DOE/SCA Coming to a crowded neighborhood near you!

Know your government isn’t just something for students. Residents need to know their government and how to exercise their rights within the channels and get your opinions recognized. How? Go to the source, your elected officials and get their position on an issue. Also, connect to your Community Board for NYC residents. If there is a committee for the issue, get involved and support the committee by participating in them. On this issue of a “New High School” at the site of the Bayside Jewish Center which is up for sale, the SCA has JUMPED on this property to acquire it and THEY have determined that a new HIGH SCHOOL needs to be there. Then they road show with the NYC Councilman Paul Vallone who hosts meetings and discussions with them and community members/leaders. Note that the process is BROKEN as the SCA did not discuss the needs of a school here in this neighborhood. They determined we need a new high school that started at over 1000 seats and was scaled down (after great community opposition) to 700-800. What is sad is the homeowners in that community will be crushed with the demand for parking associated with the new school where parking spaces are rare due to the many attached and close houses and the nearby schools i.e. PS 159, etc. What is the problem is the property has only a handful of available parking spaces on the premises. That should be a factor in anything coming into a residential community as the school CANNOT support the staff parking needed by teachers and support staff. ALSO the traffic from parents dropping off students will severely increase the congestion and WILL pose a safety hazard. Just to by PS 159 at start and stop times and see how those streets are congested on all 3 sides! Not picking on my PS 159 friends, it isn’t their fault that the school is so successful and in demand by parents in and out of the neighborhood. So lets look at where things are now. First School’s Out For SUMMER as the songs says and the SCA will do a “traffic study”, yes, most likely before school returns in September. Will they study the parking situation around the neighborhood to see what is available to support the added school staff? Will they see the impact of the school year on the parking in the area when school is in session in September??? Will they note the lack of MTA buses that currently impact the Bayside High School students who have to walk as the buses are filled and unavailable? Will they note the students who walk from Francis Lewis Blvd to Corporal Kennedy because they can’t get on the bus due to it filled capacity?? Will they study the nearby school traffic with parents dropping off and picking up their students while the estimated added MTA buses will be needed in the neighborhood to support the school located at this site??? As I write this, we may have some recourse as the Board Members (representing the owners) of the Bayside Jewish Center have a conscious as they did not know the DOE/SCA would locate a High School at their site and how it would devastate the neighbors and surrounding community. We wait as NYS Senator Tony Avella is “on it” with them to discuss their sales’ impact. The Bayside Jewish Center has always been a great neighbor. They have supported the community in many ways and I applaud them for having care and concern of how their property will be used. THANK YOU! We all await the outcome of the sale and the intentions and actions of the SCA. I have worked with Councilman Vallone and his office to be kept aware of any planned events by the SCA. No info has been given and all is quiet but suspect of when things will occur. It is a shame we have to read about plans in the newspapers (which I thank for their outstanding journalism!) but as I sit on community forums like the District 26 Leadership Team (DLT) and other communications channels, one has to chase after to keep informed so I share my efforts with you!