WISH LIST FOR WOODHAVEN

In the photo at left, the GWDC’s Maria Thomson is honored as a Queens Woman of Distinction by State Sen. Joseph Addabbo at last week’s Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation meeting. Members of the GWDC at the group's latest session included (from left to right in photo at right) Paul Rudolph Jr., Mark Klimm, Stephen Esposito and Thomson. They were joined by State Sen. Addabbo and Capt. Martin Briffa, the executive officer of the 102nd Precinct. (photos: Ralph Mancini) Renovating the Forest Park Carousel, rezoning residential blocks and beautifying Jamaica Avenue were among the items on a wish list of community improvements being sought by the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation (GWDC), as announced during their annual meeting last Tuesday night, June 28, at St. Thomas the Apostle School.

GWDC Executive Director Maria Thomson expressed her approval of the repainting of the Jamaica Avenue elevated subway line is coming long after a 25-year wait, but she also stated the importance for the rezoning of Woodhaven on the part of the Department of City Planning (DCP) in order to preserve historic one and two-family homes.

Thomson told fellow members that she expects the rezoning initiative to officially go into effect during the early portion of next year. The proposal aims to curtail the creation of multi-family dwellings in the area that residents claim is putting a strain on parking and infrastructure in Woodhaven.

Moreover, Thomson made a case for the installation of new street lighting fixtures along the Jamaica Avenue strip from Dexter Court to 100th Street since the existing ones are not offering enough light. Similarly, the beatification of the business improvement district also figured prominently on her list, as she lobbied for more planters, trees and additional landscaping.

One community member requested bringing in more benches to allow seniors to have a place to sit. Thomson agreed, but noted that only benches with seat dividers would be acceptable. A number of homeless individuals, she said, tend to sleep on longer seating areas without separation.

All were in favor of enclosing the Forest Park Carousel and turning it into an enclosed restaurant to attract crowds. The revolving amusement park ride is reportedly up for bid since it necessitates the services of a concessionaire to operate and maintain it.

“The problem is that city contracts with concessionaires are only two years along,” revealed one resident. “[The city] also requires them to build around the carousel.”

Thomson conceded that the contracts needed to be lengthened and further proposed making the enclosed restaurant visually transparent from the outside to give pedestrians a chance to admire the beauty of the local merry-go-round.

In addition, Thomson updated the audience on street repairs taking place along Jamaica Avenue. Street resurfacing is currently taking place overnight, she stated, in an effort to address the many potholes and indentations in the asphalt surface.

The GWDC spokesperson also weighed in on public safety: “We need more police officers in the 102nd Precinct. I’ve always said we have the best officers, but not enough of them.”

Capt. Martin Briffa, the executive officer of the 102nd Precinct, stated that his command is down 20 percent in manpower.

Taking a stand against noise

Thomson noted that she recently testified on the behalf of the 102nd Precinct Community Council at a City Council committee hearing in favor of the enactment of anti-noise legislation that would increase fines given to chronic offenders, as well as empowering police. The bill, it was mentioned, was originally introduced by City Council Member Eric Ulrich last year.

“They have a dedicated noise car and they give out tickets. They send letters if they are dealing with chronic offenders, warning them that they’re confiscating equipment,” she said regarding recent measures taken by local officers. “Now they are having parties where people pay to get in and they let anyone in. We have to nip that in the bud as well. We have to put more teeth into the law and give more access to police for them to do their jobs.”

Briffa acknowledged that although crime was down by 17 percent over the past month, noise continues to be a “nuisance.” Under current local laws, listeners learned, it is extremely difficult for officers to confiscate speakers and other music equipment inside people’s homes.

“We’re trying to stop people from using their backyards as catering halls,” the captain said.

Night clubs within the Woodhaven/ Richmond Hill/Ozone Park area were also cited as sources of noise disturbances that have been driving residents to phone in an inordinate amount of complaints. To combat the dilemma, the 102nd Precinct has reportedly assigned one sergeant and four officers to monitor every club within their command.

Briffa explained that police officers are issuing summonses for loitering to individuals coming out of bars and drinking alcoholic beverages in public. The biggest issue for the authorities, he said, remains that the problematic evening establishments cannot be shut down.

Merchants and homeowners in attendance were further apprised of a recent rash of vehicle break-ins. Briffa alluded to one criminal who recently broke into 17 cars over a very short period of time as an example of someone who rapidly increases precinct crime numbers in one fell swoop.

Briffa, along with Police Officers Christopher Estrella and Joseph Martins of the 102nd Precinct Community Affairs Unit, notified parents in the crowd of a two-week basketball camp being sponsored by the precinct starting Wednesday, July 13 at a Forest Park playground, located at Park Lane South and Myrtle Avenue. All children 18 and under are encouraged to attend.

For further information, call the Community Affairs Unit at 1-718- 805-3215.

Addabbo on laws, taxes

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo updated GWDC members on the fact that although fellow Senate members voted in favor of legislation that would offer financial assistance to small business owners, the Assembly never followed suit. He also explained that both houses passed legislation to give New York City Off-Track Betting retirees their benefits despite the corporation’s demise last December.

Addabbo also stated that rent regulations for tenants were extended by state government for the next four years. But while a property tax cap was instituted for most homeowners, New York City was excluded from that ruling, as evidenced by significantly higher property tax fees that real estate holders have recently been hit with.

The Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation regularly meets at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School, located at 87-49 87th St. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in September.