6 The Queens Courier • JUNE 20, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com BUY DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER FREE Measuring & Installation w/purchase of $100. • Draperies • Vertical Blinds • Honeycomb Shades • Custom Window Shades • Mini Blinds Nobody Beats Our Prices! FREE Shop At Home Service • Roman Shades • Balloon Shades • Swags & Jabots • Shutters • Upholstery • Radiator Covers • Table Pads UP TO 70% OFF LIST PRICE Free Interior Design Consultation *Not to be combined w/other offers. Expires 6/28/13 $50 OFF with purchase of $500 or more $100 OFF with purchase of $1,000 or more GOMER’S Window Treatments SINCE 1962 Factory Showroom: 268 St. & Hillside Ave., Floral Park 1/4mi E. of Little Neck Pkwy. 1-800.522.6156 www.gomersdecorators.com w.this ad. NOW AVAILABLE 0% Financing See store for details. $20 OFF with purchase of $200 or more *Not to be combined w/other offers. Expires 6/28/13 *Not to be combined w/other offers. Expires 6/28/13 2013 Estate Tax Law Changes-Are You At Risk? Costly Mistakes You Cannot Afford to Make! Come to a Free Workshop on Wills Living Trusts & Medicaid Planning June 27th at 6:15-8:15 Citibank 64-20 108th St Forest Hills, NY 11375 July 11th 6:30-8:00 Queensborough Public Library- Central library 89-11 Merrick Blvd, Queens, NY 11432 June 26th 1:00-3:00 Law Firm of Albert Cohen, P.C. 104-70 Queens Blvd., Suite 312 Forest Hills, NY 11375 Seating is Limited. Refreshments Served. Call now to reserve your seat 718-275-7779 At the workshop, we will discuss several issues, including: -The advantages and disadvantage of Wills and Living Trusts -How to plan before you need Long Term Care -How to protect your children’s inheritance from future ex-spouses, lawsuits and other claims Presented By Law Firm of Albert Cohen, P.C. 104-70 Queens Blvd., Suite 312 Forest Hills, NY 11375 718-275-7779 www.cohenestateplanning.com POLS ASK FTC TO INVESTIGATE HERBALIFE BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com They come to this country looking for a better life, but promises of quick cash often allegedly go unfulfilled. Officials throughout the U.S. have asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate Herbalife, a global nutrition company which has been accused of operating an “abusive” pyramid scheme targeting minority groups. “Herbalife seemingly goes after largely poor, minority and immigrant groups that lack financial literacy and are often desperate to escape poverty,” said Councilmember Julissa Ferreras, who has seen a handful of Herbalife shops appear in her district only blocks from each other. “Many of their recruitment tactics focus on targeting new immigrants who have come to New York in search of the American dream.” In a letter to FTC Chair Edith Ramirez, Ferreras explained her concern about the impact Herbalife is having on the Latino community, both in her district and across the country. Herbalife provides nutrition, weightmanagement and personal care products such as shakes, vitamins and protein bars. The products are sold through independent sellers or distributors who recruit others into selling. According to Ferreras’ letter, recruitment begins when individuals are asked to join groups billed as nutrition and wellness clubs. Within these clubs, Herbalife allegedly takes advantage of members who have little to no business experience, luring them with promises of large profits and minimal work. Distributors for Herbalife must purchase the merchandise, lists and marketing material out of their own pocket. Jose Calderon, president of the Hispanic Federation, wrote a letter to the FTC claiming that in these “getrich quick schemes,” distributors appear to lose money instead of making any profit. He said concerns about Herbalife boil down to whether distributors make money by selling products or by recruiting others to sell. Noticing signs of consumer harm in her district, Ferreras has asked the FTC THE COURIER/Photo by Rosa Kim The Federal Trade Commission is being called on to investigate the global nutrition company Herbalife. to conduct a thorough investigation and protect individuals. “If Herbalife is acting illegally by making false income claims to vulnerable Latinos in my community, then they need to be held responsible,” said Ferreras. “We cannot and will not stand back while Herbalife takes advantage of my hardworking constituents.” An Herbalife spokesperson said it is “disappointing” that Ferreras did not reach out to the company before contacting the FTC. “Had she done so, we would have been able to correct her misconceptions and explain how nutrition clubs work as a positive contributor to her district,” said the spokesperson. “We would also have described for her how Herbalife has helped to change people’s lives over the last 33 years by providing the best nutritional products and an excellent income opportunity to individuals around the world, including within her own district.” According to the Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan New York, there are no recorded complaints against any Herbalife stores or distributors in the area. Along with Ferreras and the Hispanic Federation, California Congressmember Linda Sanchez has asked the FTC to investigate Herbalife. Mt. Sinai gets ok to expand BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens in Astoria has received approval from Community Board 1 (CB 1) to expand its helping hand. On Tuesday, June 18, CB 1 unanimously voted in support of Mount Sinai’s request for minor zoning variances. The hospital’s footprint will expand to take up 100 percent of its lot and reach all the way to the sidewalk. The application also calls for a sixstory addition to a property located on the west side of Crescent Street between 30th Avenue and 30th Road as well as partial renovation of the existing hospital building. The proposed plan, designed by NK Architects and Davis Brody Bond LLP, will include expansions to the emergency department and observation unit along with new operating rooms and imaging facilities. Expansions are also expected for out-patient services and urgent care. A hospital spokesperson said there will be meetings with the building’s immediate neighbors about any issues that arise as the project gets underway. “This is going to be a transparent process and we are going to be good neighbors,” the spokesperson said. Current plans call for construction to begin by the fall, with the expansion complete by 2016 and the hospital fully open by summer of that year.
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