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State Senator Jessica Ramos dealt a serious blow Tuesday to New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s dream of building a massive casino and entertainment complex on the parking lot adjoining Citi Field where Shea Stadium once stood. Ramos announced she would not support the $8 billion Metropolitan Park proposal, rejecting major pressure from her colleagues in government, including Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and community leaders from nearby neighborhoods, who urged her to support permitted use legislation that would be required to build the complex on public parkland. “I will not introduce legislation to alienate parkland in Corona for the purposes of a casino. Whether people rallied for or against Metropolitan Park, I heard the same dreams for Corona,” Ramos said in a statement. “We want investment and opportunity, we are desperate for green space, and recreation for the whole family. We disagree on the premise that we have to accept a casino in our backyard as the trade-off. I resent the conditions and the generations of neglect that have made many of us so desperate that we would be willing to settle.” QNS reached out to Cohen’s Metropolitan Park team and is awaiting a response. Ramos is moving ahead with new legislation that would authorize the City of New York to allow development on the 50 acres of parking lot that is technically part of Flushing Meadows Corona Park. “I have drafted an alternative alienation bill that strikes a balance and would allow Mr. Cohen and Hard Rock to build a convention center and hotel, and more than double the proposed open green space,” Ramos said. “The parcel in question is in strategic proximity to LaGuardia Airport and allows for visitors and tourists to feed into our vibrant food scene while addressing the consequence of climate change in the area. Mr. Cohen and Hard Rock would still make a profit, albeit less.” Assemblymember Jeffrion Aubry introduced his own parkland alienation bill last March, and signed on to a letter with Richards and Council Member Francisco Moya on May 20 urging her to advance a companion bill in the Senate to allow Metropolitan Park to move forward with the community review process. “I hope my Assembly counterpart will consider this proposal so we can bring it to the Governor’s office and get to work,” Ramos said. “I recommend the City amend the lease to collect revenue from property tax and allow for speedy renovation of this parcel.” Ramos concluded her statement by directly addressing the billionaire hedge fund manager and richest owner in Major League Baseball. Mr. Cohen and his team have often declared their love for our community and said they recognize our potential,” Ramos said. “Finding a path forward would be a good way to show it.” Richards fired back in a statement of his own soon after Ramos made her announcement on Tuesday morning. “There is very little generational wealth in Northwest Queens, where survival work is prevalent, public services are lacking and hard-working immigrant street vendors are displaced and demonized,” Richards said. “That’s why the families of this community so badly deserve the 25,000 good-paying union jobs, the $163 million community investment fund, the Taste of Queens food hall designed for borough-based vendors, critical support for community-based organizations, rising property values and more that the Metropolitan Park proposal puts forth.” Ramos held three heavily attended town hall meetings since last May gauging community feedback on the Metropolitan Park proposal while Richards worked behind the scenes to bring a new economic engine to the borough. “We are in a state of emergency in Northwest Queens, which was hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and which continues to struggle as the cost of living rises. The Metropolitan Park proposal will create countless avenues for generational wealth building right here in Corona, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and other communities surrounding the proposed site, which is currently a parking lot that sits empty for more than 200 days per year,” Richards said. “By no means should acres of asphalt block the ascending of financial and societal ladders to the middle class by families deserving of upward mobility.” Cohen’s team presented the Metropolitan Park plans at a Ramos town hall at the New York Hall of Science in February, outlining more than $1 billion in community benefits while making it clear that the entire proposal depended on state approval of one of three downstate full casino licenses that will be awarded late next year. The Ramos announcement has put the Cohen plan in peril, much to the dismay of the borough president. “Queens is growing like never before, and we must never turn our backs on unprecedented economic development opportunities for communities that have historically been left behind,” Richards concluded. “No one single elected official should be the sole arbiter of this $8 billion investment in our borough, so I strongly urge Governor Hochul and the State Senate to explore other avenues in order to bring the Metropolitan Park proposal to life and ensure that Queens continues to get the money we are owed and deserve.” Sen. Ramos delivers potential death blow to Mets owner’s dream of a casino alongside Citi Field – QNS QNS.COM State Senator Jessica Ramos dealt a serious blow Tuesday to New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s dream of...

Quacking for help: Maspeth duck finds a new home thanks to neighborly allies Christina Wilkinson says it was on Mother’s Day when she first spotted what appeared to be a female Mallard duck sleeping behind the fence of Mount Olivet Cemetery in Maspeth. The duck was discovered with some missing feathers and near a bowl of water, in desperate need of help. That’s when Wilkinson tried to seek help from animal rescue centers, but the holiday made it challenging to find timely assistance. The next day, Wilkinson returned to where she first saw the duck, but it was nowhere to be found. However, on May 19, Wilkinson received a call from Tony Nunziato, President of Juniper Park Civic Association, about a duck spotted around Grand Avenue near the cemetery gates. Maspeth locals shared concerns with Nunziato about the duck, noting that its wings were clipped and it was being harassed by crows. “It was then that my husband Steve and I, having never done this before, decided we would attempt a duck rescue,” Wilkinson told QNS. The duck darted past the group, flew just beyond their reach, and outmaneuvered its way from its rescuers’ grasps. After some time and persistence, Wilkinson says they managed to back the duck into a corner while her husband, Steve Garza threw a blanket over it. Once in possession of the Mallard, which was later given the suggested name of Olivette, Wilkinson says it was then guided into a carrier. Two other residents who approached the rescue team suggested the duck be taken to the Wild Bird Fund (WBF) in Manhattan. New information provided following the trip to the WBF actually identified Olivette as a Rouen duck, which is identified as a domesticated duck with limited survivability in the wild. Therefore, the WBF couldn’t accept Olivette into their care. The alternative would be to take Olivette to the Animal Care Centers of New York (ACC) located on E 110th Street, in Manhattan. Eventually, the ACC gave Olivette a clean bill of health and Humane Long Island, an animal activist organization and domestic fowl rescue, pulled Olivette from the shelter to find her forever home. As of Friday, May 24, Olivette has been placed in her forever home through the Humane Long Island organization. The org has specifically worked on an international Duck Defenders Project, which was featured in National Geographic. It is believed that ducklings are often given as gifts to celebrate the Easter holiday, and the unwanted ducks are often left abandoned. Olivette may have been part of a much larger issue in animal care, but no longer, thanks to a combined effort from Maspeth natives and rescue groups. https://qns.com/2024/05/quacking-for-help-maspeth-duck-finds-a-new-home-thanks-to-neighborly-allies/

Angel Hernandez, whom the other umpires love because he supposed to be the most wonderful person, is retiring immediately.

Ronald Acuna Junior has suffered a complete tear of his left ACL. It's the other leg than the last time. The medical technology has advanced regarding ACL injuries a lot in the last few years, but having one in each leg does not seem optimal. Then again, they won the World Series the last time this happened, and that year they were still under 500 when August began, so… But I think the Phillies are looking like a good bet to end the run of Braves division championships. The National League is so mediocre this year that right now, as awful as the Mets have been, they are 4 1/2 games out of the SECOND wildcard, 4 in the loss column. Of course, we won't mention the fact that Miami and Colorado are the only two teams further out… And Miami has three less wins than the Mets, and Colorado has four less.

Clarke Schmidt looked like he'd make it one entire turn through the rotation with nobody giving up a run when he was at 90 pitches through 5 scoreless (his career high is 103), but Boone sent him out for the sixth. 11 pitches later, an error and a walk ended his day. The Padres jumped on Victor Gonzalez & wound up scoring 4 runs... but only 2 charged to Schmidt (1 earned), so the Yankees tied the streak.

Stroman tonight turned in the Yankees’ 13th straight start in which their pitcher has gone at least five innings and allowed two or fewer runs, one shy of the longest such streak since 1893. During that stretch, Yankees starters have combined to post a 0.78 ERA across 80 ²/₃ innings. Stroman, Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil and Nestor Cortes have combined to throw 23 ¹/₃ scoreless innings over the last four games. Judge has been putting up some historic numbers, too. Over his last 20 games alone, he has piled up 12 doubles and 11 home runs, becoming the first player to accomplish that feat. Over his last 27 games, he is batting .391 (36-for-92) with a 1.458 OPS, 12 doubles and 13 home runs. And 15 of his 17 hits over the last 11 games have gone for extra bases — eight doubles and seven home runs. Saturday also marked the third time in his career that he has homered in four straight games. He is now tied for the major-league lead with 17 home runs this season.

Dear Abby: I am a widow. I supported my husband during our entire marriage with no help from his wealthy parents. My husband died before his father did. After my father-in-law’s death, I received nothing. My sister-in-law told me she would give me $5,000, but she would invest it for me and give it to me after I retire. Well, that was 10 years ago. I just retired. When I asked her for it, she claimed she had no memory of it and got angry with me for asking. I argued and said I hated her “stingy” family, and she hung up on me. Should I ask her for the money again? — Promise Broken in Michigan Dear Promise: No. Unless the promise your husband’s sister made was in writing, there is no way for you to collect the money. Asking for it again will not help. I’m sorry. SURE… NOW THAT YOU’RE RETIRED, YOU HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD TO WASTE CALLING A WOMAN WHO WILL NEVER SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN. Dear Abby: I am a 35-year-old married mother of two daughters, ages 3 and 1. About a year ago, a couple our age moved in across the street. They have two boys, ages 3 and 11 months. While we have formed a friendship with this family, I find it very uncomfortable when the family leaves our home and the father kisses my children on the cheek. The mother does not do it. I want it to stop, but I don’t know how to address it. — Uncomfortable in the East Dear Uncomfortable: The way to address it would be to tell your neighbor that you would prefer he not kiss your children. Period. HAVE THE PERV ARRESTED. You are their mother, and asserting yourself in this role is part of your job. ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY. Dear Abby: I am a 14-year-old first-generation Polish American with a very Polish family. I don’t have a lot of issues, but I just changed schools, and nobody cares enough to learn how to pronounce my name, including the teachers. I was named after a family member and the name has a lot of history, so my parents don’t want to Americanize it. But correcting people with no results is getting tiring. What started as a small issue now has me feeling split between my Polish and American identities. Is it worth it to disappoint my parents to make it a little easier? — Agnieszka in New Jersey Dear Agnieszka: What would be worth it would be to explain to your teachers and friends the history behind your name. Shakespeare wrote, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” In this case, there’s a whole LOT behind your name, including the memory of a woman who was much loved by your family. That fact is worthy of respect. If your teachers don’t get it, perhaps your parents can explain it to them. IF YOUR LAST NAME IS ANYTHING LIKE FALTSKOG, DON’T CHANGE A THING. P.S. Agnieszka AGNETHA is a beautiful name. Phonetically it sounds like Ann-YES-ka Ahn-YET-a, which has a musical quality. WHAT A CO-INKY-DINK! Many people have nicknames, and if your peers choose one you like, so be it.

E-Z Bake Ovens cost that much that long ago?

Matt 'I'm a better singer but worse hitter than Karen' Carpenter just tied the game with a pinch-hit single in the 8th, as the Cardinals attempt to fly (get it?!?) back into the mediocrity that is the race for the 2nd & 3rd NL wildcard spots.

Covering his bases Outfielder sprints to home plate, tags out runner for insane viral Ohio HS baseball play When Griffin Bruns realized that no one from Marion Local High School was covering the plate, the centerfielder decided to fix everything himself.

Well, at least it wasn't 4 runs... The Giants have come back from 2 one-run deficits, including in the 9th against Edwin Diaz, and just scored 5 in the 10th... I'm sure the Mets are rallying as I type this. The Phillies have been great, but... After their series in Denver ends tomorrow, they will have played exactly 1/3 of their schedule... and played 6 games against teams with winning records.

Yes, you are out of your mind and/or hopelessly out of touch.

Not fading away: The Rolling Stones rock on strong at Metlife Stadium — in their 80s!

Did similarly with my niece and nephew for HS & her college. Fortunately, their grandfather died and left them both a decent chunk of change a few years ago, so (since I just lost my part-time job & have to get by on disability) I had no problem giving my nephew a hug in lieu of cash last week when he graduated college (with a degree in cannabis management... just what my sister had dreamed of when he was a baby). It was his own fault he missed out on the gift she got... he's 3 1/2 years older, but took 10 years to graduate... partly due to cannabis, ironically...

King Charles and William are having ‘lengthy discussions’ about stripping Harry, Meghan of royal titles — but this is why they won’t I have had lengthy fantasies about stripping Harry...

Patrick Bailey hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning, Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman saved San Francisco with a defensive gem, and the Giants came back from another big deficit to beat the staggering New York Mets 8-7 on Friday night. After climbing out of a 6-2 hole in the eighth, the Giants joined the 1932 St. Louis Cardinals as the only major league teams since 1900 to win three consecutive road games in which they trailed by at least four runs. Just two other clubs have accomplished the feat at home: the 1999 Florida Marlins (against San Francisco) and the 1961 Boston Red Sox. The Marlins and Giants are the only teams to come back and win all three when trailing by four runs in the sixth inning or later. Before this week, the Giants had never won consecutive road games after trailing by four runs -- let alone three in a row. San Francisco also overcame a 5-0, fifth-inning deficit in a 9-5 win Wednesday at Pittsburgh then rallied from down 6-2 in the eighth to beat the Pirates 7-6 on Thursday. New York (21-29) is the fifth team to lose three consecutive games in which they hit three home runs in each one, and is off to its worst 50-game start since 2013. They have lost four straight and 11 of 14.

They've actually played pretty well for a couple of weeks.

Cookies N’ Cream, a Westchester-based gourmet dessert shop with humble beginnings, is opening at 64-62 Dry Harbor Rd. (@BSR, there is a Filipino restaurant next door @ 64-58... and it's a 2 minute drive to Middle Village Bagels, named best in Queens earlier this year) The anticipated opening date is May 28, the day after Memorial Day. The Middle Village location their third. The other two are in Bronxville and Yonkers. The company’s founder, Joe Edwards, has welcomed the effort to open the Middle Village location. “At Cookies N’ Cream, we believe life is short, so we make it sweet,” he said in a statement. Cookies N’ Cream is expected to have an outdoor space and announce the official grand opening date on its Instagram page. Over 24 cookie choices are offered at Cookies N’ Cream, ranging from childhood favorites like chocolate chip*** to modern takes on classic flavors such as oatmeal cinnamon apple pie. The sweet-tooth business also offers dozens of ice cream flavors and sorbets, including some vegan options. *** Why Is No One Eating This Ice Cream Flavor Anymore? Feb 23, 2024 — Chocolate chip ice cream is reportedly going extinct. It's Been a Rocky Road for Chocolate-Chip Ice Cream Sales Feb 15, 2024 — From 2018 to 2022, sales of the flavor dropped 22 percent in volume Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Is No Longer America's Favorite Once a childhood favorite, the creamy vanilla flavor studded with chunks of rich chocolate chips is no longer a top seller, according to a recent report cited in The New York Times.

I was there just days before the name was changed from Leningrad

I did not have high hopes for this show. I had enjoyed Elsbeth on the good wife, but thought the character was too quirky to be the centerpiece of a show without becoming too annoying. She still might, but the writing this year was delightful, if simplistic, and the show was lighthearted and fun throughout, with enough humor to make me hope it lasts awhile if it continues to be this enjoyable.

Unfortunately, it's been so long that I forgot.