10 The Courier sun • june 27, 2013 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre Maspeth residents protested use of local streets by big trucks. NOT ON OUR STREETS Maspeth residents STILL fighting truck traffic BY LIAM LA GUERE Maspeth residents have road rage for big rig drivers. Community leaders and residents held a rally at the intersection of 64th Street and Flushing Avenue on June 20 to bring attention to a perceived excess of tractor trailer traffic in the area. Residents have long contended drivers ignore laws and use residential streets as shortcuts to avoid traffic on the Long Island Expressway. They say the trucks increase noise and pollution in the community and are calling for more enforcement by police. “Maspeth deserves a community with fewer trucks,” Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley said. “It’s one thing to have local deliveries, but it’s another thing to have huge trucks.” In 2011, the city passed the Maspeth Bypass plan to prevent trucks from using local streets to make deliveries. However, Crowley and others say drivers continue to exit the expressway and use Flushing and Grand Avenues when going to Brooklyn due to a lack of signs that direct trucks to streets they may use, and the fact the official truck map does not reflect changes in the plan. The Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains a map showing approved paths for trucks. The 104th Precinct said while officers do ticket trucks for infractions, judges throw the cases out on grounds the signs and maps have not been changed. “We’ve been trying to get the map adjusted, but as it stands, it still is a lawful route,” said Lieutenant George Hellmer of the 104th Precinct. Locals say the trucks — most of them 16- and 18-wheelers, but sometimes longer — rattle houses and awaken people when they go by as early as 2 a.m. Residents also say the traffic light at 64th Street and Flushing Avenue has been knocked over and fixed multiple times as trucks have struggled to turn off Grand Avenue onto Flushing Avenue. Residents are also concerned about children, citing an August 2010 incident in which a truck struck and killed 12-yearold Frederick Endres while the boy was riding his bicycle on Fresh Pond Road. “This is a residential area and people just want to have peaceful lives,” said Anna Zacalunov, who lives on Grand Avenue. As the rally progressed, residents counted the number of trucks that drove by. In an hour-and-a-half, more than 250 tractor trailers of varying sizes were seen up and down the intersection. “They don’t care. They are giving us the finger, some of them,” said Roe Daraio, president of Communities of Maspeth & Elmhurst Together (COMET), the civic association that organized the rally. “Laws with no enforcement mean nothing.” The next step for the community is to meet with DOT to get the maps changed and signs put up. But not all residents think drivers are the only ones to blame. “Also, I think they should ticket the dispatcher,” said Maspeth resident Bob Nastasi. “He’s the one telling these outof state guys where to go.” NEWLY CONSTRUCTED APARTMENTS FOR RENT 23-10 41st Avenue LONG ISLAND CITY B U I L D I N G A M E N I T I E S I N C L U D E : CONCIERGE/VIRTUAL DOORMAN SERVICES GREAT VIEWS: FLOOR T O CEILING GL ASS WINDOWS ONE BLOCK FROM QUEENSBORO PL AZA. ONE S TOP TO MANHATTAN WALKING DISTANCE TO F, 7, N, Q, E, M & R SUBW AY LINES BALCONIES/TERRACES FOR MOS T APARTMENTS SPECTACULAR COMMUNITY LOUNGE WITH OUTDOOR TERRA CE STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES + W OOD FLOORS WASHER/DRYER HOOK-UPS IN EVER Y UNIT LAUNDRY ROOM IN BUILDING AVAILABLE INDOOR PARKING ON SITE (ADDITIONAL FEE) FITNESS ROOM (ADDITIONAL FEE) Queensboro Development LLC is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for 108 affordable housing rental apartments now under construction at 23-10 41st Avenue in the Long Island City section of Queens. This building is being constructed through the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Housing Asset Renewal Program (HARP). The size, rent and targeted income distribution for the 108 apartments are as follows: APARTMENTS APARTMENT HOUSEHOLD MONTHLY TOTAL ANNUAL INCOME AVAILABLE SIZE SIZE* RENT** RANGE*** MINIMUM-MAXIMUM Qualified applicants will be required to meet income and family size guidelines and additional selection criteria. Applications may be DOWNLOADED FROM WWW.BRONXPROGROUP.COM or requested by mail from: Queensboro Development LLC, c/o LIH, 1491 Montgomery Ave., Bronx, NY 10453. Please include a self-addressed DOUBLE STAMPED envelope with your request. Completed applications must be returned by regular mail only (no priority, certified, registered, express, oversized or overnight mail will be accepted) to a post office box number that will be listed with the application, and must be postmarked by August 26, 2013. Applications postmarked after August 26, 2013 will be set aside for possible future consideration. Applications will be selected by lottery; applicants who submit more than one application will be disqualified. Duplicated applications will not be accepted. Preference will be given to New York City residents. Eligible households that include persons with mobility impairments will receive preference for 5% of the units; eligible persons that include persons with visual and/or hearing impairments will receive preference for 2% of the units. Current and eligible residents of Queens Community Board 1 will receive preference for 50% of the units. Applicants who can document displacement by Hurricane Sandy and/or its related storms will receive preference for 25% of the units; and eligible City of New York Municipal Employees will receive a 5% preference. MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG, Mayor NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT MATHEW M. WAMBUA, Commissioner www.nyc.gov/housing 9 Studio 1 $1,103 $46,360–$78,260 5 1 Bedroom 1-2 $1,386 $57,760–$89,440 1 $69,120–$89,440 3 2 Bedroom 2 $1,668 $69,120–$100,620 3-4 $69,120–$111,670 22 Studio 1 $1,448 $60,160–$96,320 37 1 Bedroom 1-2 $1,818 $75,040–$110,080 1 $89,840–$110,080 32 2 Bedroom 2 $2,186 $89,840–$123,840 3-4 $89,840–$137,440 *SUBJECT TO OCCUPANCY CRITERIA **INCLUDES GAS FOR HEAT AND COOKING ***INCOME GUIDELINES SUBJECT TO CHANGE NO BROKER’S FEE. NO APPLICATION FEE.
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