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7/22/2019 Comet Newsletter Spring 2014
1/8
Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together
Newsletter Spring 2014
Photo by Linda Daquaro
Residents connue to express concern about the dangerous condions created by massive tractor trailer trucks that
park at the 69th Street exit ramp of the Long Island Expressway at Mazeau Street. Department of TransportaonsQueens Borough Commissioner Dalila Hall is looking at opons that would deter truckers who want to rest from
using this spot.
Were hoping the agency comes
up with a soluon quickly before
a major accident occurs.
7/22/2019 Comet Newsletter Spring 2014
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Pg. 2 Spring 2014 COMET
The snowstorms this winter created dangerous condions
for residents who rely on footbridges and overpasses to get
to work, school or stores. We soon found out that reporngthese problems to 311 was impossible unless the bridge
or overpass has a name.Many may wonder how Sanitaon
can plow and salt an overpass but not the sidewalk. The
answer is that the NYC Department of Transportaon
(DOT) is in charge of sidewalks and footbridges, such as the
one on 55th Avenue.
We reached out to Michael Mallon at Council Member
Daniel Dromms oce to let him know about 311s
response to our request to shovel and salt the 55th Avenue
footbridge in Elmhurst as well as the railroad overpass on
Grand Avenue at Calamus Avenue which wasnt shoveled
or salted either. We then called Roman Paprocki at Council
Member Crowleys oce to let him know about the icy
condions on the overpasses at Grand Avenue as well
as Hamilton Place. These overpasses were in the same
condion as the one in Elmhurst. We want to thank Roman
and Michael for following up on these issues for us.
As the overpasses were geng shoveled, a new problem
cropped up. We subsequently found out that DOT was only
shoveling one side of the overpasses which forced people
to cross Grand Avenue if they were on the side of the
overpass that wasnt shoveled. DOT shoveled one side of the
55th Avenue footbridge but we think this was ne because
it allowed for a safe crossing and a huge improvement from
prior years. Hopefully these concerns will be resolved by
next winter and they will be done without us having to cal
every me it snows.
Council Members Crowley and Dromm are acvely
looking into resolving these issues so residents don
encounter these problems in the future when they ca
311. In the meanme, if you have a problem reporng any
problem to 311, please reach out to your council membe
or community board and they will contact the agency fo
you. If a problem with 311 isnt idened, it will never be
resolved.
Maspeth Block Captain Richie Polgar called 311 toreport a large Ryder truck parked on the Queens Midtown
Expressway between 73rd Place and 74th Street. 311 had
no such locaon in their system. Hopefully Council Membe
Crowleys oce will be able to resolve this issue when she
addresses the bridge issue. We had a similar problem with
911 at the Queens Midtown Expressway at 69th Street
We were told the system was updated and we shouldn
have problems in the future. 911 and 311 are separate
and handled by two dierent agencies. In the future wel
have to make sure both systems are updated if any othe
problems are idened.
LIRR overpass at Grand &Calamus Avenues.
55th Avenue Footbridge before & aer
Photos by Geraldine Walsh
We are asking residents to
exercise cauon when walking
past the St. Johns Hospital
garage on Homan Drive
especially at night. It appearsthat somemes it is le open
and other mes closed. This was brought to our aenon
by a member who stated residents can hear screams at
night. We believe it might be youth.
Council Member Dromms oce said they will try to
reach out to the current owner to make sure the gates
are down and the 110th Precinct said they will monitor
the locaon.
7/22/2019 Comet Newsletter Spring 2014
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COMET Spring 2014 Pg. 3
Last fall we were advised that the home at 52-29
84th Street was abandoned. Mail and iers were
strewn all over the ground, windows were broken andgra vandals defaced the building all the way up to
the roof. Youth were coming and going via the railroad
tracks at the rear of the building. Needless to say, this
was a big concern for us parcularly since its across
the street from St. Adalbert and because we have had
some sexual assaults in past months in the area.
We brought this problem to the aenon of the
110th Precinct who stated they would report the
problem and have their Condions Team monitor the
locaon. Comet Vice President Richie Doyle stated
that he reported the problem to 311.
We dont know if there was yet another 311
glitch, but aer several months and no acon by the
Department of Buildings, Comet President Roe Daraio
reached out to Kenneth Lazar at the agency. To our
surprise, he said they never received any complaints
but took immediate acon and sent an inspector to
the locaon.
Upon inspecon on January 9th, the inspector found:
The cellar windows broken and open
The rst oor access door open.
The inside of the building vacant and unguarded
allowing unauthorized access.
Mr. Lazar stated that an Unsafe Buildings (UB)
violaon was issued and it would be necessary for
a Department of Buildings aorney to go to court
and get a judges order to seal the building. The badnews is that he said that this could take up to three
months. The 110th Precinct has promised to connue
monitoring the locaon and Council Member Dromms
oce is helping us with the follow-up. We want to
thank Mr. Lazar for looking into this promptly.
If anyone sees a problem such as this, call 311 and
follow up with your local precinct and elected ocials
to insure the situaon is reced.
Photo by Richie Polgar
Photo by Richie Polgar
This building has been an eyesore for years. Comet
member Ed Misiura has reported this problem over
and over and nothing is done. Many other sites in
Elmhurst have also been reported and havent been
cleaned up. Lets hope that Council Member Dromm
and the 110th Precinct can help address these
locaons this spring.Maspeth and Wineld have been hit hard this winter
as well. Dozens of sites that were previously cleaned
have now been scribbled on by vandals. Theres a lot
of work to be done.
If you know of a building, light pole, underpass, etc.
that needs cleaning, please report it to 311!!
7/22/2019 Comet Newsletter Spring 2014
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Pg. 4 Spring 2014 COMET
Aer an Elmhurst woman was killed crossing Grand
Avenue at 69th Place in Maspeth, NYC DOT has been
working on implemenng trac measures that will
hopefully save lives. The measures include signage,
painted roadway markings and a strip with bollards
down the middle of Grand Avenue to deter motorists
from making illegal le-hand turns from 69th Place
onto Grand Avenue.
Although most residents are opmisc about the
changes, some wonder how oversized tractor trailerswill be able to turn from 69th Place onto Grand Avenue.
They say the trucks have a dicult me making a legal
right-hand turn without the bollards and fear the only
other recourse for the trucker is to back down 69th
Place to the service road. Lets hope the truckers will
learn to avoid this block and turn from the service
road onto Grand Avenue instead.
DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Dalila Hall
stated at a meeng held at Maspeth Town Hall with
Assembly Member Marge Markey, Roman Paprocki
from Council Member Crowley, the 104th Precinct and
several community acvists that addional changes
will be made, if necessary.
David Daraio, President of the Maspeth Chamber of
Commerce, menoned a concern about the bollards
interfering with our Memorial Day Parade and street
fairs. Commissioner Hall stated the bollards could be
removed for these events.
Community Trafc Suggesons
Nancy Carbone, our Transportaon Commiee
Chairperson, met with members of the commiee
prior to the meeng with Assembly Member Markey
and Commissioner Hall. The group made some
proposals which DOT will look into. Some of the
suggesons were:
Consider a le-turn signal on Grand Avenue
eastbound at 69th Street for motorists heading
northbound on 69th Street.
Consider a le-turn signal on southbound 69th
Street at Grand Avenue turning onto Grand Avenue
eastbound from in front of Maspeth Federal.
Consider a le-turn signal at Grand Avenue and
69th Lane allowing motorists heading eastbound on
Grand Avenue to turn onto 69th Lane.
Consider a right-turn signal at Grand Avenue
eastbound at Queens Midtown Expressway (corner of
Duane Reade) to facilitate pedestrian crossing.
Photo by Linda Daquaro
Photo by Linda Daquaro
Photo by Geraldine Walsh
7/22/2019 Comet Newsletter Spring 2014
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COMET Spring 2014 Pg. 5
This photo was taken by Block Captain Linda Daquaro on February 25th. As you can see from the clock on
Garlinger Triangle it was 8:30 pm.
She said this huge tour bus came down Grand Avenue, turned onto Mazeau Street and then attempted to
make a sharp left-turn onto 57th Avenue. As he was turning, the driver ripped up a bollard on the triangle.
DOT Commissioner Hall reached out to Parks Department and asked that it be repaired.
Its scary to think that the driver of this bus didnt know he couldnt make the turn. Think about it, he
drives people around every day!!
Comet Vice President Dick Gundlach, who lives in the Winfield section of Woodside, took these photos
from his bedroom window. The blinding intense white lights are by the LIRR tracks at the end of 73rd Place
off 51st Avenue. He said hes not sure if they belong to the LIRR or the area adjacent to the tracks which is
used to store approximately 100 trucks.
Regardless, the bright and intrusive lights illuminating the surrounding neighborhood, which also includes
Elmhurst, affect the quality of life for those there. We will try to find out who owns these lights and perhaps
get them to focus them downward.
Photos by Dick Gundlach
7/22/2019 Comet Newsletter Spring 2014
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Pg. 6 Spring 2014 COMET
Captain Brian Hennessy, 108th Precinct, created a new conditions team that began Tuesday, March 11th. He said
that each officer would be specifically assigned as a contact for each community within the command. Our officer is
PO John Miszuk. Captain Hennessy said he worked with PO Miszuk when he was assigned as a rookie impact officer
in Jackson Heights. He told us hes a hard worker. Comet met with him and discussed Winfield quality of life issues
Great idea, Captain Hennessy!!!
In late February, Comet President Roe Daraio andmember Tom Porembski met with 108th CommunityAffairs Officer Luis Diaz on 70th Street and 48th Avenueto watch the 108ths enforcement efforts to address
The morning of the livery tow operation, CaptainHennessy arranged for NYC Taxi & Limousine to
coordinate enforcement to summons illegal commuter
van activity in our area. Unfortunately, this operation
didnt go as smoothly as the tow operation. The 108th
Precinct cannot write summonses for this activity
and the TLC Enforcement personnel who showed up
apparently didnt know how to write them. After a little
pressure, we finally convinced them to issue summonses
for picking up on bus routes. A total of six summonses
were issued. Unfortunately, the illegal commuter van
pickups in our area continues. These photos were taken
on 69th Place between 52nd Avenue and 52nd Drive
Were hoping NYC TLC can train their officers and have
them return for another operation. We thank Captain
Hennessy for his efforts!!
the livery parking problem around St. Marys and thesurrounding streets. The enforcement went quickly andwe dont have to tell you the owner of all the liverieswas not happy!
Some of these dilapidated liveries had broken axlesand broken windows among other issues. Within a shortperiod of time nine vehicles were towed or flat beddedaway. Captain Hennessy has promised to continue theenforcement, which should be much easier now that wehave PO Miszuk from the Conditions Team assigned toour area.
7/22/2019 Comet Newsletter Spring 2014
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COMET Spring 2014 Pg. 7
Meetings are held at the Bethzatha Church of God, 85-20 57th Avenue, Elmhurst. 7:00 pm.
Parking is available.
Monday, April 7th
Monday, May 5th,
Monday, June 2nd
Newsletter Committee: Mike Fordunski, Dick Gundlach, Christina Wilkinson, Richie Polgar, Linda Daquaro,
Tom Porembski, Geraldine Walsh, Roe Daraio, Maspeth Press
SAVE THE DATES!!
Earth Day Event
Saturday, April 26th, Maspeth Federal Parking lot at 69th Street Grand Avenue
The event will run from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Comet will join Maspeth Federal Savings, Council Member Elizabeth Crowley and the NYPD.
Paper shredding truck will be on hand to shred important documents that you no longer need
Electronics truck will take computers and other electronics that need disposal.
VIN Etch your car and save money on your theft insurance. You can register your
electronics as well as your bikes to help recover them if theyre stolen.
DSNY will provide information about their new organics collection program.
Maspeth Memorial Day ParadeSunday, May 25th at 1:00 pm
Starts at 72nd Place/Grand Avenue
Comet will be marching in case you would like to join us!!
7/22/2019 Comet Newsletter Spring 2014
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C.O.M.E.T., INCP.O.Box 780151
Maspeth, NY 11378
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Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together
Newsletter Spring 2014
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check out our website at
www.cometcivic.com