April 19, 2024

 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE LATEST QUEENS CHRONICLE ARTICLE:

"TEXT UPDATED FOR CITY OF YES HOUSING PLAN"

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April 11, 2024

 

DOUGLASTON CIVIC ASSOCIATION TESTIMONY BY SEAN LYNCH IN OPPOSITION TO "CITY OF YES".

New York City Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning & Franchises public hearing regarding the Mayor’s “City of Yes” zoning initiative Monday, April 8, 2024, at 10:30 am.  Douglaston Civic Association Testimony by Sean M. Walsh in opposition.

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We represent 12,000 residents and hundreds of businesses in Douglaston. This proposal and the residential piece which is scheduled to come before you later this year are allegedly to solve the housing shortage. But in fact, it exasperates the housing shortage by increasing costs and thereby residential and commercial rents. The City of Yes for Economic Opportunity 18 proposals will destroy our neighborhoods if this becomes law. Two-thirds of the Community Boards across the city have voted against the City of Yes proposal and others put significant qualifiers on their approvals.  Increasing density without lowering the land costs via public participation, e.g., Mitchell-Lama will not help businesses or renters. We don’t want every corner on every residential block to potentially have 2,500 square feet of commercial or office development. (Proposal #16). CPC notes the empty store fronts but then in this proposal increases commercial FAR. This does not address affordable housing.  No EIS has been conducted on this proposal as required by law. So, this is coming right back to you from the courts, so don’t waste time housing can’t wait let’s get this right. You have the power to reject this and send it back to City Planning to be developed in coordination with local communities throughout the city. Local communities know best what businesses need expansion or contraction in to relation to expanded residential space. This is an election issue for us.  Cut local business taxes and You build affordable housing and increase the minimum wage these are the things that matter to solve the housing crisis. Preservation of our current housing stock is critical to increasing the economics of rentals. 

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 We stand ready to sit down and evaluate what is best for businesses and residents in each community, this is not a one size shoe fits all solution. Ask yourselves other than real estate developers and construction workers who has asked for these particular changes, local business people or renters or home owners did not. Beware of New Yorkers voting with their feet, let’s be constructive and work together.

 

Some specifics objections are: we don’t need large parcels of residential land to be able to build 15,000 square feet of commercial development. (Proposal #15) We don’t need every residential unit in the city, whether it’s an apartment or private house, to have the ability to become a commercial business with up to 3 employees! (Proposal #11).  SMW

 

 

April 11, 2024

 

BUILD THE BLOCK

Meet your Neighborhood Coordination Officers and discuss your public safety concerns on April 16th at 7:30pm.

 

Location:

39-50 Douglaston Parkway

The Community Church of Douglaston

(hosted with the Douglaston Civic Association)

CLICK HERE for flyer.

 

March 1, 2024

 

SAY NO TO MAYOR ADAMS "CITY OF YES" PROPOSAL

CALL OR WRITE AN OPPOSITION LETTER TODAY

 

The Mayor has proposed a complete revision of the N.Y. City Zoning Resolution that will in effect eliminate one family zoning and substantially increase the height of buildings in residential and commercial zones. Historic Districts and Restrictive Convents will provide no meaningful defense to this plan. His proposal is meant to increase development exponentially and is purposefully targeting lower-density areas like Douglaston and Little Neck.

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It is urgent that you write a letter today to Mayor Adams, Community Board 11 and our elected officials opposing this proposal. CLICK HERE to download a sample letter.

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Scroll down to read more details about this proposal.

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URGENT MESSAGE TO ALL DOUGLASTON RESIDENTS

 

The Mayor has proposed a complete revision of the N.Y. City Zoning Resolution that will in effect eliminate one family zoning and substantially increase the height of buildings in residential and commercial zones. Historic Districts and Restrictive Convents will provide no meaningful defense to this plan. We are meeting with other civics and public officials within and without the city (because our sources tell us the Governor will introduce a similar proposal statewide). DCA led the battle to defeat the Governor's attempt last year to eliminate one family home zoning.  We will lead this battle again. This is the greatest threat to our community we have ever faced.  Watch this sight for more information and updates.  

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Click here to read map of Present R1-R6 Zoning impacted 

 

Click here to read the City of Yes - Housing Opportunity in

 

Queens County - Douglaston & Little Neck - Brief Study and Analysis

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Click here to read "SAY NO TO CITY OF YES!

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Click here to read City of Yes - Economic Opportunity Presentation

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Click here to read City of Yes - Economic Opportunity Short Responses to 18 Proposals

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Click here to read the draft scope of work.

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CB 11 Hearing on Mayor Adam's City of Yes Proposal

Click here to read Sean Walsh, President of the Douglaston Civic Association, statement on behalf of the Douglaston Residents.

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February 16, 2024

 

SAVE THE DATE!

Dear friends and supporters,

 

The Udalls Cove Preservation Committee will hold its 55th Annual Shoreline, Wetlands and Woodlands Cleanup on Saturday morning, April 13, 2024.  We look forward to welcoming many of you to this event.

 

To our esteemed elected and government officials, we hope that you will be able to join us during our brief Annual Meeting starting at 10:00 AM on April 13.  If so, we invite you to say a few words to our members and volunteers.

 

Details about the event will be included in follow-up emails closer to the date, on our Facebook page, and in our annual newsletter that will be published in early March.

 

Best regards,

 

Walter Mugdan, President

Udalls Cove Preservation Committee

http://www.udallscove.org

917-832-0208 (mobile)

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February 10, 2024

 

PLEASE VOTE, IT IS YOUR RIGHT AND DUTY

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Click here to view the District 03 Election Debate aired on Channel 12 on February 8th with Tom Suozzi and Mazi Pilip.

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February 5, 2024

 

CITY SAYS YES TO GAMBLING, NOT HOUSING OR PARKS. WE SAY NO.

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Next week is going to be a BIG moment to stop the Citi Field casino and launch Phoenix Meadows! FED-UP is participating in two key events and NEED our supporters, partners and allies to raise their voice and make your presence known---join us in person (if you are able) and help to spread the word! The events are: 

 

March to Stop the Casino:

Sat, Feb 2nd 12-2pm---Lippman Plaza

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Join FADA and FED-UP for a march from Flushing to Citi Field to call for a stop to the casino project and start to Phoenix Meadows! The march will begin at Lippman Plaza (39th Ave between Main St and Union St) and will end by the Mets-Willets Point 7 train. Here's the link to RSVP. Hope to see you there!

 

FED-UP presenting at Ramos Town Hall:

Wed, Feb 7th 6:30pm---NYSCI

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Join us and spread the word for Sen Ramos' town hall on Wed, Feb 7th at 6:30pm at the NY Hall of Science. FED-UP will present the Phoenix Meadows Vision Plan alongside Steve Cohen's team presenting their casino plan. This is an all-hands-on-deck, loudest-voice-wins kind of event. Bring your family! Tell your friends! We'll have snacks! 

 

Click here for the March to Stop the Casino! flyer

 

 

January 27, 2024

 

WHERE ARE ALL THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS AND SPEED CAMERAS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

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In a service to our members, DCA is sharing this site (CLICK HERE)  from the Internet that shows the current location of all red light and speed cameras in the Metropolitan area. (Red Light Cameras are in red, Speed Cams are in green.)

 

Click here for sample page of Douglaston-Little Neck locations. However you can search other locations, and the map is scalable to allow you to view a larger area or target a more tailored local view.

 

We hope this will help you drive safely.

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January 5, 2024

 

COMMENTS - QUEENS BUS NETWORK REDESIGN PROPOSED FINAL PLAN RELEASED TODAY

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Click here to read Comments on the elimination of the QM3, Express bus from Douglaston/Little Neck area to Midtown Manhattan – provided by Barbara Linton, Douglaston Civic Association board member, on behalf of our community.

 

 

January 3, 2024

 

QUEENS BUS NETWORK REDESIGN PROPOSED FINAL PLAN RELEASED TODAY

 

Today the MTA released the next report in the Queens Bus Network Redesign initiative, the Proposed Final Plan. 

 

In this Plan we further refine the Queens bus network to address the needs of our stakeholders while balancing trade-offs and using network redesign strategies to achieve our customer priorities: Reliable Service, Faster Travel, Better Connections, and Simplified Service.  

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As a Queens stakeholder, we hope you can join us for one of our virtual briefings where we will provide a borough-wide overview of the Proposed Final Plan and discuss our public outreach timeline and process for customer and community input. There will be four quadrant-based briefings where we will take a deeper dive into the route proposals in each quadrant. If you cannot attend your quadrant briefing in December.

 

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In the new year we will conduct several months of outreach. We’ve requested time to present to all Queens community boards and will host a series of MTA outreach events. All events and materials will be published to the project website. Stakeholders will also have several months to review and comment on their trips prior to the MTA holding a public hearing.  

 

We look forward to continuing the conversation to improve bus service with Queens customers and stakeholders and look forward to your continued participation in this process. 

  

Thank you,

The Queens Bus Network Redesign Team

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December 12, 2023

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HOCHUL UNVEILS MASTER PLAN TO BRING 2,800 HOUSING UNITS TO CREEDMOOR CAMPUS IN EASTERN QUEENS

Click here to read a summary of the plans.

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November 29, 2023

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URGENT MESSAGE TO ALL DOUGLASTON RESIDENTS

 

The Mayor has proposed a complete revision of the N.Y. City Zoning Resolution that will in effect eliminate one family zoning and substantially increase the height of buildings in residential and commercial zones. Historic Districts and Restrictive Convents will provide no meaningful defense to this plan. We are meeting with other civics and public officials within and without the city (because our sources tell us the Governor will introduce a similar proposal statewide). DCA led the battle to defeat the Governor's attempt last year to eliminate one family home zoning.  We will lead this battle again. This is the greatest threat to our community we have ever faced.  Watch this sight for more information and updates.  

​

Click here to read map of Present R1-R6 Zoning impacted 

 

Click here to read the City of Yes - Housing Opportunity in

 

Queens County - Douglaston & Little Neck - Brief Study and Analysis

​

Click here to read "SAY NO TO CITY OF YES!

​

Click here to read City of Yes - Economic Opportunity Presentation

​

Click here to read City of Yes - Economic Opportunity Short Responses to 18 Proposals

​

Click here to read the draft scope of work.

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CB 11 Hearing on Mayor Adam's City of Yes Proposal

Click here to read Sean Walsh, President of the Douglaston Civic Association, statement on behalf of the Douglaston Residents.

 

 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

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QNS Op-Ed: Any Creedmoor plan must serve the needs of eastern Queens

by Corey Beak and Bryan Block
 

For several years, the communities of eastern Queens have engaged in discussions with our community leaders, our local and state elected officials and Empire State Development (ESD) about possible reuse of 55 acres of land on the state’s Creedmoor Psychiatric Center campus. We long recognized the campus as a resource for eastern Queens and took steps to ensure any reuses served the needs of our communities.

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That remains the case today with the plan we developed, Queens Community Board 13 adopted and we shared with ESD and our elected city and state officials. It would create housing that enables our seniors and our young adults to choose to remain in eastern Queens. At the same time, it allows for more practical use of our existing housing stock for families who seek the variety of housing (one- and two-family homes, co-operatives and rentals) that already exists throughout eastern Queens.

 

While Creedmoor has a Queens Village address, the parcels deemed surplus lie within Bellerose and Queens Community Board 13, which hugs the Queens-Nassau border from the Grand Central Parkway south to the JFK Airport (which is considered to sit within the community district bounds). Community District 13 includes Bellaire, Bellerose, Brookville, Cambria Heights, Floral Park, Glen Oaks, Laurelton, Meadowmere, New Hyde Park, North Shore Towers, Queens Village, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, Warnerville and Wayanda.

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That process led to neighborhood leaders including Community Board 13 Chair Bryan Block convening to discuss options for developing the surplus Creedmoor parcels as 2023 began. We presented the plan to Community Board 13’s Land Use Committee, which submitted a resolution to the full board and was adopted based on our plan.

 

 

We identified six priorities:

1. Serve needs of community first
2. Low to medium density scale of development
3. Utilize wherever possible existing building exteriors and possible interiors
4.  Adequate parking consistent with uses
5.  Adequate public transit
6. Environmental remediation of entire south campus

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We identified five needs:

1. Senior housing
2. Veteran’s housing and services
3. Use housing forms compatible and consistent in character with the community including co-ops, single family and two family homes
4. Starter housing including studios for our young adults and families
5. Recreation center serving intergenerational needs including a pool

 

No one should be surprised by what we found objectionable (prisons; juvenile detention centers, homeless shelters, buildings above four stories and big box retail stores) at that location which abuts P.S. 18Q, P.O. Officer Joseph Gunn Playground, the Hollis – Bellaire – Queens Village – Bellerose Little League field complex, various nonprofit human services programs and lies within a few blocks of Martin Van Buren High School, the Glen Oaks School Campus (High School for the Teaching Profession, P.S./I.S. 208, P.S./I.S. 266) and Alley Pond Park.

 

The Glen Oaks Campus schools directly resulted from our community work on a 1997 Civic Master Plan for Creedmoor under the aegis of the Queens Civic Congress, when the Pataki administration sought to commercially develop the then part of the Creedmoor campus. That development met and to this day serves a compelling community need. Housing schemes pressed by those outside this community board make no sense in eastern Queens. That model got developed in concert with those communities and fails to address the needs and priorities Queens Community Board 13 approved and presented to ESD and our elected officials.

 

Some 25 years later, our communities seek to serve today’s needs using our community’s resource and the entire City will benefit as a result.

 

Corey Bearak, a co-founder of the Queens Civic Congress, is a Community Board 13 member over 30 years, member of its Land Use Committee, acting President of North Bellerose Civic Association and chair the Board of Services Now for Adult Persons, Inc

 

Bryan Block serves as Chair of Queens Community Board 13 and is President of the Cambria Heights Civic Association

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Click here to read the QNA Op-Ed article with images

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APRIL 23, 2023

 

 

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DCA DEFEATS GOVERNOR' AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN

 

DCA received confirmation from the N.Y. Legislature that Governor Hockul’s Affordable Housing Plan was defeated.  While the Legislature will continue to discuss multiple budgetary issues over the coming weeks, her proposal to phase out one family homes, expand multiple dwelling with no height restrictions, and giving amnesty to illegal basement apartments has been pulled out of the budget. This was not an affordable housing plan but a boondoggle for the real estate interests.

 

The DCA was a major force in taking on the Governor and the real estate money interests supporting it.  The DCA forged an alliance with key legislators throughout the entire state and various civic and good government groups.  DCA hosted the first meeting here at the Douglaston Club to an overflow crowd sending a strong message to Albany. No!

 

I want to extend a special thank you to our elected officials who stood their ground against intense pressure from the real estate interests. We would not have been successful without their advocacy on our behalf: Assemblyman Ed Braunstein, Chair Cities Committee; Senator Toby Stavisky; as well as neighboring elected officials: Senator John Liu; Senator Joe Addabbo; Senator Leroy Comrie S.E. Queens: and so many Mayors and Supervisors from L.I. and upstate.

 

In additional but just as important, I want to thank the leadership from the following civic leaders who stood with me: leader Paul Graziano, Save One Family & Leader; Walter Mugdan, Westmoreland Civic; Paul DiBenedetto, Chair CB 11; Warren Schreiber, Pres. Queens Civic Congress; and many others. Today we won a great victory because we worked together and had facts on our side. The issue of providing affordable housing remains, we need to address it with effective policies that are transparent, Thank You.  

 

Sean M. Walsh, President

 

 

APRIL 7, 2023

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DON'T FALL FOR SCAMS.

Criminals are impersonating Con Edison to get money or your personal information.

 

Know how to recognize a scam and protect yourself:

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1.  Con Edison doesn’t accept payments via Venmo, Zelle, CashApp or Bitcoin. Hang up on anyone calling and asking for Con Edison payments by these methods.

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2.  Asking for ID isn’t rude, it’s safe. If someone comes to your door, claiming to be from Con Edison, call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633) and confirm the employee’s name and ID number.

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3.  Make payments safely. We accept online payments through conEd.com and conEd.com/GuestPayment.

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4.  We will never ask to see your bill. Never share your account number or show your bill to someone at your door.

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5.  If you’re not sure an email is really from Con Edison, don’t click on any links.

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Suspect a Scammer?
Call the police. Then call us: 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633).

 

Click here for more information on how to recognize a scam.

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