QW09152019 - Page 14

14 QUEENS WEEKLY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2019 QNS.COM Willets plan, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) made street closures that are financially hurting the shop owners who remain in the Iron Triangle and cutting them off from emergency response services. Sam Sambucci, a neighboring auto shop owner, said he timed the response on Aug. 15 at 127-26 Willets Point Blvd. He claimed it lasted almost 16 minutes for the ambulance to navigate around the gates blocking off two out of the four of the streets leading into the Iron Triangle. Though the New York City Fire Department’s dispatch report for the tire accident was not perfectly consistent with Sambucci’s timekeeping, both records indicated the response time was significantly longer than the FDNY’s average response time, based on the city’s most recent data. For a medical emergency in Queens, the FDNY data shows that it takes an average of 4 minutes and 43 seconds to respond. A spokesperson for the FDNY said that it took them 13 minutes on Aug. 15 to arrive at the scene of the injured mechanic. Sambucci indicated it took 15 minutes and 35 seconds for an ambulance to arrive, based on screenshots he took from his phone timer that QNS reviewed for this report. “When it comes to an accident, if somebody had a say a stroke or a heart attack — even if he was bleeding, say he had a bad cut and he was bleeding — 13 minutes, 14 to 15 minutes, you’re dead,” Sambucci said. The inconsistencies between the two accounts don’t end there. While the FDNY initially reported that they received Sambucci’s call at 4:09 p.m., they walked it back later, stating that they actually got the call at 4:12 p.m. When asked about the three-minute difference between the conflicting times, the spokesperson clarified that 4:12 p.m. was when FDNY dispatchers assigned the ambulance. Sambucci disputed not just the timeframe provided by the FDNY, but their sequence of events. The FDNY claimed that an ambulance was the first vehicle to arrive. On the other hand, Sambucci claimed that a fire truck arrived after 13 minutes of waiting, but the EMS vehicle took another two minutes to get there. Juan Alonso, a mechanic who works next door to Sambucci’s shop, confirmed the order of events to QNS and estimated it took 15 to 20 minutes for the ambulance to arrive. The worker who was struck by the tire ended up gaining consciousness and recovering from the accident by the time the ambulance arrived. But Sambucci said that the incident was a warning call. If the city does not open up some of the gated streets, a similar accident in the future could be fatal. “I’m in no way blaming the fire department for what happened,” Sambucci added. “It’s the city with the street closures and the double-parked cars that caused this.” After the city closed the south end of Willets Point Boulevard along with 36th, 37th and 38th avenues, the 35th Avenue became the closest street to access the south end of the Iron Triangle. This is a problem because on typical business day 35th Avenue is clogged with triple- and doubleparked cars in the street, according to Sambucci. According to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the gates have been erected after the streets were “de-mapped,” a process through which the city makes streets alterations to the official City Map. After being asked about how long the city intends to keep the streets gated off, the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the group overseeing the entire Willets Point development, has not yet provided an official comment to QNS. Continued from Page 1 Stroll The Bayside Village Business Improvement District announced this year’s Sunday Stroll on Sept. 22, which draws in thousands, for one last hurrah before summer ends. From noon to 5 p.m., Bell Boulevard between 38th and 42nd avenues will transform into a giant block party for the neighborhood to enjoy. NYPD officers will shut the stretch down to vehicular traffic, providing a safe, stress-free environment. BID Executive Director Christine Silletti said that last year’s Sunday Stroll drew in over 2,000 people. Attendees should be ready to eat from dozens of participating restaurants along the thoroughfare. Establishments will offer free samples, special discounts and al fresco dining, complete with chairs and tables set up outside. Guests can also enjoy live music by local favorites Skeedle Brothers, Chicken Head Rocks and Mike Tedesco. The BID announced special performances by competitors from Bourbon Street’s “Voice of Bourbon” and anyone who wants to participate in an afternoon of karaoke. After chowing down, families who attend the stroll can choose from tons of activities from creating DIY paper mosaics to a game of volleyball. Other activities include ping pong, sand art, bounce houses, slime making and the Bayside’s Got Talent competition. To learn more about this free event, visit Bayside Village BID on Facebook or at baysidevillagebid.com. 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