Barry Grodenchik (r.), director of Community Boards for the Queens Borough President, tallies the votes on Monday evening at the Borough Board meeting. Forum Photo by Michael V. Cusenza.
The Borough Board on Monday voted nearly unanimously to approve the Expense and Capital Budget Priorities for the Fiscal Year 2016 Preliminary Budget.
All members of the board, which is chaired by Borough President Melinda Katz and comprised of Queens City Council members and the chairpersons of every borough community board, voted in the affirmative, except two who had to abstain due to conflicts of interest.
Two weeks ago, community board officials, agencies, advocates and civic groups brought their budget needs and wants for FY 2016 before Katz and the board. The purpose of the hearing was to obtain the views and recommendations of stakeholders and residents on the proposals contained in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s $77.7 billion Preliminary Budget. That input was used to develop the board’s priorities.
Later this month, Katz’s office will send the packet of priorities to de Blasio, the City Council and the director of the Office of Management and Budget.
“The recommendations and priorities proposed in this response seek to provide a meaningful approach to addressing some of the longstanding issues faced by the Borough of Queens,” Katz wrote in the packet.
Among the dozens of issues outlined in the response are the need for more affordable housing, school overcrowding, small-business services and public safety.
The shortage of affordable housing has created two issues of concern that need to be addressed in the final budget, according to Katz and the board: the need for housing assistance; and the emerging underground market of illegally converted housing.
According to Katz’s office, class size has been rising at the borough’s 359 schools, with more than half of the buildings over capacity.
“The city needs to identify alternative spaces, or in an annex or addition, so that the removal of Transportable Classroom Units can be expedited. Students are our most valuable assets, and they need every tool necessary to succeed.”
Katz and the board urged the administration to provide access to small-business support programs, helping businesses navigate the city’s regulations, and expanding business opportunities through government procurement opportunities.
Among the public-safety priorities across the city is the need for more cops, and Queens is no different. Locally, Community Board 10 has asked for additional officers in the 106 to accommodate Resorts World in South Ozone Park.
“The issue is not that the casino is creating crime, the issue is that the casino security forces do not have peace-officer status,” CB 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton said. “Any arrest or aided case [at the casino], and we lose a patrol car off the street.”
By Michael V. Cusenza
