LET THERE BE LIGHT IN PARK

Dr. Paul Aaronsen from the Medical Society of the County of Queens (holding mic) shared some of his ideas on how to enhance health care at the Community Board 9 meeting in Richmond Hill. Calls for enhanced lighting and a bigger police presence in the areas surrounding Forest Park were made at the Tuesday, Feb. 9 Community Board 9 meeting as a result of ongoing car breaks-ins.

Forest Park Cooperative resident Jay Van Deven filled in attendees at Richmond Hill’s Fairfield Pavilion on vehicle thefts taking place on Jan. 29, Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 due to a lack of adequate lighting and video cameras.

“Elected officials promised us cameras, but now that’s dead in the water with no money,” he offered. “It gets real dark on Woodhaven Boulevard ... what are they waiting for?”

To further his argument, Van Deven mentioned the recent rape of a female pedestrian near the park.

P.O. John McCoy of the 102nd Precinct’s Community Affairs Unit observed that the criminal activity is reflection of a poor economy in which jobless individuals often resort to drastic measures.

He informed listeners that his command is “hitting the area hard” for nocturnal thieves and reported that his precinct made two car breakin arrests over the past 28 days.

The collared perpetrators, he said, were involved in a pattern of thefts taking place throughout Woodhaven, Richmond Hill and parts of Ozone Park.

McCoy warned community members not to leave any personal items in their parked vehicles since criminals are on the lookout for Global Po- sitioning System (GPS) devices that can fetch $15 or $20 on the street.

“Don’t leave any loose change or suction cups in your cars—they will take anything,” he added.

His colleague in the precinct’s Community Affairs Unit, P.O. Jay Remsen, told everyone to be especially protective of their GPS gadgets since they won’t be covered by car insurance companies.

Board 9 member and Forest Park Cooperative resident Nick Comaianni took issue with crime victims not reporting the break-ins.

He further made a case for increased police patrol in the crime-ridden area by saying: “Visibility is the best defense. If they see a cop watching them, they’ll go somewhere else. We’ve had 150 break-ins over the past year.”

Remsen assured the complainant that he rides his scooter around the perimeter of Forest Park every morning, and suggested that co-op members think about getting some security officers to ramp up crime prevention efforts. Comaianni responded that his neighbors don’t have the means to bring in added protection.

The future of quality health care

Janine Regosin and Dr. Paul Aaronsen from the Medical Society of the County of Queens were on hand to introduce their group as an organization that establishes and maintains high standards of medicine in the borough, along with educating the public on several health issues affecting them.

Aaronsen listed changes he would like to see in order to improve the present level of health care. These included:

• the implementation of tort reform that would reduce the number of malpractice suits;

• a reform of managed care in order to preserve doctor-patient confidentiality; and

• the addition of collective bargaining rights against the excesses of insurance companies.

On the topic of insurance companies, the doctor griped over the problems hospitals are facing due to reduced reimbursements.

Not only have dwindling restitutions played a major role in the closings of four Queens medical facilities over the past five years, he said, but private practice is also going to become an unsustainable model with less dollars going to health care professionals.

In order to fight the deterioration of health care, community board members learned of MSCQ’s upcoming impact study of the medical profession compared to others industries.

Aaronsen also announced that his society is scheduled to rally for the previously mentioned changes on the steps of the state Capitol on Tuesday, Mar. 9.

Uncooperative land owners

Sherman Kane, co-chair of Community Board 9’s Land Use Committee, spoke out against property owners that forbid access to Department of Building inspectors and stated the need for improved enforcement.

Fellow board member Maria Thomson agreed and recommended that infraction fines be doubled from $500 to $1,000 for first-time offenders, along with summonses being increased from $250 to $500 for subsequent violations.

Community Board 9 Chairperson Andrea Crawford went one step further and advised that owners who fail to pay their fines be presented with liens against their property.

The board voted in favor of sending a letter to the City Council asking that penalties against uncooperative proprietors be enforced, but they turned down Thomson’s request to double the actual fine amounts.

Another land-use issue that the board endorsed was an attempt on the part of the Arker Companies to build affordable housing on a current brownfield site at 129-09 Jamaica Ave. in Richmond Hill. The real estate developer is reportedly being represented by attorney and former City Council Member Melinda Katz.

Crawford on water rates

During her chairperson’s report, Crawford recounted a recent presentation given by members of the New York City Water Board in which they tried to rationalize their escalating rates.

She critiqued the city agency for blaming rising costs on decreased water consumption.

“They found another scheme to raise rates,” she remarked. “Over the past four years, our rates have gone up over 40 percent.”

Crawford suggested that home owners get in touch with their elected officials and voice their grievances.

Ulrich on community boards

City Council Member Eric Ulrich expressed his disappointment regarding possible cuts to the city’s community boards.

He was baffled by the fact that community boards have to “grovel for pennies every year,” and couldn’t understand why Mayor Michael Bloomberg has taken an unfavorable position toward the advisory bodies.

Liquor/base station licenses

The board agreed with the Public Safety Committee’s recommendations to support license renewals requested by the following for-hire car service base stations.

• Jamaica Express #2 C/S, located at 120-02 101st Ave. in Richmond Hill; and

• Globe Car Service, located at 112-06 101st Ave. in Richmond Hill.

Board members also voted in favor of endorsing a new on-premise beer license to El Atlantico Deli, located at 91-60 87th St. in Woodhaven.

Community Board 9 regularly meets at 7:45 p.m. on the second Tuesday of month at a variety of venues throughout Kew Gardens, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill and Woodhaven. For further details on upcoming meetings, call 1-718-286-2689.