FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com FEBRUARY 7, 2013 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11 Residents opposed to T-Building driven by fear BY MELISSA CHAN mchan@queenscourier.com An overwhelming fear of the unknown is keeping Hillcrest residents from embracing a proposed housing unit set to lodge mental and chronic health patients in their community. “There are too many people, too many variables and too many things that can go wrong,” said Ed Leahy of the Hillcrest Estate Civic Association. A coalition of civic leaders and elected offi cials said they would roadblock Queens Hospital Center’s (QHC) bid to develop a deteriorated 10-story building on the hospital’s campus into affordable housing for low-income individuals and QHC patients with psychiatric diagnoses or chronic illnesses, including AIDS. QHC is in talks with Comunilife, a nonprofi t human services agency, to build 251 units in the “T-Building” at 82-68 164th Street, The Courier fi rst reported last December. But civic leaders said the “questionable population” could put children at nearby schools in danger. “I empathize with mental illness and AIDS patients. I do. But you must understand that my job is the safety of those little children,” said Judy Henry, principal of Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School. Residents cited the December 14, 2012 elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut as a cause for concern. The teen who massacred 26 children and adults was reportedly diagnosed as mentally ill. “An ‘I told you so’ will never bring back a child after an incident has occurred,” said Maria DeInnocentiis, chair of the Utopia Estates Civic Association. QHC and Comunilife offi - cials said only “appropriate” residents would be picked to live in the development. Registered sex offenders and those who exhibit violent behavior would be screened out. Residents would also be assigned caseworkers and monitored all day, they said. “The individuals who would be residing in the apartments that we’re proposing are the very same individuals who are coming every day already on the campus,” said LaRay Brown, senior vice president of corporate planning for the city’s Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC). Casandra Cox, a Bronx Comunilife resident diagnosed with major depression and anxiety, said she fears residents are blinded by a stigma against the mentally ill. “I lost everything. Comunilife has been a lifesaver for me,” said Cox, 69. “People don’t understand. They all think what happened in Connecticut is going to happen here. We’re not a threat to the community.” THE COURIER/Photo by Melissa Chan Hillcrest residents oppose Queens Hospital Center’s proposal to develop a large housing unit for mental and chronic health patients. JES ENTERTAINMENT PROUDLY PRESENTS The American Original JAY BLACK “ONLY IN AMERICA” The Original Voice of “Cara Mia” “Come A Little Bit Closer” • “This Magic Moment” All the Hits in One Great Show! Also appearing - THE HAPPENINGS featuring Bob Miranda Hits: See You In September I Got Rhythm - Go Away Little Girl Tickets starting at $45 Saturday, February 9, 2013 8 PM Queens College Kupferberg (Colden) Center Kissena Blvd. and Horace Harding Exp., Flushing, NY FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION CALL 718.423.8394 7 Days A Week 9am - 9pm WELCOME BACK TO QUEENS COLLEGE An Oldies Extravaganza featuring: Charlie Thomas’ Drifters The Marcels The Orlons Vito Picone and The Elegants Cleveland Still and The Dubs The Belmonts Sunday, May 19, 2013 4 PM VIP seats $40. each All other seats $35. each All seats are reserved. Queens College Kupferberg (Colden) Center Kissena Blvd. and Horace Harding Expwy. Flushing, NY
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