Biaggi letter objects to 2800 Bruckner as a 822 program
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
Another elected offi cial has
gone on record opposing a proposed
therapy program for those
suffering from substance abuse issues
and eating disorders.
Miracle City has plans to establish
a NYS Offi ce of Alcoholism
and Substance Abuse Services licensed
822 program at 2800 Bruckner
Boulevard in Throggs Neck.
The latest opposition letter
came from Senator Alessandra
Biaggi, who in a Friday, June 7 letter
to OASAS, stated she wouldn’t
support the facility because of
its proximity to These Our Treasures,
an early education program
and its remote location on a oneway
street.
“Expanding Miracle City’s Current
Program will be detrimental
to the atmosphere of the neighborhood
and disrupt the fabric of the
community where the residents
and children need to live independently
and thrive,” said Biaggi.
Her opposition, long awaited,
came weeks after a Friday, May 3
letter by Assemblyman Michael
Benedetto and Councilman Mark
Gjonaj, who where the fi rst to oppose
the facility.
The assemblyman and councilman
opposed the facility citing a
lack of police resources to support
the facility, its distance from public
transportation and concerns
about loitering at other nearby
similar facilities, in addition to the
reasons Biaggi gave.
The Throggs Neck Homeowners
Association contacted OASAS
via email on Friday, May 10, to express
its opposition to the planned
program citing the past track record
of Miracle City.
Gerbino said that the membership
took a unanimous vote at a
recent meeting to oppose the facility,
with one person abstaining
because she is a judge.
The civic organization is concerned
about the credibility of
the facility owners and managers,
which was referenced in the letter
and in an email by Robert Barbarelli,
TNHOA vice president.
Bob Jaen, president of the
Throggs Neck Merchants, took a
more measured stance in explaining
his own support for the facility.
“
I am against any kind of
drugs being dispensed out of any
locations other than a pharmacy,
but if there is counseling and off
premise social work, what would
be wrong with it?” he said, adding
since Miracle City is suggesting
it won’t dispense medication. He
feels the community should monitor
the program before drawing
conclusions.
He believes that misinformation
is being spread about Miracle
City’s intentions.
“As far as the merchants, we
treat all the members the same,
until we see them doing something
wrong,” said Jaen, who
noted he was in fact the co-leader
of the Throggs Neck Strong coalition
in 2017 that opposed a rumored
homeless shelter at the
same location.
As previously reported in the
Bronx Times, local homeowners
and residents are concerned that
once an 822 license is issued for
counseling purposes, Miracle City
could easily add the dispensing of
medications like methadone.
Community activist Edgido Sementelli,
who hosted several rallies
at the location, has collected
countless signatures on paper
(and more online) with the names
and address of individuals opposing
“a drug rehab facility at 2800
Bruckner Boulevard.”
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