One of the greatest accomplishments during my tenure as a community advocate was the closure of the alley running from 17th to 19th Streets, between Flower and Olive. This alley had long been a source of blight for West Floral Park—a seldom-used, unpaved stretch that had become a dumping ground for unwanted furniture and a haven for drug addicts and dealers. When cars did pass through, the dust kicked up from the unpaved road would blanket nearby homes and yards, creating a constant nuisance. The situation had grown so dire that some neighbors expressed genuine fear for their safety, with one Olive Street resident confiding that he felt uneasy leaving his wife home alone due to the dangerous activity lurking in the alley.
In 2022, after two decades of unsuccessful efforts by neighbors to get the alley closed, they came to me for help. Over the next 12 months, I made it my mission to bring relief to the residents. I pulled title reports, met with the Public Works, Planning, and Assistant City Manager, and worked closely with neighbors to understand their concerns. I even circulated a petition, which was signed by 100% of the impacted neighbors, and tracked down an out-of-town corporation that owned one of the houses on Olive Street to secure its cooperation. I negotiated with multiple attorneys, utility companies (telephone, electric, and cable) and the fire department. I drafted and recorded the legal documents necessary to close the alley, and finally, the space was absorbed into the backyards of the Olive Street homeowners. In total, I spent more than 150 hours on this project.
In late 2023, I had accomplished the unlikely as each of Olive St. neighbors were permitted to fence off the alley space behind them and absorb it into their small yards. The impact has been nothing short of transformative. The once-blighted alley is now a secure, private space, dramatically improving the aesthetic of the neighborhood while providing a newfound sense of safety and peace of mind for the residents. What was once a source of fear and frustration is now a testament to the power of community action and perseverance.
