What do the Hunters Point Library, Queens Library President, Center Boulevard crosswalks, and a new YMCA in the Rockaways have in common? LICtalk of course!
First, it was revealed back in late January, at the special condo-owners only Town Hall Meeting that we divulged, that the HP Library that was supposed to be completed in 2014, then 2015, then 2016, has now been put on hold indefinitely. Here’s the problem: they budgeted $23 million for construction, but the lowest bid for completing it came in north of $33 million. D’ohh!
Second comes the news that the President and CEO 1 of the Queens Library, Thomas Galante, gets a $2 million dollar golden parachute if he’s dismissed, and also has a side job consulting for the Elmont School System that pays him $200K a year2. That’s on top of the $390,000 a year plus free car that we told you about three weeks ago.
Big gap on funding for the library, overpaid CEO of the library, that’s a pretty easy connection to make. Read closely though, because it gets a little more complicated. Well maybe abstract is a better word for it.
Third comes the news that the DOT is now going to re-visit the Center Boulevard traffic situation. This comes after them telling a local mother a few months ago that there was no need, and then after having her publish an editorial (sorry for the dupe) strongly advocating the need for crosswalks, speed-bumps, and Stop-signs in the city’s most influential media source: LICtalk. Stay with me here, but in case you didn’t catch it, “after” is the key word in this paragraph.
Finally, we throw in the seemingly completely unrelated news that a brand spanking new YMCA, housing “the largest aquatics center in all of New York City,” has been built in the Rockaways. So what’s the connection you say? Well for starters, the cost of this YMCA was …$23 million dollars! But that’s just a coincidence, sorta. Of equal importance is the fact that this too, is something that we at LICtalk have been advocating for in our own neighborhood. If you read the story, you will see that “The $23,000,000 facility was built under the Arverne-by-the-Sea urban renewal project using private, city, and developer funding.” Hey, now why couldn’t the powers that be negotiated to have one of these put into the new 5Pointz towers??? This would have benefited the whole community,3 not just the select few who a) qualify for, and then b) win, the affordable housing lottery.
In summary, it’s time to think ahead as to how we want this neighborhood shaped. But that requires one to be proactive, like LICtalk. Not reactive, like the other news sites. Lord knows, if you learned anything from this circuitous rant, it’s that we certainly can’t expect to rely on the people in the public sector to guide us in the right direction.
Hunters Point Library on Hold As New Plans Are Drawn Up – “In a letter to Friends of Queens Library at Hunters Point, Thomas Gallante, the beleaguered president and CEO of Queens Library, wrote that the building project was vastly under-budget at $28.6 million with a construction budget of just $23 million. When construction bids came in, they ranged from $33 million to $42 million.”
Queens Library President Gets $2 Million Golden Parachute and Has a Side Gig Paying $200K a Year – Queens is making New Orleans and Rhode Island look good. Are there others in our county w/ such paychecks???
DOT to Study Center Blvd by June – thank you Bea Murphy. Your hard work and editorial have paid off.
Brand New Rockaway YMCA is Open – check out interior pictures of the awesome new space
The Transformation of M. Wells from Garage to Steakhouse – don’t try this at home folks
Lego Master Hones His Art in LIC Studio – something your kid can aspire to
Queens Subway Stations to Get Underground Wi-Fi, Cell Service – expected to be completed by June
- CEO? Isn’t this a public institution run by city employees, or at least a non-profit? Ha-ha-ha, not in the least. You’re so naive [↩]
- that’s another scandal that needs to be written about [↩]
- Yes, I do know that many of the new buildings come with a lot of amenities, but even the bulk of the people in the new towers don’t have access to swimming pools. Not to mention a lot of other activities that a YMCA, or Rec Center, provide. And the one on Queens Boulevard is too friggin’ far! [↩]
Anonymous says
February 24, 2014 at 11:38 pmDoes the $33 million include the environmental cleanup?
Under the NYC Brownfield Program, the expense would be refunded after the library opens.
This would close most of the gap.
Boo says
February 25, 2014 at 8:57 amWhy can’t the library just get a big-name sponsor, either an individual or corporation, to close the gap. Just like the Manhattan public library on 42nd Street.
Paul says
February 25, 2014 at 10:29 amExcellent idea Boo. This is a showpiece building on the East River and visible to all, including those in Manhattan office buildings. It can be viewed as a landmark in the same way as the Pepsi sign. A perfect sponsorship or legacy opportunity.
Anonymous says
February 25, 2014 at 9:13 amwhy doesnt tf cornerstone kick in and rockrose
? says
February 25, 2014 at 9:28 amGeothermal wells for a library in Queens? What were the planners thinking? This is the same type of stupidity that we experienced with the sprinklers in rainbow park.
Anonymous says
February 25, 2014 at 10:48 amI personally don’t understand why the huge interest for a library. In the age of fast access to things like wikipedia a library seems a bit redunant in my eyes
The pool idea for example sounds pretty fantastic.
AnonLIC says
February 25, 2014 at 12:08 pmI like the library AND the pool idea. Though I was thinking more about a rec center in the latter case. Somewhere for older kids to play sports and hang out, with maybe a rec room with pool tables, card tables, ping pong, etc. Maybe also something for seniors too. It would definitely be in keeping with the thought of helping the whole community, not just the select few who get new affordable housing apartments. How’s that Joe Conley?
Anonymous says
February 26, 2014 at 6:21 amSCREW IT PUT A FAIRWAY IN THE SPOT
DOWN WITH THE FOOD CELLAR
Mitchell says
February 26, 2014 at 10:07 amThe idea for the library was created well before access to electronic documents was readily available. None of our politicians, let alone the Queens Library itself, wants to admit that a library is no longer needed. The community needs a YMCA or more indoor recreational facilities.
Anonymous says
February 26, 2014 at 1:59 pmAny kind of retail would be preferable to the library.
Anonymous says
February 26, 2014 at 10:23 pmAgreed. By the time this library is built it will be completely irrelevant and obsolete. NYC bureaucracy at work. As an aside I am willing to bet that this could have been built much more cheaply anywhere else.
Anonymous says
February 27, 2014 at 10:06 ami’m a parent who works in technology. I have to say that libraries are great for kids. there’s nothing like tactile touch and being with a grownup looking through books and reading. I believe studies also show books help kids learn more than an ebook.
Another fundamental problem with digital devices, is that kids will immediately go to the pictures, videos and games. It’s constantly interrupting kids from just reading and long-term attention.
Nothing against an ebook, I’m just saying that I still think libraries serve a purpose especially for young kids, as community space and even for adults who prefer paper vs carrying a digital device.
There’s a time and place for everything.
Mitchell says
February 27, 2014 at 10:24 amThere is a place for a library. But not for a $33 million library.