Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together

COMET

Newsletter Summer 2015

Work Continues on 102-year Old LIRR Overpass

in Winfield section of Woodside

Photo by Tom Porembski

COMET Moves Meetings to St. Adalbert

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.

Photo provided by 110th Precinct

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.

Earth Day 2015 a Huge Success!!

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
Richie Polgar

Photo by John Schaffer

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.

Photo by Richie Polgar

Photo by Richie Polgar

Photo by Richie Polgar

Photo by
Richie Polgar

Pg. 2 Summer 2015 COMET

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.

Photo compliments Maspeth Federal Savings

Photo by Mike Fordunski

Photo by Geraldine Walsh

Maspeth Avenue Gets a Speed Bump!

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 Barbara Lauri

COMET

Summer 2015 Pg. 3

69th Street/52nd Drive Parking Lot

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

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.

Elmhursts Hoarder House

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.
Pg. 4 Summer 2015 COMET

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,
Photos by Geraldine Walsh
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.

Unsecured Gates = Safety Hazard

Photo by
Geraldine Walsh

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.

85th Street
The 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.

Photos by Richie Polgar

84th Street
Sharp-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

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.

Calamus Avenue Project

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.

Photos by
Geraldine Walsh

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.

COMET

Summer 2015 Pg. 5

Proliferation of Spas in
Maspeth and Elmhurst
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.

Truck Traffic Continues to

Irk West Maspeth Residents
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

Pg. 6 Summer 2015 COMET

Work Continues on 102-Year Old LIRR Overpass

in Winfield/Woodside
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.

Photos by
Tom Porembski

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.

LIRR Removes Elmhursts Natural Sound Barrier

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 by Geraldine Walsh

Check out our website www.cometcivic.com for

upcoming meetings that resume in the fall.

Newsletter Committee

Geraldine 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.
COMET

Summer 2015 Pg. 7

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Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together

COMET

Newsletter Spring 2015

Have a great summer

and stay safe!

To find out more about

C.O.M.E.T.
check out our website at
www.cometcivic.com

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