State Senator Michael Gianaris and Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer attended the LIC Elected Officials Breakfast in Long Island City.
Photo Jason D. Antos The Long Island City Partnership began March with an LIC Elected Officials Breakfast, which was to feature three politicians: Assemblymember Cathy Nolan, state Senator Michael Gianaris and Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer. Nolan called in to report she was ill and could not attend the event, so it was confined to the two men. A large crowd showed up on March 1 at 27-01 Queens Plaza North and heard Gianaris lead off with the news from Albany, while Van Bramer followed with more local items. Neither found the situation problem-free but both were enthusiastic about local prospects, Gianaris saying that Western Queens has fared better than most places in the recession we have borne for nearly five years; Van Bramer saying that he believes, and is assured by others, that he is located in the most dynamic—the hottest—area in the city.
Gianaris’ report from the state capital included the message that Governor Andrew Cuomo would like to set up high-tech hot spots throughout the state, in the hope that several economically lagging areas, particularly upstate, would be improved. The senator believes that Western Queens should be one of those places, because it would thrive with the arrival of the Cornell- Technion scientific campus that is to be built halfway across the East River on Roosevelt Island. Western Queens is not an economically lagging area, having sustained prosperity through the recession with the film and television projects at Kaufman Astoria and Silvercup Studios, but even greater success is possible and a high-tech Queens and the Roosevelt Island campus would be symbiotic.
The two studios have been beneficiaries of the 2003 tax credit, Gianaris said, hailing what he believes was a good idea. He did recognize complaints about the invasion of film crews and closing of streets but said they are better than complaints about general joblessness. He also approved of another move attributed to Cuomo, the new gun control bill. Despite demonstrations against it in Albany the day before, he said it was necessary and would work.
“The collection of business leaders here today is a demonstration of the continuing economic vitality of New York’s most exciting up and coming neighborhood,” said Gianaris.
When Van Bramer made reference to the “hottest district” he added that it would get even hotter with the addition of outdoor sidewalk cafés this spring and summer, mainly in Hunters Point, where they were for the most part prohibited and now are possible, after a Department of Planning text amendment. He said the JetBlue sign in Queens Plaza is a success and will not lead to large-scale commercial signage in the plaza, as some have feared. Most important, the airline company is on the plaza (upstairs from where the meeting was being held) and has brought 1,000 jobs into Long Island City. He said five schools are being built in his district or are in the plans of the School Construction Authority. In Hunters Point South, ground has been broken for another of its residential towers, and the 11-and-one-halfacre park by the river will have its grand opening soon.
As for the Hunters Point Library, dreamed about and fought for more than 12 years, its groundbreaking ceremony near the bank of the river was to take place three days after the meeting. The pilot program for East River ferry service is due to expire soon, with new bidding pending. Van Bramer said retention of a Hunters Point stop is absolutely necessary. City University of New York School of Law’s relocation to 2 Court Square is completed, and he praised it too. Speaking of laws, he was grateful for state approval of same-sex marriage and took advantage of it this past summer. He said the reception at Astoria Manor was quite expensive, indicating that the influx of gay marriages is an economic boon.
At question time, the first person speaking from the audience was a woman who didn’t have a question, just an announcement that her company, which decorates store windows at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s among others, is considering a move from rented quarters in Manhattan to a place of its own, and property in Queens is under serious consideration. A rumor that Federal Express is considering establishing a large office in Queens moved Van Bramer and Gianaris to say it could happen. Jerry Walsh, retired president of the Dutch Kills Civic Association, asked if anyone’s thinking of building a further connection to Roosevelt Island, since at present the only ways to get there are a small bridge from Queens (at 36th Street), a tram from Manhattan (at 60th Street) and the F line on the subway. They couldn’t answer the question but agreed it was a good one. One man asked for commentary about the idea of renaming Long Island City because tourists, hearing suggestions they get hotel accommodations there, picture having to travel to somewhere near Montauk Point just for a cheaper room. Their general reply was that the name stays and tourists will just have to be educated.
A man who arose to express worry about the closing of large schools was identified by Van Bramer as Orlando Sarmiento, principal of Newcomers H.S. Gianaris said such closings really mean a change of staff—not that he, a graduate of Long Island City H.S. when it was housed in the Newcomers building on 28th Street, welcomed such an overhaul. Bryant H.S., Van Bramer’s old school, recently underwent such changes and both believe a better plan could have been carried out. Gianaris was hopeful that the presence of Lorraine Grillo, formerly a member of a now disbanded local school board, as president and CEO of the School Construction Authority would be advantageous. Van Bramer heard a question about the Academy for Careers in Television and Film and was glad to endorse it and anticipate its move from the basement of I.S. 204, the Oliver Wendell Holmes School on 28th Street (where, he noted, the kids are doing fantastic things) to a home in the new intermediate and high school going up on 2nd Street in Hunters Point.
