14 NOVEMBER 1, 2018 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Holden: Let’s replace three
aging local precincts
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
RPOZARYCKI@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
@ROBBPOZ
Located two blocks east of Fresh
Pond Road in Ridgewood, the
104th Precinct‘s headquarters
at 64-02 Catalpa Ave. is surrounded
by residential side streets too narrow
for vehicles traveling in opposite directions
to pass each other.
The precinct lacks an off-street
parking lot of its own, so officers
stationed there have to park their
cars and pickup trucks — including
offi cial NYPD vehicles — along those
side streets. This puts the offi cers in
constant competition with area residents
for parking space.
If that’s not rough enough, the building
itself is also more than 80 years old,
and has undergone numerous repairs
and technological upgrades to keep
up with the demands of 21st-century
crime-fi ghting.
But all that could soon change,
as Councilman Robert Holden announced
on Oct. 25 that he’s actively
working to build a new 104th Precinct
stationhouse somewhere within its
confines of Ridgewood, Glendale,
Maspeth and Middle Village.
Moreover, he’s also campaigning to
fi nd new headquarters for the 102nd
and 108th precincts in Richmond Hill
and Long Island City, respectively.
Both commands patrol parts of Holden’s
Council district and, like the 104th
Precinct, have outdated buildings
located in crowded residential areas
with limited off -street parking space.
Holden’s announcement comes just
days aft er the NYPD rolled out its
Neighborhood Community Officer
(NCO) program in the 104th Precinct.
The city views the NCO as a more
modern approach toward community
policing, and the lawmaker believes
the department must also work to
modernize the precincts themselves.
“The need for repairs at our precincts
will only continue to grow in
the coming years,” Holden said in a
statement. “Bringing new facilities to
our police will not only complement
the NCO program’s mission, but encourage
members of the community
to take even more pride in the men and
women who patrol their streets.”
According to Holden, the 102nd,
104th and 108th precincts each require
headquarters situated on lots large
enough to provide ample off -street
parking for private vehicles and patrol
cars. They should each also have
a modern command building complete
with a large community room in which
to hold regular meetings.
His vision, however, is still a long
way from becoming a reality. There
Photo by Kris Graves, courtesy of Councilman
Robert Holden
The 104th Precinct stationhouse
on Catalpa Avenue in Ridgewood
were no specifi c sites for new police
precincts offered in his statement,
nor was there any mention of cost
estimates or available funding.
According to Holden spokesperson
Ryan Kelley, the lawmaker “wanted to
get the idea out there” and start a conversation
in light of the introduction
of the NCO program.
The councilman has spoken with
high-ranking members of the NYPD
about building the new precincts
and they have been receptive, Kelley
added. He added that Holden is hopeful
the NYPD would make replacing
aging precincts across Queens would
become a high priority.
The lawmaker maintains that the
city owes it to the NYPD offi cers “who
don their uniforms to protect and
serve the community, to build a new,
state-of-the-art facility that mirrors
the 21st century.”
“My intent is to work with my colleagues
in government to actively
search for potential sites for precinct
placement,” Holden added.
The councilman will look to allocate
city funding toward the projects, but
the bulk of the funding would likely
need to come from other city offi ces
including the mayor and borough
president, according to Holden’s offi ce.
The Ridgewood Times reached out
to the NYPD for comment, but no
response was received before press
time on Oct. 31.
99% attendance
In 2018, passed 16 bills in Senate with bipartisan
support
Passed 8 consecutive on-time balanced budgets
Increased funding for seniors, education,
libraries and veterans
Middle class tax cut
Provides 24/7 live operator service and mobile
office hours after 5pm
Created 1,000’s of job opportunities
Protects Environment With Recycling Events And
Rain Barrel Distributions
Working To Protect Real Estate Property Tax
Exemptions
Urging MTA To Improve Public Transporation
Opposes wrongfully proposed large population
homeless shelters
Working with NYC DOT to improve the select
bus service (sbs) conditions along Crossbay/
Woodhaven boulevards
Working on fl ood mitigation projects
Assisting with hurricane Sandy recovery with
build it back issues
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