Again it has happened. I come down the sidewalk along the Clearview Expressway service road on my motorized scooter and vehicles from Star Nissan block my way because they are parked on the sidewalk. I, as a handicapped person in my 80s, have to risk my life and go out into the service road, where vehicles are speeding off the expressway trying to make the light at Northern Boulevard.
I demand the vehicles be moved so I can pass safely. I have complained constantly about this — even met with elected leaders and spoken to the police many times — yet the problem persists.
It is not only me that this affects. Pedestrians from the elderly grandmother to the child on his or her way to and from school who do not complain as I do have to risk their lives and walk into the street around the vehicles because of this business operated by people who do not care.
Will it take a death or serious injury before a change is seen? Vehicles are also parked often on the sidewalk in front of auto businesses along Northern Boulevard, and the “No Standing” zone along the service road next to the business is frequently blocked illegally with their vehicles restricting the flow of traffic.
Look at Nissan’s parking lot, in the rear of its property in the residential area. It is only supposed to park 22 cars there, according to its certificate of occupancy. Yet there are always more vehicles than that squeezed into that area, sometimes close to 70 vehicles. Local residents have to put up with that and it devalues our homes.
Violations mean nothing to Star Nissan, owned by Mr. Koufakis. This business owes $16,000 in city Environmental Control Board fines, according to the city Department of Buildings website. Yet nothing happens to it. I blame the DOB and city Board of Standards and Appeals for not enforcing the certificate of occupancy of this business.
These agencies need to be investigated. They are useless and incompetent. Mayor Bill de Blasio and city Public Advocate Letitia James should take the initiative to begin an investigation.
When I go by the Dodge-Jeep dealership, on Northern Boulevard and 212th Street, it is the same problem. Vehicles are usually blocking the sidewalk on both sides of this business, on 212th and 213th streets. Why don’t the people ticketing the parked cars, whose time has expired on 213th Street, issue violations to the Dodge-Jeep people for blocking the sidewalk?
I have seen these meter people pass right by vehicles blocking the sidewalk by this business. More police action is needed on both car dealerships.
What disturbs me is the lack of respect these and some other local businesses have for the community where they operate and make their money. They flaunt the law continuously and they have no regard for the safety or rights of their neighbors. I believe there is a racial component to these problems. Many people living in this area are people of color.
This behavior has to change and these businesses and the city agencies must be held accountable for these transgressions. If all else fails, the businesses should be padlocked and put out of business.
Mandingo Osceola Tshaka
Bayside
