Community Corner
🚎Man With BB Gun Hijacks Bus+ Queens Leads Catalytic Converter Thefts
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Queens.
Good morning, Queens!🥸
🎃 Halloweenkend beckons, but before you get too carried away, here are today's headlines:
- 🚌 A man with a BB gun hijacked an MTA bus in St. Albans on Thursday morning and crashed it into a utility pole, causing hundreds in the area to lose power. There were no major injuries.
- ⚙️ Queens leads the city in catalytic converter thefts, which have quadrupled across the five boroughs in the past year.
- 😡 An infamous tow truck operator who has been parking broken down vehicles all over Queens streets for years is currently being sued by St. Michael's Cemetery in East Elmhurst.
💨 Breezy. High: 58 Low: 45.
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Here are the top stories in Queens today:
1. A man with a fake gun hijacked a MTA bus in St. Albans on Thursday morning and crashed it into a utility pole after the driver jumped out of the window. The 44-year-old suspect stopped the eastbound Q4 bus as it was driving down the road around 7:20 a.m and claimed he was being chased. After boarding, the man pointed what appeared to be a pistol toward the MTA operator, who then opened all the bus doors to allow the 20 to 25 passengers to flee. Police said the hijacker ordered the driver, a 21-year MTA veteran, to keep the bus moving and about ten minutes later the driver jumped out of the driver's side window. The suspect then took the wheel and the bus crashed into a utility pole less than a block later, causing hundreds of people in the area, and a nearby school, to lose power. No passengers were on board at the time of the crash, and both the driver and the suspect were taken to hospitals with minor injuries. The weapon was recovered and turned out to be a BB gun.
2. Catalytic converter thefts have quadrupled across the five boroughs in the past year, with Queens leading the city with 2,092 converters reported stolen by August, compared to 574 during the same period last year. Earlier this month, Queens Council members Linda Lee and Selvena Brooks-Powers joined Councilman Robert Holden to introduce legislation that would distribute etching kits to car dealers and the general public. The kits will allow car owners to etch identifying numbers into their catalytic converters to deter future thefts. Additionally, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation on Oct. 17 that imposes restrictions on the purchase, sale and possession of catalytic converters, thus targeting unauthorized and illegal vehicle dismantlers that operate chop shops.
3. The city is finally cracking down on infamous tow truck operator Tomaso Tiseo, who has become notorious among locals and Department of Transportation officials for parking his broken-down cars, buses and trucks on city streets in Queens for decades. Even when the NYPD tows Tiseo's derelict vehicles — most of which have busted windows and are covered in graffiti — more return in their place. Last year, St. Michael's Cemetery filed a lawsuit against Tiseo alleging he's been encroaching on the cemetery's property since the late 1990s. "He's got cars everywhere," said one longtime business owner, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation from Tiseo. "I can't believe this is still happening."
4. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards held a public land use hearing on Thursday to discuss the proposed rezoning of The Reform Temple of Forest Hills in order make way for a mixed-use development that will include space for the synagogue on a parcel of land the congregation owns. Rabbi Mark Kaiserman, of the Reform Temple, said the current building no longer serves the needs of the congregation nor does it allow them to be of maximum service to the to broader community. "To keep our synagogue vibrant, we are presenting our plan to redevelop this property. Working with an excellent development partner, Benjamin Werber, we want to transform this lot into a new home with a temple and apartment building above," Kaiserman said. The proposed 10-story building would feature 153 rental units, with 38 units designated for affordable housing, a community facility space, and underground parking for 60 vehicles, with additional space for bicycle parking.
5. A Manhattan man was charged with grand larceny on Wednesday after he allegedly stole money from a bank account he was asked to manage for a Queens bowling league. Robert Vickers, 59, served as treasurer and secretary for the 120-member Ted Guy Memorial Bowling League during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. As part of his responsibilities, Vickers collected members' weekly dues, which were supposed to be regularly deposited into the league's bank account, and used to cover the league's expenses, and prizes for the league's winners. Prosecutors allege that when the pandemic began, Vickers was instructed to pay out some prize money, and to payout the remaining account funds to the league's members. However, Vickers never made these payouts, and later claimed the account was frozen, all while he was allegedly using the money to make a number of large purchases and take gambling trips to New York City and Atlantic City casinos. Vickers was arraigned on a 21-count indictment, and faces four years in prison if convicted.
🗞 Hungry for more news? 🍴Snack on these headlines:
- Forest Hills Merchants Band Together To Install Holiday Lights (Patch)
- Organic waste becomes mulch and compost in NYC (PIX11 News)
- Comprehensive NYC Greenway plan for bike, pedestrian infrastructure passes City Council (AM New York Metro)
- Everything I Did to Flood-Proof My Old House (The New York Times)
- Couple Indicted For Third Time In Queens After Alleged Kidnapping: DA (Patch)
From our sponsor:
Today's Queens Daily is brought to you in part by Bronx Zoo. This holiday season, see your kids' faces light up with over 360 lanterns and immersive light shows at the Bronx Zoo's Holiday Lights.
🗓 To Do Today in Queens:
- Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) (7 a.m.)
- Queens Farm Farmstand (11 a.m.)
- Volunteer at 9 Million Reasons / Evangel Food Pantry (12 p.m.)
- Vic Hanson Afterschool Program (3 p.m.)
- Movies Under the Stars: The Addams Family 2 (6 p.m.)
- QWANQWA: The Ethiopian Supergroup Performance (8 p.m.)
- Freediving: Community Pool Session (8:15 p.m.)
🗣 Queens Chatter:
- 🏭 Three cheers for Alphapointe NY: "Had the honor of touring @AlphapointeNY's Richmond Hill manufacturing facility today — one of the largest employers of individuals with visual impairments in the country. #Queens believes in good jobs for all our residents, regardless of ability. Alphapointe is living proof."(Queens Borough President Donovan Richards via Twitter)
- 🎥 Ecuadorian Film Festival upcoming: "On 10/30, join us for the second day of the @EcuaFilm Festival! The festival is dedicated to raising awareness of #LatinAmerica through films and the arts. Day two of the festival will showcase four films and feature director Q&A's. Learn more: https://qnsmu.se/ecuafilmday2" (Queens Museum via Twitter)
- 🦠 Free covid tests always available: "Reminder: free at-home #COVID19 test kits are available for pick up at every QPL location during regular hours of service, until an hour before closing. https://queenslibrary.org/about-us/news-media/blog/2038..." (Queens Public Library via Facebook)
- 🍖 Get your tickets to this authentic 18th-century feast: "Tickets for 18th Century Tavern Night are on sale now! History comes alive at this authentic 18th-century tavern dinner held in the farm's historic farmhouse (c. 1772). Unplug and unwind as you enjoy a candlelit feast featuring traditional recipes cooked over an open hearth. Space is limited and tickets sell out fast! >> https://www.queensfarm.org/18th-century-tavern-night/" (The Queens County Farm Museum via Facebook)
- 🏆 The Isamu Noguchi Award recipients: "The 2022 Isamu Noguchi Award will be presented to artists Daniel Brush and Thaddeus Mosley at the Noguchi Museum's fall benefit celebration on Thursday, November 17 (the 118th anniversary of Isamu Noguchi's birth). The Isamu Noguchi Award, established in 2014, is conferred each year to individuals whose creative practice shares a boundary-transcending point of view found in Isamu Noguchi's work, and extends his ideals into our own times." (The Noguchi Museum via Facebook)
More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!
Events:
- Halloween Fun At The Poppenhusen Institute (October 29)
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- 1ST OPEN HOUSE! Detached Center Hall In The Perfect Forest Hills Gardens Location (October 30)
- Institutional Insights - Market outlook, investment ideas and wealth planning strategies (November 3)
- Success Academy Springfield Gardens In-Person Tour (November 8)
- Success Academy South Jamaica In-Person School Tour (November 11)
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You're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow for another update.
— Emma Radu Fighera
About me: Emma Radu Fighera is a reporter born and raised in Queens, New York. She studied Literature and Studio Art at Hamilton College, where she helped run the only daily publication on campus, The Daily Bull newsletter. This past spring she earned her M.S. from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Queens Daily? Contact me at queens@patch.com
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