Answering some Q&A from voters

Tell me about your background, accomplishments , how long have you lived in Forest Hills .N..Y., Richard (Middle Village)

Thanks Richard for your question.  I worked for Westinghouse Electric, am owner of Identity Map Company, am President of Central Queens Republican Club, lives in Queens since the 80s, Forest Hills nearly 10 years.

Stop with the fear mongering.   Your campaign tactics are the same old bag of republican right wing tricks.   I can assure you, you will not get my vote.  Andrew (Forest Hills)

Thank you Andrew.  You can afford to ignore rising crime statistics, failing education, dropping stock market, and rising food price.  Yes, please vote for Addabbo.  Everything is going fine according to his tweets.

Crime in our neighborhood of Richmond Hill. We need more street police present at subway stations & the streets in general. Cameras need to be installed along Liberty Ave. We also need to fix all the roads (re-pave) it’s in a horrible condition, damaging our cars daily.  Dexter (South Richmond Hill)

Thanks Dexter.  Here is a summary of some of the concerns on crime and roads that I have collected in the district.

Albany lawmakers have cut police’s ability to make arrests meaningful.  More police presence unfortunately will not be effective because criminals know they can get away with it under the current Bail Reform laws.  That’s why I want to repeal it.  Laws should protect the GOOD and INNOCENTS, not BAD and GUILTYS.

I have been walking the streets of Richmond Hill.  I have noticed that the area has more roads in poor condition, and the quality of work tends to be poor.  I will continue to walk the streets in the area, and present my findings comprehensively before the Department of Transportation.

I am glad to hear that you are concerned about safety and are reaching out to see what issues the residents in your district are most concerned about. For me and my husband, our biggest issue is traffic and safety. People are driving very recklessly and aggressively. Many accidents have occurred on the residential streets of our neighborhood from out-of-control drivers. The noise that accompanies these “hot rodders” can be overwhelming and frightening — especially when they drive by in the middle of the night. There was a brief crackdown on illegal dirt bikes on the streets, but that seems to have stopped. It seems that there is no enforcement of obeying traffic laws or muffler laws. Drivers think they can get away with owning the streets. It’s hard enough to get around in Queens without worrying about this aggression and selfishness. If you have a real solution to this issue, you have my vote. Diane (Rego Park)

My mother is in her 80s, and I am always worrying about drivers on the street whenever she does errands.  I keep asking her to carry her iPhone so I could have a piece of mind, but she would not do it.

The current method of filing complaints on traffic and safety is 311 or 911, one at a time.  Politicians occasionally would do a campaign.  I have been walking the streets of my district and documenting specific spots of concerns.

https://senate.maio.net/category/safety/transportation/

https://senate.maio.net/category/safety/quality-of-life/

I want a more comprehensive system of reporting which would make jobs of Sanitation, Parks, Transportation, FDNY and NYPD easier.  I would make the data publicly open so residents could see whether the same problem has been reported, or needs to be described from a different point of view.

The ultimate solution is to catch the “culprits”, and let them know of their consequences.

I am a city worker who works at a Community Board, I have been working for three years and still haven’t received a pay raise (I missed the last increase).  When we received a raise it usually is 7% over 3 years.  That is just the cost of living, not enough to live.  My son who is 27 years old and is looking for a job that he can move out and afford an apartment. I would like to see representatives clean up all the wasted money this city wastes and give City workers a good salary. Maria (Woodhaven)

Thanks Maria.  People is our best resource when we treat them with care and respect.  First of all, thank you for being a caring mother, I hope your son appreciates what you have sacrificed for him.

The government budget is a reflection of the priorities of those who put it together.  It is so large that not one single politician can ever know where the money flows.  One, is the receiving end using it as intended.  Two, if the recipient can use less, can that agency return unused amount?  The second option currently does not exist.  I would propose that 10% of the amount returned would be used to reward their employees!

I want a candidate who will work on the state level to either reverse or restructure the law that lets the criminals stay locked up once they are arrested. I don’t want to hear HOCHULS say  that’s state level issue and wash her hands of it. 

Its different when you cut loose somebody for a joint – than someone who is a VIOLENT and repeat offender – who is beating up people for sport. Once they are caught and released – they have nothing to lose, they know this will happen over and over again. How many times do we hear assaulted x amount of times, murdered someone, is out on bail. This is unacceptable! 

I cannot imagine the frustration that law enforcement feels, the time and effort they expend doing their jobs not to mention they risk their lives only to see these people walk away. They must question their self worth everyday only to see the way the system works.  

Can you work on that? because that would make my life and the lives of many people who are just trying to live their lives and work to support their families much much better.  The average working Joe has enough trouble coming up with train/bus fare we do not live in the Uber generation. This is our reality. If we want to work, or go to school and travel through the city we must at some point get on public transportation. Its is a reality.  Deux Croix (Ridgewood)

Thank you Deux Croix.  The police and those protecting us are demoralized.  Current law makers have stripped their self-confidence and safety-commitment.  Even bus drivers and subway conductors are afraid to see the faces of repeat offenders the system is releasing again and back again.

I will focus on specific neighbors.  I will propose a CompStat for those with mental illness so there is a systemized follow up treating them as individuals instead of as statistics.

My concern in my neighborhood ; richmond hill, is all the cars with bogus, illegal , out of state license plates taking all the parking spots.  Also. Potholes in the streets- intersection of 102 st and 92nd Ave. To name one.  Subway stations are filthy. J train is what I take.  Also, I wanted to put a second floor on my one family home.  I went to the queens court house and they told me I couldn’t.  Jason (Richmond Hill)

Thank you Jason.  Parking is the number one concern is your area.  I am proposing to have one agency that does nothing but to tow cars.   As for potholes and filthy J train station, I am asking people to send me pictures.

As for your home, Department of Buildings indicated that your house was built in 1920, and no filing for a second floor addition was made. You live in R3-1 Residential Zone.  Dept of Finance indicates that you have 1,416 square foot finished and 944 sf of unfinished.  Is the unfinished section the attic or basement?  Do you agree with the City’s numbers?  If correct, building a second floor may require reducing your ground floor area.  A licensed architect will help guide you through your options including variance asking the City to give you an exception.

Hi I am Kavita. I am living on 121st Street Richmond hill 11419. The street’s road is bumpy and has huge major holes everywhere. Whenever it rains, there are huge puddles. Everyone comes at my door asking for votes yet no one ever fixes this issue in my community. (South Richmond Hill)

Hi Kavita, I have been documenting neighborhood concerns including potholes. https://senate.maio.net/?s=pothole

I intend to present it before the Department of Transportation. https://senate.maio.net/tag/dot/

I have added your location to my list.  If you have pictures especially today showing the puddles, that would be great!