Self Check-in Kiosk Unveiled at Broad Channel Library

By Eric Yun

Representatives from Queens Library and local elected officials gathered at Broad Channel Library on Wednesday to unveil a new automated self-check-in kiosk. The machine allows library visitors to return books at any time and is one of the first to be installed in the borough.

The kiosk was the last part of a complete renovation of the Broad Channel branch. “We want every library in the borough to have one,” said Thomas Galante, Queens Library CEO. The new technology, he said, will help cut down lines for the staff.

Having a 24/7 check-in kiosk will also help those who try to return a book just after the library closes. “It will help cut down the fines and fees of the customers,” Broad Channel Librarian William Schulz said.

The project was funded by City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), who set aside $190,000 in last year's budget.

“I'm glad for the people in the community who depend on the library day in and day out,” Ulrich said. “This is taxpayer dollars well-invested right back to the community.”

Also present at the ceremony was Senator Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica). She reiterated her love for the libraries and promised she would provide funding in the future.

MTA Takes Its Toll on Broad Channel, Rockaway

Starting Friday, July 23, residents living in Broad Channel and the remaining zip codes encompassing Rockaway will have to pay when they travel across the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Because of a modification to the Rockaway Toll Rebate program, residents in the zip codes 11691, 11692, 11693, 11694, 11695 and 11697 will pay $1.13 per trip, compared to $2.75 for cash customers and $1.71 for non-resident EZ Pass customers.

Rockaway residents also have the option of purchasing tokens, which cost $1.54 per trip.

Residents will pay the reduced rates for each of the first two trips across the bridge however, subsequent trips taken in the same day on the same E-Z Pass tag will continue to be rebated to the account under the Cross Bay Resident Rebate program.

Council member Eric Ulrich (R- Ozone Park) says his constituents, already struggling in a difficult economic climate, are being unfairly taxed. “I am outraged by the MTA’s most recent attempt to balance their books on the backs of Broad Channel and Rockaway residents,” declared Ulrich. “The MTA must get serious about its own inefficiencies and poor accounting practices before they reach into the pockets of people just trying to travel around their own community.”

The rebate plan only applies to passenger vehicles and not to commercial trucks, motorcycles, taxis, buses or limousines. The change in service was approved by the MTA Board in March and is intended to help the beleaguered agency close a nearly $800 million budget deficit.

In 2009, 3.6 million trips were taken by residents participating in the Cross Bay Resident Rebate program.

A Change of Tide for Broad Channel

BP Marshall Provides Funds for Flood Relief

By Patricia Adams

Long frustrated by constant and dangerous flooding to their area, Broad Channel residents got some good news from Borough President Helen Marshall on Monday afternoon. State Senator Shirley Huntley and Assembly member Audrey Pheffer joined Marshall for her announcement.

“Last month at a meeting held at my office, many of you came with your spouses and your children…to discuss a problem that has plagued your community for decades,” Marshall said. The boro president went on to speak of eyewitness accounts about fire trucks and ambulances that were unable to reach residents in need of emergency services due to flooding conditions. Families had reported to Marshall that they were stricken with fear of electrocution and falling wires every time the tide rose.

A NY1 video showed dramatic images during a recent flood clearly demonstrating that residents were unable to park their cars on the street without risking hundreds of dollars in damages. The city project that addresses the problem was moved to begin in 2015.

Referring back to the prior meeting with residents at her office, Marshall continued, “I promised you on the day that you came to my office that I would not allow that to happen,” referring to the 2015 project start. “I am here today to announce that the project…has now been moved to the city’s budget for the fiscal year beginning in July.”

The $24 million area-wide project that Marshall spoke of will begin on West 12th Road and will also include additional streets that will be incorporated in order of the severity of needs. The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will both be at the seat of the project.

Work is scheduled to commence with the DOT conferring with the CB 14, elected officials and the community at large to ensure the project is fully scoped and completed in a timely fashion. Officials say the design of the project will begin in July and construction will start at the beginning of next summer.

Marshall further offered her pledge to meet with everyone that has a stake in the project to kick-off the working sessions and to keep the project on track. “I came here to announce that your voices have been heard and the tide has turned.” "The plan is to do the design over the next year and to begin construction a year from July. But I don't know how long that construction will take," said Queens Department of Transportation Commissioner Maura McCarthy.

Lifelong Broad Channel resident and community activist Ed O’Hare says that he remembers the problems with 12th Road as a child. “It was always bad on 12th Road. Now a lot of other streets that used to be ok are flooding,” said O’Hare.

The reason for the more recent flooding he says is due to the installation of storm sewers in the community that cause a back up because there is no check valve system in place. “We are all so used to the flooding and the problems and danger it brings. I hope the new plan will fix the problem but for now we remain at the mercy of the tide.”

PAINTING HER TOWN: Renowned Artist Madeline Lovallo Shows Locally

By Patricia Adams

The work of Howard Beach resident and renowned artist Madeline Lovallo is currently being shown at the Ozone Park district office of Council Member Eric A. Ulrich. Inspired by local scenery, Lovallo’s work includes a selection of oils on canvas ranging from the Carousel at Forest Park, shoreline images of Jamaica Bay and views from the sidewalks of Jamaica Avenue. The artist has completed works capturing Woodhaven Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach and Broad Channel.

For the last thirty years, Lovallo has been delighting art enthusiasts with her work in oil on canvas and watercolors. Her formal training began in 1973 when she attended the Brooklyn Museum Art School, as well as The Forest Park School of Art and The Drawing Room in Manhattan.

In 1983, Lovallo relocated with her family to Paris for her husband’s job. Upon her arrival in Europe she was taken by the classical beauty of France, especially captivated with the charm of the winding streets. She wanted to become a part of the Parisian art world and began studies at the American Academy of Paris and Lancaster’s Studio. When she returned home several years later, Lovallo became a member at The Art Students League in Manhattan and the Alliance of Queens Artists.

She has continued with her work and has taken her love of painting to the level of instruction. Lovallo has offered workshops for children with the cooperation of the New York Public Library system and continues to teach drawing to students at her Howard Beach home.

Madeline Lovallo has been showing her work in single shows and group exhibitions since 1985 in the United States and in France. She has been commissioned by numerous museums, galleries and individuals for works in the mediums of oil, watercolor and pastels. Lovallo has been the recipient of many awards and honors, having been recognized for her achievements with various proclamations and citations. In 2005 she was presented with a Certificate of Recognition by Mayor Bloomberg.

Locally, the artist’s works have been purchased by the New York City Parks Department and collectors throughout the city and the tri-state area. Councilman Ulrich says the unusual offer to use his district of- fice as a venue for Lovallo’s one-woman show came so that his constituents would be able to enjoy her work. “Madeline is a truly distinctive and talented artist—an absolute jewel of Queens.”

Madeline Lovallo is very clear when describing the inspiration for her ability to capture the beauty of her local surround- ings. “I am very blessed to live in a beautiful area surrounded by inspiration from the waterways, parks and neighborhoods of south Queens.” And whether she is depicting shoreline scenes from Hamilton Beach or Broad Channel or portraying familiar retail establishments of yesteryear, Lovallo’s passion and sentiment about her surrounding communities is evident.

Ms. Lovallo is affiliated with the Salmagundi Club in Manhattan and her work can be seen online at madelinesstudio.com. Council Member Ulrich’s district office is located at 93-06 101st Avenue in Ozone Park and is open Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm.

North Channel Bridge Gets a Clean Sweep

By Patricia Adams

The annual International Coastal Cleanup is the largest volunteer day of its kind. Last year 400,000 volunteers in 100 countries and 42 US states collected more than 6.8 million pounds of trash. With each year, organizers hope to see increases in both the number of volunteers and the amounts of trash collected.

The international event is held each year on a Saturday in late September and this year a cleanup of the North Channel Bridge, separating Howard Beach and Broad Channel, was the local event in our area. The American ittoral Society was one of the organizations working with the National Parks Service and the organizers of the Coastal Cleanup, to make sure the areas surrounding the bridge were successfully cleaned.

Just as important as removing the trash, volunteers are encouraged to look for the source of the debris, and help think of solutions to help people change the behaviors that create the trash in the first place. Avoiding the pollution is infinitely preferable to cleaning it up!

Volunteers turned out in full force with the tally reaching 127 people all of whom collected 275 bags of trash. Councilman Eric Ulrich was on hand to observe the efforts of the beach cleaners. “I am so impressed, not only with the amazing job that was done here today, but more so by the spirit of the volunteers who made this happen,” said Ulrich.

The Jamaica Bay area is historically a problem tract and the area around the North Channel Bridge has been the seat of much controversy and frustration within the local community because of the continued dumping of garbage and religious rituals that leave the beaches littered with silk fabric, coconuts and other fruits.

Community residents and volunteers were impressed to see the efforts of the more than 50 volunteers who came down to the cleanup from the United Federation of Hindu Mandirs. Leaders in the Hindu community have expressed their desires to help educate people about carrying on religious practices without having negative environmental impact and were instrumental in the success of the beach clean-up.

If you would like to learn more about the International Coastal Clean-Up, you can visit the Ocean Conservancy website at signuptocleanup.org

Big Bucks for Library Repairs

Building, Service and Technology Upgrades Planned

By Patricia Adams

Councilmember Eric Ulrich has announced over $1,000,000 in capital improvements for libraries in Howard Beach, Ozone Park and Broad Channel as part of his allocation from the FY2010 budget.

Ulrich presented checks to Queens Library CEO Thomas W. Galante at the Howard Beach and Ozone Park branches on Tuesday afternoon following two successive press conferences in which plans for each of the three district libraries were released.

As part of the capital improvement plan two of the branches will get much needed repairs in addition to technological and customer service enhancements. The Howard Beach branch will get a much needed new roof, while Ozone Park is to get a new heating and cooling system. Many people, as Ulrich and Galante both pointed out, go to the library in extreme heat or cold to take shelter and save on home energy bills.

The Broad Channel branch is not in need of repairs but will see their share of the money go to enhancement of services. Ozone Park will get $460,000, Howard Beach $465,000 and Broad Channel $100,000 for a grand total of $1,025,000

In addition to improving each of the properties physically, there will be a major push to raise the levels of customer service by introducing automated systems for returning books. Each of the three branches will get twenty four hour, seven-day-a-week book slots installed.

The new automated return system will provide customers with a receipt and they will be able to check online within one minute of their transaction to see that it is entered in the system. There will be slots on the outside of all the buildings and an additional terminal inside the library. Officials say that automated returns in the library offer patrons reduced waiting time and allow customers the convenience of returning materials at any time. It will also free up the staff so they can spend their time answering questions, organizing collections and advising patrons with any of their library needs, instead of checking in books.

“I would like to thank Councilman Ulrich for his tremendous support in bringing this money to the library,” Thomas Galante said. “Major enhancements will be made at these branches that encourage people to borrow and use the services.”

Ulrich pointed out that current economic conditions find people using libraries more than ever. “Some people might not have Internet access at home. Or they want to get a DVD or movie. Here they can do it free,” said Ulrich. “I am really pleased to have been able to deliver this funding for such beneficial and critical service;” the councilmember told The Forum, “for too long libraries were put at the back of the line behind other projects like transportation. Every dollar we invest in libraries today is an investment in the future.”

For those who will be using the library near to their homes or schools, the improvements are eagerly anticipated. Mary Siricchio and Florence Bierver were exiting the library as the press conference in Howard Beach was ending. Curious about the crowd of cameras outside, the two women inquired about what was going on. Upon learning their neighborhood branch was getting $465,000 in funding, both women were extremely pleased by the news.

“It’s very important to make sure the library is available to everyone,” said Bierver, “especially children.” Her friend chimed in, “it’s also important to the old children like us,” Mary Siricchio said. “It’s nice for all of us to get something that makes us all so rich like reading does.”

Queens Library is an independent, not-for-profit corporation and is not affiliated with any other library. The Queens Library serves a population of 2.3 million in the most ethnically diverse county in the U.S. With a record 23 million items in circulation for FY 2009, the library has the highest circulation of any public library system in the U.S. and one of the highest circulations in the world.

For more information about programs, services, locations, events and news, visit queenslibrary.org or call (718)990-0700.

Fisherman Drowns in Jamaica Bay

By Conor Greene

The rough, uneven waters of Jamaica Bay claimed a life this past Fourth of July weekend, when a 19-year-old drowned while fishing in Broad Channel. A second victim was saved by a witness who jumped into the water and dragged him to shore.

Mario Acatilta, a Mexican immigrant who moved to Brooklyn two years ago, drowned after wading into the waters at North Channel Beach at about 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. His friend, Jesus Gonzalez, was saved by midtown hotel worker Cesar Meneses, 39, a former lifeguard who was at the small beach with his wife and son. After Meneses pulled Gonzalez back to shore, a park ranger performed CPR until an ambulance took the teen to Jamaica Hospital.

Meneses returned to the water in search of Acatilta, but the only remaining signs of him were sneakers and a yellow fishing hat, floating near the spot where he went under. As sobbing relatives including Acatilta’s brother watched from the beach, rescuers searched for hours before bringing his body ashore at about 5:30 p.m.

Rescuers later said that Acatilta’s body was recovered in a deep sink hole near where he was dragged beneath the water surface. Locals said that despite the calm waters, the bay is especially dangerous for swimmers because the ground surface drops off suddenly in areas. “If you are a fisherman and you don’t know the water and are not an advanced swimmer you should be extremely careful in this area,” said FDNY Deputy Chief Bob May.

A witness described the anguish of watching Acatilta drown and not being able to do anything about it. “It was crazy because I’m actually witnessing somebody die and I can’t help him,” said the man, who didn’t provide his name. “It was crazy.”

Acatilta’s brother later told reporters that the victim worked in a supermarket and grew up in the Mexican state Tlaxcala. He is the city’s second drowning victim this year. Last year, three people drowned at city beaches.

Following the tragedy, local officials called for measures to help prevent future drownings. “This heartbreaking accident is all the more painful because it could have been avoided,” said Frank Gulluscio, a local Democratic District Leader and City Council candidate. “As many longtime residents of this area know, there are a number of common sense proposals that can ensure that our parks and beaches remain safe for everyone. We need to make sure that there is adequate signage on Jamaica Bay shore areas, not only that swimming is prohibited, but that the dangerous tides and crevices can pose a threat. Additionally, we need increased patrols on land, especially those under Gateway’s jurisdiction, during weekends and high volume days.”

Woman Accused of Spray Painting Trains Across Queens

A Sunnyside woman faces up to seven years in prison after being charged with spray painting subway cars throughout Queens over a three-year period.

Danielle Bremner, 27, of 45-50 48th Street has been charged with second-and-third-degree criminal mischief, making graffiti and possession of graffiti instruments.

“According to the charges, the defendant is reportedly well known in the international graffiti community – and to New Yorkers who have had to put up with her ego-driven vandalism of public property, which has cost taxpayers thousands of dollars to clean up,” said District Attorney Richard Brown.

Bremner allegedly spray painted her tags “Erin” and “Dani” and other markings on six subway cars between September 30, 2005 and April 7, 2008, causing more than $6,000 in damages. Specifically, she is accused of twice tagging a number 7 subway car at 111th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, a 7 car at the Main Street station, an A line car at the Broad Channel station and an F line car at Parsons Boulevard.

While authorizing a court-authorized search warrant at the defendant’s residence in July 2008, police recovered more than 450 cans of spray paint, 50 latex gloves, 10 permanent markers, bottles of acid etch, grog ink, shoe polish, a bolt cutter and pair of pliers.

In addition, police found Polaroid photographs of the tag “Dani,” 52 pieces of paper with graffiti drawings, including the tags “Dani” and “Erin,” and several digital photographs from her e-mail account depicting her tags on trains, including one that shows her spray painting her tag on a non-New York City train.

“Graffiti is a symptom of crime and negatively affects the quality of life for all citizens through decreased property values, increased taxes and a financial burden on affected businesses and homes,” said Brown. “City officials and anti-graffiti activists have done a remarkable job over the years in cleaning up New York City’s image as a graffiti-scarred city. We will not allow one individual to mar the beauty of our city or threaten to return us to the days when our transit system and our highways and buildings were covered with graffiti.”

The investigation was conducted by detectives from the Special Investigations Unit of the NYPD’s Transit Division.

Editorial: Voters' Choice Tossed - No Place for TKO at Polticial Ringside

In the 32nd City Council district which covers parts of Richmond Hill, Ozone and South Ozone Parks, Woodhaven, Howard Beach, Hamilton Beach, Broad Channel and parts of the Rockaway peninsula, a special election for the city council seat will take place next Tuesday, February 24.

Although for our readers in the West, the election is not directly connected to their district, we wanted to share this editorial with them because what has happened in the 32nd could easily occur in any district, leaving constituents vulnerable and at the hands of those seeking elected office for all the wrong reasons.

In many past elections, this newspaper has endorsed candidates for various elections. This time our endorsement is somewhat unconventional. It goes to a candidate who is not in the race. His name is Frank Gulluscio and the reason Frank will not win this special election in because he was removed from the ballot due to a ruling by a judge in reference to the manner in which subpoenas for his petitions were served.

The purpose of gathering signatures for nominating petitions is for candidates to demonstrate that they have enough support from their potential constituents. We agree that there should be challenges to such volumes where flaws and defects exist concerning those who actually witnessed the signatures or in meeting requisite numbers of signatures, providing, of course, they were collected with no fraud involved.

But Geraldine Chapey has succeeded in making a mockery of the petition process, hiring a top-dollar election lawyer to get her opponents off the ballot not on the merit or quality of their signatures but technicalities that do not reflect the desire of the voters. To us that would strongly suggest that the voice of the people can be overruled by an error in paperwork or procedure. This we find inexcusable and void of ethic.

Last week we commented on the Wave’s debate in Rockaway where questions regarding Chapey’s city and state taxpayer funded Trinity Services were left unanswered in the minds of many. Chapey’s contemptuous attitude when a similar question arose from an audience member re-introduced the subject at this Thursday’s debate. It infuriated the crowd. At one point Chapey directed a comment to the audience. “If you don’t want to listen then please go outside.”

Chapey’s Trinity Services has been the recipient of well over a million dollars to provide youth and senior services. It is not an unfair question to ask who is employed by the program and how much of the money is spent on staffing. It’s not unreasonable to ask any other question regarding the disbursement of those public funds by a not-for-profit agency subject to public disclosure rules.

Another question that did not get asked but in our view requires an answer has been floating around regarding Trinity. People all across this country have been questioning and expressing dissatisfaction with the role lobbyists have been playing. Many believe, that a lot of our tax dollars have been wasted because lobbyists have influenced far too much in government to “feed” their clients from the public coffers.

A roam around another of our favorite sources of public information, the city’s lobbyist and client database, reveals some factoids. Between April 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008 Trinity Services, Inc. was the client of some well-known lobbyists to the tune of more than $60,000. Whose pockets did that money come out of as it moved into the pockets of the lobbyists is a fair question. Is that what the proceeds of the annual Trinity Luncheon were spent on? Is that what the “donations” to ride the van were spent on? Who knows? But, there are voters who want to know.

As if all this were not enough, the whole “pay to play” issue took another twist this week as the Daily News reported on an odd contribution to Chapey’s campaign coffers from the Bishop of Brooklyn. Bishops don’t usually mix themselves up publicly in “big” political races, much less the most local of local races. It doesn’t take much to agree that the “smell test” has turned in a pretty big failure in this case. Seems Candidate Chapey’s mother, the other Geraldine is a member of the State Education Department’s Board of Regents. The regents have a big say so when it comes to approving charter schools.

Now we’re not opposed to charter schools, but if a scheme is afoot to create them as political “rewards” rather than as a viable public education option for our children then something smells - please excuse the pun - to high heaven. Glenn DiResto got it right when he said in the News article, "It creates a suspicion of impropriety. This is politics as usual.”

Chapey was successful in narrowing the field of candidates. Her success was the voters’ loss. As candidates, both Frank Gulluscio and Eric Ulrich stood head and shoulders above Simon, Chapey, and Ricatto in all respects. Democracy lost in this round. Frank’s out, Eric’s in. The choice for the time being is clear as a bell. In November, we can all tune in for the race that should have been now.

The Forumnewsgroup/photo by JULIE COURT

MTA Votes on Doomsday Budget

Proposal Labeled “Draconian” by CEO Sander

By Patricia Adams

“Today we fulfilled our requirement to adopt a balanced budget within the constraints of existing resources, and those resources are simply not great enough,” said MTA Chairman H. Dale Hemmerdinger after the transportation agency held its vote at a hearing on Wednesday morning.

“I have called this budget draconian, severe, and extremely painful, and it is all of those things,” said Elliot G. Sander, MTA Executive Director and CEO. But the agency maintains that it is trying to inspire support at the federal, state and city levels and relieve the burden from the ridership.

The proposed rate hikes inspired virtually unanimous angst among riders and advocacy groups. “We are looking at least a $2.50 base fare for subways and buses, and $104 for a 30-day unlimited-ride MetroCard,” Gene Russianoff, a lawyer for the Straphangers Campaign of the New York Public Interest Research Group, told the board. “That’s an amount I associated with a Broadway theater ticket, not with taking subways and buses.”

Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer recently faced off against the agency, joining with other elected officials and residents, concerning the proposal to remove a rebate program for residents currently exempted from what remains the only intra-borough toll in the city-- the Crossbay Veterans Memorial Bridge – it connects the zip code, post office, community board and police precinct shared by Rockaway and Broad Channel.

“Obviously we are going to continue to fight to get the stream of revenue to the MTA so that the people of this city and state will not have to face this burden. We also have time to fight to hold this rebate program in place.” Pheffer went on to say that this “doomsday” budget will only hold up if all three levels of government involved fail to deliver a fiscal infusion to the ailing agency.

Part of the deficit was made up by a 23% increase in the revenue yield from fares and tolls beginning in June 2009. This increase is projected to generate approximately $670 million in 2009. Hearings will be held beginning in January on the fare and toll increases and service cuts as required by law.

MTA Might Eliminate Cross Bay Bridge Toll Rebate

By Patricia Adams

The MTA’s decision to eliminate the Rebate Program for residents of Broad Channel and the Rockaway’s from the toll on the Cross Bay Veterans' Memorial Bridge has revived a fight originally begun in the late 1990’s.

Elected officials and residents maintain that a toll on the bridge which connects a single zip code, one Queens' neighborhood to another Queens neighborhood, is outrageously unfair and could possibly be unconstitutional. It is the only intra-borough toll in New York City.

Now the MTA plans to remove the rebate which allows Broad Channel and Rockaway residents to travel across the bridge at no charge because the agency says they have to fill in a budget gap.

Queens Borough President Helen Marshall organized a rally for protestors and elected officials at the toll plaza of the bridge on Tuesday morning. “This toll will hamper the ongoing economic development of the entire Rockaway Peninsula and put an unfair burden on the residents of Broad Channel,” stated Marshall.

Pointing out that many Broad Channel residents send their children to school across the bridge, shop at local stores and patronize Rockaway restaurants, the borough president stressed the choking effect the toll will place on families already burdened financially. “The MTA should know that they have made this a bridge over troubled water.”

Joining Marshall at the rally were Councilmember Joe Addabbo, Assemblymember Audrey Pheffer, , Community Board 14 Chairperson Delores Orr and District Manager Jonathan Gaska, Community Board 10 Chairperson Betty Braton, Democratic District Leader Frank Gulluscio and a host of residents and civic/community activists.

“I am confident that we will be able to impress upon them [MTA] that it is not only unfair and unjust but possibly illegal to charge anyone living in Queens with this toll,” said Audrey Pheffer.

The assemblywoman went on to say that it is absurd to think that residents of Broad Channel would have to pay a toll in order to go to their police precinct to file a report, or to their community board. “This part of Queens is no different than any other. What would people do if they had to pay a toll on Queens Boulevard?”

A key point introduced at the rally by Pheffer was the fact that after requesting reports of figures from the MTA on the costs and profits from the operation of the bridge, it appears that the bridge is a wash for the financially troubled agency. “They’re not making any money off this bridge. It’s a wash, so what’s the point.”

Addressing the crowd, Councilmember Joe Addabbo supported the opposition to the toll and to the removal of the rebate. “Just like the toll on this bridge behind us, we shouldn’t be here. The MTA can’t handle the money they already have and we shouldn’t be giving them another penny.”

Addabbo explained there are many problems with the Ravitch report released on the MTA, because it fails to address what he considers to be a key factor. “The report does not talk about restructuring or a plan of how the MTA would better handle money.”

Addabbo’s comments served to charge the angry and frustrated protestors. “The MTA needs to look in the mirror and point a finger at themselves for their own failure. They cannot be allowed to ride the backs of the people to get out of their own mess.” The senator-elect went on to encourage the residents to stand as a united community, and speak loud enough for all to hear. “You can stop this.”

The community of Broad Channel has collected more than 1400 signatures on its website, broadchannelny.com to stop the reinstatement of the toll. Community concerns in Broad Channel stem from frustration among residents who know that the added expense of the toll could drastically effect an influx of new families moving into the community.

“Look at the common sense behind the numbers here,” said Democratic District leader Frank Gulluscio, “a parent could conceivably have to pay $5.00 just for tolls to pick up a sick child from school. That is simply absurd. These people fought as one big community to get this rebate program implemented and there is no way it should be taken from them now.”

As of press time the MTA was scheduled to hold public hearings at their headquarters Wednesday December 10th at 10:30 a.m. in downtown Brooklyn, regarding the reinstitution of the toll for residents of Broad Channel and the Rockaways.

Beach Trashed During Religous Ceremony

Congressman Pushes for Enforcement at Jamaica Bay

By Conor Greene

When a local congressman arrived at a beach at the foot of the Joseph P. Addabbo Bridge, he expected to take part in a cleanup of the typical debris found along the waterfront. Instead, he was surprised to find the area littered with garbage left behind from religious ceremonies performed there on a regular basis.

Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn, Queens) organized the cleanup on the beach, which is along the Jamaica Bay and is part of Gateway National Park, last Friday. When he arrived, he found that the problem extends far beyond discourteous fishermen or beachgoers. Instead, the beach was littered with red and yellow flags, dozens of coconuts and other remnants from religious ceremonies performed by Hindus and other groups.

After hearing from local residents that such ceremonies take place on a regular basis, especially during certain times of year, and being told of headless goats being left beneath the bridge, Congressman Weiner decided that a combination of education and enforcement is needed to curtail this activity.

“There has to be some sense that this is a national park. We want people to enjoy it, but there has to be a balance,” he said, adding that individuals who leave trash behind are “abusing their rights as visitors to the park.” He called upon park police to begin “regular enforcement,” including issuing tickets to offending visitors. “The people are not the issue,” he added, wondering aloud, “Is it legal to cut the head off a goat in a national park?”

Residents on hand for the cleanup, who say the activity has been going on for several years, suggested placing signs in the parking lot informing visitors of the rules. Edgardo Castillo, a park ranger with the National Parks Service, said there are plans to install gates across the parking lot enterance to prevent late night visitors at the beach area.

“We need a combination of education and enforcement,” said Weiner. “At the end of the day, enforcement needs to be done.” He admitted that prior to his visit, he “didn’t fully grasp that there are chronic offenders” who are leaving behind a “shrine of garbage… in the name of religion.”

For local residents, efforts to punish those who leave trash the on beach could not come soon enough, said Barbara Toborg, a Broad Channel resident and member of the American Littoral Society. She told Congressman Weiner that park police “are not interested” in issuing summonses to beachgoers, something the lawmaker now hopes to correct.

Patti Reilly, acting superintendent for the Jamaica Bay section of the Gateway National Recreation Area, told the Daily News that crews have a difficult time keeping up with the amount of garbage left behind.

“We’ve been working with the communities, trying to have them better understand and educate them about the impact of leaving articles from their religious ceremonies,” she told the paper. “From time to time, we have seen animal carcasses and have removed them quickly… None of that is permitted,” she said.

While the religious followers believe they are making offerings to the sea, Congressman Weiner had a different view. “They are essentially throwing garbage into the water,” he said, holding up a handful of debris.