Gennaro-Lancman Fight Drug Rehab Center Plan
BY JOHN TOSCANO

City Councilmember James Gennaro and Assemblymember Rory Lancman point out that the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) has not made a decision on the proposal.

Queens lawmakers are fighting to block a drug rehabilitation center moving from Manhattan to Fresh Meadows because, as one opponent of the transfer put it, "it's out of step" with community efforts to revitalize the area in question.

At this point, only the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has approved the plan to locate the Cornerstone Drug Rehabilitation Center in the midst of a residential neighborhood at 159-05 Union Tpke.

But City Councilmember James Gennaro and Assemblymember Rory Lancman point out that the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) has not made a decision on the proposal.

This has given the lawmakers time to rally the community to block Cornerstone and for them to propose legislation to amend the mental hygiene law to give community boards the opportunity to review and recommend approval or disapproval of applications to OASAS.

"The community strongly opposes the relocation of Cornerstone to this community, and the community's voice should have a role in considering the merits of the application," Lancman (D- Flushing) declared. "My bill would ensure that community input be included in future decisions to place substance abuse treatment facilities in New York City."

Gennaro (D- Fresh Meadows), who has partnered with Lancman in the effort to defeat the Cornerstone application, stated: "I have stood by this community in its opposition to the Cornerstone application because I think that a community has every right to have its opinion heard on a matter that most directly affects its residents, and that is why I have authored a resolution in support of [Lancman's] bill which will empower community boards citywide."

The lawmakers have been joined in the campaign by Community Board 8, civic leaders and the Kew Gardens Hills Civic Association.

Also lending support has been the state Senate Democratic Minority Leader, Malcolm A. Smith (D- Jamaica).

Smith said the proposed drug center is "out of step with the current direction in which the community is going in regards to revitalization and economic development".

He said, "The facility can be better used to provide housing, education and a variety of other services. I intend to support legislation being proposed in the state legislature by Assemblymember Lancman to amend the Mental Hygiene Law as it relates to substance abuse facilities in New York City."

Both Gennaro and Lancman were outraged by DOHMH's approval of the Cornerstone application and continue to urge OASAS to reject it.

Ken Cohen, president of the Flushing Suburban Civic Association, said in support of the Gennaro- Lancman efforts: "I think this is a milestone development. And I think that communities should have input and dialogue with the groups and agencies that give approval to such institutions and facilities, as it has great impact on those communities."

Patricia Dolan, president of the Kew Gardens Hills Civic Association, stated, "I am very disappointed in what has happened thus far in regards to the Cornerstone application. This is certainly not what the community needs."

Dolan commended Gennaro and Lancman "for the work that they are doing to right this wrong and to prevent future Cornerstones in other neighborhoods".