Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together

COMETNewsletter Summer 2015

Work Continues on 102-year Old LIRR Overpassin Winfield section of Woodside

Photo by Tom Porembski

Pg. 2 Summer 2015 COMET

COMET Moves Meetings to St. Adalbert

Earth Day 2015 a Huge Success!!

Beginning in February, our meetings moved to St. Adalbert Parish Center, 52-40 84th Street, Elmhurst.Were hoping this location is more accessible to folks.

Shown in the forefront at our April meeting is Captain Lavonda Wise, Executive Officer at the 108th Precinct and our 108thCommunity Affairs Officer PO Luis Diaz.

On April 11th, Maspeth Federal Savings, Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, the 104th and 108th Precinct and COMET teamed up to provide residents the opportunity to shred valuable paperwork, recycle their electronics, recycle old clothing, learn about composting, take advantage of programs offered by the NYPD and adopt trees. We want to thank Maspeth Federal for their hospitality as well as Council Member Crowley for obtaining trees for the give-a-way.

Photo by John Schaffer

Photo byRichie Polgar

Photo byRichie Polgar

Photo by Richie Polgar

Photo by Richie Polgar

Photo by Richie Polgar

Photo provided by 110th Precinct

Shown in photo are COMET members and the 104th and 108th Precinct officers:Shannon Connors, Chammy Liu, Captain Gregory Mackie and PO Eddie Colado, 104th Precinct, Roe Daraio, Geraldine Walsh, PO Eli Gani and PO Marco Torres, 108th Precinct, Richie Polgar and John Connors.

COMET Summer 2015 Pg. 3

Memorial Day Parade

Maspeths Memorial Day Parade 2015 was a great success. We believe there were more groups marching than last year. Many thanks to the United Veterans and Fraternal Organizations for the hard work that they did to make this a success.

We were approached by some Maspeth Avenue residents asking if we could request a speed bump somewhere along the strip. They stated that motorists were driving too fast and they were concerned about the students at Martin Luther High School and St. Stanislaus getting hit especially since residents cars were hit in the past.

We took their request to Council Member Crowleys office several months ago. Lo and behold, we received a call from one of the residents telling us the speed bump was installed near Martin Luther High School on April 30th. Folks say that traffic conditions have improved.

Photo by John Schaffer

Photo provided by 110th Precinct

Photo by Mike Fordunski

Photo by Geraldine Walsh

Photo compliments Maspeth Federal Savings

Maspeth Avenue Gets a Speed Bump!

Photo by Barbara Lauri

Pg. 4 Summer 2015 COMET

the same. Undoubtedly the property owner has collected more

than enough money to pay the fines and continues to make a

decent profit. Why should he stop?

No one will dispute the fact that parking is at a premium in the

area, particularly since some homeowners in the immediate area

have illegally subdivided their homes and rent to multiple tenants

many of whom own cars. Other homeowners have multiple cars

for family members.

One may argue that the illegal use of the property is taking

cars off the street, but our argument is that the 10-foot wide

curb cut is reducing on-street parking, the lack of drainage from

the concreted area is running into the street and down the hill

into the Winfield section of Woodside which is known to flood

and the property owner is collecting hundreds of dollars in rent

each month that is most likely going unreported. Lastly, this

parking lot detracts from the character of the neighborhood.

We will continue to monitor this issue and let you know if it is

ever restored to a legal use.

69th Street/52nd Drive Parking Lot

Elmhursts Hoarder House

A vacant piece of property adjacent to a residential home on

69th Street at 52nd Drive in Maspeth was left undeveloped.

Recently we noticed that the property had been concreted, a

gate about 10 feet wide had been installed on the 52nd Drive

side of the lot and numerous vehicles were parking there. We

went on the Department of Buildings website and saw that an

alert resident must have reported it because several violations

had been issued.

The first violation issued was failure to comply with site grade

requirement. The grading of the lot caused improper storm

water run-off to the adjacent property and sidewalk. A second

violation was issued for work without a permit for a 10-foot curb

cut. A third violation was issued for occupancy contrary, which

basically means its being used in violation of the zoning. The

property owner accepted the stipulation (reduced fine) and was

given 90 days from the hearing date of February 24th to correct

the violations. The reduced fines were $400, $100 and $600, all

of which were paid.

We patiently waited the 90 days to see if the property owner

corrected the violations and saw that property continues to be

used as a parking lot. Needless to say, we followed up with the

Department of Buildings to let them know the situation remains

We cant begin to tell you how many complaints we have

received from residents in Elmhurst and Maspeth about the

infamous Elmhurst hoarder house. Despite numerous calls to

the Department of Buildings, Health Department, Department of

Sanitation, and Fire Department the problem persists although

summonses have been issued.

We took this problem to the office of Councilman Daniel

Dromm and subsequently heard residents also reported it to

Assembly Member Marge Markey. During our walking tour of

the 55th Avenue footbridge,

Councilman Dromm personally

visited the site and spoke to the

woman who lives there. Staff

member Michael Mallon from

Dromms office and Carolina Gil

from Markeys office continue

to work to get this unhealthy situation rectified. Unfortunately,

there are obstacles that prevent the City from just coming and

cleaning up the mess. Well keep you updated and hope this can

be resolved in the near future.

Photos by Geraldine Walsh

COMET Summer 2015 Pg. 5

that crosses over the Long Island Expressway from Elmhurst to

Middle Village. This overpass is adjacent to Crowley Park. As you

look at the other photos you can see that neighborhood youth

have made themselves at home here. Empty cans of spray paint,

a chair and a barbecue are

some of the debris thats in

this area.

Once again we reached

out to Councilman Dromms

office with the hope that the

gate can be secured. It was

determined that this property

is also owned by the State and

Senator Stavisky's office was

able to have the gate secured

the week of June 8th. We also

contacted the 110th Precinct

and DI Christopher Manson

said that he would have his

officers monitor the area.

In the meantime, if you see

youth in these areas, call 311.

If you think they are creating a

dangerous condition, call 911.

Unsecured Gates = Safety Hazard

Calamus Avenue Project

85th StreetThe gate to the NYS Department of Transportations lot on 85th

Street at 57th Road in Elmhurst is only secured by a bungee cord.

A couple of months ago youth were seen on the embankment

to the Long Island Railroad throwing rocks at the Long Island

Railroad commuter trains as they passed by. They accessed the

tracks through this gate.

We alerted Councilman Dromms office and staff member

Michael Mallon passed our concern on to the office of State

Senator Toby Ann Stavisky. Hopefully the problem will be rectified

in the near future.

84th StreetSharp-eyed Block Maspeth Block Captain Richie Polgar

spotted this unsecured fence on 57th Road at 84th Street. In the

background you can see the graffiti-covered pedestrian overpass

Residents in Woodside/Winfield, Elmhurst and Maspeth wont be seeing the Q47 bus back on its Calamus Avenue route for quite some time.

We reached out to the Transit Authority and were told that it was not cost-effective to return the bus temporarily to its route when the project stops for a length of time and then resumes. The project is supposed to be completed in the fall of 2016.

On Sunday, June 7th, COMET VP Dick Gundlach called 911 to report a dangerous condition on Calamus Avenue. Apparently work resumed and there were no flagmen visible to direct traffic. If you see a dangerous condition you are urged to call 911 immediately.

Photo byGeraldine Walsh

Photos byGeraldine Walsh

Photos by Richie Polgar

Pg. 6 Summer 2015 COMET

Proliferation of Spas in Maspeth and Elmhurst

Truck Traffic Continues to Irk West Maspeth Residents

After the Queens Vice division of the NYPD made arrests in several massage parlors in early spring, we couldnt help but wonder how many other businesses are involved in this activity. As a matter of fact, the

explosion of massage parlors or spas in Maspeth has now spread to Elmhurst. When something doesnt look right, it probably isnt. No surprise, we were told the NYPD has made more arrests in Maspeth as well as Elmhurst.

We did some investigating and found out these type of locations cannot operate without a Board of Standards and Appeals Special Permit (BSA). We knew immediately that it was unlikely any of these locations applied for such a permit and referred a number of them to the Department of Buildings for investigation. Commercial property owners need to know who they are renting to and if the business moving in needs special permits or licenses. They need to insure that any work done on their premises has the proper permits issued by the Department of Buildings since it would be the property owner, not the person renting, who would receive violations.

Since these businesses are health-related, we asked Assembly Member Marge Markeys office to look into whether or not the business itself or the workers need to be licensed by the State. We were told that the workers need a State license and it is an E Felony to work without one.

We heard the courts are looking at these prostitution arrests as a misdemeanor and disregarding the felony for no license. Instead, the women are being given assistance and encouragement to leave this industry. We are curious to find out what happens when the same women continue to be arrested in the future. Giving someone a break and the opportunity to get out of this illegal business is one thing but enabling them to do it again and again is something else entirely.

Sex-trafficking has proliferated throughout the five boroughs. Many of the victims are Asian females who have been literally trapped into this line of work. This is not something we will tolerate in our communities and have assigned two COMET members to find out what we can do to help these women and arrest those responsible. We will continue to track this issue closely.

West Maspeth residents continue to be overrun with hundreds of over-sized tractor trailers and commercial trucks circumventing the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) by using Grand and Flushing Avenues to get to the Long Island Expressway (LIE).

A couple of years ago the NYC Department of Transportation implemented the Maspeth Bypass which was basically a route that trucks should follow to get to the LIE rather than using our commercial strip. The 104th Precinct issued numerous summonses to the truckers who were not following the Bypass but quickly found out that Traffic Court was throwing them out. Although we believe the law regarding through and local truck routes is clear, the judges interpret a local route as one that can be used once the trucker enters the borough in which the delivery is being made.

The NYS Department of Transportation has been in our area from time-to-time enforcing State regulations with regard to overweight vehicles, tires and size of the trucks, but the enforcement hasnt done anything about relieving the truck traffic.

We have spoken to Council Member Elizabeth Crowley and discussed some ideas that may help with the situation. She will be meeting with NYC DOTs new Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia to determine whether or not the ideas are feasible. As with anything, studies take time and any changes, if approved, will not come overnight.

Photos by Tom Porembski

COMET Summer 2015 Pg. 7

Check out our website www.cometcivic.com for upcoming meetings that resume in the fall.

Newsletter CommitteeGeraldine Walsh, Tom Porembski, Richie Polgar, Christina Wilkinson, Mike Fordunski,

Roe Daraio & Maspeth Press

A Special Thank You!This newsletter is made possible by funding from Council Members Elizabeth Crowley and

Daniel Dromm through the Department of Youth and Community Development. State funding allocated to COMET by Assembly Member Marge Markey was allotted to

the Memorial Day Parade and graffiti removal.

Work Continues on 102-Year Old LIRR Overpassin Winfield/Woodside

LIRR Removes Elmhursts Natural Sound Barrier

Workers continue to repair the retaining walls of the LIRR in Winfield. As we were taking photos on 48th Avenue at 70th Street across from St. Mary's last summer, we spotted huge cracks and saw chunks of concrete that had fallen from the overpass into the sidewalk.

We want to thank Assemblyman Michael Dendekker who visited the site with us last summer and was able to get work going in a short time.

Our big concern is whether or not the rebar will hold this crumbling wall. Comet member Tom Porembski spotted the date of 1913 on the retaining wall while we were on site taking photos. This overpass is 102 years old!!! Were also curious what will be done to control the soil erosion on the slope.

Both Assemblyman Dendekker and Council Member Crowley said they will look into a solution to discourage pigeons from cooping there. Its an extremely unhealthy situation!!

We will continue to monitor the progress of this project and keep you updated.

Elmhurst residents were furious when the LIRR came through the area and cut trees and shrubs that helped buffer the train noise. The railroad has proven they have no concern for the quality of life of residents in Queens. One resident states that he believes they also cut trees on city-owned property which he was told is behind the poles. See the before and after photos!

Photos byTom Porembski

Photos by Geraldine Walsh

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Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together

COMETHave a great summer and stay safe!