Councilmember Mark Weprin at the Queens H.S. of Teaching Town Hall Meeting in Bellerose.Councilmember Mark S. Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens) held a well-attended Town Hall meeting at Queens H.S. of Teaching in Bellerose. Representatives from over a dozen city agencies were on hand to field questions from the local residents. Issues of concern that were addressed included:

•A new supermarket and food carts on Hillside Avenue.

•Trash that had accumulated along the Grand Central Parkway.

•The city’s plans for new taxicabs.

•Proposed teacher layoffs and funding for afterschool programs.

•Phase-out of Jamaica H.S.

•Overdevelopment and requests for building inspections.

•Property taxes, especially in co-ops and condos. •Commercial parking in residential areas.

•Flooding in areas that lack necessary drainage systems. •Snow removal after the December 26 snow storm.

Weprin, a longtime advocate of open government, believes that government must be accessible and responsive. He was pleased to facilitate the communication between the residents of Eastern Queens and the agency representatives and his staff is continuing to work with the agencies to address issues that require follow-up.