🚛Operation Heavy Duty Enforcement Needs Enforcing+ Rikers Green Future

Good morning, Queens! 🤡

• 🚛 Mayor Adams’ Operation Heavy Duty Enforcement was inaugurated back in August in an effort to crack down on the illegal parking of commercial vehicles on residential streets in Southeast Queens. Despite this, more must be done to enforce the operation, as illegal parking continues to be a rampant problem.
• ♻️ "A Plan for Renewable Rikers" illustrates a possible future for the notorious jail complex.
• ⚽️ A new home stadium for the New York City Football Club may be coming to Willets Point.

☀️ Sunny, 🍃 breezy and 🧊 cooler. High: 58 Low: 41.

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Here are the top stories today in Queens:

1. City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino and Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal sent a joint letter to the NYPD’s 109th Precinct Deputy Inspector Louron Hall to insist that cops crack down on illegally parked commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, and waste removal vehicles around Harvey Park in Whitestone. The lawmakers wrote that the persistent illegal parking of commercials vehicles on the Whitestone Expressway service road continues to pose a serious problem because it prevents safe access to Harvey Park, one of the several premier green spaces in the Whitestone. Despite Mayor Adams’ Operation Heavy Duty Enforcement in Southeast Queens, which was launched in August to crack down on illegally parked commercial vehicles, the huge trucks continue to engage in illegal behavior. As a result, Paladino and Rosenthal, along with numerous Whitestone residents and civic associations, are requesting the proper implementation and enforcement of Operation Heavy Duty Enforcement measures.

Queens Courier

2. In 2019, the City Council approved a plan to shut down Rikers Island, the city’s main prison complex, and to replace it with four borough-based facilities in lower Manhattan, the South Bronx, downtown Brooklyn, and Kew Gardens in Queens. Last year, the City Council also passed a number of bills that would allow it to build new energy and waste facilities on the island once the Rikers facility closes, transforming the area into a green energy center. In a report called "A Plan for Renewable Rikers," which can be found in full here, the new complex would include a research and training facility for the formerly incarcerated, a wastewater treatment plant, and a recycling component that could potentially process over 365,000 tons of organic waste each year. The proposed wastewater treatment plant on Rikers would free up over 180 acres of space in Queens and the Bronx currently being used for similar facilities. The new Rikers would also generate huge numbers of jobs across the city, with special focus being given to providing opportunities to previously incarcerated individuals.

Time Out

3. During a live webinar titled “The Future of New York: The Economic Impact of Queens, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards stated that “If you like soccer, the redevelopment of Willets Point...we’re going to have some announcements on with New York [City] Football Club (NYCFC),” a comment that seemed to tease that a soccer specific stadium for NYCFC at Willets Point is imminent. This statement by Richards comes soon after City Football Group CEO Ferran Soriano also hinted at an approaching announcement of NYCFC stadium plans. Though neither of these statements represent an iron-clad confirmation of a final plan, they are certainly the latest in a string of breadcrumbs dropped by NYC officials with a vested interest in the proposed stadium.

Hudson River Blue

4. Twenty-six vehicles were stolen overnight from the Carsiri Queens dealership on Queens Boulevard after workers closed up shop Sunday. The cars were discovered missing on Monday morning when the luxury car lot opened for business. Police say the robbery occurred after a band of thieves broke into the dealership’s main office, snatched the keys to each of the stolen cars, and drove them right off the lot. This heist follows another major car theft that occurred just three weeks ago in the same manner — 20 luxury cars, including BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes and Audis, were driven off the lot of a Mitsubishi dealership in Jamaica. Police are investigating any potential links between the thefts.

NBC New York ; New York Post

5. Since Calexico closed down in July after just eight months in business, Astorians have been wondering what will fill its place in the big triangular standalone restaurant space between 32nd and Newtown avenues, notorious for harboring one failed restaurant after another. Calexico co-founder Dave Vendley told Patch that despite amassing a solid customer base, the money the restuarant spent on extensive renovations of the space, combined with the pandemic, and the heat wave over the summer, had dug Calexico into a hole it could not climb out of. Its replacement, Nisi Mediterranean, a Greek restaurant, aims to open in early December, and will be the fifth restaurant to occupy the “cursed” 30th Avenue space since 2014. Before Nisi, the storefront was home to Athens Cafe, Burnside Biscuits, Salt & Bone, and most recently, Calexico. Nisi manager Lefteris Daskalopoulos told Patch that he is optimistic about the Nisi’s chances in Queens, given that Astoria is a Greek neighborhood.

Patch

🗞 Hungry for more news?🍴Snack on these headlines:

• Teen, 13, Goes Missing After Leaving Queens Village Residence (Patch)
• Midterms: Queens goes to the polls (Queens Chronicle)
• New York City’s 2022–23 cohort of Public Artists in Residence will develop art projects addressing city issues (The Architect’s Newspaper)
• 'Pardon My Sub' Sandwich Shop Opens In Bayside (Patch)
• These are the 10 best NYC neighborhoods to find an apartment right now (Time Out)

🗓 To Do Today in Queens:

• Elmhurst Greenmarket (8 a.m.)
• Volunteer at 9 Million Reasons / Evangel Food Pantry (8:45 a.m.)
• Farm Community Volunteer Days (9:30 a.m.)
• Adult Open Badminton (12 p.m.)
• Celebrating Lost Words of Nature: School Vacation Day Afternoon Program (1:30 p.m.)
• Detective Keith Williams After School Program (3 p.m.)
• Queens Hip Hop 101: A Master Class (4 p.m.)
• Karaoke at Friends Tavern (6 p.m.)
• Spring Awakening (Open Dress Rehearsal) (7 p.m.)

🗣 Queens Chatter:

• 🌹 Give floral design a try: "Try your hand at floral design and create your own centerpiece to display at home for the holidays! At our workshop on Sunday, 11/20, participants will be introduced to tips and techniques used by pros. All materials and garden admission included. 🎟 Tickets: https://qbgholidayfloraldesign.eventbrite.com/..." (Queens Botanical Garden via Facebook)
• 🖼 First ever U.S. retrospective of Noriaki Tsuchimoto work: "One of the most important figures in Japanese documentary, the work of filmmaker NORIAKI TSUCHIMOTO is highlighted in a first-ever U.S. retrospective. Opens this SAT (11/12) with RARE PRINTS all weekend. Learn more: http://bit.ly/Tsuchimoto. With support from @JF_NewYork" (Museum of the Moving Image via Twitter)
• 🚲 Learn how to ride a bike: "Bike New York is hosting a Bike Skills 101 class for kids in Queens 🚲 The free group class at Hoffman Park on 11/13 is for 5 year old and up who are ready to ditch their training wheels! Parents must bring a bike for their child. Register and learn more: www.bike.nyc/education" (Queens Borough President Donovan Richards via Facebook)
• 📈 New business opportunities here in Queens: "It was truly a pleasure to host this great event sponsored by @katchastoria + @rosiemacnyc in support of local entrepreneurs to connect with the community and larger markets. Creativity and networking was a good opportunity for vendors and visitors to explore new markets and business opportunities in Queens. #queenschamberofcommerce #queenschamber #nycevents #queenschamberevents #localentrepreneurs #supportqueens" (Queens Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)
• 🗳 Get out and VOTE: "For years now, John Park (our new District Leader in the 25th AD!) has teamed up with @TheKAAGNYand community organisations from across Queens to encourage the Asian community to get out and vote! Election day is TOMORROW - find your poll site at https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc" (Councilwoman Sandra Ung via Twitter)

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• PAWS NY Virtual Volunteer Orientation - November 10 (November 10)
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• Berkeley College Open House (November 19)
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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you around.

— Emma Radu Fighera

About me: Emma Radu Fighera is a reporter born and raised in Queens, New York. She studied Literature and Studio Art at Hamilton College, where she helped run the only daily publication on campus, The Daily Bull newsletter. This past spring she earned her M.S. from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Queens Daily? Contact me at queens@patch.com