By Bob Harris
The September 2012 Jamaica Estates Monthly Bulletin had an interesting article about vehicle booting, which began July 30. The city Department of Finance will boot a vehicle instead of towing it away if the owner owes more than $350 in parking, red-light camera or bus lane violation tickets.
If the tickets are not paid within two business days of being booted, the vehicle may be towed.
The JEA had an article describing how City Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows), with the help of Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) and members of the JEA board, had appropriated $30,000 to pay for members of the Doe Fund to pick up litter, maintain tree pits and recycle used cooking oil form local restaurants.
This column has complained that for the past two years the city has neglected the tree pits of trees on the malls in Fresh Meadows. The city Parks Department just removed the weeds from tree pits on Union Turnpike, but what about the tall weeds in tree pits on the other avenues and boulevards in Queens?
The September 2012 newsletter of the West Cunningham Park Civic Association had articles telling of the frustration of a number of the residents with the Big Apple Circus, which comes to Cunningham Park every spring. This quiet neighborhood north of Cunningham Park is inundated with people parking for the circus, especially on weekends, with people blocking driveways or hemming them in, making noise and leaving trash. When the circus unilaterally increased the number of weeks from three to four, people became concerned.
Members of the WCPCA held a meeting with the manager of the circus, park officials, Community Board 8 members and community affairs officers from the 107th Precinct. It was agreed the circus would keep its noise level down, put trash cans along Union Turnpike, permit parking on the north side of Union Turnpike during the duration of the circus, and provide parking in rear parking lots in Cunningham Park. It seems to have indicated that it would reduce the number of weeks next year.
The WCPCA reported that everything promised was delivered, but a few problems remained. The circus parking signs on the north side of Union turnpike were too small. The garbage cans were only on the south side of Union Turnpike. Some people complained that there still were lots of cars parked on their blocks on Saturdays and Sundays. Some driveways on Union Turnpike were blocked and people parked in the bus stops.
The June 2012 issue of the Holliswood Civic News indicated that it sent a letter of support to the West Cunningham Park Civic Association because it also had problems with the circus. It reported a number of car break-ins and urged people to park in lighted areas, not leave goods visible in their cars and get VIN etching from the 107th Precinct. Do not leave your car registration or other documents in your car.
GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK: The Occupy Wall Street movement has returned to Wall Street on the one-year anniversary of the movement. The message resonated with many people.
