Rep. Ed Towns Addresses Hundreds of Brookdale Hospital Workers & Supporters at 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers Rally

On Friday June 10^th, Rep. Edolphus ‘Ed” Towns addressed Brookdale University Hospital workers (1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers),at a rally outside of the facility. The dispute between the union and Brookdale is over the failure of Brookdale Hospital management to make payments for health coverage. In a statement released last week the Congressman put his support behind the workers. “These workers entered into a good faith contract and it is the responsibility of the State Department of Health to see to it that every effort is made to resolve this dispute in favor of the workers and the community”, said Towns.

Senator Addabbo: "Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite!"; Sponsors Free Seminar with Assemblyman Mike Miller on Preventing, Eliminating Pests

Senator and Assemblyman Mike Miller Sponsor Free Seminar

with Experts on How to Prevent or Eliminate the Growing Menace

On Thursday, February 17 at 7 p.m., NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. and Assemblyman Michael Miller are sponsoring a free seminar providing important information from the experts on how to prevent, identify, or get rid of, the spreading problem of bedbug infestations. If you or someone you know is concerned with the issue of bedbugs, come to the event at Emanuel United Church of Christ, 93-12 91^st Avenue (off Woodhaven Blvd., near Atlantic Avenue) featuring speakers from the NYC Department of Health, NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and local pest control business owner William Puricelli of Advanced Pest Management Services.

Addabbo notes, “I want to thank these experts for providing timely information to my constituents -- homeowners, tenants or landlords -- who are afraid that the city’s bedbug plague will hit their buildings.” The Senator points out that it has been reported that the city had logged 12,768 bedbug complaints for 2009, with bedbug violations issued by HPD inspectors exploding from 82 in 2004 to 4,808 in that same year. In 2010, exterminators were extremely busy, as the nasty critters temporarily shut down businesses, forced residents to move, and left beleaguered New Yorkers suffering from red welts and bites. Some local movie theaters, offices and hotels also reported being visited by the bugs.

Adds Miller, “The citywide fight against bedbugs will be won one home at a time. Winning the battle can save you thousands of dollars, and information is your best weapon.”

According to local certified entomologists and exterminators, bedbug removal is one of the most difficult and costly tasks in the pest control industry. Landlords have been known to spend up to $80,000 to get large buildings bedbug free. Adding to landlords’ woes of dealing with these pests is the “Bedbug Disclosure Act,” a new citywide law that took effect August 30, 2010, which requires landlords to notify prospective tenants about any infestations in the building within the previous year. The law’s stated goal is to suppress the bedbug epidemic by giving “landlords an incentive to comply with their legal obligations to eradicate” infestations. However, the disclosure act fails to include any legal or financial penalties for landlords who do not comply.

For more information about this free local event, please call Senator Addabbo’s Howard Beach district office at 718-738-1111, his Middle Village satellite office at 718-497-1630, or Assemblyman Miller’s Woodhaven district office at 718-805-0950.

Health Department Shuts Down Dunkin Donuts on 63rd Drive by Erika Usui - Queens Chronicle

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Dunkin’ Donuts on Woodhaven Boulevard was shut down briefly this week for sanitary violations. PHOTO BY ERIKA USUI

The establishment, at 63-65 Woodhaven Blvd. on the corner of Woodhaven Boulevard and Penelope Avenue, was cited with 40 violation points by the Health Department. It reopened on Wednesday morning.

According to inspection reports, three major sanitary violations were made: Food was found to be contaminated or not discarded properly, evidence of mice were present and the facility was not vermin-proof.

Since July 2010, the department has required restaurants to post letter grades showing the result of their sanitary inspections. A score of 0 to 13 recieves an A grade, 14 to 27 points a B and 28 points or more a C.

If a restaurant scores 28 or more points, inspections continue roughly once a month until the score drops or the facility is closed for persistent violations.

An inspection earlier in the month, on Jan. 19, cited Dunkin’ with 26 violation points. Two 2009 inspections, in March and December, cited 12 and 20 points, respectively.

A reinspection date for the establishment is not yet set, Health Department spokesman Erin Hughes said on Monday, but the store reopened less than 48 hours later.

Many neighbors say the doughnut shop is the busiest in the borough, and that the shut-down created an irritating detour in their coffee-run routine, especially in the snow.

Though a 40-point violation is major, “I'll come back here for munchies once things are cleaned up,” said Susan Press of Rego Park.

Inspections conducted in summer of 2010 gave the two nearest Dunkin’ Donuts in the area better scores.

The establishment at 96-37 Queens Blvd. near 63rd Drive was cited with 5 points, but has not yet received a grade. The establishment at 95-56 Queens Blvd., near the other leg of 63rd Drive, was cited with 6 points and an A grade.