By Rebecca Henely
Community Board 2 Chairman Joseph Conley announced at the board’s monthly meeting last Thursday that it will be hosting a rally this Thursday at 10 a.m. against strip club Gypsy Rose getting a liquor license.
“We need to stand up as a community and fight this thing,” Conley said.
The adult establishment, at 42-50 21st St. in Long Island City, has long been fighting to sell liquor at its establishment. Its case was recently heard before the state Liquor Authority, which then delayed making a decision. The agency will hold another hearing Jan. 18.
Objections to the license have come from the club’s previous association with Gus Drakopoulos, who threatened to lower the age of the performers from 21 to 18 and have them perform fully nude instead of topless when CB 2 originally refused its license. The board has also said it wants to discourage gentlemen’s clubs in its community.
“We have spent years trying to build up Long Island City, trying to get Long Island City on the map,” Conley said.
CB 2 also received visitors at its monthly meeting. City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) said the area now has 24 new trash baskets and additional street pickups. He pointed out that PS 11 in Woodside, originally slated for an expansion which was not included on the city Department of Education’s five-year plan, could be getting a reprieve soon.
Van Bramer announced plans to expand the holiday lights to Roosevelt Avenue and Vernon Boulevard this Christmas as well.
“It’s going to be a great 2012,” Van Bramer said.
City Comptroller John Liu also visited. During his talk, he answered board members’ questions and touted some of his accomplishments during his time as comptroller, such as his discovery that the $63 million CityTime project had ballooned to $700 million and that the city Economic Development Corp. did not turn over $125 million owed to the city in various fees.
“That’s been my tremendous challenge, to find the money and put it back in city coffers,” Liu said.
The comptroller’s campaign finances have recently been the subject of a federal investigation.
The board also recommended renewal of the FDNY’s lease of a facility, at 34-02 Queens Blvd., which has been used as a warehouse since the department had to acquire additional equipment after the Sept. 11 attacks, such as fire tools, medical supplies and disaster equipment, said Dave Harney, of the FDNY.
He said the facility is used to swap out equipment and has space for ambulances, messenger vans and Chevrolet Suburbans used by the department.
“The facility works extremely well for us,” Harney said. “We’re really happy to be there.”
Reach reporter Rebecca Henely by e-mail at rhenely@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
