Assemblymember Phillip Goldfeder addressed the meeting about a number of issues, with traffic safety concerns at the forefront. The assemblyman told residents he will continue to try and get the DOT to replace stop signs that were taken down after being damaged in accidents. Forum Newsgroup photo by Patricia Adams.
The Lindenwood Alliance hosted a spirited meeting this week, further establishing itself as a community cornerstone, and continuing to focus on pressing issues in the small community.
Attendance has climbed to an average of 40-50 attendees at monthly meetings.
Now, nearly two years after forming, Alliance President Joann Ariola says the group has just begun to really start making a difference, something the group and its members are intent on maintaining.
And Ariola says, the cooperation that the Alliance has gotten on a number of fronts is truly what has helped move the group in a result oriented direction.
“There is not enough to say about Deputy Inspector Pascale and the 106 Precinct for their efforts to help us on so many issues,” Ariola said.
Continuing on with the praise for the precinct she cited the successful operation launched by the 106 to bring about resolution in a spike of auto vandalism throughout the area, with tire and thefts plaguing residents for months. “They are truly amazing.”
The community has worked with the police by filing reports, keeping their eyes open and making the right calls to 911 and police, and consequently has seen a great decline in the number of thefts recently.
In addition to forging relationships with the police, the Alliance maintains open contact with Lindenwood co-op and condo presidents and boards as well as with elected officials.
And crime is certainly not the only issue addressed by the group. They continue to monitor general quality of life issues such as noise, traffic concerns, parking safety and many other topics.
At their meeting in August, residents gathered in full force to oppose the opening of a GNG Wines and Liquors in the Lindenwood Shopping Center and voted overwhelmingly against it. The subject was introduced again at this month’s meeting, with several residents reiterating serious objection to the store’s opening given its close proximity to PS 232, located
right across the street. “We have to stick together and fight this…like we did years ago. We fought and we won,” said long- time resident David Postrion.
However, despite urging from the Alliance, Community Board 10 and local electeds, the State Liquor Authority approved the license application when it reconvened on the day after the community meeting was held. “We made clear at our last meeting and through letters submitted in protest that we would prefer to see another type of enterprise in that particular space,” Ariola said, “but we also made perfectly clear that in the event the application were approved, that we would do everything we could to work with the new owners to ensure that we have no mishaps as a result of their tenancy.”
GNG will now proceed with the acquisition of their permits and begin construction they had put on hold pending the license. It is expected that the store owners will now begin construction at the site and open as quickly as possible.
Also on the meeting agenda was addressing a problem with the homeless woman, who goes by the name of Laura, that sets up her encampment along several popular spots on Cross Bay Boulevard. Attendees at the meeting expressed concerns over the fact that the woman has been engaging passersby with a threatening demeanor and has displayed behavioral patterns associated with that of an emotionally disturbed person.
Branch manager of the Queens County Savings Bank, Camille-Lyons Ruggerio, is also a member of the Alliance and says that the problem has gotten totally out of hand. “I have tried on a number of occasions, to speak with her [Laura], and what starts out as a logical discussion then turns into a warped conversation with gruesome details about family members,” said Lyons-Ruggerio.
Two days after the meeting, Laura was visited by police, who called EMS to the scene. But EMS refused to take Laura in after their evaluation and determination that she did not qualify as an emotionally disturbed person (EDP) or appear to present any danger to herself or anyone else. The Forum will continue to follow this situation very closely and report back to you.
Concerns over missing stop signs that were plowed down as a result of accidents and never replaced were also addressed. One area of particular concern is 88th street and 153rd Avenue at the triangle, where residents maintain, one can easily get killed.
Ellen Buonopastore, Vice-President of the Dorchester Co-Op and a member of the Alliance says that she spends her afternoons trying to get children and seniors across the street alive. “You would never believe this if you didn’t see it,” Buonopastore said. “Children have to dodge cars that just don’t stop and seniors risk their lives just to return from a grocery shopping trip.”
Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder explained similar frustration encountered by his office when contacting the DOT to have signage replaced in response to requests by residents. “It is really ridiculous that we have to go through this just to get something back that they [DOT] put there in the first place,” said Goldfeder. The assemblyman vowed to continue pressuring the agency to do the right thing.
By Patricia Adams
