Board 5 Mulls Mystery Over Shelter Plan For Former Ridgewood Convent -CONTINUED FROM PG. 1- Rumors of the conversion–– first reported in the Times Newsweekly––are swirling while Astoria Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas has brought a suit against the city claiming the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) “manipulated” emergency procurement procedures to convert the Westway Motel into a permanent facility. Arcuri said he called the pastor of the church to find out more about the rumors. He described the rooms as like “cells.” “Mr. Arcuri looked into the matter when he first heard of the rumors,” Giordano said. “I think there’s 24 rooms there, right? “Yeah, they are cells, basically,” Arcuri responded. “Whether the building has been sold I think is a big if, but anything is possible,” he added. Giordano explained to the group that he recently attended a meeting on shelters with the borough president, some providers, the DHS and other district managers at Queens Borough Hall. “Someone was there from Samaritan Village and other organizations, and somebody was there from Providence House. Providence House is the group, that from what I know, is interested in the convent,” Giordano said. “I got a call from Sr. Janet Kinney... who’s the president of Providence House essentially telling me what I just said,” Giordano added. “They, I believe, have proposed––we’ve received nothing definitive from them––whatever they’ve proposed, and they won’t even tell us specifically what they’ve proposed,” he said. “I don’t know if they’ve gone to the Department of Homeless Services yet, but they’ve certainly gone to the Diocese of Brooklyn, the Catholic diocese.” “I know nothing more definitive than that,” he added. “When the rumor first came out, I called the pastor of Miraculous Medal,” Arcuri said, referring to Fr.Anthony Sansone. “And his answer to me was the diocese was reviewing a proposal from Providence House and he had nothing more to report on it.” “So that’s where we are. Nothing formal, nothing presented by Homeless Services or the City of New York, nothing presented by the diocese, nothing presented by the parish,” he added. “As to whether the building has been sold, if its has been, we don’t know that.” This summer the conversion of the former PanAmerican Hotel on Queens Boulevard sparked outrage because the community was notified at the last minute. Published reports have the DHS slated to make it permanent. City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley reiterated her belief that the shelter coming to Glendale on Cooper Avenue is “not a done deal.” “I want you to know I have not given up any hope,” she said. “I will keep fighting for a school at that location.” “I’ve never swayed from my stance that this is a bad idea,” Crowley added. “And I’m hoping the department is starting to realize this.” She again advanced her position that the site should be used for a school instead of the proposed homeless shelter. Board 5 previously passed resolutions backing a school there. Another attendee, Dawn Scala, said she has called and emailed the diocese regarding the convent atMiraculousMedal, but has not received any response. Scala said the city right to shelter law should be changed to prevent out of state residents from staying in city shelters, and that non-city residents should not be allowed in shelters. She called on area elected officials support, and to make a similar push to that of Simotas’ suit. Transit resolutions Committee Chairperson John Schell presented three resolutions that were recommended by the full board. The first will bring safety measures to P.S. 239 in Ridgewood, including curb extensions and wider traffic islands near the school. The second measure seeks to rename the dead-end block of Suydam Street off Cypress Avenue in Ridgewood after Ann Maggio, the late Board 5 member and long-time civic leader. The third resolution, if adopted by the city, would rename 67th Drive between 78th and 79th streets inMiddle Village after Steven Frosch, a Sanitation Department worker by a street sweeper at the department’s Maspeth garage in June. Gym and spa proposals Two presentations, one for a Lucille Roberts gym and another for aMassage Envy location were presented to Board 5 last Wednesday. The health club will be located at 55-05 Myrtle Ave. in Ridgewood. The spa and massage will be at 89-44 Metropolitan Ave. in Glendale. The health club will be located on the second and third floors and will use 11,000 sq. ft. There will be no off-street parking. The spa is a national chain. The space they will take over is 3,100 sq ft, with 15 spaces provided. Liquor licenses Arcuri announced the board received a new liquor license application for Coyote Bohemio, Inc. at 55-19 19 Myrtle Ave. in Ridgewood for a change in class from restaurant wine to onpremises liquor, wine and beer; and for Core Food & Catering d.b.a. Maurya, at 63-08 Woodhaven Blvd. in Rego Park. It also received liquor license application renewals for Fajitas Sunrise Corp., 59-24MyrtleAve. in Ridgewood. The board also received new wine or beer licenses for Baez MiniMarket Corp, 61-22 Cooper Ave. in Glendale; Drunken Fish CT, Inc., 52-35MetropolitanAve, in Ridgewood; and wine and or beer license renewals for La Cocina de Mama Inc., MetropolitanAve. in Ridgewood; Sabor y Rumba Inc., 666 Seneca Ave. in Ridgewood; and an alteration notification for additional space with a bar and seating in an outdoor area for Phillies Pizzeria, 74-02 Eliot Ave., in Middle Village. Those wishing to comment on any of the applicants may do so by calling Board 5 at 1-718-366- 1834. Demolition notices Arcuri also announced building demolition notices at 335 St Nicholas Ave.; 337 St Nicholas Ave.; 1815 Linden St.; and 1738A Harman St. Community Board 5 generally meets on the second Wednesday of each month at Christ The King High School, 68-02 Metropolitan Ave. Meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. TIMES, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014 • 26 Ben Carson News & Opinion -CONTINUED FROM PG. 4- free phones and generous entitlements could purchase their loyalty forever. Only people who think the populace consists of morons would believe that they could keep delaying the employer mandate portion of Obamacare until after an important election, and that people would not realize that they were being manipulated. The recent election results indicate the resurgence of an informed populace in our nation. Even though the awakening is not complete, I believe Gruber may be proved wrong about the intellect of the American people. Ben S. Carson is professor emeritus of neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University and author of the new book “One Nation: What We Can All Do To Save America’s Future” (Sentinel). Coalition Launches Lawsuit Over Glendale Shelter HHAAVVEE YYOOUU CCHHEECCKKEEDD YYOOUURR CCHHIILLDD’’SS HHOOMMEEWWOORRKK TTOODDAAYY?? Woodhaven Riled Over Wreath Theft local soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the conflict. The community’s annual Memorial Day service remembers those fallen soldiers and other Woodhaven residents who died in service to the nation in wars past and present. “This is the first time in my life that anything like that has happened,” Thomson told this paper. “It’s a memorial wreath to our veterans and, being that Veterans Day was just the other day, it’s such a disservice to our veterans and America.” Others shared in Thomson’s disgust over the theft. Project Woodhaven took to Twitter after learning of the crime, stating, “What kind of dirtbag steals a wreath off a memorial?” The theft was reported to the 102nd Precinct, and an investigation is ongoing. “No true American with any type of feelings for our veterans and the sacrifices they have made would do something like that,” Thomson added. Anyone with information regarding the theft that could prove helpful is asked to call the 102nd Precinct at 1-718-805- 3200; all calls will be kept confidential. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 6- challenges to the proposal, citing potential negative impacts on the community. In July, the DHS released an environmental impact statement conducted by an independent firm it retained that indicated the shelter site was safe for development. The statement is required under the state Environmental Quality Review Act. The coalition, however, contends the analysis was not thorough and filled with “numerous factual inaccuracies.” The Article 78 petition seeks not only to invalidate the environmental impact statement, but also compel the DHS to conduct a full draft environmental impact study—a process that could take several years and millions of dollars to complete. However, it was noted that a ruling in the Article 78 lawsuit in the coalition’s favor would not prevent a shelter from being constructed. Instead, it will force a more extensive review of the location, as well as the project’s possible impact on the community at large. “Before our government can decide to move on something that is discretionary like building a homeless shelter, they’re supposed to an environmental review,” attorney Christopher Murray of the firm Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, who represents the coalition. “By doing it the way they did, they’re cutting the community out of the process. That’s the most egregious aspect of it.” Murray alleged that the city’s failure to conduct a larger, extensive evaluation is “a violation of New York State law, which requires them to take a hard look and do a full Environmental Impact Statement, as well as to have public input at public hearings.” Robert Holden, Juniper Park Civic Assocaition president and founding member of the coalition, alleged that the city is basically “rubber-stamping” the project, as well as a third-party “negative declaration” report deeming the project and its location as suitable. “We’re asking for a complete study on the impact of the neighborhood,” he stated. “That’s all we’re asking for with this action.” Coalition member Kathy Masi, who is president of the Glendale Civic Association, added in a statement that local residents opposed to the proposed shelter “just want the city to follow the law and properly analyze whether the project should be located at this location.” Middle Village Chamber of Commerce President Sal Crifasi, also a coalition member, stated that the organization “is continuing its ongoing efforts to inform and educate the community about this project, and to also make sure that our elected officials understand the deep concern that we have.” -CONTINUED FROM PG. 1- www.timesnewsweekly.com
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