By Howard Koplowitz
Community Board 13 adopted two resolutions Monday night in opposition to the planned eliminations of the Q79 and Q84 buses.
The Q79 runs from the Little Neck Long Island Rail Road station at 40th Avenue to Jamaica Avenue and 257th Street in Floral Park. The Q84 goes from Laurelton Parkway and 130th Avenue in Laurelton to the Jamaica Center at the Parsons Boulevard-Archer Avenue subway station.
Former City Councilman and state Assembly candidate David Weprin spoke out against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s proposed cuts and urged CB 13 members and community residents in the audience to attend a March 2 public hearing at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel’s Phoenix Ballroom at 135-20 39th Ave. in Flushing.
Weprin did not mention his candidacy during his remarks.
“These proposed cuts are going to make the situation worse,” he said. “Certain cuts proposed by the MTA to address its revenue shortfall make no sense and the impacts fall on our young, our seniors and hardworking residents who work off-hours. Whether or not you personally use these transit services, you’ll likely know someone affected — a child, a parent, a co-worker, a neighbor, a worker at a store you shop at.”
The MTA is also planning to eliminate overnight service on the Q30 and ending weekend service on the Q31 and Q76. All three lines serve eastern Queens.
The board unanimously approved both resolutions in a voice vote.
CB 13 member Corey Bearak wanted the board to take action on the proposed closing of Jamaica High School, which the city Department of Education said it would shut down in part due to declining graduation rates.
The DOE “didn’t consult with us at all,” Bearak said.
“Van Buren can be next,” he said, referring to Martin Van Buren High School in Queens Village. “They’re not consulting with us and they should be consulting with us.”
CB 13 member Jack Friedman said he supported the DOE’s plan, but said he still thought the community should have been notified.
Bearak asked the board to adopt a resolution that the community should be consulted before a school is shut down. The resolution unanimously passed in a voice vote.
CB 13 Chairman Bryan Block also cautioned the community that the 105th Precinct is having a problem with stolen cars, particularly 1999 Hondas and Toyotas, which he said are in demand by chop shops due to their parts. He said 14 such vehicles were stolen last month.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
