City Reaches Compromise Over Queens Community Garden

The city has backed down from its efforts to remove the anti-Israeli community gardens in Queens, opting instead for a compromise.

According to the city’s attorney, a new agreement with the management at Sunset Community Garden in Ridgewood will necessitate significant revisions to what they refer to as the group’s “community agreements,” which contain unconstitutional language.

One notable area within the garden is designated “Palestine Poppies.”

Since last fall, discussions surrounding the Ridgewood Green Space have been contentious.

Within the garden, there are two “altars” that pay tribute to Latina trans advocate Cecilia Gentiri.

As you enter the garden, a sign invites visitors to “Pass the sunset.”

Some critics believe the city is compromising too much.

Ridgewood resident Sarah Schleter Moisegrad expressed frustration, stating, “If you break the law, discriminate against minorities, and marginalize, as long as you discriminate against Jews and those who protect Jews, that’s fine.”

Christina Wilkinson, an opponent of the Garden Awakening Agenda, mentioned that city workers had shared concerns with her.

Queens councilor Mamdani, who has been vocally pro-Palestinian, is a leading candidate for the socialist Democratic mayoral nomination.

The city’s Parks department is exploring new management for gardens located on Onderdonk and Willoughby Avenues and revoked the existing license in May.

Park officials aimed to open green spaces for the group following multiple “violations” noted by June 6th. Court documents indicated that license terms included “ideological litmus tests and the installation of an altar without prior approval from the parks department.”

However, complications arose in court last month.

City attorney Blake Earlberg informed the court that due to the case’s high profile, more deliberation was required from the corporate lawyer’s office regarding the compromise.

Kingo, an attorney, pointed out that the community agreements contradict both New York and U.S. constitutional principles, stating, “Forcing speech is not free speech.”

Kingo mentioned he would halt the lawsuit if a compromise isn’t reached by the next court hearing on August 1st.

Critics like Wilkinson also conveyed that collaborations with pro-Palestinian groups compromise authority within the parks sector.

Wilkinson warned, “If [the garden’s leaders] are still in charge, it’s just a matter of time before they violate the license again. The city lawyers seem to show they don’t intend to back them up, so they don’t have teeth.”

In June, garden organizer Laura Merrick renamed Sunset Community Garden to Jardin de Santa Cecilia as a tribute to Cecilia Gentiri. The garden now features two altars dedicated to her.

Both Merrick and the Parks division have not responded to requests for comment.