Community members came together on Wednesday, September 16, to talk about the problems that ail the community in a lively meeting held by the Woodhaven Residents Block Association (WRBA).

Residents voted on what issues they felt were most important, and talked about illegal garbage dumping in the area, illegal conversions of apartments, loud parties and loud car radios in the streets, crime, drugs, and robberies.

But when the dust settled, community members were vocal and united in their belief that insufficient police presence on Jamaica Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard is the biggest problem facing the area.

“The problem is loitering on the corner of Woodhaven and Jamaica,” Maria Thomson, executive director of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation and the Woodhaven Business Improvement District said. She noted that there are a couple of 24-hour businesses on the block that provide a place for people to hangout.

Roger Hennin of the WRBA said that safety is an issue, and that the current situation has and will continue to lead to people moving out of the neighborhood.

Police Officer Jay Remsen of Community Affairs for the 102nd Precinct, disagreed that their needs to be an increased police presence, citing the fact that there are already increased patrols in the area in conjunction with the Woodhaven Business District.

“I don’t think Jamaica Avenue is the crime capital of the world,” he said.

Regardless of the differing viewpoints, Woodhaven residents plan to make their voices heard. The end of the meeting became an impromptu planning session to coordinate maximum attendance for the 102nd Precinct Community Council monthly open meeting at Moose Hall at 87-34 118th Street in Richmond Hill. Police commissioner Raymond Kelly is scheduled to attend the meeting.