Page 9 - qt edition #39 SEPTEMBER 28, 2023
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2023                               THE QUEENS TIMES                                                            PAGE 9



          NYC Girl Scouts Celebrate State Parks at Gantry                                          Attorney General James, FTC, And
                            Plaza State Park in Queens                                           Multistate Coalition Sue Amazon For
                                                                                                  Illegally Maintaining Monopoly . . .
            (Continued from page 7)  dreds of members of Girl Scouts       Sunday’s event was one of
                                     of Greater New York visited state  many organized by Girl Scouts   (Continued from page 4)  New Jersey, New Hampshire,
        oughs,” said Meridith Maskara,  parks in their respective boroughs  of Greater New York (GSGNY)                      New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma,
        CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater  of New York City, where they  to provide young people an op-  who pay increased prices for  Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
        New York. “Not everyone knows  learned  how  to  interact  with  portunity for outdoor learning  thousands of products sold on or  Island, and Wisconsin.
        we have state parks here in the  and care for their environment  and environmental leadership.  off Amazon.          For New York, this matter was
        city, and that they are an impor-  through hands-on activities. Sun-  GSGNY’s outdoor programming       Attorney General James, FTC,  handled by Assistant Attorneys
        tant part of our ecosystem and  day’s event in Queens wrapped  gives members the tools and  and the multistate coalition are  General Michael Jo, Tal Elmatad,
        climate resilience. We are proud  up the 2023 event series.  resources they need to become  seeking a permanent injunction  and James Yoon, under the super-
        to partner with New York State       Part of a nationwide initiative,  leaders in their own communi-  in federal court that would pro-  vision of Deputy Bureau Chief
        Parks to create this opportunity  Girl Scouts Love State Parks  ties.                   hibit Amazon from engaging in  Amy McFarlane and Bureau Chief
        for the next generation to practice  brings together Girl Scouts to       To learn more about Girl Scout-  its unlawful conduct and pry loose  Elinor Hoffmann — all of the
        environmental leadership.”   embark on outdoor adventures  ing in New York City, visit www.  Amazon’s monopolistic control to  Antitrust Bureau. The Antitrust
             Throughout September, hun-  in and around their communities.  girlscoutsnyc.org.   restore competition.         Bureau is a part of the Division
                                                                                                Joining Attorney General James  for Economic Justice, which is
          Council Members Won & Brewer Hold Joint Oversight                                     and the FTC’s complaint are the  overseen by Chief Deputy Attor-
                                                                                                attorneys general of Connecticut,  ney General Chris D’Angelo and
              Hearing on City Contracting For Asylum Seekers                                    Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Mas-  First Deputy Attorney General
                                                                                                sachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,  Jennifer Levy.
            (Continued from page 7)  were emergency procurements,  and hold negligent or fraudulent   October on the Farm at Queens
                                     which allows vendors to be hired  vendors accountable.”
        through emergency procurement  without adequate due diligence, in       “The city has awarded no-bid   County Farm Museum
        are not M/WBEs.              a no-bid process that all but guar-  contracts to an array of for-profit
        •    Nearly 40% of vendors provid-  antees that City taxpayers will be  vendors with virtually no over-  (Continued from page 6)  - 10:00 pm. Tickets are $14 - $18
        ing asylum-seeker services had  overcharged. Without necessary  sight to provide asylum seekers                      and free for ages 3 & under.
        also provided services during the  guardrails around these contracts  with  housing,  food,  and  other  able to ticket holders on Sunday,       Halloween on the Farm
        COVID emergency.             over the last 18 months, we have  services,” said Council Member  October 29th at Halloween on the  On Sunday, October 29th, fami-
        •   The Hotel Association of New  observed major lapses in account-  Gale A. Brewer. “At a time when  Farm.) Tractor-drawn hayrides are  lies can fire up their finest cos-
        York’s (HANYC Inc.) $237 million  ability from many vendors—from  the  Administration  has  called  offered daily, weather-permitting,  tumes and join the farm for a
        dollar contract — already one of  inflating costs, to overpromising  for stark budget cuts across city  and offer guests a great way to  scary good party at the fang-tastic
        the City’s largest for the asylum  capacity, and even misrepresent-  agencies to pay for asylum seeker  enjoy the season’s brisk weather  Halloween on the Farm. A family
        seeker crisis — has an amended  ing services being provided. The  expenses, I don’t understand why  as they witness the farm’s historic  holiday favorite complete with
        contract amount of $1.365 billion,  City should immediately limit  we’re spending so much money  scenery transition to vibrant golds  trick-or-treating, spooky farm-
        making it the City’s largest asylum  these  emergency  procurement  on  private  companies  that  are  and reds. Shop hyper-local fresh  house, live DJ dance floor and
        seeker contract and over three  practices and return to standard  obligated to their shareholders  fall produce at the Farmstand like  more, this event sells out quickly.
        times the total amount of DocGo’s  competitive bidding for our most  and not to the people of New York  peppers, fennel, squash, kale and  Tickets are $20 per person and
        $432 million dollar contract.  predictable costs, such as shelter  City. The Administration is already  sweet potatoes. Visit the animals  free for ages 3 & under.
             “Only 1.5% of City Contracts  providers, food, and case workers.  renewing emergency contracts into  that call Queens County Farm       November is Native American
        for asylum-seekers were awarded  As we brace ourselves for a series  2026 which lets them skip competi-  Museum  home  –  goats,  sheep,  Heritage Month
        through the typical competitive  of painful budget cuts, the City  tive bidding for a second time. At  alpacas, pigs, hens, and steer.  In  honor  of  Native  American
        bidding process,” said Council  must award contracts based on  what point is this crisis no longer  Plus, the largest apiary in NYC,  Heritage Month, Queens County
        Member Won. “This means that  a procurement process that will  an emergency from a procurement  housing millions of honeybees.  Farm Museum is presenting its 4th
        nearly all asylum-seeker contracts  lower costs, provide transparency,  perspective?”        The Amazing Maize Maze  annual Harvest Dance Celebration
                                                                                                2023                         on Sunday, November 12th from
            NYC Parks Unveils New $4.2 Million Waterfront                                            Are you ready for the chal-  11 am - 4 pm. Presented jointly
                                                                                                                             with the Thunderbird American
                                                                                                lenge? The fun begins in a sprawl-
          Recreation Space at Sunset Cove in Broad Channel                                      ing 3-acre field of towering corn  Indian Dancers, the event show-
                                                                                                stalks at the Amazing Maize  cases a variety of Native Ameri-
                                                                                                Maze sponsored by Con Edison,  can dances performed outdoors
            (Continued from page 1)  remarkable recovery from Hur-  Park. The boardwalk was partially  which is now officially open Fri-  by representatives of ten Indian
                                     ricane  Sandy and of the fact  constructed using reclaimed wood  days – Sundays through October  Nations. The dancers perform in
             NYC Parks Commissioner Sue  this neighborhood and all of   from the Rockaway Boardwalk  28th as well as Monday, October  full regalia and each dance’s ori-
        Donoghue has joined Queens Bor-  Queens are being built back better  destroyed by Hurricane Sandy  9th. The adventure is available  gins are explained. This event also
        ough President Donovan Richards,  than they ever were before,” said  in 2012, and leads to a covered  from 2 pm to 5:30 pm on Fridays  features a Native American Craft
        State Assemblywoman Stacey  Queens Borough President Dono-  outdoor classroom that has inter-  for the after-school, remote work  & Food Market with authentic
        Pheffer Amato, City Councilwom-  van Richards Jr. “Thanks to this  pretive elements, including inset  and leaf peeping crowd; and 11 am  art, jewelry, ceramics, textiles,
        an Joann Ariola, Co-chair of the  project, residents and visitors will  seasonal sun position information  to 4:30 pm on Saturdays, Sundays  and more. Free admission is avail-
        Parks Committee for CB14 John  be able to easily enjoy the beauti-  and binoculars. A new bioswale  and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.  able to the farm and market, and
        McCambridge, Broad Channel  ful Sunset Cove wetland area and  has also been built at the park  This year’s Amazing Maize Maze  tickets are required to access the
        Civic Association & Jamaica Bay  all of its spectacular sunsets. I’m  entrance to collect storm water.     was landscaped in the shape of a  performance area; $12- $17.
        Ecowatchers Representative Dan  very proud the Queens Borough       Phase one of the project, pre-  1954 Ford tractor donated to the       “Apples, Donuts, Pies, Oh
        Mundy Jr., and members of the  President’s Office joined our  viously completed in June 2019,  farm last year by the Brooklyn  my! ‘Tis the season at Queens
        community to celebrate the com-  partners in government in funding  restored 4.5 acres of salt marsh  Botanic Garden, celebrating the  County Farm Museum,” said
        pletion of work at Sunset Cove,  this critically important project.”   and 7 acres of maritime upland  rich agricultural history of the site  Jennifer Walden Weprin, Execu-
        which includes a new outdoor       “Sunset Cove is magnificent!  in the park to improve habitat,  as well as the recent celebration of  tive Director of Queens County
        classroom and boardwalk built  This revitalization is what hap-  enhance public waterfront access,  the landmark 40th Annual Queens  Farm Museum. “It’s not Fall in
        with reclaimed wood from Sandy-  pens when community partners  and reduce wave and wind impacts  County Fair. Tickets are $12- $16  New York City without finding
        destroyed Rockaway Boardwalk.  come  together.  Thank  you  to  during storms.          and free for ages 3 & under.  your way to Victory Bridge in the
             “I am beyond thrilled to com-  NYC Parks’s Elizabeth Jordan       The $4.2 million phase two       Keep your eyes on the pies!   Amazing Maize Maze, now in its
        plete the second phase of the Sun-  and Broad Channel’s own Dan  project was funded through a       Saturdays and Sundays through  17th season. It’s really hard this
        set Cove project, completely revi-  Mundry Jr. The new Sunset Cove  New York Rising grant, with ad-  October 28th, the beloved Donut  year so the challenge is on!”
        talizing a space that was for years  brings this neighborhood to a   ditional support from the Office  Shop pops up with local apples,       Queens County Farm Museum
        inaccessible to the community,”  whole new level and I can’t wait  of the Queens Borough President,  apple cider,  cider donuts, and  is located at 73-50 Little Neck
        said NYC Parks Commissioner  to see benefits the boardwalk  State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr.,  freshly baked pies. Snag a treat to  Parkway in Floral Park, New York.
        Sue Donoghue. “With restored  and outdoor classroom bring to  and then-Assemblymember Phil  enjoy during your visit, or bring  For more details on all events
        natural areas, a new boardwalk,  our community,” said Assembly-  Goldfeder, with continued support  home to share… if you must. Pro  and the Queens County Farm
        and an outdoor classroom for  woman Stacey Pheffer Amato.    from Assemblywoman Stacey  Tip: Donuts sell out fast! (The Do-  Museum, visit queensfarm.org.
        the children of this community       “It’s great to see this space be   Pheffer Amato.      nut Shop will also be available to       About Queens County Farm
        to explore the natural world, this  revitalized and turned into a true       The recently released Mayor’s  ticket holders on Sunday, October  Museum - Queens County Farm
        project truly strikes to the core  asset for the community,” said  Management Report shows that  29th at Halloween on the Farm.)  Museum showcases the 300-year
        of our work at Parks, which is to  Councilwoman Joann Ariola.  the administration’s focus on       Maze by Moonlight  history of agriculture as a way
        further enrich the lives of New  “This is an amazing project that  public safety, public space, and       In honor of the spooky season,  of life in New York City. It is a
        Yorkers through environmental  will bring enormous benefits to   people continues to pay off. In  courageous guests can bring their  New York City Landmark and on
        stewardship.”                Broad Channel for years to come.”  FY23, NYC Parks completed 141  flashlights and conquer the maze  the National Register of Historic
             “This use of reclaimed Rocka-       The second of two phases of   capital projects, exceeding the  under the starry sky at Maze by  Places. Queens Farm offers free
        way Boardwalk wood in the  work, the recently completed proj-  target of 125, with 88 percent of  Moonlight. This limited event  admission 354 days per year and
        construction of this wonderful  ect has constructed an 8-foot-wide  project construction completed on  takes place on four special nights:  hosts a wide variety of acclaimed
        recreation space at Sunset Cove  boardwalk adjacent to the newly  time or early and 91 percent within  Saturday, October 7, 14, and 21;  education programs and public
        is symbolic of Broad Channel’s  restored wetlands at Sunset Cove  budget, also surpassing targets.   and Friday, October 27; 6:00 pm  events.
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