Flood Mitigation Project Update: April 27, 2012

The below listed residents of West 12th Road attended last nights Broad Channel Civic Association and the presentation of the "Proposed Final Shared Street Design and Identified Impacts" by D.O.T. Queens Commissioner Maura McCarthy and Mr. Joseph Menzer of the RBA Group.

Jonna Barnes (42 W12thRd)

Sophia DeVirgilio (43 W12thRd)

John Heaphy (12 W12thRd)

Peter Mahon (55 W12thRd)

Scott Valentine (48 W12thRd)

ISSUE #1: Parking

Of primary concern to all W12th Road residents was the issue of parking and we are pleased to announce that this problem has been resolved. 

The specifics of the parking resolution may be found on page 3 of the below pdf file.  At first glance it would appear that a total of 155 feet of W12th Road would be designated as "no parking" areas (3 fire hydrants @ 30 feet each; 7 utility poles @ 5 feet each; and a 30 foot turnaround area at the Cross Bay Boulevard entrance to W12th Road) however, this total loss of footage can be reduced by:

1. placing the three fire hydrants adjacent to three utility poles - saving 15 feet...

2. of the remaining 4 utility poles, one is at the extreme end of the street adjacent a driveway and will have no impact in this regard -    saving 5 feet...

That leaves a total of 135 feet of "no parking" area and 90 feet of that total is attributed to the 3 fire hydrants which have always been present on our block.

Thus, in reality we will be losing approximately 45 feet of parking area which equates to about 4.5 car lengths.

This new design will allow for "legal" resident parking of automobiles on both sides of West 12th Road.

ISSUE #2:  Impact on Individual Properties

In order to achieve the requisite street width to accomodate the shared street design and allow for parking on both sides of the street as described above, there will be impacts/mitigations to individual W12th Road properties where the city will have to use small sections of private property for the street.  These impacts or encroachments will be markedly less than the encroachments originally envisioned under the oroginal (old)  

project design.

Presently, the following properties have been identified in this regard.

50  W12thRd

46  W12thRd 

44  W12thRd

40  W12thRd

38  W12thRd

36   W12thRd

34  W12thRd

32  W12thRd

30  W12thRd

28  W12thRd

26  W12thRd

24  W12thRd

20  W12thRd

16  W12thRd

14  W12thRd

10  W12thRd

1201 Cross Bay Blvd.

We are in the process of identifying the specifc impacts to each of the above properties and we will be contacting the individual homeowners of each of the above properties to advise them of same as soon as we obtain that information.

ISSUE #3:  Where do we go from here? 

The project design will be submitted to D.E.C. for their review and issuance of permits within the coming week.

In June,  Mass Mailing #2 will take place with a project design considered 80% complete being forwarded to all involved agencies, utilities, Community Board #14 as well as our association requesting review and comments.

In June the city will be forwarding "consent forms" to all property owners on W12th Road which are required in order for the city to move forward with this project.

The issuance of an RFP to obtain contractor bids for this project will be contingent upon receipt of all requisite permits from the D.E.C. after their review of this project but hopefully construction will commence in the Spring of 2013.

In the interim, as soon as we are able to put together all the specifics of this project (hopefully within the next two weeks) we will have a meeting for all West 12th Road residents to ensure all of you are fully aware of what is happening and how this will affect you.

As always, we will keep you informed of any additional information/developments as we become aware of them. 

Your neighbors,

Jonna Barnes (42 W12thRd)

Sophia DeVirgilio (43 W12thRd)

John Heaphy (12 W12thRd)

Peter Mahon (55 W12thRd)

Scott Valentine (48 W12thRd)

4-2326_Proposed Final Shared Street Design (HWQ1182A)_REV

City Council to Reform Veterans Property Tax Exemption

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

City Hall
New York, NY 10007
(212) 788-7116
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
April 11, 2012

Contact: (212) 788-7116

COUNCIL SPEAKER CHRISTINE C. QUINN, STATE LEGISLATORS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REFORM VETERANS PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION

Speaker Quinn proposed legislation sponsored by Assembly Member Cusick and Senator Lanza to redefine the exemption, ending confusion about how much U.S. Veterans’ property tax exemptions are worth each year.

New York, NY -- City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, joined by State Senator Andrew Lanza, State Assembly Member Michael Cusick, Council Veterans Committee Chair Mathieu Eugene, Council Minority Leader James Oddo, Council Member Vincent Ignizio and Council Member Lewis Fidler, gathered to announce forthcoming legislation to reform the Veterans Property Tax Exemption.

This change, requiring State law, is essential to address the exemption’s unpredictable and highly variable value, a byproduct of the way it is designed. The reformed Veterans Property Tax Exemption would, like other exemptions, be tied exclusively to the value of the home and property taxes, rather than fluctuate according to how much the City spends on schools. As a result, veterans will be given a stable and predictable tax break that will increase in value when the value of their home rises.

100th Precinct Pilot Block Watcher Program...

From Todays N.Y. Daily News.....

Danny Russiello is starting a pilot block watching program in the 100 Precinct in Rockaway, Queens.
Photo by:

Robert Mecea for New York Daily News

A group of Rockaway residents are hoping to put a dent in crime the old-fashioned way — by keeping their eyes and ears open.

About 30 people will be trained on Thursday to take part in a new pilot program as block watchers in the 100th Precinct.

“This is the only precinct in the area that does not have any NYPD surveillance cameras,” said Danny Russiello, president of the 100th Precinct Community Council. “It’s a great tool to have. Each person is almost like a camera.”

Block watchers will receive training, an identification card and a number to use when calling information into local precincts.

“People won’t know who the block watchers are, so maybe [criminals\] will think twice before trying to do something here,” Russiello said.

City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., who has long complained about the decrease in NYPD manpower, said block watches can help decrease crime.

“Some of these crimes are easily preventable if people are observant,” said Vallone, who chairs the Council’s Public Safety Committee. “People are stealing the wheels off cars again. They are climbing into windows in the middle of the day.”

Vallone has been working on a project with the 114th Precinct to combine a block watch and existing civilian patrol.

And he said wanna-bes and vigilantes need not apply to these community volunteer positions.

“Civilians are taught not to get involved,” Vallone said. “They are just to report to the police and that’s it.”

Russiello said he is hoping to get several classes of block watchers trained in the coming weeks and months to cover all parts of the sprawling precinct, which extends from Breezy Point to Beach 59th St.

Block watchers can also hang onto their anonymity when phoning in tips and information. That could also help bring more people into the program, said Rockaway resident Betsy Ladd.

“A lot of people want to say something but are afraid of giving their names,” said Ladd, who has lived in Rockaway from 31 years.

Ladd is one of the people signed up to take the training.

“Sometimes you are sitting on the boardwalk, the surfers are out there and kids will come and go through their bags,” she said. “Or sometimes you will see young kids picking on senior citizens. We try to get involved but the more people the better.”

Civic Association Meeting Tonight....

The Broad Channel Civic Association's April 2012 meeting will take place this evening at 7:30 p.m. in the V.F.W. Prince Wynn Post's hall.

Commisioner Maura McCarthy (Queens D.O.T.), Mr. Joseph Menzer (The RBA Group) and representatives from the city's D.D.C. will be present to discuss their new proposal to address the issue of parking regarding the flood mitigation (street raising/new bulkhead) project for West 11th, 12th and 13th Roads.
Residents of the involved street are strongly encouraged to attend this meeting.

Ulrich Announces Run for State Senate...

Our local City Councilman Eric Ulrich, (R-32nd C.D.) announced Tuesday his intention to run for the state Senate in the 15th District. The seat is currently held by state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr., a democrat.

Ulrich made the announcement on his website, www.ulrich4senate.com,on Tuesday afternoon.
“For the past three years, I have been honored to serve the people of my community at City Hall,"

Ulrich said in a statement. "I am now ready to take the fight to Albany where I will be an independent voice for the taxpayers of Queens County. I will be a State Senator that never stops fighting for the middle-class.”

Ulrich was elected to the City Council's 32nd District back in 2009.

NYS DEC Press Release Re: Catwalks and Docks....

For Release: Thursday, April 12, 2012 

DEC Proposes Tidal Wetlands Guidance Document for Installing Catwalks and Docks

Public Comment Period Runs Through May 9

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation today released a guidance document to aid in the interpretation of terms contained within the Tidal Wetland Land Use Regulations for installing catwalks and docks. A public comment period on the document will run through May 9.

"Tidal wetlands are invaluable for marine food production, wildlife habitat, flood, hurricane, and storm control," said Assistant Commissioner of Natural Resources Kathy Moser. "This proposed guidance document is intended to aid both DEC staff and the regulated public by producing a clearer, more easily understood and streamlined permit process for installing catwalks and docks in marine waters."

The development of this guidance document is in response to the many challenges involved in managing a program and balancing environmental concerns with developmental pressures.

DEC staff typically issues approximately 1,900 tidal wetland permits a year in Nassau and Suffolk counties alone with docks and catwalks being one of the largest permit items requested.

The current Part 661 Regulations are available for review on the DEC Public Website.

DEC has posted the proposed guidance document on the DEC's main Tidal Wetlands webpage.

The proposed dock guidance provides guidelines for evaluating the compatibility of a project with onsite conditions and to facilitate consistency with permit issuance standards. It provides users with guidelines on issues such as:

·                       avoidance of impact to valuable habitats;

·                       appropriate water depths and methods for determining them;

·                       structure use; and

·                       minimizing short-term construction impacts.

Citizens and officials interested and affected by the Tidal Wetland Land Use Regulations may provide comments on this guidance document. All comments and concerns on the Part 661 guidance documents proposed revisions should be forwarded to: Dawn McReynolds, Bureau of Marine Resources, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 205 N. Belle Meade Road, E. Setauket, NY 11733 or fwmarine@gw.dec.state.ny.us by May 9, 2012. Please reference Tidal Wetland Guidance in the subject of the email.

In the early 1970s, New York State began to recognize the importance of tidal wetland areas and sought to insure their protection from filling and dredging, human activities that had drastically reduced the amount of tidal wetlands in New York by passing the Tidal Wetland Act in 1973. The regulations within 6NYCRR Part 661 of the Tidal Wetland Land Use Regulations apply anywhere tidal flooding occurs on a daily, monthly or intermittent basis and to upland development in areas adjacent to tidal wetlands. Tidal wetlands line much of the salt water shore, bays, inlets, canals and estuaries of Long Island, New York City and Westchester County. They also line the Hudson River in Westchester and Rockland counties upstream to the salt line.

In 1974 DEC collected a set of aerial infrared photographs of all the tidal wetlands on Long Island and along the lower Hudson River. Using these photographs, DEC established the New York State Official Tidal Wetlands Inventory, a set of maps delineating and classifying all the tidal wetlands in New York. These maps are used by DEC and other municipal agencies to control and manage the development, filling and dredging of areas in and around New York's tidal wetlands.

Civic Association Newsletter

CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING
VFW Hall   Shad Creek Road   7:30 PM
April 26, 2012
                                                                              April 2012   Vol. 25   No.  4


President’s Message



Toll Update - It’s official!  The rebate program budget line, in this year’s state budget, has been passed and Broad Channel Residents will have a full free rebate for any crossings on the Crossbay Veterans Bridge. In addition Assemblyman Goldfeder has made arrangements with the MTA to ensure that we will receive a full reimbursement for any tolls we pay from April 1st until the rebate program is operational within the MTA computer system. It may take until mid-summer, according to the MTA, to have the EZ pass system updated.  We want to thank the Assemblyman for his accomplishment in fighting this unfair toll/tax.

The local environmental group, the Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers, was nominated by Congressman Turner for the 2012 EPA Environmental Award back in January of this year. While the nomination was an honor in and of itself, the congressman has personally called to inform the group that after the EPA reviewed all of the nominations submitted for this year’s award, the Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers were selected as winners of this prestigious award for their efforts in protecting Jamaica Bay. This is a really big deal for the small, grassroots group and they appreciate Congressman Turner’s support!

The Guardrail Construction for the bike/walking path on the west side of Crossbay Boulevard (along the bird sanctuary) is scheduled to start on April 16th and be completed by June 30th of this year. Councilman Eric Ulrich was instrumental in procuring the funding for this project when the Civic Association brought to his attention the danger that the vehicles pose to the very large number of people and children who use this pathway throughout the year. This guardrail will definitely help to keep the children on the path and hopefully keep the cars off.

The Civic Association has just noticed an online notification of new regulations being promulgated by the NYS DEC. They appear to have serious ramifications for waterfront properties in Broad Channel and we will give an update on the particulars of these possible changes at the April 26th meeting.

Commissioner McCarthy and representatives of the DOT/RBA design group will be attending the April 26th meeting to give an update on the outstanding issues regarding plans for the Street Raising Project. On April 21st the representatives of the Civic Association and block representatives from West 11th, 12th, and 13th Roads met with the design group and informed them that they were opposed to increasing the block width, adding fire hydrants, parking restrictions on the head of the block and the loss of any parking whatsoever. The town’s representatives presented articulate and fact based reasoning for opposing these recent additions to the plan and the commissioner agreed to bring these positions back for further review. We hope to hear an answer to our requests now on the 26th. Once again we urge the residents of those blocks to turn out and have our voices heard.

Quote of the Month: --- Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over and it is too late! ----------------------- Robert Updegraff

Respectfully submitted,
Dan Mundy Jr

PIX 11 News on W12th Road for Storm Coverage....

PIX 11 News was present on West 12th Road as part of their coverage of today's coastal storm.

Field reporter Deborah Alfarone and staff for PIX News arrived at the end of West 12th Road at approximately 5:30 p.m. for a live report which was broadcast on the 6:00 p.m. newscast, which included interviews with neighbors Bobby Fox and Frank O'Toole.

. 

After the live shot was completed the news crew interviewed Grace Arnemann and her daughters Amy and Victoria for Sunday  evening's 10 p.m. broadcast (click here to view broadcast) asking how they deal with these type storms given West 12th Road's history of serious and continual tidal flooding.

Deborah, the field reporter for PIX 11 News stated that she had covered W12th Road last year during Huricane Irene and remarked about the friendliness of the residents of Broad Channel.

From this week's WAVE....

From Dan Guarino's Broad Channel Bits column in this week's WAVE....

Broad Channel has always been a place where neighbors look out for neighbors. Recently neighbors “sounded the alarm” after noting several young men and women going door to door on W12th Road claiming to be either “home inspectors,” or from the “mortgage company” or “energy company” representatives. Reports were made to the precinct. Neighbors began to keep an eye out for these people. Shortly thereafter these visits stopped.

On another note, someone recently wrote in about their car being vandalized to the tune of hundreds of dollars in damages as it was parked on Noel Road. We have also directly experienced and witnessed tires being slashed.

Broad Channel is a terrific place to live. It stays that way because the people who live here care about it. If you see something, if you hear something, if you know something – call the 100 Precinct 718-318-4200. Let them know. 

Goldfeder takes on Water Rate Hikes....

It should come as no surprise that this July, the New York City D.E.P. will once again increase your water bill for Fiscal Year 2013 by 7%!

The annual water rate hikes by the D.E.P. have become become an annual event that we have come to view as a "fact of life" - here's your rate increase and there's nothing you can do about it.

In Fiscal Year 2012 the rate increased by 7.5%

In Fiscal Year 2011 the rate increased by 12.9%

In Fiscal Year 2010 the rate increased by 12.9%

In Fiscal Year 2009 the rate increased by 14.5%

In Fiscal Year 2008 the rate increased by 11.5%

In Fiscal Year 2007 the rate increased by 9.4%  

Back in Fiscal Year 2008 when our reservoirs were low, the D.E.P.'s Water Board told us that in order to force conservation of water, they had to raise their rates.  

So what happened? Consumption went down markedly and in Fiscal Year 2010 the D.E.P.'s Water Board told us that because less water was being used, their revenues have suffered and they (wait for it!...) have to raise rates!

This year, the D.E.P. proudly proclaims that "In the past three years alone, DEP has instituted three successive rounds of budget tightening measures that have cut more than 15% off our operating costs."

Good news right?  Three consecutive years of intensive budget tightening measures reducing operating costs by more than 15%?  One would think that perhaps that savings would translate to a savings for the consumer?  Sounds like that savings should translate to a savings for the consumer?

Unfortunately not.

The D.E.P. adds that "Since 2002, debt service payments have increased by 176%, from $496million to $1.37 billion, as a result of approximately $15 billion in unfunded federal mandates that translate to higher rates."

The excuses for these continual rate hikes are becoming almost laughable.

The reservoirs are low so we have to raise rates to conserve water.

People are using less water (conserving) so our revenues are down and we have to raise rates.

We reduced operating costs by more than 15% but unfunded federal mandates have increased our debt service payments by 176% since 2002 so we have to raise rates.

The Water Board and the DEP have continued to enoy the best of both worlds while we, the consumers, have been damned if we do and damned if we don’t!

That is until now.

The good news is that we finally have a local elected official who states he wants to "put the brakes on" D.E.P.'s annual water rate hikeathon.

Our State Assemblyman, Phil Goldfeder. has stated that:

Water rates are at an all-time high in Queens, and instead of providing much needed economic relief; there is a proposal to raise the rates once again. Recently, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced a proposed 7 percent increase in water rates; an astronomical 78 percent increase in the cost of water rates since 2005!

A higher fee for water is the last thing our community and the struggling economy needs right now. While the city has downplayed the rate hike proposal by stating that it is well under the originally projected rate increase of more than 9 percent, 7 percent is still a substantial increase over current water rates.

If the new increase goes into effect, the typical singlefamily homeowner will see an increase from $877 per year to $939 per year for water and sewer bills – an additional $5 per month. An average multi-family unit with metered billing will see an increase from $571 per year for each dwelling unit to $610 per year for each dwelling unit – an additional $3.25 per month.

As a father and long-time resident of Queens, I understand the many expenses families are faced with, as well as the continuously rising cost of living that we face every year. The rate hike is just another tax and an additional fee on the working and middle class families who are already struggling. We need to keep the money in the pockets of residents who need it and not make them pay additional fees.

After only five planned public hearings across the five boroughs, the Water Board will vote on the water rate on May 4th and if passed, will take effect on July 1st.

A public hearing in Queens is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, at Christ the King Regional High School, located at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave. in Middle Village.

In an effort to limit additional rising costs, to their credit, the DEP announced a three-year pilot program that would cap payments to the general fund at $196 million, the level from 2011. The DEP has also taken a number of steps to help mitigate the trend of increasing debt in the future through innovative planning and advocacy. The DEP has reached an agreement with the state to implement a groundbreaking green infrastructure plan that will eliminate or defer $3.4 billion in capital commitments, while making the state more environmentally friendly. This is a good first step, but more needs to be done.

In the coming weeks, I will be introducing legislation to cap the increase in water rates to no more than 4 percent each year. Parents should never have to choose between paying a ridiculously expensive fee or cut back on such fundamental necessities as doing laundry, bathing their children or washing dishes.

**********

We strongly recommend that those of you who are fed up with these hefty annual water rate increases by the D.E.P. and their Water Board call Assemblyman Goldfeder  at (718) 945-9550 or email him at goldfederp@assembly.state.ny.us. and let his office know that we support him in this matter.

Flood Mitigation Project Parking Issue - Update

We have been advised that D.O.T,  D.D.C. and the RBA Group design firm will be present at the April 26, 2012 meeting of the Broad Channel Civic Association to present their new proposal regarding our areas tidal floding mitigation project as it pertains to the ongoing issue of parking.

All residents of West 11th, 12th and 13th Roads are encouraged to attend this presentation.

IMPORTANT ADVISORY - UPDATE

IMPORTANT ADVISORY

UPDATE

Earlier this week we posted an advisory regarding the presence of young men and women on West 12th Road claiming to be "Home Inspectors" and/or representatives of "Energy" and "Mortage" companies over a period of three consecuitve days requesting personal information from residents and, in at least one instance, requested access to enter a residience.

These individuals, when asked, could not produce any form of identification.

We notified the 100th Police Precinct's Community Affairs Office of this matter who advised us yesterday that although they have received no similar complaints regarding the presence of possible "scam" artists in our area,  they will contact us if they do become aware of anything in this regard.

In addition to the above, these individuals have not returned to West 12th Road since being challenged by several W12th Road residents this past Thursday.

Please ensure that you do not provide any personal information to any individual visiting your residience, regardless of who they tell you they represent. 

Better yet, if you are unsure who the visitor is, simply tell them you are not interested and do not even open your door. Under no circumstances allow any stranger to enter your residence.

If you have elderly or infirm neighbors please talk to them about this issue and advise them as above.

If the individual(s) persist or otherwise makes you uncomfortable, call the police immediately.

I have also advised residents of West 12th Road they may contact me at home at 718-945-0805 or simply refer the visitors to my residence at 55W12thRd to validate their presence on the block.
   

Bingo this Sunday at Broad Channel's V.F.W. Hall....

This Sunday, April 15th,

at 1:00 p.m.

Broad Channel's

V.F.W. Prince Wynn Post 260

has

A TIP FOR BEGINNERS

One strategy to increase your odds at Bingo is to play as many cards at one time as you can. The key phrase in that statement is "as you can", because it hurts your odds to play more cards than you can keep up with.

Still, the more cards you are dabbing with your Bingo dabber at one time, the more chances you have of winning a Bingo. Thus it stands to reason that the most frequent Bingo winner would be the person who can work the most cards at one time.

Paraskevidekatriaphobic? Triskaidekaphobic?....UH OHHH!....It's Friday the 13th....

IMPORTANT ADVISORY.......

I have just been advised that over the past three (3) days, various neighbors on the block have been visited by individuals who stated that they were either "home inspectors", representatives from a "mortgage company" or representatives from an "energy company".

These individuals have been described as extremely young looking men and women and have, in some cases, requested personal information from a resident and in at least one instance, requested to be granted access inside the property owners residence.

One W12th Road resident challenged one of these groups and demanded to see some form of identification which they were not able to produce.

I have contacted the 100th Police Precinct's Community Affairts Office requesting information if they are aware of any similar concerns regarding this issue either here in the Channel or in Rockaway.  I am currently awaiting a call back from the Precinct.

In the interim, please ensure that you do not provide any personal information to any individual visiting your residience, regardless of who they tell you they represent.  Better yet, if you are unsure who the visitor is, simply tell them you are not interested and do not even open your door.  Under no circumstances allow any stranger to enter your residence.

If you have elderly or infirm neighbors please talk to them about this issue and advise them as above.

If the individual(s) persist or otherwise makes you uncomfortable, call the police immediately.

I have also advised residents of West 12th Road they may contact me at home at 718-945-0805 or by cell at 347-821-9656.

I will update you regarding this matter as more information becomes available.

Assemblyman Goldfeder advises MTA will make Cross Bay Bridge Tolls for Residents Retroactive to April 1st....

Last week, I announced that I was successful in   securing the inclusion of the residency rebate for the Cross Bay Bridge toll   in the final budget (A. 9055-D). It requires the state to pay the Metropolitan   Transportation Authority (MTA) for costs associated with the reimbursement of   E-ZPass tolls paid by residents of Broad Channel and the Rockaway Peninsula   for travel over the Cross Bay-Veterans Memorial Bridge. While it may take   until mid-summer to reprogram the E-ZPass tags for local residents, the MTA   has agreed to make all reimbursements retroactive to April 1st, which is   the beginning of the fiscal year.

"Joe Lhota has been a breath of fresh air at   the MTA and I commend him for doing the right thing for the residents of   Rockaway and Broad Channel," said Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder. "Hardworking   families should not be burdened with this unfair fee for one day longer than   they have to and now we will finally get the relief we so desperately need and   deserve. Senator Addabbo and I fought hard to see that the residency program   was funded in this year's state budget and I am happy that the MTA is working   with us to provide this much-needed relief to our community with their   decision to retroactively reimburse residents for this toll."

"In collaboration with Assemblyman Goldfeder   and honoring the newly passed state budget that included the rebate, we've   crossed that proverbial bridge with the MTA to restore the rebate to Rockaway   and Broad Channel residents effective immediately, including returning funds   to local users of E-ZPass for the discounted tolls they've paid each way,   retroactive to April 1st," Senator Addabbo said.

Included in Governor Cuomo's 2012-13 Executive   Budget proposal was an initiative to reinstate the Cross Bay Bridge discount   for the residents of Broad Channel and Rockaway. Goldfeder and Addabbo fought   to ensure that both the Assembly and Senate included the residency rebate in   their respective budgets and in the final budget that was signed by the   governor last week.

Goldfeder introduced legislation in the   Assembly and Addabbo in the Senate that would eliminate the burdensome Cross   Bay Bridge toll permanently (A.9000/S.6890) for every resident in   Queens.


______________________
Phillip   Goldfeder
Member of NYS Assembly, 23rd   District

90-16 Rockaway Beach   Blvd.
Rockaway Beach, NY   11693
(718)   945-9550

Jamaica Bay Eco Watchers Honored by U.S. E.P.A.

A local  environmental organization in our area has been honored with an award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers was nominated for this award by Congressman Bob Turner (R-Queens and Brooklyn), and was honored by the congressman recently.

“This is a great day for the Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers...” Turner said in a statement issued by his office. “This  is an extremely deserving group who do important work on behalf of our community. I was proud to have nominated them, and am even prouder that they have been recognized for their devotion to their...cause.”

New York’s 9th Congressional District falls into EPA Region 2 which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Turner nominated the Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers in February citing their tireless efforts “to protect the quality and integrity of our environment.”

This year marks the first time in the last ten years a community group from the 9th District has won this prestigious award.

According to the EPA, to be selected for the award a group or individual must significantly contribute to improving environmental quality during the prior year.

The Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers was founded in 1998 with a mission of protecting and restoring Jamaica Bay, a salt march spanning 25,000 acres.

“Since his election, the congressman has done an outstanding job reaching out to people in the community and environmental groups around the bay to try and find out the needs of the bay and what he can do to help,” said Broad Channel resident and Bay Ecowatchers President Dan Mundy. “We certainly appreciate his efforts on the bay. I think his living on the bay contributes a lot to his firsthand awareness of how important it is. We certainly appreciate the work his office did to recognize us. This award will help us continue the work that we are doing.”

R.I.P. - Peninsula Hospital

[From the Daily News.....]

The plug has officially been pulled on Peninsula Hospital.

A doctor’s desperation measure in bankruptcy court to stop Peninsula Hospital from closing fell flat on Monday, meaning the embattled facility will shutter its doors permanently.

Dr. Wayne Dodakian, a hospitalist fellow at the Far Rockaway facility, withdrew his request for an injunction after a frenzied eight hours of backroom negotiations.

Former board members scrambled to shore up a viable offer to bring to the court-appointed trustee, Lori Lapin Jones, but the options slowly withered to zero.

Several board members said the state Department of Health plans to revoke Peninsula’s certificate of operation Monday evening, meaning the facility would have to go through a lengthy application process if it is to be re-opened as a full-service hospital.

Signs have already been posted at Peninsula directing patients to go to nearby St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, which is now the only hospital on the Rockaway peninsula serving more than 100,000 residents.

Peninsula had been struggling to stay afloat after flunking a state Department of Health inspection of its lab in February, which halted most patient care. Ambulances have been diverted and the hospital cannot admit patients.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/plug-pulled-peninsula-hospital-article-1.1058866#ixzz1rayMKhf7

Happy Easter.......

Below is an excerpt from this week's edition of The WAVE's Broad Channel Bits Column by Dan Guarino....

If you want to experience the joy of Easter, or anything else for that matter, spend time with Broad Channel’s kids. Last Sunday, April 1, the VFW Hall was filled with delighted children who came for their annual Easter Egg Hunt.

From 1 to 4 p.m. there was laughter, excitement and fun as kids had eggs to color, pictures and crayons to draw with, games to play, franks, juice drinks, cupcakes and goody bags. And yes, there was an Easter egg hunt in the VFW ‘backyard’ with kids organized by age group and with appropriate prizes. Dora the Explorer and Diego even dropped by. Even the weather held out. The high point was the appearance of the Easter Bunny, who arrived to the sounds of swelling music and what sounded like hundreds of bouncing little feet. The special guest stayed and sat for pictures with dozens of children. Said one participant, “Wow! My grandkid’s had a great time!”

A big ‘Thanks’ to the hardworking VFW crew for bringing joy and making everyone an honorary kid for the afternoon.

Flood Mitigation Project Update: Thursday 4/5/2012

Representatives from the City's DDC and the design firm "The RBA Group" taking measurements on West 12th Road on Thursday, April 5, 2012

Mr. Joseph Menzer and other staff from the design firm "The RBA Group", accompanied by representatives from the city's Department of Design and Construction (DDC)   were present on West 12th Road this afternoon taking additional street measurements.

When asked how their efforts were faring regarding their attempts to resolve the issue of parking on West 12th Road Mr. Menzer replied that "...we think we have a handle on it and we still have to convince some other city agency officials that it can work." 

Mr. Menzer stated that he believes DOT will be meeting with the Broad Channel community later this month on April 26th and the representative from DDC added that "Hopefully at that time we will have some good news for you." 

We thanked all staff present stating that we sincerely appreciated all the work they were doing to try and resolve this issue and that we look forward to hearing from both them and DOT later this month.

Media Coverage of Particpatory Budget Results

Not too much locally but I came across this Associated Press dispatch from a Syracuse news source.

 

 

April 4, 2012, 7:10 p.m. EDT

AP

 

NEW YORK (AP) — New York is following Brazil by using a new way to spend public money: having communities decide what they need.

The results of a program called participatory budgeting were announced Wednesday by City Council members and community residents on the steps of City Hall. Residents of four districts in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens chose about two dozen projects costing millions of dollars. The projects included new fire department pagers, school technology upgrades and a food composting system.

Any district resident 18 or older, including non-U.S. citizens, could vote.

"This is an effort to reinvent government," said Josh Lerner, executive director of the New York-based Participatory Budgeting Project, a nonprofit that supports such efforts in North America.
The approach, while it can be time-consuming, has succeeded in thousands of municipalities worldwide, including cities such as Chicago, Toronto, Berlin and Porto Alegre, Brazil, where it was pioneered in the late 1980s.

The bottom line, financially and socially, is that a New Yorker in a neighborhood involved in such budgeting helps make decisions that affect his or her daily life.

Alissa Wassung, a 30-year-old dancer who works for a nonprofit, lives in a bungalow by the ocean in Queens' Far Rockaway neighborhood. She jumped into the budget fray last fall, going to gatherings at which "I got to know all my neighbors, and I got to love this community," she said after the City Hall news conference.

Results of Participatory Budget Voting...

The below nine (9) projects received the most votes last week and Capital Funds will now be allocated for each of them in the next city budget.  (Note:  Those projects underscored and  highlighted in blue involve the Broad Channel community.)

Project #5: Technology Upgrades at P.S. 47, P.S. 317 and MS318 ($230,000)

[1,010 votes]

Project #8: Cascade (Oxygen refill) system for Volunteer Fire Departments ($60,000)

[870 votes]

Project #10:  Water Pump for Volunteer Fire Departments ($39,000)
[804 votes]

Project #9: Pagers for Volunteer Fire Departments ($48,000)
[770 votes]

Project #2:  Handicapped Bathroom Upgrade – Rockaway Knights of Columbus ($45,000)
[427 votes]

Project #1:  Gazebo/Bandstand/Performance area Shorefront Pkwy.  ($150,000)
[396 votes]

Project #4:  Library Vending Machine Breezy Point ($200,000)
[392 votes]

Project # 6:  Six Argus Security Cameras for 100^th Pct. (3 locations), ($100,000)
[387 votes]

Project #3:  Peninsula Library Branch renovation/upgrade ( $500,000)
[360 votes]

Total Funds Allocated for the above Capital Projects: $1, 372,000

Water Rates Going Up Again.....

City environmental honchos want to water-board New Yorkers yet again, saying they will propose Friday a 7% hike to water rates that have skyrocketed 78% since 2005.

The city downplayed the proposed soaking by describing it as not as bad as in recent fiscal years — and well under the 9.3% bump the Department of Environmental Protection projected just a year ago.

“This is the lowest water rate increase in seven years,” DEP spokesman Farrell Sklerov said.

"While we know that it is extremely difficult for our customers to have to pay any more, the downward trend clearly shows that our aggressive efforts to keep rates in check are paying off.”

This fiscal year’s rate was already 7.5% above that of last year, which itself was 12.9% more than the previous year.

(....If (make that when) this proposed rate increase is approved, it will go into effect July 1st....)

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/department-environmental-protection-proposes-7-hike-water-rates-article-1.1053140#ixzz1qo0yfvJ7