By Alexander Dworkowitz
Queens residents should not fish in the Flushing Bay, a representative from the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance warned at a Monday meeting.
Carter Craft, program director of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, a network of groups interested in cleaning up and developing the city’s waterfronts, was the featured speaker at the Community Board 7 meeting.
“We’re living at a time in New York City when water is the best it’s been in 150 years,” said Craft. “But we’re not done yet.”
Craft told the audience not to fish in the Flushing Bay, which still has some of the worst quality water in the city.
Craft said his group was looking to the city to develop water transportation in all five boroughs. He said the Staten Island/Manhattan Ferry was the only MTA-funded ferry in the city.
“We think one of the solutions for water transit is to have the MTA invest,” he said.
In other news, Margaret Shannon of the Center of Unlimited Enrichment at Queens College spoke about the classes being offered at the school.
The school, designed for senior citizens, will begin its spring semester March 18 with weekly classes in current affairs, literature, city government and other topics at a cost of $60.
The board also voted unanimously to approve an application to extend a special permit for a video arcade at 31-07/09/11 Downing St. in Flushing.
“I checked all permits,” said Joseph Governale, fourth vice chairman of the board. “They were in order. It is a clean and orderly place.”
The board then discussed an application to expand a home in Whitestone.
After a vigorous debate in which some board members expressed fears that the home could be used to create an illegal apartment, the board voted overwhelmingly to recommend the expansion.
Both applications move on to the Queens Borough President’s Office for further recommendation before they can be officially approved by the Board of Standards and Appeals.
At the end of the meeting, the board voted to approve the preliminary budget for the fiscal year 2003 and the Citywide Statement of Needs for the fiscal year 2003-2004 as written.
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 141.
