Litter, graffiti issues tackled

Sanitation was the big issue on the table at the latest meeting of the Our Neighbors Civic Association of Ozone Park, the last until September.
The town meeting, usually led by Association President Eric Ulrich, was headed by board member Scott Jordan, and featured several local officials as well as police officers from the surrounding 102nd and 106th Precincts.
Much of the session focused on local sanitation, including what residents characterized as rampant litter and illegal dumping, a topic that ignited a minor uproar among those in attendance.
Other complaints included fines, something which citywide Department of Sanitation (DOS) Community Affairs Officer Ignazio Terranova maintained was not arbitrary.
“We don’t have a quota,” he said in response to a question about fines. Some scoffing followed.
Terranova fielded questions regarding sidewalk cleaning and outlined current rules and guidelines to help residents avoid tickets and summonses from the DOS.
He explained residents are required to clean their portion of sidewalk, but that DOS inspectors only issue summonses for filth that is “visible from the street.”
“We expect you to clean to the best of your ability,” Terranova said. “We don’t expect you to pick up cars…you’re not Hercules.”
Ulrich brought the issue of continued waste around the Bayside Acacia Cemetery, particularly near Liberty and Pitkin Avenues and 84th Street, to the DOS officer’s attention — a point bolstered by others in the room.
Terranova implored residents with complaints concerning litter, or anything else in their area, to abstain from confronting neighbors and instead call the 3-1-1 help line.
“3-1-1 is really your best friend,” he said. “It’s the best way to get action.”
City Councilmember Joseph Addabbo spoke next, and reiterated Terranova’s endorsement of 3-1-1.
Addabbo, a frequent guest of Ozone Park Civic meetings, pledged added assistance from his office, and recommended community members call his office at 718-731-1111 if they find 3-1-1 does not handle their complaint as quickly as they like.
“Both are 24 hours and you’ll always get someone on the other end,” he said.
Before he left, Addabbo introduced Jordan’s son Christopher and recognized his achievements in the community.
Christopher Jordan, 11, shook hands with Pope Benedict XVI and presented him with flowers when he visited New York in April. He was selected for the honor after a family trip to Rome during which he served at several Vatican City masses.
“He did us proud in Ozone Park,” said the elder Jordan.
Commanding officer Captain Charles McEvoy of the 102nd Precinct then addressed grievances about graffiti in the area. McEvoy again assured those gathered that he has the best task-force to handle the situation. “We’re taking graffiti very seriously,” he said.
McEvoy said that he and his officers are on constant surveillance for vandals, but asked for the community’s assistance in recognizing and reporting repeat taggers, most especially a single suspect by the name “SUM Z” who has vandalized multiple locations in the area.
Officer Brian Salmon of the 106th Precinct echoed the Captain’s commitment to dealing with graffiti, informing community members of a graffiti-related arrest made the prior evening.
Salmon also touched upon a recent string of car break-ins and thefts regarding new GPS systems. He recommended that the systems not only be stowed away when not in use, but that their cradles or other identifying accessories be hidden, so as not to tip off thieves.
Anthony Panarella, General Manager of the Nissan of Queens dealership on Rockaway Boulevard, rounded out Tuesday night’s meeting to address recent concerns of his dealership’s stock parked on side streets and obstructing community parking.
Panarella, who Jordan made sure to mention was at the meeting of his own accord, offered his commitment to being accessible to residents should they encounter any problem with his vehicles on their streets.
The meeting was the final of the summer. The Civic Association will reconvene on September 2.