One has to admit that there aren’t many burglaries, but since we have a nice…
By Bob Harris
Although Fresh Meadows is a very nice place to live, the threats of burglaries and a proposed regional gigantic Pathmark threaten the peaceful quiet quality of life we enjoy.
One has to admit that there aren’t many burglaries, but since we have a nice middle-class community the burglars focus on us. Recently the NYPD arrested members of a Colombian gang who came up to New York City to allegedly steal. These loosely affiliated gang members operated out of central Queens and stole in that area and in the western part of Fresh Meadows, the police said.
They had concentrated on Asian families, who they perceived as keeping large amounts of cash at home after the close of their businesses. The victims were singled out because Asians often favor stainless steel front doors and often keep their shoes on the front porch.
This burglary threat has ended, but another one persists. This group of burglars preys on older residents who they believe keep lots of cash in dresser draws in their bedrooms. These burglars operate in pairs with a young child. They could be a man and a women or two women or even two men, but two men seem too threatening to a senior citizen. The child lulls the victim into complacency.
The burglars use several methods to gain entrance. They often claim to be new neighbors. Their ruse is that they have misplaced their key and need to call someone to get a spare key. Sometimes they say their phone has not been installed yet and they have to call to get their car started or they bring an inexpensive tablecloth or small gift.
In still another ploy, one burglar looks pregnant and asks to use a restroom or says she feels faint and needs a drink of water. One of the burglars goes with the victim into a den or kitchen and distracts the victim. No force is used by these burglars. One of the burglars goes upstairs to steal whatever can be found. Some victims are alone so much that they enjoy company and conversation.
One of my neighbors told me that her mother-in-law was just robbed by a team employing the child and gift ruse. The burglars were so neat that it wasn’t until a week later that the senior citizen realized she had been stripped of a lot of cash and jewelry. People have to be careful and not let anyone into the house or apartment. People have to be convinced to put excess cash or valuables in a bank. These criminals think of all kinds of tricks to steal from us so we have to be careful.
Many residents are concerned that a proposed gigantic regional 55,000-square-foot Pathmark is proposed on 69th Avenue opposite PS 26. This area has a small commercial strip and a large parking lot. The residents shop in these stores. Years ago there was a small food store in a building recently used as a Dollar Store and an office by United Parcel Service. The whole block would be a store.
Residents are fearful that if somehow a gigantic regional store with parking on the roof is built here, the quality of life will be changed for the worse. A huge store would bring in cars from all over Queens. Many would still park on the streets even if there were roof parking. The store is proposed as a 24/7 operation.
Cars, trucks, crowds, car noises, doors closing day and night, trash on the streets and pollution would take away the attractions that people moved into the Fresh Meadows Development and the nearby private homes and apartments to have — a quiet residential neighborhood with a nice nearby school.
Today there are so many cars owned by the residents of the Fresh Meadows Development, Meadowlark Apartments and the West Cunningham Park Civic Association that parking is at a premium. A large store would only exacerbate the parking problem. The area was built as a quiet residential neighborhood and just can’t handle a big store and the traffic.
PS 26 is on 69th Avenue directly opposite the proposed Pathmark megastore. Twice a day, 190 days a year, parents drive cars and their SUVs onto 69th Avenue to drop off or pick up their children. Sometimes the avenue is barely passable. What would increased car traffic do to the area? Would children be in danger as they cross the street?
Then there is the problem of delivery trucks to the proposed Pathmark. A huge amount of garbage would be generated from a large store. When would the deliveries take place? When would the garbage trucks come? Would the perishable food trucks keep their refrigerators running? What would the noise level be like day and night?
Oh, speaking of trucks! How would 18-wheel trucks get to the store? How would children get to school or go home with gigantic 18- wheel produce trucks and garbage trucks coming and going? Just a couple of weeks ago in Brooklyn, as school ended for the year, a 18- wheel truck ran over a boy and his sister. The boy was killed. A few months ago two children patiently standing at a corner in Brooklyn were killed when a truck made a turn and ran over both of them. This neighborhood was not designed for a large store with constant deliveries.
Assemblyman Mark Weprin has been working with the PTA of PS 26, for three years, to control traffic in front of the school. Sometime this summer the island to the west of the school will be extended along 69th Avenue.
Councilman David Weprin has met with all parties and worked with the tenant and civic associations to stop this foolish proposal for a megastore in this location. Regretfully, the Federal Realty Investment Trust from Maryland and the Pathmark Stores still want to build in this location. This was reiterated at a meeting they recently held with Councilman Weprin.
It is interesting that Federal Realty put an aerial view of Fresh Meadows on the cover of its 2003 Annual Report. They are both money-making groups.
Many neighborhood groups have been meeting and recently formed a group called the Greater Fresh Meadows Community Coalition. Think about that!
