Wants To Set Up Temporary Public Space
Plans for changes to Corona Plaza are being debated by the city, officials revealed at Community Board 4′s Tuesday, Apr. 10 meeting at the Flanders Field VFW Post.
The city is mulling the possibility of a temporary public space at the site, the Department of Transportation (DOT) told Board 4.
The DOT’s Vaidila Kungys noted that illegal truck activity has been going on in the plaza’s “slip lane,” at 41st Avenue between National and 104th streets.
The temporary space, to be created by filling in the lane with epoxy gravel, will allow the agency to work through issues in the area before constructing something more permanent.
A public forum is planned to determine just what will be at the space, including the possibility of tables and chairs.
Moya updates residents
Assemblyman Francisco Moya stopped by to address Board 4 on recent goings-on in Albany.
“We passed an on-time budget once again,” he announced, adding that the budget restores funding for CUNY and SUNY schools.
He announced that a bill is coursing through the legislature that would create a privately funded bill for immigrant scholarships called a “dream fund.”
“I believe in a New York where your immigration status should never be a barrier for young children to receive a quality education,” he explained.
The lawmaker’s next fight, he noted, will be over raising the minimum wage.
“This is an opportunity for New York to show its leadership,” he told the crowd.
He also spoke of initiatives designed to increase interaction between local community boards and the State Liquor Authority. A package of legislation being pushed would double the amount of time boards would have to examine, review and vote for or against liquor license applications, and would require the state agency to have a liaison to every board and to similar boards in other parts of the state.
The package, which is also being carried by State Sen. Jose Peralta in his chamber, would also prevent people who were part of an establish- ment whose license was revoked from attempting to apply for a new license under a different LLC.
According to Moya, Board 4 has more liquor licenses than lower Manhattan.
In response to a question from Board 4’s Steven Castro, Moya claimed that he asked State Liquor Authority Chairperson Dennis Rosen for a moratorium on liquor licenses in Boards 3 and 4, only to be told by Rosen that “I don’t think it’s constitutional,” referring to state law.
Moya told Board 4 he would seek a legislative remedy to the issue, saying that “sometimes what you have to do is show an action, to set their feet on fire.”
Verizon
“I see this evening as a real treat,” Patrick Lespinasse of Verizon told the crowd as he invited questions from Board 4 and the crowd.
He would state that the company is committed to completing a rollout of its fiber-optic television service, FiOS, throughout the entire city by 2014, including the area, but the outer boroughs have proven more difficult than Manhattan.
While the company has wired most of Corona for the service, doing the same for Elmhurst has proven more difficult due to the prevalence of apartment buildings, for which Verizon must enter into negotiations with area landlords to access and wire the area.
“There is the commitment there,” he assured residents.
Thomas McKenzie of the Environmental Committee told Lespinasse that he has seen disconnected lines in the area wrapped around trees and lampposts.
“That’s not proper protocol,” Lespinasse replied, adding that he will send employees to problem spots if addresses can be provided.
Votes
Two liquor license applications were denied by Board 4.
Valdez & Tepi Inc., at 102-14/16 Roosevelt Ave. in Corona, was denied a full liquor license due to what summonses for selling alcohol to minors and intoxicated patrons, according to Public Safety Committee Chairperson Lucy Schilero, while Alfonso’s Tapas Bar Corp., at 75-15 Broadway in Elmhurst, was denied their full liquor license due to their installation of a billiards table without the proper permits.
Schilero did note that Alfonso’s license would be reconsidered once the proper permits were obtained.
The following firms had their applications given the green light by Board 4:
– Catacocha & Deleg Restaurant Corp., at 102-03A 44th Ave. in Corona (full liquor license);
– El Chino Latino Inc. (d.b.a. El Paisa Restaurant), at 93-26 Corona Ave. in Elmhurst (wine/beer license);
– Mexport Intl. Corp. (d.b.a. El Temampa Restaurant), at 96-14 Roosevelt Ave. in Corona (wine/beer license);
– 82-71 Broadway Liquor, Inc., at 82-71 Broadway in Elmhurst (wine/liquor store license);
– Heroico Paysandu, Inc., at 89-08 Queens Blvd. in Elmhurst (wine/beer license);
– Thai Son Queens, Inc., at 40-10 74th St. in Jackson Heights (wine/beer license);
– Mama Leti’s, Inc., at 40-07 Junction Blvd. in Corona (wine/beer license).
Board 4 voted to deny a renewal of La Corona Express Car Service’s base station license, citing an incomplete application.
Other news
Several board members, including Parks Committee Chairperson Al Perna, complained of illegal vendors at area parks, particularly at Clement Clarke Moore Homestead Playground, at 82nd Street and 45th Avenue in Elmhurst, and in front of the New York Hall of Science, at 111th Street just off Flushing Meadows- Corona Park.
“There’s a lot of garbage there,” Perna said of Moore Playground, noting that many residents and workers eat lunch in the park.
Chairperson Louis Walker announced that there are 11 people under consideration for the position of district manager, including four board members (Perna, James Lisa, Myrna Littlewort and Robert Rothschild).
Three finalists will be announced at the board’s May 12 meeting at the Flanders Field VFW Post, located at 51-11 108th St. in Corona, at which time the advisory body will vote to hire one of them to succeed the late Richard Italiano.
Call Board 4 at 1-718-760-3141 for more information on the meeting.
