17 • TIMES, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 SUNNYSIDE WANTS MUGGERS CAUGHT Neighborhood Shaken By Elderly Attack At a press conference Tuesday, City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer (at podium) called for the capture of two men who recently mugged an elderly man at a Sunnyside bank. Among those who participated in the event were Capt. Brian Hennessy, 108th Precinct commanding officer; and Diane Ballek, 108th Precinct Community Council president and representative of Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan. by Robert Pozarycki With police continuing to search for two men who violently attacked an elderly man at a Sunnyside bank last month, a local lawmaker called Tuesday, Nov. 4, on those with information about the crime to come forward. Accompanied by family members of the 81-year-old victim and community leaders, City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer held a press conference outside the Chase bank at 46-10 Queens Blvd., where the 81-year-old male victim was mugged on the morning of Oct. 26. As reported in last week’s Times Newsweekly, the victim visited the bank’s ATM at about 9:23 a.m. that morning and, upon withdrawing cash, was approached by two individuals described as heavy-set black men in their 20s or 30s. Police said the duo punched the victim in the face, then removed $100 in cash and the man’s debit card. They fled in an unknown direction, it was reported. The victim—who, according to Van Bramer, is legally blind— suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. In pleading with the public to assist police in finding the suspects, Van Bramer said on Tuesday that “our community does not and will never tolerate this type of violent crime in our neighborhood.” -SEE MUGGED ON PG. 52- Lifting Hurdles In School Med. Care Gov. Signs Bills To Permit Emergency Treatment by Robert Pozarycki Looking to block potentially life-threatening delays, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed two bills last Thursday, Oct. 30, allowing for greater access to emergency medical care in schools. One new law (S. 7262- A/A.7791-A) permits all schools to obtain and, if necessary, use epi-pens, quick injection devices that deliver epinephrine to someone who goes into anaphylactic shock. The legislation clears the way for epipens to be used on anyone in need, regardless of whether they already have a prescription. Only nurses or school officials specially trained to use epi-pens will be cleared to administer the medication, it was noted. The other piece of legislation (A.9334-B/S.7758) allows students with asthma or other respiratory ailments, allergies and/or diabetes to carry and take necessary medications (such as inhalers or insulin) while in school or attending school functions. Students who bring medication must have written consent from their parents and -SEEMEDICAL ON PG. 52- Say He Groped Woman In F.H. Elevator Cops Seek Perpetrator Who Copped Feel & Ran Away by Noah Zuss A Forest Hills woman was groped on the buttocks while taking an elevator in a Forest Hills building last Wednesday, Oct. 29, law enforcement sources stated. According to police, the suspect got on the elevator with the female victim in a Forest Hills building, within the 112th Precinct’s confines, at about 6 p.m. last Wednesday. Shortly after, he said, “Excuse me,” to the victim, and allegedly grabbed her backside before fleeing the scene in an unknown direction, police stated. Reportedly, the victim was not injured as a result of the incident. -SEE GROPED ON PG. 52- My Say Fulfill Your Civic Responsibilty By Participating In Jury Duty by Audrey I. Pheffer Every citizen has a right to a trial by a jury of their peers, and in a county like Queens with its 162 nationalities, that calls for a veritable melting pot. Yet, a great many Queens residents ignore the juror questionnaire they receive from my office, and inexplicably abandon their legal obligation and, in fact, their community. A jury, the impartial factfinder that determines guilt and innocence in criminal cases and liability or lack thereof in civil cases, works best when it contains a representative cross section of the community. A jury that mirrors the diverse ethnic, social, economic and political perspectives and values of the borough is best equipped to sit in judgment of its fellow citizens and render a verdict that is fair and consistent with the law, while also reflecting the common experiences of the community. But that promise went unfulfilled for many generations. Since the first juries were comprised of the social elite, they tended to represent the interests and viewpoints of the privileged. That problem was addressed by extending jury eligibility to anyone registered to vote, but at a time when African Americans were not eligible to vote and therefore ineligible to sit as jurors. A series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions beginning in 1880 with Strauder v. West Virginia put an end to official discrimination. And then there were the exemptions: Until relatively recently, people in 22 different occupations, ranging from lawyers and doctors to embalmers, were exempt from jury service in New York State. Thankfully, all those impediments and perks are now gone and anyone over the age of 18 who is a resident of Queens and does not have a felony record is able to serve. Finally, we have arrived at a point in our -SEE MY SAY ON PG. 52-
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