CB 9 Chair Supports Greenway Over Railway
With some lawmakers looking to reactivate the Rockaway Beach branch of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and others looking to convert it into a public greenway, Chairperson Andrea Crawford updated the crowd on the subject at Community Board 9′s Feb. 14 meeting at the Kew Gardens Community Center.
“It is not a reactivation because there is nothing to reacitivate,” she claimed, “It is a right-of-way that has been concreted over, that is desolate, that is abandoned. There is some trestles that could not accomodate modern equipment; it is over 100 years old.”
She further claimed that those people calling for “reactivation” are really calling for new track to be laid down, which would be costly, and would have “no impact on the people who are clamoring for it because it would end where they live.”
Instead, Board 9 supports the reopening of the Richmond Hill LIRR stop, which is on the Montauk line, Crawford stated. The stop, at Myrtle and Jamaica avenues, closed in 1998 along with several others including the Glendale and Fresh Pond stops.
(Editor’s Note: Assemblyman Mike Miller brought up the topic at the Feb. 18 Woodhaven Residents Block Assocation meeting. See Page 6 for more information.)
Civic Virtue
DistrictManagerMaryAnn Carey announced that Borough President Helen Marshall will convene a meeting in the near future on the possible renovation of Civic Virtue, the statue near Borough Hall that some have condemned for being sexist.
Education Committee
During the Education Committee report, board member John Carter noted that in the Department of Education’s five-year capital plan, District 27 (which represents most of Board 9) is short 832 seats. That number will be cut in half with the opening of P.S. 316.
All in all, the DOE will spend about $69 million on 52 projects in the district.
On a citywide level, “they’ve identified the city as short 50,000 seats. The capital plan provides for budgeting for … about 29,000 of those seats,” he explained.
Health committee
Evelyn Baron of the Health Committee told residents to be aware of changes in Medicaid proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the state budget.
Most notable, according to Baron, is the elimination is “spousal refusal,” where a spouse could refuse to use their money to care for their impaired partner, and those monies would not be included in Medicaid eligibility calculations.
“That means if there’s a couple, one takes ill, any joint money they have, any joint money they have would have to be used to take care of the sick person, even if the net result would be poverty for two people, and two people on the Medicaid dole instead of one,” she noted. “The impact would be unbelievable in terms of increasing the Medicaid population.”
Baron urged elected officials to look into the plan.
Elected reps’ reports
Crawford urged Maryann Gottlieb, an aide to State Sen. Joseph Addabbo, to re-examine a bill circulating in Albany that would make it a criminal offense to abuse the 311 system to harass residents.
“While on the surface it sounds like a great idea, it’s got big, big issues for abuse in and of itself,” she warned, claiming that it could have “a very chilling effect on being able to report issues with people violating zoning regulation, and that’s just one very small instance.”
Nick Roloson, representing Assemblyman Mike Miller, urged the crowd to stay on top of the ongoing fight over redistricting, and added that the lawmaker supports the possible vetoing of the current plan by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Kate Mooney, representing City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, announced that work is ongoing in a sewer and water project that will help water pressure in Kew Gardens, and added that the project will soon move south into Richmond Hill.
She added that the proposal period for the Forest Park Carousel has ended and that the city is looking through the proposals.
Thomson urged Mooney to tell Crowley to save Engine Co. 291 from cuts in the city budget.
Licenses
Jim Coccovillo of Board 9’s Public Safety Committee voted to table a proposal for a new on-premises liquor license for Maracas Club & Restaurant, at 121-08 Jamaica Ave. in Richmond Hill, as they had just renewed their license in September 2011.
They also voted to oppose a new license for Las Bereas Restaurant, at 102-03 Jamaica Ave., and renewals for Rumors Bar & Lounge, at 105-66 Jamaica Ave. in Richmond Hill and Tequila Bar LLC, at 105-13 Jamaica Ave. in Richmond Hill due to safety concerns.
Other news
Capt. Martin Briffa, the executive officer of the 102nd Precinct, announced that crime is down 17 percent so far this year. He also assured Crawford that the precinct will continue to keep an eye on Forest Park, with warmer weather approaching.
One resident asked for increase traffic measures at 99th and 100th streets and 103rd Avenue, to prevent cars from jamming the intersection.
Board 9 voted to support a street fair license for this year’s Wonderful Woodhaven Street Fair, which will take place on Oct. 14, 2012.
Vote postponed, meeting moved
Board 9 decided to postpone the vote on the controversial street changes to 84th Street and 89th Avenue after requests from Assemblyman Mike Miller. The Tuesday, Mar. 13 meeting has been moved to the home of the Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps at 78-15 Jamaica Ave. to allow the community a chance to be present to comment on the proposed changes.
