FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 • The Queens Courier 25 CUTLER’S LIGHTING Over 50 Years Experience REPAIRS • REWIRING • RE-FINISHING • LAMP SHADES FALL SAVINGS TAKE 20-50% OFF be saving you money. 10% OFF ANY PURCHASE With Coupon. Not combinable – New Orders Only. Limit 1 per customer. $150.00 max for discount. Excludes Repairs, Refi nishing, Rewiring. Exp. 9/30/2016 CUTLER’S LIGHTING CUTLER’S LIGHTING LYNBROOK 817 Sunrise Hwy (2 Blocks west of Peninsula Blvd.) 516-887-1300 GREAT NECK 120 Northern Blvd. 516-482-1919 12 years from now, this LED bulb will still OFF LAMP SHADE SALE on yellow and red tagged items MASPETH TO MAYOR: WE’LL PROTEST IN CITY, TOO! By Robert Pozarycki rpozarycki@qns.com/@robbpoz Don’t go to his home, go to my home instead. That was the advice Mayor Bill de Blasio gave on Sept. 16 to those protesting the proposed homeless shelter at a Maspeth hotel who picketed outside the Brooklyn home of Human Resources Administration Commissioner Steven Banks last week. In an interview with The Courier, Robert Holden, president of the Juniper Park Civic Association (JPCA), said his group and the Maspeth Middle Village Task Force (which organized the protest) wants to take up de Blasio on his challenge and is planning protests at both City Hall and Gracie Mansion. The group is working with others across the city opposed to the city’s ongoing shelter practices. He also defended the protest outside Banks’ home, noting that it was a “very successful” demonstration that raised public awareness over the Maspeth proposal. “If he’s going to bring these homeless shelters and affect our homes, we’re going to bring it to him,” Holden said. “All’s fair in love and war, as they say.” In an interview with WNYC-AM radio on Sept. 16, de Blasio charged that the protest, which drew three busloads of people from Maspeth opposed to the planned shelter at the Holiday Inn Express on 55th Road, was designed to intimidate Banks and the rest of the city from doing its job. “We’re not going to be intimidated by protests,” the mayor said, adding that “it’s not right” for demonstrations to take place outside the homes of public servants. He instead suggested the protesters come at him directly. “If you have a problem, come to my home. Come to Gracie Mansion, you can protest all you want,” de Blasio added. “Come to City Hall, but leave alone decent public servants who are just trying to give people a place to live.” The statement sparked an incredulous reaction from Holden. He pointed out that de Blasio had been involved in similar protests against city agencies before becoming mayor. “Since when are peaceful protests equivalent to ‘intimidation and threats’?” Holden asked. “The First Amendment guarantees the right of public assembly. As I recall, it was Mayor de Blasio who made sure he got arrested protesting the closure of Long Island College Hospital (in Brooklyn) while chanting, ‘No hospital, no peace.’” De Blasio was the city’s public advocate at the time of that particular protest. The anger at de Blasio isn’t limited to protesters. On Sept. 16, state Senator Joseph Addabbo called upon the mayor to directly address inquiries he made regarding details about the Maspeth shelter proposal which have, to date, been unanswered. Addabbo indicated that the lack of details regarding the plan led to numerous rumors being circulated about its use, “causing the real status of the plan to remain unknown by those it would affect the most.” “I truly believe that by improving the cooperative effort with elected officials and community residents, we can better address and serve the needs of those desperately seeking shelter,” Addabbo wrote in a letter to Mayor de Blasio. He requested a response to his correspondence by no later than Sept. 21. In the meantime, the task force is planning to march this weekend outside the Long Island home of Harshad S. Patel, who owns the Holiday Inn Express. The Maspeth Middle Village Task Force argues that, because of past attempts to bribe a public official, Patel should be disqualified from doing business with the city. Earlier this month, Patel announced that he was withdrawing his support of the plan, but the city indicated negotiations for the shelter were ongoing. Missing In America Project American Legion Greenlawn Post 1244 And Fresh Pond Crematory Announce A Memorial Ceremony in Honor of Twenty Seven Veteran Cremains Including Two Veterans of the Spanish American War Fresh Pond Crematory 61-40 Mt. Olivet Crescent Middle Village, Queens September 27, 2016 11:00 am ********************** Inurnment with Full Military Honors to Follow at Long Island National Cemetery 2040 Wellwood Ave Farmingdale, New York September 27, 2016 1:30 P.M. Cremains to be escorted by American Legion Riders Greenlawn Post 1244 and Patriot Guard Riders ********** *Fresh Pond Crematory previously provided the Veteran cremains for the inurnment of Photo: Anthony Giudice/QNS Those protesting the Maspeth shelter should visit Gracie Mansion rather than a civil servant’s home, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
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