comet summer 2016 newsletter

7/26/2019 COMET Summer 2016 Newsletter

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Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together

COMETNewsletter Summer 2016

If you see something, say something!

Counter Terrorism Hotline

1-888-692-7233 or 1-888-NY-SAFE

If you see something, send something.

Go to the APP Store, type in "see send".

You can attach photos or send information.

Lack of Tree Maintenance

Trip Hazards and Property Damage


2/8

Pg. 2 Summer 2016 COMET

Maspeth Earth Day Event April 16th

Sponsored by: Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, Maspeth Federal Savings,

104th& 108th Precinct & COMET

We had great weather for the Maspeth Earth Day event! Special thanks to Maspeth Federal Savings for leng us use their parking lot

and geng the shred truck, Council Member Elizabeth Crowley for geng the electronics truck and rain barrels, the 104th and 108th

Precincts for giving folks the opportunity to VIN Etch their vehicles and register their electronics, and our COMET members Geraldine

Walsh, Lucille Winsko, John and Shannon Connors, Richie Polgar and Chammy Liu for helping out.

Photos compliments of

Maspeth Federal Savings


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COMET Summer 2016 Pg. 3

Thanks for Caring!!Community acvist and Comet member Richie Polgar is

always looking to improve the quality of life in our community.

A concrete spill on the sidewalk at 69th Street and Grand

Avenue in Maspeth has been sing on the sidewalk for a

couple years and it irked him every me he passed by. The

viewing stand for events is set up here and he thought it wasa trip hazard for pedestrians. So what did he do? In early April

he went to the locaon with his ice chopper and removed

most of the concrete. Great job, Richie!!

Drug Bust in MaspethOn April 21st, members of the 104th Precinct An-Crime team

arrested a 37 year old male and a 27 year old female from

upstate New York who were delivering 130 decks of heroin to

the Maspeth/Middle Village area. This arrest was made in the

Vicinity of 56 Street and Flushing Avenue in Maspeth. The tota

quanty is 130 Decks of heroin. Great job!

Another Sinkhole onKneeland Avenue?

On May 7th, Block Captain Howard

Moskowitz noced what appears

to be another sinkhole forming on

Kneeland Avenue between Hillye

and Ireland Streets in Elmhurst

The sinkhole is adjacent to a patchof roadway that had a water main

break just a couple of months ago

Ireland Street also had a water

main break in the not too distant

past.

There has been no word back from

the Department of Environmenta

Protecon yet as to whether o

not a thorough study of the wate

mains throughout this area will be conducted. We will connue

to follow this issue closely. Photos by Howard Moskowitz


4/8


We all know the wheels of progress turn slowly in

government, but something needs to change quickly

before our neighborhoods deteriorate. Here are someexamples of the issues we have been working on.

84-52 Grand Avenue, Elmhurst

This building has been slowly deteriorang for at least two

decades. Residents have been turning it in to the Department

of Buildings as well as the Fire Department over the years and

it was recently turned in to the Department of Health when rats

were spoed.

The building hasnt been maintained and aer 20+ years we

can only assume the roof is leaking causing mold and possible

structural issues. Our biggest concern is for the safety and well-

being of the adjacent business owners and tenants who live

above the stores. Were not structural engineers and have no

idea what would happen to the adjacent buildings if this one

collapses. There are several open complaints that are in default.One violaon was issued for failure to maintain the building wall,

mortar missing and cracks in the brickwork at the second oor

to the roof. The agencies have told us there is nothing more they

can do.

The owner of the property is nowhere around, but we have found

out that someone from the neighborhood is paying enough taxes

on the property to keep it from going to aucon. We cannot

understand this logic! We are working closely with Council

Member Dromms oce and hope that this can be resolved in

the near future. Photos by Geraldine Walsh

A ulity pole that went on fre.

85-44 54th Avenue, Elmhurst

Lile is known about this property

other than it was vacant when itwent on re. The owners received

violaons, one of which was for

pung an addion on the house

for the purpose of installing a

three-piece bathroom. They are in

default for not paying the ne.

During mid-May we noed the

110th Precinct that the house was

unsecured. DI Manson went to the

locaon personally and found four homeless males living there

and told them to leave. Since no one knows where the property

owner is to press charges, the men couldnt be arrested for

trespassing. The Building Department was noed and hopefully

resealed the building.

We are working with Councilman Dromms oce to nd out wha

can be done to either tear the house down or force the property

owner, wherever he is, to repair it. Photos by Geraldine Walsh

48-03 72nd Street, Woodside

We recently spoed this house

which is located across the stree

of St. Marys in Wineld. The

house, which is adjacent to therailroad tracks and was listed fo

sale, went on re and was sealed

We didnt want to trespass to

check the rear of the house, but

have a concern someone may

break in and live there. Were

curious what caused the re.

Since the building is sealed, there is lile more the City can do

Something needs to change! Photo by Tom Porembski

Neighborhood Eyesores

Front

Rear

AerFire

BeforeFire

Photo by Dick Gundlach

Local Business ImprovesWinfeld/Woodside

Al Paradiso, Vice president of Internaonal Tool Manufacturing

with the help of Preston Rippe and Bryan Markell, turned his

rear yard into an aracve grassy area that has enhanced the

neighborhood. The 34-foot rear yard on a residenal block is

an island of green in a sea of concrete and brick. Mr. Paradisohas always been concerned about the neighborhood and has

urged other businesses to keep their part of the neighborhood

presentable. Internaonal Tool Manufacturing, located at 71-08

51st Avenue, is truly a valuable asset to our community.


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COMET Summer 2016 Pg. 5

Aer

1 Claremont Terrace, Elmhurst

We recently learned this building, which is located on Claremont

Terrace at Dongan Avenue, has been vacant for years. When

Comet Treasurer Geraldine Walsh called it to our aenon we

reached out to the 110th Precinct and asked them to check

to see if anyone was living there. The 110th Precinct found

numerous people there, but at the me did not have the property

owners contact informaon to see if he would be willing to le a

complaint. Community Aairs Ocer David Saponieri was able to

make contact with the owner of the property who said he would

le charges if anyone is caught in the building in the future.

We have been working closely with Sebasan Maguire at

Councilman Dromms oce to determine what can be done

to address this eyesore. There is one mystery that needs to be

solved. Sebasan discovered that the access to this property is

through a Department of Citywide Administrave Services (DCAS)

controlled street and we are curious how a building could be

developed when the only way of geng in and out is through

DCAS property. Councilman Dromm and Comet will connue to

look for a resoluon.

60-90 Flushing Avenue, Maspeth

This property has been

vacant for years. About ve

years ago, around the me

Hurricane Sandy hit New York,

scaolding was placed around

this property. The scaolding

is unlit and it is blocking

a community driveway.

Residents fear if a re should

occur, the Fire Department will

have trouble geng to the rear

of their homes. One homeowner wants to clean out his garagebut the truck cant get through. Chief-of-Sta Roman Paprocki at

Council Member Crowleys oce reached out to the Department

of Housing Preservaon and Development (HPD) and found out

the contractor that erected the scaolding sold the company to

another contractor and that accounts for some of the delay. The

good news is that thanks to Romans persistence HPD placed it in

a lien sale in May. The results of the sale will not be released unl

June. Well keep you updated.

Photo by Tom Porembski

70-09 52nd Avenue, Woodside

This house, which is right on

Maspeths border, went on re last

summer or early fall. There was some

damage to the adjacent home and

the repairs were done. Unfortunately

no one has seen the property owner

of this house nor has there been any

sign or repairs being done.

This is an aached home and it needs

to be repaired as soon as possible

An eyesore like this detracts from the

other homes on the block. Photo by Tom Porembski

40-40 69th Street

Comet Treasurer Geraldine

Walsh passes this house on

her way to work and took this

photo. Its outside of our area

but we felt something had tobe done and reported it to

the Buildings Department

Upon inspecon, evidence

was found that someone was

living there. The Buildings

Department issued a violaon that stated, due to re damage

structural stability compromise, all doors and windows are open

allowing unauthorized access.

If you see something, say something!

Grand Avenue at 69th Place

Last but not least, these old newspaper dispensers are a messThey are full of gra, no longer used and have been sing on

the sidewalk outside the former McDonalds for years. There are

more of these dispensers on 69th Street at Grand Avenue. We

are working with Council Member Crowleys oce to see what

can be done to have them removed.


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address the problem. Lets hope someone looks at it before a

storm topples it onto the house! Photo by Geraldine Walsh.

70th Street between 52nd Drive

and 53rd Avenue, Maspeth

Heres another leaning tree. If you look at the pole, which is

standing straight, you can see the angle of the lt. If there is astorm, this tree could topple on the property across the street.

This tree, on the same block, was planted last year and died

Someone nally came and cut down the tree and le a stump

The homeowner is wondering when the new tree will be planted

Photos by Tom Porembski.

53rd Avenue between Van Horn and Haspel Streets, Elmhurst

This tree has dead branches

ready to fall. The tree is liing up

the homeowners sidewalk. The

sidewalk is repaired and the roots

li it up again. The homeowner, asenior cizen, must get the sewer

line to her house cleaned once

or twice a year because of the

roots. Property owners shouldnt

have to pay for damage to their

property because of a city

owned tree. Photos by Tom Porembsk

Lack of Tree Maintenance isa Cause for Concern

Trees are great for the environment. They help clean our air and

soak up water to help prevent ooding. However, if the trees

are not maintained or the proper species of trees are planted,

they can become a serious problem and cause a trip-hazard, tear

down ulity wires or even topple onto someones house or car.

70th Street between 52nd Drive and 53rd Avenue, Maspeth

This tree was reported to 311 four years ago and they will

not take another complaint. Nothing has been done and the

condion is geng worse. You can see, the tree routes have

cracked the concrete inside the gate almost to the garage! This

block is a direct route to Grand Avenue and IS 73. Its a maer of

me before someone gets injured. The homeowner has since put

down asphalt to help prevent someone from tripping.

Photos by Tom Porembski

55th Avenue at Haspel

Street, Elmhurst

The homeowner came out of

his house one morning and

noced the tree in front of

his house shied overnight

and lied up the sidewalk. He called 311 and explained his

concern about the tree falling.

He has since found out that the complaint was "closed" and has

no idea if Forestry came out and checked the tree or plans to


7/8

Report Plane Noisehp://www.planenoise.com/panynj/daPRAbr9/qs114wbt.php

Comet Updates

To get the latest Comet and neighborhood news all in one place, join our Google Group CometUpdates. If you do not already

have a Google account, you can create one at: hps://accouncts.google.com and then search and subscribe to CometUpdates

by entering your email address at hs://groups.google.com

Newsletter Committee

Mike Fordunski, Tom Porembski, Geraldine Walsh, Chrisna Wilkinson, Richie Polgar, Dick Gundlach, Howard Moskowitz,

Roe Daraio and Maspeth Press

Upcoming C.O.M.E.T. Meetings

Check our website www.cometcivic.com in August to nd out the date and locaon of our September meeng.

Special Thank You

This newsleer is made possible by funding from Council Members Elizabeth Crowley, Daniel Dromm and Jimmy Van

Bramer through the Department of Youth and Community Development. State funding was provided by Assembly

Member Marge Markey and is used for gra removal and the Maspeth Memorial Day Parade.

Woodside ResidentsPleased to See

Illegally Parked School

Buses TowedIn response to community complaints regarding the illega

storage of school buses in the vicinity of 67th Street and 51st Road

outside of PS 229, Captain Wachter, 104th Precinct, conducted an

invesgaon into certain companies constantly parking buses fo

extended periods of me. This invesgaon revealed that two

of these buses were illegally registered and being stored with

mismatched plates. The 104th Precinct towed the two buses and

they were impounded. Captain Wachter promised to keep up the

enforcement.


8/8

C.O.M.E.T., INCP.O.Box 780151

Maspeth, NY 11378

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check out our website at

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Have a Great Summer!

comet summer 2016 newsletter

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