Friday, December 23, 2011

Cars on sidewalk endangering kids



From Fox 5:

It's a curb-jumping controversy that has parents in an uproar in Queens. After a third grader was nearly hit by a car driving on a sidewalk, parents want it to stop before it's too late.

On 113th Street and 71st Road in Forest Hills, parents say they have an extra worry every time they take their kids to school at P.S. 196: they are concerned about getting hit by cars driving up onto a sidewalk that is a main route for most of the children and that's also used as a driveway and parking lot by cars from the Touro College Graduate School of Education and the Bnos Malka Academy.

We tried to talk with the academy to see what they had to say, but they refused to speak with us. I did speak with the property manager from Touro College, who insisted the sidewalk parking and driving were in compliance with city codes.

We did some checking around with the city. The Department of Transportation referred us to the NYPD.

The NYPD said it is now aware of the situation and will speak with school authorities to rectify the problem.


This is mainly DOB's responsibility. And dollars to donuts, they won't do a thing about it.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

The 112 knows of this condition for at least 20 years, but of course, nothing will be done. Happy Chanukka.

Anonymous said...

How did even start in the first place - a parking lot that doesn't have frontage to the street??

Anonymous said...

Tow away the cars parked on the sidewalks. Ticket (points) drivers caught driving on the sidewalks. Where id the NYPD - get out of the station houses COMMANDERS - see what gives in your command areas - get working already!

Anonymous said...

Too bad the NYPD parks and drives on the sidewalk all the time...

Anonymous said...

Those Touro and Bnos Malka vehicles are on the privately-owned part of the sidewalk. The city's only option is to butt out.

The PS196 children ought to learn to look both ways rather than carelessly crossing wherever they feel like. Use crosswalks!

The PS196 teachers have parking placards, but staff from Touro and Bnos Malka can't even park on their own property?!

And the crossing guard being a 13-year employee? A good job if you can get it in these uncertain times.

Anonymous said...

Super Halal Meat 253-06 Hillside Avenue
I’ve made dozens of complaints to different city agencies about cars parking and driving on the sidewalk at this location and nobody cares. Due to the illegal expansion of this building and numerous obstructions on the property it’s just a matter of time before someone gets injured or killed. The Buildings Department, local precinct (105pct.) and elected officials have been aware of this problem for over a year. The NYC Police Department considers this a non emergency complaint. Department of Buildings complaints have been resolved unwarranted at time of inspection. After waiting months for DOB to inspect, a two minute inspection in the morning should not resolve a very dangerous and legitimate complaint. Elected officials claim there’s nothing they can do. Cars and trucks park and drive on the sidewalk in front of this building daily. The corner crosswalk has become an entrance /exit ramp for this store. The food cart on the property is also using the sidewalk as a drive thru for order pickups. Pedestrians routinely have to avoid vehicles or get hit at this location. So far the fire hydrant in front of the store was knocked down five times and the fire call box and stop sign on the corner have been knocked down twice. The city has walked away from this nightmare, maybe when someone gets injured or killed they might take this complaint seriously. I hope no one ever gets injured at this location but it’s just a matter of time.

Anonymous said...

The 112th has created its own back in parking along Yellowstone Boulevard, also near a school and right accross from the police station, creating the very same danger in Forest Hills. They've been parking this way since last year's late December snowstorm.

Anonymous said...

Too bad the NYPD parks and drives on the sidewalk all the time...
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The cops aren't the ones nearly running over children though.

Anonymous said...

Keep putting up more human warehouses without sufficient parking, keep overflowing the borough with more and more people that we can't possibly sustain, keep allowing these people to buy 3 or 4 cars per family, and keep allowing property owners to make illegal parking spaces wherever they want. This over indulgant society will be the death of us all.

Anonymous said...

"keep allowing these people to buy 3 or 4 cars per family"

Who are "these people"?
With many households consisting of two working adults and often grown children, the need for multiple cars is not unusual. This situation is not limited to "these people", whoever they may be. Somehow I don't think you were referencing white people, who also own multiple cars.

Anonymous said...

This is just plain silly. It's illegal, plain as day, and I would participate in direct action to prevent cars from parking here. Let's see if the police will arrest the drivers operating illegally or the citizens standing in the way and protecting school kids.

I'm completely serious.

Anonymous said...

the "chosen " can be many ethnic groups in Queens as long as the have their boys with political clout to pressure the n.y.p.d. and city officials, to walk away from the violation.

Anonymous said...

"keep allowing these people to buy 3 or 4 cars per family"

Who are "these people"?
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Oh my, bravo, wonderful job! You have completely veered off the point, and have unlocked the hidden meaning to "these people". Isn't it SOOOOO obvious to your keen and enlighted brain that "these people" is secret Archie Bunker Queens code for dem dere Spaniards, dark coloreds, Chinamen, A-rab Moslims, Eyetalians and Ruskies? Feel better now? Hey genius, don't let "those people" know we are talking about them behind their back.

Anonymous said...

Somehow I don't think you were referencing white people, who also own multiple cars.
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What makes you say that? Is there some racial aspect of this story that wasn't apparent to anyone but you, or are you just trying your hand at race baiting?

Queens Crapper said...

"Keep putting up more human warehouses without sufficient parking, keep overflowing the borough with more and more people that we can't possibly sustain, keep allowing these people to buy 3 or 4 cars per family..."

These people = people living in human warehouses. Did you fail reading comprehension or do you just go through life seeing racism where there is none?

Anonymous said...

I agree bad choice of words. These people might be okay to use this time. This story has nothing to do with these people,it's about illegal parking that should not be accepted.

Anonymous said...

Just more greedy "Landlords" !
Queens has turned for the worst.

Anonymous said...

Just following the fine example set by the NYPD at *every* pct in the city.