Queens Council Member Robert Holden sharply criticized the New York City Office of Media and Entertainment (NYC MOME) last week following a film production’s use of multiple Middle Village blocks for parking spaces.
Holden, who represents neighborhoods in District 30, which includes Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, Rego Park and parts of Ridgewood, said the film production took approximately 100 parking spaces throughout the day on Monday, Aug. 5, and caused disruptions throughout the neighborhood.
Holden claims his attempts to contact the production’s location manager to work on a better parking plan and NYC MOME were unsuccessful. He blames the agency’s commissioner, calling Pat Swinney Kaufman “completely clueless” about the issue.
“This incident is yet another glaring example of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment being asleep at the wheel,” said Holden. “Production companies run rampant, seizing as much parking as they please, idling, making noise at night and even occupying more space than their permits allow. It’s clear that MOME is on autopilot, and the community is suffering as a result.”
A film production for a television series called “Gary, The Dog,” scheduled to film on location at 75-05 Caldwell Ave. in Middle Village, on Monday, requested nine separate parking locations, according to an event notice shared by Holden’s office.
The majority of those parking spots were located on 57th Avenue between 73rd Place and 80th Street and stretched between Eliot Avenue and Caldwell Avenue, among other blocks.
Film production agencies looking to shoot in NYC are given a Code of Conduct when applying for a permit, which outlines the potential suspension or revocation of a permit if in violation, as listed on the NYC HOME website. An expensive penalty for any production could also be levied if found acting out of the code of conduct.
In a statement obtained by QNS, NYC MOME said it promptly took appropriate action toward the film production’s actions and has worked to keep community needs at the forefront.
“The NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment has been alerted to a violation of a filming permit, and we have initiated the appropriate protocol to address the issue with the production,” a spokesperson from NYC MOME said. “This office and administration remains committed to supporting film/TV production in NYC while balancing the needs of New Yorkers and local communities.”
The city’s film, media and entertainment agencies have also taken measures to improve communication between the public and film production agencies. In 2022, the agency began requiring each city agency to have a film office liaison who would oversee communications between the city entities and the public.
Overall, Holden urges NYC MOME to enforce its rules more strictly and collaborate with the residents in the communities where filming is taking place.
