Glendale Shelter Lawsuit Moving Forward, JPCA President Tells M.V. Residents -CONTINUED FROM PG. 1- According to Holden, the coalition has raised nearly $60,000 toward their $130,000 goal. One of the biggest arguments against the proposed shelter is the fact that the site sits upon what Holden referred to as a “brown field” of land contaminated by commercial toxins. “The whole area is dangerous because of these chemicals,” Holden explained. “The state declared it a brown field due to years of dry cleaning chemicals which seeped into ground water and migrated south under Glendale homes.” Holden also expressed concern over a chemical storage plant, which sits a mere 40 feet away from the shelter site. According to Holden, the plant was summonsed in July 2014 for multiple violations. “We’re not against housing the homeless,” he added, “but it is not in our best interest to have 300 to 400 people housed in one spot. This will only compound problems within the neighborhood.” Holden cited quality-of-life conditions in the neighborhoods surrounding the existing Department of Homeless Services (DHS) emergency shelter at the former Pan American Hotel in Elmhurst as a reason to be alarmed. He called the DHS practice of housing nearly 600 residents at the Pan Am a “recipe for disaster.” “The Pan Am shelter is effecting our community in negative ways, especially businesses,” he stated. “Business owners are frightened and upset.” Seeking business’ help Residents asked about The Shops at Atlas Park management’s stance on the shelter; the outdoor shopping center, owned and operated by the Macerich Group, is less than a mile away from the proposed shelter site on Cooper Avenue in Glendale. Holden told residents, “They didn’t want to get involved,” but charged “they’re (shelter residents) going to be hanging out at Atlas Park.” He claimed that, with Atlas Park’s support and financial backing, the coalition would be able to surpass their $130,000 goal and could keep the case in appeals if necessary. Some residents questioned whether a boycott of Atlas Park shops would be effective, while others proposed meeting with individual store owners at the mall to seek coalition support. According to Holden, another nearby business—Artistic Stitch—will not get involved in the shelter fight because their landlord is Michael Wilner, owner of the proposed shelter site. “Think about property values and quality of life ... think about what will change,” Holden added. “We have great neighborhoods here, some of the best in the city. It’s worth fighting for. We need to band together.” Residents were asked to help get the word out about the importance of the shelter fight, especially in Middle Village, which, according to Holden, has been slow to respond to the issue. “We are not heartless,” Holden stated. “We’re just realists in understanding that this is a threat.” The JPCA board urged residents to attend the next coalition meeting, which takes place tonight, Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. at St. Pancras Pfeifer Hall in Glendale. Awards for officers Capt. Christopher Manson, commanding officer of the 104th Precinct, joined Holden in presenting community service awards to Police Officers Kenneth Frevola and David Lewis for a car theft arrest last month in Middle Village. The suspect, a Rockville Centre resident, was attempting to rob cars of belongings and parts, including airbags. The perpetrator had burglary tools in his possession, as well a stolen police scanner he discarded while being pursued by Lewis and Frevola. Manson also introduced his new executive officer and second-in-command, Capt. Greg Mackie, as well as his new graffiti task force leader, P.O. Gonzalez. According to Manson, the precinct saw a 38 percent reduction in robberies in the past two years. However, he urged residents to use extra caution in protecting their belongings during the upcoming holiday season. He advised females to keep purses close and cautioned against leaving purses and valuables in shopping carts. Manson also warned against leaving packages in cars at shopping malls. Traffic woes The captain also announced a series of successful big truck operations conducted on Grand Avenue inMaspeth.According to Manson, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and officers from the 104th Precinct issued summonses to illegal tractor-trailer trucks using local streets such as Grand Avenue Police Officers Kenneth Frevola and David Lewis (second and third from left, respectively) received community service awards from the Juniper Park Civic Association last Thursday in Middle Village. They are flanked by Robert Holden (at left), JPCA president, and Capt. Christopher Manson, the 104th Precicnt’s commanding officer. (photo: Kelly Marie Mancuso) instead of the Long Island Expressway. During the operation, five large trucks were deemed unsafe to operate and were towed away. Manson also announced the creation of commercial parking operations targeting commercial vehicles illegally parked on residential streets overnight. A total of 25 vehicles have been summonsed so far under this initiative, two of which were towed away. Residents expressed concerns over safety at several local intersections and roadways. Manson explained that he would provide the DOT with a traffic intelligence report in the wake of the fatal accident that claimed the life of 46-year-old Martin Srodin at the intersection of Cooper Avenue and 80th Street in Glendale. Manson stated that he would ask the DOT to expedite a traffic survey at the site. “This is one intersection we spend a lot of time at,” he explained. “It has been historically high in accidents.” Many residents also voiced concerns over traffic tie-ups at Atlas Park shopping center following the opening of T.J. Maxx, as well as the anticipated holiday rush. Manson stated that he would place additional auxiliary officers near the mall to help with traffic tie-ups and pedestrian safety during the upcoming holiday shopping season. The next Juniper Park Civic Association meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7:45 p.m. at Our Lady of Hope School, located at the corner of Eliot Avenue and 71st Street in Middle Village. For information, call 1-718-651- 5865 or visit www.junipercivic.com. TIMES, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 • 26 Woman Dead In Club Shooting -CONTINUED FROM PG. 3- sustained a graze wound to his head. Both were rushed to Elmhurst Hospital for treatment of their injuries, which were not life-threatening. Police units canvassed the surrounding area for suspects and evidence, but no immediate arrests were made, it was noted. The 110th Precinct Detective Squad is conducting the investigation, law enforcement sources said. Anyone with any information regarding the shooting that could prove helpful is asked to call the 110th Precinct Detective Squad at 1-718-476-9303; all calls will be kept confidential. Pedestrian Fatally Struck By Bus At Ridgewood Corner the driver, and no criminality is suspected. An inquiry by the NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is ongoing, police said. Last Thursday’s fatal accident was the most recent deadly pedestrian accident to occur near the Ridgewood Intermodal Terminal. Civic activists previously called upon the city Department of Transportation (DOT) to make changes to improve both driver and pedestrian safety. The city DOT ranked the intersection of Myrtle Avenue, Wyckoff Avenue and Palmetto Street among the most dangerous in the five boroughs. Four pedestrians were killed or serious injured there between 2007 and 2011. Earlier this year, the DOT enacted a plan to extend crosswalks and prohibit certain turn movements deemed most dangerous. Some civic activists, however, criticized the measures as not going far enough. Paul Kerzner, former president of the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association, told the Times Newsweekly the organization would contact City Council Member Antonio Reynoso, the MTA and the DOT to seek that certain bus movements at the intersection are banned. Community Board 5 District Manager Gary Giordano added in a phone interview with this paper that the board’s Transportation and Public Transit Committees would re-examine the intersection in the weeks ahead to determine if additional safety measures are needed. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 6- IIff YYoouu SSeeee BBrreeaakkiinngg NNeewwss OOnn YYoouurr BBlloocckk...... Conntacct Thhe Times Newsweekly CCaallll 11-771188-882211-77550000 •• EEmmaaiill iinnffoo@@ttiimmeessnneewwsswweeeekkllyy..ccoomm Shop Locally! Support Your Neighborhood Merchants!
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