4 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.co MARCH 24, 2016 • TIMES 31 The Courier sun • MARCH 24, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com Woodhaven residents are adamant that Select Bus Service plan for major roadway just won’t work It’s just not a good fi t for Woodhaven. Members of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association (WRBA) continued their campaign on March 19 to rail against the proposed Select Bus Service plan for Woodhaven Boulevard. Repeating calls made at its most recent meetings, attendees blasted the Department of Transportation’s proposal to create a bus rapid transit system for Woodhaven and Cross Bay boulevards that would create stations on center medians, designate a bus-only lane along the entire length of the corridor and prohibit left turns onto Jamaica Avenue. WRBA President Martin Colberg noted that local transit advocates such as the Riders’ Alliance have come out in support of implementing SBS along the corridor and in other areas of Queens. He noted, however, that what’s right for one area isn’t necessarily appropriate for another. “It’s great to have advocates for something, groups to fi ght for a cause,” Colberg said. “But they have to make sure that they have people that are part of that organization Photo courtesy of A Better Jamaica BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI [email protected] @QueensCourier Kindergarteners use gumdrops and toothpicks as part of a hands-on science lesson during an after-school program sponsored by A Better Jamaica at P.S. 48. that are from the community. Someone from St. Albans can’t tell me how good of a service the plan is gonna be for Woodhaven Boulevard if they’re not from Woodhaven.” Neil Giannelli, representing state Senator Joseph Addabbo, told attendees that the senator recently met with DOT offi cials to discuss SBS. “The senator met with DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia last Friday,” said Giannelli. “SBS is still in fl ux. They were explaining to the senator how the money was being allocated out of all this money. And this isn’t just SBS here: there’s a number of plans across the city, across Queens. Nothing’s been chiseled in stone. We still have the ability to apply pressure.” Members of the board and audience members began to banter with Giannelli about the plan’s rising cost and how the DOT has pushed back the projected completion HANDS-ON LEARNING FOR JAMAICA KIDS bY robert PoZarYCki [email protected]/@robbpoz Young students at one Jamaica school are on the fast track to a better education courtesy of community organization A Better Jamaica. Kindergarteners at P.S. 48 on 155th Street are participating date more than once. Giannelli proceeded to stress in the new Carver Scholars Program, which the importance of community groups like the WRBA organizing and giving their input on the plan. “We have to turn out; we have to show up; we have to let them know that we cannot have people boarding A Better Jamaica launched on March 14 to provide enhanced education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to local students. The buses four-in week the middle after-school of Woodhaven program is Boulevard.modeled after It the NASA MUREP Aerospace Academy Program at York College, and some of the academy’s students are working closely with the Carver Scholars Program to instill an interest in STEM subjects in students at an early age. It’s free to all participants. Much of the program engages youngsters in interactive doesn’t make sense. Children, senior citizens, nobody. You can’t cross two lanes of traffi c to get on a bus,” he said. Colberg reminded residents with concerns about SBS to visit SaveOurStreets.nyc to sign the petition asking the city to reconsider the proposed changes. “This petition is not saying that we’re fi ghting change. We love change in Woodhaven. It’s gonna happen anyway, lessons, providing a hands-on learning experience that many studies have found to have boosted engagement and knowledge retainment among students. right? But we need to make sure it’s the change “The key to our program’s success is that it is 100 percent hands-on,” said Greg Mays, founder of A Better Jamaica. “It’s important that we give participants that’s gonna work for us,” he concluded. the opportunity to experience science, not just hear or read about it.” P.S. 48 Principal Pat Mitchell remarked that it is “critically important that we give our scholars opportunities that are similar to those afforded scholars in wealthier neighborhoods.” A Better Jamaica offers a host of other community programs year-round, including Family Movies in the Park, the AirTrain Jazz Festival and Jamaica311.com, a community website. Visit www.abetterjamaica.org for additional information. Queens state senator passes on Congressional race and will instead seek re-election bY robert PoZarYCki [email protected]/@robbpoz He’d rather be in Albany than on Capitol Hill. State Senator James Sanders announced on March 15 he would run for re-election instead of challenging Congressman Gregory Meeks for his Fifth Congressional District seat. Sanders, who represents the 10th Senatorial District covering much of southeast Queens, had formally explored a Congressional campaign, noting that he “wanted to rid the complacency, mediocrity and ethical lapses from yet another elected seat that has been preventing real improvements from being enacted in our neighborhoods.” What changed Sanders mind, he told residents on March 15, was his confidence that Democrats would take control of the state Senate away from the Republican majority in the November general election. Democrats already control the Assembly and the governor’s mansion, and a Democratcontrolled state Senate would give the party a mandate to fulfill its legislative agenda. “My desire has always been to serve the largest amount of people possible, and at this moment, staying in the Senate accomplishes that,” Sanders said. “Now that we can turn our statehouse into a functioning weapon of progressive change for our neighborhoods and for our people, I will make sure to utilize it to create a better reality for all of you — the ones that I grew up with, the ones that I have never abandoned, and never will.” But the incumbent state Senator is facing a challenge from another Democrat, Community Board 12 Chairperson Adrienne Adams, who announced her campaign last month. In a statement to QNS on Thursday, Adams said Sanders’ “career aspirations were not factored in my choice to run.” “My campaign isn’t about running against Senator Sanders,” she said. “I am in the race for NYS Senate in the greater interest of the well-being of the residents of southeast Queens.” Sanders, a former City Council member, successfully challenged state Senator Shirley Huntley in September 2012 and won the seat unopposed the following November. He handily defeated two primary challengers in September 2014 en route to being re-elected. The Queens Courier and the Mayor’s Office are proud to present a weekly column in which Mayor Bill de Blasio answers your questions about issues that concern you the most. If you have a question about anything going on in the city, in your neighborhood, or on your block, we want to hear from you! Email us at editorial@qns. com and Mayor de Blasio will get you an answer! What are the homeowners’ responsibilities for maintaining their sidewalk, and what kind of penalties could they face if the city finds that their sidewalks are broken? Unless a tree is the cause, it is the property owners’ responsibility to repair a damaged sidewalk. If damaged by a tree, a property owner can file a report with the Department of Transportation or 311 and the city will address the problem. If a sidewalk is damaged, a property owner might be issued a violation. If you received a violation, you may take one of the following actions: • If the defects marked on the violation don’t exist on your sidewalk, you should appeal the violation. If you can’t find the marked defects, then you may appeal the violation by requesting a reinspection within 45 days of the original inspection date. The re-inspection may be scheduled up to 45 days after you make the request. • If you agree with the Notice of Violation, you should get a sidewalk construction permit and sidewalk contractor licensed by the Department of Consumer Affairs. You can get more information about sidewalk repair and maintenance, including tips for hiring a contractor, at www.nyc. gov/sidewalks. • If you do nothing, the city MAY hire private construction firms to make the repairs and bill you for the cost. There are individuals who sell used cars and park them on city streets rather than in driveways or lots. Are they allowed to do that? How can residents report illegal car sales on public streets? A business that sells used cars, trucks and/or motorcycles must have a DCA Secondhand Auto Dealer license. Based on the State Vehicle and Traffic Law, a person that sells five or more vehicles in a calendar year and/or displays three or more vehicles for sale at the same time or within a calendar year and on their property, requires a license. It is illegal for Secondhand Auto Dealer to offer to sell vehicles parked partially or completely on the sidewalk or street. Curbstoning is the common term for the process of selling cars on the street without having a license from the city or state. New Yorkers should report curbstoning to the NYPD. Could you explain the city’s grading system for restaurants and bars and why they’re important to consumers? How often are restaurants inspected and graded? The Health Department conducts unannounced inspections of restaurants at least once a year. A restaurant’s score depends on how well it follows city and state food safety requirements. Inspectors check for compliance in food handling, food temperature, personal hygiene and vermin control. Each violation of a regulation gets a certain number of points. At the end of the inspection, the inspector totals the points, and this number is the restaurant’s inspection score — the lower the score, the better the grade. The Health Department’s grading system not only represents effective and transparent public policy, but promotes a uniformly high standard regarding restaurant cleanliness and safety. Ask the MAYOR The Ridgewood Times around queens FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS 24 HOURS/ 7 DAYS A WEEK. Log on to qns.com Rendering courtesy of NYC Department of Transportation A rendering of the proposed Select Bus Service (SBS) system planned for Woodhaven Boulevard.
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