and we need to prioritize recovery from the pandemic for all New Yorkers, address longstanding inequalities and build a New York City that is stronger than ever for our future,” Kathryn Garcia said. “Eric Adams has dedicated his career to serving New Yorkers and democratic leadership at City Hall is pivotal in this moment to move our city forward.”
Adams will face off against the Republican nominee and founder of the Guardian Angels, Curtis Sliwa. Adams is considered to be a favorite in the race by a large margin. Registered democrats outnumber Republicans in New York City 7 to 1, giving the Democratic nominee a huge advantage.

Alternative to the little blue pills

webadmin on August 10, 2021

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a very common problem with a stigma. In fact, I have had several patients who resisted telling me they suffered from this malady. Because it can be a symptom of other diseases, it is crucial that you share this information with your doctor.
ED affects approximately 1 in 10 men on a chronic basis. If it occurs less than 20 percent of the time, it is normal; whereas if it occurs more than 50 percent of the time, there is a problem that requires therapy, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
There are oral medications for ED. Its prevalence has led pharmaceutical companies to saturate the airwaves. Approved medications include Viagra (sildenafil, or the “little blue pill”), Cialis (tadalafil) and Levitra (vardenafil).
These drugs work by affecting the endothelium, or inner layer, of blood vessels and causing vasodilation, or enlargement, which increases blood flow to the penis.
Unfortunately, this does not solve the medical problem, but it does provide a short-term fix.
ED’s prevalence increases with age. In a multinational MALES study, ED affected 8 percent of those aged 20 to 30 and 37 percent of 70 to 75 year olds. What was surprising was that advanced age had the least association with ED, increasing the odds by only 5 percent.
So, what contributes to the rest of the increase as we age? Disease processes and drug therapies.

Disease processes
Chronic diseases significantly contribute to ED – and ED may be a harbinger of disease. Typical contributors include metabolic syndrome, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and obesity.
In the Look AHEAD trial, ED had a greater than two-fold association with hypertension and a three-fold association with metabolic syndrome. In another study, ED was associated with a 2.5-times increase in cardiovascular disease.
In a randomized clinical trial (RCT), patients with ED had significantly more calcification, or atherosclerosis, in the arteries when compared to a control group. They were more than three times as likely to have severe levels of calcification. They also had more inflammation, measured by C-reactive protein.

Medications contribute
About 25 percent of ED cases are thought to be associated with medications, such as antidepressants; NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium; and hypertension medications.
Unfortunately, the most common antidepressant medications, SSRIs, have the greatest impact on ED of all antidepressants.
The California Men’s Health Study, with over 80,000 participants, showed that there was an association between NSAIDs and ED, with a 38 percent increase in ED in patients who use NSAIDs on a regular basis.
The authors warn that patients should not stop taking NSAIDS without consulting their physicians.
Also, high blood pressure drugs have a reputation for causing ED. A meta-analysis of 42 studies showed that beta blockers have a small effect, but thiazide diuretics (water pills) more than doubled ED, compared to placebo.

Prevention & Treatment
The Mediterranean-type diet has been shown to treat and prevent ED, thus improving one’s health and sex life at the same time. It is the green leafy alternative to the little blue pill.
The foods are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and high in monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, as well as in fiber. Components include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, walnuts, and olive oil.
In two RCTs lasting two years, those who followed a Mediterranean-type diet saw improvements in their endothelial functioning. They also had reduced inflammation and decreased insulin resistance.
In another study, men who had the greatest compliance with the Mediterranean-type diet were significantly less likely to have ED, compared to those with the lowest compliance. Even more impressive was that the group with the highest compliance had a 37 percent reduction in severe ED versus the low compliance group.
Therefore, it is important to bring ED to the attention of physicians. There are very effective lifestyle alternatives to oral medication that provide positive overall health effects, while also helping patients eliminate medications that contribute to ED.

Fill the Form for Events, Advertisement or Business Listing