By Howard Koplowitz
One of the community's proudest moments of the past year, according to Kevin Jemmott, the group's president, is their effort to rezone Cambria Heights. In the association's newsletter, Jemmott said the community should be rezoned by mid-summer after starting the process in October, which may be the fastest rezoning operation ever in the city. Illegal conversions is another issue that the Cambria Heights Civic Organization tackled this year. The city's Department of Buildings had a policy that complaints about turning single-family homes into multiple dwellings were resolved if officials from the agency could not gain access to the property after two attempts. But Jemmott said his group changed that after meeting with officials from the department. He said now all of the 20 cases in Cambria Heights will stay open until they are resolved.”(Jemmott) has taken this civic association to a whole new level,” said Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott, who was once president of the association. Walcott was just one of many invited guests for the occasion, including Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and Police Deputy Inspector Stephen O'Brien of the 105th Precinct.Among other achievements the group touts are better relations with the 105th Precinct and the neighboring Jewish community , the revitalization of Linden Boulevard, issuing three scholarships to high school seniors, and making improvements to the Barbara Lewandowski Laurelton West Park to the tune of $1.5 million.Although Jemmott heads the organization, he said the progress made this year goes beyond him.”The accomplishments we made would not have been made without the backing of the community,” Jemmott said at the meeting at 120-50 Springfield Blvd.While the event focused on the successes of the organization, Jemmott said he will not relent when the group meets up again in September.”Even though we had a lot of accomplishments, we still have a lot of work to be done,” he said. Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173
