Queens Community Board 5 (CB 5) held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Christ the King High School in Middle Village.
CB 5, which serves the neighborhoods of Ridgewood, Maspeth, Middle Village, and Glendale, had several representatives of elected officials attend the meeting to outline their priorities and plans for the opening months of 2025.
Claire Collins, representing Queens Borough President Donovan Richards’ office, shared updates on several upcoming initiatives and events. She highlighted that applications for Queens Community Board membership are now open and will remain available until Feb. 14. Residents interested in applying or reapplying can submit their applications here.
Collins also announced a series of events hosted by the Borough President’s office. A virtual Parent Advisory meeting will take place on Jan. 14 at 6 p.m., inviting parents, caregivers, and students to participate. Additionally, the office will host a Haitian Independence Day celebration on Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. at Queens Borough Hall.
To close the month, a Lunar New Year celebration is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m., also at Queens Borough Hall. Those interested in attending any of these events can RSVP here.
Kate Boehm represented DA Melinda Katz at the meeting. She spoke about the recent revelation that a female homicide victim, whose identity had remained unknown for over 30 years, has now been identified as Judy Rodriguez.
In 1991, her body was found hidden off the Cross Island Expressway and the Southern State Parkway in Queens. Four men were arrested, charged, and convicted of murder in 1992 and 1993. The victim could not be identified at the time, but NYPD detectives made the crucial decision.
“Three decades ago, four men were convicted for the gruesome killing of an unidentified woman. Though justice was served, the family went 33 long years without any answers about their loved one,” stated Katz. “Thanks to our officers at the NYPD and the office of the Chief Medical Examiner, we have now provided these crucial details, which I hope brings a measure of solace. This case is a prime example of the determination of my Cold Case Unit in identifying victims and solving the Borough’s oldest and most challenging homicides.”
Tianna Armstrong, the representative of U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, announced that they will hold weekend hours at their office in Forest Hills on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The office is located at 118-35 Queens Blvd, Suite 900.
Meng’s Flushing office, located at 40-13 159th St., will also be open on Sunday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Phil Wong, representing Council Member Robert Holden, announced that the City Council is continuing to fund professional accountants to assist individuals with filing their taxes. This is free of charge and can be done in person, on Zoom, or through a filing app. These can be utilized here.
Holden’s next mission is to remove abandoned electronic waste. On Jan 25, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the office will hold a ‘Recycle E-Waste’ event at Rosemary’s Playground, where people can drop off their old TVs, microwaves, phones, cable equipment, and more.
Wong also revealed that on Feb. 11, their office on 69th St. will host a team from the Department of Finance from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. to help any homeowners who have issues with property tax or believe they are due a refund.
Kimberly Vega, representing Council Member Jennifer Gutíerrez, announced that their office is offering housing legal services on an appointment basis. Those interested must call the office at 718-963-3141 to schedule an appointment.
They are also looking for delegates for the Participatory Budget, so anyone interested can also call the office for more information.
District Manager Gary Giordano explained in his report that many felony crimes in the 104th Precinct have been reduced significantly over the last 30 years. However, he insisted that this is no reason to “let your guard down.”
Ridgewood resident Joan Bruno stepped up to the microphone during the public forum section of the meeting to discuss an issue she has been having while traveling along Fresh Pond Road. She brought attention to the idea of a left turn signal when going onto Metropolitan Avenue from Fresh Pond to help lift the congestion in the area.
“I just think that as traffic idles in front of the kids’ play place and taekwondo, they’re just smelling all that stuff with the cars and buses idling over there. I think it would be a good thing to move the traffic along,” she explained.
