Richards Hosts Hearing on NYPD Budget and Police Discipline Guidelines
City Councilmember Donovan Richards (D-Arverne, Brookville, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens) chair of the Council’s Public Safety Committee today will hold a hearing to vote on legislation to address police misconduct, including a bill to criminalize an officer’s use of a chokehold or other techniques that restrict breathing and a second bill requiring the NYPD to create guidelines for police discipline.
Richards first introduced the measure, Intro 1309, but it will be amended to call for the NYPD to create clear guidelines for police discipline. These guidelines, known as a disciplinary matrix, would be made public, giving all New Yorkers a better understanding of potential penalties for police misconduct.
The hearing is slated for 10 a.m., today, June 9 at NYC Council Livestream at https://council.nyc.gov/livestream.
Koo, Flushing BID, SBS Commish do Downtown Flushing Walkthrough
City Council Member Peter Koo (D-Bayside, College Point, Flushing, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Fresh Meadows, Whitestone) today will meet with new New York City Commissioner of Small Business Services, Jonnel Doris, and conduct a walkthrough of downtown Flushing.
They are slated to discuss how the COVID-19 crisis has affected small businesses in the neighborhood and what resources are available through SBS to help them recover during the phase 1 reopening.
The walkthrough is slated to start at 12 noon today, June 9 at the Sheridan LaGuardia East Hotel, 135-20 39th Avenue in Flushing.
Comrie, Hyndman Legislation Extending Property Tax Abatement Deadline Signed into Law
State Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-Briarwood, Cambria Heights, Hollis, Hollis Hills, Hillcrest, Jamaica, Jamaica Estates, Jamaica Hills, Kew Gardens, Laurelton, Queens Village, Rosedale, South Jamaica, Springfield Gardens, St. Albans) and Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman (D-Laurelton, Rosedale, St. Albans, Addisleigh Park, Hollis, Springfield Gardens, Jamaica) yesterday saw Gov. Andrew Cuomo sign their legislation (S.8122-B/ A.10241-A) authorizing local governments to extend the deadline for filing property tax abatements to July 15 in recognition of the hardships many families and businesses continue to face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am grateful that Governor Cuomo has signed Senate Bill 8122-B into law; this is a common-sense, fiscally responsible and fundamentally fair proposal that will benefit the greater good. As New Yorkers summon their incredible strength to recover, we must make certain that our government is a proactive and understanding partner that provides difference-making tools and effective assistance. By working with my Assembly co-sponsor Alicia Hyndman, our legislative leaders and colleagues, we are ensuring that all New Yorkers have an extended opportunity to apply and recertify for important property tax abatement programs will provide a stable safeguard for our hardworking families, seniors and homeowners,” said Comrie.
“The property tax legislation I’ve introduced and passed in the Assembly is important to homeowners and those alike across my community of District 29 and the State of New York. As the state reopens, many are still feeling the financial impacts of COVID-19 and deserve some relief at minimum,” Hyndman said.
“This bill will ensure that no property owner misses out on a real property tax abatement or exemption on their 20221-2022 assessment due to the pandemic by extending all deadlines for the filing of applications and renewal applications for real property tax abatement or exemption program to be extended to July 15, 2020 at the discretion of local authorities. It also allows for an appeal procedure for appeals regarding denial of exemption or abatement in relation to applications submitted in accordance with the deadline extension of July 15, 2020,” she added.
Katz Charges Queens Man With Hate Crimes
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz yesterday announced that a Queens man has been charged with attempted murder as a hate crime and other charges after he followed a vehicle that was driving in his neighborhood, then pulled out a gun and fired on the occupants of the car.
Yosef Aranbayev, 41, of Radnor Road in Jamaica, was charged with attempted assault in the first-degree as a hate crime, attempted murder in the second-degree as a hate crime, reckless endangerment in the first-degree as a hate crime, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, reckless driving and avoiding intersection or traffic control device.
Katz said that at about 7:25 p.m., Saturday, June 6 at the intersection of 73rd Avenue and Parsons Boulevard a police vehicle that was stopped by a traffic light observed a black Chevy Tahoe speeding toward him on the wrong side of the road. The car nearly struck the police vehicle. The driver of the Tahoe pulled along the side of the police car and told the officers that someone was following them and pointed at the on-coming black Dodge Durango and said they had shot at him.
Katz said Aranbayev was then allegedly observed by police cutting through a gas station to avoid a traffic light. Moments later the police pulled the car over and at that time he allegedly stated to the officers those guys were in my neighborhood. “I m sorry officer, I didn’t do anything wrong. They were scouting my whole neighborhood the whole day.” Aranbayev, who said others were helping him, continued stating in sum and substance to the police that, “I was chasing those guys We’re chasing them out of our neighborhood.”
According to the charges, said Katz, police allegedly recovered a loaded gun and one spent shell casing inside the .357 revolver. Aranbayev seeing the police retrieve the weapon allegedly admitted that he had fired the gun. “I wasn’t shooting to kill them – just shooting to scare them.” The defendant was immediately taken into police custody.
If convicted, Aranbayev faces between 8 and 25 years in prison.
Addabbo Warns of Safety Measures as City Reopens
State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth, parts of South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Woodside, The Rockaways) yesterday warned residents to keep safe as the city returns to normal in Phase 1 of reopening in the fight against the Coronavirus.
During this vital step, nearly 400,000 New Yorkers will be returning to work, and they need to be able to do so safely to prevent another spike in COVID-19 cases that would reverse all the progress we have made thus far, said Addabbo.
“One major area of concern during this time is the public transportation system. New Yorkers need to remain vigilant with their social distancing while on trains and buses as they are going to and from work again. This is still a team effort and we need everyone to continue working together to move the city forward,” said Addabbo.
“Now that we have entered Phase 1, I will continue to advocate for more of our local small businesses that can practice public health protocols and measures, to safely reopen as soon as possible,” he added.
