Markey Introduces Bills To Foil Child Molesters
BY THOMAS COGAN

Markey, a Democrat, said she has introduced A080705, a bill that will allow what she calls "a window of opportunity" of one year for persons claiming to be victims of child molestation to file a complaint.

At the March meeting of the Dutch Kills Civic Association, Assemblymember Marge Markey reported about her recent activities, including sponsorship of a bill aimed at better controlling child molesters and one aimed at better control of cattle feed mills. There was also a report from Deputy Inspector Brian McCarthy of the 114th Police Precinct, news of a proposed zoning change that would favor residential construction in Dutch Kills and news of a local street section named after late DKCA President Bob Wilson.

Markey, a Democrat, said she has introduced A080705, a bill that will allow what she calls "a window of opportunity" of one year for persons claiming to be victims of child molestation to file a complaint. She was moved to take up the cause of child molestation after hearing a young acquaintance of hers speak of being molested years ago, and also remarking that the molester is still a free man, the victim can do nothing about getting him prosecuted. In addition, she was distressed to hear of a current molestation case that a district attorney cannot prosecute because the young victim is so traumatized he cannot communicate about his experience. She said she has gained state senate sponsorship too, from Sen. Stephen M. Saland, a mid-Hudson RepublicanConservative. She said that the majority leader of the senate, Sen. Joseph Bruno, has not yet been persuaded to support this bill. Her concern for feed mills, as a member of the Assembly's Agricultural Committee (which she said should not be entirely populated by representatives from upstate farming districts), stems from information that much of the cattle feed prepared by these mills-run by Canadians, she added-has up to now contained animal parts, which may lead to so-called mad cow disease when consumed continuously by herbivorous cattle. Her third concern was the threat of identity theft. She reminded her listeners that each of them is entitled to obtain a free credit report, to see if any person or persons are tampering with funds or identity. She said also that it is against the law for any creditor to require that one's Social Security number be written on any checks submitted as payment. Apart from the issues, she said that for some time she has sponsored popular music concerts in her district and would like to have a 1950s music concert in Dutch Kills Playground. She suggested a date in July, getting a positive response.

In his crime report, McCarthy said there have been 25 graffiti arrests this year, and 21 of those arrested have come from Astoria. Thus he added to the suggestion posited at the recent 108th Precinct Community Council meeting that despite what many local residents might believe, their neighborhoods are not generally being defaced by marauders from outside areas, but by persons living in their midst. The commander said that a couple of weeks earlier, he had arrested "two knuckleheads" and charged them with 12 counts of tagging. He said that Lieutenant Manny Dormatakis of the precinct carefully traced their tags, from trees to houses, and they were finally caught in the act. They, and many other young offenders, are likely to wind up in Family Court and on community service. McCarthy then turned to a hoary old fraudulence that just won't go away, since there are always victims to keep it going: the winning lottery ticket routine. He said that many persons, elderly women especially, find themselves approached by individuals who explain elaborately that if only they would withdraw certain sums from their bank accounts and hand them over, their contributions would somehow free trapped funds from winning lottery tickets, and the upshot would be that all parties to the transactions would wind up with tidy profits. In the end, of course, each person contributing bank account money receives in return nothing more than a parcel containing perhaps a "Michigan bankroll," with a real bill covering up a lot of billsized newspaper cuttings. Such crimes happen in Astoria and many other places; McCarthy said he knows of many instances and realizes there are probably many more, whose victims are plainly too embarrassed to report that they have been bilked. During the question period, the commander said that in terms of answering radio calls, the 114th is the busiest precinct in Queens and fifth busiest citywide.

DKCA President Jerry Walsh had a brief report about the zoning study being done in Dutch Kills. The most significant item was zoning on 32nd Street between 36th and 37th Avenues: R5B2, which would permit residential building there no higher than three stories. The R6 zoning elsewhere specified would permit apartment houses seven stories high. Ultimate approval of the study may be a year and a half away, he said, but it appears at last that some residential building would be permitted in Dutch Kills. He also said that the corner of 36th Avenue and Crescent Street is the spot to be named in honor of Bob Wilson, DKCA president at the time of his death in 2005. The street will be called Bob Wilson's Way.

Last month's Valentine's Day party had featured a lot of stuffed animals, awarded to children and adults alike in a succession of drawings. At the March meeting, Walsh introduced the woman who supplied them all. Doris Nowillo Suda is a lively young mother of two who said she grew up and still lives in Dutch Kills. Working for a toy manufacturer, she felt she could get a few of its products to distribute at the party, and so she did.