How can SCA, with a straightface, claim that they considered sites #1 and #2 as alternatives to the Maspeth site when they are already building 2 other schools on them?
Why have they not informed anyone that they have a potential alternative site at #3, which is half the size of the Maspeth site?
Why did they publicly claim that they investigated other suggested sites in West Maspeth but they do not list them here?
Why have they not made this document public? (Someone snapped a photo of it at a hearing on the desk of SCA's attorney who refused to provide a copy.)
Why did they tell the City Council last year that they did not plan to use eminent domain this year to build schools when they are trying to do just that?
53 comments:
The wlole process is maggot - rotten and must be stopped in it's tracks.
The alternative site are new and the public must be brought to speed about them for our consideration - it's our neghborhood - let us decide what is best.
When will everyone wake up and relize all they do is b.s. everyone. They do not care about our community and is just looking to screw us even more. The board has to put a stop to this already and vote NO to the site and call it a day. Everyone should be making calls to rally against SCA and remind those that were voted in office, that they can easily be voted out on the next election. Crowley owes it to Maspeth to stand behind us and not allow us to be crapped on.
Especially since Crowley perpetrated the myth that she was from Maspeth when she ran.
I'm sure this high school is already a done deal. The powers that be are just blowing everybody off and when the time comes to vote, the City Council politicians will all vote for it. Crowley will vote along with them. It's a sad state of affairs, but it's obvious to me that this school is going to be built on 74th street and the SCA doesn't give a damn about Maspeth. Watch people move out in droves in the next 5 years. Maspeth will look just like Corona -- overcrowded and rented out to the highest bidders.
Watch people move out in droves in the next 5 years. Maspeth will look just like Corona -- overcrowded and rented out to the highest bidders.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER LIZ CROWLEY TO THANK.
Maspeth is already beginning to look like Corona. Grand Avenue is dirty and crowded. Millions of kids clog the streets in the morning and at dismissal from IS73 and PS58. Try taking the bus at those times. You can't get down Grand Avenue with all the double parked cars. People are moving out and renting their homes for as much as they can get. Residents see the writing on the wall. Quiet, residential Maspeth will soon be a thing of the past.
I live near the new school being built on Metro. We neighbors are a little scared of it. I call it The School that Blotted Out The Sky. It's monterous. It is crammed into a weird triangle piece of land bordered by a DOT depot and active train tracks very nearby, and is a long walk from the entrance on Metro. I know we need a new high school for Forest Hills, but I wonder who's kids will go there, really. Ours? It is scheduled to have 200 Special Ed. and 3 other schools in the one facility. Yep, we're a little nervous about it!
Let's remember that things are they way they are because someone wants it that way. Maspeth is being hollowed out. Liz Crowley has more loyalty to the teacher's union than to her constituents.
All of these pigs need to go.
You have to wonder why Crowley wants this school built so badly so her kids can go to it, when she lives closer to the one being built on Metro.
This is the woman who falsely claimed she grew up in Maspeth when she grew up in Elmhurst. She's just a bit duplicitous.
If this school is built, Liz Crowley is history. She has to figure out how she can get out of this and fast. I don't think she's strong enough to do that.
If this high school is built, NO ONE will vote for Liz Crowley. She has the power to do something about this and if she can squash the school, she will be re-elected easily. Everyone in Maspeth and Middle Village will vote for her. I guess it depends on how much she wants to keep her job.
Phony Tony Como is on record stating that he is for the school.
I wonder who are the people who write these horrible remarks against Liz Crowley. Let me guess, Jake, O'connor, serf, Phony Tony Como, James, Kerri, Linda....Am i forgeting anyone???
Phony Tony Como and his cronies get a life and a political clue.
JUST REMEMBER EVERYONE, PHONY TONY COMO WAS IN FAVOR OF THE SCHOOL!!!
Hey Phony Tony, your house is big enough, can we locally zone your house for a school?
I forgot, your an idiot. You dont know what SCA or DOE stand for. But I think you know what KFC stans for.
First i would like to say I AM opposed to the school on 74 street and don't hide behind anonymous, my name is "LINDA DAQUARO" and proud of it. I have no problem stating the SCA is b.s'ng our community. Ms. Crowley should stand with us and vote NO to the school, oh and I have no problem stating if she likes to keep her job come next election. We have to stand ground against SCA or anyone who thinks they can come here and change our community. Why doesn't the community board do more for us in Maspeth, we could use a POLICE STATION, it's getting real tiring hearing all the time there's so much going on in Ridgewood. How about a YMCA for the community children and families, or better yet a new location for the POST OFFICE. This is what MASPETH needs more than a High School. Enough with all the crapping on us, here in MASPETH. Anonymous was correct to state that home owners will start to sell and move. I might join the party wagon myself. and to the parents who want the school, let your children grow up and take transit wow down to lower Maspeth, such a long ride. My child will be taking two buses come September to Molloy, god bless.
Not all families can afford Molloy, christ the king, or Martin Luther.
No one in Maspeth or Middle Village will send their kids to a failing school. Even if this is locally zoned, parents will send their kids to a better school and they will have to take the bus anyway.
"Not all families can afford Molloy, christ the king, or Martin Luther."
Then send your child to one of the 500 high schools in NYC or work harder. Stop dumping on Maspeth you fucking crybaby!
Can they afford bus fare? Oh wait, we pay for that, too.
WOW, you can't afford to send your child to a private school that's sad. I am not bragging that i can, I have to work hard to make adjustments for my child. I have no problem sending my chlld to a public school but HE has no interest in it. Molloy is the perfect fit for my son and he will attend. Maybe try working two jobs and then you can afford it, instead of pushing so hard for a school apparently you don't live near. Again I can not say it enough to our community to push real hard and ralley against the school. Push our community board and officals to work on something we could use in our town (LIKE A POLICE STATION)!!!!
The property in question would be a great site for a police station and post office. We are so underserved by the police in this area. A police station would pick up the slack of the 104 and 110 pcts. The 110 is on the borderline of Corona and the 104 in Ridgewood. The communities in between are pretty much on their own. People say that Maspeth and Middle Village don't have to worry, because they are "Good" neighborhoods. Not for Long! They are rapidly deteriorating.
You complain about school overcrowding, then you complain about a new school being built. Can you say "hypocrites"?
No, we're complaining about the location. I bet you failed the reading comprehension part of the standardized tests.
The one that keeps posting a comment towards us that are opposed to the site, has to be the ex president of School of Hero's. She is the only one I believe is left in support of the school, because she doesn't want her child to take one bus down to lower Maspeth. It's a shame with so many great schools her child can apply for and are for FREE.
Where does she live?
Hey Dizzy Lizzy Croweley... what's the rush to build in Maspeth? If you build it, we'll be done. And so will you!
The people who are for the school don't live in the area. The principal of PS 58 wanted the school, so she could make her school a K-8 school. I don't think she saw the High School option coming. The High School location is wrong. There are too many schools in close proximity. Move the school to a more feasible location and people will support it. Why isn't there any proper planning? You can't drive down Grand Avenue now. I can't imagine what it would be like with a high school.
She apparently thinks she can ride the backs of union members to victory. Little does she realize that Maspeth has a lot of union members that resent being forced to work for her and will be directly negatively affected by the building of this school. When they get in the voting booth it's a different story.
If you people would read the papers, you would find out that through Crowleys efforts the SCA has withdrawn their propsoal to acquire the property.
Really? An e-mail she sent to us yesterday didn't mention that and said she would the support the school at that site if it was locally zoned.
hey anonymous, why don't you paste and copy that news article so we can all read it. last i heard sca was trying to domain the property. also i heard the principal of 58 wants to be in charge of the high school. everyone don't believe it until you hear it directly from community board or land useage. look we didn't want at one time 58and they used domain to get the property.
Pompous attitude Linda.
Anyone in a better position can tell someone in a worst position “too bad”. Put yourself in the other persons/families place. Isn’t thinking this way the catholic and moral thing to do?
I am not trying to change your mind because you don’t care anyway.
There are many families in your community that need this school. What do you say to them? That is the question.
PHONY TONY COMO ONLY CARES ABOUT HIMSELF
HIS MANSION COULD GO K-8. COME ON PHONY TONY GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE TAKEN SO MUCH ALREADY.
DOPE!
No, the pompous attitude is by those who think ruining a quiet neighborhood is justifiable so long as their precious darlings don't have to take a bus to school as the vast majority of kids do to go to high school in this city.
"There are many families in your community that need this school. What do you say to them? That is the question."
really? are you talking about the union members who were FORCED and PAID by their locals to work on your campaign LIZ? the Campaign Finance Board would be VERY interested to talk to those workers.
To the one that called me pompous, well first i would like to respond that i never stated "too bad" towards anyone but did say "it's sad". I also have no problem with them building a HIGH SCHOOL just the location. SCA was offered other sites which are bigger. there is no reason for the families to freak out that children will have to take a bus to lower Mapseth. I stated my son will be taking a two buses to get to Molloy and it was his choice and a better fit for him. We all have to make adjustments for our children, that's being a parent. So stick your anonymous opinion to yourself, you don't even have the balls to list your name. WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER SCHOOL ON THIS END OF MASPETH, ESPECIALLY A HALF A BLOCK FROM 58 AND TWO BLOCKS FROM 73. TOO MANY CHILDREN.TRAFFIC WITH PARENTS AND SCHOOL BUSES. LETS NOT FORGET THE TEACHERS FLYING UP OUR STREETS LOOKING FOR PARKING. I SHOULD REALLY START VIDEO TAPING THEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY THROW THEIR GARBAGE IN OUR STREETS THINKING WE ARE HERE TO CLEAN UP AFTER THEM.
Maybe you should learn to read the comments Crapper. People are saying that they don't want a school in Maspeth. That means, they don't want the school if they don't want it in the location of Maspeth.
No, you need to develop reading comprehension skills. No one here said they didn't want a high school in Maspeth. They don't want it on this end of Maspeth. Plenty of space on the other end, which is less residential. In fact, Grover Cleveland sits directly ACROSS THE STREET (Metro Ave) from Maspeth.
Maspeth school on hold
by Ben Hogwood, Assistant Editor
02/26/2009
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Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, center, convinced the Department of Education to allow a review period for a proposed high school in Maspeth during a City Council subcommittee hearing on Monday. (photo by Michael O’Kane)
A little more time may go a long way for residents concerned with the construction of a new high school in Maspeth.
The Department of Education agreed to pull plans for the proposed school on Monday for one month to allow for further review, at the request of Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village).
The subject is a controversial one for residents of Maspeth and Middle Village. The DOE plans on housing two small schools with a total of 1,100 students, on the former Restaurant Depot property at 57th Avenue and 74th Street.
Many community members, including Crowley want to make sure the school is locally zoned so students in the area get the first shot at a seat.
Community Education Council 24, which oversees the area, also wants the school locally zoned. Community Board 5 has not yet weighed in on the topic.
The DOE is to hold a hearing today on using eminent domain to acquire the property as negotiations between the city and owner have reportedly come to an impasse.
this is how you copy and paste. so plans were put off for a month, that will give lizzy more time to figure out how to screw us in maspeth. sca pulled the same crap with domain to get ps 58 now it's time to say enough is enough we don't need to be screwed again in maspeth.
Emotional Hearing on City Proposal and Use of Eminent Domain
By Conor Greene
The debate over the city’s plan to build a high school in Maspeth continued during an emotional public hearing pitting residents opposed to another school in the crowded neighborhood against parents and teachers who support the proposal.
The hearing last Thursday in PS 58 centered on the city’s possible use of eminent domain to acquire the former Restaurant Depot site on 74th Street and 57th Avenue to build a 1,100-seat high school. However, the hearing continually reverted into a debate over whether the site is appropriate, since there already are two schools within a two block radius of the proposed site.
While the meeting at times got heated, those on both sides of the fence were able to agree on one thing, as many speakers expressed outrage that the city held the meeting at 4 p.m. on a weekday. As a result, the small auditorium was not even half filled for the meeting, while prior meetings on the hot button issue held in the evening attracted large crowds.
Dorie Figliola called the meeting’s timing a “disgrace,” drawing loud applause, and Manny Caruana said it was an “outrage” it was held while so many residents with a stake in the issue were at work. “You virtually silenced the voice of the homeowners in the area,” he told the School Construction Authority official running the meeting. “This is the way SCA works.”
A department spokesman was unable to explain the rationale behind holding the meeting in the afternoon by press time Wednesday. However, SCA attorney Gregory Shaw previously told The Forum that the meeting was not held at night because “most people are not interested” about whether eminent domain should be used.
The meeting was solely a public hearing, with no formal action taken. Residents took the opportunity to debate the plan, with the majority arguing that the area is already over-saturated with schools, bringing thousands of students onto the streets in the morning and afternoon. Those in favor of the plan argued the area desperately needs additional high school seats and that children should have the chance to continue their education close to home.
Lorraine Sciulli, a member of the Juniper Park Civic Association’s executive board, said she is “totally opposed to this school at this site” and questioned the Department of Education’s claim that it will serve just 1,100 students, as the plan initially called for 1,650 seats. “Yes, they all deserve an education, but they don’t have to have it in Maspeth,” she said. “Why does Maspeth have to be the school campus of District 24?”
Tony Nunziato said the DOE and SCA should have notified Community Board 5 of the hearing, which was not advertised in local papers. “We’re talking about overdevelopment, over-saturation,” he said, adding that eminent domain should come as a last resort for projects that benefit the public at large.
Many, including Anthony Moreno of 56th Avenue, made it clear they support education, but don’t think this location is appropriate. “I’m in favor of education – no doubt about it,” he said. “I’m here to oppose this site and to oppose eminent domain.” The CB 4 member suggested that the DOE instead look into city-owned property on 57th Avenue near the Queens Center Mall, which is close to many public transit lines.
Dermot Smith, a teacher at IS 73 and Maspeth resident, said he supports the plan and claimed that opponents of the plan were using the eminent domain issue to “manipulate your thoughts.” The reality, he said, is that “Queens high schools are bursting at the seams… We cannot give kids a quality education unless they have seats… Don’t be mislead, schools are a good thing.”
Marge Kolb, who heads the CEC 24 PTA Presidents’ Council, said there is a “lot of support among parents” for the project. “We can fill this school with kids who live in this immediate area,” she said, adding that while there “are not a lot of houses” around the site, “these people bought houses across from a big commercial enterprise.”
Rosemary Parker said she felt like she was in an “alternate reality” listening to critics of the proposal. “I’m really sorry I had to be here tonight to take this abuse and be in Archie Bunker’s house,” she said, drawing yells and groans from many in the audience.
Despite requests that the school be zoned for local students, the DOE has refused to do so because it is against department policy. Department spokesman William Havemann said the DOE will consider giving priority zoning to local students before opening enrollment to citywide residents. The current plan gives priority to students throughout Queens.
Several residents criticized the city’s potential use of eminent domain to acquire the site, which the DOE says might be necessary because the property owner hasn’t responded to inquiries about the property. Rosemarie Daraio, president of Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together, said she is disappointed that the DOE is “once again coming in to eminent domain another piece of property,” adding that the school would be “devastating for the community.”
At one point, the hearing – conducted by a sole SCA official – melted down into a shouting match at the back of the auditorium. Tempers also flared when several speakers referred to the students as “monsters” and complained that teachers block driveways and throw garbage out their car windows. With the SCA official seemingly unable or unwilling to bring the meeting under control, CB 5 District Manager Gary Giordano stepped up to the microphone and eventually brought the meeting under control.
With just the one official in attendance, some including JPCA President Robert Holden questioned if the hearing would have any impact on whether the DOE will move forward with the plan, calling the meeting a “sham.”
Havemann said the purpose of the hearing was “to get public feedback before we make a decision as whether or not to use eminent domain, as required by law.” Since it is “just not feasible to have every member of the SCA at every meeting,” the lone official later “relays the feedback to other members.” If they need more information, members can then review a transcript of the hearing.
A City Council Land Use subcommittee hearing on the proposal was postponed earlier this month and will likely take place within 30 days. It would then go to the full City Council for approval, and local member Elizabeth Crowley (D-Glendale) said she won’t support the plan unless priority is given to local children.
So the meeting got real hot, well that should show the community board and city council land usage, enough is enough. domain was used to build ps 58 and this should not be allowed once again. how would you like it if you owned the property and they came in damanding to take it away at what they tell you is fair value. this is america!!!! hello we are in a recession and where is the city getting all this money to purchase the property. restaurant depot is asking 12.5 million and i don't blame them for holding out. build the charter schools in the community that needs it. stop dumping on us here in maspeth.
I just don't understand why they want an 1100 seat school in this community filled with one-lane roads. Grand Avenue, the main thoroughfare, is clogged for much of the day and the buses are packed. Riding the Q58 is like taking the slow boat to China.
Want to know why hasn't anyone asked the SCA what will be the hours for this school??? A lot of high schools start as early as 7 a.m.. and run till 5 p.m., so when you say 1100 students is that entirely or in shifts of 1100. Also why are they so fixed on this site, when they were given alternative sites, which are bigger. Traffic is so nuts here during school hours and it's very hard on the seniors to shop on Grand Avenue, how will they get up to Stop and Shop with more children flooding our community. Hey and another question, did everyone forgot kids start driving at 16. We know the teachers are not going to use transit and then you have all these kids, we don't have to space for all the cars. Stop and Shop will not allow the parking lot for teachers, that is only for there faithful customers. So SCA don't even try that crap on us. We don't want another school here on this end of Maspeth and you should respect our community. Build the school in lower Maspeth Where St.Saviours used to stand and call it a day.
It seems like the meeting got hot because some people who don't know how to conduct themselves propertly started calling their neighbors' children "monsters", disparaged public school teachers by accusing them of littering and leaving garbage on the streets, and by making ridiculous claims that residents of Middle Village and Maspeth don't have school-age children so there shouldn't be a school. When they were challenged on these ignorant comments, they just yelled and screamed like petulant babies.
Over my dead body. I am still fighting for that site to be a park, as the residents who live there want it to be. Don't dump more problems on them because you don't want it too close to you. There are plenty of HUGE empty warehouses in Western Maspeth that would be large enough to accommodate a school.
Sorry didn't know lower Maspeth was working on getting a park where St. Saviours used to stand. And i believe your right, so everyone in our community should be backing each other up with NO SCHOOL period. The meeting held up at ps 58, the teachers union had the nerve to pass a comment about the new park on Grand avenue, why not put a school on that site, they all have some set of balls. We didn't fight for a park so the SCA or teachers union can pass a comment like that. The great need for a school is not in our community, thats small margin, it's the families that live outside in dist. 24. So build charter schools in their communities and stop dumping on us in Maspeth. City Counsil and the community board should not allow this to happen to us and Liz Crowley should say NO to the school. If this goes through and we are fxxx again, vote her butt out come next election.
Go to Elmhurst or Grover Cleveland at dismissal. Watch what goes on. Take a gander at the graffiti that is not only on the buildings nearby but also on the TREES. These are teenagers, not precious babies. They are in gangs, do drugs and at GC there have been gangfights. In the 1990s, a kid was murdered by his classmates behind the school. There is an enormous police presence after school and the nearby parks are full of kids up to no good. Yes, "monsters" is a good way to describe them.
As for the behavior of the teachers, where do you think the kids learn to be pigs from? Yes, teachers at PS 58 have no regard for the neighborhood they work in, they treat the streets like their personal garbage bin, they park wherever the hell they feel like it, even in your driveway, and they smoke in full view of the kids. Some example they are setting for those in their charge.
73% of Middle Village households don't have kids and 69% of Maspeth households are childless. Build the high school where residents have more kids and where it's most needed - at the alternate location on Broadway in Woodside. There are multiple train and bus lines that service that location and the impact on businesses and residences will be minimal. It's a natural spot for a school. One bus from 69th Street and Grand.
"There are no public High Schools in Park Slope, but children from Park Slope attend High Schools throughout NYC. Students must apply to high schools."
Park Slope will not allow a public high school to be built in their community. And their property values are among the highest in the City. They don't bitch about their fully capable teenagers not being able to walk down the street to school and being forced to take a bus.
Protect your property values, folks! If this thing is built, the neighborhood is history.
Why would the SCA want to build an 1100 seat high school in a neighborhood where the population is predominantly elderly? Does this make any sense? We need more senior centers than schools here!
PHONY TONY COMO'S CASTLE IS BIG ENOUGH TO ACCOMDATE 1100 STUDENTS.
HERE IS A PLAN: LOCALLY ZONE PHONY TONY COMO'S SKYSCRAPER AS A SCHOOL.
WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THAT?
Phony Tony Como is on record stating that he is for the school.
I wonder who are the people who write these horrible remarks against Liz Crowley. Let me guess, Jake, O'connor, serf, Phony Tony Como, James, Kerri, Linda....Am i forgeting anyone???
Phony Tony Como and his cronies get a life and a political clue.
JUST REMEMBER EVERYONE, PHONY TONY COMO WAS IN FAVOR OF THE SCHOOL!!!
Hey Phony Tony, your house is big enough, can we locally zone your house for a school?
I forgot, your an idiot. You dont know what SCA or DOE stand for. But I think you know what KFC stans for.
Priority HS seating push
BY John Lauinger
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Friday, March 13th 2009, 10:57 AM
Related News
Articles
Maspeth in line for new high school sans middle school
City may launch eminent domain fight for site of school
THE BLOOMBERG administration has refused to build high schools specifically for local students - and its policy has recently drawn fire from some Queens residents and a local councilwoman.
Deputy Mayor for Education Dennis Walcott said yesterday that some locally zoned schools have had low demand and poor educational performance. Zoning also discriminates against students from poor neighborhoods, he said.
"We've felt that in the past by having restrictive zoning, it really does exclude students from attending a particular school - and we are not about that," Walcott told the Daily News.
Queens has 70 high schools, 26 zoned for local students. Since 2002, however, the administration has locally zoned only one high school - due to a previous commitment - which is now being built on Metropolitan Ave. in Forest Hills.
But the policy has met with opposition in Maspeth, where the city has proposed building a 1,100-seat high school on the site of a former Restaurant Depot on 74th St. at 57th Ave.
Though the local education district has the city's most crowded high schools, the proposal gave priority only to Queens residents - not neighborhood locals - when it was presented last year.
Since taking office in January, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) has refused to support the plan unless priority is given to students from Maspeth - which does not have a high school - and surrounding neighborhoods.
The administration eventually agreed to give first priority to local education District 24. Next in line are Districts 27 and District28.
A Council subcommittee is set to discuss the plan next Wednesday, but the standoff between Crowley and the administration continues.
Crowley said she thinks the city can "compromise a little bit more." She said she presented a plan to Walcott on Monday to give first priority to District 24, then to students in Middle Village, Maspeth, Elmhurst and Glendale.
Community Board 5 approved the city proposal last Wednesday with the proviso that Crowley's plan and some other points be adopted.
Walcott said the administration's plan is final.
"We've been very accommodating with this particular project," he said, adding: "We have a responsibility for the borough and the city at large."
WELL LIZ AND THE PARENTS WHO WERE PRAYING FOR THIS TO GO THROUGH, NOW DO YOU FINALLY GET IT. STOP WITH THE B.S AND SAVE OUR COMMUNITY. BUILD THE SCHOOL IN CORONA WHERE IT'S MORE IN DAMAND. THERE ARE LOCATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS. ENOUGH WITH DUMPING ON US HERE IN MASPETH/ELMHURST.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
Has the last blogger been living in this community or in space????
Your kidding right?
Why do you think he/she is kidding? how many schools should Maspeth be expected to absorb within a 4-block radius? We already have 2000 kids on the streets at 3pm. Should we make it 3000? Corona is where the kids come from that go to IS73. So wouldn't it make more sense to build a new high school where the biggest need is, and not in a more elderly community?
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