Mayor Eric Adams organized a community forum in Corona on Wednesday night as part of his series of community conversations “Let’s talk to Eric”, where he informed local residents about his intention to dialogue with the Trump administration regarding deportation plans.
Adams, together with councilman Francisco Moya and several officials of the City Council, met with local residents at the IS 61 school, located at 98-50 50th Ave., to talk about the advances of the Operation Restor Roosevelt and listen Customs control (ICE) in the area.
The mayor assured the residents that his administration will defend all New Yorkers, both documented and undocumented, and said he plans to dialogue with the Trump administration about his plans to make locks in the city.
“There is a lot of anxiety and uncertainty, and the ink of these executive orders has not even dried,” Adams told Corona residents.
In response to concerns about the collaboration of his administration with ICE, allowing raids in New York schools, Adams urged residents to continue their daily lives.
«We are very clear: children must go to school. Those who need medical attention should go to hospitals. Those who are victims of a crime must speak with the police agencies. We have reiterated this over and over again, ”said Adams.
For his part, Moya said that New York is a “better city” thanks to its immigrant communities and stressed that Adams has done everything possible to ensure that the immigrant population does not live with fear.
«This is my home, and is surrounded by immigrants, whether they come from Italy, Ecuador, Mexico, wherever. We are here to protect that, ”said Moya.
During the event, several residents expressed concerns about the accumulation of garbage in the area, with a resident by pointing out that the lack of garbage cans and frequent collection contributes to the problem. Others mentioned the problem of graffiti and weeds in Queens Boulevard, and a resident commented that, after contacting the Department of Health, he was referred to Nyc Parks, who returned the responsibility to health.
“There is nothing worse than calling the city’s government and telling you: ‘That is not my problem,” Adams said. “It is our work to listen to your complaint and send it to the appropriate agency, do not pass the responsibility.”
Antonio Whitaker, deputy director of the Community Affairs Office of the Department of Health, apologized on behalf of the department, indicating that the removal of weeds is health responsibility. Likewise, the attached commissioner Kaz Daughtry, in charge of the NYPD security operations, promised to investigate Graffiti’s problems in the area, noting that the NYPD Vandal Unit can take action on the matter and arrest those responsible.
Another prominent problem was garbage dump in a waiting area for Limusins of Laguardia Airport on 23 Avenue, where drivers frequently throw garbage or use the area as a bathroom. Moya said that approximately $ 175,000 have been assigned to increase the frequency of collection in the area and more cameras will be installed to combat the illegal discharge.
The ROOSEVELT restore operation, launched in October by Adams and Moya, sought to solve problems such as garbage, prostitution and robberies in Roosevelt Avenue. In the 90 days of the initiative, 985 arrests were made, including 134 related to prostitution, 11,831 citations were issued and 464 vehicles were confiscated, including 419 illegal motorcycles and off -road vehicles. In addition, 292 buildings inspections were carried out, which resulted in 18 eviction orders and two premises closed by the NYC sheriff due to illegal cannabis sales.
Regarding the unauthorized street sale, 522 inspections were carried out, 94 propane tanks were confiscated, more than 15,000 pounds of food were donated and 370 pounds were composed. 223 interventions with homeless people were also carried out.
Adams said that Roosevelt Avenue has experienced a transformation in the last three months and stressed that now parents do not have to go through brothels by taking their children to school.
«I saw the garbage collected; I saw the brothels turned into stores and shops. That is what communities deserve, ”said Adams.
Moya added that residents have expressed their gratitude for the initiative, mentioning that, walking along Adams Avenue, business owners shared that customers are returning and parents feel relieved of not exposing their children to prostitution in full view.
In addition, both highlighted the importance of a planned community center for Corona, which will be located on 108th Street. Adams stressed the need to use local schools for extracurricular programs that benefit children in the community.
«We have all these school buildings with gyms, classrooms, auditoriums. We tell the children at 7 am: ‘enter,’ and the 2 pm, ‘come out and do not return until the next day.’ We must take advantage of these pre -existing assets, ”said Adams.
Moya concluded that each local school is offering free soccer clinics and announced that the IS 61 will be the headquarters of the first “Saturday night lights” program dedicated completely to football.
