My Very Dear Queens Villagers,

               These days of March have been fickle, with winter here one day and spring following the next day.  But the greening grass and budding flowers are beginning to show the colors of an early spring.

               There are some positive things to report about two of our new Queens City Councilmen, Leroy Comrie and David Weprin. They have been very responsive and have acted upon some of our quality of life complaints.  I recently attended a Town Hall Meeting sponsored by Councilman Comrie, Community Board 13, and the Wyanda Civic Association.  Representatives from all City Agencies were there, and they listened to our community concerns and promised to help where possible.  Councilman Weprin has scheduled an Open House on Wednesday, March 20.  If you plan to attend, please call his office at 465-8202.

               The Queens Civic Council, of which we are a member, held a land use, zoning, and land-marking public meeting last month.  This was an eye-opening session.  We have been assaulted by developers building whatever the land and the community will tolerate without concerns about how their buildings fit into the density and character of neighborhoods.  Through re-zoning, land-marking, and other creative measures, we will be able to curb this abuse.  We will address this problem head-on.

               New York City is under a drought alert as water levels are 50 percent below what they should be at this time of the year.  (Please see news page on how you can save water.)   We are very concerned about the City’s plan to reactivate 36 wells from the Jamaica Water Supply System that would pour an additional 50 million gallons of water daily into Southeast Queen’s water supply.  Some of these wells have been closed because of contamination.  DEP has pledged to test the water at each well for purity before it is released into the City’s supply.  Your civic association together with other civic groups, Community Board 13, and the Queens Civic Congress will be monitoring DEP to ensure that we are not given contaminated water.

               Good News!  Springfield Boulevard from Jamaica Avenue to 110th Avenue is in the final phase of design for reconstruction.  According to DOT Engineers, the construction should start within six months. This stretch of roadway is a roller coaster and dangerous to vehicles and pedestrians.  Its reconstruction is long overdue. 

               Happy Easter to all of you.  I hope to see you on March 19.