We at Malba Gardens do not have an anti development view, we just request that the law be followed and all impact studies be done. We also request that if their is an alternative that would aleviate congestion we should explore it. A community center with a garden is just a suggestion, as is a private park for the residents only.
Please read our posts and familiarize yourself with what we are saying. As always your input is welcome.
How are the residents of 7th avenue and 152nd street coping with the New, Modern,Progessive Commercial buildings?
When a property recieves a 50% tax break, our question is why not the rest of the community, you know the ones that live here.
Malba Gardens Civic Dedicated to the Safety and Preservation of our Community.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Our Councilmans response
The following is a series of emails we sent to Councilman Halloran, please note the dates emails were originaly sent and how long it took to respond. Also note how Councilman responds to our requests.
YOUR INPUT IS MOST WELCOME, LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS CHAIN.
THANK YOU
From: malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com
To: dhalloran@council.nyc.gov
Subject: Removal of Whitestone from CB 7 confines/ 6 acres of CYO
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:20:34 -0500
Dear Councilman Halloran,
After reading the article on Mr. Schriebers desire to secede Bay Terrace from CB 7 into CB 11, we feel that he is correct in his comments. Community Board 7 being the largest Community board in the city, has been limited in many ways. CB 7 is constantly inundated with issues from Flushing, particularly downtown Flushing, causing neighboring residential communities to be ignored. Many neighborhoods in Whitestone, Bayside, Douglaston, etc, are similar to the Bay Terrace neighborhood.
While moving to CB 11 could be an option we also propose the creation of a new smaller board that deals with the type of neighborhoods that have been misrepresented, in effect making CB 7 smaller and we hope more effective. We feel that a smaller Community Board that focuses on such communities should be formed in order to better address the needs of the community. Such a community board would be able to dedicate more time to Quality of Life issues that come up in such residential neighborhoods.
We also would like to bring your attention to the 50 % Tax Reduction that took effect in June for the remaining 6 acre lot of the old CYO in Whitestone, and the fact that immediately after this large tax reduction the property has immediately been taken off market. Does this mean a buyer was found and property is now in contract? Does it mean that the current owner/developer is now going to develop the property? You can imagine our concern that the Working class residents did not receive such a gracious tax break and more of a concern is what is being planned for the 6 acres? You had assured us that our organization would be kept abreast of any and all updates regarding said property. Also, it has come to our attention that the Agent representing the owner of the property is his wife, is this a conflict of interest? Due to the impact on our community from any development on this property, it would be appreciated if your office informed us of any activity and or update of said site.
We would also like to once again bring to your attention the blighted property on the corner of 154th street and 11th avenue. This property has become not only an eyesore, but a potential hazard waiting to happen so near to an elementary school, PS 193.
Regarding the WPIX story on our street, we are pleased to hear that your office will be working closely with DOT in order to find a permanent solution to our safety problem on 5th avenue. We hope to be an active part in the process. Also, an FYI, to date the stop signs you proposed have not been installed.
Malba Gardens Civic Association
From: malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com
To: dhalloran@council.nyc.gov; lmetzger@council.nyc.gov
Subject: FW: Removal of Whitestone from CB 7 confines/ 6 acres of CYO
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:19:39 -0500
Dear Councilman,
We are awaiting your response to the email below which was sent on November 10th.
Thank you,
Malba Gardens Civic Association
________________________________________
From: malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com
To: pwaranis@council.nyc.gov
Subject: FW: Removal of Whitestone from CB 7 confines/ 6 acres of CYO
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:15:31 -0500
I received a phone call from one of my members regarding your phone call to him and also received your email to call you, which I did at 3:38 PM today, I was informed you were gone for the day.
My neighbor informed me that there might be some confusion as to what we were requesting in our email.
A) The creation of a new community board or removal of Whitestone and similar communities from the confines of CB7 and into CB11, as Mr. Scrieber of CB 7 stated.
B) The 50% tax break given to the owners of the old CYO property and it then being immediately removed from market, in a time when homeowners are in financial hardship and recieved no such tax break.
C) Dennis Ring had promised our organization would be notified of any updates regarding the six acres.
D) The blighted property on 154th street and 11th avenue
E) NO FOLLOW UP FROM THE COUNCILMANS LETTER TO DOT COMMISSIONER MCCARTHY REGARDING 5TH AVENUE AND HIS PROPOSAL OF STOP SIGNS.
I have linked the email below for you to review. These are just a few of the issues our members want answers to; please email me with a response so I can go back to my members with the information.
Alfredo Centola
From: Malba Gardens Civic Association [mailto:malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 1:28 PM
To: Halloran, Daniel; Waranis, Paige
Cc: queenscrapper@gmail.com; Quinn, Christine
Subject: FW: Removal of Whitestone from CB 7 confines/ 6 acres of CYO
Still waiting for your response.
Malba Gardens Civic Association
Subject: RE: Removal of Whitestone from CB 7 confines/ 6 acres of CYO
Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:42:35 -0500From: DHalloran@council.nyc.gov
To: malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com; PWaranis@council.nyc.gov
CC: queenscrapper@gmail.com; qgazette@aol.com; cquinn@council.nyc.ny.us
Mr. Centola
President of Malba Gardens Civic,
My office did indeed respond to your requests last week and has updated you by copying your organization on all the requests that have been made; our letters to city agencies, and follow up correspondence we have received. In case you have forgotten, misplaced, or lost those items, I am attaching them as a PDF to refresh your recollection.
To specifically address those concerns:
A) Community Boards are established by the City Department of Planning in conjunction with redistricting based on a formula involving land area, population, police precinct coverage, political subdivisions, and geography. This is done SOLELY at the decennial redistricting after census enumeration. Because it is a City Charter governed process, see Section 69 and 70, NYCC, also attached for your education, I can only make recommendations to City Planning, and guide the Bay Terrace Civic in their efforts. Despite your mis-information about my work on the issue of moving Bay Terrace into CB 11, I have spoken quite extensively to BCTA President Warren Schreiber and discussed this issue going forward and how to begin the process at the grass roots level. Please feel free to contact Mr. Schreiber who will confirm the same. I have indeed supported their request for relocation.
Furthermore, the notion of some small abstractly created Community Board is neither practical, economically viable, nor consistent with the requirements outlined in the City Charter. There are assembly districts, senate districts and council districts that overlap these areas- there is plenty of representation available if the elected work with the communities and the community boards have proportional membership on its board. As you are aware I examined the qualifications and residence of all CB applicants this year before making my appointments and will continue to work to make sure that there is fair representation in each community.
B) The owners of the CYO Property may indeed use anyone they like to be a broker, so long as they disclose appropriately, and there are no violations of Real Estate law. As for issues related to the and Department of Finance’s tax assessment, we forwarded a request for status and explanation, which we are still awaiting a reply but in the meantime I have a meeting with Finance next week to discuss general tax issues and will be addressing this specific issue along with others that are at issue in my district.
So far as who they are selling to, if and when they do, our council office is unaware of any new developments, but as you are certainly well aware, private property owners need only disclose change of ownership when they seek to file and record a deed- which has not happened. While we have made inquiries, there has been no confirmation of any change in title or any pending sale.
C) While Dennis Ring left my office in October to enter private practice as an attorney, Paige has been following up on issues, along with Meaghan Mapes, and to date I am unaware of any unanswered correspondence. Please indicate what specific request have been ignored, because we cannot locate any. I am left to ask, what UPDATE do you think you should be getting? That there is NO update on some of these issues?
D) The blighted property on 154th and 11th avenue was indeed reported to the city agencies, as per your request, and efforts to determine violations are underway – the reality is, whether we like it or not, the city cannot simply enter private property and do things without following procedures. We have made requests for the graffiti program that I am funding, to spot check the site and remediate the portions which are publically accessible and I will continue to pressure the owners to take action and have the city enforce violations .
E) The Commissioner of DOT sent a response which was forwarded to you in August denying our request. The reality is that since we are getting the 5th Avenue exit shutdown and we will be able to look at alternate off-ramp locations as the project moves forward. So at this point we are going to have to monitor the changes caused by the closure of the off-ramp and determine where to locate the new off ramp.
I have spoken to my staff who stated that they were very concerned with the tone of the conversation with Mr. Barton, that your organization didn’t believe what they had to say. It seems Mr. Barton was uninterested in speaking any further to my senior Constituent Services Liaison for Buildings and DOT, Paige Waranis. While I understand and share many of your frustrations they will not be resolved by taking contrary and antagonistic tenors with the entire landscape of people who are trying to help.
Should you wish to meet and discuss any of the specific issues here, I will be happy to do so. In the meanwhile, if I receive any updates on these matters, I will make sure that you are also cc’d in any correspondence.
Dan Halloran
From: Malba Gardens Civic Association [mailto:malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 10:39 PM
To: Halloran, Daniel
Subject: FW: Removal of Whitestone from CB 7 confines/ 6 acres of CYO
Also, we have never received the other pdf files regarding DOT, and DOF we thank you for those letters
We would like to also point out that our organization never received any feedback regarding the law Senator Avella tried passing when he was our councilman that would remove the city from the ridiculous Federal DOT guidelines, which according to Queens DOT require 500 plus cars per hour in order to obtain signage and or directional changes. 500 plus cars per hour is a Major Highway, not a residential street. Mr. Ring at the time refused to commit to any discussion and your office has failed to respond to our repeated inquiries on this law and its possible reintroduction.
Malba Gardens Civic Association
________________________________________
From: malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com
To: dhalloran@council.nyc.gov; pwaranis@council.nyc.gov
CC: queenscrapper@gmail.com; qgazette@aol.com; cquinn@council.nyc.ny.us; lmetzger@council.nyc.gov
Subject: RE: Removal of Whitestone from CB 7 confines/ 6 acres of CYO
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:10:39 -0500
Honorable Councilman Halloran;
As far as responding to our email originally dated November 10th, 2010. We have no record of any email and or written correspondence from your office about any of the stated issues, so unfortunately the attached pdf files do not "refresh" any memory but are appreciated. Please note that the barton pdf attachment as well as the blighted pdf attachment were both dated August 23rd, which would negate your claim of responding to or November 10th email. This fact notwithstanding, we thank you for your time and response.
With regards to your comment of "My mis-information" about your work on the issue of moving Bay Terrace into CB 11, I do not understand what you mean by this, and await your clarification.
We have reached out to BCTA President Warren Schreiber and welcome any discussion with his organization and you, on this issue going forward and how to begin the process at the grass roots level. I am fortunate enough to be "Educated" and familiar with Section 69 and 70, NYCC and repeat to you that a "grass roots" effort can affect positive change. While you believe that creating a new community board that would take away from CB 7 approximately 100,000 citizens if done correctly. Leaving them with approximately 100,000 citizens, (which seems to be the standard CB size) as not cost effective, we respectfully disagree. As you stated this is a grass roots movement that can and should be mobilized with your office.
Regarding your cc'ing us on correspondence received in response to your letter, about the matter on 5th avenue. We have received nothing via email nor in our PO Box. We were unaware that your office received a response from Commissioner McCarthy regarding your request for a stop sign, nor are we aware of when and where discussions were to take place regarding a permanent solution to our plight. We are however, glad to see that there is the possibility of relocating the off ramp, and that your office will be actively looking into a new location. This is good news to us and we would appreciate being involved in the discussion, as we would also like to know how your office plans on monitoring the traffic once exit is closed.
Yes I am aware of your reviewing all resumes of CB members and applaud you on this very important stance. However, regarding the comments made by Community Board 7 District Manager Bitterman to an MTABT official directly naming me and her disregard for my personal safety to quote, “I would step over his prone body and refuse to call for help", has not been addressed as far as we know by you and or your office. As you should know counselor, Mrs. Bitterman was the author of the survey of which its biased wording we strongly objected to. If she harbors such disregard for my personal safety, how can she be unbiased to our plight? In case of loss, discard, or forgetfulness, I refer you to our repeated emails regarding her comments, which I am more than happy to resend you. The email from the MTABT OFFICIAL mistakenly sent to our association quoting Mrs. Bitterman was read by myself to CB7, and copies forwarded to you , Mr. Ring, and your office with no response forthcoming, that too I would be more than happy to resend you in case of loss, misplacement, and or forgetfulness. I also remind you of the repeated emails sent to you, and Mr. Ring regarding Mrs. Bittermans comments along with the phone calls my members made to your office demanding action. At no time did we receive any emails, letters, or returned phone calls. I am sure your office is working on this issue and my members and I would appreciate knowing the outcome if any.
As you know our concern with the old CYO property aside from the unfair tax break they received is the potentially negative impact any development will have on the community if it is not planned properly . As you are also aware, this property was originally approved for 55 new homes with no environmental and or traffic impact study. This is of great concern to us in the Malba Gardens Section, as well as the residents of 5th avenue who will have to endure all the new traffic if the proper precautions are not taken. Not to be forgotten is the lack of sewage and other infrastructure within that development.
The blighted property on 11th avenue as you know is near PS 193, an elementary school. Just the other day, a couple was in the park near the property when a couple approached some of the children during recess and began to take pictures. The teachers and school staff quickly intervened and Police was called. However, with the type of people sneaking into that property at night, it leaves one to question if this couple was not part of that element. These are OUR children and it is our job to protect them . You may not be able to have a direct say in what happens on that property, but you can, as our elected official keep pressure on those that can to do something about it. Also, it has come to our attention that said property is being considered for a medical center. If so, can your office find out what type of center is being planned, how big it is slated to be, and whether or not it will be a clinic type or a private doctors office. Will it fit with the community as it is?
We would also like to suggest the idea of possibly purchasing the old cyo property and opening some sort of small community center, or even a private community park as Grammacy Park?
With regards to your statement "I have spoken to my staff who stated that they were very concerned with the tone of the conversation with Mr. Barton, that your organization didn’t believe what they had to say. It seems Mr. Barton was uninterested in speaking any further to my senior Constituent Services Liaison for Buildings and DOT, Paige Waranis. While I understand and share many of your frustrations they will not be resolved by taking contrary and antagonistic tenors with the entire landscape of people who are trying to help". I am glad you understand our frustrations for the past FOURTEEN YEARS and appreciate that. While Mr. Barton had a different view of the conversation and what led to his "tone" I do respectfully remind you that the "entire landscape of people who are trying to help", are doing what they get paid to do, as it is their job, they should understand and be apt in dealing with people and their "antagonistic tenors" when their quality of life, their investments, and most importantly their families are threatened. I am sure Mr. Barton would love to discuss with you whatever issues he had with your staff, as well his interpretation of the conversation. I welcome the opportunity to sit with you in the future to discuss what is happening in OUR community.
Alfredo Centola
President
Malba Gardens Civic Association
One need not have a title nor be in a position of power to affect positive change
YOUR INPUT IS MOST WELCOME, LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS CHAIN.
THANK YOU
From: malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com
To: dhalloran@council.nyc.gov
Subject: Removal of Whitestone from CB 7 confines/ 6 acres of CYO
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:20:34 -0500
Dear Councilman Halloran,
After reading the article on Mr. Schriebers desire to secede Bay Terrace from CB 7 into CB 11, we feel that he is correct in his comments. Community Board 7 being the largest Community board in the city, has been limited in many ways. CB 7 is constantly inundated with issues from Flushing, particularly downtown Flushing, causing neighboring residential communities to be ignored. Many neighborhoods in Whitestone, Bayside, Douglaston, etc, are similar to the Bay Terrace neighborhood.
While moving to CB 11 could be an option we also propose the creation of a new smaller board that deals with the type of neighborhoods that have been misrepresented, in effect making CB 7 smaller and we hope more effective. We feel that a smaller Community Board that focuses on such communities should be formed in order to better address the needs of the community. Such a community board would be able to dedicate more time to Quality of Life issues that come up in such residential neighborhoods.
We also would like to bring your attention to the 50 % Tax Reduction that took effect in June for the remaining 6 acre lot of the old CYO in Whitestone, and the fact that immediately after this large tax reduction the property has immediately been taken off market. Does this mean a buyer was found and property is now in contract? Does it mean that the current owner/developer is now going to develop the property? You can imagine our concern that the Working class residents did not receive such a gracious tax break and more of a concern is what is being planned for the 6 acres? You had assured us that our organization would be kept abreast of any and all updates regarding said property. Also, it has come to our attention that the Agent representing the owner of the property is his wife, is this a conflict of interest? Due to the impact on our community from any development on this property, it would be appreciated if your office informed us of any activity and or update of said site.
We would also like to once again bring to your attention the blighted property on the corner of 154th street and 11th avenue. This property has become not only an eyesore, but a potential hazard waiting to happen so near to an elementary school, PS 193.
Regarding the WPIX story on our street, we are pleased to hear that your office will be working closely with DOT in order to find a permanent solution to our safety problem on 5th avenue. We hope to be an active part in the process. Also, an FYI, to date the stop signs you proposed have not been installed.
Malba Gardens Civic Association
From: malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com
To: dhalloran@council.nyc.gov; lmetzger@council.nyc.gov
Subject: FW: Removal of Whitestone from CB 7 confines/ 6 acres of CYO
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:19:39 -0500
Dear Councilman,
We are awaiting your response to the email below which was sent on November 10th.
Thank you,
Malba Gardens Civic Association
________________________________________
From: malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com
To: pwaranis@council.nyc.gov
Subject: FW: Removal of Whitestone from CB 7 confines/ 6 acres of CYO
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:15:31 -0500
I received a phone call from one of my members regarding your phone call to him and also received your email to call you, which I did at 3:38 PM today, I was informed you were gone for the day.
My neighbor informed me that there might be some confusion as to what we were requesting in our email.
A) The creation of a new community board or removal of Whitestone and similar communities from the confines of CB7 and into CB11, as Mr. Scrieber of CB 7 stated.
B) The 50% tax break given to the owners of the old CYO property and it then being immediately removed from market, in a time when homeowners are in financial hardship and recieved no such tax break.
C) Dennis Ring had promised our organization would be notified of any updates regarding the six acres.
D) The blighted property on 154th street and 11th avenue
E) NO FOLLOW UP FROM THE COUNCILMANS LETTER TO DOT COMMISSIONER MCCARTHY REGARDING 5TH AVENUE AND HIS PROPOSAL OF STOP SIGNS.
I have linked the email below for you to review. These are just a few of the issues our members want answers to; please email me with a response so I can go back to my members with the information.
Alfredo Centola
From: Malba Gardens Civic Association [mailto:malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 1:28 PM
To: Halloran, Daniel; Waranis, Paige
Cc: queenscrapper@gmail.com; Quinn, Christine
Subject: FW: Removal of Whitestone from CB 7 confines/ 6 acres of CYO
Still waiting for your response.
Malba Gardens Civic Association
Subject: RE: Removal of Whitestone from CB 7 confines/ 6 acres of CYO
Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:42:35 -0500From: DHalloran@council.nyc.gov
To: malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com; PWaranis@council.nyc.gov
CC: queenscrapper@gmail.com; qgazette@aol.com; cquinn@council.nyc.ny.us
Mr. Centola
President of Malba Gardens Civic,
My office did indeed respond to your requests last week and has updated you by copying your organization on all the requests that have been made; our letters to city agencies, and follow up correspondence we have received. In case you have forgotten, misplaced, or lost those items, I am attaching them as a PDF to refresh your recollection.
To specifically address those concerns:
A) Community Boards are established by the City Department of Planning in conjunction with redistricting based on a formula involving land area, population, police precinct coverage, political subdivisions, and geography. This is done SOLELY at the decennial redistricting after census enumeration. Because it is a City Charter governed process, see Section 69 and 70, NYCC, also attached for your education, I can only make recommendations to City Planning, and guide the Bay Terrace Civic in their efforts. Despite your mis-information about my work on the issue of moving Bay Terrace into CB 11, I have spoken quite extensively to BCTA President Warren Schreiber and discussed this issue going forward and how to begin the process at the grass roots level. Please feel free to contact Mr. Schreiber who will confirm the same. I have indeed supported their request for relocation.
Furthermore, the notion of some small abstractly created Community Board is neither practical, economically viable, nor consistent with the requirements outlined in the City Charter. There are assembly districts, senate districts and council districts that overlap these areas- there is plenty of representation available if the elected work with the communities and the community boards have proportional membership on its board. As you are aware I examined the qualifications and residence of all CB applicants this year before making my appointments and will continue to work to make sure that there is fair representation in each community.
B) The owners of the CYO Property may indeed use anyone they like to be a broker, so long as they disclose appropriately, and there are no violations of Real Estate law. As for issues related to the and Department of Finance’s tax assessment, we forwarded a request for status and explanation, which we are still awaiting a reply but in the meantime I have a meeting with Finance next week to discuss general tax issues and will be addressing this specific issue along with others that are at issue in my district.
So far as who they are selling to, if and when they do, our council office is unaware of any new developments, but as you are certainly well aware, private property owners need only disclose change of ownership when they seek to file and record a deed- which has not happened. While we have made inquiries, there has been no confirmation of any change in title or any pending sale.
C) While Dennis Ring left my office in October to enter private practice as an attorney, Paige has been following up on issues, along with Meaghan Mapes, and to date I am unaware of any unanswered correspondence. Please indicate what specific request have been ignored, because we cannot locate any. I am left to ask, what UPDATE do you think you should be getting? That there is NO update on some of these issues?
D) The blighted property on 154th and 11th avenue was indeed reported to the city agencies, as per your request, and efforts to determine violations are underway – the reality is, whether we like it or not, the city cannot simply enter private property and do things without following procedures. We have made requests for the graffiti program that I am funding, to spot check the site and remediate the portions which are publically accessible and I will continue to pressure the owners to take action and have the city enforce violations .
E) The Commissioner of DOT sent a response which was forwarded to you in August denying our request. The reality is that since we are getting the 5th Avenue exit shutdown and we will be able to look at alternate off-ramp locations as the project moves forward. So at this point we are going to have to monitor the changes caused by the closure of the off-ramp and determine where to locate the new off ramp.
I have spoken to my staff who stated that they were very concerned with the tone of the conversation with Mr. Barton, that your organization didn’t believe what they had to say. It seems Mr. Barton was uninterested in speaking any further to my senior Constituent Services Liaison for Buildings and DOT, Paige Waranis. While I understand and share many of your frustrations they will not be resolved by taking contrary and antagonistic tenors with the entire landscape of people who are trying to help.
Should you wish to meet and discuss any of the specific issues here, I will be happy to do so. In the meanwhile, if I receive any updates on these matters, I will make sure that you are also cc’d in any correspondence.
Dan Halloran
From: Malba Gardens Civic Association [mailto:malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 10:39 PM
To: Halloran, Daniel
Subject: FW: Removal of Whitestone from CB 7 confines/ 6 acres of CYO
Also, we have never received the other pdf files regarding DOT, and DOF we thank you for those letters
We would like to also point out that our organization never received any feedback regarding the law Senator Avella tried passing when he was our councilman that would remove the city from the ridiculous Federal DOT guidelines, which according to Queens DOT require 500 plus cars per hour in order to obtain signage and or directional changes. 500 plus cars per hour is a Major Highway, not a residential street. Mr. Ring at the time refused to commit to any discussion and your office has failed to respond to our repeated inquiries on this law and its possible reintroduction.
Malba Gardens Civic Association
________________________________________
From: malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com
To: dhalloran@council.nyc.gov; pwaranis@council.nyc.gov
CC: queenscrapper@gmail.com; qgazette@aol.com; cquinn@council.nyc.ny.us; lmetzger@council.nyc.gov
Subject: RE: Removal of Whitestone from CB 7 confines/ 6 acres of CYO
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:10:39 -0500
Honorable Councilman Halloran;
As far as responding to our email originally dated November 10th, 2010. We have no record of any email and or written correspondence from your office about any of the stated issues, so unfortunately the attached pdf files do not "refresh" any memory but are appreciated. Please note that the barton pdf attachment as well as the blighted pdf attachment were both dated August 23rd, which would negate your claim of responding to or November 10th email. This fact notwithstanding, we thank you for your time and response.
With regards to your comment of "My mis-information" about your work on the issue of moving Bay Terrace into CB 11, I do not understand what you mean by this, and await your clarification.
We have reached out to BCTA President Warren Schreiber and welcome any discussion with his organization and you, on this issue going forward and how to begin the process at the grass roots level. I am fortunate enough to be "Educated" and familiar with Section 69 and 70, NYCC and repeat to you that a "grass roots" effort can affect positive change. While you believe that creating a new community board that would take away from CB 7 approximately 100,000 citizens if done correctly. Leaving them with approximately 100,000 citizens, (which seems to be the standard CB size) as not cost effective, we respectfully disagree. As you stated this is a grass roots movement that can and should be mobilized with your office.
Regarding your cc'ing us on correspondence received in response to your letter, about the matter on 5th avenue. We have received nothing via email nor in our PO Box. We were unaware that your office received a response from Commissioner McCarthy regarding your request for a stop sign, nor are we aware of when and where discussions were to take place regarding a permanent solution to our plight. We are however, glad to see that there is the possibility of relocating the off ramp, and that your office will be actively looking into a new location. This is good news to us and we would appreciate being involved in the discussion, as we would also like to know how your office plans on monitoring the traffic once exit is closed.
Yes I am aware of your reviewing all resumes of CB members and applaud you on this very important stance. However, regarding the comments made by Community Board 7 District Manager Bitterman to an MTABT official directly naming me and her disregard for my personal safety to quote, “I would step over his prone body and refuse to call for help", has not been addressed as far as we know by you and or your office. As you should know counselor, Mrs. Bitterman was the author of the survey of which its biased wording we strongly objected to. If she harbors such disregard for my personal safety, how can she be unbiased to our plight? In case of loss, discard, or forgetfulness, I refer you to our repeated emails regarding her comments, which I am more than happy to resend you. The email from the MTABT OFFICIAL mistakenly sent to our association quoting Mrs. Bitterman was read by myself to CB7, and copies forwarded to you , Mr. Ring, and your office with no response forthcoming, that too I would be more than happy to resend you in case of loss, misplacement, and or forgetfulness. I also remind you of the repeated emails sent to you, and Mr. Ring regarding Mrs. Bittermans comments along with the phone calls my members made to your office demanding action. At no time did we receive any emails, letters, or returned phone calls. I am sure your office is working on this issue and my members and I would appreciate knowing the outcome if any.
As you know our concern with the old CYO property aside from the unfair tax break they received is the potentially negative impact any development will have on the community if it is not planned properly . As you are also aware, this property was originally approved for 55 new homes with no environmental and or traffic impact study. This is of great concern to us in the Malba Gardens Section, as well as the residents of 5th avenue who will have to endure all the new traffic if the proper precautions are not taken. Not to be forgotten is the lack of sewage and other infrastructure within that development.
The blighted property on 11th avenue as you know is near PS 193, an elementary school. Just the other day, a couple was in the park near the property when a couple approached some of the children during recess and began to take pictures. The teachers and school staff quickly intervened and Police was called. However, with the type of people sneaking into that property at night, it leaves one to question if this couple was not part of that element. These are OUR children and it is our job to protect them . You may not be able to have a direct say in what happens on that property, but you can, as our elected official keep pressure on those that can to do something about it. Also, it has come to our attention that said property is being considered for a medical center. If so, can your office find out what type of center is being planned, how big it is slated to be, and whether or not it will be a clinic type or a private doctors office. Will it fit with the community as it is?
We would also like to suggest the idea of possibly purchasing the old cyo property and opening some sort of small community center, or even a private community park as Grammacy Park?
With regards to your statement "I have spoken to my staff who stated that they were very concerned with the tone of the conversation with Mr. Barton, that your organization didn’t believe what they had to say. It seems Mr. Barton was uninterested in speaking any further to my senior Constituent Services Liaison for Buildings and DOT, Paige Waranis. While I understand and share many of your frustrations they will not be resolved by taking contrary and antagonistic tenors with the entire landscape of people who are trying to help". I am glad you understand our frustrations for the past FOURTEEN YEARS and appreciate that. While Mr. Barton had a different view of the conversation and what led to his "tone" I do respectfully remind you that the "entire landscape of people who are trying to help", are doing what they get paid to do, as it is their job, they should understand and be apt in dealing with people and their "antagonistic tenors" when their quality of life, their investments, and most importantly their families are threatened. I am sure Mr. Barton would love to discuss with you whatever issues he had with your staff, as well his interpretation of the conversation. I welcome the opportunity to sit with you in the future to discuss what is happening in OUR community.
Alfredo Centola
President
Malba Gardens Civic Association
One need not have a title nor be in a position of power to affect positive change
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Whitestone Jewels / Old CYO lot
It has come to our attention that the remaining undeveloped six acres of the old CYO camp has recieved a 50% tax break and was then immediatly taken of the market. This is of great concern to us for many reasons: First off, no other homeowner in the area has recieved any type of tax break especially not a 50% tax cut. Secondly, this property was originaly approved for 55 new homes, which would lead to more congestion and more traffic.
Let alone the fact that the property does not have any sewer system or infrastructure. Where will these homes dump their daily waste? ( one of the ideas that DEP was throwing around was ripping up all of 3rd avenue and placing a sewer line there)Where are the roads going to be? HAS THERE BEEN ANY IMPACT STUDY? IF SO WHERE IS IT? IF NOT THERE NEEDS TO BE ONE BEFORE ANY WORK CAN BEGIN.
THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE NEED TO HAVE A SAY IT WHAT GOES ON ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
Let alone the fact that the property does not have any sewer system or infrastructure. Where will these homes dump their daily waste? ( one of the ideas that DEP was throwing around was ripping up all of 3rd avenue and placing a sewer line there)Where are the roads going to be? HAS THERE BEEN ANY IMPACT STUDY? IF SO WHERE IS IT? IF NOT THERE NEEDS TO BE ONE BEFORE ANY WORK CAN BEGIN.
THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE NEED TO HAVE A SAY IT WHAT GOES ON ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Keep on Truck'n
They just keep on trucking on 5Th avenue off of the Whitestone Bridge. This lovely 18 wheeler came around twice between the hours of 8:15PM and 9:00Pm and then stops halfway up the block, and decided to back up down the block. He spent over an hour trying to maneuver backing out of the block. All this time cars continued to turn on to 5Th avenue and go around him, even driving up on some sidewalks.
Yet according to the Queens D.O.T., this is not a dangerous situation, just a mere inconvenience. I personally called 911 and guess what happened?
Yep you guessed it , no one showed.
Alfredo
CONGRATULATIONS
Tony Avella took a stand and refused to run for re election of his City Council seat because he believed that the people had spoken. He did so out of Principle and stood his ground, good for him.
CONGRATULATIONS SENATOR AVELLA
We would also like to congratulate Assemblyman Braunstein
Dr. James Milano gave a good fight and for a first timer did quite well. We wish you luck and hope you continue your quest for the Congressional seat. You can achieve great things...
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE LOOK FOWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOU IN ORDER TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, HOMES, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND MOST OF ALL PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
CONGRATULATIONS SENATOR AVELLA
We would also like to congratulate Assemblyman Braunstein
Dr. James Milano gave a good fight and for a first timer did quite well. We wish you luck and hope you continue your quest for the Congressional seat. You can achieve great things...
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE LOOK FOWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOU IN ORDER TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, HOMES, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND MOST OF ALL PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Community Board 7
We apologize for any inconvenience regarding this piece. In order to understand it you must read from the bottom up. The first in the sequence of emails is dated 10/20/2010. This is what we are facing with Community Board 7.
Thank you,
Thu 10/21/10 10:45 PM
To:
charlesapelian@gmail.com; Community Board 7 (qn07@cb.nyc.gov)
We appreciate Community Board 7's assistance with the 109th . We do not however, appreciate your dictatorial stance regarding the survey. There are several issues regarding the survey beginning with the method in which it was conducted, along with several residents/homeowners voting more than once, some claiming two family homes when legally they are one family homes (according to the Buildings Department). These along with several other issues must be addressed in order to insure future surveys are conducted in a proper, transparent, and fair method. Our goal is to secure the safety of the residents in our community especially those on 5th avenue, not the convenience of some over the safety of others. We hope to work closely with the Advisory Community Board, in order to secure the safety of our families.
Alfredo Centola
President
Malba Gardens Civic Association
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:40:21 -0400Subject: Re: Your response to our FOIL dated Sept 30, 2010From: "mailto:charlesapelian@gmail.com" charlesapelian@gmail.com
malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com wrote:
Thank you for your response, However, our last FOIL request did not include the information we requested. At this point it is irrelevant, let us move forward and open a new dialogue that will bring a remedy to this extremely dangerous situation that has been ignored for far too long. We will need to discuss with the 109th about the 33% of 107 speeding cars on the block as well as the commercial vehicles. Regarding the surveys and the "input from the community at large" we reviewed the surveys and there are several inconsistencies that we would like to discuss with you at a mutually convenient time. Malba Gardens Civic Association
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:30:30 -Dear Malba Civic Association,
Your group has made numerous FOIL requests to CB#7 for various documents.
All requests have been submitted to you, with the exception of your last request which has been ready for pick-up for more than three (3) months.
We responded to your last request on July 19, 2010 and informed you that the materials you requested were ready for pick-up for a nominal reproduction cost of $56.50. No one has responded to us, and these documents are still sitting in our Office. Please have someone retrieve your FOIL request.
The request to have 5th Avenue converted to a One-Way Street from 147th Street westbound to the Whitestone Bridge Service Road has been comprehensively reviewed by our Community Board with extensive input from the entire Community-at-Large, and a decision was made and there is nothing further to discuss at this time.
As you know, the Third Avenue Exit on the Whitestone Expressway will be closed shortly during the Whitestone Bridge Reconstruction, and this will certainly help your concerns. Our Committee reassured you that we will assist you with 109th PCT regarding enforcement of commercial vehicles illegally traveling on 4th and 5th Avenues, and we will once again have dialogue with the entire Community-at-Large once the Third Avenue Exit is re-opened after Reconstruction.
We all need to move ahead.
Sincerely,
Chuck Apelian
Vice Chairman
Community Baord #7 Queens
On Thu, Oct 21, 2010 at 10:51 AM, <
From: Malba Gardens Civic AssociationSent: Wed 10/20/2010 6:33
Your response to our FOIL dated Sept 30, 2010
Dear A.J. and C.B. 7, I have been in receipt of your letter dated September 30th and have been discussing how to respond. There are several points that we have issue with, beginning with the fact that the survey would be make available at the next scheduled Transportation Committee Meeting. However, the last paragraph in particular is very disturbing to us in which you state that you had the Community Board office print up a draft copy of the survey and asked them to send it out to each civic group to review. I refer you to our emails which state that the survey was shown to me by Mrs. Bitterman in the rear of the room at the end of a C.B. 7 meeting at which she snatched it from my hand and said she would send me a copy to review. You are directed to our repeated emails requesting said copy of survey immediately after this incident, they were all forwarded to you , C.B. 7, and Mr. Apelian. You also state that "IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING " that all civic groups agreed to the wording of the survey except for our civic. Your understanding? it either is or is not, you are after all the chair, do you not know for certain? We have several other points that we will be addressing shortly with regards to your letter. Also, please Once Again review our FOIL REQUEST and provide us with the information. If you like I will resend you the request and cc Mr. Robert Freeman from The Committee on Open Government and therefore strictly follow legal time frames.
Thank you,
Thu 10/21/10 10:45 PM
To:
charlesapelian@gmail.com; Community Board 7 (qn07@cb.nyc.gov)
We appreciate Community Board 7's assistance with the 109th . We do not however, appreciate your dictatorial stance regarding the survey. There are several issues regarding the survey beginning with the method in which it was conducted, along with several residents/homeowners voting more than once, some claiming two family homes when legally they are one family homes (according to the Buildings Department). These along with several other issues must be addressed in order to insure future surveys are conducted in a proper, transparent, and fair method. Our goal is to secure the safety of the residents in our community especially those on 5th avenue, not the convenience of some over the safety of others. We hope to work closely with the Advisory Community Board, in order to secure the safety of our families.
Alfredo Centola
President
Malba Gardens Civic Association
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:40:21 -0400Subject: Re: Your response to our FOIL dated Sept 30, 2010From: "mailto:charlesapelian@gmail.com" charlesapelian@gmail.com
malbagardenscivicassociation@hotmail.com wrote:
Thank you for your response, However, our last FOIL request did not include the information we requested. At this point it is irrelevant, let us move forward and open a new dialogue that will bring a remedy to this extremely dangerous situation that has been ignored for far too long. We will need to discuss with the 109th about the 33% of 107 speeding cars on the block as well as the commercial vehicles. Regarding the surveys and the "input from the community at large" we reviewed the surveys and there are several inconsistencies that we would like to discuss with you at a mutually convenient time. Malba Gardens Civic Association
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:30:30 -Dear Malba Civic Association,
Your group has made numerous FOIL requests to CB#7 for various documents.
All requests have been submitted to you, with the exception of your last request which has been ready for pick-up for more than three (3) months.
We responded to your last request on July 19, 2010 and informed you that the materials you requested were ready for pick-up for a nominal reproduction cost of $56.50. No one has responded to us, and these documents are still sitting in our Office. Please have someone retrieve your FOIL request.
The request to have 5th Avenue converted to a One-Way Street from 147th Street westbound to the Whitestone Bridge Service Road has been comprehensively reviewed by our Community Board with extensive input from the entire Community-at-Large, and a decision was made and there is nothing further to discuss at this time.
As you know, the Third Avenue Exit on the Whitestone Expressway will be closed shortly during the Whitestone Bridge Reconstruction, and this will certainly help your concerns. Our Committee reassured you that we will assist you with 109th PCT regarding enforcement of commercial vehicles illegally traveling on 4th and 5th Avenues, and we will once again have dialogue with the entire Community-at-Large once the Third Avenue Exit is re-opened after Reconstruction.
We all need to move ahead.
Sincerely,
Chuck Apelian
Vice Chairman
Community Baord #7 Queens
On Thu, Oct 21, 2010 at 10:51 AM, <
From: Malba Gardens Civic AssociationSent: Wed 10/20/2010 6:33
Your response to our FOIL dated Sept 30, 2010
Dear A.J. and C.B. 7, I have been in receipt of your letter dated September 30th and have been discussing how to respond. There are several points that we have issue with, beginning with the fact that the survey would be make available at the next scheduled Transportation Committee Meeting. However, the last paragraph in particular is very disturbing to us in which you state that you had the Community Board office print up a draft copy of the survey and asked them to send it out to each civic group to review. I refer you to our emails which state that the survey was shown to me by Mrs. Bitterman in the rear of the room at the end of a C.B. 7 meeting at which she snatched it from my hand and said she would send me a copy to review. You are directed to our repeated emails requesting said copy of survey immediately after this incident, they were all forwarded to you , C.B. 7, and Mr. Apelian. You also state that "IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING " that all civic groups agreed to the wording of the survey except for our civic. Your understanding? it either is or is not, you are after all the chair, do you not know for certain? We have several other points that we will be addressing shortly with regards to your letter. Also, please Once Again review our FOIL REQUEST and provide us with the information. If you like I will resend you the request and cc Mr. Robert Freeman from The Committee on Open Government and therefore strictly follow legal time frames.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Meet the Congressional Candidates
TOWN HALL OBAMACARE – RETOOL OR REPLACE?
DR. JAMES MILANO vs. GARY ACKERMAN (invited)
CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS 5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
With Special Guest Speaker: Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D.
Patient Advocate, Former Lt. Governor of New York StateFounder/Chairman of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths
SUNDAY OCTOBER 24, 2010
4:00-6:00 pm
VFW HALL
242-37 BRADDOCK AVE
BELLEROSE, NY
(NEAR INTERSECTION OF CROSS ISLAND PKWY AND BRADDOCK)
PARKING LOT AVAILABLE
What will happen to your health plan? Your premiums? Your Medicare?
Your choices? Your taxes? What changes to the current law is Congress considering, to reduce the increased cost to the taxpayer that it will impose?
Come and hear the candidates address these questions and others, so that you can make an informed choice on November 2.
For more information, please contact organizer:
Jim Trent: 718-343-8830 JTrent8830@aol.com
Co-sponsors include: Parkside Civic Assoc., Malba Garden Civic Assoc., Greater Whitestone Taxpayers Assoc., Bellerose Hillside Civic Assoc. and other community Civic Associations.
DR. JAMES MILANO vs. GARY ACKERMAN (invited)
CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS 5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
With Special Guest Speaker: Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D.
Patient Advocate, Former Lt. Governor of New York StateFounder/Chairman of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths
SUNDAY OCTOBER 24, 2010
4:00-6:00 pm
VFW HALL
242-37 BRADDOCK AVE
BELLEROSE, NY
(NEAR INTERSECTION OF CROSS ISLAND PKWY AND BRADDOCK)
PARKING LOT AVAILABLE
What will happen to your health plan? Your premiums? Your Medicare?
Your choices? Your taxes? What changes to the current law is Congress considering, to reduce the increased cost to the taxpayer that it will impose?
Come and hear the candidates address these questions and others, so that you can make an informed choice on November 2.
For more information, please contact organizer:
Jim Trent: 718-343-8830 JTrent8830@aol.com
Co-sponsors include: Parkside Civic Assoc., Malba Garden Civic Assoc., Greater Whitestone Taxpayers Assoc., Bellerose Hillside Civic Assoc. and other community Civic Associations.
Monday, October 11, 2010
MEET THE CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES
OCTOBER 24TH AT THE BELLEROSE VFW, DR. JAMES MILANO AND CONGRESSMAN GARY ACKERMAN (INVITED) WILL BE ON HAND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND DISCUSS HEALTHCARE.
MORE INFORMATION FORTHCOMING.
MORE INFORMATION FORTHCOMING.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
CONGRESSIONAL MEET THE CANDIDATES NIGHT
OCTOBER 18TH, 7:30 PM, AT HOLY TRINITY RECTORY BASEMENT
DR, JAMES MILANO REPUBLICAN TEA PARTY CANDIDATE(CONFIRMED), AND CONGRESSMAN GARY ACKERMAN (TENTATIVE) WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE FOR A MEET THE CANDIDATE NIGHT.
SPACE IS LIMITED AND YOUR RSVP ON THIS BLOGS COMMENT
DR, JAMES MILANO REPUBLICAN TEA PARTY CANDIDATE(CONFIRMED), AND CONGRESSMAN GARY ACKERMAN (TENTATIVE) WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE FOR A MEET THE CANDIDATE NIGHT.
SPACE IS LIMITED AND YOUR RSVP ON THIS BLOGS COMMENT
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
5th avenue traffic worsens
7:28 AM... For the past fourteen years residents of 5th avenue in our neighborhood have had to endure an onslaught of Commercial and Vehicular Traffic. As you can see from this photo things have deteriorated. For the past month between the hours of 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM, Tractor Trailers such as this one have been using our RESIDENTIAL, 27 foot wide, minus 7 - 8 feet for parked cars as a Conduit into surrounding area. These 18 Wheelers shake foundations, set off car alarms, set off some home alarms. and most of all put our families in harms way. Yet Maura McCarthy, Commissioner of Queens Department of Transportation, along with Gene Kelty, Chairman of Community Board 7 feel that these Trucks, along with the other Commercial Vehicles and the 107 cars per hour (33% of which are speeding, as per DOT counts) are not a DANGER, JUST A MERE "INCONVENIENCE". ?????
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Community Activism
So I met a Woman the other day complaining about the amount of traffic on 5th avenue and the insane amount of speeding trucks. She went on to tell me about how she has been trying for years to do something about it , writing letters, calling people, all to no avail. When I asked her if she was a member of the Malba Gardens Civic Association , Silence. When I asked her if she recieved the notice about the CB 7 meeting on the issue she responded "Oh yes that was an important meeting " I hear alot of people showed up, my neighbor was there. When I asked "Where were you?, Silence....???????????????????????
We need to make a united effort...
We need to make a united effort...
Friday, September 3, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Vandals Torch 4 Vehicles In Whitestone, Queens « CBS New York- News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY
The following link shows a very disturbing trend that is escalating in what once was our quiet enclave. A couple of weeks back someone in a Toyota Rav 4 banged on my front door with such force that I feared it would break in(at the same time all my perimeter security lighs as well as my neighbors went on). I ran outside as my family dialed 911, I saw a hooded person run into a Silver Rav 4. They then proceeded to race up the block make a uturn and come barreling back toward me screaming out the window. Two nights later at 2AM someone in a small white car was parked in front of my neighbors house screaming "oh yeah , oh yeah", Around the same time one of my other neighbors had his car keyed in his driveway.
Several other neighbors have had their cars keyed, mirrors broken, bikes stolen out of their backyards.
Now they are torching cars in Driveways almost setting homes Ablaze as families sleep.
Thank God no one was injured this time around. We request once again that our neighborhood get the police attention it deserves. Wheter it be via more patrols, or what should have happened and has been repeatedly requested a long time ago, a new Police Precint. Something must be done before a tragedy occurs.
THESE CRIMINALS WILL BE CAUGHT, FORTUNATELY SEVERAL HOMES IN THE AREA HAVE SECURITY CAMERAS. PLEASE BE VIGILANT AND KEEP OUR EYES OPEN FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OUR FAMILIES.
Vandals Torch 4 Vehicles In Whitestone, Queens « CBS New York- News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY
Several other neighbors have had their cars keyed, mirrors broken, bikes stolen out of their backyards.
Now they are torching cars in Driveways almost setting homes Ablaze as families sleep.
Thank God no one was injured this time around. We request once again that our neighborhood get the police attention it deserves. Wheter it be via more patrols, or what should have happened and has been repeatedly requested a long time ago, a new Police Precint. Something must be done before a tragedy occurs.
THESE CRIMINALS WILL BE CAUGHT, FORTUNATELY SEVERAL HOMES IN THE AREA HAVE SECURITY CAMERAS. PLEASE BE VIGILANT AND KEEP OUR EYES OPEN FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OUR FAMILIES.
Vandals Torch 4 Vehicles In Whitestone, Queens « CBS New York- News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY
Monday, August 30, 2010
Forcina and Milano
I have had the fortune to meet two local candidates that are on opposite sides of the "Party" politics. Yes one a Democrat and the other "Oh My" a Republican,both men seem genuine and seem to be going into politics for the right reasons. Elio is a local Whitestone Attorney and Dr. Milano an Emergency room Doctor who seem to want what is best for Our Country and our Neighborhoods.
It was a pleasure meeting both men and discussing the issues concerning our neighborhood. We welcome dialogue with any other candidates and feel good about these two.
Alfredo
It was a pleasure meeting both men and discussing the issues concerning our neighborhood. We welcome dialogue with any other candidates and feel good about these two.
Alfredo
Monday, August 9, 2010
VOTE OR SHUT UP AND TAKE IT
IF YOU ARE TIRED OF BEING IGNORED, THAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, GET OUT THERE AND VOTE. LESS THAN 90 DAYS TO GO, IF YOU DON'T THEN JUST SHUT UP AND TAKE IT.
WE CAN ALL AFFECT CHANGE , PULL YOUR LEVERS, CLICK, VOTE.
WE CAN ALL AFFECT CHANGE , PULL YOUR LEVERS, CLICK, VOTE.
Monday, August 2, 2010
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
IN LESS THAN 100 DAYS TO THE POLLS WE WILL GO. GO WITH PRIDE, AND VOTE, FOR IF YOU DO NOT EXCERSISE YOUR MOST TAKEN FOR GRANTED RIGHT AS AN AMERICAN, YOU WILL BE DOOMED TO THE STATUS QUO. STAND UP AND BE HEARD, LET THEM KNOW THEY WORK FOR US, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
VOTE OR SHUT UP, DO NOT COMPLAIN BY THE WATER COOLER, OR AT THE COFFEE SPOT, OR IN THE FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS. VOTE AND TALK WITH YOUR VOTE, LET THEM KNOW THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, OUR TOWN, OUR CITY, OUR COUNTRY.
VOTE OR SHUT UP, DO NOT COMPLAIN BY THE WATER COOLER, OR AT THE COFFEE SPOT, OR IN THE FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS. VOTE AND TALK WITH YOUR VOTE, LET THEM KNOW THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, OUR TOWN, OUR CITY, OUR COUNTRY.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
IF THEY PERMANENTLY CLOSE THE THIRD AVENUE EXIT, IT WILL REDUCE TRAFFIC FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. MAYBE, JUST MAYBE BRINGING UP PROPERTY VALUE FOR US ALL WHILE SECURING THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN. ACCORDING TO HISTORY, THE HARDER IT IS TO GET INTO A COMMUNITY, THE MORE DESIREABLE IT BECOMES, AND HENCE, HIGHER PROPERTY VALUE.
JUST A THOUGHT.
JUST A THOUGHT.
SHATTERING RECORDS
FOR THE PAST TWO EVENINGS, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:10 AND 8:30 THERE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROCESSION OF CARS TRAVELING EAST ON 5TH AVENUE AT A RATE OF A CAR PER SECOND.
YET MY DEAR NEIGHBORS, THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE ACCORDING TO THE DOT, JUST A MERE INCONVENIENCE.
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YET MY DEAR NEIGHBORS, THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE ACCORDING TO THE DOT, JUST A MERE INCONVENIENCE.
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Queens Crap: Bus protest in Whitestone#links
Check out the posts on this one. Seems like people are angry in our area.
Queens Crap: Bus protest in Whitestone#links
Queens Crap: Bus protest in Whitestone#links
Ahh our elected Politicians
How quickly or maybe not so quickly do they forget who they work for. The people that put them in office, yes , the voters not the corporations.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Francis Lewis Park Playground
As many of you know, yesterdays unofficial twister hit our park pretty hard. The parks department is well aware of the situation and promises to move quickly.
On another note, the MTABT has informed us that they are ready to move the playground to its new location as soon as the Parks Department is ready. We are recommending that everyone call their elected officials and contact the Parks Department (311) in order to expedite the project.
THANK YOU TO: Ray Webb, Manager of the MTABT Whitestone Bridge and his crew for expeditiously removing a fallen tree across the service road of the Whitestone Expressway. This alleviated a traffic mess as well as what could have been a dangerous situation. KUDOS...
On another note, the MTABT has informed us that they are ready to move the playground to its new location as soon as the Parks Department is ready. We are recommending that everyone call their elected officials and contact the Parks Department (311) in order to expedite the project.
THANK YOU TO: Ray Webb, Manager of the MTABT Whitestone Bridge and his crew for expeditiously removing a fallen tree across the service road of the Whitestone Expressway. This alleviated a traffic mess as well as what could have been a dangerous situation. KUDOS...
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
LEAD IN FRANCIS LEWIS PARK?
OK, for the good news, the level of LEAD found on the Playground and the Jungle Gym in Francis Lewis Park is not a large amount , as per the findings of Dr. James Cervino . The bad news is , there should be Zero amount falling in any area during any type of construction especially on a playground area. According to Dr.Cervino, this can easily be remedied by installing proper plastic protective barriers, as found under the Throgs Neck Bridge.
The MTATB has been very attentive to the Whitestone community as stated by Dr. Cervino and Mr. Centola (President of the Malba Gardens Civic Association) who are certain that after they are briefed on these findings they will address the issue immediately.
Dr. Cervino goes on to say that the surrounding area away from the playground is safe for all.
There will be a Park clean up day this Sunday Fathers day from 1Pm to 4Pm , hope to see you all there. Focus will be on the Beach area.
The MTATB has been very attentive to the Whitestone community as stated by Dr. Cervino and Mr. Centola (President of the Malba Gardens Civic Association) who are certain that after they are briefed on these findings they will address the issue immediately.
Dr. Cervino goes on to say that the surrounding area away from the playground is safe for all.
There will be a Park clean up day this Sunday Fathers day from 1Pm to 4Pm , hope to see you all there. Focus will be on the Beach area.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Memorial Day
Thank you to all the wonderful Veterans that have given so much for us. May God Bless you, and your families.
THANK YOU FROM ALL OFF US IN MALBA GARDENS .
GOD BLESS.
THANK YOU FROM ALL OFF US IN MALBA GARDENS .
GOD BLESS.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Lead paint from Bridge construction in our park?
NEXT MEETING JUNE 16TH, 7:30 PM, HOLY TRINITY RECTORY WITH DR. JAMES CERVINO.
PRESENTATION WILL BE ON:
POSSIBLE LEAD CHIPS FOUND IN PLAYGROUND AND ON JUNGLE GYM IN FRANCIS LEWIS PARK, AS WELL AS ISSUES CONCERNING OUR WATERFRONT.
THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO ALL BUT SPACE IS LIMITED, PLEASE RSVP BY JUNE 15TH VIA EMAIL @MALBAGARDENSCIVIC@HOTMAIL.COM , OR POST HERE WITH # OF PEOPLE ATTENDING.
PRESENTATION WILL BE ON:
POSSIBLE LEAD CHIPS FOUND IN PLAYGROUND AND ON JUNGLE GYM IN FRANCIS LEWIS PARK, AS WELL AS ISSUES CONCERNING OUR WATERFRONT.
THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO ALL BUT SPACE IS LIMITED, PLEASE RSVP BY JUNE 15TH VIA EMAIL @MALBAGARDENSCIVIC@HOTMAIL.COM , OR POST HERE WITH # OF PEOPLE ATTENDING.
Avella's DOT law
The following is the DOT law MR. Avella attempted to get passed when he was Councilman. We are currently working with Councilman Hallorans office along with several other Civic Associations in order to get it reintroduced with agreed upon modifications and passed. We feel that this law would alleviate many of the traffic problem plaguing Queens and most of the Boroughs.
City Hall
The New York City Council New York, NY 10007
Legislation Text
Int. No. 11
By Council Members Avella, Comrie, Fidler, Gentile, James, Nelson, Palma and Stewart
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the establishment of specific criteria for the
evaluation and placement of traffic control devices within the City of New York.
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Subchapter 3 of chapter 1 of title 19 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 19-181 to read as follows:
§19-181. Traffic control devices. The department shall establish a process by which it evaluates the need for traffic control
devices to be placed at intersections within the city of New York. Criteria to be included in such process shall include, but shall not
be limited to, motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic volumes, visibility for both motor vehicle operators and pedestrians, any unique
characteristics relevant to the location in question, proximity of existing traffic control devices to the location in question, average
vehicular speeds, the frequency and types of accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians, including damage to property, at
specific intersections based upon information and statistics provided by the police department and insurance companies, the likely
presence of school children and bicyclists and the ability to appropriately control traffic flow by implementing other traffic control
techniques, such as speed humps or speed limit signs. Following every evaluation undertaken by the department concerning whether
placement of a traffic control device is appropriate, the department shall issue a written finding detailing the analyses upon which its
determination was based. Such written finding shall be provided by the department to any individual, group or organization upon
whose request to the department such evaluation was conducted, as well as to the council member in whose district such intersection
evaluated is located.
§2. This local law shall take effect ninety days after its enactment into law, except that the commissioner of transportation
shall take any administrative actions necessary, including the promulgation of rules, to implement the provisions of this local law
prior to such date.
PH
Int 13/2004
File #: Int 0011-2006, Version: *
The New York City Council Page 1 of 1 Printed on 3/23/2010
powered by Legistar™
City Hall
The New York City Council New York, NY 10007
Legislation Text
Int. No. 11
By Council Members Avella, Comrie, Fidler, Gentile, James, Nelson, Palma and Stewart
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the establishment of specific criteria for the
evaluation and placement of traffic control devices within the City of New York.
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Subchapter 3 of chapter 1 of title 19 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 19-181 to read as follows:
§19-181. Traffic control devices. The department shall establish a process by which it evaluates the need for traffic control
devices to be placed at intersections within the city of New York. Criteria to be included in such process shall include, but shall not
be limited to, motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic volumes, visibility for both motor vehicle operators and pedestrians, any unique
characteristics relevant to the location in question, proximity of existing traffic control devices to the location in question, average
vehicular speeds, the frequency and types of accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians, including damage to property, at
specific intersections based upon information and statistics provided by the police department and insurance companies, the likely
presence of school children and bicyclists and the ability to appropriately control traffic flow by implementing other traffic control
techniques, such as speed humps or speed limit signs. Following every evaluation undertaken by the department concerning whether
placement of a traffic control device is appropriate, the department shall issue a written finding detailing the analyses upon which its
determination was based. Such written finding shall be provided by the department to any individual, group or organization upon
whose request to the department such evaluation was conducted, as well as to the council member in whose district such intersection
evaluated is located.
§2. This local law shall take effect ninety days after its enactment into law, except that the commissioner of transportation
shall take any administrative actions necessary, including the promulgation of rules, to implement the provisions of this local law
prior to such date.
PH
Int 13/2004
File #: Int 0011-2006, Version: *
The New York City Council Page 1 of 1 Printed on 3/23/2010
powered by Legistar™
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The following is a letter Councilman Halloran wrote to D.O.T. regarding our Safety Issue on 5th and 4th avenues. There is much that needs to be done on this issue and we thank the Councilman for acknowledging the fact that this is a Public Safety Issue that needs to be remedied.
THE COUNCIL
O F
THE CITY OF NEW YORK
Daniel J. Halloran, III
Council Member, 19th District, Queens
April 29, 2010
Hon. Maura McCarthy
Queens Borough Commissioner
Department of Transportation
120-55 Queens Boulevard – 2nd Floor
Kew Gardens, NY 11424
Commissioner McCarthy,
As you are aware, on April 27, 2010 Community Board 7 voted to table the traffic flow issue on 4th and 5th Avenue. While the issue may have been tabled for now, it is clear to me that the residents of 4th and 5th Avenue still have very valid concerns regarding safety.
I believe at a minimum the following must be done:
1. At the entrances to 4th and 5th Avenue negative truck signage needs to be placed. I have personally observed trucks violating the “No Commercial Vehicle” rules on a regular basis. While it may be Department of Transportation policy not to place negative truck signage, in this situation public safety demands it.
2. Additionally, the speed transition from the Whitestone Expressway, through 4th and 5th Avenue, into a residential neighborhood must be addressed. While I understand placing a stop sign on the exit ramp would cause traffic congestion on the Expressway, I believe the best solution for the time being is to place a stop sign on the service road at 5th avenue. As can be seen on the enclosed map, a stop sign would force vehicles exiting the Expressway to lower their speeds and would reduce the number of high speed vehicles coming from the Expressway and service road onto 4th Avenue.
I appreciate your attention to this matter and working with our community to resolve this public safety issue. Should you have any questions during your review, please do not hesitate to contact me at my District Office at (718)631-6703.
In Liberty,
Dan Halloran
Council Member,
District 19
DJH:mm
CC: Community Board 7
THE COUNCIL
O F
THE CITY OF NEW YORK
Daniel J. Halloran, III
Council Member, 19th District, Queens
April 29, 2010
Hon. Maura McCarthy
Queens Borough Commissioner
Department of Transportation
120-55 Queens Boulevard – 2nd Floor
Kew Gardens, NY 11424
Commissioner McCarthy,
As you are aware, on April 27, 2010 Community Board 7 voted to table the traffic flow issue on 4th and 5th Avenue. While the issue may have been tabled for now, it is clear to me that the residents of 4th and 5th Avenue still have very valid concerns regarding safety.
I believe at a minimum the following must be done:
1. At the entrances to 4th and 5th Avenue negative truck signage needs to be placed. I have personally observed trucks violating the “No Commercial Vehicle” rules on a regular basis. While it may be Department of Transportation policy not to place negative truck signage, in this situation public safety demands it.
2. Additionally, the speed transition from the Whitestone Expressway, through 4th and 5th Avenue, into a residential neighborhood must be addressed. While I understand placing a stop sign on the exit ramp would cause traffic congestion on the Expressway, I believe the best solution for the time being is to place a stop sign on the service road at 5th avenue. As can be seen on the enclosed map, a stop sign would force vehicles exiting the Expressway to lower their speeds and would reduce the number of high speed vehicles coming from the Expressway and service road onto 4th Avenue.
I appreciate your attention to this matter and working with our community to resolve this public safety issue. Should you have any questions during your review, please do not hesitate to contact me at my District Office at (718)631-6703.
In Liberty,
Dan Halloran
Council Member,
District 19
DJH:mm
CC: Community Board 7
Sunday, May 2, 2010
CB 7 tables 5th avenue decision
Ladies and Gentlemen, the decision on our Safety Issue on 5th and 4th avenues has been tabled by Community Board 7 until further notice. Being that the 3rd Avenue exit is slated for closure next Spring for approximately one to two years, it was decided that another traffic count should be done when exit is closed to determine ? I guess the number of cars that will be utilizing street when it is closed. This is better than the No Vote that was apparent, so let us wait and see.
I say to those who question the number of survey responses on 5th avenue, please be reminded that traffic from 147th to 149th streets drops over 60% from amount that travels from Whitestone Expressway to 147th street, going from 107 vehicles per hour down to 40, verifying that most vehicles make a turn at the intersection of 5th and 147th.
Also several politicians have requested signage like stop signs on the Service Road and 5th avenue which would in effect stop the cars driving on the Service road but not the cars coming off the exit, which is over 85% of our problem. If they put a Stop on 5th from Service Road to Highway exit, this will either back up traffic onto to Highway, or create a serious Pile up.
Thanks .
What has happened is that the residents of 5th and 4th avenues will have to "Deal with it" for a minimum of 2 years if not more. Then more studies, more surveys, more "Committees", maybe by that time things will change and God willing no one gets hurt.
I say to those who question the number of survey responses on 5th avenue, please be reminded that traffic from 147th to 149th streets drops over 60% from amount that travels from Whitestone Expressway to 147th street, going from 107 vehicles per hour down to 40, verifying that most vehicles make a turn at the intersection of 5th and 147th.
Also several politicians have requested signage like stop signs on the Service Road and 5th avenue which would in effect stop the cars driving on the Service road but not the cars coming off the exit, which is over 85% of our problem. If they put a Stop on 5th from Service Road to Highway exit, this will either back up traffic onto to Highway, or create a serious Pile up.
Thanks .
What has happened is that the residents of 5th and 4th avenues will have to "Deal with it" for a minimum of 2 years if not more. Then more studies, more surveys, more "Committees", maybe by that time things will change and God willing no one gets hurt.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)