www.timesnewsweekly.com On Twitter @timesnewsweekly THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 50 CENTS ONE LESS SCAMMER Glendale Man Cashed In With Death Threat immediately wire funds to an individual named Jason Ortiz. The scheme was similar to phone scams which police officials have warned about in recent weeks. Police said the family wired the cash, as instructed, to a Pay-O-Matic check cashing store located at 1756 Bushwick Ave. in Bushwick Security camera footage from the shop and a review of Pay-O-Matic records documented that Cruz If approved by the City Planning Commission and the City Council, the change would enable the owners of 176 Woodward Ave.—a longvacant lot currently used for storing construction vehicles and materials— to build a four-story apartment house with 88 units. However, Katz’s recommendation VOL. 105, NO. 44 Counties’ Largest Classified Section Serving Queens And Brooklyn by Robert Pozarycki Using a dangerous phone scam proved costly for a Glendale man busted last Thursday, May 22, for allegedly swindling money from a family with a phony threat to murder a relative, law enforcement sources stated. Police identified the suspect as 22-year-old Tom Cruz, who was taken into custody last Thursday, May 22, on 70th Street in Glendale and later arraigned in Brooklyn on grand larceny and related charges. According to information provided by the Kings County District Attorney’s office, the scam occurred on the afternoon of Feb. 16, when Cruz allegedly sent several calls and text messages to a woman. Reportedly, Cruz threatened to kill a relative if the victim did not -SEE SWINDLER ON PG. 28- Beep Likes Ridgewood Rezone Urges Developers To Allow Affordable Housing by Robert Pozarycki The proposed rezoning of an industrial area of northern Ridgewood cleared another hurdle last week, when Queens Borough President Melinda Katz recommended the plan’s approval, it was announced on Tuesday, May 27. -SEE REZONING ON PG. 28- SAY SHELTER PLAN STINKS Proposal Blasted At M.V. Hearing by Robert Pozarycki Residents overwhelmingly denounced a proposed homeless shelter in Glendale during a Community Board 5 public hearing on the project held last Thursday, May 22, at Middle Village’s Christ the King Regional High School. About 200 turned out for the affair and gave representatives of the city’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and Samaritan Village—the nonprofit group behind the proposal—an earful regarding the creation of a transitional housing shelter for up to 125 families at 78- 16 Cooper Ave., a long-vacant and possibly contaminated industrial site. Thirty individuals—including local elected officials and District Manager Gary Giordano—took the microphone to offer a laundry list of reasons why the proposed shelter should be stopped. Some expressed concerns about the cost-effectiveness of the project, while others cited inhumane conditions and crime at other city homeless shelters, as documented in published news reports. Opponents also stated funds for the project would be better spent on housing relief programs, while others questioned the legitimacy of Samaritan Village, the subject of an audit by the State Comptroller’s office for alleged misuse of state funds. Giordano and other attendees called the project “senseless,” noting it received preliminary DHS approval last December, during the waning days of the Bloomberg administration. They pointed out the plan bucks policy statements made by Mayor Bill de Blasio, who favors providing subsidies to prevent potentially homeless persons from being evicted. “I think it’s disgraceful that this plan got this far,” Giordano said, garnering applause from the audience. “I don’t think you could pick a much more worse site to house people—and to house children, it’s even worse.” Toward the conclusion of the hearing, DHS Deputy Commissioner Lisa Black and Samaritan Village Executive Vice President Douglas Apple heard jeers and snickers from the audience in responding to questions Board 5 Chairperson Vincent Arcuri asked on behalf of attendees regarding the site’s condition and potential alternatives. Inside the plan -SEE SHELTER ON PG. 26- Finding History At Bk. Cemetery See Story On Pg. 21 TO USPS: MAILING LABEL GOES HERE TN/RT 052914 The borough president signed off four days earlier on the proposal to rezone an area generally bounded by Flushing Avenue, Starr Street and Woodward and Onderdonk avenues—currently restricted to solely manufacturing purposes—into R5B and R6B residential zoning. Marching With Pride In Maspeth Residents of all ages paid tribute to women in the military during the Maspeth Memorial Day parade along Grand Avenue on Sunday afternoon, May 25. As pictured, students, parents and faculty from P.S. 153 proudly marched with the school banner along with a host of marching bands, veterans posts and other organizations. The parade was just one of many Memorial Day events in the Times Newsweekly coverage area. See Pages 31-33 for more photos. (photo: Marcin Zurawicz) Resident Dawn Scala spoke out against a proposed homeless shelter in Glendale during a public hearing held by Community Board 5 inMiddle Village last Thursday,May 22. (photo:Marcin Zurawicz)
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