Serve Up Demands For Flushing Meadows
Before a packed house at the Flanders Field VFW Post 150 in Corona, members of Community Board 4 voted unanimously last Tuesday, Mar. 12, against the proposed expansion of the U.S. Tennis Association’s (USTA) National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
The result came the same evening that Community Board 9 voted 22- 20-1 against the proposal.
Board 4 voted ‘no’ with stipulations- a move intended to send a message to the city and USTA that Corona and other neighborhoods bordering the park are not seeing enough benefit from the tennis center.
The board’s stipulations included a request for a $15 million trust fund and a $500,000 per year maintenance fund, as well as improved lighting, field renovations, reimplementation of the park trolley and a reclamation of the .68 acres that would be alienated by the National Tennis Center’s expansion.
The decision came after approximately an hour of public comments and 30 minutes of discussion by the board.
Those who spoke in favor of a ‘yes’ vote included members of the New York Junior Tennis League, local unions and Community Board 7 Chairperson Eugene Kelty.
Kelty told those in attendance that Board 7-based in neighboring Flushing-voted ‘yes’ the night before and reminded the members of Board 4 the vote on the table was simply an advisory vote.
“A ‘no’ vote doesn’t take us anywhere,” he said, adding the community had more to gain from allowing the expansion to proceed.
There was ultimately a public outcry after Kelty was allowed to speak longer than residents.
Members of the community and various civic groups spoke in opposition.
Concerns centered on diminishing greenspace within the park. Some residents cited the expansion and other projects slated for the park-a Major League Soccer stadium and parking lots-as an auctioning off of Queens’ greenspace.
“Every inch they take from the park is adding an inch to our children’s waists,” one resident said, alluding tot he obesity crisis facing Queens children.
Maria Alvarez, another who spoke against the expansion, questioned the quality of jobs provided by the USTA so far.
“They promise the moon and the stars,” she said. “But in the end, everybody’s living off of Medicaid, food stamps and everything else- those are the jobs they are promising for our people.”
Indeed, employment was a contentious issue, even among audience members.
While a handful of workers from electrical, plumbing and steam fitters’ unions praised the USTA for providing a steady stream of work during a down economy, other residents alleged the USTA doesn’t typically hire union workers, but simply does business with contractors who sub-contract to organized laborers.
Mary-Anne Rosa spoke as a representative for the central labor council and told the audience the council does not support the expansion due to the USTA’s alleged labor violations and a history of not contracting union work.
Union workers stated Rosa did not speak for them, while she maintained she spoke for the labor Council.
Other Board 4 News
The board voted to extend an existing “no standing regulation” on the 56th Avenue in front of Central Queens Academy. The regulation was extended from “No Standing 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.” to ” No Standing 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.”
Melissa Cole, the school’s operations manager told the board the school has two major release times- 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.-and that the extension would help ease release of students.
The space affected accommodates approximately 3 to 4 parking spaces.
The board had previously allowed a similar extension on Junction Boulevard. The school’s exit is located at the corner of Junction Boulevard and 56th Avenue.
The board also approved request for a bike corral at 42-09 82nd Street on the South side of Roosevelt Avenue.
The corral is meant to give cyclists a place to lock their bikes, which are currently being locked to trees, parking meters and gates along the street, Department of Transportation officials said.
The corral can accommodate up to 14 bicycles and would displace approximately one and one-half parking spaces, the DOT officials told the board.
The 82nd Street Partnership, which requested the corral, will be responsible for upkeep, including cleaning the area, maintaining the bike racks and maintaining the attached planters, according to officials.
Late in the evening, the board tabled a request to extend the radio dispatch license for Cibao Car & Limo.
According to District Manager Christian Cassignol, staff checked the records of 15 randomly selected drivers at Cibao and found a history of moving violations, including failure to stop at stop signs and red lights.
The owner explained that his drivers are independent contractors and not employees as such. The board considered extending his license for a short period, giving him time to correct his drivers or find new ones.
The owner, however, brought the wrong paperwork to the meeting and the board voted to table the issue- which Walker called “effectively a ‘no’ vote.”
Liquor Licenses
– The board renewed beer and wine licenses for El Sancho restaurant Corp., 71-30 Roosevelt Ave. in Jackson Heights; Mexport International, 96-14 Roosevelt Ave. in Corona; and Don Francisco Restaurant 40-56 Junction Blvd. in Corona.
– The board renewed liquor licenses for Dong Kee Restaurant, 75- 32 Broadway in Elmhurst; La Fusta Restaurant 80-32 Baxter Ave. (42-01 Layton St.) in Elmhurst.
– The Board denied new applicant Azoguenita Bakery & Restaurant 40- 26 National St. in Corona for a noshow/ failing to produce the proper documents.
– The board denied renewals for Global Entertainment Group, 77-17 Queens Blvd. in Elmhurst for a list of problems related to the location including multiple grand larcenies and assaults in front of the location, multiple summons for disorderly conduct at the location, summons for sale to an intoxicated individual, and summons for hiring unlicensed bouncers, as well as one account of shots fired at the location. The board denied a renewal application from Delicias Cuencanas Bar Restaurant Deli, 41- 07 99th St. in Corona for a no-show.
Those wishing to comment on any of the applicants may do so by calling Board 4 at the number listed at the end of this article.
The next Community Board 4 meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Apr. 9, at 7:00 p.m. at VFW Post #150 located at 51-11 108th Street in Corona. For more information, call the board’s office at 1-718- 760-3141.
