BRAVO’s Letter to Congresswoman Malliotakis – Please Do Not Allow Medicare Ambulance Add-On Payments To Expire on March 31st

Tony Napoli, President of BRAVO Volunteer Ambulance sent a letter to Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis urging her to include Medicare Ambulance Add-On Payments into a package because they are expiring on March 31, 2025.

BRAVO needs these funds to continue operating.

Topics: Bay Ridge | No Comments »

Many Palestinian Protesters Were Fighting in Borough Park Tonight

The Palestinian Protest organized by Pal-Awda in Borough Park tonight on 14th Avenue and 37th Street was not good. (See news and here too)

Palestinians chanted, “Settlers, settlers go back home. Palestine is our home.” (See video here) Some men started fighting – they are angry. See videos:

a) The police had to break up men who were fighting. (See video and Here)

b) More fighting (See video)

c) A car had to be stopped by the police and the driver was put in cuffs. (See here and here)

d) Heshy Tischler was punched (the guy didn’t think Heshy would fight back, but he did!) The man was arrested. (See video here and here) Tischer was angry that this protest was allowed in Borough Park. (See video)

e) Someone attempted to use a knife at the protest. Fortunately, the police apprehended him. (See post and video) The knife is huge. (See video)

f) Hours after the protest, people stayed and continue to fight (See video)

Protests shouldn’t be allowed in this neighborhood. The Palestinians are very angry (and rightfully so – they are protesting over property (Info here). The NYPD are the ones paying the price because they have to stop all the fights. So a different neighborhood would be better for these protests.

Topics: Brooklyn | No Comments »

Small Black Cat Missing in Dyker Heights – Mouse

Mouse is a kitten that was lost on February 13th near 84th Street & 17th Avenue in Brooklyn.

Description: Mouse is a black cat with a white belly. She has white paws with black toes. Her chin is white. She has green eyes.

Mouse is 9 months old and has never been outside before.

Pawboost: https://www.pawboost.com/p/71267676

Topics: Dyker Heights | No Comments »

Justin Brannan’s Matching Funds Delayed Because He Didn’t Do the Training On Time

Justin Brannan wants to be NYC’s Comptroller, but he didn’t do the compliance training on time. This is a basic requirement for anyone running for office in NYC.

There was plenty of time to play on Twitter – obsessing over Trump and writing about Eric Adams.

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Two Brooklyn Pharmacists Convicted for Illegal Distribution of Oxycodone.

“As proven at trial, Mohamed Hassan and Yousef Ennab were licensed pharmacists who participated in a large-scale scheme using illegal medical prescriptions to obtain oxycodone for distribution on the streets of New York City.”

Mohamed Hassan, a Brooklyn pharmacist held ownership stakes in more than a dozen pharmacies including: Nile RX, Nile Ridge Pharmacy at 6922 – 4th Avenue in Bay Ridge, Nile City, Sunset Corner Pharmacy at 6002 – 4th Avenue in Sunset Park, Prospect Care, Downtown RX and Forest Care, among others. 

Yousef Ennab (above left) was the supervising pharmacist at Forest Care, one of Hassan’s pharmacies in Staten Island.

“The defendants abused their access to oxycodone and violated the trust placed in them as pharmacists by illegally agreeing to supply drug dealers with tens of thousands of pills to sell on the streets of our district with zero regard for the immense harm this dangerously addictive narcotic has caused,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  (US Attorney’s Office)

“The verdict against Yousef Ennab and Mohamed Hassan sends a strong message to anyone in the medical profession willing to betray their patients’ trust,” stated DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Tarentino.“

“The pharmacists convicted in this case chose to dispense illegally prescribed controlled substances to patients and accept cash kickbacks to do so, which is especially egregious given the ongoing opioid epidemic,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Gruchacz. 

“These two men used their positions as pharmacists to scheme and cheat the system, filling their pockets with the money of the vulnerable and addicted.  Yousef Ennab and Mohamed Hassan had little regard for the safety and well-being of their clients, and today a jury of their peers found them guilty of their criminal behavior,  stated IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Chavis.

“The numbers here are staggering—over 1.2 million pills exchanged with a street value of approximately $24 million.”

THIS IS AWFUL! Why haven’t major networks and newspapers covered this?

The US Attorney’s Office Described what happened:

“The scheme relied on filling illegally issued prescriptions for 30-day supplies of oxycodone 30 mg that were written out of a Brooklyn medical practice operating as a pill mill, often for patients that the resident doctor at the practice had never examined.  Oxycodone 30 pills are high in strength and are prescribed to cancer patients, for instance.  In some cases, the prescriptions were for individuals whose identities had been stolen and were not patients of the practice.  The prescriptions were then filled at pharmacies controlled by Hassan, including the pharmacy where Ennab worked.  Hassan and Ennab conspired with other drug dealers to effect the distribution of the illegally obtained oxycodone.  One of the drug dealers picked up the oxycodone from the pharmacies in exchange for cash payments to Hassan and Ennab.  Hassan and other pharmacist co-conspirators also billed insurance companies for the pills even though they had no legitimate medical purpose. The trial evidence included video footage of Ennab taking a cash payment from one of the drug dealers, Michael Kent, while handing over multiple prescriptions for oxycodone for sham patients. In total, the scheme resulted in the illegal distribution of more than 1.2 million pills of oxycodone worth more than $36 million in retail street value.“

“Six co-defendants, including Dr. Somsri Ratanaprasatporn, her receptionist Leticia Smith and pharmacists Bassam Amin and Omar Elsayed, previously pleaded guilty based on their involvement in the scheme and are awaiting sentencing.  A seventh co-defendant, Michael Kent, previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years’ incarceration.“

The Defendants:

YOUSEF ENNAB Age:  27 Brooklyn, New York

MOHAMED HASSA Age:  34 Brooklyn, New York

Co-Defendants Who Pleaded Guilty:

LETICIA SMITH Age:  54 Brooklyn, New York

BASSAM AMIN Age: 69 Brooklyn, New York

OMAR ELSAYED Age:  28 Hackensack, New Jersey

MICHAEL KENT Age:  49 Brooklyn, New York

ANTHONY MATHIS Age:  55 New Windsor, New York

Dr. SOMSRI RATANAPRASATPORN Age:  75 Staten Island

RAYMOND WALKER Age:  70 Brooklyn, New York

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Linda Sarsour Wants People to Choose the Side of the Oppressed. Hamas Attacked Israel, Linda.

Linda Sarsour, a Palestinian activist said that people need to choose the side of the oppressed.

Since October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, over Israeli occupation and blockade of the Gaza Strip,  Benjamin Netanyahu has been able to say that Israel has a right to defend itself from Hamas.

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67th St. House on Fire Again – One Person Died

Around 8:00 am, there was a three-alarm fire at 1237 – 67th Street. This is the house that squatters lived in and there had been FIVE fires within two years at this location (Info)(Source: five fires) It took until 10:25 am to put the fire out.

Picture from Video

Firefighters from Staten Island were called in as well.

Last Summer, this building was sealed. (Info) This morning, the firefighters had to work against cinder blocks and boards that were sealing the building to get to the fire. (See videos)

Picture from Video

A 40-year-old woman was found in the alleyway. (Source) The fire department’s Deputy Assistant David Simms said the woman was squatting in the alley and basement of the building. RIP.

New 12 showed the front of the house and the neighbor’s home. The front of the house has graffiti on it! The neighbors house was damaged! How awful for the neighbors!

Topics: Dyker Heights | No Comments »

Gus Constantellis Was Featured In The Washington Post Today

Gus Constantellis, a 32-year-old Comedian with roots in Bay Ridge was featured in a huge article in The Washington Post today. (See here)

Constantellis made videos on TikTok about his Greek mother. Then he featured his mother, Julia in his videos and people loved her.

Julia had a stroke and died while on vacation in Greece in August 2023.

Now Gus is putting her recipes into a cookbook. Follow his Instagram, Greek Mom Cookbook. (Here)

Topics: Bay Ridge | No Comments »

Palestinians Will Protest in Borough Park on 2/18 – Location Change

(Update: See videos here) Pal-Awda has organized a protest for Palestine in Borough Park on Tuesday, February 18th at 6:00 pm at 3611 – 14th Avenue (the original location was 13th Avenue and 50th Street).

Then the Real Estate Expo was cancelled:

On Monday, Caption Kenneth Herrarte of the 66th Precinct said the Real Estate Expo that was supposed to happen has been cancelled.

Pal-awda changed their location to protest across the street from the Shomrin.

These protesters don’t realize the Shomrin are the heroes in Borough Park. They aren’t police, but they keep an eye on the area, help their neighbors and stay in contact with the police.

The Borough Park Shomrin can not help stop the sale of property in Gaza. They help people in Brooklyn, who lost their children, find them. The community calls on the Shomrin when there are suspicious people in the community. The Shomrin calls the police when there is an actual threat.

People and politicians are calling this event out because protesting in Borough Park, which is filled with families is counter-productive. These Brooklyn residents people have nothing to do with what is going on in Gaza – they can’t stop or change the situation for the Palestinians.

Senator Simcha Eichenstein has called on the police to protect the neighborhood. Boro Park also has their own security as well.

Hopefully, this will be a peaceful protest in Brooklyn.

There will also be a counter-protest at 6:00 pm at 1358 – 50 Street.

Topics: Brooklyn | No Comments »

Trucks and Motorcycles Banned from the Verrazzano Bridge During the High Winds

Photo from Video

Topics: Brooklyn | No Comments »

Peace By Piece Thrift Store Has a Food Box for Those Who Need It

Peace by Piece Thrift Store has a food box sign-up. Distribution is this Saturday, February 22, 10am-12:45pm.

Sign up at 6931 – 3rd Avenue. You will receive a box full of produce, boxed and canned food, snacks, sweets, and more. Halal options are available.

**PHOTO ID AND PROOF OF BAY RIDGE ADDRESS REQUIRED TO SIGN UP.**

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Edward’s Cat, Simon is Missing in Bay Ridge

On February 6th, there was a serious fire on 92nd Street and 4th Avenue. (Info)

Edward, a Bay Ridge resident for many years was taken to the hospital and remained there for a week. He is now out and can’t find his cat, Simon.

Edward saw Simon run up the stairs when the fire broke out. The family doesn’t know if Simon is outside or if someone took him in because they thought he was a stray. Simon is almost 14-years-old.

If you see Simon, please contact Mary (here).

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