Grandmother Uses Whistles To Protect Queens Neighborhood Reported by Monica Morales - WPIX

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With NYPD Comstat Stats just out, and assaults, burglaries, and grand larcenies are all jumping double digits from last year, one Woodlawn woman is on a mission to change that.

Maria Thomson, the President of the 102nd Precinct Community Council, is taking to the streets, armed with whistles. Thomson has raised hundreds of dollars for whistles and was handing them out at trouble spots in her neighborhood.

The idea, she says, is to whistle if you are in trouble to get a police officer's attention. New Yorkers have mixed feelings about this old-fashioned crime fighting approach.

Woodhaven resident Chino Rivera said, "I'll whistle after I knock them out. That's a real New York answer isn't it?"

While other New Yorkers praised Thomson and her efforts like George Penetta. Penetta said, "Thanks for caring about our neighborhood."

While some crime was up, 102 precinct officers were able to reduce robberies by 25 percent and misdemeanor assaults by 31 percent, according to the new stats. The NYPD did not comment on this story.

The Liberation of Liberty Avenue by Tonia N. Cimino - The Queens Courier

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Margaret Finnerty of the Richmond Hill South Civic Association and City Councilmember Eric Ulrich test out the power washer after announcing an expanded graffiti removal program.

Liberty Avenue will soon be liberated from graffiti, thanks to City Councilmember Eric Ulrich.

On Tuesday, September 21, he announced the continuation and expansion of his comprehensive graffiti removal program in District 32. The joint effort with the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation has already cleaned up hundreds of properties, and this year is being expanded to include regular maintenance of Liberty Avenue and second floor locations.

“We are well on our way towards eliminating graffiti vandalism in our community,” said Ulrich. “With the addition of Liberty Avenue to the program, we are making these eyesores a thing of the past.”

Bruce Pienkny of CitySolve, Maria Thomson of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corp, Margaret Finnerty of the Richmond Hill South Civic Association and area business owners and residents joined the Councilmember along Liberty Avenue to kick off the effort.

Last year the program focused on 101st Avenue, Woodhaven Boulevard and Rockaway Boulevard. This year, it has been expanded to also include an initial cleanup and monthly maintenance of Liberty Avenue from 75th Street to Lefferts Boulevard.

“It’s the monthly maintenance that ultimately keeps the problem under control,” said Pienkny. “We clean it up, and then maintain, maintain, maintain.”

Residents can still call the Councilmember’s graffiti removal hotline at 718-738-1429 to report any locations within the 32nd District that are in need of cleanup.

Woodhaven's Neir's Tavern Grand Reopening - Oldest Bar in NYC...YouTube by Bobby G Savorett

The Grand Reopening of historical Neir's Tavern (87-48 78th Street, Woodhaven, NY) was held on Thursday June 24th...

Here are a few photos from the reopening:

Owners Andy Bigans, David Eng, Alex Ewan and Loycent Gordon (l-r)

Andy Bigans, Mario Thomson & Lisa (Greater Woodhaven Development Corp), Democratic District Leader Eleanor Errante and David Eng

YouTube by Bobby G Savoretti...

The bar was prominently displayed in two scenes in the 1990 Martin Scorsese film "Goodfellas", about local mobsters Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), Tommy Devito (Joe Pesci), and James "Jimmy" Conway (Robert Deniro)...

This historical marker appears outside the establishment:

See previous post: Article from the NY Daily News by Lisa L. Colangelo

Ugly J Train El Finally Slated for Much-Needed Facelift Says MTA by Lisa L. Colangelo - NY Daily News

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The long-neglected J train el, which casts a gloomy shadow over Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven and Richmond Hill, is slated to get a facelift next year.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials told City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley on Wednesday that part of the span will be repaired and painted forest green, Crowley said.

The underside of the tracks is currently marred by chipped paint as well as dirt and grease that have accumulated over decades. Residents and merchants alike have griped that the elevated tracks are an eyesore that hurts the lively shopping strip.

"I'm just thrilled," said Maria Thompson of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corp. "It will be such a psychological lift. We're so tired of bolts falling from it, and the rust and how embarrassing it looks."

The 30-month project, tentatively scheduled to start next year, would rehabilitate steel girders and paint almost 3 miles of the line between the Cypress Hills station and 130th St.

The work is expected to cost between $20 million and $30 million.

Crowley, along with Councilman Eric Ulrich, state Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. and Assemblyman Mike Miller have been pressuring the MTA's New York City Transit to spruce up the unsightly structure.

"This renovation will not only serve as a vehicle for economic growth in the area but will create a safer environment for residents and shoppers," Crowley said.

Steve Esposito, who owns the Orthopedic Shoe Clinic on Jamaica Ave., said the announcement is good news for local store owners. "Anything that brightens up the neighborhood is always going to help," he said.

"We take care of our properties. They should have done this 10 years ago."

But Esposito said he won't celebrate until he sees the work actually being done.

"We've been promised this before," he said

Forest Park Carousel May Ready to Take Another Spin by Lisa L. Colangelo - NY Daily News

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The historic Forest Park Carousel, shuttered for over a year, may spin again this summer.

The city Parks Department said it is in negotiations with a new concessionaire to operate the carousel, a hand-carved treasure that dates back to the early 1900s.

City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village), who has been pushing Parks officials to find a new vendor, said it is slated to reopen by mid-July.

The carousel fell silent after the previous vendor, New York One LLC, let its contract expire last year. Civic leaders complained that the company allowed the carousel and the surrounding grounds to deteriorate.

Earlier this year, the Parks Department dismissed New York One as the vendor of the Central Park Carousel for failing to maintain and clean that famous attraction.

Local residents are hoping a new vendor will return the Forest Park Carousel to its former glory.

"I hope they are really vetting them well because we don't want another vendor coming in and abusing the area," said Maria Thomson of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corp. "It should be a destination and a place where people can go and enjoy the park."

The carousel was crafted by Daniel Carl Muller, considered by experts to be a master woodcarver of the genre. It's one of two Muller carousels still in operation. The other is in Ohio.

"It's priceless," said Patrick Wentzel, who keeps a census of carousels for the National Carousel Association. "The carvings are exquisite. They are so lifelike."

The carousel was brought to Forest Park from Massachusetts in the early 1970s to replace one that burned down nearly 10 years earlier.

But by the early 1980s, it had fallen into disrepair. Artist Marvin Sylvor stepped in and meticulously renovated the carousel, which reopened to great fanfare in 1989.

But vendors have previously complained that the carousel, which is tucked away between Woodhaven Blvd. and the Forest Park Bandshell, has never been a moneymaker.

Wentzel said the NCA provides grants to help maintain historic carousels.

"The Forest Park Carousel is fun for children and nostalgic for adults - but it's also of interest to those who appreciate art and history," said Ed Wendell, president of the Woodhaven Residents' Block Association. "It is very unique, and if it's not taken care of it will be irreparably damaged and lost forever."

There Is Relief For Annoying Signs by Domenick Rafter - Queens Tribune

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Those ugly signs often spotted nailed to telephone poles and lampposts throughout the borough advertising such services as “Refinance your Homes,” “Sell Your Home Fast!” and “Get Rid Of Insects,” are illegal and one neighborhood civic group is taking them on.

After spotting signs along residential streets in Woodhaven, the Woodhaven Residents Block Association took action and discovered the signs are actually illegal. The NYC Department of Sanitation’s code specifically bans the posting or painting any type of printed material on any type of public property, including fences, telephone poles, and traffic lights.

The WRBA is calling on residents in Woodhaven to contact them if they see signs on residential streets. To report signs along Jamaica Avenue, residents should call the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation.

“The intent is not to routinely bust people and cause them to pay large fines. It may be that they are unaware of the law,” said Ed Wendell, WRBA President on his blog Project Woodhaven. “The WRBA is doing them a favor by warning them.”

WRBA spokesman and Community Board 9 member Alex Blenkinsopp said one company who has been posting signs in Woodhaven has been put on notice and will be again before the WRBA reports them to the city.

“It looks like they took down some of the signs, but not all of them,” Blenkinsopp said. “We’ve had partial success. We will contact them one more time and then report them to our council members and the Department of Sanitation.”

According to the law, each sign is a separate violation and the first offense is a fine of $75-$200. Each subsequent offense carries a fine of between $150 and $300. That means someone with 10 signs could face fines of up to $2,900, plus the cost of taking the signs down.

Similar problems with signs have been reported elsewhere in the borough, most recently in Flushing, Richmond Hill, and Woodside.. Residents in those neighborhoods can report the signs to the local community board or city councilmember’s office or take the signs down themselves. Blenkinsopp noted it was important that anyone who reports the signs take pictures; otherwise fines could not be imposed.

Poof! Parking Takes a Toll on Residents, Local Businesses as Spots Vanish in Woodhaven by Lisa L. Colangelo - NY Daily News

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Deli owner Mark Gallagher shows several tickets he’s received for parking in unmetered area near his Jamaica Ave. business. Farriella for News

Woodhaven has many qualities of a small town: People know their neighbors, have lived in their homes for decades and can tell you exactly where to shop.

When it comes to parking, however, the 1-square-mile neighborhood has some big-city problems.

Shoppers, merchants and residents jockey for spots along Jamaica Ave. and its side streets. Even residential blocks aren't immune from chronic parking shortages, worsened by outdated rules and patchwork enforcement that also plague other areas highlighted in the Queens Parking Crunch series.

More and more, homeowners are turning their front yards into parking spaces. The curb cuts they create take away even more spots on the crowded streets.

"There are too many cars in a small area," said Rose Palmeiri, 70, who has lived in Woodhaven for 50 years. "My husband rents a garage because there is just no parking. Years ago it was not like this."

Some residents say part of the problem stems from a surge in the number of illegal conversions. Homes originally built for one or two families now house even more.

Others say the neighborhood is flooded with cars that have out-of-state license plates and can clog up spots for weeks at a time.

The Woodhaven Residents Block Association recently vowed to track down owners of these cars and send them a warning. If that doesn't work, they plan to contact the state's Motor Vehicles Department.

"My house was built in 1919," said Vance Barbour, 51, who moved to Woodhaven 23 years ago. "It wasn't meant to be for people with multiple cars per family."

He rents a garage down the block, but that doesn't always help.

"If people don't find a spot by the end of the night, they park in the driveway of my rented garage," he said.

Barbour said the city should crack down on people who build curb cuts in front of their homes.

"That just takes away a street spot," he said.

Maria Thomson of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corp. said the situation worsened after the city changed parking meter fees. Instead of 30 minutes, a quarter now only pays for 20 minutes of parking.

Merchants say the parking crunch has hurt their businesses that are already suffering in a tough economy. And they are irritated that the city looks to traffic tickets as an important source of revenue.

"If shoppers can't park, they won't go to local stores," said Mark Gallagher, owner of the Manor Deli at 94-12 Jamaica Ave. "They will just go to Stop and Shop and Trader Joe's because they have parking lots."

He also noticed more homeowners removing shrubs and fences from their front yards to create a parking spot.

As Gallagher spoke about the parking situation one day last week, a traffic agent walked up and down the street in front of his shop as people rushed in for lunch orders.

Margie Schmidt, who operates the popular Schmidt's Candy store across the street, agreed that traffic agents tend to prey on customers.

"When people come in here, I always remind them about the meters," she said.

While there are no current plans to install muni-meters along Jamaica Ave., nearby Woodhaven Blvd. is part of the Transportation Department's Citywide Congested Corridors study, an agency official said.

The agency is collecting data on traffic, transit services and parking issues along Woodhaven Blvd. from Queens Blvd. to Rockaway Blvd. Lessons from the study could be applied to Jamaica Ave., officials added.

Relief can't come fast enough for some.

"My business is down 30%," Gallagher said. "Part of it is the recession but part of it is definitely the parking. It's a bad situation."

New Center Option for Displaced Woodhaven Seniors is in the Works by Lisa L. Colangelo - NY Daily News

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WOODHAVEN seniors, tired of being bused to a center in Richmond Hill, may get a break under a plan being brokered by Borough President Helen Marshall.

Marshall wants to see the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps building on Jamaica Ave. used for some senior services.

In return, the cash-strapped ambulance corps would get some funds to keep its operations running.

"It's really enticing," Marshall said. "It's a great location."

Marshall's aides are setting up a meeting between the city Department for the Aging, Catholic Charities and the ambulance corps.

Catholic Charities runs the seniors' program, which used to operate out of St. Thomas the Apostle Church. When the church reclaimed the space, Catholic Charities offered local seniors bus service to another program in Richmond Hill.

"A lot of them are not going. They are staying home, and that's a shame," said Maria Thomson of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corp. "They really loved having a center closer to home."

Kathy Sexton-Dalbey, an emergency medical technician who is chief operating officer of the corps, said her group would be happy to host seniors in its building.

"Many of them work as poll workers on Election Day," she said. "They always come in here and talk to us. This is a good spot for them."

The volunteer ambulance corps building is at 78-18 Jamaica Ave., in the middle of the bustling shopping strip. The back room holds between 75 and 100 people. The driveway can accommodate Access-A-Ride buses and other vehicles.

But the structure needs some renovations, including work to make it accessible for people with disabilities. Marshall seemed confident that some government grant or other funds could be freed up to pay for the work.

The volunteer ambulance corps has been suffering from a shortage of donations and grants. If its headquarters is used for senior programs, the group will get a regular rent check.

City officials said the talks are still in the preliminary stage. But Marshall's spokesman, Dan Andrews, was hopeful.

"Everyone wants this to happen," he said.

lcolangelo@nydailynews.com

MTA Fails Woodhaven with Drastic Cuts by Lisa Fogarty - Queens Chronicle

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Here we go again.

For the second time in a year, the Metropolitan Transit Authority has announced drastic cuts that officials and residents say will cripple residents in Woodhaven and Richmond Hill.

In an effort to fill in a $334 million budget hole, the authority will sever both the W and Z trains, the latter of which runs from Jamaica to Manhattan, making four stops along Jamaica Avenue, and 24 bus routes, including the Q56 bus — which passes through Jamaica, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill and Woodhaven on its way to East New York, Brooklyn. The bus is known for transporting residents to Jamaica Hospital, the Woodhaven and downtown Jamaica business districts and several area schools.

Other debilitating MTA cuts include slashing MetroCard funding for students, limiting paratransit services that will only transport the elderly and handicapped to and from bus and subway stops and — in another classic case of déjà vu — eliminating the Rockaway rebate program.

“We fought this fight last year,” said Greater Woodhaven Development Corp. Executive Director Maria Thomson at an emergency press conference held Tuesday in the new Woodhaven offices of Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Glendale) and attended by Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows) and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village).

Thomson pointed out that the MTA’s plan to cut the Q56 hurts seniors who are unable to take the subway because of the steep, and often unkempt, staircase. “They [MTA] don’t know us and they don’t see it, but we’re going to make them see it — we’re going to fight.”

Ulrich called the decision a “direct slap in the face,” not only to children and seniors, but to the small businesses along Jamaica Avenue that rely on patrons who use public transportation. “When Jamaica Avenue fails, the entire community fails,” Ulrich said. “The MTA is saying to them: We don’t care about small businesses, children or senior citizens.”

Another MTA cutback, the reduction of Access-a-Ride service, which provides approximately 27,000 rides per day, will result in fewer seniors getting out and about to socialize and take advantage of vital programs, says Roseann Rosado, executive director of Queens Multi Service in Glendale, which provides services such as food stamps and Medicaid assistance. “We do not need our seniors and our disabled citizens home, isolated and alone,” Rosado said.

Although few seemed floored that the MTA had decided, yet again, to toy with Rockaway residents’ rebate program, which allows free passage on the Cross Bay Bridge, Lancman reminded conference attendees that, while negotiating its terms for a bailout last April, the rebate was one of the programs the MTA had promised to keep alive.

“MTA has lost credibility with state legislators and obviously with the public,” Lancman said. “All of us feel a great sense of betrayal that the services we fought for are back on the chopping block.”

Adding insult to injury, Ulrich said, families affected by the Department of Education’s phasing out of Broad Channel High School in the Rockaways face a double whammy — those students who may not get a seat at the new facility may have to pay tolls to get to school or full MetroCard fare.

“Public school education is supposed to be free,” he said.

Miller agreed: “An additional $89 a month for families to pay for a MetroCard — at that point they’re going to have to make a decision between sending them to school and putting food on the table.” He added, “We’re not going to take it; we’re going to fight.”

Frank Gulluscio Appears at Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation Candidates Night and 9/11 Memorial...

Gulluscio Address The Concerns and Local Problems Affecting Woodhaven

On September 22, Democratic Candidate Frank Gulluscio appeared at the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation Candidates Night and 9/11 memorial. At the memorial Frank discussed the need for constant vigilance saying, “The horror of 9/11 is something that remains with us daily. I will never forget how I felt when I saw the smoke rising out of the Twin Towers. Many of us know someone who was lost in that terrible tragedy and it is important that we honor their memory and their sacrifice every day not only 9/11.We must keep their memories close to our heart and maintain a constant vigilance so that such horrible atrocities are never repeated.”

After the 9/11 Memorial and the moment of silence, the event became a Candidates night. Each candidate was allowed to speak for 5 minutes and then was asked questions from the board. Frank spoke about some of his past accomplishments including keeping the Woodhaven Fire House Open, “When I heard that the City planned to close Engine 293 which serves the Woodhaven community I was outraged. Woodhaven needs a firehouse. There are numerous older buildings fashioned mainly of wood and it is vital that help is nearby if needed. Working with then Councilman Addabbo we made sure that Engine 293 was taken off the list of stations to be closed. We won the battle but the war continues, we need our next Councilman to continue to watch City Hall to ensure that Woodhaven keeps it fire house.”

Frank also spoke about some of his ideas for revitalizing the office and making it more accessible; “These days it is more common to find families with both parents working and often hours that are no longer 9-5. That is why in addition to a 24-7 hour hot-line I pledge that my District Office, at least two nights a week, will have longer hours and stay open later. Additionally, at least once a month, the Office will be open for a few hours on Saturday. Government and elected officials should be available around the clock not only from 9-5. The working mom or the young dad working two jobs should have the same opportunity as anyone else to interact with their elected officials.”

When Frank was asked about some his plans for Woodhaven he said “Woodhaven is a diverse and distinct community that needs a dedicated and committed Councilman. We need to ensure that local small business continue to come and set up shop and look into methods of prevention for quality of life crimes such as graffiti and noise pollution. Current studies being undertaken by the City, such as the Woodhaven Boulevard Traffic Study, will offer possible ideas to reduce congestion, ideas that I look forward to discussing to ensure they are right for this community.”

Council Member Elizabeth S. Crowley, Senator Joseph P. Addabbo and Community Leaders, Demand State Legislature to Repair and Repaint J Train Eyesore

Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, along with Senator Joseph Addabbo and Maria Thompson of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation and State Assembly candidate Mike Miller, today demanded the State Legislature approve the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s budget to repaint and rehabilitate the J-train which spans Jamaica Avenue in Queens.

“The repainting and the rehabilitation of the J-train overpass should take priority over new MTA projects. Why is the MTA embarking on new capital projects when their existing structures are deteriorating?” questioned Council Member Elizabeth Crowley. “For over twenty-five years, the J-train has been neglected and poorly maintained, impeding on the surrounding community’s safety and economic development.”

“Jamaica Avenue is lined with businesses and we believe it is on the cusp of turning into a thriving economic engine for the borough of Queens,” continued Council Member Elizabeth Crowley. “Unfortunately, the most prominent feature on Jamaica Ave is the rusty and deteriorating overhead J-line subway. Because the overpass has been neglected, the steel has corroded, causing structural damage on the stairways used by people everyday. The condition of the elevated train not only deters visitors but is, most importantly, an accident waiting to happen.”

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority included the rehabilitation of the structure and the repainting of the elevated J-train in their 2005-2009 capital plan. As the MTA concludes the 2005-2009 budget period, the needs of the J-train have yet to be addressed and plans have been pushed back to be included in the 2010-2014 proposed capital plan which is awaiting approval by the State Legislature.

“For the last 15 years the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation has been pursuing the painting of the J-line elevator train in the Woodhaven business improvement district from Dexter Court to 100^th Street,” said Maria Thompson of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation. “We have been pursuing the MTA and our elected officials to assist us in getting the stations repaired and the elevated train painted because it’s in deplorable conditions.”

“While I am pleased the MTA included the J-train community in the new capital plan, we should not have to wait any longer for the renovation to begin. We believe the there is no better time than now. Therefore, we urge you to immediately address the MTA capital plan upon resuming session so that Jamaica Avenue can receive its much needed repainting and rehabilitation,” concluded Council Member Elizabeth Crowley.

Weeks after being sworn in, Council Member Elizabeth Crowley testified before the Metropolitan Transportation Authority urging them to address the safety concerns of the neglected J-train overpass.

Photo Credit: William Alatriste

Weiner Opposes New Meter Rates Across City, Borough by Ben Hogwood - Queens Chronicle

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Congressman Anthony Weiner holds up a parking ticket, decrying the city’s recent increase in parking meter rates. (photo by Ben Hogwood)

If there’s one thing sure to ruin a day at the shops, it’s that dreaded orange envelope, tucked neatly under a windshield wiper, marked “parking violation.”

And those envelopes may be on display a little more often in the borough than in the past.

Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-Queens and Brooklyn) criticized the city on April 16 for surreptitiously increasing the rates at parking meters along shopping strips in the borough and across the city.

The city began phasing in the new rates, charging 25 cents for 20 minutes rather than 30 minutes, in February and recently made the change along Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven. Weiner assembled with state Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach), as well as shop owners, who said the city initiated the changes in the night with no notification.

“It’s not so much that we lost 10 minutes at a parking meter,” Weiner said. “It was how it was done.”

In particular, the city didn’t notify business owners along the strip, said Maria Thomson, executive director of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corp. and the Woodhaven Business Improvement District.

“No one told us about it,” Thomson said. “There was no warning, there was no hearing, there was no input.”

As a result, customers have been left equally in the dark. Now people are putting in a quarter expecting to get a half hour and returning to find tickets on their cars.

“If this is waiting for you when you get out,” Weiner said, holding up a violation, “your entire [shopping] experience has been spoiled.”

Addabbo said the change could affect how much time people spend in stores, because they have less time to shop. “We are asking the city to reconsider,” he said.

The parking meter was invented by Carl Magee and introduced in Oklahoma City in 1935. Magee had been appointed to the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce traffic committee, and he was assigned the task of solving the parking problems in downtown Oklahoma City. Apparently, workers in the area were parking their cars on the streets of downtown Oklahoma City all day, leaving few spaces for shoppers visiting the business district.

While the primary goal was to fix those parking problems, generating revenue has always been an important aspect, and according to news reports, Magee was well aware of that at the time.

But Weiner says the tide has turned too much and now the meters are hurting those they were designed to help — the business owners. The city issues parking tickets with such zeal that it is turning off Queens shoppers, he continued. In 2008, the city issued 10 million parking tickets.

“There are only 8 million citizens in the city,” he noted.

Steve Esposito, owner of Orthopedic Shoe Clinic on Jamaica Avenue, said parking fees and fines like these will push shoppers out to Long Island, where parking is largely free.

“The mayor may be a great mayor, but as he can’t tax us any more, he’s fining us to death,” Esposito said.

Dean Montgomery, a spokesman for the city Department of Transportation, which operates the meters, said the DOT completed the rate change for 17,842 meters in Queens last month and has not heard those concerns anywhere else.
In fact, Montgomery said communities in Manhattan and Brooklyn have requested much higher rates during peak hours of the day as a way to increase turnover and available parking in commercial districts.
He also noted that the mayor announced the increases in January as part of his budget proposal for the year, and that inserts indicating the new rate were installed as each meter was reprogrammed.

Herman Kaiser, a Woodhaven resident who comes to Jamaica Avenue every day to pick up a newspaper, said he found out about the rate change when he dropped a quarter in a meter. He noted the heavy police presence that day, looking for parking violators.

“I guess they are doing it slow and sure ... to make money,” he said, after dropping two quarters into a meter. He didn’t expect too many people to be caught out by the change in rates, but also didn’t expect a return to the old ones.
“People are not stupid, but what can you do about it?” he said. “Nothing.”

Jamaica Ave. Biz Owners Hit Meter Fee Windup by Lisa L. Colangelo - NY Daily News

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TIMES ARE TOUGH along Jamaica Ave., a once-bustling shopping strip in Woodhaven that is now dotted with shuttered stores.

So when merchants there found out that parking meter fees were hiked to 25 cents for 20 minutes, instead of 30 minutes, they were shocked and angry.

"This is a blatant attack on small businesses," said Maria Thompson of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corp.

Shop owners fear that customers, unaware of the new fees, will get slapped with parking tickets.

"I have people coming in from Long Island to shop," said Steve Esposito, who owns the Orthopedic Shoe Clinic on Jamaica Ave. "If they get a ticket, they aren't going to come back."

Matthew Xenakis, owner of Park Place Greenery and Florist, said one of his wholesalers thought he had 30 minutes - and got slapped with a $35 ticket.

"I felt bad," he said. "I gave him the money for the ticket."

Rep. Anthony Weiner and state Sen. Joseph Addabbo met with business owners last week to address complaints that they had no warning about the change.

"Parking spaces are precious things," Weiner said. "You can't use that pressure to balance the city's books."

But city Transportation Department officials said the change was announced very publicly by Mayor Bloomberg this year.

"Most meter rates have remained unchanged since 1992, when the city changed the rate for many meters to 25 cents for 30 minutes," said Transportation Department spokesman Seth Solomonow.

"Also, the new rate will not affect the approximately 8,000 single-space and 3,200 muni-meters, which are already set for higher rates citywide - roughly 40% of all spots in the city."

The change started in February, and are being phased in throughout the city, Solomonow said. Queens work was recently completed.

Some merchants are in favor of the rate hike because it creates more turnover in parking spots. But Addabbo said it hurts consumers and merchants alike.

"Raising fees and decreasing time doesn't help our shoppers," said Addabbo as he stood across the street from Jason's, a party and variety store that closed recently after more than 60 years in business.

"To see a store like Jason's go is just sad. My father took me there as a kid."

lcolangelo@nydailynews.com

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2009/04/20/2009-04-20_parking_tickets_in_store_.html#ixzz0EVQPVyKz&B

DOT to City Drivers: Take a (Meter) Hike! by Noah Rosenberg - The Queens Courier

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Congressmember Anthony Weiner (left) and State Senator Joe Addabbo (right) met with business owners and representatives of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation to discuss parking meter rate hikes along Jamaica Avenue.

Parking along Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven has long been a nightmare and a recent meter rate hike along the avenue and elsewhere in Queens has made matters even worse, area business owners say.

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) recently completed the reprogramming of close to 18,000 parking meters in Queens and expects to make meter changes citywide by the end of June. The changes, according to the DOT, affect 60 percent of city meters that, for the most part, have remained at the same rate of 25 cents per 30 minutes since 1992.

The city estimates that increasing the rates for single space parking meters to a quarter for 20 minutes will generate $16.8 million toward closing the budget gap for fiscal year 2010.

However, Steve Esposito, the President of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation (GWDC), thinks the rate increases were driven by a different motive.

While he would not disclose his source, Esposito, who is also an owner of the Orthopedic Shoe Clinic on Jamaica Avenue, said he has heard that the city expects to generate more than $60 million in parking fines alone, as a direct result of meter rate hikes that he says have not been well publicized.

“That was dirty and underhanded right then and there,” Esposito said, claiming that the DOT provided no notification that it had increased parking rates.

State Senator Joseph Addabbo and Congressmember Anthony Weiner recently took a trip down to Jamaica Avenue to meet with concerned residents and business owners and neither of the elected officials saw any signage.

In light of the fiscal situation, Addabbo said a few days after his press conference on the avenue, “Most people would be understanding of the issue if they were given proper notice.” But, he added, “Without giving notice, it sort of traps the residents and traps the store owners.”

“Once again we’re trying to balance the budget book on the backs of the working people,” Addabbo said, noting that there has been an increased presence of ticket agents on Jamaica Avenue since the meters were reprogrammed.

The DOT maintains that meter rate increases were “widely reported citywide.” Agency spokesperson Monty Dean noted that inserts indicating the new rate were installed as each meter was reprogrammed. In fact, Dean added that many businesses see meters as a plus and think higher rates may lead to increased turnover in front of stores.

But Esposito is not buying it.

“Basically what’s going to happen,” he said, “is that people are so used to 50 cents for an hour they’re going to put two quarters in and walk away without looking.”

Esposito is calling on the city to “at least take responsibility for the tickets they gave” before shoppers were aware of the increases, and he says the GWDC will take up the issue with the community board.

In the meantime, he and GWDC Executive Director Maria Thomson have printed out flyers for each of the 200 stores along Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven, alerting shoppers to the increased meter rates. But business owners realize that flyers may help reduce parking fines but do nothing to lure people into their stores.

“The economy’s not getting any better,” said Rich Dougherty, an Assistant Manager at Radio Shack on Jamaica Avenue. “People come in then realize they have to go feed the meter and they don’t come back.”

Parking Tickets in Store - Jamaica Ave. Biz Owners Hit Meter Fee Windup by Lisa L. Colangelo - NY Daily News

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TIMES ARE TOUGH along Jamaica Ave., a once-bustling shopping strip in Woodhaven that is now dotted with shuttered stores.

So when merchants there found out that parking meter fees were hiked to 25 cents for 20 minutes, instead of 30 minutes, they were shocked and angry.

"This is a blatant attack on small businesses," said Maria Thompson of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corp.

Shop owners fear that customers, unaware of the new fees, will get slapped with parking tickets.

"I have people coming in from Long Island to shop," said Steve Esposito, who owns the Orthopedic Shoe Clinic on Jamaica Ave. "If they get a ticket, they aren't going to come back."

Matthew Xenakis, owner of Park Place Greenery and Florist, said one of his wholesalers thought he had 30 minutes - and got slapped with a $35 ticket.

"I felt bad," he said. "I gave him the money for the ticket."

Rep. Anthony Weiner and state Sen. Joseph Addabbo met with business owners last week to address complaints that they had no warning about the change.

"Parking spaces are precious things," Weiner said. "You can't use that pressure to balance the city's books."

But city Transportation Department officials said the change was announced very publicly by Mayor Bloomberg this year.

"Most meter rates have remained unchanged since 1992, when the city changed the rate for many meters to 25 cents for 30 minutes," said Transportation Department spokesman Seth Solomonow.

"Also, the new rate will not affect the approximately 8,000 single-space and 3,200 muni-meters, which are already set for higher rates citywide - roughly 40% of all spots in the city."

The change started in February, and are being phased in throughout the city, Solomonow said. Queens work was recently completed.

Some merchants are in favor of the rate hike because it creates more turnover in parking spots. But Addabbo said it hurts consumers and merchants alike.

"Raising fees and decreasing time doesn't help our shoppers," said Addabbo as he stood across the street from Jason's, a party and variety store that closed recently after more than 60 years in business.

"To see a store like Jason's go is just sad. My father took me there as a kid."

lcolangelo@nydailynews.com

Elimination of Q56 Bus Has Woodhaven Worried by Lee Landor - Queens Chronicle

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The residents of Woodhaven are deeply concerned as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority prepares to shut down one of their most critical modes of transportation — the Q56 bus, known locally as the Jamaica Avenue bus.

As part of its “doomsday budget,” passed March 25 and due to take effect in June, the MTA will eliminate all service on the Q56, which runs along Jamaica Avenue from 171st Street in Jamaica to Van Sinderen Avenue in Brooklyn.

The line serves the communities of Jamaica, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill and Woodhaven in Queens and Cypress Hills and East New York in Brooklyn. “They’re crippling us,” said Maria Thomson, executive director of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corp. and Woodhaven Business Improvement District.

People take the Q56 to Jamaica Hospital and into Jamaica, where they can access a number of human resource agencies, such as the Social Security Administration. Students take the bus to different schools located along the route and seniors, who rely most heavily on the line, use it as an alternative to the J train, which many cannot access because it is elevated.

Seniors “cannot take the J line. They have got to take the buses because they’re more convenient for them and they’re more accessible physically,” Thomson said, adding that the MTA’s elimination of the route will cause major problems for Woodhaven’s shopping district.

“Our BID is 25 blocks. A lot of people take that Jamaica Avenue bus from one location on our avenue to the other and they would have nothing available to them if they discontinue that bus,” Thomson said. “There is no substitute for that bus.”

In her testimony to the MTA board during its public hearings, Thomson asked the members, “What are you thinking? How can you discontinue a bus that has no replacement?”

Thomson has reached out to a number of elected officials to make them aware of the situation. “They are lobbying for us,” she said and working on the community’s behalf to get the line reinstated in the budget.

GWDC Discusses Services for Small Business - Queens Chronicle

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Pictured at the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation March meeting are, in the front row, from left, Officer Estrella of the 102nd Precinct; Jeff Gottlieb, representative of Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr.; City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley; Maria Thomson, GWDC executive director; and Paul Rudolph, GWDC board member.

In the back row, from left, are Yasmina Cumberbatch, guest speaker from the New York City Department of Small Business Services and her daughter; Charles Moore and Dr. Dennis Pazos, GWDC board members; and GWDC President Stephen Esposito.

At this meeting, the GWDC discussed small business loans and assistance available through the Department of Small Business Services.