Parking Rules, Illegal Conversions & More Talked At 104th Council Meet Crowley Seeks Increase In Police, Fire Pensions -CONTINUED FROM PG. 6- owe them the assurance that their families will be provided for should anything happen,” Crowley said. “Every emergency responder is taking the same risk, and every responder deserves the same disability benefits if they get hurt.” Under state law, firefighters and police officers hired before June 30, 2009 received Tier 2 disability pension benefits totaling 75 percent of pay, it was noted. However, personnel hired after July 1, 2009 were given the Tier 3 benefits, which equal just 50 percent of pay, and is further reduced by Social Security deductions, Crowley stated. “We cannot allow the City to cut corners when it comes to fundamental public safety,” Crowley added. “Our cops and firefighters are always there when we need them, now the City needs to be there for them and their families.” She urged the city to take immediate action by passing a home rule. Crowley said in a statement she plans on introducing a resolution in the City Council to remedy what she called an “urgent public safety crisis.” “In our community, there are a lot of cars with out-of-state plates,” the assemblyman said, noting that he drafted the legislation “because a lot of us have problems parking our cars” on local streets. Other bills Miller will reintroduce aim to prohibit the use of digital license plate frames that could distract drivers; impose higher penalties for those caught driving while fatigued; offer senior citizens discounts on their driver’s license renewal fees; and bar insurance companies from using a person’s credit to raise auto and property insurance premiums. Calls to report violators Illegal conversions remain the top complaint that the Department of Buildings (DOB) receives from residents living in Ridgewood, Glendale, Maspeth and Middle Village, according to Ken Lazar of the DOB’s Community Affairs Unit. Lazar told attendees the DOB received 482 illegal conversion reports from the Community Board 5 area so far this year. Illegal conversions are any unlawful housing unit created in a home in violation of existing buildings or zoning codes, such as units in a below-grade cellar or having only one means of egress. The Buildings Department is conducting a public education campaign, distributing fliers to subway riders and others advising them of the dangers of illegal conversions and how to report suspected violators. “When you do hear of an illegal conversion, call 311,” Lazar said, urging callers—who can remain anonymous—to provide as much detail about the suspected violations as possible. Buildings inspectors will subsequently make attempts to visit the location and check for violations. Should Buildings Department inspectors not respond to a complaint quickly, residents were advised to pass along the complaint—as well as the confirmation number received from the 311 operator—to Board 5 and local elected officials for follow-up. Construction work without proper permits was the second most-reported violation reported to the DOB from the Board 5 area, followed by various other violations including illegal curb cuts, commercial vehicles parked in residential driveways and construction noise. Less crime, more enforcement Entering the last six weeks of 2014, the 104th Precinct is “doing well,” Capt. Christopher Manson, the precinct’s commanding officer, reported. Overall major crimes are down 6.5 percent for the year and 26.5 percent for the previous 28-day period. The captain told residents reductions occurred in every crime category, but burglaries, robberies and felony assaults had particularly massive decreases. Auto thefts are also down after being up most of the year. Meanwhile, Manson stated, the precinct’s officers continue to make more arrests than in 2013 and have stepped up traffic -CONTINUED FROM PG. 6- 27 • TIMES, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014 For their efforts to stop a man performing lewd behavior near a Ridgewood school, NYPD School Safety Agents Reggie Cleveland and Michael Merritt received Cop of the Month awards during the 104th Precinct Community Council meeting last Tuesday, Nov. 19. They were given plaques donated by the Times Newsweekly for their efforts. Pictured at the award presentation are (from left to right) Precinct Council members Len Santoro and Dieter Vey; Cleveland; School Safety Agency Commanding Officer Suzanne Catoggio; Merritt; Capt. Christopher Manson, 104th Precinct commanding officer; School Safety Agent Superintendent Madeline Correa; Precinct Council President Mario Matos; Capt. Gregory Mackie, the precinct’s executive officer; and Precinct Council Vice President Abraham Markowitz. (photo: Robert Pozarycki) enforcement details. Recently, he noted, the command conducted an operation targeting illegally parked commercial vehicles in residential areas of the precinct’s confines; 28 vehicles were ticketed, and two were towed away. A Glendale resident informed Manson that trucks regularly and illegally idle for hours near businesses along 72nd Street off Doran Avenue. The commander said he would send officers to investigate the situation, noting the precinct has issued more 200 summonses for illegal idling this year. Cops of the Month Two School Safety Agents assigned to a Ridgewood school received Cop of the Month awards for helping police catch a man who exposed and fondled himself on the street in view of passing students. School Safety Agents Reggie Cleveland and Michael Merritt, who are stationed at I.S. 77 at 976 Seneca Ave., observed a man pleasuring himself near the school at around 8 a.m. on Oct. 15 and alerted police. In doing so, Manson said, the agents provided a detailed description of the suspect. Officers from the precinct busted the perpetrator moments later; a review of his record revealed that the suspect had been arrested 33 previous times for lewd behavior in front of minors. “It’s a parent’s worst nightmare,” Manson said, noting that the agents’ actions in responding to the incident were “perfectly done and well executed.” Cleveland and Merritt received plaques donated by the Times Newsweekly for their efforts. Helping Manson and 104th Precinct Community Council President Mario Matos present the awards were NYPD School Safety Agency Commanding Officer Suzanne Catoggio and Superintendent Madeline Correa. The next 104th Precinct Community Council meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday night, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Regional High School, located at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave. in Middle Village. For more information, call the 104th Precinct Community Affairs Unit at 1-718- 386-2431. Cuff R’wood Man For Maspeth Thefts -CONTINUED FROM PG. 3- officers with a fake identification. Additionally, it is alleged, officers found a pair of pliers in Rodonis’ possession. The Ridgewood resident was taken into custody on charges of possession of burglar’s tools, destruction or removal of property in buildings or structures and false personation. Following his arrest, the 108th Precinct Detective Squad linked Rodonis to a grand larceny that occurred at the HAR Maspeth Corp., located at 44-28 55th Ave. Between midnight on Nov. 2 and 8 a.m. the next morning, authorities stated, Rodonis and another man—William Senior, 59—allegedly entered the location and removed refrigerator compressors valued at a combined $60,000. Footage of the theft was reportedly caught on video surveillance cameras at the scene. Police said Rodonis and Senior used a shopping cart to remove the compressors and bring them to a van on the street. After learning of the theft, law enforcement sources noted, police and company employees checked nearby scrap yards to see if the compressors were sold there. Investigators reportedly learned that Rodonis and Senior allegedly sold the stolen items at Du Scrap Metal, located at 46-26 Metropolitan Ave. in Ridgewood. Members of the 108th Precinct Detective Squad picked up Senior on Nov. 13 on second-degree grand larceny charges; he remains held on $20,000 bond or $10,000 cash bail. Rodonis was additionally booked on second-degree grand larceny for his alleged role in the Nov. 2-3 theft. During an arraignment hearing in Queens Criminal Court on Sunday, Nov. 23, Judge Robert Martin Stolz ordered Rodonis held on a combined $9,000 bail. SShhoopp LLooccaallllyy!! SSuuppppoorrtt YYoouurr NNeeiigghhbboorrhhoooodd MMeerrcchhaannttss!!
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