QNS and the Mayor’s Office are proud to present a new weekly column in which Mayor Bill de Blasio answers your questions about issues that concern you the most. If you have a question about anything going on in the city, in your neighborhood, or on your block, we want to hear from you! Email us at editorial[@]qns.com and Mayor de Blasio will get you an answer!
New High Line or Rockaway Beach Line?
Question: Many residents in southern Queens are clamoring for more public transit, and they view the abandoned Rockaway Beach line between Rego Park and Ozone Park as an opportunity to bring new rail service. But others are considering creating a public park similar to the High Line in its place. What’s your opinion on what should be done there?
Mayor de Blasio: The Rockaway Beach line is an important asset, and we look forward to working with the community to explore the feasibility of options for its future.
Vandalism of private property & graffiti
Question: Graffiti continues to be a problem in many Queens neighborhoods. What should residents do when they see vandalism on private or public property? What is the city doing to quickly remove graffiti from public locations?
Mayor de Blasio: I’m glad you asked! We just launched CleaNYC, a new initiative that will significantly expand our successful Graffti-Free NYC program, while also providing sidewalk powerwashing for key commercial corridors in Queens and around the city, and expanding Sanitation’s litter basket service and highway cleanup. CleaNYC is aimed at keeping communities clean and improving quality of life, a priority of this administration.
Residents can call 311 or visit Graffiti-Free NYC’s website to report graffiti and learn more.
What to do about illegal conversions?
Question: What should residents do if they believe a next-door neighbor has an illegal conversion in their home? When can the resident expect that their complaint will be answered, inspected and resolved?
Mayor de Blasio: They should call 311. As for time frame, it depends on the problem. See below:
General Background on Violations: HPDonline provides access to violations of record of the New York City Housing Maintenance Code and the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law in privately owned residential multi-family buildings in the City of New York. These laws state that it is the responsibility of owners to provide essential services, to maintain their properties in habitable conditions, and to correct and repair housing code violations. For information on having violations dismissed, go to our webpage on Correcting Violations.
The violations fall in three classes:
Class A: Non-hazardous, such as minor leaks, chipping or peeling paint when no children under the age of 6 live in the home, or lack of signs designating floor numbers. An owner has 90 days to correct an “A” violation and two weeks to certify repair to remove the violation.
Class B: Hazardous, such as public area doors not self-closing, inadequate lighting in public areas, or vermin. An owner has 30 days to correct a “B” violation and two weeks to certify the correction to remove the violation.
Class C: Generally, immediately hazardous, such as inadequate fire exits, rodents, lead-based paint, lack of heat, hot water, electricity or gas. Generally, an owner has 24 hours to correct a C violation and five days to certify the correction to remove the violation. If the owner fails to comply with emergency C violations such as lack of heat or hot water, HPD initiates corrective action through its Emergency Repair Program. Heat and hot water violations must be corrected.
