2/28 Information Meeting @ PS 131Q
On Thursday evening, February 28, 2008 the Concerned Residents of Jamaica Estates (CRJE) and Senator Frank Padavan sponsored an informational meeting to update the community on the proposed SJU Henley Road dormitory construction. The meeting was held at PS 131, on perhaps the coldest night of the year, but attracted well over 100 residents anxious to hear updates on this most ill fated project.
Click to see:Senator Frank Padavan 1/2
Senator Frank Padavan 2/2
- We were joined by Assemblyman Mark Weprin who made a generous contribution to the CRJE engineer fund, Councilman Tony Avella, although not from our district is committed to help us fight the dorm project, Leah Carter, representing Councilman Jim Gennaro, who has also pledged a generous donation to the fund, and District Leader Martha Taylor. Michael Bookbinder and Ed Torrielo represented the JEA.
- Phil Ross addressed the audience, providing a brief history on what has transpired since the fateful day when the construction for the SJU dorm started. A total surprise to the neighborhood, and only discovered when a neighbor asked a construction worker what was going on. This plan, birthed in secrecy, excluded elected officials, the Community Board, the Planning Commission, the Jamaica Estates Civic Association, the SJU Community dialogue group (created by Father Harrington to enhance community relations) as well as the community at large from the planning process. This plan is in direct opposition to the previous promise made by SJU’s President, Father Donald Harrington, that SJU will NOT build off campus dormitories.
- Mr. Ross made an impassioned plea for community involvement and the need for donations to finance the opposition project.
- Senator Frank Padavan provided an update on the many flaws that have been uncovered in this self certified project. He also explained to the audience what the engineer, hired by the Concerned Residents, Mr. Joel Miele, former Commissioner of the Buildings Department and the Department of Environmental Protection, would be working on.
- The Senator reiterated that the issue at hand was not the SJU student body, but the SJU administration’s secretive dealings. Dealings that violate the school’s lofty mission statement and insult the community. He pointed out that Father Harrington and Mr. Sciamie (SJU VP of Community Relations) were invited to both community meetings (2/28/08 and 12/26/07) but refused to attend either.
- Councilman Tony Avella, although Jamaica Estates is out of his district, provided words of encouragement and stated that this issue was happening city-wide and that he is proposing legislation to prevent future occurrences. Councilman Avella also informed the audience that he was running for the Mayor of NYC and promised that, if elected, he would be curtailing over development.
- Assemblyman Mark Weprin encouraged the audience that the community’s opposition has a big impact on SJU and that we should keep up the fight. He emphasized the fact that contributions to the cause were needed and pledged his support to the community’s efforts.
- Jeff Gottlieb of the Queens Historical Society spoke about a similar situation that was stopped in his community of Kew Garden Hills. Another large institution, Queens College, decided to build an off campus dorm and his community "Said No" and were successful in thwarting the plans.
(Audience discussion followed that Queens College was a public college opposed to SJU, a private University taking advantage of a loophole in the law to build a "community facility" where the public will not be able to go, a "community facility" used for a private institution.)
- Some of the Concerned Residents addressed the audience voicing their appreciation for the large turn out and vowing to save our lovely community and quality of life. It was pointed out that we all, despite our differences in color, gender, age, political and religious beliefs, have one common goal - to Stop the Building of the Off Campus Dorm by SJU.
- There was a Q&A session which led to productive conversation about the issue.
Phil Ross concluded the meeting with a request to the audience to join our next rally at Saint John’s University Gate 4 on 175th Street and Union Turnpike, on Saturday March1st at 3PM. He encouraged people to contribute to the cause and visit the Concerned Resident’s of Jamaica Estates website.