FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 22, 2016 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3 De Blasio, Queens pols fi ned for campaign woes Th e New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) announced on Dec. 15 that 14 campaigns involved in the 2013 citywide election cycle committed violations, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland and Councilman Ruben Wills. Th e board found that de Blasio, who racked up $47,778 in penalties, committed several violations including failure to report transactions, accepting over-the-limit contributions, accepting contributions from corporations, limited liability companies or partnerships, and failing to document transactions. Ferreras-Copeland, who represents Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights, racked up $5,718 in penalties for similar violations. Wills, who represents South Ozone Park, Jamaica and Springfi eld Gardens, received $810 in penalties for failing to report transactions, failing to fi le daily pre-election disclosure statements, accepting contributions from corporations, limited liability companies or partnerships, and failing to demonstrate compliance with intermediary reporting and documentation requirements. Angela Matua City campaign zeroes in on hate crimes Following a surge of bias attacks near public transportation, the NYC Commission on Human Rights and Mayor de Blasio’s offi ce announced that a series of actions will be put in place to easily report incidents of discrimination and harassment in the city. Complaints of discrimination based on race, religion, national origin and citizenship and alienage status fi led at the Commission have increased by more than 30 percent in 2016. Th e NYC Commission on Human Rights has begun to expand its staff and technology of its Infoline (718-722-3131), adding additional operators who can help victims of discrimination fi le claims, inform them of protections under the Law, and answer and refer questions on immigration matters following training from the Mayor’s Offi ce of Immigrant Aff airs. Th e Commission has also formed a “Bias Response Team,” which is a team that is responding to incidents of bias and discrimination across the city. Emily Davenport Community board approves homeless relief program As the city continues to see record high numbers of homeless people and the fi nal fate of the Maspeth homeless shelter still hanging in the balance, members of Community Board 5 (CB 5) voted to support one local lawmaker’s initiative to help keep residents in their homes. Th e board voted 32-2, with three abstentions, in favor of supporting Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi’s Home Stability Support (HSS) plan during their monthly meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at Christ the King High School in Middle Village. Th e HSS plan aims to create a new statewide rent supplement for families and individuals who are eligible for public assistance benefi ts that are facing eviction, homelessness or loss of housing due to domestic violence or other hazardous living conditions. Anthony Giudice NOWHERE TO GO Cops slam brakes on armed robbers in Flushing BY ROBERT POZARYCKI rpozarycki@qns.com/@robbpoz Th ey tried to run, but they couldn’t hide from the law. Two alleged robbers who swiped property from a man in Flushing at gunpoint last Friday night were picked up later in the evening thanks to the quick eff orts of offi cers from the 109th Precinct, authorities said. At 6 p.m. on Dec. 16, law enforcement sources said, the 42-year-old male victim alerted offi cers on traffi c detail at the corner of Maple Avenue and College Point Boulevard that he had been robbed moments earlier. Police learned that the victim had been bringing packages to his vehicle parked 41st Avenue and Delong Street when he was approached by two male suspects. One of the perpetrators displayed a gun and removed his cellphone and a pair of earphones; his cohort allegedly took the packages and $68 in cash from the man. Th e suspects were then observed entering a nearby vehicle and drove away. Sources familiar with the investigation said the victim observed where the suspects were headed and provided that information to police. Offi cers spotted the suspects inside a vehicle matching the description provided at the corner of Main Street and Maple Avenue and stopped the car. Th ere, authorities noted, the offi - cers found Eric McCoy, 19, of the Bronx seated behind the wheel and William Green, 23, of Manhattan in the front passenger seat. During a search, police said, the offi cers recovered the reportedly stolen property as well as a 9 mm handgun used in the caper. Both Green and McCoy were taken into custody and charged with fi rst-degree robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, petit larceny, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon. Police sources said the suspects each have a prior criminal record; Green was previously arrested on charges including grand larceny, theft of service, burglary and menacing, Photos via Shutterstock and Twitter/@NYPD109Pct while McCoy has three sealed arrests to his name. Deputy Inspector Judith Harrison, commanding offi cer of the 109th Precinct, took to Twitter to congratulate her offi cers on making the arrest. “We were fl agged down by a man who was robbed by 2 males that fl ed in a car. We found the car, stopped it & recovered this #Gun #OneLessGun,” she wrote.
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