Photo Courtesy of HBL Civic
Garbage is consistently left on and under the Addabbo Bridge.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Area quality of life conditions dominated the docket of Tuesday evening’s Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic meeting.
Several residents and civic executive board members decried the “filthy conditions” that exist on and around the Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge. Enterprising community members have organized myriad recent clean-up efforts, but apparently to no extended avail: Mere days later, the span that carries Cross Bay Boulevard across Jamaica Bay between Howard Beach and Broad Channel is inundated with refuse and waste.
Howard Beach resident Gina Barillaro noted that last Saturday was “by far the worst we’ve ever seen.”
Photo Courtesy of HBL Civic
Area residents have organized plenty of recent clean-up efforts. But the condition rears its ugly head mere days later.
“Don’t forget—this is ongoing,” civic President Joann Ariola added.
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) indicated that he has reached out to the City Department of Transportation for solutions to the seemingly never-ending issue, vowing not to stop “until there are regular clean-ups above and below the bridge by the appropriate agencies.”
Another persistent quality of life problem in parts of Howard Beach is noise—specifically music blaring at all hours of the night from Chisholm State Park in neighboring East New York, Brooklyn.
“The conundrum that I’m in—and it’s very frustrating—is I don’t cover Brooklyn,” said Capt. John Costello, commanding officer of the 106th Precinct. “I can’t send personnel into Brooklyn to address conditions.”
Civic NYPD Community Partner Maria Asaro fears that the current aural assault is a harbinger of a sleepless summer for Lindenwood residents.
“It’s going to get torturous,” she said.
