16 DECEMBER 2, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Stop & Shop working with Glendale residents to start community garden
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Aft er an eight-month battle, residents
and Stop & Shop offi cials
are now working together to fi nd
green space in the Glendale area for a
community garden.
Caroline Shadood and others started
the Cypress Hill Community Garden
group last spring aft er what she said
was an unimaginably tragic year for
herself and many in her community.
“I think we’ve all been through a really
sad and traumatizing time,” Shadood
said. “Feeling connected to your
neighbors and creating a community
space has been one of the most healing
things that I’ve participated in since
coronavirus. It just feels important.”
Initially, the group of 10 residents
pushing for the garden, proposed utilizing
the green space attached to the
Glendale Stop & Shop location at 66-64
Myrtle Ave. However, this resulted in
a contentious disagreement between
residents, the company and the borough
president’s offi ce.
Stop & Shop adamantly opposed
using their land for liability reasons.
However, the residents would not stop
pursuing the lot for a community garden
since there is minimal green space
in the area.
“Why are we just letting this sit here
when the community just wants to put
some fl owers in?” Shadood said. “We
live close by and have seen this empty,
beautiful, sunny lot for years, and we’re
tired of it being empty, and we want to
The Cypress Hill Community Garden has planters along the Stop & Shop
fence. Photo courtesy of cypresscentralgarden/Instagram
do something that feels good for the
community.”
Months ago, Shadood and other
residents went forward with the community
garden in the Stop & Shop lot despite
not having their permission. They
cleaned up trash from the area and set
up a few planters along the fence.
“It’s a matter of loving our community
and knowing that Mafera Park
is covered in astroturf and wanting
something that can impact people of
all ages,” Shadood said.
Shadood said communication went
awry when the Queens borough president’s
offi ce off ered to liaise between
residents and the company but never did.
This resulted in misunderstandings and
tension that went on for months.
According to Stefanie Shuman, the
external communications manager at
Stop & Shop, there are tons of legal reasons
as to why the space cannot be used
as a garden, including safety concerns.
A few days aft er QNS published a
story regarding their dispute in early
November, Stop & Shop reached out
directly to Shadood and other residents.
Now, the two parties are working together
to come up with a compromise.
“Stop & Shop remains supportive of
local eff orts to establish a community
garden in the Glendale area, and we
have off ered to assist in funding these
eff orts at an alternative location,” Shuman
said.
Stop & Shop has off ered to fund a
community garden, however, they will
still not hand over their green space.
However, no area has been reserved
yet for the project.
Shadood said her group is in the
process of drafting a proposal for
Stop & Shop to look at. In addition, the
community-based coalition will propose
a composting option for residents
since there is no curbside composting
in their area.
The group also wants to partner with
local food pantries and nonprofi ts to
provide produce. But, most importantly,
Shadood will lay out how Stop & Shop
can assist them in fi nding a good location
for the garden.
“If you’re not going to let us use your
land, there has to be a greater eff ort in
fi nding something in close proximity to
it,” Shadood said. “We want something
near this area because there aren’t any
gardens near there. We want something
where we live and can benefi t our
community.”
Despite this garden taking almost a
year of activism, Shadood said they are
still highly motivated to get this done.
and she expected to present a fi nalized
proposal to Stop & Shop soon.
Ridgewood man describes what it’s like living in city-run homeless shelters
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Victor Lopez, 59, has been struggling to hold a job
for most of his life. Since the pandemic hit, he got
passed around to diff erent homeless shelters,
where Lopez said he faced terrible violence. Now, all
he wants is to fi nd a safe haven at the Hungry Monk
shelter in Ridgewood.
Lopez said he’s been to many shelters throughout the
city but never felt more unsafe than in Harry’s Place in
Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. Close to 50,000 people in New York
City are experiencing homelessness and Lopez knows
his situation is not unique.
“It’s terrible,” Lopez said. “It’s crazy in there. Why
would they put me in a shelter like that? I didn’t give
anyone any trouble. I’m out here trying to get better
and get help, not to fi ght with people.”
Lopez has been trying to get a bed at the Hungry
Monk facility, but unfortunately, no beds are available.
Father Michael Lopez (no relation), who started
the nonprofi t, said they have rarely had a free bed since
they opened in 2019.
Lopez’s problem is indicative of a larger issue
faced by many around Queens and the rest of the city.
Council member Robert Holden said Department of
Homeless Services Commissioner Steven Banks is to
blame. Holden said Banks had been an advocate for the
large “warehouse” shelters that pack people in without
privacy and barely any security, resulting in the dangerous
conditions Lopez spoke of.
Banks announced his decision to step down last week.
Holden is hoping this will kick off a more responsible
homeless response.
“I would much rather have smaller, faith-based shelters
along with letting a community have a say in where
they would be located,” Holden told QNS. “The organizations
that run the big shelters for the city have contracts
that they oft en do not fulfi ll, such as providing adequate
security, etc. Banks did not hold them accountable.
Residents of the shelter oft en harass neighborhood
residents and shopkeepers, as well as steal from them.
Banks also created a culture of corruption, with one
scandal aft er another.”
Holden referred to many reports revealing corrupt
owners of city-funded shelters. The New York Post
uncovered that the city gave over $4 billion to shelter
owners — who have been accused of pocketing millions
— to combat the homeless crisis.
The Post also explained that so much money has gone
to corrupt shelters because City Hall has underfunded
contracts to tackle homelessness. This leads to more
reputable organizations and shelters refusing to bid
on those contracts.
Lopez said he had felt the eff ects of the city’s neglect
as someone in and out of shelters oft en.
“We’re just numbers in a shelter,” Lopez said. “There
are so many people; the guards can’t get to everybody.
If we could all just get along so we can all get help. We
have to obey the rules. Some people really want help.”
Lopez said that staying at Hungry Monk would be
such a relief as he’s felt unsafe for so long.
“Being there will give me peace of mind so I can get
myself better and get the right help so I can get a job
and aff ordable housing,” Lopez said. “I have nobody to
help me. I’ll do anything to get out of these shelters. All
my life, I’ve struggled.”
DHS did not respond to QNS’ request for comment.
Photo via Getty Images
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