CB 14 February Recap
By Kami-Leigh Agard
Depending on who you talk to, this past Tuesday, February 11, Community Board 14’s meeting at Knights of Columbus was as entertaining as the Super Bowl LIX’s halftime show. Crickets… Maybe if Samuel Jackson was present playing Uncle Sam. However, the actual meeting bore no resemblance to how the Eagles decimated the Chiefs. Again, crickets… However, a major issue on the table was a proposed marijuana dispensary at the former Rockaway Farmers Market, located on Beach 116th and Beach Channel Drive. Also, NYC Parks Rockaway’s newly appointed administrator, Elizabeth Walsack, who will be assuming Eric Peterson’s position this coming March, introduced herself to the community.
On the policing front, 100th Precinct Captain Carlos Rendon gave a breakdown of how crime stats are steadily on the decline.
He stated: “With regards to last month, overall, we’ve pretty much dropped over 50% with major crimes. So, we’re trending in the right direction. Traffic incidents have also been trending down. There’s been a reduction in pedestrian accidents, especially on the Beach Channel Drive corridor. We have new traffic safety guys training. Looking forward to the end of the month, we’re already in the planning stage for the barricades and security for the Annual Rockaway St. Patrick’s Day Parade.”
The 101st Precinct rep also gave a positive report. “I am happy to announce that the 101st is also down in major index crimes. We’re down sharply compared to this time last year. Hopefully, we’ll still continue to trend down. Vehicle and package thefts are up, but we’re taking complaint reports every day. When you’re scheduled a package delivery, please make sure you’re home to prevent thefts. As far as the state of the precinct, I’m also happy to announce that we’ve added four new members to our NCOs (neighborhood community officers). We also added two new domestic violence officers to handle the volume of domestic incidents.”
Margaret Powers of Councilwoman Joann Ariola’s office, brought in the defense against the proposed marijuana dispensary.
Powers reported: “Councilwoman Joann Ariola has been supporting the Rockaway Civic and Beach 116th Merchants Association for the past three years to clean up Beach 116th Street. Together, we have brought family-and-friend events to the area. Also, encouraging the MTA to clean up the surrounding property.
“So, now we see several new businesses along that strip. However, now there is the possibility of a cannabis dispensary at the location of the former farmer’s market, which will negatively affect the community and work civic groups have done to clean up the area. On the Beach 116th Street strip, we’re still seeing homeless people, drug addicts, and EDPs (emotionally disturbed persons) in the community. … The parking lot of that business could become a local hangout. And the council member urges CB 14 to change their request and vote in favor of a letter of objection. So, although the board committee has not taken a position yet, the councilwoman is urging in favor of a letter of objection. So, the merchants and patrons of Beach 116th Street are not negatively affected by this type of business.”
Powers also informed CB14 that Councilwoman Ariola introduced a bill requiring the Office of Street Vendor Enforcement to create a portal that would allow all agencies enforcing street vending laws and regulations to share enforcement related information. The Office of Street Vendor Enforcement would also ensure that each enforcing agency has the capability to verify the authenticity of the vendor’s license. According to Powers, the proposed bill has bipartisan support already.
As for Mayor Eric Adams’ City of Yes, the councilwoman has been in contact with President Donald Trump’s administration to see if there are any ways they can help with communities, like Rockaway, with a high flood risk both coastal and inland.
Florence Ferguson, executive director of Friends of Beach 59th Street Playground, thanked CB 14 for their support in revamping a playground on Beach 59th Street, which is also ADA compliant.
Ferguson said, “First of all, thank you to CB 14 for the beautiful space that we’re now in. Your support was invaluable in getting the playground. But today I’m back in front of you again. We got the playground reconstructed and at the time we started that advocacy, we thought that the comfort station that’s within the grounds was part of that process. We found out after, that the comfort station has to be torn down and reconstructed. And it’s unfortunate that we have that juxtaposed to the beautiful playground that was just built. Our community deserves better. It really does. Besides that, we are continuing to bring new and different upgrades to the playground. We’re pleased to report that we are now partnering with the Jamaica Bay Conservancy.”
Though known as advisory, the fireworks really started with the discussion of the proposed dispensary on the corner of Beach 116th and Beach Channel Drive.
In public speaking, the owner of the proposed dispensary pleaded the following:
“My name is Nubia. I’m here on behalf of my company, Residue, and I am proposing a [marijuana dispensary] location to open for public convenience and advantage, and ask for a letter from the board with no objections. I just heard everyone speaking and would like to speak to the councilwoman’s office if I could please get in touch with her. I am not some big corporation. I’m from this community. I have a business here. I own my own my home here. I’m not coming in trying to move in on the community where I don’t know nothing about it. I know a lot about this community. I am 100% female and black women owned dispensary. I came here on my own to ask you for this letter and would appreciate if those who are in opposition of my cannabis dispensary coming into the neighborhood actually reached out to speak to me and see what I also will offer to the neighborhood. The city has already proven that legal cannabis dispensaries are good for neighborhoods to keep them safe. I already have my security firm, which will keep the parking lot clean and clear of people. As there is no residence attached to this this location, loitering or noise will not affect the community.
“NYS has already proven that legal dispensaries do a lot of good for every community they have gone in. Not only do the taxes help promote the communities, it cleans them up. And all the illegal dispensaries have nothing to do with the legal dispensaries that have already proven themselves, and already been opened.
“So, I do ask the board that they still grant my letter and approval for my business, no objection.”
In return, CB 14 voted to table the motion until March at the next meeting for economic development
