Community Board 10 held its last meeting of the year on Dec. 2 in South Ozone Park and wrapped up business in 33 minutes, a record, according to Chairwoman Betty Braton.
Board members heard from state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) who discussed his view on the state bailing out the cash-strapped New York City Off-Track Betting Corp.
He said the days of writing a blank check to bail out any entity at this point has to be considered very cautiously. He added that although he is very concerned about 1,000 people losing their jobs at city OTBs centers if it closes, he is hopeful that something can be worked out in Albany to keep it open.
“Hopefully we can save these jobs and hopefully work out an arrangement, but I am not prepared to make Medicaid cuts and cuts to services for our seniors or youth or anyone just to bail out the OTB,” he said.
The Senate on Tuesday, however, rejected the OTB rescue plan, and its doors may shut before the end of the year.
In other business, CB 10 Budget Committee Chairman Sean McCabe reported that although community boards have been exempted from the newest citywide budget cuts, they were recently informed that they would not receive the additional $8,000 each that was promised to them by Mayor Bloomberg in November.
Braton said that the board had received a notice of application for a liquor license filed with the state Liquor Authority by the Ballroom Company, Inc. seeking to open a billiards parlor at 98-07 Liberty Ave. in Ozone Park, site of the former Chemistry Lounge, which was closed for allegedly violating state liquor laws. It was also the site of alleged numerous violent altercations.
District Manager Karyn Petersen reported that Con Edison residential electric customers in one-to-four family homes are eligible for cash incentives for recycling their old, energy-wasting, “second” refrigerator. The utility will remove regular-sized, extra refrigerators, which are often kept in garages and basements, at no charge.
The utility will also collect and recycle old, inefficient window or wall air conditioners. Con Edison customers will receive $30 for second refrigerators, $35 for window air conditioners and $100 for wall air conditioning units. Appliances must be in working condition in order to be picked-up and recycled. For more information, call 1 (800) 430-9505.
Braton informed the audience that Genting New York, which will be operating a casino at Aqueduct Race Track, now has a website for job opportunities and other information, www.rwnewyork.com.
