HP |
Westmoreland
Association, Inc. |
Home] [About Us] [Bylaws, Etc] [Covenants] [Meetings] [Minutes] [News] [Officers and Directors] [Map] [Public Positions] [FAQ]
Minutes of the General Membership Meeting of the Westmoreland Association
November 18, 2019
Officers Present
President – Walter Mugdan
Vice President - Victor Dadras
Secretary – Charles Manna
Board Members Present
John Duane
Peter Reinharz
Bob Timmerman
Philip Toscano
Officials Present
State Senator John Liu, and his Deputy Chief of Staff Akshar Patel
Amber Yoon, representing Assemblyman Ed Braunstein
President Walter Mugdan called the meeting to order at 8:05 P.M. A motion was
made, seconded and unanimously adopted to waive reading of the minutes. (Mr.
Mugdan noted that the minutes are available for review on the Westmoreland
website.)
Treasurer Gary Savage was out of the country; Walter Mugdan announced that the
balance-on-hand was about $17,500. A motion was made to accept this interim
Treasurer’s report. The motion was seconded, and the report was unanimously
approved.
New and Old Business
• Walter reported on the successful Third Annual Glenwood Landing Park cleanup
held October 26. 17 people participated in the event, which included planting
some 550 daffodil bulbs. A spring cleanup will be scheduled for late March or
early April.
• Walter announced Assemblyman Braunstein's annual Toy Drive and Veterans Gift
Drive. Toys and gifts must be received by December 17. For details on what kinds
of toys and gifts are accepted, and where and when to deliver them, call the
Assemblyman's office at 718-357-3588
• Walter announced that on Nov. 18 the Douglaston Civic Association meeting
would include information about the planned reconstruction of the Little
Neck-Douglaston Branch of the Queens Library. [Walter attended the 11/18
meeting and learned that $20 million in funding has been approved for a complete
reconstruction of the library, with the goal of doubling its current size
(either with a finished basement or a second floor). The current building will
be completely removed. A well-respected design firm has been hired. Design is
expected to take about a year, and demolition and construction would likely take
1-2 years more. During the time the building is not available, a temporary
library would likely be installed in a nearby rental location. The Westmoreland
Association will work with the Douglaston Civic Association and the Friends of
the Library to learn how we can best provide constructive input to the design.]
• Walter reported on a September 21 news story that Captain John Hall, the
Commander of the 111th NYPD Precinct, while out jogging on the Joe Michaels Mile
(along the Cross Island Parkway), saw a vehicle that had been reported stolen.
He called his officers to the scene. Three men were arrested; they also found
stolen credit cards with the men. Bravo to Captain Hall!
Discussion of Traffic Issues Around PS-94 and Elsewhere in the Community
Discussion continued from that last two Association meetings concerning
proposals for traffic improvements in the community and, in particular, around
PS-94 where conditions are chaotic and unsafe during the morning drop-off and
afternoon pickup time periods. The proposals approved at our September meeting
included making one block of 41st Drive between Westmoreland and Little Neck
Parkway (LNP) into a one-way street towards LNP. At the September meeting the
members present also took note of the fact that 42nd Avenue has for many years
been one-way towards Westmoreland, and 44th Avenue was made one-way towards
Westmoreland a number of years ago. The members endorsed a suggestion to
consider making 43rd Avenue one way towards LNP. Walter explained that after the
September meeting, a letter was sent from the Association to the Transportation
Committee of Community Board (CB) 11 suggesting that the Committee consider
these proposals.
Walter opened the discussion by first addressing the 43rd Avenue proposal.
During the time between the September meeting and the November meeting, resident
Jean-Jacques Jonatowski circulated a survey to all the residents of 43rd Avenue;
nearly all responded that they preferred to keep it as a two-way street; none
responded that they preferred to make it a one-way street. Several of those
residents were present at the meeting. Walter noted that the 43rd Avenue
proposal was not directly connected to the efforts to improve traffic conditions
around PS-94. He pointed out that while Westmoreland area residents were
notified on multiple occasions about our intention to discuss traffic conditions
around PS-94, residents were not notified that there would be any discussion of
traffic patterns on 43rd Avenue. Given the essentially unanimous objection of
43rd Avenue residents, and the lack of prior notice, Walter entertained a motion
to amend the Association's previous proposals to the CB 11 Transportation
Committee to delete the 43rd Avenue element. That motion was made, seconded, and
passed unanimously. Walter will write to the CB 11 Committee with this update.
[At this point in the meeting, our guest State Senator John Liu
arrived. The discussion of the PS-94-related traffic proposals was suspended
while we heard from Sen. Liu -- see details below. After Sen. Liu departed,
discussion of the PS-94 traffic concerns and proposals resumed.]
Walter explained the purpose of the 41st Drive proposal endorsed at the
September meeting. With cars parked on the north and standing on the south side
of the street during student drop off and pickup times, there is inadequate
space for two-way traffic. Many drivers therefore park partially on the
sidewalks. This would not be necessary if the street is one-way. Children and
adults walking between cars would not need to contend with two-way traffic.
Additionally, making the street one-way would deter commuters during the evening
rush hour from using 41st Drive as a through-street to avoid congestion on
Northern Blvd.
A detailed map displaying the proposals endorsed at the September meeting was
circulated to the attendees.
Discussion focused on the proposal to make the one block of 41st Drive one way
towards LNP. A number of residents from that block were present. Resident Wilson
Milian, speaking on behalf of himself and some neighbors, expressed opposition
to the proposal for a variety of reasons. Resident Alan Rubin presented a
written statement with several attachments, also opposing the proposal. [Those
who wish to read Mr. Rubin's written submissions are invited to email
Westmorelandassn@aol.com, and we will provide a digital copy.]
Reasons for opposition cited by Mr. Milian and Mr. Rubin included a concern that
traffic on a one-way street may travel more quickly than on a two-way street,
thus potentially increasing the danger of an accident; doubts about the efficacy
of the proposal to improve school-related traffic on 41st Drive; doubts about
its efficacy in deterring commuter traffic during the evening rush; concerns
about inconvenience to residents of this block of 41st Drive; concerns about the
impact of the proposal on other area residents; and concerns that a full-time
conversion to a one way street was being proposed to address a problem that only
exists for a few hours per day and only on school days.
Other residents who spoke had similar concerns, though some were more open to
considering the proposal, and one resident expressed potential support.
Mr. Milian and others made a variety of alternative suggestions, including
installation of "No Standing" signs on the south side, requests to the NYPD to
enforce the rules, and installation of cameras to enhance enforcement. Walter
and others noted that camera installation requires State approval which is
unlikely to be given. Moreover, it is widely recognized that police will almost
never ticket parents who are dropping off or picking up children, even if they
are parked in areas where parking is prohibited, unless the driver is behaving
in an unusually dangerous manner.
Several people advocated that the one-way restriction for this block could be
made intermittent, to be applicable only during specified time periods (i.e.,
during the morning drop off and afternoon pickup times). This is similar to what
is done by the Town of North Hempstead for turns at the intersection of Nassau
Road and West Mill Drive. Walter and others advised that the New York City
Department of Transportation is very unlikely to approve any such intermittent
restrictions on New York City streets.
Concerns were expressed that the proposals endorsed at the September meeting had
already been adopted or finalized in some manner. One attendee had this concern
because the annotated map displaying the proposal appeared to have been
professionally prepared. [In fact it was not prepared professionally; it was
prepared by Walter simply as a means to illustrate the proposals.] There was
also concern that the transmission of the proposals to CB-11's Transportation
Committee implied a degree of finality.
Association Vice President Victor Dadras currently serves as Chair of the CB-11
Transportation Committee. He explained on several occasions during the meeting
that the referral of the proposals to that Committee by the Association does not
in suggest any finality in the matter. On the contrary, the Association simply
suggested that the Committee consider the proposals, which it has done and
continues to do. Any more formal endorsement of any portion of the proposals
would have to come from the full Community Board, and that would only happen
after a public hearing opportunity. Moreover, the ultimate decision lies
entirely with the NYC Transportation Department, which -- if it was inclined to
pursue the question at all -- would carry out its own detailed analysis and make
independent proposals on how to address the underlying concerns. Victor stressed
that all of the proposed changes are at the discussion stage, and no decision
has been made by anyone or any entity.
Board member Phil Toscano noted that an additional standing area for parents
dropping off and picking up children could be created by prohibiting parking,
during the relevant time periods, in about 10 parking spots on the east side of
Little Neck Parkway between 42nd and 43rd Avenues (adjacent to Admiral Park, the
school playground). Children could safely walk to and from these cars, across
42nd Ave., because there is a crossing guard at that intersection. There was
general agreement that this could be helpful, but there was also recognition
that parking spots are important for the neighbors across the street and others.
The idea will be communicated to the CB-11 Transportation Committee.
There was renewed discussion of the need to eliminate one parking spot on the
west side of Marathon Parkway immediately south of the traffic light and the
right-turn lane from southbound Little Neck Parkway onto Marathon. This spot is
almost always occupied (mostly by a large van); the parked vehicle interferes
with the traffic trying to make the right turn going south onto Marathon
Parkway. Walter reported that after the September meeting, the Association wrote
to NYCDOT requesting that this parking spot be eliminated. No response has yet
been received.
Finally, a suggestion was made to eliminate parking on the western-most end of
41st Drive for at least three car lengths. This is also an element of the
proposal endorsed at the September meeting, and is reflected in the map that was
distributed at the meeting.
New Business
State Senator John Liu joined the meeting at 8:40 p.m, and stayed for over an
hour for a "Town Hall" session. He introduced himself and shared information
about his professional background, which is in accounting and finance. He has a
degree in Math and Physics. He previously served as NY City Councilman and NYC
Comptroller. His current agenda in Albany includes the following:
• He is working with other legislators to improve the voting process across the
state, including absentee and early voting. This year’s changes seemed to go
very well.
• He supports a woman’s right to choose. He supports the “Reproductive Rights”
law which is intended to offset any potential attack on the Roe v. Wade decision
by the current Supreme Court. The state law removes the stigma of abortion being
an illegal activity, establishing this as a matter of personal health status.
• He supports all efforts to create a “Zero Emissions” standard by moving
towards replacing current dependence on fossil fuel energy sources with
renewable energy sources to combat the Global Warming crisis.
• Among the legislature's most important duties is negotiating and establishing
the state's $175 billion annual budget. The largest elements in the budget are
funding for public schools and health benefits for state residents.
• He explained that the difference between the State Senate and the Assembly is
basically the same as for the House of Representatives and Senate in the federal
Congress. Each State Senator represents approximately 340,000 residents and each
State Assemblyperson represents approximately 180,000 residents. Ed Braunstein
is our Assemblyperson.
Senator Liu then invited questions from the audience.
Q: What, if anything, is being done to reduce taxes? (The questioner mentioned
that President Trump has changed his residence from New York to Florida.)
A.There is no evidence that President Trump is actually contributing to the tax
revenues of NY State. He may, in fact, not have the assets that he claims.
Besides, the property taxes on his NY State-located assets will remain. There
has been an increase on the "mansion tax" (this would not affect the vast
majority of Little Neck properties). Sen. Liu also supported the increase in the
"millionaire tax."
Q: What is the impact of the change in the law that changes the status of 16-
and 17-year old people from "adults" to "minors"? Won’t they be more out of
control because they can’t receive a police summons for nuisance behavior?
A. There is no evidence that will happen. They can still be arrested for
misdemeanors and felonies. The same concern was expressed with the end of
stop-and-frisk. The result was that crime has continued to drop and the
relationship of police and the general public has improved. There was a
disproportionate number of non-white stops that did not result in arrests for
cause. It just created fear and mistrust by minorities.
Q: What can be done to reduce the number of empty store-fronts along Northern
Blvd?
A: Sen. Liu reminded us that the Senator’s job is to review policies by the
various departments in the state government. Local concerns are best addressed
to City officials such as our City Council member. Sen. Liu agreed that there is
a general problem with commercial rental costs, which have escalated
significantly in recent years. [Association Secretary Charles Manna, who is a
realtor, gave examples of the dramatic escalation in commercial rental costs, to
levels that are likely unsustainable.] Sen. Liu said that there has been
discussion among legislators regarding commercial rent control, which he could
support, but there is not yet much support for such an initiative among other
legislators.
Q: The MTA bus service has deteriorated considerably recently. This especially
affects senior citizens, as well as non-drivers. What can be done?
A. The MTA has had a very bad history of poor management of funding and
maintenance and other problems. The best thing to do now is to focus on the
future. The most current change was to introduce tandem (or articulated) buses.
They increase the passenger capacity, but in many cases the MTA reduces the
schedule frequency. The attendees emphasized that more buses and greater
frequency, not longer buses, are what is needed in our area. Sen. Liu said that
the MTA was trying to make changes that addressed the greatest need. The
solution must balance the needs of all the patrons -- not an easy task. There is
a $51 billion capital improvement plan that is being developed. Senator Liu and
others are trying to ensure that the MTA produces the best plan possible for the
district.
Q: There are 65,000 homeless people in New York City. What can be done about it?
A. The biggest issue related to this problem is affordable housing. There are
few projects in the works to solve this issue. A general discussion ensued.
Q: The questioner has to get to work in Manhattan very early in the morning. He
has to drive because there is insufficient early morning railroad or bus service
to Manhattan.
A. Sen. Liu agrees that this is an issue.
Senator Liu concluded that what he can do is seek to hold government agencies
accountable for their actions and policies, and seek to ensure they make their
decisions in an appropriate way, and based on adequate consideration of the
facts and their constitutents' needs. He does not seek to substitute his
personal views for the judgment of the agencies' professional staff.
Announcements:
On December 4, 2019 the City Landmarks Commission will hold a meeting at the
Little Neck Community Church at 7 PM.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 PM.
The next meeting is on March 16, 2020.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles Manna
To view meetings schedules click here
Copyright 2002-2017 Maintained and hosted by Digital Brochures Online Corp. Last modified: 11/23/19 Disclaimer |