Muggings, Library Deficits Concern Community Board

Community Board 6 came together for a make-up meeting Tuesday night to cover community concerns for the month of January.

The talk of the board — and residents in attendance — was concern for public safety in the wake of that have taken place in Rego Park and Northeastern Forest Hills.

The attacks, which began earlier this month, are believed to be the work of one man, preying on women travelling alone in the late evening.

112th Precinct Community Affairs Officer Thomas Rang urged residents to be wary when walking home alone, especially after dark. He also said the precinct has determined the muggings are definitely part of a one-man spree.

“It is a robbery pattern for us, so they’ve connected it all to one person,” Rang said. “Right now, we’re using all available resources … we’ve got other NYPD units that are coming in and flooding the area trying to catch this guy.”

In addition to the rash of muggings, Board Chairman Joseph Hennessy also took some time to urge residents to help the library make up a budget gap that this year could reach as much as $9 million.

The libraries, Hennessy said, are part of the lifeblood of a community’s educational facilities and need to be fully funded.

“The libraries have a major problem in Queens,” Hennessy said. “At this present time, the Queens Library cannot purchase new books. They don’t have the money.”

Hennessy also said he’d like to see developers — like those who create the Rego Center Mall — putting more consideration and money into the development of the area’s libraries, in addition to new shopping.

The board also approved the zoning variance — in place since 1961 — for the , which has been in continuous operation for 40 years.