The house at 159-38 95th St. in Howard Beach is overgrown with grass and weeds and its front windows are still broken since Superstorm Sandy, neighbors say. Photo by Phil Corso
Broken windows, overgrown grass and an unkempt front yard are only the beginning for residents living on 95th Street in Howard Beach.
Complaints over unwanted – and sometimes illegal – activity have plagued neighbors living along the street for the better part of two years, and now residents there compiled a petition of more than 100 signatures over a period of less than two weeks pleading for help.
“Something needs to be done,” said one neighbor, who did not want to be named out of fear of retribution. “This has been an ongoing situation on our block and nothing seems to be happening about it.”
The house neighbors have been worried about resides at 159-38 95th St., where neighbors said Logan Gruntz and Amanda Miller have been the source of their frustrations and fears. Neither answered the front door of the home after repeated visits seeking comment.
Arrest records showed Miller was charged with petit larceny June 9 and charged with prostitution back on Jan. 8 – both in the 106th Precinct. Neighbors said they had front-row seats to some of the crimes and often saw unfamiliar cars driving to the house at different times throughout the day.
Cases related to both charges were still pending as of press time.
In the petition, neighbors called on elected officials and the Police Department to help save them from issues including prostitution and theft – both of which Miller was arrested and charged for over the past seven months.
“The activities are frequent and consistent, occurring all hours of the day and night producing a hazardous and dangerous environment and extremely poor overall quality of life problem for its residents,” the petition said. “Often times drugs and drug paraphernalia are left on the ground in the vicinity of the location, creating a public health concern and risk to the safety of residents – especially the children who reside and play in the area.”
Neighbors said they brought the issue to southern Queens elected officials, including state Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach), but they were still waiting for a resolution.
“Repeated disputes and vandalism have instilled fear and concern to us residents,” the petition said. “We residents have been plagued by these conditions for over two years now. We respectfully request [Addabbo] and the NYPD to investigate these rimes taking place in our neighborhood in front of our children.”
Addabbo, who acknowledged the home was in need of a shaping up, said the 106th Precinct has been working for months on addressing issues stemming from drugs and prostitution out of the home so neighbors nearby could rest easy.
“It is certainly in bad condition,” he said. “The Police Department is doing its job, but the bigger issue is the condition of the home and making sure it’s fit.”
The 106th Precinct did not comment.
Addabbo said the Housing Preservation Department would need to inspect the home in order to determine whether or not it is suitable for living – even despite the visible flaws at the property, including shattered windows on its front side.
By Phil Corso
