FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com december 8, 2016 • The Queens Courier 33 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com DECEMBER 8, 2016 • THE QUEENS COURIER 33 Popular post-election ‘Sticky Notes’ art comes to Fresh Meadows BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI smonteverdi@qns.com/@smont76 A local leader wants Queens residents feeling stuck in the wake of the presidential election to express themselves via sticky note. Assemblywoman Nily Rozic is encouraging community members to visit her Fresh Meadows office and participate in her adaptation of the sticky note project: a movement meant to give residents an outlet to air their worries or thoughts. Participants are invited to express their thoughts or wishes by writing on neon-colored sticky notes and posting their political statements, meaningful quotes or personal concerns on the office’s storefront window. The project is an adaptation of the public sticky note displays that have been popping up around New York City post-election. Participants write their concerns or feelings regarding the victory of President-elect Donald Trump on notes and stick them to a public wall. Known as “Subway Therapy,” the movement began in the tunnel that connects the 14th Street station at Seventh Avenue and Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan and was initiated by artist Matthew “Levee” Chavez. “People should have an opportunity to express themselves and remind everyone that we are a strong and united community,” Rozic said. “I want to give everyone a small outlet to express their post-election thoughts, grief, confusion and responses moving forward.” Rozic’s office is located at 159-16 Union Tpke. and is open to the public Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Quarterback-turned-Met prospect Tim Tebow visits 105th Precinct BY LIAM BAKER editorial@qns.com/@QNS Known for being a consummate gentleman and sportsman on the field, former NFL quarterback and now minor-league outfielder for the Mets Tim Tebow continued in that vain off the field with a visit Tuesday to a Queens Village police precinct to honor an officer slain in the line of duty last year. The former Heisman Trophy winner visited the 105th Precinct along with Mets Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilpon to express their gratitude for the officers’ daily efforts as well as to honor fallen Police Officer Brian Moore, who was shot and killed in the line of duty in May 2015. As a token of their appreciation, they presented precinct commander, Inspector Jeffrey Schiff, with a Mets jersey that was signed by the entire team. Additionally, Tebow signed autographs while the precinct enjoyed lunch, courtesy of the Mets. Tebow and Wilpon received T-shirts in honor of the fallen officer. Schiff called the unexpected drop-in a “phenomenal show of support,” according to the Daily News. “It meant a lot to us,” Schiff told the Daily News. “I don’t think it will be repeated any time soon by any other sports celebrity, unfortunately.” “It’s great to be able to come in here and try to encourage them. But, at the same time, they’re such an encouragement to me with just what they do every single day,” Tebow told ESPN. Photo courtesy of Assemblywoman Nily Rozic’s office The “Sticky Note Project” takes shape on the storefront of Rozic’s office in Flushing. Photo via Facebook/New York Mets Van Bramer erases anti-gay graffiti in Astoria BY ANGELA MATUA amatua@qns.com/@AngelaMatua After an Astoria resident posted a photograph of homophobic language written on a bus shelter in Astoria, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer worked quickly to wash it away. Twitter user Connor Mealey noticed on Sunday, Dec. 4, that the words “kill fags & dykes” were written in marker on an advertisement for World Pride Madrid 2017. The ad was installed on the side of a bus shelter on Steinway Street and 31st Avenue in Astoria. He tagged 311, the Department of Transportation and Councilmen Jimmy Van Bramer and Costa Constanitinides. Van Bramer, who is one of seven openly gay City Council members, responded to the tweet two hours later. “This anti-LGBT grafitti sic has no place in #Queens, #NYC or anywhere for that matter,” he wrote. “NOT #QueensValues.” According to a spokesperson for Van Bramer, the councilman went to the bus shelter and scrubbed the words away with window cleaner. “Hate crimes are on the rise,” Van Bramer said in a statement. “It’s on all of us to step up and say loud and clear that these are not our values and this is not normal. When a constituent notified me of the hateful and homophobic graffiti on this bus shelter, I reported it immediately, but couldn’t stand to see it up a second longer—so I cleaned it up myself. I know that in Queens, we value and celebrate our differences, and when we come together, love will always trump hate.” The number of reported hate crimes since the results of the 2016 election have gone up, according to Police Commissioner James O’Neill. There were a reported 328 hate crimes in New York City through Nov. 13, O’Neill said at a recent interview. This number reflects a 31 percent increase from last year and there was both an increase in anti-Muslim and anti- Semitic hate crimes. Photo courtesy of Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer washed off anti-gay graffiti scrawled on this bus shelter in Astoria.
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