6 times • JUNE 4, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.timesnewsweekly.com Communities to get more input on siting of homeless shelters and other social service facilities BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport Communities will now have the chance to hear plans for proposed social service facility sites before they appear in their neighborhoods. The Senate recently approved legislation co-sponsored by Senator Joseph Addabbo requiring a more transparent process when it comes to locating homeless shelters or other social service facilities in communities throughout the city. “This legislation, while not avoiding or ignoring the crisis of homelessness, substance abuse or other serious social ills in our society, does provide a necessary means for community members to be fully involved from the get-go when homeless shelters or other social service facilities are planned for their neighborhoods,” Addabbo said. “All too often, communities are finding that facilities are being virtually rammed down their throats, with no real thought given to whether the buildings are appropriate for the programs, whether the neighborhoods have adequate transit or other services, or whether the proposed operators have questionable track records that should be challenged,” he added. Under the new legislation, social service providers would be required to notify community boards and the City Planning Commission (CPC) within 45 to 90 days of selecting a location for their facility. The CPC would then have to hold public hearings to gather local input on the proposed facilities. Within 60 to 90 days of the public hearings, the CPC would have the final authority to approve, deny or modify the community-based programs. Community boards may also request hearings be held within the same time frame if a provider is planning on renewing its lease. This allows for local input in cases where questions have been raised about the operation of the facility. “The fact of the matter is that we need transparency, honesty and in-depth community conversations about these programs—before they happen, not after the fact,” Addaboo said. The Senator pointed out the proposed homeless shelter planned for Cooper Avenue in Glendale as a prime example. “This project appeared virtually out of thin air, with no opportunity for the community to raise legitimate concerns about the facility, the track record of the operators, or other very pertinent issues—which then fell on deaf ears when brought to the attention of city officials,” he added. “We can’t let this continue to happen. It’s not about trying to keep people in need out of our neighborhoods— it’s about bringing neighborhoods together, with all the information they require, to help determine the best outcomes for these same people in need.” The bill is currently under consideration by the Assembly Committee on Cities. RIDGEWOODTIMES/Photos by Anthony Giudice “Social service facility providers will now have to be more transparent in their site locations thanks to a bill passed by the Senate.” Hillary Clinton visits Queens for campaign fundraiser BY ROBERT POZARYCKI rpozarycki@ridgewoodtimescom/ @robbpoz Former Secretary of State and current presidential candidate Hillary Clinton appeared at Terrace on the Park on June 1 for a lucrative fundraiser in her honor. Rep. Joe Crowley, leader of the Queens County Democratic Party, and Rep. Grace Meng held the $2,700-per-plate campaign luncheon in support of Clinton’s 2016 campaign. It was the second of three fundraisers held for Clinton in the New York City area; earlier in the afternoon, she stopped by a Manhattan function held by former New York State first lady Silda Wall Spitzer. Following her appearance at the venue inside Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Clinton headed off to a private fundraiser at the home of Nassau County Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs. All told, the “Hillary for America” campaign raised in excess of $275,000 on Monday, according to the New York Daily News. Reportedly, Clinton is rumored to be planning an official campaign launch later this month on Roosevelt Island. Former President Bill Clinton was not with candidate Clinton at Monday’s event. Prominent Democrats from across Queens joined Crowley and Meng at the Clinton fundraiser, including Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Queens County Clerk Audrey Pheffer, former Borough President Claire Shulman and former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. Polls point to Hillary Clinton as the prohibitive front-runner in the 2016 Democratic race. Two rivals, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, have already declared their candidacies for the Democratic nomination. RIDGEWOODTIMES/Photos by Victoria Schneps-Yunis Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton with Rep. Grace Meng. Rep. Joe Crowley, City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley and Sean Crowley
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