The effort to obtain an 822 license to permit the operation of an Outpatient Chemical Dependence Treatment Service at 2800 Bruckner Boulevard in Throggs Neck has hit a wall, announced Assemblyman Michael Benedetto on Thursday, October 19.
On Wednesday, October 16 the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse denied the application by Miracle City Services, LLC, to be a certified substance use disorder provider. (See full denial letter on page 12)
The Bronx Times tried to reach Marco Bassini, who purportedly owns 2800 Bruckner Boulevard with James Perrota. He did not return the call before press time.
According to the agency’s letter “the proposed application is denied based on the information submitted and additional documentation reviewed which demonstrates that the certification application contains several contradictions and inconsistencies the severity of which bring into question the legitimacy of the submission and character and competancy of the applicant.”
OASAS was concerned that the applicant’s ensemble of LLCs suggested “that Miracle City Services, LLC was formed simply to conceal the identities of the actual principals.”
During the state’s review, the following entities and individuals were noted as the cause of the confusion: Miracle City Services, LLC; Miracle City, LLC; Stewart Redevelopment; 2800 Bruckner Associates, LLC; Stewart Ventures, LLC; Michael D’Alessio; Michael Fernandes; and Anthony Carbone.
Even the applicant’s reported office location drew the state’s suspicion. Miracle City, LLC claims to have offices at 2800 Bruckner Boulevard in Suites 205 and 206, but those suites were the same offices Miracle City Services, LLC claimed it will occupy.
The OASAS letter further states that “Stewart Redevelopment, LLC, Anthony Fernandes, Anthony Carbone and Michael D’Alessio are all currently being sued for allegedly conspiring among associated companies and associates to defraud real estate investors.” The pending lawsuits sent up red flags during the review process.
The area’s elected officials stood firmly alongside the residents, firing off letters to OASAS questioning Miracle City Service, LLC’s qualifications to operate a drug treatment counselling facility. First, Assemblyman Benedetto and Councilman Mark Gjonaj sent a joint letter, followed by State Senator Alessandra Biaggi and then Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes, as community activist Egidio Sementelli promoted a series of Saturday protests in front of the building to ramp up the pressure.
The facility’s opponents were concerned with its close proximity to These Our Treasure, a special needs school, and M.S. 304 and J.H.S. 101. Assemblyman Benedetto introduced legislation that would prohibit the siting of a drug treatment facility within 500 feet of a school, church or park.
Miracle City Services, LLC has until October 28, 2019 to disagree with the determination and submit an administrative appeal.
