You Have A Voice in Kew Gardens

Last night Community Board 9 heard from members of the Community supporting traffic calming measures.

The Community Board did not take any vote. Instead the Chair Person, J. Richard Smith and Transportation Committee Chair, Kenichi Wilson, used their positions on the Board as a Bully Pulpit to attack the person trying to do good in our Community. Both of these Community Board Officers were critical of social media and the Press. Mr. Smith called our efforts “FAKE NEWS”. We are concerned citizens, not Fake News.

J. Richard Smith questioned the authenticity of the petition and doubted that the 329 persons that signed the petition were real – “where are their names and addresses?”. Kenichi Wilson stated that our attempts to move the DOT options forward will only result in greater delays. Mr. Wilson stated several reasons why speed humps may not be safe in communities.

The Community Board will now ask each home on the block where the speed hump will be placed if they want the speed hump. In this instance that will be the block where the single-family homeowner that originally opposed these safety improvements.

The Community Board has never take this action before, a new set of rules has been put in place in an attempt to block our requests for relief from the dangerous conditions on our roads. Doubtful the Community Board will return to poll every neighborhood where the speed humps have been placed in the past.

Apparently, the thinking is that a speed hump will only slow traffic on the block where it is located. Mr. Wilson also took his time at the meeting to criticize the proposals and me for pushing the proposals forward.

Sadly, it appears that Community Board 9 Queens has the wrong people for these positions of authority. Clearly they consider their positions ones with the authority to lecture the community instead of supporting it. If these Officers believe the position grants them the right to ridicule the community, the community must closely monitor their actions.

We must all continue our push to get safety on our streets. We cannot be led by the Community Board, they should be working for the Community, not dictating and scolding. It may help if those of you that signed our petition contacted the Borough President’s Office to let them know that you are real.

We will continue to collect petition signatures and pursue these improvements. If you have not signed please do, if you have signed please let the Borough know you are real.

WE ARE NOT “FAKE NEWS” – WE ARE CONCERNED CITIZENS THAT DESERVE A VOICE.

Please call Melinda Katz and let her know you are real 718-286-3000 or email info@queensbp.org

https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/116th-street-safety-first.html