The Juniper Berry

September 2026

Things that are Dumb: Gianaris Bails Early

By Christina Wilkinson Published September 7, 2026

State Senator Michael Gianaris announced earlier this year that he would not be seeking re-election but would be serving out his term. However, he decided to retire early and left the Senate on August 7th. When NY1 asked him why he decided to leave, he responded, “Just felt like rather than sit around and pass the time, that I’m ready to get on with the next chapter.” In early September, it was revealed that he took a position as Senior VP of the Metropolitan Park casino at Citi Field, a project he pushed through the legislature. Gianaris had been the Senate majority leader since 2019, had served as a senator since 2011 and before that was an assemblyman dating back to 2001. He considered his job to be “sitting around and passing the time?”

No wonder we never saw him in Maspeth in all the years he represented it.

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Juniper Park Civic Association

1 week ago

IBX pop-up September 22 at 2pm at the Middle Village Library. ... See MoreSee Less

IBX pop-up September 22 at 2pm at the Middle Village Library.

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Anyone want to protest?

Juniper Park Civic Association

1 week ago

Some of you may receive two copies of the latest Juniper Berry if you paid your dues online because Marilynn our membership coordinator is still recovering from surgery and has not been able to update the list. We didn't want to miss anyone, so we submitted the online list to the printer along with the one he already has on file. Please disregard the expiration date as well as those have not yet been updated. Thank you. ... See MoreSee Less

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Juniper Park Civic Association

1 week ago

Tomorrow. ... See MoreSee Less

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Juniper Park Civic Association

2 weeks ago

Other items of interest in this report include the fact that MTA doesn't have agreements yet with All Faiths Cemetery, CSX, or Buckeye. They have to find a way to make the line cross over the freight tracks twice in Brooklyn so that access is maintained for freight customers and the Buckeye Pipeline needs to be moved to accommodate the tracks.

Do we think this is entire line will only cost $5.5B and be built in 5 years? ... See MoreSee Less

Interborough Express Design & Engineering Progress Reports

bqrail.substack.com

By John B. Pegram[1]

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ouch

I would be suspicious of anything promised unless there was a punitive clause attached to it

Juniper Park Civic Association

2 weeks ago

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards requested that the MTA investigate the feasibility of an IBX station at Queens Blvd, which is detailed in this report. This would be an elevated station on a reconstructed bridge that carries the line over the road. The ability to widen this bridge is questionable because of the presence of Sola Woodside, which is built right next to the current bridge. However, if this were to happen, it would trigger an upzoning of northern Maspeth and southern Woodside. The circle represents 1/2 mile from the station, which has been mentioned as the target development area.

bqrail.substack.com/p/interborough-express-design-and-engineering ... See MoreSee Less

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards requested that the MTA investigate the feasibility of an IBX station at Queens Blvd, which is detailed in this report. This would be an elevated station on a reconstructed bridge that carries the line over the road. The ability to widen this bridge is questionable because of the presence of Sola Woodside, which is built right next to the current bridge. However, if this were to happen, it would trigger an upzoning of northern Maspeth and southern Woodside. The circle represents 1/2 mile from the station, which has been mentioned as the target development area.

https://bqrail.substack.com/p/interborough-express-design-and-engineering

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Remove Eliot Ave and relocate it to Queens Blvd. Done

Agree with most of the comments below… However, if that were to take place the deal that the MTA offered is to remove the Elliot Avenue stop in lieu of the Queens Blvd. stop and that is what we want.

The Middle Village IBX doesn't make sense because it doesn't connect directly to any major form of mass transportation

A station south of there at around 51ave would be a better idea. Build a station on the LIRR too. This way the IBX would have something it needs- a direct connection to Manhattan. One huge Flaw with the IBX is doesnt connect to Manhattan. At its Woodside (or some say Jackson Heights) Terminus, its not really close to the 74street station even though MTA maps claim it is. Its a long walk. Personally I am skeptical that this will ever get built

NY1 spectrum covered our IBX protest on Grand Avenue in Maspeth last Wednesday. You can view the report on their Facebook page. Maybe someone can post it here. I believe another MTA pop up is scheduled on September 22 at the middle village library starting at 2:00.

Anyone have an interest in protesting the IBX? I plan to do so on Wednesday, September 16th at 4:00 at the maspeth MTA IBX pop up to take place at Grand Avenue and 74th street at the bus stop. There is power in numbers so I hope to see you all there. The pop up runs from 4:00-6:00. Let’s keep the IBX out of our neighborhoods! There is too much at stake.

Im more concerned with the governors plan to take properties along the route for creating about 50k new apartments. Not homes. Supposedly a wait list. So who is waiting?

Seriously: This project would NECESSARILY mandate zoning changes. Let’s not be naive: the zoning changes would lead to more development and gentrification, and lead to a decline in standards of living. IBX seems like a good idea, but it’s not.

Vultures. We deserve a voice. This is our life. They dont care. It's cruel

Leave our neighborhood alone!

I don't think you're going to be able to stop it. Every single neighborhood has been affected and overcrowded with the development of large buildings. Middle Village is not going to be removed from their plan. If they plan to have an Elliott Avenue stop it will be full steam ahead.

Everything they're doing is questionable

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