By Philip Newman
Scores of Queens citizens from college presidents to advocates for battered women took the rostrum Tuesday to list for Queens Borough President Helen Marshall their “save-at-all-costs” priorities when the budget ax falls.
One of the more vivid testimonies from the nearly 170 people who signed up to speak at a public hearing at Borough Hall in Kew Gardens came from Gary Strong, director of the Queens Borough Public Library.
“No one wants a repeat of the early ‘90s when some libraries were open only two and three days a week,” Strong said. “But further cuts may make this nightmare reality.”
He pointed out that “by the end of spring, 48 of our 62 branch libraries will be closed on Saturday, leaving most neighborhoods in Queens with only five-day service.”
Strong said The Queens Library now gets the least per capita aid of any library system in New York state “even though we are the busiest library system in the United States.”
For a number of those representing community boards, the most important thing not to cut was police and firefighters. For others, schools. For a number of still others, it was removal, planting and care of trees since Queens has more parklands and forests than any other borough.
Many cited the sanitation service with several mentioning a disquieting rumor that garbage soon would be picked up only weekly. Street and sidewalk repair as well as enforcement against illegal housing conversions were singled out as budget items they want left alone.
Before the testimony, which was mostly calm and measured, Marshall said: “As you know, New York City is facing the largest budget deficit in its history. And we are targeted by New York state and the federal government for reductions that will hurt us even more.
“State actions already in place will cost our city $1.3 billion next fiscal year.”
Marshall said that when she went to Albany last week, “I stated my strong opposition to imposition of tolls on East River Bridges and urged New York state to re-enact the commuter tax and provide a fair share of state funds for New York City schools and allow us to increase revenues from other sources.”
She noted that “Queens is prepared to make the hard choices. They cannot, however, come at the expense of our future or our most vulnerable citizens.”
Marshall briefly discussed problems raised by many of those testifying, offered suggestions and frequently asked them to be more specific or supply her office with figures. In some cases, she assured speakers that their top priorities were already part of her counter-proposal for the budget.
Among educators testifying were LaGuardia Community College President Gail Mellow, Queens College President James Muyskens and Queensborough Community College President Eduardo Marti.
Gary Giordano, district manager of Community Board 5 encompassing Ridgewood, Maspeth, Glendale, Middle Village and South Elmhurst, said the number of police in his area “is declining each year.”
“It is very frightening to think that there are plans to close fire companies, and other critical Fire Department units,” Giordano said.
Linda Talavera of Community Board 7 taking in Bay Terrace, College Point, Beechhurst, Flushing, Malba, Queensborough Hill and Whitestone, said the 109th Precinct “which encompasses over 240,000 people is being stretched far beyond their limits.”
“We need a police presence in Forest Park after closing and particularly on the weekends,” said Mary Ann Carey of Community Board 9.
Harold Chapnick, deputy director of the New York Hall of Science, warned that if the preliminary budget “makes any capital cuts, that could again jeopardize the final months of work to complete the new wing and accompanying repairs to the old structure” of the Hall of Science.
“I stand before you today to pledge our continued commitment to keep this place of public assembly open to audiences and artists alike,” said Jeffrey Rosenstock of the Queens Theatre in the Park. “This despite the severity of the existing and upcoming budget cuts. This despite being shackled with a $250, 000 accumulated deficit and being forced to imposed a 20 percent pay cut and a four-day work week. I have already laid off 20 percent of our staff.”
Nevertheless, he said, “yet we’re troupers and we will attempt to fulfill our programmatic commitments to the community.”
Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 136.
