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TIMES, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 • 28 New Slow Zones In Sunnyside & Woodside City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer heralded the installation of three new traffic slow zones in western Queens on Monday, Nov. 3. Reputed Vegas Gangster Pinched For H.B. Mob Hit Alleged Graffiti Vandal Indicted For Tagging Rampage -CONTINUED FROM PG. 10- across Astoria, Maspeth and Woodside. As a policy, the Times Newsweekly does not disclose the identity of graffiti tags to avoid providing free publicity to its creators. “Graffiti is not art—nor is it a victimless crime,” Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said in a statement last Wednesday. “Tagging encourages lawlessness. It leads to decreased property values and is expensive to remove. Mestric allegedly spray-painted his tag ... in numerous places and now will be held accountable for his alleged actions.” According to law enforcement sources, Mestric allegedly made the illegal markings between May 2013 and just prior to his April arrest. Painted in various colors, the tags were found scrawled onto the Long Island Expressway pedestrian overpass near Mazeau Street in Maspeth and retaining walls lining the Grand Central Parkway and the Brooklyn- Queens Expressway. Additionally, prosecutors noted, Mestric’s alleged tag was found on 11 different Astoria locations, including traffic control boxes, fencing and the Astoria Park observation deck. Total damages from the vandalism are believed to exceed $15,000, Brown noted. Mestric’s arrest was the result of an investigation by the NYPD Citywide Vandals Task Force, with assistance from the 104th and 114th precincts. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael E. Brovner, section chief for the DA’s Gang Violence and Hate Crimes Bureau, which is supervised by Assistant District Attorneys Mariela Palomino Herring, bureau chief, and Michelle E. Goldstein, deputy bureau chief. Street as its western boundary; 50th Street as its eastern boundary; and Greenpoint Avenue as its northern boundary. With community input, the DOT evaluated where to place the new zones based on a location’s crash history, local support, and proximity to schools and other civic centers like daycare and community centers, it was noted. The slow zones are marked off with high-visibility blue signs, noting the 20 mph speed limit. They also include speed bumps, and road markings that read 20 mph in eight-foot high lettering, according to Van Bramer. Slow zones have helped decrease traffic-related fatalities to their lowest recored levels after installation began in 2011, Van Bramer claimed. “On behalf of the NYC DOT, I am proud to stand alongside Council Member Van Bramer and the local community to officially kickoff the Sunnyside Neighborhood Slow Zone,” Hall said. “More gateway signs will follow this first set, along with markings and speed bumps. All together, they will help create even safer streets for New Yorkers of every age in this neighborhood, and especially for our seniors and school children.” -CONTINUED FROM PG. 10- Cuff Man In R’wood Slashing -CONTINUED FROM PG. 9- 104th Precinct Blotter 4) Adonis Diaz, at Palmetto Street and Traffic Avenue, for criminal possession of a weapon, by P.O. Chiarello. (Beat 5) Christopher Toro, at 80th Avenue, for assault, by P.O. Friedrich. Nov. 2: (Beat 4) Robert Zajkowski, at Fresh Pond Road, for DWI, by P.O. Glover. (Beat 2) Ramon Pena, at Seneca Avenue, for menacing, by P.O. Toor. * * * The 104th Precinct, located at 64-02 Catalpa Ave. in Ridgewood, can be reached by phone at 1-718- 386-3004. To report an emergency or a crime in progress, call 911 immediately. Quality of life matters, such as noise or a blocked driveway, should be reported to 311. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 11- delayed is not justice denied. I am also pleased that our office could be of assistance and support in this case and look forward to continuing to work closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in the future.” Federal agents said Bruno belonged to a faction known as the “Liberty Posse” or the “Young Guns,” a street gang based in Queens. After a four-year prison stint, Bruno became an associate in the Gambino family, working under consigliere Joseph Corozzo. Along with his alleged associates (including Bosshart), Bruno allegedly helped smuggle large quantities of high-quality marijuana from Canada. Late in 2001, authorities noted, Bosshart allegedly began to make efforts to cut one of Bruno’s associates out of the operation. Upon learning of the plot, Bruno and LaBarca reportedly began plotting Bosshart’s demise. On the night of Jan. 2, 2002, they reportedly lured Bosshart to a desolate location south of the Belt Parkway, off the intersection of 155th Avenue and Lahn Street. There, Bruno allegedly shot Bosshart in the head at point-blank range, law enforcement agents noted. Police found Bosshart’s body at the scene the next day. Federal agents also accused Bruno of obstructing a grand jury’s investigation into Bosshart’s murder. Additionally, he reportedly continued to conduct drug trafficking and extorted money from a Queensbased waste carting company. Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Kristen Mace is prosecuting the case. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 11- Crunching The Numbers At CEC 24 -CONTINUED FROM PG. 9- City schools began receiving C4E funds for the first time in the 2007-08 school year, it was noted. The funds, under state law, must be distributed to certain schools and must be spent by those schools in specific program areas, Taub- Chan stated. More than $348 million will be divided between city schools for the upcoming financial year, she said. City-wide, class size reduction is the biggest category, with 46 percent (or $160 million), followed by $107 million, 31 percent, for time on task, the presentation noted. “It seems like a lot of money, but has to go quite far,” Taub- Chan said. She also advised that, “This presentation is not approved yet, the purpose is to get your feedback.” In District 24, over $12 million will be devoted to specific programs, including: English Language Learners; students in poverty; students with disabilities; and for students with low academic achievement or at risk of not graduating. By state law, the funds must go to students with the greatest educational need, it was noted. These funds must go to support six educational initiatives and specific programs. These include class size reduction; time on task; teacher and principal quality initiatives; middle and high school restructuring; full-day pre-K programs; and model programs for English Language Learners, Taub-Chan stated. “All schools received some discretionary funds last year, and as long as the schools contain similar populations they will receive the same amount of funds,” Taub-Chan said. “Time on task seems to the most needed area, followed by class size reduction,” she said. The public can access the presentation online at the Department of Education website, and give feedback at this address: ContractsForExcellence@schoo ls.nyc.gov Question and answer Following the presentation, attendees were given time to query members on their concerns. One parent asked about overcrowding in District 24. Though members know it is a problem, there does not seem to be an easy solution, even as new schools are bult to serve a growing population. “The problem is District 24 is overcrowded,” District 24 president Nick Comaianni said. “As fast as we build it, as fast as they fill up.” Maspeth parent Charlie Vavruska stated he feels “there is not enough parent input or notification,” since the de Blasio administration came into office. “I’m concerned with this and I want to know what can be done to slow this administration down,” he said. The next Community Education Council District 24 meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at a location to be announced. Members of the 104th Precinct and EMS units responded to the incident. The victim was treated for his injuries at Woodhull Hospital Center. Based on information obtained during their investigation, the 104th Precinct Detective Squad picked up Luciano last Wednesday and later charged him with felony assault and criminal possession of a weapon. According to court records, Luciano appeared in Queens Criminal Court last Thursday, Oct. 30, before Judge Gia Morris, who ordered him held on $15,000 bond or $7,500 cash bail. He is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 17.


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