By Howard Koplowitz
The City Council has created a Rockaway Task Force to be composed of members from the peninsula in an attempt to solve problems plaguing the isolated community, Councilmen James Sanders (D-Laurelton) and Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) announced.
“Representing Rockaway can be a challenge at times. The political, ethnic, religious and economic differences vary greatly throughout the peninsula,” the councilmen said in a joint statement. “However, the desire for a better quality of life has always been a shared goal among the diverse population. Now, with the help and input of several local residents, the hope for better solutions is one step closer to reality.”
Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson, who is helping to lead the task force, said eight local residents were selected by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to serve on the body along with Queens borough commissioners from city agencies “to examine and address several local issues facing the Rockaways and to come up with a comprehensive plan to try and resolve them.”
Sanders, who represents the eastern portion of the peninsula, tapped Arverne by the Sea Civic Association President Charles Jacobs, Far Rockaway Orthodox community leader Sender Schwartz, Victorious Women’s Organization President Andrea Sanders — who is also his wife — and Rockaway activist Edwin Williams to serve on the task force.
Ulrich chose Dayton Towers’ representative for civic and political affairs Karen Sloan-Payne, former Breezy Point Co-Op President Steven Greenberg, Rockaway Chamber of Commerce President John Lepore and Community Board 14 member and environmentalist Dan Mundy to the body.
The task force held its first meeting last week at City Hall and Wolfson said the group will look at ways to stimulate economic development, improve transportation and address housing and building issues on the peninsula.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
