A Family's Heartbreak

Ozone Park Murder Victim Geraldo Antoniello Laid to Rest

Everything was going right for Geraldo Antoniello. His job at a janitorial/maintenance company had just yielded a promotion and an impressive pay raise. The 29-year-old had taken another big step in his life—he bought himself a condo. In fact, he was excitedly preparing for his big move in the upcoming week.

But instead, Gerry was remembered last week by friends and family members as a “sweet guy who would do anything for you”, after a tragic turn of events last Wednesday evening left the 29-year-old dead at the hands of would-be robbers.

Hundreds gathered outside the Church of Nativity B.V.M. in Ozone Park early Monday morning for the funeral. A sea of uniformed officers from the NYPD lined the sidewalks outside the church in a show of respect for Gerry’s brother, 39- year-old Carmine, an 18-year NYPD veteran.

In the crowd were dozens of friends and customers from the family business, Romeo’s Pizza. Huddled together and waiting for the funeral procession to arrive they shared stories about Gerry and about his family. Over and over they expressed their shock and disbelief that this could happen.

"You couldn’t get a better guy," said friend Carmella Roffomagno. "It's just so unbelievable." Her son Frank was one of Gerry’s best friends. “He was looking forward to moving,” Frank told reporters. “He was going to have us all there for Sunday football.”

Inside the church, Father Paul Palmiotto spoke to Gerry’s family and friends. “We cannot explain the violence or the evil in this world. You might feel abandoned by God right now but you must remember that nothing can take your son’s love from you or yours from him. Gerry will live forever in your hearts.”

Gerry was the youngest of three Antoniello brothers and a close family friend told The Forum he was very close to his parents. “Gerry told his mother he would be leaving his bedroom set behind when he moved so that if his father was well enough to go away hunting, he would come home to sleep. He would never leave her alone in the house.” It is believed that the mother and son were packing things up for the move on the night Gerry was killed.

According to friends, the family is dealing with many hardships including Romeo Antoniello’s battle with cancer and extensive chemotherapy. “Every place they turn there is so much heartache,” said a regular customer at the store, Steve. “Now whenever you go to work you will remember where it began. And what about going home? How can this poor family ever face going home?”

Request for Maspeth Parkland Highlights CB 5 Budget Hearing

Dry Harbor Playground, South MV Street Repairs Also Requested

By Conor Greene

Impassioned requests by Maspeth residents to set aside money to purchase and convert the former St. Saviour’s property into a public park highlighted the fiscal year 2011-2012 budget hearing, held during Community Board 5’s monthly meeting.

Other requests made by residents and board members during last Wednesday’s session included funding for senior housing, upgrades at Dry Harbor Playground, reconstruction of the 80th Street bridge, repaving of streets in south Middle Village and additional manpower for the 104th Precinct in Ridgewood.

Board District Manager Gary Giordano said the board’s Executive Committee met Monday and devised a list of 35 capital budget items to be considered this year. Each board member will have the chance to rank the items in priority order with the final rankings scheduled to be voted on by the full board on Oct. 14. The expense side is handled in a more informal manner, with the Executive Committee reviewing last year’s list to determine if changes need to be made regarding those requests.

“There was obviously a lot of testimony in regard to residents wanting the city to build a park at the former St. Saviour’s site,” said Giordano. “The Executive Committee took all of that into consideration, as well as all the other budget requests we have to make,” he said. “You’re talking about requests that cost more than $1 million so often times you have to advocate for some time
to get the project funded.”

Park at St. Saviour’s Property

Almost immediately, the focus was on the former St. Saviour’s property on 58th Street in west Maspeth. While the historic church structure has been dismantled, removed from the property and will be rebuilt on a site in Middle Village, local residents haven’t given up the fight to preserve the actual property for use as a park.

The property, which comprises a full block and has been listed for $8.5 million, is privately owned and zoned for commercial use. The city doesn’t have the funding needed to buy the land and build a park, so Christina Wilkinson of the Newtown Historical Society has been working with local elected officials in hopes of arranging a land swap using city-owned land to compensate the St. Saviour’s property owner.

The budget hearing featured a handful of Maspeth residents, including several who live across from or near the vacant property. Wilkinson started by reminding the board that the idea of acquiring the land and church building for use as a park and community center was first raised three years ago. “While the church building has been saved, there is still more work to do in order to be able to call this endeavor a success,” she said.

Wilkinson added that Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe has indicated that the department would be receptive to taking possession of the land provided that funding for its acquisition and maintenance is set aside by local elected officials. In addition, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley and Borough President Helen Marshall are working “on acquiring the site at minimal cost” and a local company has offered to donate clean fill that could be used to repair the land.

“I request that you continue to list this project as a priority because now we are closer than even to making this proposal a reality. The property is still available and the elected officials are on board and actively working to make this happen – something which was not true in the past,” said Wilkinson. She noted that the property “represents the last sizeable tract of undeveloped land in Maspeth,” which has just 12 acres of park to serve more than 36,000 residents.

Dorie Wolt, who lives a block from the property, called the site a “dumping ground” and said “it’s a disgrace what they did” including cutting down dozens of trees. “I really think they should do something about it,” she said, before reading a statement by the Historic Districts Council advocating on behalf of a park there.

“While the building is now unfortunately gone, the site still remains a welcoming natural open space in an area grievously underserved by parkland,” the HDC statement argued. “For over 150 years, St. Saviour’s was the center of the community… Returning the land to such a purpose is a chance to preserve a piece of the area’s past while giving to its present and future.”

A resident who said he has lived in Maspeth his entire life said the neighborhood is the second oldest town in the state and suggested that a museum be created on the site, while another noted that the area’s closest greenspace is Maurice Park, which is difficult for many residents to get to.

Others, including Anthony Lewandowski lamented the destruction of what was once the centerpiece of the neighborhood. “You allowed a beautiful piece of land to be destroyed,” he told the board. “It’s now a dirt pile surrounded by a fence that’s covered with graffiti.”

Other Budget Requests

Other testimony included a request from Glenridge Senior Center Executive Director Albert Juszczak for the board to consider funding for senior housing, which he called “so critical for our community.” He said it is an issue the center’s board is working on and noted that, “despite the fact that [housing] prices have been falling supposedly… they are still way too high for many seniors.”

Board member Brian Dooley, president of the Glendale Property Owners Association, suggested that money be set aside for phase two of the Dry Harbor Playground improvements, including lighting at the basketball courts and softball field, along with fencing around the children’s playground. “I think these [are the types of requests] that in these tough economic times are obtainable,” he said.

On the expense side of the budget, Dooley suggested that the board call for additional manpower at the 104th Precinct. “It benefits all of us,” he said. “Little by little, I do think we are seeing some increases in the quality of life type of things” such as graffiti.

Board member Cathy Sumski asked that repairs of streets in south Middle Village be prioritized this year. “It keeps getting pushed back... and 73rd Place is full of potholes and sinking sewer covers,” she said. “I think it’s becoming dangerous.” According to Giordano, that project includes streets south of Metropolitan Avenue between 73rd Place and 80th Street north of the LIRR tracks. He said that 73rd Place is “probably the busiest roadway in that area” and described it as “kind of like a country road” that gets a lot of traffic during the day. While the project includes 73rd Place, it doesn’t include 80th Street.

Flooding, Parks, Libraries and Transit

Giordano said on Tuesday that he expects measures to help prevent future flooding to be highly prioritized by the board. “I think we continue to be very concerned about the need to reduce the potential for street and basement flooding conditions, so I expect that should be a very high capital budget priority, trying to get new, larger sewer lines installed,” he said. “So that continues to be an important priority, as do the parks, the roadways and public transit. This board has always been a big advocate of renovating the libraries and the schools and I don’t think that is going to change much.” He added that he would like to see an addition at PS 81 in Ridgewood highly prioritized.

Honoring Richard Allen Pearlman: Remembering a 9/11 Hero

By Patricia Adams

September 11, 2001 is a day people recall vividly—without having to close their eyes. Most remember exactly what they were doing when they learned that Americans were under terrorist siege. And most can remember the sensation of paralysis that came over them when they felt the presence of terror in their midst.

But there were those people who had a unique reaction to the horror of 9/11. Upon learning of the events they rushed to the site of the attacks. They abandoned all sense of selfish reasoning and with no regard for obvious danger, they moved forward to help others whose might still be alive.

Richard Allen Pearlman was the youngest victim of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The Howard Beach resident was working for a law firm as a messenger and was delivering a package to One Police Plaza when he learned what was happening not far away. Pearlman immediately headed for the World Trade Center.

Upon arriving, the 18-year-old rushed into a building to aid in the rescue effort. Despite the chaos at the scene, Richard’s heroics were later confirmed by a Newsweek photo that shows him helping a woman covered in blood, but alive, from one of the towers. After getting her to safety, he ran back in to find more survivors. Shortly after, the towers came down. Richard Pearlman was on the missing list.

Last Friday night, eight years later, the Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps held a ceremony, unveiling a wall created in honor of Richard Pearlman’s dedication to the department, his heroics on 9-11 and his achievement as a member of the corps.

Following a tearful invocation by corps member Michael Rizzo, Alan Wolfe, president of the Corps, was among the first to remember Pearlman at the ceremony. He described Richard as energetic - always excited to do his job. “One year ago today, I promised that we would create a wall in his honor,” said Wolfe. “Sometimes in the face of horrible tragedy, ordinary people do extraordinary things, now everyone who visits the Corps will be able to see what type of a hero Richard was.”

Chief Daniel Exler told attendees that he and Richard didn’t always see eye to eye. The chief joked with Pearlman parents, Dorie and Barry, about his disagreements with their son. But Exler turned serious as he shared what he saw as the real Richard Pearlman. “Richie could have lived anywhere, but he would have found his way to Forest Hills.”

And that sentiment was shared by everyone present who had words to say about the young hero of 9-11. Speaker after speaker associated an extraordinary dedication by Pearlman for his beloved ambulance corps.

At the end of the speeches the crowd was asked to move to the inside the building for the unveiling of the wall. Once assembled inside, with Pearlman’s parents standing by, a cord was pulled revealing the fruits of the effort put forth by the corps to honor their hero.

Photos, certificates and newspaper articles fill the space, telling the story of heroic action taken by Pearlman on 9-11.

Visitors filed by to view the wall as Pearlman’s mother looked on. When asked what the dedication meant to her, Dorie Pearlman told The Forum, “The corps and the Boy Scouts were everything to my son. They were his life,” said Dorie Pearlman. “This day means my son is not forgotten. It means he never will be forgotten.”

Street Renamed in Honor of Local Leader

Hundreds of residents joined the family of Frederick T. Haller, Jr., members of the Glendale Civic Association and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley at a ceremony last weekend to rename a portion of the Union Turnpike after the longtime community activist.

As a member of the Parks and Recreation Committee on the City Council, Crowley successfully lobbied her colleagues to approve the measure, which co-names the stretch of Union Turnpike between Myrtle Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard the Frederick T. Haller, Jr. Way. At last Saturday’s ceremony, she hailed Sept. 12, 2009 as the Frederick T. Haller Day in New York City.

“Frederick Haller showed endless generosity to our community through his charitable endeavors,” said Kathy Masi of the Glendale Civic Association, who helped organize the event. “He is missed by all the people in the Glendale community who are fortunate enough to have known him. He was a great man who not only left an impact on our community but a family dedicated to service for the greater good of their communities.”

“I am pleased to stand here before you to honor a remarkable member of our community,” said Crowley (D-Middle Village). “It is a privilege to be with Frederick Haller’s children and family to our community to recognize the impact their father made here on the people of Glendale. His children and their dedication to community service is, perhaps, Frederick Haller’s greatest legacy.”

Haller’s accomplishments include helping organize the first Home School Association at Sacred Heart School, serving with the Greater Ridgewood Historical Society, founding the Greater Ridgewood YMCA, serving as past president of the Glendale Kiwanis Club, chairman and member of Community Board 5 and a member of the Board of Trustees of Wyckoff Heights Hospital. Before his death on Dec. 30, 2007, he celebrated fifty years serving as an attorney at law to the Glendale and Ridgewood community.

As one of the original homeowners on Union Turnpike, the renaming has significant meaning to the family. Devastated by a family tragedy, the Haller family moved from their home in Glendale down Union Turnpike to Forest Hills. The conaming ceremony, held at the Greenstreets Triangle at Myrtle Avenue, marked a homecoming for the Haller family.

Masi later said she thought the event “went phenomenally” and said the turnout exceeded her expectations, despite the bad weather. “It was amazing, and had a lot to do with the fact that this was a guy who everyone loved,” she said. “In a whole year working on this, I didn’t come across a single person who asked why we were doing it… It’s a really good thing and I’m glad it finally happened.”

Cross Harbor Tunnel, Dog Run and Garbage Plan Discussed at CB 5 Meeting

By Conor Greene

This month’s Community Board 5 meeting was highlighted by three old issues that are familiar to many local residents – the cross harbor tunnel project, which is again being discussed, the push for a dog run in Juniper Valley Park, which has come down to money, and Waste Management’s plan to expand its Review Avenue transfer facility.

Cross Harbor Tunnel Plan Resurfaces

District Manager Gary Giordano informed board members and residents that the Port Authority of New Jersey and New York has scheduled a meeting on September 30 for members of the project’s Stakeholders Committee. The meeting will not be open to the public or media and individuals who were not invited will not be allowed to attend.

The Port Authority has taken over as local sponsor for the project’s Environmental Impact Statement, and the meeting is being billed as a chance for various elected officials and civic leaders to provide input in hopes of developing consensus, according to an e-mail sent by Laura Shabe, who is managing the project for the Port Authority.

The plan features a tunnel beneath New York Harbor connecting rail yards in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and Jersey City. The Long Island Railroad’s Bay Ridge line would be upgraded and a huge intermodal facility would be built in West Maspeth. Trains would travel through the tunnel and continue to the Fresh Pond Rail Yard in Glendale before switching to an LIRR line to finish the trip to Maspeth. Cargo would be loaded into trucks for transport to destinations around the city, resulting in about 15,000 additional trucks on local streets each day.

Local civic groups protested loudly when the plan was first presented nearly a decade ago by Rep. Jerrold Nadler. In 2005, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced his opposition to it during a Juniper Park Civic Association meeting, arguing that the project “really would destroy neighborhoods here in this area.” However, speaking at a July press conference in Brooklyn, the mayor indicated he might support the plan in the future. “There is not going to be tremendous impact on any neighborhoods because they can design it in such a way with multiple terminals and so forth so no particular neighborhood has unmitigated consequences as were feared a number of years ago,” said Bloomberg.

At last Wednesday’s CB 5 meeting, Giordano warned that the project “is being resurrected.” While the September 30 meeting is not open to residents, “eventually they’re going to have to come out to the public with the plan,” said Giordano. “I don’t know who resurrected this, but here we go again… It seemed like a bad plan to a lot of us, but this whole idea is upon us again.” He added that while the area’s rail infrastructure needs to be better utilized, the original plan would have resulted in too large of an impact on Maspeth, which already suffers from heavy truck traffic.

In the message to stakeholders, Shabe noted that the Federal Highway Administration, the lead agency on the project, has broken the EIS into two phases. The first will analyze the marked demand for an improved New York Harbor rail crossing, while phase two will focus on specific site impacts, “resulting in traditional project-level environmental documents.”

Dog Run Funding Questions

While the proposal to have a dog run created in Juniper Valley Park wasn’t raised during CB 5’s budget hearing (see related story), it was discussed later in the meeting in light of a feasibility study recently completed by the city Parks Department on the idea.

Kathy Masi, co-chair of the board’s Parks Committee, reported that “we’ve come to a problem” regarding a request by a group of local dog owners to have a fenced in area created in an area of the park currently used during off-leash hours. “Obviously, what we have now is a group that wants a dog run put in the park,” said Masi. In light of that, the Parks Department conducted a feasibility study to see what could be created if funding can be found to pay for it. The study found the project would cost about $750,000, “which the CB and dog group will have to raise if they decide a dog run is appropriate for the park and the community,” according to a Parks Department statement.

One of the sticking points for opponents is the proposed location within the park, so Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) is instead looking into acquiring vacant land from CSX railroad. “Where we’re at now is, where do we get the money?” added Masi. “I personally, in today’s economic time, just don’t see where those numbers make sense to me,” she said referring to the cost of acquiring the land and building the dog run. Still, the community board has created a subcommittee to further investigate the idea. “This does not put an end to our efforts,” said Masi.

In a statement, a Parks Department spokesman said a plan submitted by the local dog owner group was reviewed by the capital team, which recommended the size be reduced to .75 acres “to better fit the proposed area and preserve ornamental trees in the area.” Other minor changes were also recommended, including a retaining wall. The submitted design was “very preliminary and simple” featuring just an aerial map of the park and a footprint of where the dog run would be located under the dog group’s proposal.

Waste Management Transfer Station

Discussions also continued over Waste Management’s plan to expand its garbage transfer station on Review Avenue to accommodate residential trash from community boards one through six. Earlier this year, board members objected to the plan because it requires trucks to transport the trash from Review Avenue a mile and a half through Maspeth to the rail yard at Rust Street. Instead, the board and local officials are pushing the company to construct a rail spur on its property to eliminate the need for additional truck trips.

Giordano told the audience that officials are pushing Waste Management “to go a little further on the community board’s recommendations for a rail spur.” Since the facility is adjacent to the Newtown Creek, officials are also urging the company to consider barging the trash from the area. “We need to make sure that if more garbage is going to be transported by rail, it be done in a better manner than has been done,” he said.

However, board member Robert Holden later said that he doesn’t think the community should be pushing for a rail spur. Calling the Review Avenue property “an environmental nightmare,” Holden instead argued that the company should look into another site that isn’t heavily contaminated. “We should be encouraging cleanup first and should be asking the mayor to stop this in its tracks,” he said.

Giordano noted that the board had suggested the company pursue other nearby sites such as the former Phelps Dodge property.

A Waste Management spokeswoman said the company is taking into account the community input, but wouldn’t say if construction of a rail spur is being considered. “We continue to listen to community comments regarding the Review Avenue project and are evaluating our future options in response to these concerns,” wrote Rachel Amar. “Waste Management can’t speculate on the basis of any rumors.” She noted that the solid waste plan, of which facility expansion is a part of, will greatly reduce overall truck traffic and create between 15 and 20 new jobs. However, it will lead to an increase in local truck traffic due to the trips between Review Avenue and the Maspeth rail yard.

City Approves Ridgewood Historic District

Area Comprised of Distinctive Mathews Flats Homes

The effort to have Ridgewood’s historical neighborhoods recognized by the city took a step forward with the approval of the Ridgewood North Historical District and a public hearing on a plan to establish a similar adjacent zone to the south.

The city Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve the designation of the Ridgewood North Historic District, which consists of 96 distinctive multi-family residential and commercial tenement buildings built starting in 1908. Marketed towards working-class immigrants, the homes are known as Mathews Flats because they were built by the G.X Mathews Company.

Built on former farmland along Gates, Fairview, Grandview and Forest avenues and Woodbine and Palmetto streets, the three-story buildings were constructed in long rows of repeated designs with buff-and-amber-colored brick facades. Each included six separate residential apartments with five rooms and a full bathroom, as well as ample light and air supplied by central light shafts.

“These lively buildings were a substantial upgrade from earlier tenements, and served as a model for affordable housing at a time when New York City’s population was growing rapidly,” said LPC Chairman Robert Tierney. “They were innovative in plan, striking in style, and, remarkably, have remained unchanged since their completion nearly 100 years ago.”

The G.X Mathews Company was a prolific construction firm that was founded by German immigrant Gustave Xavier Mathews and his two brothers in Ridgewood in 1904. The company’s tenements in the district have Romanesque and Renaissance Revival-style details and feature geometrically patterned brickwork, stone entrance enframements, ornate cornices with decorative swag and garland and bluestone stoops.

The Mathews Flats design was thought to be such an improvement over previous forms of affordable housing that they were exhibited at the Panama-Pacific Fair in 1915. The company ultimately constructed more than 300 model flats in Ridgewood and hundreds of other buildings elsewhere in Queens, including Woodhaven, Corona, Woodside, Astoria and Long Island City before closing after Mathews’ death in the late 1950s.

“Today’s actions speak to the commission’s ongoing commitment to extending its protective mantle in every borough,” said Tierney. “Since 2003, the commission has designated a total of 21 historic districts across New York City, including a record 12 historic districts outside of Manhattan, more than any other administration in the commission’s 44-year history.”

In a separate action, the commission held a hearing on the proposal to create the Ridgewood South Historic District, which is adjacent to the north district and contains 210 buildings developed later. “A cohesive collection of speculative urban architecture, the tenements in the proposed Ridgewood South Historic District retain extremely high levels of architectural integrity and represent an important part of the development of the housing in New York City,” a document outlining the proposal states.

Ridgewood civic leader Paul Kerzner said he thought the hearing went “very well” with nobody speaking against the proposal. He hopes that the south district will be approved by the end of the year, and noted that 2,982 buildings in the neighborhood were added to the state and federal historic registers in the 1980s, meaning the city is just beginning to catch up. He said the ultimate goal is to gain landmark status for the remaining 2,626 buildings the city hasn’t yet considered. “If we do it in the same process as they’re doing it, it will take about four to five years,” he said. “We’ve done three of 18 areas [including Stockholm Street years ago] so I promised the commissioner I’ll be back 15 more times.”

Kerzner noted that the LPC’s standards are “very high,” meaning approval of the historic district carries a lot of weight. “Those of us who have spend a lot of time in Ridgewood or who own Mathews Flats are kind of jaded and don’t see them as significant, just as housing,” he said. “I thanked the LPC technical staff for bringing to our attention the significance of these buildings, which were built for working class people, and 100 years later they are still being used by working class people.”

Stimulus Money to Help Prevent Future Flooding

By Conor Greene

Borough residents may finally get relief from constant property flooding in the form of nearly $46 million in federal stimulus money that will be used to upgrade water and sewer systems in southeast Queens.

The money is part of $220 million the city received in federal stimulus funds for water infrastructure needs throughout the five boroughs. The allocation was announced last week at a press conference involving Governor David Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley.

Projects that will be funded include upgrades at wastewater treatment facilities in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx, and measures to reduce flooding caused by heavy rain in hotspots throughout the city, including portions of southeastern Queens. In addition, “green streets” will be created in Middle Village and Glendale to help collect storm water and prevent local streets and homes from flooding.

“Reinvesting in our water and sewage infrastructure is a basic need that has been neglected for too long,” said Crowley (D-Middle Village). “While this is a step in the right direction, a lot more needs to be done, especially for the communities still feeling the repercussions of the 2007 storms.”

While green streets are being created on Dry Harbor Road, 82nd Place and Juniper Boulevard North, Crowley is calling on the city to do the same along 77th Avenue, Penelope Avenue and in Maspeth near Maurice Avenue. “I am pleased that the Department of Environmental Protection commissioner has agreed to look into these additional areas per my request and I will continue to work with him to ensure the storm infrastructure of our community is adequately addressed,” added Crowley.

Paterson and Bloomberg noted that the money will go towards much-needed projects, some of which have been on hold for several years. “These projects will provide a bounty to New York City by saving money through increased energy efficiency, protecting our waterways through improved wastewater treatment, reducing flooding after heavy rains and restoring precious wetlands,” said Gov. Paterson.

Added Bloomberg: “The infusion of stimulus dollars for water projects will bolster our aggressive programs and help us improve water quality in our rivers and bays, and reduce flooding in areas that have long suffered from storm water flooding – particularly in southeast Queens.”

Pheffer (D-Ozone Park) noted that nearly $18 million has been designated for reconstruction of the substation and switchgears of the Rockaway Water Pollution Control Plant, which she called a key component in the sewage treatment system, designed to help ensure the ecological vitality of Jamaica Bay.

“This funding is vital for our city to ensure that we protect our waterways while increasing our energy efficiency, improving wastewater treatment, reducing flooding in our communities and at the same time providing much needed jobs for area residents,” said Pheffer.

Public Meeting Set on Woodhaven Blvd Traffic Safety Study

On Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) invites residents, business owners, and others to attend a public input session about improving Woodhaven Boulevard between Queens Boulevard and Liberty Avenue. The meeting will be at the Emanuel UCC Church, Woodhaven Boulevard at 91st Avenue.

Those in attendance will be asked to share their ideas with DOT representatives about the upcoming Woodhaven Corridor project. Under consideration are a number of measures that address concerns over traffic congestion and pedestrian safety. The DOT is seeking input on the reconfiguration of intersections, connecting service roads and the possible dedication of one lane for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Additionally, discussion is open for signal timing modification, turn restrictions, refuge islands and high visibility crosswalks.

Signs of Relief in Hamilton Beach

Streets Will Bear Two Names

By Patricia Adams

The confusion and frustration over renamed streets in Hamilton Beach is finally nearing an end, according to the office of Councilman Eric Ulrich. At the heart of the street naming issue was the growing concern of Hamilton Beach residents over numbered streets that shared the same names in nearby Howard Beach. Community residents feared that like addresses would be confused and emergency vehicles would go to the wrong neighborhood and that delays in response time would translate to lives lost.

Late in 2008, then councilmember Joe Addabbo requested legislation for a ceremonial street name change to remedy residents concerns. Under such a provision named signs would be installed as an accompaniment to the numbered ones already in place.

But in early 2009, the city removed the numbered signs, e.g. 164th Avenue, 165th Avenue, and replaced them with new signs bearing names like Burlingham Court and McKee Avenue The city claimed Addabbo’s request was for a mapping change which would require the numbered street signs to be removed and new named street signs to be hung in their place.

According to a spokesman from the Department of Transportation (DOT), when the Councilmember’s office submitted the requisite forms, the wrong box was inadvertently checked and the request was not for a ceremonial change, therefore the original signs had to be removed.

John Bluemke, president of the New Hamilton Beach Civic Association, was quick to respond to the city’s unexpected sign removal—Bluemke simply painted the familiar street numbers onto wood signs and affixed them to the same telephone poles which bear the official city signs.

After a string of correspondence with DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Maura McCarthy, Councilmember Ulrich’s office told The Forum that the problem is soon to be a thing of the past. “We heard from Commissioner McCarthy on this matter and the DOT is going to install numbered street signs and leave the named street signs in place,” said Matt Hickey, Chief of Staff to Ulrich.

The councilman will now have to pass another local law and work with the Council’s legal department to correct the original request to that of a ceremonial change ensuring there will be no further map changes.

“This is a great relief for the residents who had understandable safety concerns over this issue,” said Ulrich. The councilmember will now pass the legislation allowing for both signs to be displayed at thoroughfares in Hamilton Beach is underway to formally complete the process.

The streets which will bear two street signs are:

Burlingham Court (163rd Road), James Court (163rd Drive), McKee Court (164th Avenue), Calhoun Court (164th Road), Mancriff Court (164th Drive), Lockwood Court (165th Avenue), Ocean Avenue (104th Street).

Seminerio's Former Office Broken Into

The new assembly member in the 38th district will start their new post without the benefit of office equipment. That after a representative of the New York State Assembly discovered a break in at what used to be the office of former Assemblyman Tony Seminerio.

Last Thursday around 10 a.m., the state administrative assistant went to the office to get it ready for Seminerio’s replacement and found the door kicked in at the government-owned office on Jamaica Ave and 107th Street. Thieves had forcibly entered the premises and ransacked the office. Police say all the office equipment was stolen including a copier, printer, air conditioner, computer equipment an air purifier.

Seminerio is awaiting sentencing in October after having pled guilty to
charges that he took bribes and used his elected office to perform favors on the
state level for those who paid him bogus consulting fees. Seminerio served 15
terms on the New York State Assembly and faces up to 14 years at his sentencing.

Democratic Primary Results: Marshall, Koslowitz and Reyna Victorious

Democrat Mike Miller Wins Special Election for Assembly Seat

By Conor Greene

When the dust settled following Tuesday’s Democratic Party primary elections around the city, three veteran City Council members who supported allowing a third term had been defeated, and another two were in serious jeopardy of losing races that remained too close to call as of Wednesday.

Among the incumbent City Council members who lost on Tuesday were Alan Gerson of Manhattan, Kendall Stewart of Brooklyn and Helen Sears of Jackson Heights, Queens. Maria Baez of the Bronx was trailing her contest as of Wednesday, while Thomas White, Jr. was leading by just six votes against political newcomer Lynn Nunes.

Locally, Karen Koslowitz was victorious in a six-person race for the Democratic nomination to succeed Melinda Katz representing Forest Hills and Rego Park in the 29th District. Koslowitz, who previously represented the area until term limits forced her from office in 2001, defeated runner up Lynn Schulman 25% to 22%. Rounding out the field was Heidi Harrison Chain (19%), Albert Cohen (13%), Michael Cohen (12%) and Mel Gagarin (6%). Koslowitz doesn’t face a Republican challenger in November.

In the 34th District, which covers parts of Ridgewood, incumbent Diana Reyna – who supported Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s push to allow for a third term - appears to have survived a stiff challenge from Maritza Davila, who she defeated 45% to 43%, according to unofficial results released by the city Board of Elections. Gerald Esposito received 11%, or 1,041 votes.

Following a heated campaign in the 26th District, which includes Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside and parts of Maspeth, James Van Bramer, director of external affairs for Queens Library defeated City Council attorney Deirdre Feerick 45% to 37%. Long Island City attorney Brent O’Leary finished with 16% of the vote. Incumbent Eric Gioia decided to run for public advocate instead of seeking a third term.

However, things are still unclear in the 28th District, which covers parts of Jamaica, South Jamaica and Richmond Hill. Nunes, 24, is trailing by less than a percentage point against White – who supported extending term limits - as of Wednesday morning. Since absentee and military ballots still have to be counted, the race appears too close to call.

In the race for Borough President, incumbent Helen Marshall will serve a third term after easily defeating challenger Mark Leavitt, a Sunnyside attorney who wasn’t able to turn his strong fundraising effort during the campaign into a solid showing at the polls. Marshall finished with 52,258 votes, or 71%, compared with 12,294, or 16% for Leavitt.

Voters in some parts of Queens also took part in a special election to replace disgraced former state Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio, who pleaded guilty to accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. Glendale Democrat Mike Miller handily defeated Republican Donna Marie Caltabiano, who is director of the Forest Park Senior Center by a count of 65% to 35%.

That election was held after Governor David Paterson decided to hold a special election featuring candidates chosen by each party’s county leaders, instead of holding a general election that would have featured a bigger slate of candidates. At least two candidates who had petitioned to be on the ballot have already vowed to challenge Miller next year.

For the two hotly-contested citywide offices – public advocate and comptroller – a runoff election is scheduled for September 29 since none of the candidates reached 40% of the vote. In the public advocate race, Brooklyn Councilman Bill de Blasio, who received 32%, will face off against Mark Green, who formerly held the position and finished with 30%. In the comptroller’s race, Councilman John Liu of Flushing received 38% and will face Brooklyn Councilman David Yassky in the runoff election.

With the Democratic nominee officially secured, Thompson wasted little time kicking off his campaign against Bloomberg, who wasn’t involved in Tuesday’s primary election. Bloomberg agreed to participate in two debates, but Thompson wants him to agree to debate in each of the five boroughs.

“After eight years of the mayor who has looked out for the rich and powerful, isn’t it time we had a mayor who looked out for the rest of us?” Thompson told a crowd of supporters at his victory speech Tuesday night, reminding them that the city’s unemployment rate is at a 16-year high, despite promises by Bloomberg to create jobs. “It’s time for a change, New York! Eight years is enough!”

Even though he wasn’t running in a race on Tuesday, Bloomberg held a campaign kickoff rally on Manhattan’s West Side. Without mentioning Thompson by name, Bloomberg warned voters to avoid derailing progress he says the city has made under his leadership. “All of that could come to a screeching halt if we return to politics as usual,” he said.

And both candidates wasted little time in touting endorsements they have received from major political figures. On Wednesday morning, Bloomberg was campaigning outside a subway stop on Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills with former mayor Ed Koch. Meanwhile, Gov. Paterson issued a press released indicating he plans on publicly endorsing Thompson at a press conference Friday.

Residents Deal With Construction Woes

Issues Include Abandoned Work Site and Zoning Question

After years of virtually unchecked development throughout the city, it is not surprising that many residents have been left feeling the negative effects of projects on their block. In recent weeks, several examples of how a resident’s quality of life can be impacted by projects at neighboring properties were raised at community meetings and in interviews with The Forum. The following is a look at problems in Maspeth with a stalled construction site and vacant house and a question in Glendale over whether a multi-family building was completed in accordance with the area’s zoning.

Abandoned Maspeth Site Becomes Dumping Ground

Mary Ann Todzia has been living next to a vacant lot at 65-61 Hull Avenue for more than four years now. While the fact that work has stalled on the project is bad enough, Todzia says her house’s foundation was damaged during construction, and the vacant lot fills up with water when it rains. To add insult to injury, the site’s construction fence is in danger of collapsing and people have began dumping bags of trash on the sidewalk in front of her house.

In June, the city Department of Buildings issued a stop work order and five violations to the owner for having a defective fence, abandoning the site and failing to safeguard it. However, despite the summonses, the area continues to be neglected, said Todzia. She registered a complaint with 311 over the trash dumped on the sidewalk but was later told that an inspector didn’t find cause to issue a violation.

“It started four years ago in July, and right now they have more than 40 violations and this guy is nowhere to be found,” said Todzia, referring to builder American Construction of Ozone Park. Due to the damage caused to her property, Todzia was forced to hire an attorney and is waiting for a court date to be set. Previously, the property featured a one-family house on a double lot. The new owner demolished the house and proceeded with plans to build two two-family homes there, but has since just completed one building.

“It’s a dumping ground. For a while now, people just throw things over,” she said of the area’s current state. “It’s ironic because you can have the Department of Buildings issue permits, go ahead and build, have the property destroyed and no one is punished for it. They’re getting violations, but what comes from them? Nothing. The guy is still in business.”

Zoning Debate in Glendale

Community leaders are questioning whether a multi-family building constructed recently on 79th Place in Glendale was built in accordance with the area’s zoning. Gary Giordano, district manager of Community Board 5, said a public hearing is scheduled on the issue at the board’s October meeting.

Attorneys for the property owner “are now in the process of answering Building Department objections to their plans and the construction that already has taken place” at 78-46 79th Place, where a single-family house previously stood, said Giordano. “As we see it, the construction that has taken place there does not meet the zoning regulations. It certainly doesn’t meet the new zoning regulations after the area was downzoned [several years ago], and I don’t think it meets the prior zoning.”

According to Walter Sanchez, chairman of the board’s Land Use Committee, the owner has applied to be grandfathered under the new zoning since regulations in the area were changed several years ago. After the DOB rejected that request, the owner filed an application for a variance with the Board of Standards and Appeals, but has since gone back to the DOB for a new opinion, according to Sanchez.

Giordano said the main problems are that the building contains too many units, is too high for the area and doesn’t include parking provisions. He expects a hearing at the October 14 meeting so that the issues can be brought into the public. “There is certainly concern that the property owner and their representatives may try to get approval from the Buildings Department and avoid the need for a BSA hearing,” he said. “So we’re looking to bring this into the open air so to speak.”

The city DOB did not respond to a request for information about this property.

Vacant House Brings Down Neighborhood

At last week’s Community Board 5 meeting, Maspeth resident Dorie Wolt complained about the condition of a vacant house at 57-12 58th Place, which she said has fallen apart due to years of neglect. “It’s a disgusting eyesore,” she said, adding that weeds have grown as tall as she is, the roof has fallen in, the basement is filled with water and animals are living inside it. “We live [near] there and this is ridiculous.”

Public records show the property was purchased by the Greater Ridgewood Restoration Corp. from the city Department of Housing Preservation and Development in 2006 for $38,000. On Tuesday, GRRC President Paul Kerzner said the agency is “in the process of cleaning [the property] up.” He said a worker had been sent over to clear the property prior to the CB 5 meeting but didn’t do the job satisfactorily and promised that the land “will be cleaned up to the community’s standards.”

Regarding the future of the property, Kerzner said, “Unfortunately the zoning is so screwed up over there, it doesn’t even make sense to restore it. It’s unfortunate that the prior owner let it go to pot. We inebriated a monster over there, so it’s up in the air as to what we’re going to do with it, but obviously it will be cleaned up.”

Destruction of Newly Planted Trees Continues in Juniper Valley Park

Reward Offered after 12 More Destroyed

By Conor Greene

Newly planted trees in Juniper Valley Park have again fallen victim to vandalism, and local activists and officials say the problem is more than a simple case of juveniles causing mischief in the Middle Village greenspace.

Steven Fiedler, who serves as co-chair of Community Board 5’s Park Committee, received a phone call on Sunday morning informing him that for the fourth time this year, somebody had damaged or destroyed a number of trees during the overnight hours.

Unlike previous instances, which generally involved snapped limbs or uprooted trees, the destruction in this case was caused by a power saw, according to Fiedler. “As far as we can figure, between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. Saturday night into Sunday, somebody came in with a battery powered saw,” he said. Two oaks near the ballfields were destroyed and ten cherry blossom trees near the walking path were cut in half.

“The other vandalism has been incidental, [such as] after the cops chased them out and they came back and ripped out two trees,” said Fiedler. “But with this incident, this is premeditated. This person planned on what he was going to do, used a nice quiet saw and didn’t want to get caught. I don’t know what kind of gripe the person has. I have a hard time thinking a kid is going to come in with a saw and cut down trees, they’re more likely to break them. I think this is an adult with an ax to grind.”

Of the 300 trees that were planted in Juniper Valley Park this year, about 30 have fallen victim to vandals, said Fiedler. The latest act has resulted in a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible, with Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley and her opponent in this fall’s general election, former Councilman Thomas Ognibene, each donating $1,000 and the Juniper Park Civic Association providing $500.

“Arborcide is a serious criminal offense and an assault on our communities, and the loss of 12 newly planted trees… is a blow to the quality of life and environmental health of Juniper Valley Park,” said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe in a statement. “Trees are a valuable asset, providing shade and oxygen, cleaning the air, and creating homes for our wildlife. The Parks Department is committed to protecting our trees…”

After the destruction was discovered Sunday morning, officers from the 104th Precinct were notified and canvassed the surrounding neighborhood for witnesses. In addition, Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski, who lives in Middle Village, arrived at the scene and has asked the district attorney’s office to investigate.

“The Parks Department thanks the community for stepping up and reporting this terrible incident of tree destruction,” said Lewandowski. “Juniper Valley Park is a gem for Middle Village and we will continue to work with the NYPD to track down the person or persons responsible for vandalizing the park.”

Robert Holden, president of the Juniper Park Civic Association, called the incident a “shocking display of premeditated arborcide” and noted that vandalism has generally been contained to areas such as the bleachers near the roller hockey rink. “This is the worst we’ve seen so far and it’s now obvious that we are dealing with a very disturbed person or persons,” he said. “This is a serious attack on our quality of life and we pledge all of our resources in helping… apprehend the person or persons responsible for this atrocity.”

Fiedler said officials are looking into whether there is a clause in the tree planting contract covering the replacement of damaged and destroyed trees. He added that a police officer used to patrol the park at night, but that assignment has been eliminated, leaving the area open to vandalism and other overnight problems.

Arborcide is punishable by up to $15,000 in fines and one year in prison, according to the Parks Department. It is illegal for citizens to remove, kill or damage a street or park tree, whether intentionally or accidentally. Anyone with information is asked to call the 104th Precinct at (718) 386-3004 or the NYPD tip line at 800-577-TIPS. All calls are kept confidential.

This Week's Forum South and West

Glendale Playground Planned; Maspeth Park Fight Continues

By Conor Greene

Glendale residents will likely soon have a new playground thanks to money set aside in this year’s budget by the area’s local councilmember. At the same time, the push to preserve the former St. Saviour’s site in Maspeth is continuing, with officials looking into the possibility of a land swap as a way to acquire the land at a reasonable cost.

Glendale Playground Plans

Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley announced she has secured $600,000 in the 2009-2010 budget that will be used for a new playground in the upper-Glendale area. Her office is looking into the possibility of using land inside Forest Park off Myrtle Avenue near the Union Turnpike and is planning to tour the area with Parks Department officials in coming weeks to identify an ideal location.

In addition to the $600,000 secured by Crowley, $300,000 previously allocated by former Councilman Anthony Como (R-Middle Village) was just sitting in the Parks budget after the department decided that money shouldn’t be used at the Dry Harbor Road playground as initially planned. Crowley said she is working to combine the two appropriations so the entire $900,000 can be used in the Forest Park area.

“It is such a large park that Glendale is built around, but it is really cut off [from the community] by the Jackie Robinson Parkway,” said Crowley. “We want to open access to the park [but] it’s complicated because we have to do it in a way so we don’t take down any trees. That could provide access for people in Glendale without having to go to Woodhaven Boulevard. It is a much needed renovation and expansion to the playground area that the people in upper Glendale have not had.”

Crowley noted that the expansion of PS 113 led to a reduction in the amount of playground space available to the community. She said she envisions a new play area within Forest Park similar to Joseph DeVoy Playground, which is in a wooded area off Union Turnpike near 71st Avenue in southern Forest Hills. She is also working to expand the playground in Evergreen Park on St. Felix Avenue in Liberty Park.

The Parks Department did not return a message seeking information on the planned Glendale playground.

Fight for Maspeth Park

Maspeth residents and activists still haven’t given up the effort to have the former St. Saviour’s property acquired for use as public parkland. Crowley’s office is awaiting a response to letters sent to Mayor Michael Bloomberg urging him to pursue the idea as part of his goal to provide parkland within a ten minute walk for every city resident.

Christina Wilkinson, president of the Newtown Historical Society, identified several city-owned parcels in Brooklyn and Queens that could be eligible for a land swap, through which the owner of the St. Saviour’s property would be compensated for his land. Crowley’s office is looking into whether the proposed city-owned properties would be eligible for a swap, and recently sent a second letter to Mayor Bloomberg about the idea.

“Maspeth is underserved by parks, this site is for sale and acquisition of the land by the city for use as a public park would satisfy a need for both present and future residents,” said Wilkinson. “The city should take action and not pass up this rare opportunity to create more parkland.”

The land swap is being pursued after Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe informed residents that the department doesn’t have the funding required to purchase the land and then convert it into park space. “We believe the residents of Maspeth would benefit from more and better access to public parkland,” wrote Benepe. “While we could not justify the forcible acquisition of the site through condemnation, we would consider purchasing the land if the current owners are now willing sellers.”

The 58th Street property is the former home of the historic St. Saviour’s church building. That structure was dismantled and removed from the site before the property owners readied the property for development. The church will be rebuilt on land donated by All Faiths Cemetery in Middle Village. The Maspeth property is currently listed for $8.5 million, and Benepe noted in his letter that “no such funding” currently exists in Parks’ budget, meaning allocations from local elected officials would be necessary.

In a July letter to Mayor Bloomberg, Crowley argued that the “community is in desperate need of more green space” and a park there would serve students from Martin Luther High School and St. Stanislaus Kostka, along with West Maspeth residents “who have to travel miles to find a park.”

On Wednesday, Crowley said a second letter was recently sent to the mayor since her office “hasn’t gotten the response we’re looking for.” She said Maspeth residents are especially in need of green space to help alleviate the pollution caused by heavy truck traffic in the area. “That’s just a great spot [for a park] and this would be an easy part of achieving his goal” to provide parkland access to all neighborhoods.

In the second letter to Bloomberg, Crowley warns that construction of a warehouse, allowed under the property’s zoning, “would clearly hurt the community and end any chances of building much needed park space for Maspeth.” She adds that the community has compiled “a large list” of unused city-owned sites that could be used in a land swap.

Crowley noted that the owners paid $4 million for the land but have since made a “significant investment” in order to prepare the site for construction. “Many people in the community feel that the land has historical value and building anything on it from a historical perspective would be wrong,” she said. “I imagine the owner would be happy to get rid of the land based on his experience owning it for a fair trade or price.

“With the cost of acquiring land today and building parks, it’s tough to find that type of funding in the city, but there’s no doubt in my mind that this area, which has traditionally been forgotten about, needs to be recognized,” continued Crowley. “By teaming up with community leaders in Maspeth to put pressure on the mayor, I think we will prevail.”

However, not all Maspeth residents think a park is the neighborhood’s most pressing need. In a letter to the Forum, Charlene Stubbs of the Maspeth West End Block Association expressed fear of problems such as increased crime and argued the area is in desperate need of a supermarket. She said the issue will be discussed at the civic’s next meeting, scheduled for Thursday at Trinity-St. Andews Church on 60th Street at 7 p.m.

Sukon's Will Close in October

By Patricia Adams

An icon in southern Queens will be closing by the end of October according to Sukon’s owner Scott Hausser. The retail outlet for children’s furniture, first established in 1923 by Harry Sukon, will close its Ozone Park doors for good next month.

Customers continue to file through the store, if not to buy, then just to remember. “It’s amazing,” said Lori Hausser whose husband Scott has owned the store for the last 21 years, “my husband started here 33 years ago when he was 15. He was a stock boy.” The fourth owner of the store, Scott Hausser is now forced to close the store as a consequence of what he says are “many factors, but all relating to the economy.”

The news of the store’s closing has touched customers and employees alike. “We’re like a family here,” said Maria Blandino. She and co-worker Carlo Aufiero started at the store 14 years ago three days apart. “I am so upset; I can’t even begin to describe it. You can’t imagine what it has been like to work for Scott. He is absolutely the best boss in the world. For all his time here he has taken care of his customers and his staff.” Blandino pointed out that there was virtually no turnover of staff as the real testament to the type of guy Scott is.

And the glowing thoughts of Hausser and his business methods trickle on down through his customers. “So many people have called or stopped by to say how sorry they are or to share a story,” said Lori Hausser. She recalls a customer who stopped by last week. “I am 65 years old,” the woman said, “and I brought my daughter with me today. We’re buying baby furniture for my grandchild just like my mother did for me, right here at this store.”

Yet another customer, an 82-year-old woman, called in to say that her mother purchased her baby furniture from Harry Sukon. She had called to say she’ll miss the store and that she was glad she’d had the chance to buy furniture there for her great-grandchild.

Lori Hausser recants the stories of customers with a degree of familiarity—“My parents bought furniture here for my sister 47 years ago and I wound up marrying the owner.”

On and on go the stories about the store that developed such a rich history over almost nine decades of operation. Scott Hausser says now he doesn’t really know what the future holds. “I just haven’t had enough time to think about what will come next. The present is so overwhelming.”

And the business of closing his doors for the last time is obviously painful for Hausser on a number of fronts. “I have been in retail forever. It’s in my blood,” but he says, “My biggest concern is the staff. It’s going to be very hard to get jobs.”

When asked about maybe re-opening in the future, Scott Hausser looks up, his head slightly tilted. “You know,” he says, “one thing I’ve learned is never to say never.”

Officer Recovering from Tire Iron Attack

Beat Near Queensboro Bridge While Off-Duty

An NYPD officer assigned to the 112th Precinct continues to recover at Manhattan hospital after he was savagely beaten with a tire iron during a road rage incident two weeks ago.

Officer Damian Bartels, 28, was struck repeatedly in the face by a group of three men who had cut him off at the foot of the Queensboro Bridge on August 29, according to police and neighbors. The officer, assigned to the Forest Hills stationhouse, was coming home from Manhattan at about 3:30 a.m. with his girlfriend when the incident occurred.

Bartels was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell, where he underwent 11 hours of surgery last Friday to rebuild his nose, jaw and eye sockets. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly visited with the officer and his family following the operation.

According to a neighbor and congregant at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church, the officer’s family is hopeful that Bartels will recover and didn’t lose his eyesight.

A $2,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the three suspects, who fled the scene after the attack. Anyone with information is asked to call the Crimestoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.

Officials Push Waste Management to Amend Waste Tranfer Plan

Rail Spur at Review Ave Site Would Help Reduce Truck Traffic

By Conor Greene

Discussions are ongoing between local officials and Waste Management in hopes of convincing the company to build a rail spur adjacent to its Review Avenue transfer station, which would eliminate the need to haul garbage by truck to the Maspeth rail yard.

Waste Management is seeking to expand its existing truck-based solid waste transfer operation at 38-22 Review Avenue with a new rail-based facility that would accept residential trash from neighborhoods within community boards 1-6. However, under the plan the company would transport the trash by truck one-and-a-half miles from Review Avenue to the Maspeth rail yard at Rust Street to access the train line.

Local residents, officials and Community Board 5 members objected to that aspect of the plan and instead want Waste Management to investigate other options that would allow the trash to be placed directly on rails to avoid increasing the amount of truck traffic in that area.

In a resolution approved earlier this year, CB 5 members urged the company to barge the trash directly from the facility, which has access to Newtown Creek, build a rail spur at the site or investigate other nearby properties with rail access such as the former Phelps Dodge site.

Those sentiments were echoed in a July letter to the company from Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village), which urges Waste Management to come up with a plan that allows the trash to be directly placed on trains, without the 1.5 mile trip through Maspeth. “Until a new plan is put forward… I cannot and will not support any plan for a truck to truck to rail transfer station,” the lawmaker wrote.

An aide to state Senator Joseph Addabbo has been in discussions with Waste Management officials over the past few months. Now that the senate is in recess, Senator Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) will meet in the coming weeks with the company to discuss the community’s objections to the plan.

“Obviously my constituents have a lot of concerns and… residents, especially those who live right near the area directly impacted, certainly should have their voices heard,” said Addabbo. “I will go to the site and talk to them about their proposal… As an elected official I have to see the project done in the most efficient way with the least minimal impact, not only in the short term but post construction.”

Aside to concerns over truck traffic, residents fear the plan will lead to unsafe conditions for pedestrians and will negatively impact the environment through increased emissions, said Addabbo. “On this particular situation, the residents have a lot of concerns, and some are very critical,” he said.

Gary Giordano, district manager of CB 5, said he is still waiting to officially hear back from Waste Management on the recommendations made in the resolution rejecting the company’s current plan. He said Waste Management has informed him they “are looking into the possibility” of building a rail spur at the Review Avenue facility. “From our point of view we’re just looking not to increase truck traffic in western Queens and specifically along that route from the Review Avenue facility to where Maspeth Avenue meets Rust Street,” said Giordano.

Crowley said her chief of staff, Lydon Sleeper, has been in contact with Waste Management officials, but she has yet to receive word of a revised plan. “It’s a fairly large project and when you think about how much it costs to truck all this garbage a mile away instead of building a spur, it doesn’t make sense economically or environmentally,” said Crowley.

A Waste Management spokeswoman did not return a message seeking comment on the status of discussions between the company and elected officials regarding the plan.

Officials Fund Library Upgrades

By Conor Greene

The Glendale and Ridgewood branches of Queens Library will be upgraded thanks to $1.2million provided by Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, while the Middle Village branch reopened this week following a $400,000 renovation sponsored by Borough President Helen Marshall.

Crowley (D-Middle Village) joined Queens Library Director Thomas Galante last Thursday at the Glendale Library to present a$400,000 check, which will help fund the second phase of the 73rd Place branch. Planned upgrades include a new elevator and staircase connecting the main and lower floors and renovation of the Renaissance garden adjacent to the newly-renovated lower level.

“The funding will allow for both the expansion of the children’s area as well as the adult section,” said Crowley. “This will create a more inviting space for the community, increasing the book inventory while opening more reading space.” She said the children’s area is expected to open within weeks in an area that has been used for storage over the past half-century. “While the project is almost complete, this funding will make the expansion a reality and the building will now be utilized to its fullest potential.”

In addition to the money for Glendale, Crowley also allocated $800,000 to complete renovations at Queens Library at Ridgewood. “I strongly believe that investing in our local library is money well spent because it has the opportunity to become a cornerstone of the community,” she said.

This past Wednesday, Marshall joined library officials for the reopening of the Middle Village branch on Metropolitan Avenue, which was upgraded with $400,000 she provided. The funding helped cover the costs of installing new technology that allows for self-checkout, public access computer stations, touch screen monitors, security gates and new furniture.

Marshall, a former early childhood teacher and a founder of the Langston Hughes Library in Corona, bills herself as a “longtime advocate for libraries.” Since becoming Borough President in 2002, she has allocated more than $81 million to library projects. In addition to the Middle Village branch, she provided $400,000 each to the Rosedale, Baisley and Douglaston branches.

This Week's Forum South and West

City Announces New Swine Flu Strategy

Focuses on Keeping Public Schools Open

By Conor Greene

The city’s strategy to fight the expected breakout of swine flu this fall includes offering free vaccinations to all elementary school children and providing the public with information regarding the number of cases reported in a specific school.

The plan, announced on Tuesday by city officials at Gracie Mansion, includes an “open school policy” that seeks to slow spread of the H1N1 virus and avoid mass closures. Mayor Bloomberg sought to assure residents that the city is better prepared to deal with an outbreak this fall after hospitals were overwhelmed this past spring and parents complained about a lack of information.

A recent White House study predicted that as many as 90,000 Americans could die as a result of a new H1N1 outbreak, with 60 million to 120 million becoming sick and hospital emergency rooms overwhelmed. However, the mayor on Tuesday said signs suggest a more “moderate” outbreak than predicted in the panel’s report.

“There is no indication the virus will be more virulent than what we experienced in May and June, but we must have and do have contingency plans in place in case the virus becomes more widespread or more severe in its symptoms,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “In situations like this, it’s natural to imagine the worst-case scenario, but all signs at this point in time do point to an outbreak that will be much more moderate.”

The city’s strategy to fight the spread of swine flu, particularly in schools, centers on measures “designed to slow transmission while classes and activities continue,” according to a press release. Aspects of the plan include getting children vaccinated, keeping them home when sick and following basic procedures such as thoroughly and frequently washing hands.

Once a vaccine for H1N1 becomes available this fall, the city plans to distribute it to health care providers and offer it for free to school-aged students. For elementary-aged students, the vaccine will be available within each school building, while older students will have to travel to central sites within each borough. Parental consent will be required before students are vaccinated.

The city also plans to use a central database to allow school nurses to report the number of students seen for influenza-like illness during each day. A daily public report will be posted on nyc.gov/flu listing schools reporting five or more cases the previous day. The daily report will also show the previous day’s absentee rate for every public school – though the city stresses that it is “important to understand that absenteeism is not by itself a measure of influenza activity.”

The third aspect of the city’s plan is an influenza-prevention campaign in each of its 1,500 public schools. Signs and classroom instruction will stress the importance of covering coughs and washing hands, restrooms will be continually stocked with soap and paper towels and parents will get written reminders to keep their children home when they’re sick. That message will be reinforced if a nurse sees five or more cases of flu-like illness in one day.

If a school experiences “excessive influenza activity” – defined as four percent of the student body (at least 15 children) being seen by a school nurse on a single day – a doctor or supervising nurse will visit the school to assess the situation. The supervisor will determine whether the school has students whose health conditions place them at high risk of influenza complications and may “recommend additional safety measures.” However, school closure will only be considered “as a last resort,” the city announced.

“Today is the first of what will be many efforts to keep New Yorkers informed about what we are doing to prepare for the return of the H1N1 and seasonal flu,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We can’t predict this year’s flu season, but we can make sure that city government is fully prepared for whatever happens.” It was noted that 15 separate groups worked over the summer to create a strategic citywide response to the expected outbreak.

Still, the mayor’s announcement was met with concern from some local elected officials, including Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village), who is worried the vaccinations won’t be available in time. She also argued that outside nurses should be hired to administer the vaccine, instead of having school nurses shoulder that responsibility as currently planned. “Flu season officially starts today and we still do not know [by] who andwhere the H1N1 vaccinations will be administered,” she said.

Nick Comaianni, president of Community Education Council 24, said city officials should consider closing entire school buildings if an outbreak is detected. “Obviously they will have to use judgment, but if you’re trying to prevent something from spreading, the best option is to close the school for a few days and let the germs die,” he said. “If you have cases out there within a school population, then I agree the schools must be closed… Once you see it spreading, I think the best thing is to close the schools.”

On the national level, President Barack Obama was briefed by cabinet members including Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. “I don’t want anybody to be alarmed, but I do want everyone to be prepared,” he said.

The virus killed about 500 Americans after first emerging in April and sickened more than 1 million individuals across the nation. Worldwide, more than 2,000 people died during the initial outbreak. Development of the vaccine is still underway and officials expect it to be available to the public by October. While it is taken on a voluntary basis, the president said it is “strongly recommended.”

“We know that we usually get a second, larger wave of these flu viruses in the fall, and so response plans have been put in place across all levels of government,” added President Obama. “Our plans and decisions are based on the best scientific information available, and as the situation changes, we will continue to update the public.” The president also reminded Americans to take basic precautions, including staying home if sick and frequently washing hands. “I know it sounds simple, but it’s important and it works,” he said.

Locally, borough hospitals are making preparations to handle the expected influx of new patients this fall. Michael Hinck, director of public relations for MediSys Health Network, which runs Jamaica, Flushing and Peninsula hospitals in Queens, said preparation efforts have been ongoing after receiving as much as double the typical patient-load on certain days last spring.

“We’ve been expecting this since we were really at the center of the last outbreak. Our expectations are to see an increase,” said Hinck, who noted that two area hospitals closed earlier this year, just before the initial swine flu outbreak hit the area. “It put a strain on us, but luckily we have a long history of disaster preparedness so we quickly devised a plan. Like in the spring, we want the public to know we are prepared and will do everything we can to meet the needs.”

To prepare for the higher patient levels, Jamaica Hospital has added 40 additional in-patient beds and has plans to reallocate additional space for swine flu patients if necessary, added Hinck. Officials are also ready to be in constant communication with city and state health officials to monitor spread of the virus. “We’re going to manage all aspects of this situation and make sure we will be able to have continuity of care in other operations so other areas don’t suffer,” he said.

Woodhaven Blvd Safety Study Continues

Due for Release by Mid 2010, Public Meeting This Fall

By Conor Greene

City Department of Transportation officials met with community leaders last week to discuss the ongoing study of Woodhaven Boulevard, which is intended to prevent traffic backups and accidents along a 3.2 mile stretch of the congested roadway.

The meeting, held last Tuesday, was not open to the media or public. However, a DOT spokesman said a public session will be announced for later this fall, at which point specific details and proposals will be unveiled. Long term improvements being considered by the city include reconfiguring intersections, connecting discontinuous service roads and dedicating lanes exclusively for rapid bus service.

Several local officials who attended the meeting are urging the DOT to move ahead with immediate steps to increase safety along the study area, which stretches from Queens Boulevard to Liberty Avenue. According to the DOT, the study has been delayed because the department needed to obtain approval to expand the scope of the study to include additional intersections at the southern end in Ozone Park.

“The people living and working around Woodhaven Boulevard have waited too long,” said Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park). “Traffic along this corridor is an absolute nightmare. The DOT needs to take immediate action to implement some of the recommendations we discussed.”

Frank Gulluscio, district manager of Community Board 6, agreed that it is “taking too long” for the city to implement at least some of the safety measures. “There are things that can be done immediately and don’t have to wait for another capital plan. I’m talking about simple things such as looking at the bottlenecks, the traffic islands, signage that doesn’t cost too much.”

One thing Gulluscio would like to see added to the study is an increased emphasis on making the area “greener” to help offset the increases in pollution. “If there is going to be more traffic, what about the emissions?” he said. “There should be something in that plan regarding the environmental impact and the medians should be looked at.”

In a statement, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village), who was represented at the meeting by her chief of staff, also called on the DOT to enact immediate reforms along Woodhaven Boulevard. “I understand the need to conduct the proper investigation and now that the study is complete, it’s time to start implementing the changes to alleviate traffic delays, especially around rush hour, and to protect people,” she said.

A DOT spokesman said that other “preliminary ideas being discussed” include signal timing modification, turn restrictions, refuge islands and high-visibility crosswalks. The DOT’s final report is expected to be released in mid-2010 with implementation of safety measures to follow.

One aspect of the plan that is likely going to be a hot topic of debate is the idea of replacing a parking lane along the boulevard with a lane dedicated for Bus Rapid Transit service. “Some people might be up for that, but to take out a lane on Woodhaven Boulevard concerns me,” said Gulluscio.

According to the DOT, there were a total of 495 accidents along the 3.2 mile stretch from 2004 to 2006, the latest figures the city used in the study. Still, despite the delays in implementing safety measures, and the increase in traffic, Gulluscio maintains that making the boulevard safer for motorists and pedestrians is achievable. “I don’t believe it is a lost cause by any means. We have a goal to make it better and we have to improve the quality of life,” he said. “I’m by no means giving this up.”

Cop Car Strikes Pedestrian on Queens Blvd

Witnesses Claim Unmarked Car Ran Red Light

A 47-year-old Sunnyside man was struck by an unmarked police car while crossing Queens Boulevard with his girlfriend last week.

Witnesses told the Daily News that Evelio Villa and his girlfriend, Yanira Lopez, 55, had the green light when they started to cross the boulevard at 44th Street in Sunnyside last Thursday at about 8:30 p.m. “This guy was flying. He went like a bat out of hell,” a 23-year-old Woodside man who witnessed the collision told the newspaper. “There were no screeching brakes, no tire marks, nothing.”

However, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly told reporters that Villa was “highly intoxicated” and “tried to run across the intersection.” He added that the driver of the vehicle, which was from the 109th Precinct and was responding to a call to assist an officer, slammed his face against the steering wheel and was taken to a local hospital to be treated for shock. He said investigators were looking at videotapes to determine whether the car ran a red light as witnesses insisted.

Villa, an unemployed construction worker, was listed in stable condition at Elmhurst Hospital Center, where he was treated for a fractured shoulder.

The Forum Newsgroup/photo by ROBERT STRIDIRON

Crime Roundup: Knifepoint Robbery and Trouble at a Local Strip Club

Brooklyn Men Charged in Knifepoint Attack

Two Brooklyn men are due back in court on Tuesday to face robbery, menacing and weapons possession charges after allegedly robbing a man at knifepoint in Ridgewood.

Edgardo Marquez, 23, of Bushwick and Charles Roberts, 22, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, were arraigned on August 25 in Queens Criminal Court after being arrested in connection with the robbery of a man on 61st Street near 60th Lane at about 4:30 that morning.

According to police, the trouble started when the victim tripped and fell while walking near that intersection. Roberts pointed a knife at his chest and demanded money while Marquez, armed with a meat clever, acted as a lookout. The victim handed over $20, which Roberts pocketed before the pair fled the scene.

The victim immediately reported the incident and members of the 104th Precinct responded to the scene. A short time later, Officer Eric Velez spotted the pair just several blocks away in St. Felix Park (Evergreen Park), still in possession of the stolen money and knives used in the robbery, according to a criminal complaint filed against them.

Bail was set at $20,000 for Marquez and $10,000 for Roberts.

Man Claims Bouncer Assaulted Him; Video Showed Otherwise

A Hollis man has been charged with filing a false police report after telling police he was roughed up by bouncers who ejected him from a Maspeth strip club. Surveillance video showed the man actually injured himself on his car door, according to authorities.

Khuram Murtaza, 34, of 191st Street, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on August 25 on charges of third-degree falsely reporting an incident just after midnight that morning outside Rouge Gentlemen’s Club on 58th Street.

When Officer Jaewon Kim of the 108th Precinct arrived at the club, Murtaza told him that he had suffered a lacerated nose during an assault inside the nightclub. However, the club manager told officers he kicked Murtaza out of the establishment and saw him smash his own face against a parked car. Officer Kim reviewed the surveillance video, which backed up the bouncer’s story, according to the criminal complaint filed against Murtaza.

Murtaza also was arrested earlier this year at the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard near Forest Park for criminal mischief, according to published reports.

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.

Police Captain Promoted to Deputy Inspector

By Patricia Adams

Sitting across the table from him, you realize he’s the same guy you knew from before. You used to call him Captain. Now you call him Deputy Inspector. But no matter what title you put before his name, Joe Courtesis is undoubtedly a cop’s cop. And as the commanding officer of the 106th Precinct. he’s the top cop, with his finger on the pulse of his precinct and the community.

Known for a hands-on approach to the job, Courtesis is well respected and has earned the reputation within the community, among business owners and residents alike, for being highly responsive. His 16-year career reached new heights last Friday when he was promoted from Captain to Deputy Inspector at a ceremony held at One Police Plaza.

He started as a patrolman then worked in the detective squad at the 83rd Precinct in Brooklyn. The first of several promotions landed him as a sergeant in Housing in Brooklyn. After that came another promotion–this time to lieutenant. In 2004, Joe Courtesis became Captain Courtesis. He spent two years at the 106 as the Executive Officer before going to the 113 to serve as the Executive Officer there until 2007.

He returned in 2007 as the Commanding Officer at the 106, where he says despite his promotion, he hopes he can stay. “I don’t want to leave the 106,” Courtesis says. “I’ve known this precinct for a long time. I like the community, the people, and the command. I have no requests to leave, only to stay,” he says with a wishful smile.

Asked how the face of policing has changed since the start of his career, Courtesis responds very quickly. “There is a tremendous degree of accountability now. Because of technology we have become a much more micro-managed agency.” Courtesis reminds us that his career in the NYPD started at the same time the department started developing and using Comp Stat to track and monitor crime patterns and frequencies.

He remembers the day when maps with pushpins hung on walls of station houses. “That’s how we tracked a burglary cluster.” The difference today he says is that with the touch of a button, investigators can immediately access every detail about a crime area including any convicted felons living in the area.

To further evidence the technology, the Deputy Inspector points to a computer station set up across from the desk. “When that camera turns and faces me, it means the Police Commissioner wants to talk to me.”

Courtesis says he is proudest of the fact that his promotion is one that comes not after a test, but after peer recommendation and approval by department brass. “It’s a hard promotion to obtain and it’s a great thing to be acknowledged by your colleagues.” The other thing that makes him especially proud, Courtesis says is seeing his wife and children so happy to share the moment with him.

And when you’re finished talking to Joe Courtesis he shakes your hand and thanks you for coming. You feel no less welcome than you did at the beginning but you know it’s time to go. The former Captain, now Deputy Inspector is standing before you. His hands are on his hips and he is smiling. For Joe Courtesis it’s time to get back to work.

'Cell Phones for Soliders' Program Seeks Donations

Council Member Elizabeth S. Crowley launched a drive to collect old cell phones to be recycled into prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas, as part of the nationwide “Cell Phones For Soldiers” program. Cell Phones for Soldiers sends phones to ReCellular in exchange for funds to purchase calling cards. One recycled cell phone provides an hour of talk time for soldiers abroad.

“According to statistics from the Pentagon, roughly 200,000 U.S. troops are deployed overseas,” said Council Member Elizabeth Crowley. “Cell Phones for Soldiers is a great way to help connect American heroes abroad with their families back home. Over the next two months we hope to collect 1,000 cell phones which will allow soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan to talk with loved ones in the United States. Hundreds of millions of Americans dispose of their old cell phones every year. Instead of throwing them away, I hope people will donate them to this great cause.”

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenage siblings, Robbie and Brittany Berquist, from Norwell, Mass., with $21 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised millions of dollars in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas. Every week, Cell Phones for Soldiers ships about 6,500 to 7,000 calling cards to service members in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.

“Cell Phones for Soldiers is a great program because it supports the soldiers oversees and abroad in combat connect with family back home,” said Ronny Burdier, a resident of Glendale and CPO who served in the war in Afghanistan from May 2007 to August 2008. “The program seeks out family and moral support from back home and that is important. It’s great program for this community and as a soldier, I encourage people to support it.”

Those who wish to donate their cell phones, bring them to the Office of Council Member Elizabeth Crowley at 64-77 Dry Harbor Road, Middle Village, NY or the Office of Congressman Anthony Weiner at 80-02 Kew Gardens Road, Room 5000, Kew Gardens, NY 11415. For more information, visit cellphonesforsoldiers.com.