Community Board 2 Chairman Joe Conley wants to meet with Mayor Michael Bloomberg to discuss the problems that arise when film crews come to work in his district, which includes Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside and parts of Maspeth.
Residents are upset that when the crews set up in the neighborhood, they take up parking spaces with their large trucks and do not buy locally. Conley noted that film permits have been requested for the community.
Although some film companies have offered to make donations to the affected communities, Conley said he would rather that film crews work with the community board to make the filming a good experience for everyone.
We remind Conley and the people he represents that it was not that long ago that the mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting went to Canada to persuade some of the largest production companies to return to the city.
To a large extent, the city succeeded. The film crews are back and with them came jobs, taxes and spending in New York-run businesses. Considering the hard times the nation is facing, CB 2 should be reluctant to chase away any business.
Astoria’s New Performance Space
We join City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. in celebrating the announcement that the diving pool in Astoria Park will be transformed into a performing arts space by 2013.
“This long-unused space will be transformed to bring music, theater and more to residents of Astoria and the borough of Queens,” said Dorothy Lewandowski, Queens commissioner for the city Parks Department.
“It’s really going to make Queens residents feel like they’re maybe back in ancient Rome or Greece,” Vallone said.
Maybe not, but it is bound to be a major improvement. The performance space will seat about 1,500 people and lights will be set up for evening shows and concerts.
The diving pool’s landmarked, three-level diving board will remain where it is. That sounds dangerous and a little dumb — but the board is landmarked, not the pool.
Go figure.
