Creedmoor Civic Association

Anti-demo Rally Draws Hundreds at Boro Hall

Jun 17, 2004

Meetings at the Bellerose Baptist Church (basement), Braddock Avenue at 241st Street

Creedmoor Civic News MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE CREEDMOOR CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.
Founded 1927, Incorporated 1938
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JUNE, 2004 "UNITED EFFORT REAPS UNITED GAIN" VOL. 73, NO. 6

Anti-demo rally draws 100s at Boro Hall
Over two hundred protesters from around Queens gathered on the steps of Queens Borough Hall on June 2 to protest the destruction of beautiful sound homes and their replacement with ugly multiple dwellings. Creedmoor Civic Association was present with a delegation sporting picket signs, including Rick Duskiewicz, James Trent, Helen Trent, and Marian Zimmer.

Eastern Queens, where the problem is most prevalent was well represented, but South Jamaica, Kew Gardens, Kew Gardens Hills, College Point, Flushing, etc. were also in attendance.

The event was covered by the New York Daily News - Queens Edition, Newsday, and the Queens Tribune. Other weeklies will be covering it in their next issue. Since the rally was on a Wednesday, those weeklies that are composed on Wednesdays for Thursday distribution (Queens Chronicle and Times-Ledger, for example) couldn't cover it with their June 4 editions.

This event represents perhaps the first time that historians, preservationists and civic associations coalesced on a common issue. Increasingly it is apparent that mere zoning alone will not protect all neighborhoods. In some cases landmarking will be necessary. Currently Broadway-Flushing and Hollis Park Gardens are exploring landmarking and Jackson Heights is interested in expanding their existing district. Douglaston Hill is on the verge of designation, but Richmond Hill has been rejected twice by the LPC although locals are not giving up the fight Organizers threaten another protest rally in September to keep up the heat on our political representatives.


SANIT POLICE TICKET RECYLING ERRORS
Word has reached us that Sanitation Police have been issuing tickets in our civic territory for improperly sorting garbage. Be sure your cans are properly labeled.


ONE-WAY FOR 242ND STREET? LET'S TALK
Community Board 13 has a proposal before it to make 242nd Street one-way north from Jamaica Avenue to Braddock Avenue. We will discuss this plan at our June meeting before taking a position.


Around the Town
Condolences to: the family of Dorothea "Dot" Newton of Douglas Manor who was a long time employee of State Senator Frank Padavan, and whose son, Robert "Randy",works there currently. And to the family of Easo Mathew of Lyman Street who passed away April 30.

Merchant news: Reinwald Bakery has re-adopted their Closed-On-Monday store hours. Speaker Kits on Jamaica Avenue in the 246 Block has been purchased by one of the owners of Frankie & Vinnie's Bar in Bellerose Terrace and has renamed the store Speakers Unlimited.


President's Message
Hello Friends:
I recently spoke with Mr. Victor Arroyo of the Jamaica Post Office Maintenance Facility and gave him a list of seven postal boxes in our civic area. They had been hit with graffiti and were badly in need of a painting.

Boy, was I shocked when I found the boxes painted only a few days later. When I called to thank him, his response was, "Well, that's my job. Glad I could help." We need more people like that in the service sector. Thank you again, Mr. Arroyo.

We are discussing the possibility of a joint effort by the Creedmoor Civic Association and the Queens Colony Association to offer a $500 reward for information for leading to a conviction of anyone vandalizing our neighborhood with graffiti. Just last week, Braddock Avenue was hit with a huge amount of graffiti, making the need for a bounty even greater. Pictures of the vandalism have been taken and have been sent to the NYPD Graffiti Task Force for follow-up.
The brick bus stop on Hillside Ave has been repainted, thanks to a letter from Senator Padavan, and we're hoping that the brick entrance to the Creedmoor property on Hillside will have its three-year-old graffiti removed soon.

In addition, we're looking for a few volunteers to help paint the light poles in the neighborhood. Some have been hit with spray paint or marker, and need a new coat. If you're willing to help, give us a call at 718 464-3369.

Our own Jim Trent did a beautiful job organizing the "Overbuilding in Queens" demonstration at Queensborough Hall on June 2. His impassioned speech telling developers to go to Montana and overbuild instead of Queens was an absolute winner.
There have been a few questions brought up by residents about the property where Cedar Lane used to be. A meeting with the architect and the owner has been arranged by the community board for later this month.

Mike Augugliaro of the Queens Colony Civic Association and I collected a list of 137 illegally posted signs a few months ago. We recently received a list through Councilman Weprin's office that indicated the 90 signs that the Sanitation Department issued summonses for. I want to thank Marie in Mr. Weprin's office for her work in getting the list from the department. Now we know which signs to tear down and which to leave up for summonses.

Quite a few local civic leaders testified at last month's hearing regarding the renewal of the Cease and Desist list. All were in favor of extending the list another five years. Stories of abuses by real estate agents were common. Everyone will have to fill out a new signature card for the new list if it is renewed. We will be distributing them after the summer.

We maintain an e-mail list for important neighborhood information. If you'd like to be on it, send an e-mail to: info@creedmoorcivic.org.

See you around the neighborhood.
Your Neighbor,
Rick Duskiewicz



Graffiti Attack on Braddock Avenue
Braddock Avenue was hit by a graffiti vandal sometime around June 4. The Joint Bellerose Business District has a grant for graffiti removal and will attempt to deal with this latest defacement.