First, it’s good to see that the medians on Queens Boulevard are getting some attention. For far too long the city has neglected this major roadway where thousands of people live and travel every day. Year after year we have had to look at tall weeds growing in many times empty tree pits.

The same could be said about Woodhaven Boulevard, another major thoroughfare. Ten years ago, I wrote to my elected officials and to the Parks Dept to try and get trees planted. There are more empty tree pits than there are trees from Dry Harbor Road to Metropolitan Ave and the empty tree pits are full of tall weeds. The only response I received was that it was a budget issue. Well, maybe the Parks Dept should plant trees on a major roadway where air pollution is greater first than sticking them in front of someone’s home that maybe doesn’t want a tree.

Trees increase our quality of life, they absorb air pollution, give us oxygen and shade and are nice to look at. Please put the wood back into Woodhaven Boulevard.

Lastly, on June 19 we experienced a severe rain and wind storm that toppled a pole with a streetlight onto a tree at the Quick Brown Fox Park. 911 was called and emergency crews put up caution tape around the area. The Parks Dept came and inspected the damage and left. After a week, calls were made to Councilman Holden and Assemblyman Raga’s office, but nothing was done. Three weeks later, a ConEd crew took down the pole. I asked them if they were responding to the complaint, they said no, they were just passing by. They said the pole was a city pole and their responsibility.

Still, the large branch was blocking the sidewalk, so after 4 weeks I called the Parks Commissioner’s office and explained the problem. The next day it was removed. Now after two months, we still have the pole with the streetlight laying in the street. Why should a dangerous condition take so long to correct?

Richard Polgar
Maspeth