Parking Bills, Pub. Safety Top 104th Council
Parking rules, illegal conversions and plunging crime numbers highlighted the 104th Precinct Community Council meeting last Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village.
Business will resume at the State Capitol in Albany in January, andAssemblyman Mike Miller plans to reintroduce a host of public safety acts once the state legislature reconvenes.
Miller told residents much of the legislation was inspired by conversations he had with constituents regarding problems in their area.
One of Miller’s bills would prohibit vehicles with out-of-state license plates from parking on New York City streets during overnight hours. Temporary permits would be created and sold to those driving in from out of town and planning to stay in the city for a few days or hours.
“In our community, there are a lot of cars with out-of-state plates,” the assemblyman said, noting that he drafted the legislation “because a lot of us have problems parking our cars” on local streets.
Other bills Miller will reintroduce aim to prohibit the use of digital license plate frames that could distract drivers; impose higher penalties for those caught driving while fatigued; offer senior citizens discounts on their driver’s license renewal fees; and bar insurance companies from using a person’s credit to raise auto and property insurance premiums.
Calls to report violators
Illegal conversions remain the top complaint that the Department of Buildings (DOB) receives from residents living in Ridgewood, Glendale, Maspeth and Middle Village, according to Ken Lazar of the DOB’s Community Affairs Unit.
Lazar told attendees the DOB received 482 illegal conversion reports from the Community Board 5 area so far this year. Illegal conversions are any unlawful housing unit created in a home in violation of existing buildings or zoning codes, such as units in a below-grade cellar or having only one means of egress.
The Buildings Department is conducting a public education campaign, distributing fliers to subway riders and others advising them of the dangers of illegal conversions and how to report suspected violators.
“When you do hear of an illegal conversion, call 311,” Lazar said, urging callers-who can remain anonymous-to provide as much detail about the suspected violations as possible. Buildings inspectors will subsequently make attempts to visit the location and check for violations.
Should Buildings Department inspectors not respond to a complaint quickly, residents were advised to pass along the complaint-as well as the confirmation number received from the 311 operator-to Board 5 and local elected officials for follow-up.
Construction work without proper permits was the second most-reported violation reported to the DOB from the Board 5 area, followed by various other violations including illegal curb cuts, commercial vehicles parked in residential driveways and construction noise. Less crime, more enforcement
Entering the last six weeks of 2014, the 104th Precinct is “doing well,” Capt. Christopher Manson, the precinct’s commanding officer, reported. Overall major crimes are down 6.5 percent for the year and 26.5 percent for the previous 28-day period.
The captain told residents reductions occurred in every crime category, but burglaries, robberies and felony assaults had particularly massive decreases. Auto thefts are also down after being up most of the year.
Meanwhile, Manson stated, the precinct’s officers continue to make more arrests than in 2013 and have stepped up traffic enforcement details. Recently, he noted, the command conducted an operation targeting illegally parked commercial vehicles in residential areas of the precinct’s confines; 28 vehicles were ticketed, and two were towed away.
A Glendale resident informed Manson that trucks regularly and illegally idle for hours near businesses along 72nd Street off Doran Avenue. The commander said he would send officers to investigate the situation, noting the precinct has issued more 200 summonses for illegal idling this year.
Cops of the Month
Two School Safety Agents assigned to a Ridgewood school received Cop of the Month awards for helping police catch a man who exposed and fondled himself on the street in view of passing students.
School Safety Agents Reggie Cleveland and Michael Merritt, who are stationed at I.S. 77 at 976 Seneca Ave., observed a man pleasuring himself near the school at around 8 a.m. on Oct. 15 and alerted police.
In doing so, Manson said, the agents provided a detailed description of the suspect. Officers from the precinct busted the perpetrator moments later; a review of his record revealed that the suspect had been arrested 33 previous times for lewd behavior in front of minors.
“It’s a parent’s worst nightmare,” Manson said, noting that the agents’ actions in responding to the incident were “perfectly done and well executed.”
Cleveland and Merritt received plaques donated by the Times Newsweekly for their efforts. Helping Manson and 104th Precinct Community Council President Mario Matos present the awards were NYPD School Safety Agency Commanding Officer Suzanne Catoggio and Superintendent Madeline Correa.
The next 104th Precinct Community Council meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday night, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Regional High School, located at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave. in Middle Village. For more information, call the 104th Precinct Community Affairs Unit at 1-718- 386-2431.
