Queens Community Board 5 (CB5) welcomed newly appointed board representatives at the monthly meeting held on Wednesday, April 8, at Christ the King High School in Middle Village. The gathering also featured Lorraine Chambers Lewis, the President of Long Island Jewish Forest Hills (LIJFH), along with elected officials, political candidates and district office representatives to discuss local concerns.

CB5, which represents the neighborhoods of Middle Village, Ridgewood, Maspeth and Glendale, introduced the new members: Melissa Garcia, Carmel Gorton, Matthew Mahoney, Edgar Mantel and Valeria Paz Reyes. This follows a record number of community board applicants across the borough — 966 applications were received by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards during the winter application period, as reported by QNS last month.

Long Island Jewish Hospital Forest Hills Presentation

Lewis began her presentation to the forum by stating that LIJFH is “one of the safest Queens hospitals,” touting its A ratings from The Leapfrog Group, a patient safety watchdog group. She went on to describe the hospital’s healthcare advancements, including the Robotic Surgery Center of Excellence, which offers high-tech care with small, highly recoverable incisions in soft-tissue procedures (e.g., urology, oncology, hernia repairs).

Photo by Paulina Albarracin
Photo by Paulina Albarracin

During her speech, Lewis thanked Congresswoman Grace Meng — who was present in the audience and shared remarks earlier — for funding LIJFH to receive a makeover robot, a high-tech robot that performs orthopedic surgery and allows “more precise and smaller incisions” alongside the surgeon. She further stated that LIJFH has become “the first baby-friendly” hospital, designated by the World Health Organization.

The presentation further described LIJFH as having “multiple physician practices and specialty locations in Queens,” highlighting its access to Queens residents. Because of its dense population, Lewis called for more healthcare opportunities in the borough.

Lewis also recollected on the following new locations that opened in 2025:

Northwell Health at Downtown Flushing (136-17 39th Ave., Suite 1A)
Northwell Health at Jackson Heights (8221 Baxter Ave., 2nd Floor)
Garden OB/GYN – Transitioned to Northwell (64-63 Austin St., #1A in Rego Park and 112-41 Queens Blvd. in Forest Hills)

Lastly, Lewis introduced the Northwell School of Health Sciences, located at 53-16 Northern Blvd. in Woodside, an educational institution that introduces students to healthcare careers. The President stated that “95%” of enrolled students are from Queens, showcasing a widespread interest in pursuing the vocation in the borough. For those interested, there are four career pathways students can pursue — Pre-Nursing, Medical Assisting, Behavioral and Mental Health and Healthcare Management. Each pathway offers the opportunity to earn college credit and participate in paid internships.

Stancy Saji, the Program Manager at LIJFH, explained the LIJFH Community Advisory Board, a group of local leaders who strengthen connections with community members. Two new members were introduced: Heather Beers Dimitriadis and Racquel Chariah. A recruitment for members from Ridgewood, Maspeth and Middle Village will also commence in the future.

Updates From Elected Officials

Assembly Member Steven Raga, who represents District 30, announced that the New York State Budget missed the April 1 deadline, prompting an extender bill to “keep our government from shutting down” and will continue until “next Monday.”

Raga went on to state that his office prioritizes investing taxpayer money “back into the district.” Assembly District 30 represents Woodside, Elmhurst and Maspeth. The representative said he will ensure continued funding for facilities like Maspeth Town Hall and Selfhelp Maspeth Older Adult Center.

The representative is also prioritizing new legislation, including a tax credit for pet expenses (Assembly Bill A5340) — $150 for food expenses and “another $300” for veterinarian visits, as Raga explained. Continuing with his announcements, Raga shared details about a third annual Earth Day of Action, an environmental initiative to clean the streets, set for Saturday, April 25.

Photo by Paulina Albarracin

State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. soon followed Raga, continuing the remarks made on the NYS Budget delay. He also spoke of an issue brought up by constituents that involves lowering of insurance premiums “due to auto insurance fraud,” which Addabbo said should be addressed. In addition, Addabbo called for assurances from Mayor Zohran Mamdani that property taxes would not be raised. Addabbo further mentioned working out “better benefits” for Tier 6 workers.

Addabbo also called for reconsideration of the proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) location at 64-30 69th Pl. in Middle Village, after speaking with the offices of Mayor Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul about an alternative site.

Photo by Paulina Albarracin

Council Member Julie Won, who represents District 30 (including parts of Maspeth due to redistricting), discussed a previous hearing concerning Sunnyside Yard, a project whose revival in February was unexpected, as she claimed. The estimated cost is $21 billion, which can be received through “congressional appropriation.”

Photo by Paulina Albarracin
Public Forum

Samantha Kattan, a candidate for Assembly District 37, vouched for her platform to fight for stronger tenant protections and affordable housing.

Photo by Paulina Albarracin

Carol Benovic-Bradley , the Library Chair, discussed upcoming cultural events, including the Ridgewood Jazz Fest on multiple dates in April, the Ridgewood Open Studios on Friday, May 8 and Library Appreciation Week from Sunday, April 19 to Saturday, April 25.

MaryAnn Lattanzio, a board member of the Auxiliary Police Benevolent Association (APBA), called for further protection of auxiliary police officers, a group of trained volunteer officers who prioritize neighborhood public safety. She thanked Addabbo for his efforts to enact a Class E felony, a penalty that would make attacks on on-duty auxiliary officers a punishable crime. She also mentioned the auxiliary force having to serve with expired bulletproof vests, which Lattanzio is discussing with Council Member Phil Wong — Wong has brought this issue to the attention of NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and will provide updates.

Lattanzio is currently working with the NYPD to have the issue of radio encryption resolved with the 104th Precinct Civilian Observation Patrol (G-COP).

Brendon Castro, a candidate for Assembly District 30, described his campaign to “grow skills and jobs,” build safe infrastructure and prioritize quality of life issues.

Chairperson’s Report

Walter H. Sanchez, the Chairperson of CB5, held a motion to accept the Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, March 11, which all approved.
Photo by Paulina Albarracin

Regarding new liquor licenses, Gary Giordano, the District Manager of CB5, stated that El Manaba, an Ecuadorian restaurant located at 341 St. Nicholas Ave. in Ridgewood, has been involved in “more than 200 311 complaints” and previous reports of violent incidents. Giordano seeks to write a letter to the New York State Liquor Authority after contacting the local precinct to determine whether their license should be renewed.

Quite a few community board members have expressed concerns over the restaurant. Edward Lettau, a Middle Village resident and member of the Liquor License and Cannabis Committee, believed that a letter should be written to deny approval of a license renewal and to support the NYPD. A motion was set for Giordano to write said letter.

Claire Collins, the Community Liaison of the Office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, announced an induction ceremony for newly selected community board members on Monday, April 20. Collins stated there were “962 applicants,” and “367 applicants” were appointed across 14 boards. Of 367, there were reportedly 115 new members — “four shy” of last year’s record.

Photo by Paulina Albarracin
District Manager’s Report

Giordano shared of a “good turnout” at the Memorial Day Parade in Ridgewood and Glendale last year, thanking the newer board members for their efforts. He described a banner for the community board to “walk behind.”

The District Manager also noted that potholes in the district have “gotten filled” following a bitter winter. He also reported on some difficulties with park projects, specifically Evergreen Park. For at least a year, there has been a debate between the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) on the plan to control stormwater runoff at Evergreen Park. An agreement has not been reached as of press time.

Committee Reports

Sanchez confirmed that he and Giordano have met with Captain Joshua Rios, the NYPD Commanding Officer of the 104th Precinct, to discuss complaints about adults “taking over parks” from kids and other similar issues. He also announced the next Executive Committee Meeting on Thursday, April 16.

The Chairperson also recalled voting against NineDot Energy’s proposed Middle Village battery site last month. He also confirmed receiving a phone call from NineDot Energy — the company wanted to meet with “a few of us” to gather “thoughts and ideas” of considerations to be made. About eight members from the Executive Committee and the Middle Village neighborhood spoke with NineDot Energy to discuss the conditions. Sanchez made it clear that the members did not indicate being in favor of the site.

NineDot Energy was said to have wanted to put up a wall with “trees in front of it” and a rooftop. Jessica Boiardi, one of the CB5 members, will also be meeting with them alone.

Several recommendations from the committees reflect the shared priorities of residents, especially regarding public safety and quality of life.

The next CB5 meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, at 7:30 p.m. For more updates, visit their website.