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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The extreme makeover of Queensbridge Park took another step forward last week with the ground-breaking for a new $6.25 million Park House that will replace an old dilapidated structure that stood unused for decades.

Demolition of the original facility, built in 1941, began in the morning of March 29 and City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) joined community leaders and city Parks officials for the ceremony at the 20-acre park. It runs along the waterfront beneath the Queensboro Bridge and directly across Vernon Boulevard from Queensbridge Houses, the nation’s largest public housing development..

“This new Park House will bring new amenities to all who use Queensbridge Park,” Van Bramer said. “Ensuring that this park has all the features and amenities needed to serve the seniors, families and children of Queensbridge and Western Queens has always been a priority for me. I have been working to bring improvements to this park since taking office and am proud to have secured funding for this Park House project.”

Since he took office, Van Bramer has secured in excess of $6 million for Queensbridge Park, which included $3.4 million to fix the once-crumbling seawall along with a 6-foot-wide promenade along the East River with benches, plantings and a small wharf. That area was later named in honor of longtime park advocate Elizabeth McQueen.

The new 1,500-square-foot field house will include a community room and office area for Parks staff, a public restroom, and storage space for athletic teams which compete on nearby baseball, football and soccer fields. It will be surrounded by an outdoor plaza area complete with seating, bicycle racks and drinking fountains. The building’s design includes: efficient plumbing fixtures to reduce water use; an energy-efficient heating and cooling system; energy-efficient lighting; increased ventilation; and light- colored paving to reduce the heat island effect.

Van Bramer allocated $2.5 millions in City Council funding with an additional $3.75 million from Mayor Bill de Blasio. The design was unveiled at a community event in 2017 and the facility is expected to be reopened in summer 2019.

“Queensbridge is a picturesque park with astounding views of the skyline, and an active community who loves and cares for it,” Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski said. “The new field house we are building will provide storage and office space for Parks staff, an indoor space for community programming, and — best of all — it will finally bring a bathroom facility to the southern end of the park.”

The only other comfort station in the park is on the north side of the site, at Vernon Boulevard and 41st Street.

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

Borough President Melinda Katz announced the appointment of 331 members to community boards across Queens Monday with up to 62 of them having no background in government.

Katz’s office claimed in a press release there was a concerted effort to balance experienced members with fresh voices in the neighborhood advisory boards and each member began their two-year terms on April 1.

“To serve on a community board is a significant commitment of time and energy, and the dedication demonstrated by each member is a testament to the strength of the civic life unique to our borough,” Katz said. “Thank you especially to the community board chairs, district managers and members, who all continue to do an extraordinary — oftentimes thankless job — for the people of Queens and of the city of New York.”

Queens has 14 of the city’s 59 community boards with CB 8 being the largest in the borough covering Kew Gardens Hills, Utopia, Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest, Briarwood, Jamaica Hills Jamaica Estates, Holliswood and Flushing South.

Community boards advise city agencies on zoning decisions, infrastructure and planning projects with each member being nominated by one of the two city council members within the district. The decision on members is finalized by borough presidents.

Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Community Board 1

TimesLedger Newspapers

Community Board 1 is launching a community survey to gather input from residents, business owners and other stakeholders in the Ravenswood neighborhood.

Spearheaded by the community board’s Land Use and Zoning Committee, the survey is designed to capture stakeholder thoughts on growth in Ravenswood, concerns about housing, new development, jobs and other issues, as well as express a vision for the future of this area of Astoria.

The western Queens neighborhoods of Greater Astoria and Long Island City have seen a tremendous amount of change and growth in the last several years. Often, as zoning and other changes are proposed, residents feel left out of the process. This survey will help the committee and the community board be responsive to community concerns when proposals are reviewed and ensure that the voice of the community informs the board’s recommendations on future rezoning actions and developments.

The survey will be available online in English, Spanish and Bengali beginning on or about Wednesday, April 4, through Monday, April 30, and will be disseminated via Community Board 1’s website, Facebook page, and Twitter account. Paper surveys will also be available.

Members of the Land Use and Zoning Committee will be visiting civic associations, community groups, and any interested organizations in Ravenswood to disseminate and collect paper surveys. For the sake of this survey, the Ravenswood neighborhood boundaries are Broadway to the north, 39th Avenue to the south, 32nd Street to the east and Vernon Bouleavrd to the west.

Ravenswood stakeholders who are interested in participating in the survey can visit the community board website, www.nyc.gov/queenscb1, where a link will be set up for direct access to the survey. The survey can also be accessed using the mobile codes shown on a flier that will appear in local newspapers and be distributed in the neighborhood.

To request paper copies of the survey, schedule a presentation at a community group site, assist with disseminating the survey, or for more information, please contact the Community Board 1 office at (718) 626-1021 or cb1qsurvey@cb.nyc.gov.

Community Board 1

Astoria

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and members the Independent Democratic Conference announced the reunification of the breakaway group and mainline Democrats Wednesday, citing attacks from the Trump administration on progressive values in New York as the reason for dissolving the IDC.

Cuomo led a Manhattan press conference with state Sens. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx) and Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) in which he referred to the federal tax plan as an “economic missile” launched at the state, while the anti-immigrant stance of the Trump administration was “repugnant” to the progressive values of New Yorkers.

“New York is under attack by an ultraconservative government in Washington that is threatening the progressive soul and economic base of our state,” Cuomo said. “Everything we stand for, they are against. Today, we are uniting the Democratic Party to fight a common enemy for the greater good. I want to thank all the individual members for putting aside their personal interests to unify as Democrats and continue to make New York the strong progressive leader that it is. But our work is not done. By joining together as Democrats, we will continue to fight to achieve the entirety of our bold agenda to make New York a fairer, safer, more equal state for all.”

The IDC, which now includes state Sens. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) and Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) was formed in 2011 in the hope of passing progressive legislation in the face of the conservative Republican majority in Albany.

Avella has said in months prior IDC members would consider reunification once Democrats have the majority in the senate.

“Gov. Cuomo, Senator Stewart-Cousins and I are united in our commitment to bring together the New York State Democratic Party and all Senate Democrats, with the common goal of protecting the people of New York State and solving the state’s most challenging problems,” Klein said. “Unity cannot wait until a special election. I commend the governor for his unyielding commitment to a successful unification and 2018 electoral victory that will send the message that we stand ready to confront any challenge that comes from Washington. Together, under Gov. Cuomo’s leadership, we are on the right path to demonstrate to New Yorkers and to this nation what we are made of, and the values that we stand for.”

Peace talks between the warring Democrats have been underway for months, however.

In December 2017, mainline Democrats launched an ultimatum against IDC members, warning that if they did not consider reunification and help reclaim two available seats in special elections, they would face intense primary challenges from within the party.

While IDC members weighed their options, political groups geared against the IDC were not backing down.

Up to 37 political action groups statewide signed on to a press release from progressive group No IDC NY, with statements accusing the IDC of caucusing with the GOP, blocking progressive legislation and only agreeing to a Democratic Party reunification deal to avoid primary challenges.

Avella remained circumspect at the time, however, claiming the IDC would remain in autonomous existence, but would operate in coalition with the Democratic Party. The members would continue to caucus amongst themselves; however, he said, making clear that despite rumors to the contrary, the IDC does not caucus with Republicans.

“I’ve always indicated that the conference, myself especially, have always been willing to have this conversation and form a coalition with the Democratic Conference once we have a majority and I stand by that. I’m ready to do that any day, once we have a majority,” Avella said in December.

The Republicans currently hold the majority in the state Senate.

Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

After spending the last 16 months as a member of the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference, state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) praised the deal brokered by Gov. Andrew Cuomo Wednesday that reunifies Democrats in the upper chamber in Albany.

Peralta and his seven former IDC colleagues rejoined the Democrats, led by Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and if the united party wins two seats in the special elections later this month, it will regain the majority in the state Senate.

“Since the election of Trump, my constituents, and the rest of New Yorkers, have been constantly under attack,” Peralta said. “This is why it is vital for all Democrats to work and fight together to protect all New Yorkers. Under the leadership of Gov. Cuomo, we will be able to promote our values and ensure our progressive common agendas moves forward.”

Seven of the eight former IDC members continue to face primary challengers, including Peralta. When Jackson Heights resident Jessica Ramos left a job in the de Blasio administration to mount a challenge against Peralta, she chose to announce her candidacy on the one year anniversary of Peralta’s announcement that he had joined the IDC.

In a letter to the IDC, Ramos and six other primary challengers made it clear they are pressing forward with their campaigns despite the Democratic reunification.

They wrote, “no Albany deal should or will prevent a competitive, healthy primary in which New Yorkers strongly consider your allegiance with Republicans.”

The group blamed the IDC’s power sharing agreement with the GOP that allowed the Republicans to hold the majority in the Senate since 2012.

“Because of your allegiance with the Republicans, the budget passed again this year with no Democratic state Senator at the negotiating table,” they wrote, while blaming the powers sharing agreement for the last seven Republican budgets in which 13 progressive initiatives were ignored or “severely” underfunded in the budget, including the DREAM Act, criminal justice reform, the Child Victim’s Act and funding for the MTA.

“During budget negotiations, you failed to represent the Democratic voters who elected you,” Ramos and her colleagues said. “At the polls this year, voters will not make the same mistake again. We will not allow you to mislead New Yorkers with false claims of Democratic unity.”

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Merle Exit

TimesLedger Newspapers

An opening night weather delay did not deter a great show for UniverSoul Circus at Roy Wilkins Park

The show got off to a rousing start with two groups of young cheerleaders taking the stage. Rather than having the ringmaster, Lucky Malatsi and his sidekick Zeke introduce the first act, UniverSoul Circus checks out the audience prior to the show and invites attending schools to showcase their talent.

The fashionable, colorful Fresh the Clowns are always scouting out the crowd perspective dancers for later in the show to add to the audience participation segments. Most of the younger crowd were able to sing along to the pop, classical R&B, hip-hop and Latin music, which set the mood for an energetic circus performance.

UniverSoul brought in performers from all over the world. Caribbean Dynasty, from Trinidad and Tobago, was the first act, a combination of flamboyant dancers and performers in masks on stilts. At one point, a limbo bar goes to six inches and ablaze.

There are three acts that involve the use of animals, the cutest being Pampered Pooches, a comedy act from Chile. Their costumes and playful antics delighted everyone, especially dog lovers.

Returning from last year’s show are the Flat Out Free-Style Riders Motorcross Dare Devils from right here in the United States. The door is opened at both ends of the big top as you hear their engines start, zoom and fly 30 feet into the air, jumping 75 feet across. It was quite exciting and brought you to the edge of your seat.

High wire and acrobatic acts are always a great circus jaw-dropper. That’s the case at UniverSoul, with an act from The Wiley Family from Columbia, which was composed of a six-person troupe with performers between the ages of 21 and 54. Skillful balancing certainly made the difference on the high wire. Nomads flew up there on their teeterboards.

Two acts — Morning Bird and Duo Amour, both from Havana — used poles to produce a more flowing type of entertainment.

Other performances added to the sounds of music and short delays led to on the spot ideas. such as throwing huge inflatable balls into the audience.

The circus will remain in Queens at Roy Wilkins Park — located between Merrick and Baisley boulevards in Jamaica — until Sunday, when it will break for a few days to set up at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. You can catch performances at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday; at noon, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.

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By Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

Mayor Bill de Blasio was in Jackson Heights last week for a town hall to announce progress on two major park projects in the neighborhood and extended trash pickups to combat litter. Some of the other announcements that elicited cheers from the hundreds in attendance involved education, hospitals, sanitation, transportation and public safety.

Fewer than 50 members of the throng who filled IS 145 — located at 33-34 80th St. — at the March 28 town hall knew that all middle schools in the city had free after-school programs, so the mayor asked the crowd to spread the word.

The mayor also notified attendees that preschool attendance has increased in the last four years from 58 full-time preschoolers to 1,573 in Jackson Heights, that every 3-year-old will have free preschool by September 2021 in the city and that PS 398 will open in the fall of 2019 at 69-01 34th Ave.

“This is a community where there is a real need for new school space,” de Blasio said of the overcrowded school district.

Repairs are about to start at PS 69 —located at 77-02 37th Ave. — and the mayor expects the work to be done by the end of April.

The two-acre Travers Park at 76-09 34th Ave. will open September 2019 and Diversity Plaza will become a permanent pedestrian space after an $8 million investment. The plaza’s grand opening is in July, the mayor said. Jackson Heights Library will also receive an $11 million face-lift.

After being informed that Elmhurst Hospital has the eighth busiest emergency room in the nation, the city has invested $30 million to expand and renovate both the ER and the hospital’s trauma center.

Many complaints were made about overflowing litter in Jackson Heights and additional year-round service was added to the area starting March 28.

There are now extra trash pickups on Fridays along 37th and Roosevelt avenues, while Broadway has gone from five to seven days of service each week.

The Department of Transportation will add more lighting fixtures for the 7-train from Roosevelt Avenue stretching from 71st to 81st streets. To tackle the congestion at 73rd Street and 37th Avenue, a new traffic agent will be at the spot starting April 2.

Some of the questions during the Q&A portion of the town hall were about the LGBT community at schools, school buses and gentrification in Jackson Heights.

“We have the most school buses in any city, but our air quality is the third worst,” said Tevin Grant, the founder of the Electric School Bus Campaign. “School buses harm the kids more than anyone else.”

Although Councilman Danny Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) has drafted a proposal for more electric school buses, the mayor said he was not aware of it.

“I have not read the legislation, but I do like the idea,” de Blasio said. “We are putting electric vehicle charging stations all over the city and it stands to reason that we want to go for the maximum amount of electric school buses.”

Stephen Petrus, a historian who works at LaGuardia and Wagner archives at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, asked the mayor about introducing curriculum to high schools.

“Noting that new Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza was starting his job this week, de Blasio said, “In San Francisco and Houston he focused on building curricula that reflected the whole community. This is something that we want to do a lot with to reflect the totality of our city.”

Ann Heppermann, a new Jackson Heights resident, feared she would no longer be able to afford to stay in the neighborhood due to gentrification.

“They say that Jackson Heights is an untapped asset,” Hepperman said. “They say that [Hayes Court] was supposed to be a rent-stabilized building, and I’m middle class. I’m not going to be able to enjoy the amazing things that are coming to Jackson Heights, because I’ll be gone.”

DSS Commissioner Steve Banks, who was in attendance, along with many of the city’s top officials, told Heppermann that no matter who buys her building that she still has her rent-stabilization rights. The mayor also offered her free legal service.

“As a general matter, if someone buys your building, it does not wipe out the rights that you have,” Banks said.

Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4573.

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