A Lively Night at CB12

Anybody who has ever been to a Community Board 12 meeting shouldn’t be surprised by any of its shenanigans. And November’s meeting, didn’t disappoint.

Adjoa Gzifa filled two roles, chairwoman and referee.

A resident brought the long-standing complaint that inhabits many Southeast Queens neighborhoods; there is raw sewage in my basement.

James Hunter, a southeast Queens resident lambasted the board for not adequately advocating on behalf of the community.

Gzifa defended the board saying that the board didn’t have any money and “we do what we can do.”

Herlema Owens, another board member, went further and urged people to join the board and “get involved.”

The night was young and there was much to come.

Ladies from the 113th Avenue Block Association came to complain about a row of four houses in their community that could possible house homeless men and those in rehabilitation programs.
Crystal White, said the occupants of the four homes number about 40 men, who were snuck in the wee hours of the morning or waning evening hours.

“This is a block of women and children,” she said.

Yvonne Reddick, district manager for Board 12, said she was abreast of the situation. She said the operators of the houses are dubbed the 113th Ave. Corp, which receive federal funds and operate on private property. Other than community outrage, the 113th Avenue Block Association’s recourse might be minimal.

And the night dragged on.

If developers didn’t get the memo, listen up, unless you’re building a community center, renovating a library or building a school, the neighborhoods confined within the board’s boundaries want nothing you have to offer.

A development company looking to build two buildings in close proximity to Jamaica Avenue was met with a firm no.

A member of the board asked the owner, what would the community receive if they said yes. The owner faltered, he probably didn’t think that far ahead.

One of the buildings he proposed would be a 10 story residential building, with commercial property on the ground floor. Asked by a board member how many units would comprise the high rise, the owner hadn’t thought that far ahead. He said because of the economic downturn he wouldn’t be sure.

Stay tuned.