104th Precinct Blotter News From The WRBA HAVE YOU READABOOK WITH YOUR CHILD TODAY? Housing Bill Targets Negligent Landlords regulated units, a class D felony. As rental prices continue to rise, unscrupulous landlords have gutted apartments in building to get the existing lower-income tenants out. Once they are gone, the landlord will make renovations in an effort to attract market-rate renters willing to pay thousands more than the previous tenants were paying in rent. The bills will help strengthen the powers of the Department of Preservation and Development (HPD). This city agency can then force landlords to make repairs or fine landlords for severe housing code violations. “Specifically, the Quality Housing Act would penalize landlords who fail repeat inspections of the same violation,” a press release announcing the bills read, in part. The HPD alternative enforcement program would not include “assessment of additional fees on buildings already included,” but building owners not already in hot water would accrue fines and liens on their property. “Expansion of the Alternative Enforcement Program (AEP) through the Quality HousingAct will help the city intervene in more of these situations, make necessary repairs and force the landlords to pay,” Reynoso said in a statement. “I am proud to patner with Council Member Ritchie Torres in this package of code-enforcement legislation that will deliver for our families,” Reynoso said. The act will also double the size of HPD’s Alternative Enforcement Program to 400 buildings by the start of 2015. The HPD Alternative Enforcement Program was begun in 2007 as a means of forcing negligent landlords to make repairs and fix violations. Landlords owning multiple buildings are included in the AEP based on class B hazardous and class C immediately hazardous violations. If owners do not clear up the violations in four months time, an order to correct is sent and if they continue not to comply, HPD will hire an independent contractor to make the repairs and bill the landlord the full amount. If landlords don’t pay the repair bills, HPD can enforce tax liens against their properties. City Council Member Ritchie Torres, and non-profits Make the Road New York, Real Affordability for All and the Urban Justice Center all support the legislation. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 6- TIMES, THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014 • 54 by P.O. Cadavid. May 15: (Beat 4) Arkadisuz Dzieran, at 70th Avenue and 60th Lane, for violation of a local law, by P.O. York. (Beat 5) Charles Webster, at 66th Street, for violation of a local law, by P.O. McCarren. (Beat 2) Krzysztof Orlow, at Forest Avenue, for failure to pay a server based on stealth, by P.O. Taveras. (Beat 15) Andrew Rodriguez, at Woodward Avenue, for aggravated harassment, by P.O. Caruso. (Beat 16) Samuel Solis, at 82nd Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard, for criminal possession of stolen property, by P.O. Diaz. (Beat 9) Carrie B. Mays, at Grand Avenue, for criminal contempt, by Det. Diaquoi. (Beat 3) Santos Torres, at Wyckoff Avenue, for criminal trespass, by P.O. Hynes. (Beat 3) Henry Romero, at Wyckoff Avenue, for criminal trespass, by P.O. Hynes. (Beat 2) Luis M. Martillo, at Wyckoff Avenue, for petit larceny, by P.O. DeMarco. (Beat 16) Brian Rescigno, at Cooper Avenue and 88th Street, for criminal possession of a weapon, by P.O. Marinacci. (Beat 12) Edward Mitchell, at Juniper Valley Road and 80th Street, for criminal possession of a weapon, by P.O. Marinacci. May 16: (Beat 3) Tania Mullings, at George Street and Cypress Avenue, for aggravated unlicensed operator, by P.O. Elmazi. (Beat 13) Miguel DeJesus, at Starr Street and Seneca Avenue, for aggravated unlicensed operator, by P.O. Bianchini. (Beat 3) Isaiah Diaz, at Wyckoff Avenue and Decatur Street, for robbery, by P.O. Farnaccio. May 17: (Beat 10) Kevin Kelly, at 60th Street and Metropolitan Avenue, for DWI, by P.O. Steiger. (Beat 13) Jose Rivera, at Metropolitan Avenue, for petit larceny, by P.O. Babayev. (Beat 16) Christopher Totan, at Cooper Avenue and 83rd Street, for criminal possession of a weapon, by Det. Wright. May 18: (Beat 5) Jonathan Aviles, at Myrtle Avenue and 60th Lane, for robbery, by P.O. Salamone. (Beat 3) Mario Mesa, at Seneca Avenue, for assault, by P.O. Zbikowski. (Beat 5) Aybar Aybar, at Vermont Place and Cypress Avenue, for criminal impersonation, by P.O. Krokondelas. The 104th Precinct, located at 64- 02 Catalpa Ave. in Ridgewood, can be reached by phone at 1-718-386-3004. To report an emergency or a crime in progress, call 911 immediately. Quality of life matters, such as noise or a blocked driveway, should be reported to 311. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 11- Speaker Mark-Viverito Surprises FHCCA At Meeting have to worry about your community and what you can bring back for your community.” Turning to community issues, Koslowitz announced that the nonprofit organization, The Doe Fund is now cleaning Metropolitan Avenue after she donated to the organization and brought them to the area. She emphasized her desire to clean up her district as she’s seen it getting messy, saying, “I don’t like it.” Koslowitz also expressed her concern of the economic state of Austin Street, saying a medical center is moving into the recently closed Brandon Cinemas movie theater. She stated she doesn’t believe it’s a positive addition to the local economy. Austin Street has several medical centers already, Koslowitz pointed out, and she would rather see more commercial businesses open up on the strip. Koslowitz plans to meet with the new commissioner of the Department of Sanitation to see what can be done about vendor carts on Austin Street that were also a concern of locals. “I’m working with the business people and I want to make Austin Street, Metropolitan Avenue and 63rd Drive a place we’re proud of to live in,” said Koslowitz. “This is our neighborhood and I think we have the right to say what we want and what we don’t.” The precinct reports Capt. Thomas Conforti, 112th Precinct commanding officer, stated he is now on Twitter providing the community with daily updates of police activity and will soon be on Facebook. He can be followed on Twitter at @nypd112pct. Conforti also introduced the precinct’s new executive officer Capt. Hugh Bogle. He’s been serving at the 112th Precinct for 18 months. Before that assignment, he served the 108th Precinct, was lieutenant in the 44th Precinct and a patrol officer and sergeant in Brooklyn. Crime in the 112th Precinct is down overall except for identity theft related crimes, explained Conforti, as a slew of citywide scams have hit Queens hard. Eight out of ten people don’t carry more than five or ten dollars on them as everything is being paid for by credit card, explained Conforti. As a result, muggings are going by the wayside, while organized crime is becoming more prevalent such as implanting skimming devices. Skimming devices have been found on bank ATMs and at the entrances, where customers are required to swipe their credit card to get to the ATM after hours. Both devices record credit card numbers, which are sent to the perpetrator’s cell phones. On the ATM, tiny cameras have been found, which record the bankers’ PIN which is also sent to the perpetrator's phone. Some keypads may also have covers on them that record pin numbers punched into it. Residents were encouraged to cover their hand when entering their PIN at any ATM machine to prevent any camera from picking up the numbers. Police advised residents to check the keypad to make sure a cover has not been installed and only use ATMs with a flashing light on the skimmer. If an illegal device has been put on the ATM, it was noted, there will be no light because it’s covered by the device. While the captain does not speak for the banks, he has seen many cases where the banks refund money stolen from victims from such scams sometimes requiring a police report, but usually reporting suspicious spending will suffice. The Green Dot scam is also still prevalent, warned Conforti, who has been paying particular attention to seniors in the area. Scammers pose as the IRS, Con Edison and distressed relatives coerce victims into purchasing a Green Dot card at a local store in order to escape further penalties or utility disruptions, or to help family members. The perpetrators have victims give them the Green Dot card serial number, and then they extract the money from the card. The scammers have also called as police, said Conforti, such as one case when a scammer made a call as a captain of the 109th Precinct asking for funds. “Con Edison does not shut off utilities over the phone, 100 percent they don’t,” said Conforti. “Any police agency that is legitimate does not solicit funds over the phone.” He encouraged anyone receiving these calls to hang up and report it to their local authorities. The next Forest Hills Community and Civic Association meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 10, at 7:30 p.m. at American Legion Continental Post 1424, located at 107-15 Metropolitan Ave. in Forest Hills. For more information, visit www.fhcivic.org. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 8- when plenty of current spots remain empty. I have heard various explanations as to why tree stumps linger while planting is being done in new locations—Parks Department treestump grinding machines have been broken, and outside contractors are responsible for stump removal, to cite two examples. The agency must make it a priority to resolve these problems. It makes more sense for the Parks Department to replace stumps with trees, instead of using its limited resources to cut open sidewalk. Second, plant trees outside properties that have requested trees, before planting any outside properties that have not requested trees. The Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association has received word from dozens of property owners who would love to have a tree outside their residences and who logged requests. Many of these people are still waiting—even as the Parks Department is foisting trees on other property owners who are unenthusiastic about receiving saplings. It makes no sense. Third, if a sidewalk must be cut, provide advance notice to the affected property owners. Nobody should be taken by surprise by a crew ripping up his or her sidewalk without forewarning. Fourth, attempt to respect people’s wishes regarding planting street trees on their property. No property owner is legally entitled to refuse a street tree—I understand that, and I am not proposing a change to that. But there are so many willing property owners that those who do not want a tree could easily be moved to the bottom of the list without significantly reducing the number of tree plantings. In general, the Parks Department should try its best to avoid forcing a tree on anyone. Fifth, tree maintenance must be taken as seriously as tree planting. One reason some property owners do not want trees is because they believe—often with good reason— that the city will not carefully tend to the trees, which can cause the trees to damage sidewalks or, eventually, to fall. Sixth, the Parks Department can change its policy and plant trees on private property (at the owner’s request, of course) if that property is adjacent to the public right-of-way. For example, if someone wants a tree planted in their front yard facing out onto the sidewalk, the Parks Department will not currently honor that request—even though a frontyard tree would offer all the same public benefits as a street tree. These are some commonsense proposals the Parks Department should consider—and, I hope, adopt—in its effort to make Woodhaven and all of New York City a greener, more tree-friendly place. Editor's note: Blenkinsopp is member of Community Board 9 and director of communications for the WRBA. For additional information on the WRBA, visit www.woodhavennyc. org. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 4-
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