In a Queens neighborhood, where a recent car rally turned chaotic, residents are uncertain whether promised measures will truly address the ongoing problem of speeding vehicles.
City Councilwoman Vicki Palladino mentioned that Commissioner Nicole Garcia from Queens Transportation verbally agreed on Tuesday to the installation of speed bumps near 141st Street and 11th Avenue. Locals have been advocating for traffic calming solutions in the area for, well, at least four years now.
“This is the first time I’ve talked like this with a commissioner. I won’t accept just demands,” Palladino expressed.
However, a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation couldn’t confirm if the speed bumps would actually be put in place.
A representative from New York City Transit stated that they are exploring safety options and reconsidering the location of the illegal activities that escalated over the weekend.
Palladino wasn’t too impressed by this. “They can check into it as much as they want,” she retorted.
She emphasized a strong commitment to making her voice heard, saying, “I can assure you there will be noise about speed bumps in Malva.”
This discussion of speed bumps comes on the heels of a wild car rally that took over the typically quiet Queens area around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday. It involved racing, donuts, and fireworks, and ended in some vehicles being set on fire.
Homeowner Blake Ferrer was severely injured during the chaos, suffering a broken nose and ribs when he was attacked by a mob. His wife, Melissa, also got punched for trying to restore order.
Melissa expressed her support for the speed bumps but added a wish for greater civility among people in general. “We’re all for speed bumps, of course,” she said. “But really, shouldn’t we just be more considerate towards one another?”
“Going back to basics would help. Maybe people need to revisit respect,” she concluded.
Neighbors were similarly rattled by the violence. Teresa Maher, 81, who has lived in the area for decades, voiced concerns that speed bumps alone wouldn’t prevent future incidents.
“I doubt it’ll fix anything, but they have to try something,” she remarked.
Mr. Maher echoed worries about potential repeat offenders, wishing for a resolution. “I hope they catch them; I wouldn’t be surprised if they come back,” he noted, reflecting on his long history without witnessing such neighborly violence.
“I was stunned,” Maher continued. “It’s disheartening to witness.”
Lulu, who was out walking one afternoon, mentioned that speeders have been a growing issue since last summer. “This place used to be really nice, but things are changing,” she observed, supporting the idea of speed humps.
“If there are no consequences, they will just keep coming back,” she warned.
George Katakarides, a local involved in food distribution, expressed frustration that the city waited until injuries occurred to consider action. “People had voiced their concerns before, nothing happened until now,” he remarked.
He recalled watching the disturbances unfold from his window, “I didn’t venture outside because, well, I’m a hot-blooded Greek. I would have gotten involved.” He even suggested that residents might need to protect themselves more seriously. “If everyone here had weapons, those cars wouldn’t have dared,” he suggested.
His granddaughter, Katerina Katakarides, also weighed in, saying speeding has been a longstanding problem in their neighborhood. “It’s always been this way, and now it’s the first time anyone is really paying attention,” she observed.
“You can hear the chaos while trying to sleep—this place isn’t as peaceful as one would think,” she added. “Living here feels like living in recklessness.”
