Push For Vigilance At Board 4 Meet
Crime is down around Corona and Elmhurst, but vandalism is still a problem, the 110th Precinct’s executive officer told Queens Community Board 4 during its meeting last Tuesday, Apr. 9, at Corona’s Flanders Field VFW Post 150.
According to Capt. Ralph Forgione, the number of reported incidents is down 12 percent year to date in the seven categories officers use to analyze crime rates.
He said phone snatchings are still a common problem that can be avoided by vigilance and situational awareness.
“You’ve really got to speak to your kids-and even to yourselves- don’t hold [your phone] in your hands. Put it in your pocket,” he said.
Forgione moved from the 112th Precinct to the 110th Precinct, because he works well with Deputy Inspector Leyson, the precinct’s commanding officer, Forgione said.
“It’s not a coincidence that we’re down almost 12 percent in crime since I got here-that’s all I do,” Forgione said.
One board member complained about an influx in graffiti around the precinct.
Forgione told her the precinct has leads that it is aggressively pursuing.
“You see the big bird out there yet?” he said refering to a particular tag. “We already know who that person is.”
The problem, according to Forgione, is officers have to catch the vandals in the act.
“There are one or two people that are killing us-we can’t catch them,” he said. “When we do catch them, they’re probably going to be locked up on 35-40 counts.”
He urged attendees to call 911 when they see vandalism or suspicious persons.
Board member Lucy Schilero asked about an elderly man who was stabbed on Apr. 9 in Rego Park.
Forgione said the victim is alive and recovering. He was attacked by two men, and the department is in the process of recovering surveillance footage from four locations that may have picked up the incident, Forgione said.
Green thumbs in Board 4
New community board member Jennifer Chu received a grant from the Citizen’s Committee for NYC to build a community garden in Elmhurst, according to District Manager Christian Cassagnol.
He told the board about the Corona Taxpayers Garden on the corner of Radcliff Avenue and 102nd Street, saying it was coming along nicely.
He also mentioned a plot of land on 44th Avenue and 111th Street that may be developed into a garden. Cassagnol said that a group of community members asked for a letter of support to start a garden at the location.
Bike corral done
The bike corral being installed as a partnership between the 82nd Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) is finished, Cassagnol said.
The corral was built so residents and restaurant delivery people could stop locking their bikes to trees, gates and signposts in the area, DOT officials told the board at its meeting last month. The corral, including planters built in the area, will be maintained by the BID, officials said.
Car services roll ahead
Two car services received approval for license renewals and one service was approved for a corporate change.
Mexicana High Class Inc. (DBACapital Car Service) at 49-07 103rd Street in Corona and Cibao Radio dispatch at 112-44 Roosevelt Ave. in Corona were allowed to renew their licenses.
Cibao came before the board last month, and the board voted to extend its license for two weeks due to a number of infractions Cibao’s drivers had incurred. The extension was meant to give the company time to address the issues with its drivers, Cassagnol said.
The drivers are independent contractors and Cibao acts only as a dispatcher, the owner said.
According to Cassagnol, the board went beyond its duties in researching the car service. He said Apr. 9, that once the license renewals reach the community board, they have already been cleared with the Taxi and Limousine Commission, and no research is required of the board. Full license renewals extend car services’ ability to operate for three years.
The board also approved a corporate change for Dominica Limo Service at 93-04 Corona Ave. in Elmhurst.
Liquor license applications
The board approved liquor, wine and beer license applications for Six Brothers 41 Corp. at 108-10 41st Ave. in Corona; Betty’s Catering Corp. at 94-33 Corona Ave. in Corona; and Luz de America Restaurant Inc. at 104-30 Roosevelt Ave. in Corona.
The board approved beer and wine only license applications for Pollo Y Mas Corp. (DBA Tropic Pollo) at 90-59 Corona Ave. in Elmhurst; Los Cailpoties Corp. (DBA Los Chipotles) at 77-04D Roosevelt Ave. in Jackson Heights; Thai Son Queens Inc. at 40-10 74th St. in Elmhurst; Tacos Mexico Corp. at 41- 10 102nd St. in Corona; Mama Leti’s Incorporated at 40-07 Junction Blvd. in Corona; and Fiesta Latina Sports Bar Corp. at 102-30 43rd Ave. in Corona.
The board denied a new application from Pizza Primera LTD at 55- 09 97th Pl. in Corona. It also denied renewals for Ramon C. Sierra (DBA El Carmelo Coffee Shop) at 99-27 43rd Ave. in Corona and Heroico Paysandu Inc. at 89-08 Queens Blvd. in Elmhurst. The board denied a corporate change for La Marina Restaurant Corp. at 101-17 43rd Ave. in Corona. The restaurant was seeking a liquor, wine and beer license.
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.
Community Board 4 meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month. Public hearings begin at 7 p.m., and meetings begin at 7:30 p.m.
The next Community Board 4 meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 14, 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.
