Answer to cancer?

Mr. Vale, 40, grew up in Whitestone, Queens. He excelled on the handball court, in neighborhood pool halls, and on the drums in his church band. But his real forte was as an arm-wrestler. He captured city, state, national and world titles throughout the 1980s and ’90s.

He also beat cancer. Twice, doctors told him that he had fatal tumors. And twice, he survived. The second time, he refused radiation and chemotherapy in lieu of an alternative treatment consisting of eating apricot seeds. The seeds have laetrile, which some people consider an alternative cancer-fighting agent — and the government considers a fraud.

Federal Food and Drug Administration officials warn that not only are the seeds not a cancer cure, but that they may contain harmful amounts of cyanide. Agency officials accused Mr. Vale of profiting from desperate cancer victims, and in 2000 got a court injunction to stop him from selling the seeds as a cure. Mr. Vale changed his marketing and had relatives handle the seeds, but he was arrested and, in 2003, convicted of criminal contempt of the injunction and sentenced to five years at the Federal Correctional Institution at Fort Dix in New Jersey.

An Arm-Wrestler’s ‘Over-the-Top’ Journey

“I want to be No. 1 again, not for myself, but as part of my mission to show the world the power of apricot seeds,” he said recently at his house in Bellerose Manor, Queens.

Mr. Vale is up against an old foe again. He has a tumor in his kidney for which he is refusing standard medical treatment in lieu of the apricot seeds.

Meet little Miss Brooklyn

Atlantic Yards opponent Daniel Goldstein and his wife did what megadeveloper Bruce Ratner has failed to do: they brought life to the Atlantic Yards footprint.

On Nov. 9, little Sita Dorothy Goldstein was born to Goldstein and Shabnam Merchant — and unlike most things near the couple’s Pacific Street home, the six-pound, five-ounce baby is “adorable,” the proud papa said.

“Despite the unusual circumstances, we’re happy to be living our lives and being able to raise our child in Brooklyn where we planned to,” Goldstein said. “We’re just very happy to have started a new family.”

And baby makes three!

The kid will be a grandmother before anything gets built there.

Challenging the Council's Invisible Man

The 2009 race for City Hall is already underway in Richmond Hill, where a 23-year-old businessman is challenging incumbent Councilman Thomas White.

Lynn Nunes, who ran against White for a Democratic District Leader position earlier this year, said he is eager for a rematch.

"This district ranks in the bottom of education, crime and foreclosures," said Nunes, a recent Queens College graduate.

"I'm not promising the world, but we should be on every doorstep and trying to improve the community," he said.

White first held the seat from 1991 to 2001, when he was forced out by term limits. He returned to office after defeating controversial incumbent Allan Jennings in 2005.

Nunes noted White has one of the worst attendance records in the Council. It has earned him the moniker "the invisible man."

"There was enough dust on his desk to have an archeological dig," Doug Muzzio, a professor of public affairs at Baruch College, told the Daily News in 2005.

White, who voted for the controversial term-limit extension bill in October, did not respond to Queens News' requests for comment.

Young gun Lynn Nunes taking shot at Thomas White's Council spot

Wow, a real estate broker...just what the district needs!

Warning from the Feds

DOB launches Stop Work Order program

On November 25, 2008, Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri launched a new program that outlines Department policies for rescinding Stop Work Orders. This program is designed to streamline communication between the Department and the construction industry and better ensure construction sites are maintained in a safe manner. As part of this program, a DOB Stop Work Order Coordinator will serve as the point of contact for a job site’s project executive and help provide industry members with the requirements to lift the Stop Work Order. This program, which becomes effective December 15, 2008, applies to all buildings under construction and demolition participating in the Department’s Site Safety Program that receive full Stop Work Orders.

Mets already preparing for 2009 season

Heh, sorry, couldn't resist writing that headline. This photo was actually in last Friday's AM NY, and the story is about people who are such fans they order official MLB coffins for their final journey.

Because ripping you off while you're alive isn't enough for Major League Baseball...

Update on College Point's Schleicher Mansion

To whom this may concern,

I just thought I would give you an up date on the situation concerning "The Grand View Hotel".

Mr. Tony Avella will meet with us [today] at his District office. HPD has finally been involved, and gave the slumlord landlord a deadline... I cannot believe we are still homeless, but I know I will see the light at the end of the tunnel soon!! We are fighters we love our Mansion!! We filed to have it N.Y.C. landmarked & although this has made us suffer, far from what we ever believed... it has also made us stronger!!! Our story will be out this Thursday, in the Queens papers. If all goes well, we should be home by Christmas.

Pray for Us,

Tenants at Schleicher Mansion
Happy Holidays To You!!

Katz explains her political whoreishness

Letter to constituents of the 29th Council District:

Thank you for contacting my office regarding the City Council vote on Int. 845A to allow elected officials to qualify for a third term. I am writing at this time to explain the reasons for my vote. I have long been against term limits and have said publicly in recent months that extending term limits as a way to create more stability in city government is good policy, especially under present-day circumstances. The issue should have been raised early enough to decide this by referendum, but at this late date, it was not an option.

I also listened carefully to the testimony given during the hearings at City Hall and I heard from many of my constituents. While I understand and appreciate the views of those who disagree with me, I exercised the judgment I felt was correct for the City at the time, which is what I was elected to do.

There are several reasons I believe that giving voters the option to vote for the present administration and City Council was the best choice.

First, from a practical point of view, a longer time in office affects Council Members' seniority and the ability to see capital improvements through to completion. For example, over the past seven years, I have worked hard to bring millions of dollars in Capital funds to our district to provide upgrades to our parks, schools, firehouses, police stations and roadways. By limiting elected officials to eight years, there is less of a chance that many projects become complete.

Second, State and Federal regulations would permit a special election for a referendum on term limits from occurring until March or April at the earliest, and would not take effect until early May. This is due to rules on amending the New York City Charter and Federal Voting Rights laws governed by the Justice Department. These predictions are the best case scenarios and following this path would hold the future of our City government in limbo at a time when it is in most need of stability.

Third, the New York City Council's job is to pass laws whether they change laws enacted by referendum or legislation. It is one of the reasons the Council was created in the first place - to legislate.

Finally, throughout my career in public service, I have been against term limits. In 1993 and 1996, as a member of the New York State Assembly, I wrote letters and made phone calls in opposition to the two referendums. My position then as well as now has been clear and has not changed.

Once again, thank you for contacting my office on this issue.

Sincerely,

Melinda Katz
Council Member
29th District

No one is guaranteed re-election, unless you have been offered assurances that you will run unopposed. (I recall Katz attending many Republican fundraisers...) So the whole argument behind this letter is stupid, unless Mel believes that incumbency is fail-proof and that incumbents should be lifelong occupants of their seats, which I guess is indeed the popular belief amongst them. Let's remember that you benefitted yourself from term limits, lady, and had neither a primary opponent nor a general election opponent. And as for the snarky comment about it being the Council's job to "legislate": The Council was created to check and balance the mayor, not to be his rubber stamp, which is what this council has become under Bloomberg. I know the prospect of having to get a real job is frightening, but please don't insult our intelligence.

Word of advice for apartment seekers

Working as an architect in Brooklyn for the past year, I have come across a slew of resources for determining the legitimacy of that potential apartment — or if it is known, verifying whether there have been any prior complaints. One of these resources is OASIS, the Open Accessible Space Information System for New York City. OASIS is a mapping system supplied by the City of New York that contains information on every address in the five boroughs.

An OASIS in a Sea of Industry

On looking up 1717 Troutman, we are able to determine that its land use is set for zoning and manufacturing, that there are no residential units, and by linking to its Department of Buildings file, that it has a total of 76 complaints filed against it, 13 open Department of Building violations, and 52 open Environmental Control Board violations. Had I known about about these complaints prior to renting at 1717 Troutman, I doubt I would have signed on.

You mean this was illegal?

It was not so much a room as a plywood cocoon, floating above the living space and accessed through a hatch in the floor. At a height of less than 6 feet, I had to crouch in order to clear the ceiling, and the only natural light came in through a stained glass window that opened out into the living room.

Whoa. I can't believe it. Who would have thought?

Con Ed decides against Astoria land sale

Con Edison said late Monday it had dropped plans to sell a 21-acre parcel of land in Astoria, Queens to a developer who wanted to lease it to Federal Express, which would have used it as a distribution hub for its delivery trucks.

Con Ed Backs Out of Astoria Land Sale

Community groups and local politicians opposed the sale to Steel Equities, a developer from Long Island, because they said the extra truck traffic would exacerbate the already poor air quality in the neighborhood known as “Asthma Alley.”

A spokesman for Con Ed, Michael S. Clendenin, said the utility had not yet entered into a contract with Steel Equities and was not ordered by the Public Service Commission to back out of the proposed sale.

“We were still in negotiations on the sale price and everything,” Mr. Clendenin said. “We decided we wanted to re-evaluate our options.”

Be prepared to wait...a lot

MTA TOLL JAM IS LOOMING
By TOM NAMAKO, NY Post

The MTA's doomsday budget may take a huge toll not only on drivers' wallets but also on their time.

The agency is weighing a plan to close some cash lanes at the nine bridges and tunnels it operates.

And as if that won't create enough congestion, it may also begin stopping drivers without enough money on their E-ZPasses instead of letting them through and billing them later - saving $3.4 million in mailings.

The possible changes are part of the agency's plan to close a $1.3 billion budget gap unless city and state lawmakers step in with a crucial bailout package.

MTA officials expect to save $3.4 million by closing cash booths at times when fewer cars use the crossings. Still, it would likely slow traffic to a crawl as cars pile up behind the remaining tollbooths.

Also, if a driver is stuck behind an E-ZPass user with a negative balance, "the scanner will reveal this and a Bridge and Tunnel officer will need to intervene, causing delay to [the driver behind]," said MTA Bridge and Tunnel spokeswoman Joyce Mulvaney.

Charlie Rangels donor a loophole

Congressional records and interviews show that Mr. Rangel was instrumental in preserving a lucrative tax loophole that benefited an oil-drilling company last year, while at the same time its chief executive was pledging $1 million to the project, the Charles B. Rangel School of Public Service.

Mr. Rangel, the Donor and the Tax Break

The company, Nabors Industries, was one of four corporations based in the United States that were widely criticized in 2002 and 2003 for opening offices in the Caribbean to reduce their federal tax payments. Mr. Rangel was among dozens of representatives from both parties who bitterly opposed those offshore moves and, in 2004, pushed unsuccessfully for legislation to make the companies pay more tax.

But in 2007, when the United States Senate tried to crack down on the companies, Mr. Rangel, who had recently been sworn in as House Ways and Means chairman, fought to protect them. The tax shelter for the four companies was preserved, saving Nabors an estimated tens of millions of dollars annually and depriving the federal treasury of $1.1 billion in revenue over a decade, according to a Congressional analysis by the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation.

But wait! There's more:

The Post reported Sunday that Rangel took a "homestead" tax break on a Washington, DC, house for years while also occupying multiple apartments in New York City, possibly running afoul of laws in both cities.

Vibrant and diverse in Broad Channel

This photo was taken in Queens, New York, USA in November, the year of our Lord 2008. You'll be hearing a lot in the news this week about people in our City who are starving. Despite this, not only are some New Yorkers killing livestock on a public beach, but then they are leaving the carcass for someone else to clean up. I hope Weiner actually does something about this and isn't just all talk and photo-op.

This is the photo that started the round of news coverage last week, but was not published anywhere. Time for us to face the harsh reality of what the people who live next door do in their spare time.

Atlas Park waiting for the masses

Reports that a Chili's Grill & Bar persistently leaks liquids into a Borders bookstore downstairs are backed up by scores of water-stained or missing ceiling panels.

Storeowners and employees who asked to remain anonymous griped that Hemmerdinger charges outlandishly high rents and issues steep penalties to shops that open later than scheduled.

Hemmerdinger said rents and penalties are consistent with those at other shopping centers.

"That's not the criteria I'd use to say whether we have a good relationship," he said.

Perhaps the truest indicator of Atlas Park's success is its customers, who frequent the theater and eateries but often bypass stores.

"It's good if you want to see a movie, but not to shop," said Tyrone Casey, 18, of Jamaica, as he roamed Atlas Park last week.

"They just need more stores," said his pal, Chaz Fraser, 28, who lives a block from the mall.

"Stores people go to," Casey quipped.

But coming soon are a Republic of Couture apparel boutique and a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Hemmerdinger said.

Mall struggles to catch on: Owner says Atlas Park's growing pains are normal

Someone's a little out of touch when it comes to defining "stores people go to."

Tweeders preparing for Doorman's exit

Mr. Van Bramer is a Democratic state Committeeman who has worked for the Queens Public Library for more than a decade.

“It’s not at all too early to start campaigning,” said Mr. Van Bramer, who is also president of the West Queens Independent Democratic Club and a co-founder of Queens Pride House, a center for the borough’s gay population.

Deirdre A. Feerick, a lawyer for the City Council and a candidate for the Council seat, held a fund-raising breakfast on Sunday, asking for guests for a $10 contribution and a coat, which was to be donated for a shelter for homeless veterans in the district.

Among the other candidates in the race are David J. Rosasco, who is a member of Community Board 2 and president of Nichibei Translations, a Japanese translation business; and Brent M. O’Leary, a legal compliance office for Bloomberg L.P.

Candidates Gear Up for Queens Council Race

Number one opposes landmarking of the Elmhurst Library and number 2 opposed landmarking of Sunnyside Gardens, where number one lives. Number 4 is attached to Bloomberg. In other words: same crap, different names. The country votes for change but Queens asks for the same old shit.

Speaking of which, what is that boy up to lately?

City Councilman Eric Gioia wants Jumbotrons erected in Central Park for all those New Yorkers who can’t score a ticket or get to Washington D.C. to celebrate Barack Obama’s inauguration in January.

Gioia, speaking with me after Ray Kelly’s testimony, said if the city can’t pay for it, the cost could be borne by private funding.

Excellent! This really helps your constituency, Doorman. You deserve to be our advocate.

Queens grand larceny arrests

* A handprint helped cops track down a thief who swiped four tires from a parked car in Flushing.

The owner of the vehicle called cops after he found all four tires and rims had been stripped from his 2008 Honda Accord while it was parked on 65th Avenue near 156th Street, shortly after 11 p.m. on Sept. 22.

Police examined the car and found a right palm print on the front fender of the vehicle, sources said.

Cops used the print to identify Angel Martinez, 24, linking him to the crime.

He was arrested on Tuesday and charged with grand larceny, said a spokesperson for Queens DA Richard Brown.

NYPD DAILY BLOTTER

* A man was carjacked while sitting in his luxury vehicle in Richmond Hill.

The victim, 31, told cops he was sitting behind the wheel of his 2002 Mercedes with a female acquaintance, 29, on 92nd Avenue near 112 Street, at 1 a.m. on Nov. 14, when a man walked up to the driver-side window, tapped on the glass with a gun and ordered the driver and his companion to get out, sources said.

The robber snatched two cellphones, an iPod, $20 and the driver's keys, then climbed behind the wheel and fled in the car, court papers revealed.

Cops arrested the alleged robber, Asa Sparkes, 22, on Nov. 18. He was charged with robbery and grand larceny.

Because hotels are what's lacking in LIC

The hotel development boom in Long Island City is not limited to Dutch Kills, though it certainly is concentrated in Queens Plaza. But never fear Vernon/Jackson, we are on the hoteliers’ radars as well. It looks like a couple of adjacent parcels on 50th & 49th Aves between Vernon & 5th St are going to be transformed into a hotel...

Vernon/Jackson to get a hotel; rezoning battles on in Dutch Kills

Things looking up for Frank

As of 4 p.m., Republican Frank Padavan lead over Democratic challenger Jim Gennaro has grown to 707 votes, according to a reader in Queens participating in the recount and supporting Padavan.

Padavan's Lead Up to 707 Votes

About 1,600 paper ballots remain to be counted, down from about 8,000. The remaining ballots are form the 26th, 27th, 29th and 33rd ADs, at least two of which are considered by the Republicans to be strong for Padavan.

Looking Good for Padavan

LIRR delays continue for a third day

For the third day in a row - and the fourth in less than a week - Long Island Rail Road commuters can expect significant delays Tuesday morning, and possibly beyond, as they continue to deal with the fallout from the worst LIRR accident in 15 years, officials said.

Morning commuters can expect systemwide delays of up to 15 minutes, and LIRR president Helena Williams said disruptions could last even further into the holiday week as crews continue to assess the damage caused by Sunday's Jamaica train derailment.

"We have significant repair work to do," Williams said Monday at LIRR's Jamaica headquarters. "We are asking, again, for our customers to have patience. We know that that's a lot to ask our customers, but they are a good New York, sturdy breed."

Many commuters inconvenienced this morning likely also dealt with major disruptions during yesterday's morning and evening rush hours. Some 19 eastbound trains were canceled during the evening peak hours and riders changing trains at Jamaica were met with agents sending them to street level, and then redirecting them to tracks that were still operational after Sunday's accident.

LIRR commuters will face another day of delays

A message from our former thronewarmer

"Everyday I wake and read about more government support for financial institutions that is supposed to benefit the overall economy and American consumers, yet none of my constituents are seeing any relief," Katz said in a press release.

"On the contrary, their access to credit is decreased in the form of reduced limits and their credit card rates are rising," the Queens lawmaker continued. "This is outrageous, considering the Federal bailout programs are distributing taxpayer dollars to the credit card companies and affording them access to cheap capital from the Federal Discount Window. We as taxpayers are being asked to re-capitalize these banks and then we’re getting charged for the privilege."

"I am cutting up my American Express card. Until the situation is rectified and rates are either frozen or lowered, American Express will no longer get my business, and I urge all New Yorkers to join me.”

"The Federal bailout money was never meant to boost profits. It was meant to free up the credit markets and provide access to capital. Yet American consumers have yet to see the benefits of any of this. Where is our increased access to capital, and where are our reduced credit card rates?”

Katz, who is currently the only woman in the running for the comptroller's office, also launched an on-line petition entitled "Where's My Tarp?" (that's short for Trouble Asset Relief Program), which features an open letter to (outgoing) Treasury Secretary Paulson.

Katz vs. AmEx

This has got to be one of the lamest stunts of the year.