Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together

COMET
Newsletter Fall 2015

104th Precincts Operation Clean Sweep

Illegally Parked Vehicles Removed More Parking
for Residents!
West Maspeth residents will now have more on-street parking thanks to Captain Gregory
Mackie, Executive Officer, and all the officers that assisted with this initiative on August 26th.
The initiative took place on Flushing Avenue in the vicinity of American Collision. Great work!

Photos compliments of 104th Precinct

Update on 69th Street/52nd Drive Parking Lot

In our last newsletter we reported that the vacant
corner property on 52nd Drive at 69th Street
was converted into a parking lot. We went on the
Department of Buildings website and saw that the
condition had already been reported. Violations
were issued for failure to comply with site grade
requirement which means the lot is causing improper
storm water run-off onto the adjacent property and
sidewalk, work was done without a permit for a 10foot curb cut and occupancy contrary to the zoning.
The owner accepted the stipulation (reduced fine)
and paid $400, $100 and $600 and was given 90 days
from the hearing date of February 24th to correct the
violations. After 90 days we visited the location, found without a curb cut presents a hazard and the 10-foot
nothing was corrected and immediately notified the sliding gate at the entrance into the lot on 52nd Drive
Department of Buildings.
for vehicles to enter via the illegal curb cut continues
In July, we were told new violations were issued to to reduce on-street parking for local residents.
the property owner. An ECB (Environmental Control
Board) violation in the amount of $800 was issued
for failure to comply with the site grade requirement
and a violation in the amount of $800 was issued for
failing to comply with a Commissioners Order in filing
a certificate of correction for the curb cut.

At the first hearing the fines were reduced. At the

Photo by
John Schaffer
second hearing the fines were increased.
According
to the Department of Buildings, fines could increase
until the property is brought into compliance.
Unfortunately, this process is slow and local residents
have lost on-street parking while the property owner
In late August we drove past the location and saw is making money for renting the space.
that none of the violations were corrected. The sliding
We will stay focused on this issue and continue filing
gate that was installed by the property owner for complaints. Hopefully the property owner will get the
vehicles to enter the lot near the corner of 69th Street message.

Thanks for Caring!!

Richie Polgar and his friend Louis Pivia, both certified
citizen tree pruners by the Parks Department, took
time over the summer to remove all the straps that
were steadying the trees around Maspeth H.S. As the
trees grew, the straps became too tight and started
cutting into the trees. The volunteers also pruned all
the dead branches from the 20 trees.
If anyone has a tree on city property that needs
pruning, let us know and well contact Richie. Citizen
tree pruners can only prune lower branches.
Richie Polgar

Pg. 2 Fall 2015 COMET

Louis Pivia

Update on Proliferation of Massage Parlors

in Elmhurst & Maspeth
three arrests and in June the Buildings Department
issued violations for occupancy contrary and
construction of seven rooms without a permit.
The location was subsequently closed for nuisance
abatement through a Court Order.
85-30 Grand Avenue In April the Buildings
Department issued an ECB violation for occupancy
contrary to the certificate of occupancy and a second
violation for no BSA Special Permit. In June the NYPD
made two arrests.
Two arrests were made at 85-30 Grand Avenue, Elmhurst

During the summer, we have trying to keep track

of the massage parlors that have been springing
up in the Elmhurst and Maspeth communities. The
number of massage businesses that have quietly
opened is mindboggling! Many of the businesses that
do manicures and facials are legal, but the trick is to
figure out which businesses are using this guise to
cover prostitution activities.
We reported a number of locations to the NYPD and
Buildings Department. The NYPD looks into possible
prostitution activities while the Buildings Department
looks into whether illegal construction took place and
determine whether or not the location has a Board of
Standards & Appeals (BSA) Special Permit to operate a
massage or spa business.
The NYPD may not be keeping us updated about all
the arrests that are being made since the massage
parlor business has exploded throughout the borough
and they are busy following up on complaints. We
are listing some of the locations that we are aware
of where NYPD made arrests and/or the Buildings
Department issued violations:
65-50 Grand Avenue - in March the NYPD made
two arrests. The location is now closed.

66-47 Grand Avenue one arrest was made in
March and in May and ECB violation was issued by the
Buildings Department for occupancy contrary.
66-51 Grand Avenue in March the NYPD made

85-10 Queens Boulevard, cellar and second floor

in June the NYPD made two arrests. Also in June, the
Buildings Department was denied access by females
in the cellar and on the second floor. We passed this
Photothat
by Mike
Fordunski
location in late August and it appears
these
two
businesses have closed. Well keep an eye on them.
84-14 Whitney Avenue only information we have
is that NYPD closed it down for nuisance abatement.
In addition to reporting locations to the NYPD
and Buildings Department, we have two volunteers
working with an organization
called RESTORE. At the
meeting with our volunteers,
the representative from
Restore explained that the
majority of their clientele is
Mandarin speaking. Lucky
for us, our volunteers speak
66-51 Grand Avenue in
Maspeth was closed for Mandarin. RESTORE has three
nuisance abatement
goals to help the women
and the community, one of which includes providing
knowledge and assistance with their medical, legal
status, employment and information about sexually
transmitted diseases.
We are cognizant of the fact that many of these
women are working as prostitutes because they want
to make quick money. In cases like this they need jail
time as do sex-trafficking victims who go back to work
as prostitutes. We will keep working on this issue.
Photos by Tom Porembski

COMET

Fall 2015 Pg. 3

Update on Elmhurst NYS DOT Gates

In our summer newsletter we reported that two
gates belonging to NYS Department of Transportation
(NYS DOT) in Elmhurst were unsecured. The problem
with one of the gates was brought to the forefront
when one of our members chased two youth who
were throwing rocks at a LIRR passenger train. The
youth gained access to the tracks via the fence on 85th
Street at 57th Road. The problem with the second gate
at 57th Road at 84th Street was called to our attention
by Comet member Richie Polgar.

Photos by
Geraldine Walsh

84th Street at 57th Road

The good news is that the gate on 57th Road at 84th

Street has been chained. The bad news is that NYS DOT
has not secured the gate on 85th Street at 57th Road
where the youth gained access to the tracks. Richie
Polgar, our go-to guy, is following up with Senator
Toby Staviskys office to see if the lot can be secured in
the near future.
85th Street at 57th Road

Dangerous Condition at
74th Street at 57th Avenue

Photos by Richie Polgar

Comet member Richie Polgar noticed that concrete

was falling from the LIE overpass at 74th Street on
the Maspeth, Elmhurst, Middle Village border, across
the street from Maspeth HS. Once again, he did his
civic duty and reported the dangerous condition.
Were glad workers came right away and rectified the
problem before the start of school. Thank you, Richie!!

Pg. 4 Fall 2015 COMET

69th Lane

Maspeth Gets New Pedestrian Ramps

West Maspeth
Some crosswalks are easier to install than others. We
received a call from a Block Captain alerting us about some
work being done on the corner of 59th Street at Grand
Avenue.

69th Place/Grand Avenue

69th Place/Grand Avenue

We spoke to a foreman at the site and asked if they were

working on a sewer project. He told us they were installing
crosswalks but since the sewer was located where the
crosswalk should be, it was necessary for them to dig up
the street and move the sewer line over.
If anyone knows of a location that needs a crosswalk,
please let us know.

69th Lane/Grand Avenue

During the summer, NYC DOT installed the curb cuts that
Comet requested to make crossing Grand Avenue safer for
pedestrians. Some of the curb cuts were made where one
side of the crosswalk had a curb cut but not the other. The
cuts in front of the Maspeth Library posed a more difficult
challenge because of the street light and fire hydrant were
where the curb cut should be. In order to address this
problem the curb cuts were moved over a few feet.
We first submitted this request back in 2008 when Comet
member Richie Polgar brought it to our attention. Since
then, Richie did a lot of follow up by reaching out to Council
Member Crowleys office. Residents, especially our seniors
and the handicapped, now have a safer Grand Avenue
to cross thanks to Richies and the Council Members
persistence.

e/Grand Avenue

Photos taken at 59th Street at Grand Avenue

COMET

Fall 2015 Pg. 5

Billboard Concern

Hookah Lounge Opens in

Winfield/Woodside

On his way to Target, Maspeth resident Tom

Porembski noticed that the billboard on the south
west corner of 56th Avenue and Queens Boulevard
appears to be held in place with straps. The biggest
concern is whether or not these straps would be
strong enough to hold the billboard in place during a
storm with high winds.
If something doesnt
look right, it should be
reported. Tom took this
photo and reported the
location to the Department
of Buildings in late August.
Were curious what the
response will be.
Photo by Tom Porembski

Photos by Tom Porembski

We received several calls

from residents questioning
the legality of the newly
opened hookah lounge
on 69th Street at Garfield
Avenue. The answer is that
hookah lounges are legal,
but in this case it would a
violation to use the yard as an outdoor caf. If the yard
is being used to do business, call 311 and indicate the
time that you observed the condition. The Department
of Buildings will determine whether or not a violation
should be issued.

To complain about the constant airplane noise

(too low/loud/or frequent) you can:
Call 1-800 225-1071
or file a complaint electronically at the link below
http://www.planenoise.com/panynj/daPRAbr9/qs114wbt.php

Upcoming Recycling Event,

VIN Etch & More on October 17th
On Saturday, October 17th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, at 69th Street and Grand Avenue, Maspeth Federal
Savings, Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, the 104th and 108th Precincts and Comet will give the
community the opportunity to shred valuable paperwork, recycle electronics and textiles and take
advantage of the free tree rain barrel give-a-way on a first come, first served basis. The NYPD will VIN
Etch your vehicle to deter car theft and register bicycles and cell phones to help recover them should
they be stolen. Our precincts can register vehicles, bikes and cell phones regardless of where you live.
NYC DOT will be handing out information on their Smart City Program. We encourage everyone to take
advantage of this event!!

Pg. 6 Fall 2015 COMET

Check out our website www.cometcivic.com for

upcoming meetings that resume in the fall.

Newsletter Committee

Dick Gundlach, Christina Wilkinson, Geraldine Walsh, Richie Polgar, Roe Daraio and Maspeth Press

A Special Thank You!

This newsletter is made possible by funding from Council Members Elizabeth Crowley,
Daniel Dromm and Jimmy Van Bramer through the Department of Youth and Community
Development.

Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together

We need
your support
to continue
our efforts in
the community.

COMET
Newsletter Fall 2015

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