Residents report noise onslaught

As temperatures jumped over the past month, so did complaints about noisemakers in South Queens —and residents once again flocked to the 102nd Precinct Community Council meeting in Richmond Hill last week to ask police for help in restoring their peace and quiet.

At the meeting last Tuesday, several residents complained to Capt. Martin Briffa, the precinct’s executive officer, about noise and loud parties in Richmond Hill and Woodhaven, adding that the yelling and screaming by partygoers, combined with the blaring music in the middle of the night, is keeping them awake.

Briffa encouraged the attendees to call 311 with the location of the problem so police could respond and address it.

He added that the precinct has a dedicated noise complaint response car.

Residents said the noise situation is becoming a chronic problem.

Kew Gardens resident Sylvia Hack, a member of Community Board 9, complained about screaming and loud music beginning late at night and lasting into the early morning hours on Lefferts Boulevard between Austin Street and Kew Gardens Road.

As she did at last month’s meeting, Hack also requested relief from parking tickets residents have received on alternate-side parking days while a water main construction project has been going on.

Hack told Briffa last month that she could not understand how the alternate-side parking regulations for street cleaning could be in effect on 82nd Road between Kew Gardens Road and Austin Street when the block is undergoing construction.

“There’s gotta be some relief from what is going on, because it is not right,” she said.

Briffa said that he had notified the city Department of Transportation when she last complained and would contact them again about the situation.

Responding to complaints about graffiti, Briffa asked residents to report it and take photos of the tags so police can have it cleaned up and arrest the vandals.

A student attending Franklin K. Lane High School in Cypress Hills, who did not give his name, complained to Briffa about cars double parking and blocking neighborhood driveways when the school has an event.

Briffa asked him to call 311 and report the problem when it occurs so police can respond.

Savitra Narain, of Richmond Hill, complained to Briffa about cars illegally parking in front of St. Benedict Church at 94th Avenue and 118th Street. Narain said the illegal parkers also block her driveway.

“It gets frustrating,” she said.

Briffa said that he would have precinct officers look into the situation.

Richmond Hill resident Mark Geborde complained about a business in the vicinity of 135th Street and Liberty Avenue blaring music all day long from its speakers.

“I have to book myself into a hotel some nights,” said Geborde.

Following up on community complaints made at last month’s meeting about rowdy teenagers, believed to be students from JHS 210, who were acting disorderly and allegedly vandalizing property on 92nd Street in Woodhaven as they walked from Atlantic Avenue to Jamaica Avenue, 102nd Council President Maria Thomson asked Associate School Safety Officer Debra Eckuland for a status report on the situation.

Eckuland said she has personally gone into the area with a mobile task force.

However, she said the teenagers disperse or stop what they are doing when they see the school safety officers.

“We’re paying attention to it,” said Eckuland.

In other meeting news, safety on the trains was discussed by Transit District 20 Community Affairs Officer Matthew Wicelinski.

Within the 102nd Precinct, Transit District 20 covers the J line from the Jamaica/Van Wyck station to Elders Lane.

Wicelinski said the biggest problem police have on the trains is purse snatching.

“Stay alert in the subway,” Wicelinski urged the audience.

He said the thieves usually work in pairs, with one individual holding the door while the other snatches the purse. Both then jump off the train, often before the victim realizes what has happened, Wicelinski said.

He said that in addition to plainclothes officers the transit police also have teams of dogs that patrol the subways.

The next meeting of the 102nd Precinct Community Council will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15 at the Moose Lodge, 87-25 118th St. in Richmond Hill.