A fire that erupted from a cluster of illegally parked RVs and severely damaged the iconic Goodfellas Diner in Maspeth has reignited community outrage and renewed calls for stronger enforcement against unauthorized RV dwellings in New York City’s outer boroughs.
Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels and Republican mayoral candidate, is now demanding immediate action after witnessing the destruction unfold firsthand during a nearby campaign fundraiser.
The blaze began around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, when a propane tank exploded inside a parked RV. The fire quickly spread to neighboring RVs before engulfing part of Goodfellas Diner, a beloved neighborhood landmark at 56-26 Maspeth Ave. Sixty firefighters responded to the scene, and while two civilians were evaluated for injuries, both declined medical treatment.
This marks the second time in seven years that the famed diner, known for its retro design and appearances in various films and TV shows, has suffered significant fire damage
Sliwa, who was hosting a fundraiser next door at Clinton Hall at the time of the explosion, said the event exposed the growing danger of illegal RV encampments, which he says have become common in Maspeth and across other parts of Queens.
“This place is like RV hell,” Sliwa said. “I would say in the past year, from one or two or three RVs that people were living in, it’s now become the destination for people who want to live out, do drugs, sell drugs out of their RVs. They come right here, as they do in many other neighborhoods in the outer boroughs.”
According to Sliwa, the problem of RV encampments is widespread in areas like the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island, but is particularly acute in Queens, where enforcement has been largely ineffective. He pointed to former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s decision to shut down the Chelsea Piers tow lot—a designated impound location for RVs and other unauthorized vehicles—as the origin of the crisis.
Several local civic leaders and political candidates, including Alicia Vaichunas, a candidate for City Council District 30, and Tony Nunziato, President of the Juniper Park Civic Association, were with Sliwa at the fundraiser.
Vaichunas, who has deep family ties to the neighborhood and is also a small business owner, described how the RV situation has worsened to the point of near-daily disruptions.
“My family has been in this district for 100 years. I’m a small business owner, not only working for Council Member Holden,” she said. “This RV situation has been getting worse every day. We have three or four coming every night after being towed. Once they are towed, there is no regulation. All they have to do is send the tow truck, pick them up, and they’re right back on the street.”
She also noted that many of the RV dwellers are illegally tapping into local power sources and undermining security efforts.
“They’re not paying tax. They are also stealing from the electric company. We put up cameras for sanitation. They climbed up and cut them down so they don’t get caught dumping,” she added.
Nunziato echoed the concerns and emphasized the need for elected officials to better represent community concerns.
“This is what we’re looking for. We want elected officials who represent us. We want our voice to be heard by them, talking and representing us,” he said. “We have had nobody come and cover the areas like Curtis has. We need a Mayor that represents everyone and Curtis has been around everywhere representing them. We can’t have these campers all around, endangering our neighborhoods. Fires, drug dens, we have to make sure it stops and have a safe and respectful community.”
The incident has once again shined a spotlight on a larger citywide problem: the growing number of people living in RVs parked on city streets, often in violation of local laws.
While overnight RV parking and the presence of unregistered vehicles are technically illegal, enforcement remains inconsistent, with city agencies struggling to keep up with the volume of violations.
