Odorama drama in Howard Beach

Queens Chronicle  

Linda Miranti decorated most of her house for Christmas already but now she does not know if she will be able to have her family over for the holidays, or if she will even be there herself, because of a strong stench that has filled her home and wafts through the air around 88th and 89th streets in Howard Beach.

Starting around Nov. 10, Miranti’s home, especially her garage and the front of her house, has had a strong odor of what she thinks is methane.

She said it gives her migraines and nausea and makes her skin itch. “I’ve never felt like this before. I’ve been so sick,” said Miranti, a 75-year-old grandmother. “Everything is an effort. I can’t live like this.”

She has been sleeping on the couch in the back of her house just to escape the smells and her son has been pushing her to stay with him but she is reluctant to leave.

Miranti’s neighbors experience it too, but it is not as bad in their houses as it is in hers. When her next-door neighbor, Barbara Smith, walked into her house, she noticed the odor right away, despite all the candles lit and cleaning Miranti has done to try to mask it.

“How do you stay down here?” Smith asked her. “I’m literally dying,” Miranti responded.

Miranti has lived in Howard Beach for 47 years and said she has never experienced anything like this. People are used to smells from the nearby bay but this is different, she said. She and Smith wonder if it could be related to the work being done near Spring Creek Park off of 165th Avenue.

Miranti has made several calls to 311 that were referred to the Department of Environmental Protection, and National Grid and the FDNY have come but no gas leaks or sewer blockages were detected.

Miranti is not alone in her persistence. Nicole Bruno lives on the next block and has been experiencing the same thing.

“I’m going on four weeks of calling multiple times, as well as most of the people on my block,” said Bruno. “They just don’t come or can’t fix it.”

“I can’t even open a window. If I do, it absorbs the whole house and you get headaches. It’s disgusting — you shouldn’t have to smell sewage,” said Bruno. “You know, all this money we pay to live here.”

 

Glendale landlord hoards tenants' trash

From CBS 2:

For tenants in one Queens building, it’s a living nightmare.

They claim their landlord hoards their trash and that the smell has caused a cascade of problems, CBS2’s Hazel Sanchez reported Sunday night.

Kathleen Midlaw is literally bugging out inside her Glendale apartment. It’s infested with gnats.

When she invited CBS2 to the building, Sanchez sensed the root of the problem — a horrible stench coming from the basement

Garbage, huge bags of it, were stacked up, wall to wall in the basement of the building on 65th Place. Midlaw and her neighbors blame their landlord, Maria Hlawaty. Tenants say she has been hoarding their garbage for years.

Smells like crap at Pomonok

From PIX11:

Janice Rodriguez says the smell inside the Pomonok Houses where she lives with her children is unbearable.

"It's smells like raw sewage in our lobby, in our elevator, in our hallways, and even inside our homes," said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez says she worries for the dozens of families who live inside the city complex, including her grandchildren.

PIX11 news reached out to the New York City Housing Authority.

A spokesperson says,"This situation is unacceptable and our residents deserve better. This morning, the clogged sewer line was cleared and the area was disinfected.”

Stink trains also a problem in Bayside

From the Queens Chronicle:

Sleeping while engines idle at the Long Island Rail Road’s yard in Bayside between 215th and 220th streets is not easy, some say.

“Our lives continue to be gravely affected by the Long Island Rail Road’s work yard, construction site junkyard and dump site,” neighborhood resident James Lollo said at last week’s Community Board 11 meeting.

“The stench” is so bad, he said, that it results in “eyes and sinuses irritated [and] throats sore.”

Lollo added that the LIRR officials responsible for the yard should be ashamed of themselves.

“I don’t know how they’re able to sleep at night,” he said.

Another Bayside resident irked by the idling engines also complained at the meeting.

State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) sent a letter to LIRR President Patrick Nowakowski two days after the meeting calling his attention to the matter.

“Residents state that diesel trains are left idling for hours during the day and evening hours sometimes until 1:00 a.m.,” the lawmaker wrote. “This has caused several environmental concerns for residents who state that the noise is unbearable and they are unable to open their windows due to the fumes that come from trains idling in the yard.”

The MTA’s LIRR press office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Stopping the stink

From DNA Info:

The city will begin a $33 million sewer upgrade this spring that will limit millions of gallons of pollution currently discharging into Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.

The construction will be centered at five sites within the sewer system between LaGuardia Airport and the Horace Harding Expressway, officials said, and should be completed by 2018.

The changes should help prevent wastewater from flooding nearby lakes and bays as it currently does when it rains heavily, the DEP said, in order to avoid backing up into homes. The money will allow crews to work on the "regulators" or junction points, and divert water to a waste treatment plant even if it's raining.

Is a restaurant being run out of this single-family home?

From the Times Ledger:

State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) rallied outside a single-family rental home in Bayside Tuesday with many concerned neighbors fearing potential hazardous consequences from what they allege is a commercial food operation being conducted illegally.

Residents lodged complaints with the appropriate city agencies and called on Avella to look into the suspected business being run at 33-31 204th St. Avella said he called on both the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the city Department of Buildings to investigate.

The Health Department sent cease-and-desist orders to both the property owners and the tenants after attempting to investigate resulting only in a violation, which was paid.

But neighbors still claim they smell potent food odors and burning oil at all times of day and night. They also say they have seen a large propane tank being taken inside and many different people go in and out of the home carrying large food containers while double parking cars for pickup and drop off daily.

First subway shit stink of the new year

"It is just a few days into 2016 and yesterday, Jan., 11th. marks the first shit case. Passengers were standing on a packed platform; while others occupied two nearby benches, at Roosevelt Avenue station in Queens.

Suddenly, a shitty scent filled the atmosphere. A man full of shit was approaching. Passengers had to move away as fast as possible; in search of clean air. The shitty individual calmly walked and made a brief stop at the garbage bin in search of food. Passengers made a quick get-away as the E train pulled into the station.

This is happening in Queens; the world's borough according to Katz, the borough president. This is what passengers have to endure; time and time again.

Madam Katz, can you please send a letter to MTA boss, Tom Prendergast on this filthy matter. This condition is a health hazard and it is depressing.

In addition madam Katz, can you contact Mayor de Blasio. The homeless man needs to be taken to one of De Blasio's "drop in center." He is in dire need of a bath, food etc.

Velazquez, you are the counsel for Katz, Boranian, you are the liaison. Please make certain that your boss gets this message. Councilman Miller you are equally responsible for assisting in a resolution."

P. Hazel: Social Media Journalist for Justice.

Why Jamaica Bay stinks

From DNA Info:

The putrid stench began wafting through open windows and on streets on Tuesday, according to civic activist Danny Ruscillo. It continued on Thursday.

Rockaway Park smelled like rotten eggs. And nobody knew why.

Some people blamed the wastewater treatment plant on Beach Channel Drive, which has been known for giving off a smell.

But this time the odor was emanating from a stinky algae bloom in a low-lying piece of marshland in Jamaica Bay, experts said.

Weeping Beech Park now homeless free

From the Times Ledger:

Elderly residents are frequenting Weeping Beech Park in Flushing again after the nearby Bowne House expressed concerns about homeless people living in the park as well as criminal activities.

An officer on the board of directors of the Bowne House Historical Society had called on the city Parks Department and other city agencies to address the homeless encampment and the drinking and drug activities that have been taking place in the park, located at 143-20 37th Ave., throughout the last year.

The officer said she has not seen homeless people in the park and credited the Parks Department with cleaning up the grounds.

But she said that the park still has an unpleasant odor. She also said that there is still a drinking problem during the daytime, although the problem has somewhat lessened with the gates being locked at 9 p.m.

When a reporter visited the park last week, there were about 31 people in the park, mostly elderly individuals sitting on benches chatting and a group of Asian men playing chess. There were three individuals who appeared to be mentally ill.

Plan to clean up stink of Flushing Bay

From DNA Info:

The Department of Environmental Protection will begin dredging sediment from the bottom of Flushing Bay in 2016, according to a city official, at a cost of $47 million.

Sediment has formed over years due to Combined Sewer Overflow, or CSO, from nearby roads and highways.

It hasn't helped that a runway at nearby LaGuardia Airport partially blocks the water from "flushing," according to DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd, who testified about the funded project at a May city council hearing.

Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, who lead the testimony as the Council's finance chair, told Lloyd the smells are compared to rotten eggs and has plagued her district for years.

The project, scheduled to be completed in 2019, will remove most of the gunk at the bottom and make a "significant" difference, Lloyd said.

Something really smells rotten in Queens Village

Dear Crapper,

My family lives in Queens Village, and we truly love it here—but, perhaps, I can draw your attention to an offensive and unsettling problem in our neighborhood. There is a strong odor of putrefaction (rotting flesh) present at all times on Springfield Boulevard, near 110th Avenue. It has been there for at least a couple of YEARS. The smell is ever-present, unmistakable, and has only gotten worse with the recent high temperatures.

When we finally called 311 several weeks ago, we were instead forwarded to 911. Apparently, the aroma of death is considered a Police Emergency. The dispatcher seemed to take the matter very seriously, assuring us that NYPD would investigate forthwith.

Since then, we have worked up the courage to drive past with the car windows down. The stomach-turning funk unfortunately remains unabated.

We don’t get this at our house, but I can’t help but feel sorry for the folks living near the intersection. It seems to emanate from the side of the street where a few shops are located. Is there an illegal slaughterhouse? Voodoo sacrifice? Animal cruelty? Undead zombies?

Mighty Crapper, please help us get to the bottom of this stinking situation.

Marlon Campbell
Queens Village, New York

A bum ride at Jamaica Center

The E- train was sitting in the Jamaica Station for a few minutes as straphangers gathered on the platform. The day 12/10/14 was gloomy with intermittent drizzles. Straphangers appeared un-energetic after yesterday's record breaking all-day rainfall.

The train opened its doors around 9:04 a.m. Slowly, straphangers began boarding. Then, suddenly there was a burst of energy. Straphangers were quickly exiting cars and boarding the next.

This maneuver continued for few cars. I entered to inquire; what a mess, it was: car # 9411 had a brown drainage that looked like feces from diarrhea with a bum at the other end. Another bum was taking-up an entire six-seater. The car possessed a faint scent......

Car #9411 -- shit? & bum

This bum had the car all to himself. Straphangers could not breathe; literally that is.

car # 9412 fully occupied by the one bum.

Car # 9499. He kept scratching, by this time the doors were closing. Straphangers could not escape.

Ms. Velazquez, you are the counsel at the borough president's office; where Melinda Katz is the borough president. Ms. Boranian, you are the liaison. Daneek Miller you are our councilman.

You all have the opportunity to speak to the wise men of the MTA. Please expound the riding conditions to them, on behalf of Queens riders/VOTERS/residents.

This is yet another environment where our health is at risk. Take these bums off our trains. The purpose of MTA is transportation, NOT a shelter.

Furthermore, Jamaica Center is the first station leaving from Queens for Manhattan. The trains ought to be cleaned and disinfected before take off.

As for MTA board member, Mr. Charles Moerdler who believes banning bag backs is the answer, for making more space for straphangers. Well wise guy, you can have these tax payers' spaces for you and your whole family.

Madam Katz, please take a trip on the trains. Experience the shit your constituents have to endure. This is all before a hard day's work.

Team P/J: CleanUpJamaicaQueens.

Goldfeder asks for sewer cleanouts

From the Queens Courier:

Southern Queens is the home of the highest concentration of odor complaints in the borough, according to 311 data, which prompted one local elected official to try to clear the air on this issue.

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder is urging the Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner, Emily Lloyd, to step up efforts and remove debris from catch basins the area, many of which are now leaving foul odors around the neighborhoods.

“Our families shouldn’t have to hold their breath waiting on DEP to clean our sewers,” said Goldfeder. “Debris left by Sandy continues to clog our catch basins and sewers causing standing water and foul odors.”

The report was compiled by the website, BrickUnderground and apartment data site AddressReport, and included a list of the 10 smelliest and 10 least smelly neighborhoods in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan by using data from odor-related complaints that 311 has received.

Five of the borough’s top 10 sites were in southern Queens and included the neighborhoods of Lindenwood, Neponsit, Howard Beach, Bayswater and Broad Channel.

Please clean up the yuck

Hi QC, here's a forward of an email I sent to Forest Hills Gardens Corporation:
---------- Forwarded message ----------

Date: Aug 26, 2014 4:12 PM
Subject: Smelly, stinky, sticky, sickening sidewalks of Austin Street
To: fhgcemail@aol.com

Hello,
I am writing to your organization to let you know about the horrible conditions on Austin Street.

The sidewalks on Austin Street have leakage from trash bags. These stains are smelly and sticky. In front of Chipotle restauraunt (70- 30 Austin St.) And the mall at 70-19 Austin St. I passed theses stains around 1pm today, what a stench. I don't want to step in that and track the rotting matter into my car or home. This environment discourages patronage of Austin street businesses. Even worse, it encourages rodents, roaches, causes allergies and is a growth area for mold and food borne bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria.

This is more than the first time I witnessed this condition here and at other locations on Austin St. I am appalled that this condition exists ant where in NYC.Businesses should be putting their trash out in leak proof, rat proof, containers. Any leakage should be cleansed as soon as the business opens. I have attatched pictures of these sidewalks.Thanks for taking the time to help keep Forest Hills beautiful and vibrant. -Joe

Weird smell in Jamaica

Ms. Boranian and Mr. La Mura you are both constituents liaison at the borough president's office. Your boss, Melinda Katz promotes a better Queens.

However, this dangerous element has been sitting idle for more than a month. Children are warned to stay clear; as residents/parents are unsure of live cables or chemicals. Regardless of its contents, it has an undesirable scent.

The corner of 171 st. street & 108th avenue has fallen victim to the broken window. Please contact the responsible agency and have this DANGER removed?

- Pamela Hazel

Jamaica Station literally stinks

"Commissioner Bratton, are you really concerned about a relationship with the black community? Then stop listening to outsiders, stop listening to the disconnects, stop listening to foreigners of Queens.

Listen to the residents who are suffering daily. Focus on resolutions that improve our lives. Last month you said that you were going to take a first hand look into bums on the trains. What have you done? It is certainly NOT a resolution.

Listen to what Queens residents need. We need bums off our trains. Jamaica Center is the first boarding station where trains depart. Fair and effective policies will dictate that the trains are clean and ready for take-off. Sadly, the reality is, the trains are mostly bum-filled with an unhealthy scent.

On a bright and sunny April 3rd. morning, straphangers packed the platform. Straphangers appear clean and fresh from home. The E train pulled into the station about 9:11 A.M. Everyone stand by the door anticipating a seat.

Then bamm, the marathon competition began. Straphangers ran into cars # 9709, 9710, 9711 & 9712 and ran out with the same speed. The train was occupied by bums. The fastest runners got seats, others had to stand, while bums appeared comfie.

So, commissioner, come to Jamaica Queens and have a chat with the experts/residents/subway riders.

We have a solution for you to put in place." - Pamela Hazel

Stink central

From NY1:

While many straphangers are heading to work in the Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer E train station at rush hour, many others have no place to be. They're homeless, spending their time on the subway cars and platforms, and in the bathrooms.

"People are bathing in there with buckets," said one rider. "It's horrible."

On this particular morning, every train we saw had homeless people on it. Others who ride the trains say it's affecting their quality of life, that they can't ride in some cars because of conditions there.

"Some mornings, we have to run from one train car to the next train car," said one rider. "And what is so bad is that they take up four and five cars."

"They lay out on the cars. They do their business. They have a high smell odor," said another. "It's very unhealthy."

We can show you what it looks like, but we can't show you what it smells like. We can only tell you that the stench is indescribable.

...a subway cleaner who spoke to NY1 off camera said that he's witnessed a number of violations, including "a lot of the homeless defecating, urinating in the car on the seats, right there on the floor. They just drop their pants and just do what they got to do, and you know, you got to deal with that."

Rockaway sewage plant really stinks

From NY1:

There's something in the air in Rockaway Beach, and it's far from anything anyone cares to smell.

"On a good day, it's 1,000 rotten eggs, and on a bad day, you want to vomit," said Dolores Orr, the chairperson of Community Board 14.

"On a good day, it would be like a public toilet," said Sam Amato, a student at Scholars Academy.

The odor that residents described, and I smelled firsthand, is coming out of the Rockaway Water Pollution Control Plant on Beach Channel Drive, just feet away from Scholars Academy. Beach Channel High School is down the street.

"The sewage is literally right there," said Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder of Queens.

"There's no cover on it. There's no protection on it."

To help clear the air, Goldfeder helped secure $8 million, and Orr said she's met with the department of environmental protection for a solution.

"It would either be to build a completely new treatment plant or change it to a pumping station and just pump it out to another plant, but either solution will take five years," Orr said.

Orr said that pre-Hurricane Sandy, the smell would only happen occasionally, but now, it's a constant problem for everyone in the area.

The Department of Environmental Protection said that a lack of rain is to blame, that it's slowed the time it takes for wastewater to reach the plant.

The DEP said that it plans to install new equipment to reduce the stench.

No one has the guts to clean up the entrails

"This has to be the last straw if residents have a chance to good health and dignity.

Notice, that no one is standing at the bus stop at 108 & Merrick Boulevard. Starting around 11:00 0' clock yesterday morning (9/3/13). An awful smell was so strong that the police had to use a bin to make the bus stop impassable.

The scent was too intense for human or animals. Needless to say, it traveled through several blocks.

Near-by employees and the general public were busy on their cell calling 311, local leaders or anyone for help.

This played out throughout the day. About 6:47 p. m, a young white sanitation inspector was driving by.

A few of us tried to stop him, he continued driving, but was stopped by the red light at 108 & Merrick. We asked about the scent. He replied that it is animal guts and other remains. The light turned green, he sped off while saying the authorities are aware of the situation.

However, employees near- by said that the guts and remains were left by a truck.

Councilman Comrie, when will you and others leaders put a stop to this inhumanity? Also, an investigation is necessary.

We are awaiting a response." - Pamela Hazel via Joe Moretti

Because Queens didn't already have enough crap

From the Daily News:

Add 50 million stinking gallons of pollution per day to the lengthy list of problems facing the Rockaways in the wake of Sandy.

That’s how much partially treated sewage has poured into the waters off the struggling Queens neighborhood since the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant in nearby Nassau County was damaged by the storm.

Not only does it reek to high heaven, it’s a problem that’s not likely to get fixed until Thanksgiving, Nassau County officials admitted Wednesday.

And it's coming at us from all directions.