Little League to Brian: It's payback time!

From the NY Post:

The Queens Little League looted by disgraced ex-Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin wants payback.

The Electchester Athletic Association of Flushing wants $95,000 in restitution from McLaughlin, who has admitted stealing from its pint-sized players as part of his $2.2 million fraud scheme, according to federal court papers filed in Manhattan.

McLaughlin, a former labor leader and member of the state Assembly, had the Little League put funds into accounts controlled by his cohorts, who then turned the money over to him to cover various personal expenses.

City pulls plug on Electchester support

From NY1:

Electchester Houses was built as affordable housing by an electrical worker's union in Flushing, Queens more than 50 years ago, but now many residents say they cannot afford the complex's rising rents.

I'll summarize the report for you in a nutshell on behalf of the Bloomberg Administration:

Existing affordable housing = bad
New affordable housing (that comes with luxury condos) = good

Bringing electrifying bowling to Electchester

A Nassau County businessman has promised to pump $1 million into an outdated Queens bowling alley once he takes over on Sept. 1, calming fears the rundown pin paradise would become the borough's third to close this year.


New owner vows to shift Fresh Meadows' JIB Lanes into fast lane

John LaSpina, who owns two alleys in Brooklyn and two in Long Island, has inked a deal to operate JIB Lanes in Fresh Meadows - with plans to install LCD scoring monitors and set aside "boutique lanes" with a portable bar for private parties.

"We'll make it contemporary," vowed LaSpina, 59, as he roamed the dimly lit bowling alley recently. "We'll have purples and yellows and boldness, and the before-and-after will be real striking."

Tucked in the basement of an electrical workers' union headquarters on Parsons Blvd. near Jewel Ave., the 48-lane alley fell into disrepair after its longtime operator, Ruben Dankoff, died at age 92 in 2003.

LaSpina also announced he's in the mix to open an alley at the Shops at Atlas Park in Glendale. City Councilman Anthony Como (R-Middle Village) is trying to broker a deal between LaSpina and Atlas Park development director Damon Hemmerdinger.

Thank God Anthony is finally tackling the tough issues and has his priorities in order. Anyone remember this?

McLaughlin pleads guilty

McLaughlin pleads guilty to racketeering
Stephen Stirling, Times Ledger

Former state Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin, a former labor leader who once had mayoral aspirations, pleaded guilty to federal charges of racketeering and making false statements Friday in federal court in Manhattan.

According to the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District, McLaughlin, 55, signed a plea deal that will recommend he serve between eight and ten years in prison. Judge Richard Sullivan is not bound to the details of the plea deal, however, and will have the final say at McLaughlin's sentencing, scheduled for Sept. 12.

McLaughlin pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and one count of making false statements on a loan application, according to the plea agreement. He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison for the racketeering charge, and another 20 years in prison for the false statements charge.

Mclaughlin was freed on $250,000 bail Friday.

McLaughlin was charged by federal investigators in 2006 with stealing more than $2 million from city unions, nonprofits, his own campaign committee and the Electchester Little League, according to an 186-page, 43-count indictment filed by the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan.

Electric Christmas

The Queens version of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is on Harry Van Arsdale, Jr. Blvd.
Meanwhile, the Maspeth Christmas tree is looking better than ever!