Download - 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
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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
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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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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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Pg. 6 Summer 2016 COMET
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
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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
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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.
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C.O.M.E.T., INCP.O.Box 780151
Maspeth, NY 11378
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Have a Great Summer!