Page 9 - qt edition #39 SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

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.