Union Picket Stabbing At US Open Tennis Construction Site In FMCP

Queens

By Geoffrey Croft

A violent melee broke out yesterday between union and non-union Iron workers that left one man in serious condition after being stabbed and two others slashed several times.

The first victim, 35,  was stabbed in the arm and in the groan which cut an artery.  He underwent surgery last night and remains hospitalized. 

A second victim, 45 received 20 stitches in his side and stitches in both hands as a result of his efforts in trying to disarm the attacker according to a union representative. 

A third victim, 50, was slashed in the stomach but refused medical attention.  

Police arrested Delroy Danvers, 65, of Brooklyn. He was charged with Assault and Criminal Possession of a Weapon.

Ironworkers LOCAL 197 Stone Derrickman & Riggers were out on a picket line protesting non union work re-building the Louis Armstrong Stadium job site in Flushing Meadow Corona Park.

At approximately 3:25 p.m., a 65-year-old non-union worker emerged from the construction site and pulled a knife.  

"There were no problems," said William Hayes, the Local's Financial Secretary, Treasurer, and Business Manager who noted it was quiet before the incident.     

"The non-union guy was running his mouth going back and forth and went back inside and came back outside the door and stabbed the man.

The attacker then took off running where union workers caught up to him and held him until police arrived.  

"It was crazy,” said Hayes.

The union picketed with inflatable rats and about fifty workers to protest subcontractor U.S. Crane and Rigging’s hiring of non-union workers to install exterior precast stone work panels at the new stadium.

Hayes said some other trades were threatened on the job site today and are refusing to work over safety concerns for their members.

He says he does not understand why the City's Project Labor Agreement regarding city parkland is not in effect here.  

"When the contracts go out they say it's not a park entity," he said.  "They’re saying the US Open is a different entity and they don’t have to follow it."

 “At this time we have no comment,"  subcontractor U.S. Crane and Rigging said when reached for comment. 

According to Hayes, Hunt Construction, the general contractor is, "ultimately responsible for what's going on over there.”

A message for Hunt Construction seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Queens City Council Candidate Moya Calls For Seizing Parkland In FMCP - Doesn't Know Why

City Council candidate Francisco Moya is calling for the seizing parkland in Flushing Meadows-Corona he says to create affordable housing and community jobs at Willets Point but is unable to say what the connection is between the park and his plan. In June New York’s highest court rejected a proposal to build a mega-mall on the same site in Flushing Meadows Park. The court ruled that State Alienation approval was necessary in order to commercially build on the public parkland, something Moya promises to help achieve. Moya is holding a press conference today.  (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates)

Queens

By Geoffrey Croft

A candidate running for a City Council seat is calling on the Mayor to support his plan to size 30 acres of Flushing Meadows - Corona Park, public land the State’s highest court just ruled in favor of protecting.   

New York State Assemblyman Francisco Moya (D - Corona) running for Julissa Ferreras’s City Council seat is pushing to alienate the parkland and says he will fight hard to do it if elected.

 “Moya has pledged to work with colleagues in the legislature to secure the required parkland alienation provisions if his proposal moves forward,” a campaign press release stated.

In June the State’s highest court rejected the $1 billion Bloomberg-era giveaway of 47.5 acres of public parkland in Flushing Meadow’s Corona Park - to one of the country’s most politically connected developers, along with NY Mets owners -  to build the city’s largest mall.

Assemblyman Moya says alienating the park is part of his plan to create “Historic Levels of Affordable Housing and Community Jobs at Willets Point.”

However when asked how the parkland and his affordable housing plan for Willets Point were related the campaign was unable to provide any details.

The Moya campaign was asked what the plan was for the parkland if they were successful in securing  “the required parkland alienation provisions.”

The press release or the campaign offered no information or details on how the parkland is related to Willets Point or to his affordable housing proposal which is obviously the key to the proposal.    

“Moya’s proposal comes shortly after a decision last month by the New York State Court of Appeals striking down the Willets West phase of the proposed redevelopment, “ the press release stated.

"The plan, which would have brought a shopping center and movie theater to the 30-acre site immediately west of Citi Field, was intended to be the first phase in the two-part redevelopment of the Willets Point Site. However, the Court of Appeals struck the plan down on the grounds that the land, which is technically parkland pertaining to the adjacent Flushing-Meadows Park, would first require state lawmakers' approval. Moya has pledged to work with colleagues in the legislature to secure the required parkland alienation provisions if his proposal moves forward,” the release read.

The statement contained several bits of misleading information.

The parkland was not part of the 2008 Willets Point development plan and was not intended to be the first phase in the two-part redevelopment of the Willets Point Site.   The Queens Development Group - a joint venture between The Related Companies and Sterling Equities had desperately tried to link the two projects. 

The parkland is not “technically parkland” it is parkland and it is not “adjacent Flushing-Meadows Park,” it is in Flushing-Meadows Park.    

Queens City Council candidate Francisco Moya wants to help seize parkland in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park but is unable to say what for.

The Moya campaign also states his proposal was developed with community groups and stakeholders. 

“Assemblyman Moya ​has met with local residents and community groups to develop this proposal for the future of Willets Point,” the campaign said in a statement last week to A Walk In the Park. “

“These are the stakeholders that will be most affected by any development at the site, and addressing their needs for open space, truly affordable housing and employment opportunities are the Assemblyman’s top priority,” a campaign spokesperson wrote.   

The campaign was unable to provide details when asked what community groups and stakeholders were involved in helping to develop this proposal but pointed to a town hall meeting ten years ago in Jackson Heights by the Pratt Center for Community Development.  The 2007 meeting it should be noted did not mention taking public parkland. 

Which community groups and stakeholders are supporting this plan may at least partially be answered today when the Moya campaign holds a rally at 2:30pm.

According to the release today’s press conference participants include Make The Road, a city-funded non-profit with close ties to this administration including Jullissa Ferreras and Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito, and the Jackson Heights Green Alliance,  Queens Fairness Coalition, groups that supportive of the initial plan.

Make The Road supported taking the parkland and helped the local council member. After Julissa Ferreras successfully orchrestated  the deal culminating in the City Council vote in Ocotober 2013 she publicly thanked the groups that helped make it possible - Make The Road,  The Queens Fairness Coalition, and New Yorkers For Parks.

Moya has the support of the Queens County Democrats. His campaign was asked it they were supporting the development of Flushing Meadows Park to their knowledge.  The campaign declined to answer.

The campaign was also asked if anyone associated with his campaign has met with the former proposed developer, Related Companies, or Sterling Equities or with REBNY and any unions regarding this proposal?

The campaign said no it hadn't.

Not surprising plaintiffs were not happy.

“It’s very disappointing to see candidate Moya willing to squander the community’s hard-won court victory, which protects Flushing Meadows Corona Park land,” plaintiff Irene Prestigiacomo said in a statement.

    

"Moya’s willets Point plan includes his support for alienating the parkland which the recent court victory protects.  Moya needs a reality check, to understand that the community opposes developing parkland and just concluded a long court case to preserve the same land that Moya is eager to give to developers. Moya's willingness to sacrifice public parkland shows his apparent support of and allegiance to developers and the elitist owners of the Mets, above the constituents he wants to vote for him! He wants the community’s vote while unashamedly letting us know he has no respect for the hard-won court victory,” she said.

“The Queens Civic Congress opposes any more alienation of this much needed park land,  said  its president Kevin J. Forrestal. "Park land is essential part of the infrastructure supporting it’s surrounding communities. Keep park land as parks,” he stated. 

 “Another Clown has joined the circus,”  opined plaintiff Alfredo Centola.  

“When will these leeches learn that the public is their boss and the public has spoken repeatedly.”

Save Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.   

Note: The author was a plaintiff in the lawsuit.  

Read More:

NY's Highest Court Rejects Mega-Mall In Flushing Meadow-Corona Park

A Walk In The Park - Juen 6, 2017 -  By Geoffrey Croft

State’s Highest Court Rules Massive Mall Planned Next to Citi Field Can No Longer Proceed

NY 1 - June 6, 2017 - By Gene Apodaca 

Court Delivers Legal Blow To Willets Point Development Plan

CBS - June 7, 2017 - By Carolyn Gusoff

Ruling May Be Death Knell for $3 Billion Queens Development

New York Times - June 6, 2017 - By Sarah Maslin Nir 

Appeals court rejects Willets West project to build mall near Citi Field due to lack of legal authority

New York Daily News - June 6, 2017-  By Glenn Blain 

Court rules against proposed ‘Willets West’ mega mall near Citi Field in Queens

Queens.com - June 6, 2017 -  By Suzanne Monteverdi  

Judges Block Development of Former Shea Stadium Site

New York Law Journal - June 6, 2017 - By Mark Hamblett  

Council Misled City On Willets West Land Grab
A Walk In The Park - January 14, 2016 - By Geoffrey Croft 

De Blasio Declines To Join Willets Point West Appeal - Not Due To 

Preserving Parkland Or Legal Grounds However

A Walk In The Park - August 20, 2015 

Court Rejects Parkland Shopping Mall Deal In Flushing Meadows Corona Park
A Walk In The Park - By Geoffrey Croft 

City Begins Land Use Process On Willets Point Land Grab

A Walk In The Park -  March 22, 2013 

Casino Sought For Flushing Meadows Park - Willet's Point Documents Reveal
A Walk In The Park - February 5, 2013

Related Co. Strikes Gold As City Council Approves Park Land Grabs Deals - Willets Point West

 & Ruppert Playground Development Approved

A Walk In The Park - October 10, 2013 - By Geoffrey Croft

NY's Highest Court Rejects Mega-Mall In Flushing Meadow-Corona Park

The State's highest court rejected the $1 billion Bloomberg-era giveaway of 47.5 acres of public parkland in Flushing Meadow’s Corona Park to one of the country’s most politically connected developers to build Willets Point West mega-mall.   Critics of theplan argue that if the 40-plus acres of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park being proposed for mall use are no longer needed for CitiField parking then it should revert back to its original recreational use.  (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on image to enlarge.


Queens

By Geoffrey Croft

There will be no massive mega-mall next City Feild for the public so "recreate" in, the six year battle to prevent the illegal taking of public parkland may finally be over.    

The State’s highest court rejected the $1 billion Bloomberg-era giveaway of 47.5 acres of public parkland in Flushing Meadow’s Corona Park - to one of the country’s most politically connected developers, along with NY Mets owners -  to build the city's largest mall.

The Queens Development Group - a joint venture between The Related Companies and Sterling Equities, whose owners are New York Met’s principle owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz,  were attempting to build a 1.4 million square foot mall as part of a 47.5  acre project in the Park. 

"...the text of the statute and its legislative history flatly refute the proposition that the legislature granted the City the authority to construct a development such as Willets West in Flushing Meadows Park,"  the New York Court of Appeals ruled.  

The court ruled 5-1 against the defendants with one dissention.

In July 2015,  The New York State Appellate Division rejected the parkland mega-mall shopping complex deal and ruled in favor of plaintiffs, including NYC Park Advocates, who sued to block the city and the Queens Development Group from seizing nearly 48 acres of public parkland in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. 

The court ruled that the project violated the Public Trust Doctrine and prevented any construction on parkland from proceeding.  


Proposed Mega-Mall.   State Alienation legislation is required under state law to use parkland for non-park purposes.  The Bloomberg administration, including Seth Pinsky, president of the city’s Economic Development Corp.,  said that permission to develpet was already given under a 1961 law. This week New York's highest court disagreed.    (Rendering EDC)

The proposed mall in Flushing Meadow Corona Park was never part of the original Willets Point development which was approved in 2008.

The public land was thrown by Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council to sweeten the deal for developers.

The developers strategy in court proceedings and in public misstatements has been to try and connect the two development projects -  Willet’s Point West,  a proposed massive mall on 47 acres of public parkland, and Willets Point,  60 acres of automotive shops on the other side of Citi-Field. The defendants had argued strenuously that Related needed the public parkland in order to build Willets Point. 

The court rejected that. 

"Those contentions, however, have no place in our consideration of whether the legislature granted authorization for the development of Willets West on land held in the public trust.  Of course, the legislature remains free to alienate all or part of the parkland for whatever purposes it sees fit, but it must do so through direct and specific legislation that expressly confers the desired alienation."

The next step is whether or not the powerful developers will try and bypass the court’s ruling and get State elected officials and the Governor to alienate the park land.

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, on behalf of the Cuomo administration petitioned the State’s highest court to vacate a lower court decision which prohibited  the commercial development of the mega-mall in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

Related and Sterling have donated at least $187,300 in contributions to Governor Cuomo and AG Schneiderman since 2010 according to the Board of Elections’ website.  

Donations from Related’s top two executives and their wives,  Stephen M. Ross and his jewelry designer Kara Ross,  and Jeff and Kara Blau are included in the contributions.

The massive Willets West mega-mall planned to build on the parking lot in Flushing Meadows - Corona Park.   (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on image to enlarge.

New York’s highest court today held that construction of a regional shopping mall on dedicated parkland in Flushing Meadows Corona Park could not go forward, because it was not specifically approved by a State law.  

The shopping mall was to be built on what is now the parking lot for CitiField.  Under an ancient common law doctrine known as the “public trust doctrine,” any lease or sale of government land held by for a public purpose must be approved by the State Legislature. 

The City and the developers (the Related Companies and Sterling Equities, the latter owned by the owners of the Mets) had argued that the law that authorized construction of Shea Stadium also authorized construction of the mall.  After carefully analyzing both the legislative history and the language of the statute, the Court flatly rejected that contention.  

Chief Judge DiFiore was the lone dissenter.

Today’s decision of the Court of Appeals is a victory for the public trust doctrine and for parks.  The decision is important in at least two respects.  First, it reiterates that the Legislature’s approval of any alienation of parkland must be specific.  



http://www.savefmcp.org

There is no dispute that the Legislature, in 1961, enacted a law that allowed the construction and leasing of Shea Stadium.  This is the first time the Court of Appeals has held that even a law that concededly does alienate parkland will not be read as going any further than what is specifically says.  As the Court said, any “proposed alienation [by the Legislature] must plainly fall within the scope of the legislative direction authorizing alienation.” 

The decision is also important because it suggests, consistent with prior precedents, that the public trust doctrine applies to parks, but also to “other lands held in the public trust,” such as streets, wharfs, and public buildings.

"I’m very pleased at this outcome, not only for the principles that the Court reaffirmed, but also because the proposed project would have been injurious to many people, including the individual petitioners," said plaintiff's attorney John Lo-Beer, of New York City Club. 

"I hope that this decision will lead to a better future for Willets Point and for Flushing Meadows Corona Park,"  he said.

Today’s decision of the Court of Appeals is a victory for the public trust doctrine and for parks, NY State Senator Tony Avella expressed. 

The decision is important in at least two respects. First, it reiterates that the Legislature’s approval of any alienation of parkland must be specific. There is no dispute that the Legislature, in 1961, enacted a law that allowed the construction and leasing of Shea Stadium. This is the first time the Court of Appeals has held that even a law that concededly does alienate parkland will not be read as going any further than what it specifically says. As the Court said, any “proposed alienation [by the Legislature] must plainly fall within the scope of the legislative direction authorizing alienation.”

"Today’s decision was a resounding victory for the public trust doctrine and residents across New York State,"  State Senator Avella said in a statment. 

"This land was intended to be used as parkland, not for the development of a mega-mall. In a city where public land is in short supply, simply handing over parkland would be an absolute disgrace and a betrayal of the public trust. This victory sets a precedent for decades to come that our government cannot give away our parkland or be complicit in a developer’s heist of public land,” Avella said.

"Queens Civic Congress is ecstatic that the tough battle to preserve city park land from developers has been won by the community,"  Kevin J Forrestal, president, Queens Civic Congress said in a statemnet.

"QCC is very pleased that this decision will set a precedent forever upholding the state's Public Trust doctrine and preserving our valuable public spaces," he said.

The civic group  also thanked the attorneys for their incredible work in arguing a complex case as well as fellow petitioners for working together on this.

Delivering The Deal -  October 10, 2017.   Big Winners. A beaming Related Companies' Charles  J.  O'Byrne, Queens City Council member Julissa Ferreras,  Jeff Wilpon - New York Mets COO and the executive vice-president of Sterling Equities and son of New York Mets principal owner Fred Wilpon, and Glenn  A. Goldstein - president of Related Retail and registered lobbyist, pose shortly after the City Council vote.  (Photo: William Alatriste /New York City Council) 

In June 2012 Mayor Bloomberg announced a new Willets Point plan, one  that handed over 47.5 acres of public parkland in Flushing Meadows Corona Park adjacent to CitiField. 

The parkland, 23 acres of it on CitiField parking lot,  was to be developed into, “Willets West,” a massive shopping mall, a million- square-foot retail and entertainment center with more than 200 stores, movie theaters, restaurants, a parking structure and surface spaces for 2,500 cars.  

The winners of the bid were the Related Companies, and Sterling Equities, the real estate firm controlled by the owners of the Mets.  Officials hoped to break ground in three years and expected the project to take up to 15 years.  

The other developers competing to developt Willet's Point were at a disadvanage as they could not compete with the Mets parking lot scheme.

Related Companies initially sought to build a casino at the site, offering $100 million to acquire the property, including the parkland.

Legal questions began to emerge immediatly after the announcement.

State Alienation legislation is required under state law to use parkland for non-park purposes.  

A 1961 Robert Moses agreement allowed the Mets to built on the parkland with very specific caveats, non of which allowed the development of a mega-mall. 

The Bloomberg administration claimed the 1961 agreement allowed the parkland to developed so they rolled the dice and did not seek this approval.  

In October 2013 the City Council voted to approve zoning amendments to the Willet's Point plan.  Not surprising the parkland connection to the Willets Point West development was never mentioned during the public hearing.

In order to get to this point the Bloomberg administration and the City Council bypassed important land use procedures including the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP).  The Mayor claimed all land use powers of the former Board of Estimate belonged to him, clearly a violation of ULURP.   

On the day of the vote members of  the Related team were seen repeatedly disappearing into the Executive side of City Hall.

In exchange for the approvals the developers agreed to give $15.5 million to the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Alliance,  a public-private conservancy Queens Council member Julissa Ferreras created with the help of New Yorkers For Parks, a non-profit partner of the Parks Department. 

Julissa Ferreras delivered the deal and thanked the groups that helped make it possible, Make the Road, a community organization she funds, Queens Fairness Coalition,  and New Yorkers For Parks.  

The elected officials practically fell over themselves congratulating each other for standing up for, "principles."

Land use Chair Leroy Comrie wanted to,  "especially thank all the advocates that came and made sure the projects were done to their concerns. They were heard and listened to as part of process," he said with a straight face.  

Staten Island Council member Vincent Ignizio was proud of his colleagues.

"I also want to point out that very often the media portrays this body in a negative light but what you see here today is the hard work of council members who stood up for their principles, stood up for their community and ultimately got a great deal,"  Ignizio said during the Subcommittee on Zone &  Franchises vote. 

Plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in an effort to prevent the illigal taking of the parkland.

During court proceedings defendants tried desperately to maintain that a shopping mall built on parkland is a recreational activity and therefor a park purpose.

Today New York Court Of Appeals thankfully disagreed.

Read More:

State’s Highest Court Rules Massive Mall Planned Next to Citi Field Can No Longer Proceed

NY 1 - June 6, 2017 - By Gene Apodaca 

Court Delivers Legal Blow To Willets Point Development Plan

CBS - June 7, 2017 - By Carolyn Gusoff

Ruling May Be Death Knell for $3 Billion Queens Development

New York Times - June 6, 2017 - By Sarah Maslin Nir 

Appeals court rejects Willets West project to build mall near Citi Field due to lack of legal authority

New York Daily News - June 6, 2017-  By Glenn Blain 

Court rules against proposed ‘Willets West’ mega mall near Citi Field in Queens

Queens.com - June 6, 2017 -  By Suzanne Monteverdi  

Judges Block Development of Former Shea Stadium Site

New York Law Journal - June 6, 2017 - By Mark Hamblett  

Council Misled City On Willets West Land Grab
A Walk In The Park - January 14, 2016 - By Geoffrey Croft 

De Blasio Declines To Join Willets Point West Appeal - Not Due To 

Preserving Parkland Or Legal Grounds However

A Walk In The Park - August 20, 2015 

Court Rejects Parkland Shopping Mall Deal In Flushing Meadows Corona Park
A Walk In The Park - By Geoffrey Croft 

City Begins Land Use Process On Willets Point Land Grab

A Walk In The Park -  March 22, 2013 

Casino Sought For Flushing Meadows Park - Willet's Point Documents Reveal
A Walk In The Park - February 5, 2013

Referee Assaulted In Flushing Meadow Park During Soccer Game

Queens

By Geoffrey Croft

A New Jersey man was arrested after he hit a referee in the face with a beer can during a soccer game, NYC Park Advocates has learned. 

The man became irate at a call and began yelling and cursing him out. 

He threw a beer can at the 20-year-old who was officiating the game which struck him in the face.  The victim suffered a laceration to his nose and cheek.

The incident occurred in Flushing Meadow-Corona Park on Sunday on Field # 3, near the park’s Pitch & Putt and Fountain of the Planets at 3:45pm.

A park patron flagged down a PEP park police officer on a foot post who was told that a referee was getting beat up.

“He was bleeding profusely,” said an officer at the scene. 

EMS responded but the victim refused medical treatment.

The crowed pointed out the assailant. 

Police arrested Recardo Cruz, 41, from North 7th Street in Newark, N.J.  

He was charged with Assault and Harassment. 

Cruz was released on his own recognizance and his next court date is October 26th.  

If convicted he faces up to a year in jail. 

A temporary Order of Protection was granted the victim according to the Queens District Attorney’s office

A law enforcement source said that it is not uncommon for referees to hire private security for themselves for protection while working the soccer games in the park.

De Blasio Declines To Join Willets Point West Appeal - Not Due To Preserving Parkland Or Legal Grounds However

The De Blasio administration has elected not to join an appeal by developers over the Willets Point West lawsuit they lost last month. The administration is doing this not in an effort to protect public park land but instead in the hopes of renegotiating better affordable housing terms than the deal struck under Bloomberg the De Blasio administration.  

Related Companies and Sterling Equities are looking to build a 1.4 million square foot mall on 48 acres of mapped parkland in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, west of Citi-Field stadium.  This represents the largest public parkland giveaway in recent history. The proposed Willets Point West Mall project would allow the seizing of the public parkland to be used exclusively for non-park purposes without first getting State Alienation approval as is required under the law.  The construction of such a mall on public parkland would be unprecedented. (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates)

Queens 

By Geoffrey Croft

In yet another example of its lack of interest in protecting public parkland the De Blasio administration has declined to support plaintiff's efforts to preserve 48 acres in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.      

In an effort to renegotiate better terms of a terrible Willets Point affordable housing deal struck under Bloomberg the De Blasio administration has chosen not to join an appeal filed by developers over the Willets Point West lawsuit they lost last month, according to Crain's New York Business.

The New York State Appellate Division ruled in favor of plaintiffs, including NYC Park Advocates, who sued to block the city and the Queens Development Group from seizing nearly 48 acres of public parkland in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. 

The court ruled that the project violated the Public Trust Doctrine and prevents any construction on parkland from going forward. 

The Queens Development Group - a joint venture between The Related Companies and Sterling Equities, whose owners are New York Met's principle owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz,  are attempting to build a 1.4 million square foot mall as part of a 48 acre project in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. 

The proposed mall on parkland however was never part of the original Willets Point development that was approved in 2008. The public land was thrown in to sweeten the deal for developers and was never approved.  

According to the article in Crains, it appears the de Blasio administration is looking to renegotiate the timetable for delivery of affordable housing units in the project, among other things. The Willets Point project, located on the other side of Citi-Field involves clearing 24 acres of auto shops and junkyards, installing infrastructure.

Area residents, open space advocates,  and business owners have long criticized the deal as a giveaway to private developers. 

City Council member, Julissa Ferreras-Copeland,  who helped deliver the project for the developers and the Bloomberg administration,  has indicated she is open to renegotiating to see if the city can get a better deal. 

"We really wanted to see significant improvements that would mean that the public would also see a healthy mix of affordable and market-rate housing, delivered on a real time frame," Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen said in a statement to the publication.

"We know a lot has gone into this project, and we hope that this team will continue to work towards that goal with us."

Protecting parkland however is not part of the goal. 


Proposed Nightmare - Willets Point West.  


Read More:

De Blasio in stunning about-face on De Blasio Willets Point project
The mayor's decision not to appeal a court ruling threatening the project reveals his attempt to renegotiate terms of the $3 billion redevelopment.
Crain's New York Business - August 19, 2015 -  By Joe Anuta

Court Rejects Parkland Shopping Mall Deal In Flushing Meadows Corona Park
A Walk In The Park - By Geoffrey Croft 

Mugging Victim Beaten Unconscious With Baseball Bat In Flushing Meadows Park

Queens

By Geoffrey Croft

A man was viciously attacked by group in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, NYC Park Advocates has learned.

Jorge Huerta, 21, was repeatedly hit in the head, stomach and leg with a baseball bat.

While he was passed out the group stole his cell phone his family said.

The man was walking home in the park at 9:30 on Sunday night after playing soccer when he was jumped by a group as he was checking his phone.

He was brought to Elmhurst Hospital where he received 20 stitches in his head. He has severe bruising throughout his body.

The family is originally from Equator and said Jorge did not know the group that attacked him.

Sunday's attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have occured in parks. 

Homeless Man Attacks Man With Pipe Striking Him In Eye In Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Queens

By Geoffrey Croft

A homeless man with an active criminal past violently attacked another homeless man with a pipe in Flushing Meadows Corona Park NYC Park Advocates has learned.

Jose Gomez, 40, attacked and struck a fellow homeless man 47, with a metal pipe, hitting the man in the right eye, police said. 

The incident occurred inside Flushing Meadows Corona Park at 11 am. on July 14th outside  the Ederle men's bathroom near 48th Avenue and 111th Street. Police responded to a report of an assault and found Gomez after canvassing the park. 

Police recovered the metal pipe.   

The victim was taken to Elmhurst where he was treated for a facial injury.  

Gomez was arrested and charged with assault, weapons possession and disorderly conduct.    He was arraigned on the 14th on $1,000 bond/$500 cash.  An order of protection was also issued. He is due back in court on September 23th.

Gomez had three open warrants at the times of his arrest.

The incident occurred while Gomez was awaiting sentencing for another area crime.

On April 10th Gomez was arrested for stealing side view mirrors and hubcaps from numerous cars including a Lexus and BMW. 

Police caught up to Gomez and a colleague, Vincenti Cornelio, 26,  pushing a shopping cart full of stolen items near 102-40 62 Avenue at 3:00 a.m.  Eight hubcaps and ten side view mirrors were recovered. Police also recovered a knife and screwdrivers. 

Gomez was charged with six counts of auto stripping,  six counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle,  six counts of criminal possession of stolen property and one court of possession of burglars tools.  

He was arraigned on April 10th on $4, 000 bond and $1, 500 cash. He didn't make bail but pleaded guilty on April 24th and was released. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 30th.

On April 4th Gomez and colleague Salazar German, 31,  were arrested for stealing an air conditioner from a house on 110th street, two blocks away from the  Flushing Meadows Corona Park park near Forest Hills High School in the  112 Pct.   He was charged with  petit larceny,  criminal trespass and possession of stolen property. 

He has also been summoned several times for public drinking.

Four More Teens Busted In Worlds Fair Towers

Four teens were caught sneaking into the Worlds Fair's Astro Towers on Tuesday afternoon. Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP) officers caught up to the group on the first observation deck,  126 feet in the air, and surprised them. The New York State Pavilion,  can be seen in the background. 

Queens

By Geoffrey Croft

Four more teens were caught sneaking up into the Worlds Fair towers NYC Park Advocates has learned. 

When Park Enforcement officers arrived this time they found the gate wide-open and the flimsy lock missing.   The rusted metal door that leads to the deteriorated staircase was also wide open and the small lock was nowhere to be found.  



The group was caught on the first platform.

"The locks magically disappeared," said an officer at the scene.

The kids from nearby Bowne High School made it as far as the first observation deck - 126 feet in the air -  Tuesday afternoon at 3:00pm when officers surprised them.

PEP officers detain four teens 126 feet in the air one of the three Worlds Fair Astro Towers observational platforms. 

"It's very dangerous up there," an officer said.  

"One slip and it's all over.

The officer said one teen mentioned he saw photos people had taken on instagram from the site.

Two 15-year olds and 16-year old were given trespassing summons. 

Another 16-year old,  who had multiple ID's belonging to other people and a bank card belong to someone else, was arrested. 

A few weeks ago, PEP officers caught five teens hanging out and graffiting 226 feet up on the highest tower.   Five teens were caught by park police after they broke into and climbed to the top of the observation deck.

When Park Enforcement Patrol Officers arrived this time they found the perimeter fence wide-open and the lock missing.  Safely on the ground  (background) officers issued summonses to three and took one teen into custody.  




Nearly $ six million dollars has been allocated for improvements to the three structures.


When PEP officers arrived at the base of the tower they saw the door leading inside wide open and the lock missing. 


Read More:

Sky-High Graffiti Bust: Teens Caught On Top Of Flushing Meadows
Corona Park Worlds Fair Towers
A wAlk In  The Park - March 15, 2015 -  By Geoffrey Croft