Community Board 6 Transportation Committee passed a resolution on February 23, 2023 calling for a Department of Transportation study on Austin Street in the Forest Hills shopping district, citing safety, noise, and congestion contributing to heart disease, hearing loss, and asthma as the reason for the request. They also cite that they want Austin Street to be more "equitable." As of March 1, 2023 the board sent another request that the Department of Transportation make Austin Street completely car-free from Ascan Ave to Yellowstone Blvd. This seems to be the main agenda hidden among all the other talk and demands. Pedestrianizing means NO Cars. The businesses of Austin Street and the businesses on surrounding streets want, need, and can not exist without parking. The patrons of Austin Street want, need and would in many cases not be able to come to the street if they could not park. These are very serious allegations and are unfounded. 

I take particular exception to saying they want Austin Street to be more "equitable." Is the committee alleging the diverse group of business owners along Austin Street are not equitable? So I decided to look up the exact meaning of the word equitable. It means: as impartial, marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias. Forest Hills business owners come from many countries around the world, have strived to own their own businesses, and often work 7 days a week.  They support the community in so many ways from sponsoring the Little League, Soccer teams, donating to community charities, by being chamber members, not to mention that the sales taxes these shops bring in go to support our Police and Fire Departments.  Our Forest Hills businesses are more than EQUITABLE! 

The Chair of the Transportation Committee on Community Board 6, which covers Forest Hills and Rego Park, and was the co-chair of the Transportation Alternatives Queens Activist Committee with a mission "reclaim New York City from cars". How can we let this happen? How can we not support our small businesses and the corporate stores along Austin Street that employ thousands of people to be in jeopardy of unemployment, a serious loss of business and possibly going out of business?

The business owners along Austin Street and beyond are hard-working people with families. They are trying to make a living after a devastating pandemic and with increasing inflation. Many hope to pass the businesses they own on to their children or family members. Their businesses are their legacy. I myself was a 2nd generation owner of a children's clothing and toy store on Austin Street that we owned for 35 years. We sold our business and I am proud to say it is still a family-owned children's store today. Business owners such as Marla, owner of 5 Burro Cafe support the holiday lights program, and the Jazz concerts and festivals and have over the years donated tens of thousands of dollars to support these events and programs. So has Richard, owner of Bareburger, Rysa owner of All Start Studios, Bob and Susanah of Terrace Sotheby's International Realty,  Greg of Forest Hills Property Group and so many more businesses. These folks and their businesses are the fiber of the Forest Hills community.

Is Austin Street congested periodically? Yes. Does it last long? No. Deliveries are made quickly and then the trucks leave for their next stop on the route. Is there a hustle and bustle on Austin Street? Sure, especially on weekends and during holidays. This is what makes it a vibrant place to eat, shop and dine. 
The resolution cites crashes and injuries. I referred to the Police Department of the City of New York Motor Vehicle Collision Report Queen's Intersections, January 2023, 112th Precinct. On Austin Street, during January 2023 there were 3 incident reports. The 1st one was not in the shopping district, it was on 77th Ave and Austin Street with no injuries. The 2nd one was on 69th Road and Austin Street with no injuries and the 3rd one was on 71st Ave and Austin Street. This last one involved the bus and states driver inattention. There was one injury.  I do not think these reports constitute a severe safety issue as the resolution would have you believe.

It was also stated that the sidewalks "harm elderly, people in wheelchairs, parents with strollers and others."  Again serious and unfounded allegations. And it further states that the sidewalks are "causing conflicts between pedestrians."  I say NO this is not how Forest Hills residents and visitors conduct themselves. 

In 2018 the DOT conducted a study and decided to remove dozens of parking spaces and add loading zones. As a result, we now have quite a lot of Loading Zones on Austin Street per DOT installation. This was a burden to the businesses as shortly before they added the loading zones,  hundreds of parking spots were eliminated along Queens Blvd to accommodate bike lanes. So we have had this study that added loading zones to help with traffic flow and congestion. Is another study the best use of taxpayer money?
The most complaints the Forest Hills Chamber gets are about sanitation and having cleaner streets. The next complaint I get is about the type of stores that are coming into Forest Hills. And now complaints are about the CBD shops. We are getting many new stores on and around Austin Street. One is a pet store opening next month. This family-owned shop is investing about $150,000.00 dollars to renovate the store. The owner is not only investing in his dream but he is investing in Forest Hills. He needs every chance to succeed and that means parking! Frances Kweller owner of Kweller Prep and 2023 Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce Business Woman of the Year is concerned about all the kids that come to learn at her business and how all the CBD shops are enticing to kids. Maybe we should have funding to address this issue. And maybe we should upgrade the great parks we already have to provide more green spaces for the community to enjoy. And wouldn't it be nice to have more funding for cleaner streets too? 

It is as clear as can be that we need businesses on Austin Street to thrive and not wither. And it is as clear as can be that the businesses need parking. The businesses keep real estate values high and attract families to live here. Without the retail and business community, I do not see a future that supports the thriving community we enjoy.

Please support Austin Street and Forest Hills. We can not wait. We need to stick together and Keep Austin Street Alive!