QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 16, 2023 Page 28
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Residents sound off about stadium noise Forest Hills neighbors slam concerts’ impact; promoter offers discussions by Mark Lord Chronicle Contributor
A dozen or so area residents voiced complaints against the concerts being held at the Forest Hills Stadium during the Nov. 8 meeting of Community Board 6. The residents cited everything from excessive noise levels to interference with religious observances. Chairperson Heather Beers-Dimitriadis announced that the board had received 48 written comments “in favor of” the stadium, with nine others “opposed to practices” there. But the speakers on hand were almost unanimous in their dissatisfaction with what has been going on in the neighborhood. Andy Court, president of Concerned Citizens of Forest Hills, a group that advocates for “reasonable restrictions” on the concerts, complained that a recent three-night electric dance festival at the stadium was “an assault on our neighborhood.” “City zoning ordinances are not being properly enforced,” Court said, adding, “This is about the rule of law and basic common decency. If it happened outside of Mayor Adams’ home, do you think it would be going on this long? The West Side Tennis Club [owner of the stadium] is getting breaks other people don’t get.” Another member of Concerned Citizens, who described himself as “an angry resident,” agreed that the festival “shook the neighbor-
The Who are among the acts that have played PHOTO BY AMY RIO / FILE Forest Hills Stadium. hood. The noise level was deafening.” Saying the average concert ticket price is $54, he suggested the tennis club receives approximately $4 from each ticket sold. “For that they cause havoc in our community.” Another speaker, who lives on Dartmouth Street, one block from the stadium, said she was unable to host a family dinner on a Jewish holiday because of the noise. “None of our public officials care about this,” she said. “For the first time ... I felt disrespect for my religion and my right to have religious observance.” Promoter and Madison House Presents cofounder Mike Luba was instrumental in the resurrection of the stadium a decade ago.
“What we really need is the ability to not be super-polarized, where it’s all or nothing,” Luba said, adding there is “a bunch of information that’s just patently untrue that’s being circulated and repeated over and over again.” Saying that his aim is “to try to keep the stadium alive, that’s really where we’re heading,” he gave his e-mail address, mluba@foresthillsstadium.com to everyone in attendance, saying “if anyone has a direct, real issue that’s a solvable issue that I could potentially help with or our team could help with,” they should feel free to contact him. In other business, the board approved a recommendation of the Consumer Affairs, Economic Development and Small Business Committee to OK an adult-use cannabis dispensary called Mad NY at 108-18 72 Ave. The board also voted in favor of a proposed opioid treatment program by St. Xavier Home Care Services, at 68-12 Yellowstone Blvd. Members also approved an intersection daylighting resolution that would help ensure that all corners in an intersection are clear so that drivers, pedestrians and cyclists can see each other as they approach, by removing some parking spaces. The meeting opened with a presentation by Capt. David Cordano, commanding officer of the 112th Precinct. He announced that there has been “a slight increase in crime” in the neigh-
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borhood, with “a lot of stolen cars,” numbering 145 year-to-date compared to 84 during the same period last year. That is “a high number for us in this area,” Cordano admitted, indicating that the greatest number of auto thefts, 49, occurred near the intersection of Grand Central Parkway and Jewel Avenue. Still, he pointed out, “as you look at other areas in Queens North, it is the lowest number in overall steals.“ Two additional license plate readers, which the captain said automatically detect stolen vehicles, are now in use, doubling the number to a total of four. Additional checkpoints have also been set up. He said 77 of the 145 stolen vehicles have been recovered. Cordano reported that parking violations are up 35 percent this year, while moving violations are up 29 percent. The number of pedestrians struck by vehicles is down to 62 from 84 last year. A vote was taken on a motion recommended at last month’s meeting in tribute to CB 6’s late chairperson, Joseph Hennessy, that once a year, at the new member meeting, the following quotation from Hennessy will be read: “You have one responsibility, not to yourself, but to the community. When you vote, make sure you vote for your community. It’s a commitment that you’ve made to the city.” Q The motion passed.
