The president of the New Hamilton Beach Civic Association and riled up residents of the community last Thursday blasted the city Department of Design and Construction for failing to appear at the group’s meeting, instead canceling hours before it was to begin.
DDC and city Department of Transportation representatives were scheduled to discuss the James Court capital project—a plan that calls for the implementation of flood-mitigation elements, including bulkheads and raising the pavement. Two DOT officials showed up at Rileys Yacht Club Thursday evening.
“DDC has told us that they’ve modified the [James Court] plan—maybe they haven’t brought it to DOT,” said NHBCA President Roger Gendron. “We can talk about [James Court] all we want, but DDC is not here to answer. Believe me—that is a problem, because they should be here.”
Gendron said that a DDC representative canceled the appearance at the 7 p.m. meeting “at the last minute”—3:30 p.m. the same day—because the James Court project manager had retired, and they couldn’t get someone who knows the plan out to Hamilton Beach. DDC did promise to attend the civic’s Aug. 20 gathering.
Gendron added that he’s not the only leader who is “coming down on” the agency.
“Joe is very upset with DDC,” said Pat McCabe, an aide to state Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach). She noted that the project has been funded through money secured by the offices of Addabbo and City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park).
“They’re going to get answers,” McCabe added.
Sal Simonetti, Ulrich’s chief of staff, said he “can’t repeat the words” Ulrich used when he was notified that DDC would not be at the civic meeting.
Gendron later noted that Hamilton Beach residents won’t know about any changes to the project until August at the earliest.
“We have to hold DDC’s feet to the fire, and believe me, I will,” he said. “They’re not here to stand up and explain themselves. I don’t care if they brought a guy here with a target on his shirt, they should be here.”
While the civic’s next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 20, Gendron said that if they can get DDC down to Hamilton Beach earlier, he’ll call for a special July confab.
By Michael V. Cusenza
michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
