Howard Beach youth need a community center

Howard Beach needs a community center.
Tensions remain heightened within the community over the arrests in November of several teens after some residents pleaded with police to break up large roaming groups of them, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.
There is one thing everyone can agree on-from the residents to businesspeople to politicians-however; the kids need a place to go-even if it means going to school.
&#8220There's not much for kids to do around here,” said Phyllis Schettini, 42, who raised two daughters, now 20 and 23, in Howard Beach. Schettini said that although she has waded through groups of gathered teens to duck into the corner market on a Friday night, she has never felt intimidated or experienced rude behavior as those who complained to police described.
&#8220Quite the contrary,” added Schettini's mother, Tessie, 68. &#8220If I had to talk to them I would feel comfortable. They've never, ever fazed me.”
Some, like Tom Kurpiewski, 46, who admitted his two sons Teddy, 17, and Thomas, 13, hang out at one of the locations some are complaining about, P.S. 207/Rockwood Park, believe the dearth of easily accessible activities practically begs local kids to break rules such as hanging out there after-hours.
&#8220I think it's terrible because the kids have to disobey the park closing because they have no place to go,” he said referring to the recent arrests which he said did not include either of his sons. &#8220They would benefit tremendously from a skate park or community center.”
&#8220The children have nothing to do,” said Rose Russo who, along with her husband, Joe Rags, has owned the Ragtime Newsstand on Cross Bay Boulevard for almost 30 years.
&#8220They should have some recreation; the school should open on weekend nights and give them activities,” she said.
Local politicians including City Councilmember Joseph P. Addabbo and Senator Serphin R. Maltese agree.
&#8220It's tough to find some place for them to go,” said Addabbo, adding that because building a new structure would be expensive, it would make better sense to make school facilities available for youth on weekends.
&#8220Schools exist in every community,” he said.
&#8220Schools have to be the first avenue for us to explore,” said Maltese, who noted that even if the community wanted to build a new structure, the challenge would be to find a location.
&#8220One of the big difficulties has been there is a lack of space, and rental space is in very, very short supply,” he continued.
Nonetheless, both legislators have pledged their support to taking on the issue in the coming months because community infighting benefits no one.
&#8220I think that since this has happened and we don't want the community divided, this has to be one of our priorities when we get back in the New Year,” Maltese said.
Indeed, if a new community center is too far-reaching a goal, options to integrate programs into schools or other venues could be created by starting a dialogue with various non-profit organizations and potentially the City's Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD).
&#8220If community leaders reach out to us, I'm sure that we would be right there to offer counsel or guidance,” said Kevin Shermach, senior executive director of marketing and communication for the YMCA of Greater New York. Shermach said that while the YMCA often joins in efforts to resolve community issues, the organization currently has no plans to open a branch in Howard Beach.
Making the schools available to youth on Friday and Saturday nights would likely fall under the jurisdiction of the DYCD said a Department of Education spokesperson.
While the DYCD is not itself a service provider, it contracts with community-based organizations to provide youth and community development programs ranging from leadership development to runaway programs to structured recreation and athletics and more.
In the meantime, teens aged 13 to 17 can visit the Cross Island YMCA Beacon Center Teen Center located at M.S. 210, 93-11 101st Avenue in Ozone Park on Friday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. for activities including a game room, computer room, discussion groups, recreational sports and monthly guest speakers.