Civic Presses For Solutions To Parking Woes

As seen in left photo, State Sen. Serphin Maltese updates civic members on negotiations taking place between state government and corporate entities vying for the rights to Aqueduct's gaming operations. In right photo, City Council Member Joseph Addabbo tackles senior center issues at last week's Locust Grove Civic Association meeting. Residents attending the Wednesday, Sept. 3 Locust Grove Civic Association meeting at the St. James/St. Matthews Lutheran Church in South Ozone Park were informed of a push to convince the state Department of Transportation to procure parking spaces for JFK International Airport security workers.

LGCA President Donna Gilmartin revealed an effort to convince both the state government and the Department of Homeland Security to use a stretch of property on Lefferts Boulevard between the Nassau Expressway and South Conduit Avenue as a parking facility for Transportation Security Administration workers, although she has yet to hear from House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee Chairperson Rep. Peter King.

The need to find TSA employees other parking alternatives stems from numerous gripes made over the past few years by residents in the vicinity of the airport about security personnel that reportedly park their vehicles illegally by blocking driveways, throw litter in the streets or get undressed inside their cars.

"If we can get a few cars off the street for $1 a day, that'll be a good thing. Not all of them work five days a week, and they won't need a monthly pass," said Gilmartin.

In addition, she also added that keeping their cars in a parking lot would also save TSA workers the inconvenience of shoveling the snow around their vehicles during cold weather months.

Community Board 10 Chairperson Elizabeth Braton told civic members that TSA security officers have been made aware of the possibility.

Problem trucks

The issue of large trucks parked throughout Community Board 10 after 9 p.m. was also dealt with by Gilmartin, who suggested that residents report all truck sightings to the 311 help line.

The civic leader instructed audience members to always proceed with caution at the first sight of any commercial vehicle in the evening hours due to South Ozone Park's proximity to JFK Airport.

A number of 18-wheelers, she recounted, have been seen traveling through smaller side streets and parking there overnight.

One community member claimed that two trucks haven't been moved for over a month in the areas of Sutter Avenue between 114th and 115th streets and 135th Avenue between 115th and 116th streets.

Traffic light

The timing of a traffic light at the intersection of 135th Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard was also a source of concern among those congregated at the session.

One civic member maintained that pedestrians aren't afforded enough time to make their way across the street on Lefferts Boulevard.

He also brought up the fact that an individual had recently been run over by an oncoming vehicle and is still in the hospital suffering from injuries.

Maltese on NYRA

State Sen. Serphin Maltese was on hand to offer locals an update of the bid review process conducted by state government in selecting a company to manage Aqueduct Racetrack's 4,500-video lottery terminal facility.

Of the three companies referenced by the senator, Capital North and SL Green Realty Trust are both willing to add the necessary "amenities" to the area surrounding the location.

Maltese remained leery about Delaware North as a possible suitor because the group didn't make the same guarantee, causing him to worry that the property surrounding Aqueduct would be left to turn into a "dump."

"The state is losing $1 million a day from VLT revenue, which eats into education money," he stated in sharing his hope for a quick decision.

Gilmartin confirmed Maltese's concerns by acknowledging Delaware North's failure to reach out to the community.

Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer's legal counsel, Larry Love, also gave his take on the matter by noting that the state is losing hundreds of millions of dollars as the result of Gov. David Patterson's delay in making a decision.

State legislature, he said, is obligated to pay the New York Racing Association $120 million a year until a casino operator is selected to run the VLTs.

Anti-Addabbo mailings

On the subject of several pamphlets besmirching City Council Member and State Senate candidate Joseph Addabbo, Gilmartin opined that the mailings "upset" many people and that they would have to stop being distributed to the public.

Maltese, who's running against Addabbo, denied involvement with any name-smearing and limited himself to highlighting the importance of the upcoming race, and how it could change the balance of power among Democrats and Republicans in the State Senate.

Addabbo on candidacy

and senior centers

Addabbo urged civic members not be deceived by the Department for the Aging's promise of "unifying" and "consolidating" senior centers throughout the city in order to create a more efficient system of elderly care.

The agency is really looking to close senior locations, he continued. Addabbo went on to pledge that he would fight to keep every center open.

"Every senior center is its own family unit," he added. "Seniors all deserve warm, fresh meals."

The public servant went on to formally announce his candidacy for Maltese's seat in the 15th Senatorial District.

If elected, Addabbo vowed to not only value the relationship between a public official and civic associations, but also spoke of his desire to "take it to a new level."

The Locust Grove Civic Association regularly meets on the first Wednesday of the month at the St. James/St. Matthew Lutheran Church, located at 119-15 135th Ave.