Wednesday, March 25, 2009

SCA admits Maspeth school won't cater to locals

Mary Leas, the project support manager in charge of this project for the School Construction Authority, confirmed via telephone that there will be NO general ed high school at the Maspeth site. She stated point blank, "We don't build those anymore."

The Maspeth school would consist of a 100-seat special ed school and 2 themed schools, neither of which will be science-related, Ms. Leas explained, because SCA did not factor expensive science labs into the cost equation for construction. When asked what kind of themed school will be there, she said that would be decided after it's constructed.

You parents in the Maspeth/Midville/Elmhurst area need to understand that your kid will still be forced to hop a bus to Newtown or Cleveland or you'll be paying for parochial/private school even if this school is constructed. There can be no concession for the local "feeder schools" as Council Member Elizabeth Crowley has been pushing for because all specialized schools must be open to the entire city. Therefore, this school will do nothing to ease the overcrowding of the general ed high schools that neighborhood kids most frequently attend.

Oh, and when asked why she withheld this information during her multiple public presentations, Leas said, "Nobody asked."

Then there was this in an e-mail from the Department of Education:

"The Department of Education believes that the creation of a new high school in Maspeth is a crucial part of the overall plan to build new capacity and alleviate overcrowding in Queens. While the Department of Education works to balance the need for new school space throughout Queens with local concerns about traffic congestion, the broader needs of the borough must be addressed."

In other words, "Your neighborhood can open its mouth wide while we ram this school down its throat, make your commute more miserable and destroy your quality-of-life."

Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley needs to explain again why the residents of Maspeth need this school and should accept it in their community when, by design, it will serve mostly children from outside the neighborhood who will overwhelm the area's anemic bus service. And while she's at it, she can also explain to the businesses along the Grand Avenue strip why their customers should have to compete for parking with school employees.

If the City needs to build a school that's open to everyone, they should put it near Northern Boulevard or Queens Boulevard where there are subways and aren't 2 other schools within 4 blocks.

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

The CB 5 resolution is on the money. If the school is not themed and locally zoned the community will tolerate it. This area needs the school.

Anonymous said...

If you locally zoned phony tony como's house there would not be a problem.

Anonymous said...

WE DON'T NEED THE H.S. HERE IN MASPETH, IT WILL ONLY BRING IN 1,000 MORE KIDS INTO AN ALREADY OVER CROWDED AREA OF SCHOOL KIDS. WE WILL HAVE MORE THAN 4,000 KIDS, IT IS JUST PLAIN WRONG TO PUT THIS SCHOOL HERE WHEN WE CAN'T EVEN HANDLE THE KIDS THAT ARE HERE ALREADY. AND LETS NOT FORGET THE GANG RELATED INCIDENTS, OVER CROWDING THE M.T.A. BUSES AND THE TAINTED LAND IN WHICH THEY PLAN ON BUILDING THIS H.S.. AND ARE'NT THOSE CELL TOWERS ACROSS FROM THE PROPOSED E? I SAY, SPEND A LITTLE ON YOUR KIDS EDUCATION, IN THE LONG RUN, YOUR CHILD WILL BE BETTER EDUCATED AND SAFE. THE PEOPLE IN MASPETH CAN'T EVEN GET A COP FROM THE 104TH PCT. TO COME HERE WHEN WE ARE A VICTIM OF A CRIME, DO THEY PLAN ON ADDING MORE COPS IN THE AREA IF THIS SCHOOL IS BUILT? I GUESS WE SHOULD JUST SPEND OUR MONEY, THAT THE CITY DOES'NT HAVE, ON COPS AND N.T.A BUS SERVICES. OH, THE BLOOMING IDIOT OF A MAYOR IS CUTTING THOSE SERVICES? WELLL IF WE GET THIS SCHOOL IN MASPETH, I HOPE ALL OF YOU PAERNETS WHO APPROVE OF IT, YOUR KIDS CAN'T GO THERE AND YOU PERSONALLY WILL HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THE OVER CROWDING OF OUR SMALL COMMUNITY WITH SO MANY STUDENTS. IO HOPE THEY CUT SCHOOL AND HANG IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE YOU SELFISH ASSHOLES.

Anonymous said...

No, the CB5 resolution is not "on the money". If it remains 1100 seats, it will not benefit the community. The resolution said nothing about parking, transit, the fact that large schools tend to not do well or that there are already 2 large schools in the vicinity. If they just want to "ease overcrowding" then CB5 should have suggested an annex for Cleveland. The Rite Aid site on Metro a couple of blocks west of Forest Ave would have been a perfect spot and is easily accessible by all neighborhoods within CB5.

Anonymous said...

Set aside some money to contribute to my likely campaign for the empty council seat for District 30.

It looks like I'll be running.

As a Republican? As a Democrat?

How 'bout the Taxpayer Party?

Anonymous said...

"SCA admits Maspeth school won't cater to locals"
-----------------
This is Queens. You live in a one party state. Government does not benefit you: from mobs of day laborers unbothered to encouraging illegal aliens, to illegal conversions to property seizures and tax breaks for developers.

It benefits the clubhouse.

" I see my opportunities and I took 'em "

Anonymous said...

I have never understood why they don't build a new high school in College Point. There's room to build, doubt most of the residents would care and it's accessible to public transportation.

Anonymous said...

I have said over and over again that the school will never pass for local community. liz told me that if it does not pass as a local zone for maspeth children, she would vote no and the community board won't approve this site. well now i want to see if all of these promises are kept. not for a moment will i believe them, you can still vote NO and have the rest of the council vote yes to save your ass. again if this school goes up i believe liz and the board memebers should be thrown out. so sick of this crap already we should protest on the site and demand the city council to tell SCA to kiss our ass. We don't want any changes to our community and the two public schools we have is enough and there are no need for any kind of changes for them either. Liz had mentioned to me in front of my son, that maybe possibly changing both schools to k-8, hello local children couldn't fill one, so again that tells me you want to bus even more children here. enough with all this crap, leave the schools alone and build in the areas that need it the most.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Liz Crowley can secure a spot in the 100 seat special education program.

Anonymous said...

Then there was this in an e-mail from the Department of Education:

"The Department of Education believes that the creation of a new high school in Maspeth is a crucial part of the overall plan to build new capacity and alleviate overcrowding in Queens. While the Department of Education works to balance the need for new school space throughout Queens with local concerns about traffic congestion, the broader needs of the borough must be addressed."

oh and by the way this email was to me!!!!! and i'm so outragged with what liz and community five has done to us. i had emailed the "MAYOR" explaining our concerns with traffic and transit, that another school will take us over the top. also sent another email to mayor on my concerns on how the teachers union spoke with seniors in our community at the meeting held up at PS 58, with them showing no respect and asking WHY don't they build the school in the new park. well i guess the mayor never got to see my emails, "I DID NOT" forward them to dept of education. I just think the whole system is full of crap. I believe only the ones who scream the loudest gets heard. our community did and we got a park, we have to do it again so we don't get a school. come to the city council meeting on 3/31 at town hall in nyc and speak out. car pool or get in touch with someone to get on the bus, I'm so outragged with this whole thing and community five should say enough is enough, build the school near trains and buses on or near queens blvd. or northern blvd. Our lady of hope meeting thursday will discuss the school and the 104 cops will be there if you have questions for them, yeah i do, what is the guarantee of police if this school goes up, god knows we don't have police in maspeth or middle village. hey board get us a police station, we could use that more than a school. oh and by the way IS 5 had gang related issues last week up at there school. so thanks Liz, the board, teachers union, and sca for dumping possibly more crap on us.

Anonymous said...

So much for Dizzy Lizzy"s master in urban planning. Or was it in interior decorating, or educator.

Anonymous said...

oh so our kids will have to still take the bus to public and private schools, NICE.... so liz and the board is doing shit for us and as a community are we going to take this???? and to make two schools on grand avenue k-8 is sooooooooo dumb. what the hell is that liz thinking about, who's ass is she kissing?? not the oommunity or the parents who has helped her durning the election, oh and most likely don't live in the surrounding area.

Anonymous said...

221 days left . Then we get rid of Dizzy Lizzy.

Anonymous said...

What we need is someone with a brain and some common sense to run against Liz Crowley for the City Council seat. She obviously is not representing her constituents. Is there anyone in Maspeth or Middle Village who feels strongly enough to take on this challenge? Let's forget about Crowley and Como and really look within for someone who will represent us. ANYBODY?

Anonymous said...

As far as I'm concerned Crowley is history. It's time for this town to really come together and find someone to run against her and to advocate for this town. Maspeth has been shit on way too many times and our officials allow it. Now is the time to find someone who will be our voice!

Anonymous said...

what background do you really need is the question? I really don't know how much experience liz has, we do know that her parents and uncle joe, but what education does she have. i would think you are representing your community when you to take the council seat. that you would be the voice of the people, and "I" feel for the seniors. I don't like how the SCA and Teachers union came into our community and told them to sit down and threw out why not put a school in the park, how dare you. Number one, those seniors may not be retired just yet and may still be paying the school tax. Seniors keep this community alive with their money in the neighborhood banks (maspeth federal),so show alittle respect. We all are going to be seniors one day and hopefully the community will still be a small town with values. well only time will tell and hopefully someone will step up, and I don't care if they don't have the education background, as long as they are committed to being here for the PEOPLE of maspeth and middle village.

Anonymous said...

I don't think there is an educational requiement to run for a City Council seat. I just think that whoever runs is an activist and a person who will advocate for the community. I know there is some filing at the Board of Elections and petitions need to be circulated for the person to be on the ballot to run. Look to the people who care about the community and who protest when things are not what they should be. What about Bob Holden? He's always in the forefront on community issues.

Anonymous said...

what background do you really need is the question? I really don't know how much experience liz has,

IN POLITICS, INTELLIGENCE IS A LIABILITY. IF A REGULAR JOE WOULD RUN THIS IS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN:

THE PRESS WOULD POKE FUN AT HIM. THE ONLY THING KEEPING THEM AFLOAT IS REAL ESTATE ADS AND POLS PAYING FOR SPACE DURING THE HOLIDAYS. A MAVERICK? THE PAPERS ARE IN BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY, NOT PROVIDE NEWS.

THE LITTLE OLD OUT TO LUNCH SENIORS. THEY WILL VOTE FOR THE "SWEET YOUNG LADY" WHO STOPPED BY THEIR LUNCH AT THE CENTER - THEIR GOVERNEMENT SUBSIDIZED LUNCH AT THEIR GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED CENTER. SO MUCH FOR THE GREATEST GENERATION.

FINALLY, TEAMS OF LAWYERS AND THE HOST OF ARCANE AND UNNESSARY ELECTION LAWS, LIKE THE POLL TAX OF A GENERATION AGO, EXIST SOLELY TO DISENFRANCHISE PEOPLE. UNLIKE THE POLL TAX, THIER TARGET ARE ENEMIES OF THE CLUBHOUSE SO NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING.

we do know that her parents and uncle joe,

THERE YOU GO, THAT IS ALL SHE NEEDS. THE CROWLEYS COULD RUN THIER DOG AND IT WOULD GET ELECTED.

LOOK UP YELLOW DOG DEMOCRAT.

Anonymous said...

lmao, i don't have the education background> but i do speak out all the time with complaints and concerns to community board, so i can apply for the spot??? all i need is someone believing in me! hey i'm young and female and i believe in the families and seniors of our community. all kidding aside, i would back anyone that is not liz crowley come next election.

Anonymous said...

Need to know the name of the Crowley Dog so I can vote for him/her come November. I'm sure the pooch will be smarter than the predecessor.

Anonymous said...

Linda, you are just upset because you lost a city job. Pipe down.

your ex-boss is a phony anyway.

Anonymous said...

Phony Tony Como cares about one thing: himself!

Anonymous said...

lmao, first of all you have me so totally confused with another linda. i never had a city job but that's for thinking i did........
lololololololololol........

Anonymous said...

I see that the Patroits have written almost every posting on this blog. Remember people he won the special election by 38 votes.

Hey guys, worry about your guy, Phony Tony Como. Not Crowley.

Did he get the violations removed?

Does he know the idea of separation of church and state?

He was in office for about 8 months. The issue of this school was there. What did he do? Instead of addressing the issue head on what did he do: SIDE STEP THE ISSUE.

What was his greatest accomplishment while in office: 2 things. 1) finding a homless lady an apartment and 2) having a "Hand in" arresting a graffiti artist. Thats it.

There is a fundamental difference between phony tony como and liz: Liz actually gets the job done.

Come November, Phony Tony Como is going to have a hard time getting into office. Partly because of him the republican party is a mess. Great Job Phony Tony Como.

By the way, rumors are that pinky is running your campaign?? True?

Anonymous said...

"Liz actually gets the job done."

WE DON'T WANT THE JOB DONE, WE WANT HER TO STOP THE SCHOOL FROM BEING BUILT!!!

Anonymous said...

Elizabeth Crowley sucks. And more than just Brian McLaughlin...

Anonymous said...

Liz will get the job done!

Anonymous said...

Who is he "someone" besides como and liz? Nuziato? Who??? Share with us please.

Anonymous said...

With that said, Como wishes he was Brian McLaughlin...

Anonymous said...

i think linda is related to como

Anonymous said...

Why because she is against the school? So is most of Maspeth. Wake the hell up, Liz.

Anonymous said...

If Mr. Como is considering running for office this November, now would be a good time to let the community know how he feels about the school being built. Perhaps if he were totally against it and came out and fought against it, he would win the City Council seat in November. All I know is that if it is built, Liz Crowley wont be elected.

Anonymous said...

wow, i am NOT related to cumo and NEVER worked for the guy. i'm just this lady from maspeth who DOES NOT want another school. we don't need another school so close to two others. don't need sca bringing in over 1000 more students and over 300 staff and teachers trying to find parking all over maspeth. enough with this bashing of linda working for cumo, don't even know the guy and really don't wish to. we need someone from the community to run for council seat who could respect what the neighbors want and need.

Anonymous said...

Liz will get the job done?!?!? It took her over 4 months just to open up a district office. Yeah Como did use Pinkster's office for 8 months, but at least he had an office open ASAP after winning the 1st election. What was Liz doing for 4 months?

Anonymous said...

More than what Como did in 8 months!!

Anonymous said...

wow we are off the subject that the sca will be screwing the local children and the community. let's not get off the subject with nonsense of liz and como...... we don't want a school period. who cares about them they will be both out of a job soon enough.

Anonymous said...

So who is going to run??