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College Pt. voices woes over traffic

By Alexander Dworkowitz

After listening to complaints about illegally parked vehicles tying up traffic on College Point’s narrow streets, police officials promised to shift their focus to issuing summonses to violators in the neighborhood.

About 100 frustrated residents complained to police about congestion and youth hanging out on streets and in parks last Thursday at the College Point Civic Taxpayers meeting, held at the College Point Boulevard Knights of Columbus.

Police said they would take steps to solve traffic problems.

“We are going to redirect traffic personnel,” said 109th Precinct Capt. Michael Lau. “We’ll have them focus on College Point.”

Many residents remained skeptical, saying the authorities’ efforts to stem congestion had done little in the past and the problem was only growing worse.

The deputy inspector of the 109th Precinct, which covers College Point, Whitestone, Flushing and Bay Terrace, also said burglars had struck right in the heart of College Point.

Trucks drew many complaints. With only four roads leading into College Point, many said a single truck parked illegally could cause delays for hundreds of drivers.

Others said delivery vans were responsible, while still others pointed the finger at regular drivers who left their cars in bus stops and doubled parked.

“These people have no regard for anybody,” said College Point resident Steve Agnelli. “You give them a few tickets. And the next day they go right back to what they are doing.”

Residents said they thought youth on the streets and parks disturbed the community late at night with little attention from police. Some said they suspected them of taking and dealing drugs.

Many wondered whether or not traffic problems and loitering youth were getting enough attention.

“The crime in College Point is never going to compete with the crime in Flushing,” said one woman. “We’re a low priority.”

Deputy Inspector Owen Monaghan, however, said the precinct was very active in issuing summonses throughout its coverage area and had written about 15,000 over the last eight months.

Monaghan would not speak specifically about drug dealing in College Point, but he did say the precinct was aware of the problem.

“We are doing things and we are getting things done as we speak,” he said.

Lau said he was serious about his precinct’s change in focus.

“It’s not all words,” he said. “We’re going to take action. It’s going to take time.”

Police also updated residents on the crime categories that the 109th Precinct has concentrated on over the past year.

“We have a particular problem with burglaries right in the center of College Point,” Monaghan said.

Monaghan said seven daytime burglaries had occurred in College Point in recent weeks.

But the other thorn in the precinct’s side, car thefts, has dropped recently, Monaghan said.

“There are less cars being stolen,” he said.

Monaghan said, however, that the neon headlights belonging to Nissan Maximas were being stolen in the precinct.

Cars were still being stolen out of the parking lot of Whitestone Cinemas along the Whitestone Expressway, Monaghan said.

“We’re working with management (of the movie theater) to get more security cameras,” he said.

Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 141.