comet winter 2014 newsletter
TRANSCRIPT
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Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together
Newsletter Winter 2014
NYS DOT and 104th Precinct
Target Maspeth Truck Trafc
Photo by Tom Porembski
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COMET Winter 2014 Pg. 3
Important Message from 104th Precinctto Owners of Older Vehicles!
The 104th Precinct is happy to report that major crime
in the precinct is down 5.2% for the year. Although we
are doing a great job in reducing robberies, burglariesand felony assaults, auto the remains a problem in the
neighborhood, which by itself is up 4.1% from last year.
Auto thieves are targeng older model cars,
parcularly Hondas, Toyotas and Ford Econoline vans
that are eight years of age or older. They target these
vehicles because New York State law does not require
a tle for these older vehicles, and the thieves can
scrap these cars for quick cash at junkyards without
being asked to produce a tle.We urge our community
members to exercise care when parking vehicles by
ensuring their car doors are always locked, and no
valuables are le inside the glove box, door pockets or
passenger compartment. Spare keys should never be le
anywhere inside your car, as these will enable a thief tosimply drive away aer gaining entry to your car. A good
deterrent to prevent auto the is to use the Club to
lock the steering wheel.
Please take advantage of the Police Departments
many auto the programs such as Combat Auto The,
Beat Auto The and VIN Etching by contacng our Crime
Prevenon Ocers PO Hya or PO Collado at 718-386-
6223. Also, as the holiday season approaches, we urge
our community to be aware of their surroundings and
protect their valuables, as this is a me where property
crimes tend to increase. Thank you and be safe.
Captain Christopher Manson, Commanding Ocer & Captain Gregory Mackie, Execuve Ocer
School Bus ParkingWoes at PS 229
Residents and school
ocials were nding
private school buses,
not contracted by the
City, being parked
overnight, weekends and even longer on 67th Street,51st Road as well as Maurice Avenue in the connes of
the 104th Precinct around PS 229. It was suspected that
an auto repair business on 51st Avenue, located in the
108th Precinct, was the culprit. However, the body shop
owner said they didnt belong to him even though folks
saw his workers parking them there.
Then, along came Captain Gregory Mackie our new
Execuve Ocer at the 104th Precinct. We provided
him with the list of buses contracted by the City which
was passed on to us by Jo Ann Berger our School
Liaison. Captain Mackie went to the locaon and issued
summonses on November 6th. Except for a couple of
stragglers, which Captain Mackie said hell monitor, most
of the buses have been moved. The 104th School Unit
issued violaons for double parking and no standing. As
a result, residents have more parking aer school hours
and children can get on and o the buses safely at the
curb rather than walking into the street to their double-
parked bus. Great job, Captain Mackie!!
104th Precincts MaspethGrafti Removal OperationIn mid-October Captain Manson and his team spent
the morning covering the gra scribble at numerous
Maspeth locaons that were passed on to us by
community residents. Comet provided money towards
paint and supplies thanks to funding from Assembly
Member Marge Markey and Council Member ElizabethCrowley.
Photo by Tom Porembski
Photos by Tom Porembski
Captain Christopher Manson, 104th Precinct
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Pg. 4 Winter 2014 COMET
108th
Precincts
Great Taxi TowWe couldnt have been
happier to see the numerous
livery cabs that have beenhogging parking spaces in
the vicinity of St. Marys
Wineld, 70th Street at 48th
Avenue, being towed by
the 108th Precinct! Captain
Brian Hennessy, the former
Commanding Ocer at the
108th Precinct, did a fabulous
job helping us address this
and other chronic problems
in Wineld during his stay with us. We were sorry tohear he was transferred to the 115th Precinct.
Unfortunately, the liveries have returned. PO Tiany
Annese, the 108th Condions Team Ocer assigned
to our community, has promised to connue the tow
and summons operaons in the area.
Photo by Geraldine Walsh
104th Precinct & NYS DOTTarget Maspeth Truck Trafc
On October 28th, the 104th Precinct and the NYS
Department of Transportaon conducted a truck
operaon on Grand Avenue at Remsen Place in
Maspeth. Numerous summonses were wrien and
NYS DOT towed ve trucks for various violaons.Local residents and businesses are adversely
impacted daily by the several thousand huge tractor
trailers, looking to avoid e-ups on the BQE that use
Grand Avenue.
Captain Manson, 104th Precinct, said he hopes to
do more operaons on a regular basis.
108th Precinct Crime
Prevention TipPO Eli Gani, 108th Precinct Crime Prevenon
Ocer, warns motorists not to leave licenses,
registraon cards or other idenfying papers a
thief could misuse in your vehicle. The Naonal
Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) recommends the
following:
If you park in a commercial lot or garage, leave
only the ignion key with the aendant. Do not
keep your license, registraon or tle in the car.
If le, thieves can use these documents to sell
your car if it is stolen, or impersonate you when
they are challenged by the police. Owners who
indiscriminately leave keys, registraons and
other idenable material in their vehicles may
return to their residence only to nd that they
are the vicm of a burglary!
PO Tiany Annese,
108th Precinct
Photos by Tom Porembski
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COMET Winter 2014 Pg. 5
108th Precinct Targets
Wineld/Woodside GraftiIn mid-October, we spoed Captain Brian Hennessy
and his troops, including our Community AairsOcers PO Luis Diaz and Marc Torres, covering gra
in the vicinity of 70th Street and 48th Avenue which is
a short distance from St. Marys. They not only cleaned
the gra, they also picked up trash and weeds
making it look much
cleaner. Their presence
added to the acvity in the
area since the Long Island
Railroad was working on
the trestles. See our story
about the railroad work.
Thank you!
Wineld Quality of
Life ConditionsOK, we know a lot more work has to be done in the
Wineld/Woodside area that is zoned manufacturing
The 108th Precinct is working with us to address the
problems. What amazes us is once we address an
issue, another one seems to crop up! We hear yourconcerns and will connue to be persistent. Heres
what we spoed in early November
48th Avenue at 70th Street - liveries returned within a couple ofweeks of the 108th Precinct's "Great Taxi Tow"
69th Place between Gareld and 51st Avenues -
bakery business storing trucks
Numerous vehicles parked without plates,
especially along 70th Street between 48th
and 51st Avenues
School buses being stored on 51st
Avenue shortly aer 104th Precinct did
enforcement by PS 229
48th Avenue at 70th Street - sign
covered with pigeon droppings. Counci
Member Elizabeth Crowley's oce ha
reported this to NYC DO
Photos by Tom Porembski
We were pleased to see a
"boot" on an ambulee.
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Pg. 6 Winter 2014 COMET
LIRR Update Wineld/Woodside
Thanks to the eorts of Assemblyman Michael DenDekker, work is at fulthrole under the trestles of the Long Island Rail Road at 70th Street and
48th Avenue in Wineld/Woodside. While we were taking photos of the
liveries being towed by the 108th Precinct, Comet member Tom Porembsk
spoke to one of the workers who told him the project will take approximately
one year.
The concrete from the base of the pillars is being removed, the crumbling
walls are being reinforced and any other structural issues will be addressed
Both Assemblyman DenDekker and Council Member Crowley are trying to
get the trestles power washed on a regular basis to remove the huge amount
of pigeon droppings that constantly accumulates under the structure on
the sidewalk. Parked vehicles can be seen covered with droppings. We are
hopeful that either Assemblyman DenDekker or Council Member Crowley
will be able to obtain funding to install some deterrent to keep the pigeons
from cooping there.
Good News from Councilman Danny DrommWe were pleased to hear that the city will be cracking down on illegal clothing bins that have sprung up
throughout the City under a bill passed by the City Council. The legislaon allows NYC Department of Sanitaon
to remove the bins immediately and ne the owner $250 or up to $500 for repeat
oenders. The number of bins reported skyrocketed from 97 in 2012 to 2,093
by the end of the scal year in June. Councilman Dromm is a strong supporter
of this legislaon.
Comet member Richie Polgar reported one of these clothing bins that was
dumped near Elmhurst Park during the summer. It laid there for a couple of
months and became a magnet for even more dumping. We want to thank
Michael Mallon from Councilman Dromms oce for pushing the agency to get
rid of this eyesore.
Important Reminder: Snow & Ice RemovalEvery owner, lessee, tenant, occupant, or other person having charge of any lot or building mustclean snow and/or ice from the sidewalk within 4 hours aer the snow has stopped falling, or by
11:00 am if the snow has stopped falling aer 9:00 pm the previous evening. Snow may not be
thrown into the street. If the snow or ice becomes frozen so hard that it cannot be removed, the
sidewalk may be strewn with ashes, sand, sawdust or a similar suitable material. The sidewalk must
be thoroughly cleaned as soon as the weather permits. Complaints can be called into 311. Fines
range from $100-$150 for the rst oense.
Photos by Tom Porembski
Clothing bin on Grand Avenuenear Elmhurst Park
Photo by Richie Polga
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COMET Winter 2014 Pg. 7
from the piles of trash outside the building. They also
stated that porons of the contract were not available
for public viewing prior to the hearing.
As this newsleer goes to press, we have not
received any updates with regard to this proposed
contract. A group of residents formed a coalion calledElmhurst United. They will monitor this issue closely
We commend them on the hard work they have been
doing on this important issue.
C.O.M.E.T. is Moving Our Meeting PlaceBeginning February 2015, Comet will be holding meetings at St. Adalbert, 52-40 84th Street.
Enter through the side entrance closer to Grand Avenue. Parking is available.
The reason we are moving is because Pastor and Mrs. Kim advised us that the NY Bethzatha Church of God propertyhas been sold and they will be leaving at the end of December. They have been part of the Elmhurst Community for 20
years. They will be missed.
Monday, February 2nd
Monday, March 2nd
Monday, April 13th
Newsletter CommitteeMike Fordunski, Dick Gundlach, Christina Wilkinson, Richie Polgar, Tom Porembski, Geraldine Walsh,
Linda Daquaro, Shirley Warren, Roe Daraio, Maspeth Press
A Special Thank You!This newsleer is made possible by funding from Council Members Elizabeth Crowley, DanielDromm and Jimmy Van Bramer though the Department of Youth & Community Development.
State funding allocated to Comet by Assembly Member Marge Markey went towards the
Memorial Day Parade and gra removal.
On November 13th, Elmhurst, Maspeth and
Woodside residents aended a Public Hearing in the
maer of a proposed contract between the Department
of Homeless Services
and Samaritan Village to
operate a Stand Alone
Transional Residence for
homeless families at the
former Pan Am Hotel. The
total contract amount is
$42,470,904. The contract
term would run from 12/6/14 to 6/30/19 with a four-
year renewal opon from July 2019 to June 2023.
Some residents held up signs while others spoke
and voiced their concerns about the warehousing
of homeless families in one room with no cooking
facilies, more overcrowding of the already over-
capacity schools in District 24, lack of transparency
and no advance noce to the community that a
shelter was slated for their community. The fact that
no criminal background checks are done to insure
no pedophiles or violent criminals are living there
was stressed as well as the rodent problem resulng
Pan Am Homeless Shelter Update
Photos by Geraldine Walsh
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C.O.M.E.T., INCP.O.Box 780151
Maspeth, NY 11378
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Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together
Newsletter Fall 2014
Printed by www.MaspethPress.com
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