By Michael V. Cusenza
Area elected officials recently sounded the horn on what they have characterized as longstanding quality of life issues pervading their district parks.
Following a New York Post report on prolific car meetups across the city that feature “strippers, drugs, and ear-splitting speakers systems,” City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) said the “attacks on our quality of life cannot be tolerated,” adding that she believes that “offenders should have their systems confiscated when they are caught. If they can’t use their speakers responsibly, they should not have them.
“We have people pulling into parks and parking lots in all five boroughs and setting up their own little unlicensed concerts, much to the detriment of the people who live in the surrounding areas,” Ariola said.
Photo Courtesy of Urban Areas
Councilwoman Ariola said attacks on quality of life in City green spaces, such as Tudor Park in Ozone Park, “cannot be tolerated.”
Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth) noted that he told City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch that “the local precincts cannot handle this; we need a special task force,” according to the Post.
Last week, during a Council Public Safety Committee hearing, Holden said he pressed new Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa and NYPD leadership “on the constant quality-of-life and public safety issues plaguing our local parks. From illegal vendors and mopeds, to the out-of-control use of e-bikes and bikes, to the destruction of park property—these are serious problems. We need much more aggressive enforcement to restore order and keep our parks safe for everyone.”
At the hearing, Holden said, “I’ve been associated with parks in my community for over 40 years… I’ve never seen it this bad probably since the late ‘70s/early ‘80s.”
