By Michael Morton
“I think if we can inspire them and show them the things we can accomplish, they'll come out,” Kevin Jemmott said of other residents during a recent interview at his 223rd Street home. “I don't see it as an option anymore – I see it as a must.” Regarded as the longest continuously operating organization of its type in Queens – some have said in the United States – the Cambria Heights Civic Association began meeting in 1932 and holds its gatherings the second Thursday of every month at the Bridge Home on Springfield Boulevard. Jemmott was elected president in June, succeeding Jack Thompson, who served for 11 years.”Jack was a great leader,” Jemmott said of his mentor, but “I'm not going to imitate Jack. I'm going to walk in my own shoes.”Jemmott holds a master's degree in telecommunications and has worked as a Verizon manager. He moved from St. Albans to Cambria Heights in 1993 and soon joined the civic association.”This is the first house I ever bought. I said, 'I should be doing something for the community,'” Jemmott said. Thompson responded to his enthusiasm with an assignment: compiling a list of all the area block associations.”I thought, 'where am I going to start?'” Jemmott said. He eventually completed the task and went on to develop queensunited.org, the Web site that links community groups with each other and with elected officials. In 1999 he ran for second vice president of the civic association and won, and in the next election he became first vice president. During Jemmott's time in those posts, Thompson gave him advice and introduced him to the major players in the community.”Jack's great – he has a wealth of knowledge he's happy to pass on,” Jemmott said. When Thompson, who is in his 70s, became ill and chose not to run again, Jemmott stepped in. Even after the election, Thompson has continued to advise his protege, but Jemmott has employed his own organizational skills and management style.”In the past, Jack did everything, which worked for him,” the new president said. But “more people can be in more places than a single person.”Jemmott said he will base his plans on a community survey the association did last fall in which residents named their top three quality-of-life issues: police coverage, illegal overbuilding and conversions, and the provision of city services.Turning to policing concerns, Jemmott said “it doesn't look like that's going to change.” Instead he has started sending a representative to the precinct's monthly community meeting and has helped the police identify high-crime areas.The 105th Precinct, which includes Cambria Heights, covers the largest area in the city but its officers have said that they do not have enough manpower.For the construction issues, Jemmott said the association would work with the area's Community Board 13, the Queens Civic Congress and elected officials to stop the violations. On the services front, the association has gotten the city to fill in potholes, he said.In addition to the quality-of-life concerns, Jemmott would like to improve Linden Boulevard, the community's main business area.”They want to see a much nicer commercial strip,” Jemmott said of area residents. “They don't want to have to leave the area to do their shopping.” Linden lacks name-brand chains, and many residents go to such stores in Nassau County. But though the denizens of middle-class Cambria Heights want the shops, the businesses have told Jemmott the commuter neighborhood does not have enough foot traffic during the day.Jemmott still hopes to get some of the smaller upscale stores and plans to erect street banners, encourage sidewalk cleaning, place more trash cans and provide more training for the merchants.”It will help to galvanize them,” he said.To achieve his goals, Jemmott is trying to increase membership, currently at 700, and recently held a summer retreat with his board to brainstorm.”Normally we take a break over the summer, but we haven't stopped,” he said. “We're going to be ready for September.”Reach reporter Michael Morton by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by calling 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
