Commentary on happenings relating to greater Sunnyside Woodside from the unconcealed POV of the writers. Agree or disagree? Send comments to SmallTownComment@ gmail.com Volume 1, Number 2
Going Silver
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Bigger Bubble Blues
FREE
Governor and Mayor’s Backroom Deal Drops Bombshell on Already Inflated Market Amazon or No Amazon, Queens Needs the Small Business Jobs Survival Act and the American Dream
Get off the Sauce Op Ed by Patricia Dorfman DO YOU, MAYOR DeBlasio, go to work on foot or bike each day? Once a week? Do all of your older relatives ride bikes? Do you, Congresswoman OcasioCortez take a bike to work? Did you, Councilman Van Bramer turn in your free car and permit? As you worked together on Amazon, Governor Cuomo, work with the Mayor to fix the MTA, or scrap the limousines.
Op Ed by David Eisenbach Real estate speculation - not chain stores or gentrification is the cause of high rent blight. Today even chain stores are losing their leases. For 400 years - since the days when we were a Dutch colony called New Amsterdam - New York has been built on one simple transaction between landlords and tenants - THE RENT. A landlord has a space and a tenant pays to use it for a period of time. It didn’t matter where the tenants came from or what language they spoke or what food they served, the only question was if you could pay the rent. As a result, New York became the greatest marketplace on earth. Continued, page 2
by Berk Koca Soaring rents. Seven figures for a 17 by 25-foot single-family house. Struggling small businesses. That defines the new economic reality of Sunnyside-Woodside, if nothing impedes this deal, the largest in New York City City history, of Amazon’s arrival in Long Island City.
TO WORK, YOU ALL NEED privacy, security, and speed. If you want to move us away from carbon, fix transit, forget tyrannical law passing, provide incremental steps, and listen to the people paying the bills.
What was once a relatively unknown industrial and working class area will become an extension of Manhattan. LIC has been the fastest growing neighborhood in the country, and while it was still expanding, Sunnyside-Woodside was thought to be slowing down.
WE GET IT: Most of us who support getting our streets back understand the desirability of lowered For months, many in Western Queens had been comforting themselves with the common carbon use, cycling, and rewisdom that the rising cost of living was unsustainable, and a major bubble had to burst duction of private cars for a sooner or later. What goes up must eventually come down; the longest boom in property healthier, safer, and cheaper prices here would end as all others have in the past. Rental units that had been taken in a future. We like bikes.
week, now sat for a few months. Prices had stabilized, signaling a downturn. Continued, page 5
Continued, page 2
12/1 Skillman Winter Fest 4-8PM, Tree Lighting/Santa 6PM !
Thursday November 29, 2018
SMALL TOWN CONFIDENTIAL
Amazon or No Amazon, Queens Needs the Small Business Jobs Survival Act and the American Dream (Continued from page 1) People from all over the world came here to either get a job in a small business or start one of their own. This is how we built the beautiful diversity of our neighborhoods and how the American Dream was born. But that simple transaction between landlord and tenant has been destroyed by real estate speculation. Suddenly collecting the rent is no longer good enough for landlords. Now we have what’s called “high rent blight.” So how can a landlord make more money NOT renting a space? Over the last decade, central banks around the world lowered their interest rates to historic lows. The real estate bubble was inflated and a worldwide commercial real estate frenzy ensued. Hedge funds purchased a huge number of our buildings and even small landlords got into the game of highly leveraged purchases. Now landlords offer lease renewals to tenants at 300% increases not because they think they can get that much rent but because they are so leveraged up with debt that that THEIR LENDERS REQUIRE a sky-high rent. Some have gotten reappraisals of their buildings based on an anticipated rent well above the fair market value. On paper, the building is now worth a lot more and landlords can go to hard moneylenders and get mega loans backed by inflated property values. They can then use the cash to play the market. As long as the interest they earn on their investments covers their ultra-low interest rate payments, they are making easy money. No tenant - no complaints, minimal
maintenance expenses and they can deduct the lost rent as a business loss. This money-for-nothing scheme can go on for years as long as the landlord doesn’t rent the space out for less than he put down on the loan application. That’s why most storefronts remain empty for years. Real estate speculation - not chain stores or gentrification is the cause of high rent blight. Today even chain stores are losing their leases. This is why we need the Small Business Jobs Survival Act, up before City Council now. SBJSA guarantees a 10 year lease renewal to all small businesses in good standing. The bill specifically lists activities that would disqualify tenant from SBJSA protections like late rent payments or illegal activities. Most big businesses have the leverage to force landlords to put a provision in their lease that guarantees a 10-year lease renewal offer. SBJSA is not revolutionary. It simply forces landlords to do for small businesses what they are already doing for big businesses. Under SBJSA if the landlord and tenant cannot agree on a rent on their own they have to go to legally binding arbitration. Again most big businesses have leases that require arbitration to settle the terms of the lease renewal offer. Since this is standard for the big businesses in NYC, so why can’t small businesses have the same rights? Finally SBJSA IS NOT RENT CONTROL. The arbitration will result in the rent increasing to fair market value. And sometimes there will be dramatic increases. When REBNY and its allies in and out of government say SBJSA is rent control they are lying.
Right now SBJSA has 28 city council sponsors, which is enough to pass. Below are the list of Queens Council Members who have not signed on to the bill. Contact them thru this link https://council.nyc. gov/districts/ and demand they sponsor SBJSA: Paul Vallone, Peter Koo, Francisco Moya, Barry Grodenchik, and Rory I. Lancman.
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GET OFF THE SAUCE
(Continued from page 1)
BUT IF EVERYONE cramming onto ailing subways suddenly rode a bike tomorrow, chaos would ensue. In a big city, mass transit is crucial to commerce and the key necessity to lower carbon use. It is your job to provide working transport for many people at the same time on the same fuel at regular times. Without it, the NYC cannot function commercially. IF YOUR GOAL is fewer private cars, say that and stop making it all about bike lanes and pitting people against each other. Required is education, sacrifice, and transparency. It took 25 years to install recycling, with education and example. Mayor, right now, you have the largest fleet in history, over 30,000, 10% more than when you took office.
YOUR METHOD of curtailing carbon is unfair, unsafe, and not working. Get off the fuel sauce yourself David Eisenbach teaches history at Columor give us our streets back, now. bia University and received over 90.000 votes in candidacy for Public Advocate, for which he is running again. To begin, Small Town Confidential is to be published twice a month.
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Editor | Publisher Patricia Dorfman V.P. | Sales Manny Gomez V.P. | Writer Berk Koca Contributing Writers Martin Scanlon Chris Wattenberg Mary Caulfield Advisory Committee Mary Caulfield Toni Dorfman Richard Drake Debbie George Farley Rani Kinane Christopher Whalen 45-06 Queens Blvd. Sunnyside, NY 11104 SmallTownComment@gmail.com ©2018. All Rights Reserved
SMALL TOWN CONFIDENTIAL
Thursday November 29, 2018
Grace Polk remembers her Dad was always photographing glamorous neighbor, Ethel, which was not a hit with her own mother, Elizabeth Polk.
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Ethel’s daughter, Janet, reports she had a crush on one of these young Good Humor men in forties.
All ages from all over came to sing annual “pop-up Happy Birthday” on Thanksgiving Day and were ready again this year. This photo from 2014.
Ethel Plimack 1910 – 2018 by Janet Sherman Ethel Plimack passed away peacefully just two weeks before her 108th birthday. She was much loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed. Ethel was a woman with an indomitable spirit. She worked for more than 40 years with the NYC Board of Education and after retirement she worked at Marymount Manhattan College until 96 years of age. Ethel was an exceptional knitter, making many hundreds of sweaters, hats and scarves for family and friends. In her younger years, she was an avid folk dancer, traveling the world to learn new dances and meet others who shared her passion for dance. Ethel was persistent, tenacious, indefatigable, and a lifelong learner. She never hesitated to take on a project. Her life was an example of strength, courage, and enthusiasm for life. Ethel was married 42 years to Maurice Plimack who predeceased her in 1975. She is survived by her daughters Sylvia Plimack Mangold and Janet Sherman, her son Henry Plimack, her four grandchildren, James Mangold, Ulysses Sherman, Chloe Sherman and Andrew Mangold and her five great grandchildren.
Debbie George Farley remembers: Growing up in Sunnyside with Ethel Plimack as my life-long next door neighbor, provided me with daily infusions of wisdom and kindness. Ethel was friends with my grandparents and attended my parent’s wedding in 1946. That connection started
a life-long commitment of camaraderie and support to the George Family. I have many fond memories of Ethel. Back in the 60’s Ethel and I took yoga classes with Auncie Newman on 47th street and dance lessons in Mrs. Polk’s basement. My mom died in April of 1974 Ethel’s husband passed just ten months later. There are so many recollections I have of Ethel being present in the lives of the George’s. But after losing our mom, Ethel provided that sympathetic female shoulder we needed to cry on. Most tender to my heart was the daily breakfast ritual Ethel and my dad shared. They’d get up, go into the kitchen, open their kitchen windows and shout at each other. Then, they’d open their back doors and catch up on the events of the last 24 hours. They supported and protected each other with a deep connection.
Ethel did well until four days before her death, in her sleep.Here she is knitting, on Sept. 28. Caretaker Josie Ellis kept Ethel hopping 24/7 for seven years.
My father’s passing on September 7, 2012 was a huge loss for us and Ethel. We talked about “Charlie” every time we were together. The day Ethel was laid to rest at Linden Cemetery in Ridgewood on November 9, my Dad’s birthday, I felt again that special connection. I will always cherish the wealth of experiences Ethel gave to me. I will hold her lovingly in my heart.
Thursday November 29, 2018
SMALL TOWN CONFIDENTIAL
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C O R R E C T I O N S C O M M E N T S C L A R I F I C AT I O N S South Pole space may become a Trader Joe’s? ________ Gloomy barkeep opined the “deep state” is working hard to get Amazon here because it will be easier to take over Sunnyside Yards from which the real billions can be made. ________ The mailbox “fisher” may have been caught. Queens Chronicle reported a man with 346 checks not belonging to him in his vehicle. ________ Have Phil & Nancy Valenti sold Go Natural on Queens Blvd.? A friendly family originally from Nepal reports they are taking care of business.
In addition to typos we did not catch, a correction: There are over 500 members of Justice for All Coalition, and the steering committee has 20-plus members. ________ Thank you, Memo Salazar, for your long, thoughtful and helpful letter. and anandd Mark Leavitt has sold his beautiful law office buiding on 47th St. and he and his firm plan to open a new branch in Forest Hills. Fans will be happy he will continue to live here and also keep a branch office here. ________ Congratulations to Ira Greenberg, Esq., now a Judge! ________ A warm welcome to the new Imam at the Turkish mosque, Muhammet Sonmez Bayraktar!
Pastor Neil Margetson of Sunnyside Reformed Church was spotted shopping for fruit at bodega. He happily reports he finished chemo in June, spent three weeks fishing in Massachusets. Neil is in remission from cancer, and feeling good!
Thursday November 29, 2018
SMALL TOWN CONFIDENTIAL
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Bigger Bubble Blues (Continued from page 1) Other real estate agents are more reserved in their prognoses. “It’s interesting to speculate, but no one really knows,” says Nilo De La Torre of Century 21 in Sunnyside. “All this talk about agents selling condos via text, I think that’s an exaggeration.”
“It went from a buyer’s market to a seller’s market overnight”, says Eric Benaim, CEO of Modern Spaces, a major real estate firm in Long Island City. “We saw a 443% increase in traffic. In my 18 years [in this business], I have never seen anything jump like this in my life.”
It is true that apartments have been sitting empty in Long Island City, Sunnyside, and Woodside for months. De La Torre continues, “Landlords had to bring the rents on 2-bedroom units down to $2500, $2200 in order to fill them. There’s been a lot of overbuilding, LIC especially, so [with Amazon] coming, we’ll see what happens.”
The announcement brought about a sharp uptick in his business that was quite unprecedented in its scope. Benaim says he has gone into full-blown hiring mode, reviewing resumes for both agent and staff positions. In the short-term, Benaim does expect this market rush to calm down, but from a long-term perspective, he says, “We are preparing ourselves to be busy for the next several years.” Brokers shepherding vans full of both Mandarin and English-speaking clients were reported in the Wall Street Journal, as well as condo sales via text.
From the looks of things, the market was indeed on its way down before the announcement. But Amazon HQ2 is the black swan that has thrown everything into uncertainty. Even if the short-term rush in LIC is exaggerated, the upswing in long-term real estate activity will also affect Sunnyside, Woodside and Astoria. The expected 25,000+ workers who will possible work at Amazon HQ2 won’t all live in Long Island City. Promises made to hire locals, if kept, will mean some are already living in
the vicinity. Sunnyside, Woodside, and Astoria will be attractive options for Amazon employees looking for a short commute. All three neighborhoods have been gaining in real estate valuation for years, and the incentive going forward will become stronger. Where does this leave the tenantlandlord relationship in our neighborhoods? Mitchell Hecht of Hecht Law Group, a Real Estate and landlordtenant attorney, says, “The Amazon move will result in a gradual escalation of the local real estate market. This in turn will exacerbate the already tense relationship between landlords seeking to exploit demand to increase rent yields and tenants who resist.” Those who are in rent-stabilized or rent controlled units, or who already own their living spaces are fortunate. Those who do not fall into those categories will undoubtedly find the Sunnyside-Woodside area unaffordable. That displacement will have major implications for the makeup of the neighborhoods and their surrounding institutions. As the socio-economic demographic of the region changes, so will everything else.
A P P R O X I M AT E LY
TWO
As retail space costs go up, stores charge more for goods and services to afford their overheads. Mom & pops often cannot survive. Essential stores such as food markets, with lower profit margins, are forced out. Public school populations would change. What implications does this have for the Mayor’s efforts to further diversify New York City schools, if they increasingly serve students who come from higher-income families? For those who try to stay here, but who do not have a lease, or are forced out as owners exercise their options, legal or otherwise, a higher cost of living is inevitable. The infrastructure in Western Queens – mass transit, sewers, parking, schools, green space– is not up to the current task. With the estate boom continuing if the Amazon deal is not stopped, the city and taxpayers will be under great pressure to maintain habitability in the region, making the future all the more uncertain.
MILES
Courtesy of Open St. Maps. Embellishments: P. Dorfman
But Governor Cuomo and Mayor De Blasio’s November 13 announcement about Amazon’s HQ2 changed the inevitable. Any hope for buyers of a real estate market crash in the LICSunnyside-Woodside-Astoria axis went out the window.
Thursday November 29, 2018
SMALL TOWN CONFIDENTIAL cleaning trucks.
DIRTY WORK AT THE CROSSROADS
As I ride my bike around the city I am confronted by protected bike lanes that over time have become more black than green. The subway tracks of the past used to have the same lack of sanitation, but now are kept much cleaner. But I often feel I have to ride my bike, or cross as pedestrian street areas,
Cleaner Would Be Better Op Ed by Chris Wattenberger When changes are put in motion there are often unexpected effects that are not apparent in the beginning. As it has been a few months since installation of the protected bike lanes, the “Gold Standard, as termed by the D.O.T., in Woodside and Sunnyside on 43rd and Skillman Avenues, we can examine some of the consequences. Community Board 2, seeming to reflect the views of the majority of residents, voted overwhelmingly against the street changes. They asked to keep the painted lanes, and install faster, cheaper safety measures such as staggered traffic signals, speed limit signs, speed cameras, delayed turn signals, and traffic enforcement for both cyclists and drivers. The Community Board was ignored, and many of the predicted negative consequences have come to pass; traffic tie-ups and business losses. Accidents are also frequent. But even those with ambulances picking up those involved, we are not hearing of increase from the city, a subject for a future discussion. Our former bike lanes, which most liked, were on the roadway. When we cyclists met a barrier such as a delivery truck, we could look behind us and go around the obstacle. Now, many of us often continue to use the general roadway, (which is legal), because the bike area now which is between the curb and the parked
Page 6 which have become dirty and littered in the ways of the subway tracks of the past. It is not a place that feels welcome or safe to me or to many riders. It does not invite stopping to dine or shop locally. Wattenberger lives in Sunnyside, working formerly as a statistician and data processor at Harris Polls, Time, CNN and Roper Polls. He drives a car, and bicycles over 80 miles per week.
cars, does not allow us anywhere to go if impediments arise. Some of those impediments are litter. Street sanitation in NYC’s recent past is dependable and effective. But what surprises me is while we once had clean streets here, now we do not. Our curbside bike lanes seem to prevent cleaning. Snow removal will be an added problem when snow push the snow towards the curbs, blocking the lanes altogether. Requirements by the city for owners are: “…Gutter areas (18 inches from the curb into the street) along the building perimeter must be kept clean.” In the past, when automobiles were moved to clear the spaces for Sanitation, the curb areas got a second brushing and pick up cleaning, further removing pet waste, leaves, and trash. Unless the city purchases new equipment at taxpayer expense, cleaning the curb areas as we had in the past does not seem feasible. Even if the owners do as required by law, the cleaning truck width cannot cover the entire bike, buffer and parking lane. Now litter accumulates and sits until the wind moves it to another place. Street cleaning equipment is not wide enough to cover both the parking areas and the bike lanes and too wide to just clean the bike lane. The trucks most often clean the parking area, and not on the bike lanes, and not the pedestrian islands, which have flexible poles, which block the
Soft Memories of Our Friendship I can’t get you out of my mind Our love was so strong because you were so kind I guess your asking why I’m blue It’s the day that everything became this memory of you If I never see you again You are still the only one who understands my pain I’m locked into a field of dreams Your love and my soul are all that redeems I love you more than you can know is true Since the day that everything became this memory of you Nina Goldworth
Thursday November 29, 2018
DYING YOUNG by Patricia Dorfman
SMALL TOWN CONFIDENTIAL
“...dying young, a man stays young forever in people’s memory. If he burns brightly before he dies, his light shines for all time.”
-Alexander Solzhenitsyn
STEPHEN GODDARD AMY GUTIERREZ
JOHN DANNY MCGEE
On November 10, three young people, two on a motorcycle and one in van, were involved in a horrific accident at about 3:30 AM near 38th Street on 43rd Avenue, leaving two dead and one shaken. Stephen Goddard, 22, of Sunnyside, a television stagehand, was going the wrong way on 43rd, a one-way street on a Suzuki DRZ motorcycle and hit a Ford E250 van head on. He and his passenger and girlfriend, Amy Gutierrez, 20, also of Sunnyside, were killed. The van driver stayed at the scene and refused medical attention.
Another loss occurred Thanksgiving Day, when we learned from the Sunnysidepost and the Irish media that young athlete John Danny McGee was left on the sidewalk, lifeless, also in the wee hours, after a blow to his head in a fight, outside of the Gaslight, a popular pub, at 43-17 Queens Blvd. McGee was 21, born in the U.S., but he and his family lived in Drumlish, County Longford, Ireland.
An associate who knew him, Carlos, said that young Goddard’s friends paid him a somber tribute with their thunderous motorcycle demonstration in front of Edward Lynch Funeral Home on Queens Blvd on the evening of the Goddard visitation, which tied up traffic. This image from a video was taken by Maryteresa Ray on November 14, who lives nearby and heard the commotion. Carlos said that Goddard’s many friends are devastated young people expressing support and grief.
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everyone in our community. If we are older folks, most of us are fortunate to have lived through our twenties. There but for fate go many of us. PAUL TRIPODIS Last week, also taken early in life was Paul Tripodis, restaurateur and licensed real estate Broker with Merit Associates, husband of broker Linda Tripodis. Farenga Funeral Home in Astoria is handling arrangements..
The young man, “Danny,” according to social media, was a musician, soccer and football player, and recently came back to the U.S. to work in construction. At press time, as of Friday morning, November 23, a 25-year-old Woodsider, Steven O’Brien, has turned himself in and has been charged with assault. Love and support for all the shattered families left behind whose lives will never be the same; A heartbreaking loss and for them and a nightmare for
John D. McGee
Thursday November 29, 2018
Q
SMALL TOWN CONFIDENTIAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR
From: Queens Streets
for All
“A timeline of DOT St. Changes: 43rd & Skillman Aves. 2017-2018”
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APRIL 13, 2017: Councilman Jimmy (CMVB) calls for “protected bike lanes” after the death of cyclist Gelacio Reyes on 39th St. and 43rd Ave. No mention was made that protected bike lanes would not have prevented the death of Mr. Reyes, who ran a red light, and was hit by a drunk driver. Public was not informed that “protected bike lanes” referred to what was formerly termed as a “road diet,” necessitating the narrowing of roadways, removal of lanes, and removal of public parking to discourage the private ownership of cars. The “necessity” was always framed as a safety issue for cyclists, sparked by the death of Mr. Reyes. Transportation Alternatives (TA), a lobbying group, came as in “street ambassadors” and collected signatures also based on the death of Mr. Reyes, with no mention of road diet. The plan was also announced as a “7+ mile Bike Highway from Forest Hills to Midtown.” NOV. 26, 2017: The Department of Transportation (DOT) officials presented http://www.nyc.gov/ html/dot/downloads/pdf/skillmanave-43rd-ave-nov2017.pdf. to the to Transportation Committee of Queens Community Board 2 (CB2) with TA members present. The Sunnysidepost broke the story, noting that the number of parking spaces to be lost would be 168. DEC. 2017-FEB. 2018: Queens Streets for All, PTA have meetings with CMVB, other local officials, the DOT, expressing strong opposition to DOT plan.
Photos by Manny Gomez of Sunnyside Artists Annual Craft & Art Fair Nov. 11 at Queen of Angels Church Parish Hall. Over 800 guests admired work by 38 artisans.
MARCH 26, 2018: The DOT and CMVB hold a “Town Hall,” and present http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/skillman-ave-43rd-aveapril2018.pdf, beginning the meeting with a grieving Flor Jimenez, widow of Mr. Reyes and their infant, for 20 minutes. All cautioned to respectful and one DOT plan opponent was stopped from speaking. Strong opposition to the plan was heard from the community, with those comments in favor largely from members of TA, most who do not reside in the corridor. One opponent in a wheelchair testified that she would have difficulty navigating the streets, and getting in and out of vehicles. Statistics presented by the DOT to support the change, included figures such as 1400 cyclists a day, recorded by the DOT in May of 2017,
Thursday November 29, 2018 on a “Ride Your Bike to Work Day” and accidents which were not presented in the context of other areas of NYC or time frame, presumably to justify their rationale that the corridor was so dangerous it needed the DOT plan.
SMALL TOWN CONFIDENTIAL ders might likely cause difficulty reaching upper floors. We asked our CMVB to ask for a meeting with the Mayor, a request we made previously to his Queens representative and in the petitions (to this date, no response). At the close of our June 15 meeting, CMVB shook hands with us and indicated that his statement to come on the DOT plan would be agreeable to us.
MAY 21, 2018: CB 2 held a public “Safety Workshop” for the publc to speak openly with safety suggestions, which were recorded by CB2 volunteers. JUNE 20, 3028: CMVB released a stateCB2 included the collated suggestions in ment that while he favored the plan, he could not approve it. their formal response June 8. JUNE 5, 2018: Queens Streets for All (QSFA) delivers formal opposition from 12,000 to the DOT to CB2 and 12 elected officials, including written individual letters of protest from leaders of local schools PS11, PS150, Holy Mountain, St. Sebastian’s Academy, AR Rahman Jame Masjid Mosque, Turkish Islamic Mimar Sinan Mosque, Grace Fellowship Church, Sunnyside Reformed Church, Queen of Angels Church, Young Israel Synagogue, Skillman Project, Sunnyside Chamber, Access Queens, United Forties, and signatures from over 2500 residents, representing the majority of those who live and work in the 1110411377 corridor.
JULY 12, 2018: The Mayor tweeted plan go-ahead, citing 300 accidents and two deaths as justification, with no context of the incidents as to time period, comparisons to other areas, or elements involved as to cyclists, cars, pedestrians. JULY 25, 2018: QSFA holds public rally on Queens Blvd. at 46th train station was held in opposition to the DOT plan including speakers:
•David Aglialaro, on behalf of Assemblywoman Nolan •Denise Keehan-Smith, Chairperson, CB 2 •Berk Koca, Outreach Chair, Turkish Islamic Cultural Center of Queens •Reverend Neil Margetson, Pastor, Sunnyside Reformed Church •Mindy Bichler-Greene, then PTA President, PS11 •Manny Gomez, Chairman of the Board Sunnyside Chamber, Queen of Angels Church Parish Council •Ellen Kang, LIC, CB2 •Dorothy Raymond Morehead, Real Estate Broker, Member, CB2, Environmental Committee Chair, Newtown Creek Alliance •Gary O’Neill, Business owner •Brent O’Leary, Western Queens Civic Leader, President, Hunter’s Point Civic Association •Melissa Orlando, Pres., Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce, Founder/Exec. Director, Access Queens
JUNE 8, 2018: Transportation Alternatives hands in what they refer to as 1600 signatures, including many outside the 11104 and 11377 zip codes, and on petition forms not mentioning the lost or narrowed lanes or parking. CB2 votes 27 to 8 in opposition to the DOT plan http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/ downloads/pdf/skillman-ave-43rd-avejune2018.pdf, submitting its own recommendations for making the corridor safer, including painting current lanes green, speed camera, staggered signal times, delays in turn signals, posted JULY 26, 2018: CMVB tweeted an apolspeed limits, education, and greater law ogy for opposing the DOT plan June 20, enforcement. and gave it his endorsement, “The bike JUNE 15, 2018: FDNY’s Engine 325/ lanes should happen. It’s the right thing to do. And even if there is a political price to Engine Co. 163, then Captain, now Chief James P. Duff, with three firefight- pay for saying so, I should say it. So I am.” ers, stating he had clearance from the SEPT. 4, 2018: A Queens newspaper FDNY, attended QSFA steering compassed on more coverage about the DOT mittee meeting with CMVB to express serious public safety concerns about the plan, pointing to the already a published a letter from CMVB as the resolution of the proposed DOT plan, warning that “delays in response time” might “cost lives.” matter, which included, “…While people Chief Duff echoed public comments made June 7 at CB 2 when firefighters and Battalion Chief James J. Sangiamo attended. FDNY concerns were not just the inability to turn west on Skillman from 51st and other local turns, but warning that the general configuration curbside lane/buffer/parking lane lad-
may disagree on this issue, let’s not let it tear our community apart any further. Let’s start the healing process and move forward. The bike lanes (and safety enhancements!) are here. There will be a period of adjustment, and we will try to help with any issues that arise.”
SEPT. 28, 2018: After videos surfaced of documenting that vehicles could not exit the 51st firehouse due to back up from
Skillman, a fire truck had to reroute after over five minutes of congestion at Skillman Avenue, and videos showing delays to all vehicles, , including first responders, on Skillman Avenue some in excess of six minutes, QSFA for All submitted a formal letter asking for a meeting and requesting DOT changes be removed immediately to local station house Lieutenants Collado and Culkin, before “lives are lost.” We understand the letter was passed to the FDNY Commissioner, the DOT, and then to CMVB. As of November 23, we have had no response. SEPT. 24, 2018: CMVB writes a letter to a member of the steering committee, claiming contact from “multiple residents” who had unsuccessfully reached out for assistance from local 501-3-C, which had fallen into committee member’s hands through the death of its founder. Previously, CMVB had discussed a grant. SEPT. 26, 2018: More signatures on new petition were gathered by QSFA to “Remove Road Re-design.” SEPT. 30, 2018: A news story appears that the $500,000 to be awarded to PS150 for renovation, voted in previously during participatory funding. PS150 leader had asked earlier in the month that its name be removed from QSFA notices. OCT. 4, 2018: CMVB took questions at public CB2 meeting and in response to Board member Ellen Kang, who asked if the lanes could be removed, said, “…We’re spending an awful lot of time on this particular issue and we’re committed to getting it right…We can disagree on certain issues. And I believe a lot of things are working well. Where they’re not working well, we have to see what we can do about that…I respect the Community Board’s opinion. It is advisory. I am the Council Member. And I can have my own personal views. But as long as I am the Council Member, I am going to continue to this job to the best my ability that consistent with my values and that works with everyone involved. That is what I am charged to do.”
NOV. 11, 2018: QSFA Steering Committee member Kristen Hackett McGowan photographed an onsite test of the current fire equipment with FDNY and DOT personnel, and it revealed that the worries expressed prior to installation by Captain Duff were correct; the FDNY cannot reach the upper floors of residents in buildings on the Southside of 43rd Ave. or the Northside of SkillmanAve., leaving hundreds of residents on the top floors more vulnerable, and further hampers the ability of the FDNY to do its job, the result of which, if fatal, also means a firefighter has to live with for life.)
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FDNY ladder not reaching upper floors. Photo by K.H. McGowan
NOV. 18, 2018: Over two hundred a QSFA “Safety Rally at John Downing Park at 43rd Ave. & 51st Street in Woodside to call for: 1) Removal of the lanes based on inaccessibility for the differently abled, 2) inability of fire equipment to reach upper floors in the corridor, 3) children and seniors having to walk through non-enforced bicycle lanes, 4) being stranded between cars and bikes on pedestrian islands, 5) cyclists having no where to go in new lanes between curb and cars, 7) seven accidents which we not find recorded by the city, some caused by blind spots in intersections for both cyclists and drivers, 8) rerouted, blocked and delayed emergency vehicles, 9) widespread confusion about street markings, 10) 20% lost business due to lost parking exceeding DOT plan, and 11) failure to listen to community voices to act quickly before more serious injuries or a death occurs. Guests included Brian Barnwell. Speakers included: Gary O’Neil, Manny Gomez, Dorothy Raymond Morehead, Melissa Orlando, Maya Saab, Advocate for the differently abled, Kristen Hackett McGowan, Business Owner, parent, Brent O’Leary, David Eisenbach, Small Business advocate, Mark Lewinsky, President, Lions Club, life-long resident, Eric Barthels, and Roque Rodriquez.
TO SIGN NEW PETITION calling for removal of street changes, visit online: https://bit.ly/2zfHUTj Or, email your support with name & zipcode to QueensStreetsforAll@gmail. com, or write Queens Streets for All, 45-05 Queens Blvd., Sunnyside, NY 11104
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108 PRECINCT COMMUNITY COUNCIL Community Affairs: 718-784-5420 Police Department, City of New York 5-47 50th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101 A forum for constructive policecommunity cooperation in the Interest of community betterment, public safety and better understanding between police and community of Woodside, Sunnyside,and Long Island City. Commanding Officer, 108 Precinct Deputy Inspector Ralph Forgione Community Affairs Officers P.O. Luis Diaz Det. Marcos Torres Council President Diane Ballek Vice-President Donald McCallian “Courage is what it takes tO stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” -Winston Churchill
Dear 108 Precinct Friend, The 108th Precinct Community Council plays an important role in the Long Island City community, especially in the lives of the needy and underserved. For the past 20 years, we have been helping bring Christmas to hundreds of children. They are able to receive presents due to your generous contributions. We humbly ask you again for your donation. This year, we are hosting the event at Sunnyside Community Service Center and celebrate the holiday season with us on Saturday, December 15th from 12-3 p.m. This is a joint NYPD and community Event. All contributions will go directly for our local needy children. Please make checks payable to “108th Precinct Community Council.” If you would like us to pick up a check or donation, please contact me at 718-784-3194, 108th Pct.Community Affairs at 718-784-5420, or P..O. Luis Diaz at 646-246-7081, or Det. Marco Torres at 917-900-5043. Sincerely, Diane Ballek President 108th Pct. Community Council President
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Where is Gert McDonald When We Need Her? The former Radio Shack space at 45-02 Queens Blvd at 45th St. was taken over in October by Lingerie Superstore, affiliated with Romantic Depot, promoted by Cardi B on TV. Both chains sell sex toys and supplies. Lingerie Depots differ in that with 80% of floor space given over to lingerie. Op Ed by Patrcia Dorfman
LOCAL POLITICS MORE KEY THAN PRESIDENT: Besides stepping up ICE, the last thing President Trump did that strongly affected NYC was his firing of Preet Bharara. The charges against the Mayor were then dropped, which meant the Mayor was good as re-elected. Two big names who had floated their name as candidates said, off the record, that the dropped charges meant there was no way to win, and they dropped their bids. MIDDLE CLASS “RIOT:”So why on November 4th did 5000+ Manhattanites protest in the streets the Trump firing of the guy they hoped would help impeach Trump? What impact would have actually have on them as much as something that had happened the previous day? VOTED AWAY LOCAL SAY: Many of them voted overwhelming for two laws, Communty Council Term Limits and Civic Engagement panels, which sounded good but in were both mayoral measures to substantially reduce community voice. Voters did not hear or heed warnings from Comptroller Stringer or Manhattan Borough President Brewer. Most want to do the right thing for the world. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is is already in our grasp while we are looking far away.
“I don’t like it,“ said a young mother. But unlike the furor that erupted in 2010 when the EZ Pawn meet with a petition drive to move its location from village center, the opening of the store has not been met with organized protest, revealing the change of demographics of the area. “My friends bought a bunch of stuff there for a 10 year anniversary party. We all had some great laughs, “ said a prominent businessman. But still causing some concern is the Spa at 45-58 43rd St, one of several in the area, which allegedly offers sensual message, according to a client who actually visited for a regular massage and was turned away. The spot is three doors away from the Walter McCaffrey Campus, an elementary school. Gert McDonald passed away April 21, 2017 at one hundred. Among her civic activism on many matters, she is also credited helping the drive to move Gallagher’s off the Boulevard to 37th Street, closing down a live sex club, and getting vendors to put extremely graphic magazine covers out of the sight of children. Left: New Lingerie Superstore at corner of Queens Blvd. and 45th St. in Sunnyside. Below left: Walter McCaffrey School down the block from Lucky Spa One Below right: Storefront of Lucky Spa One.
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