Howard Beach, Queens
Encyclopedia
Howard Beach is a suburban neighborhood in the southwestern portion of the borough
of Queens
in New York City
. It is bordered in the north by the Belt Parkway
and South Conduit Avenue in Ozone Park
, the south by Jamaica Bay
in Broad Channel
, the east by 102nd-104th streets, and the west by 78th Street.
The neighborhood is part of Queens Community Board 10
. and home to a large Italian population. The ZIP code of Howard Beach is 11414.
glove manufacturer who operated a 150 acre (0.61 km²) goat farm on meadow land near Aqueduct Racetrack
as a source of skin for kids' gloves. In 1897, he bought more land and filled it in and the following year, built 18 cottages and opened a hotel near the water, which he operated until it was destroyed by fire in October 1907. He gradually bought more land and formed the Howard Estates Development Company in 1909. He dredged and filled the land until he was able to accumulate 500 acres (2 km²) by 1914. He laid out several streets, water mains and gas mains, and built 35 houses that were priced in the $2,500-$5,000 range.
The Long Island Rail Road
established a station named Ramblersville
in 1905 and a Post Office by the same name opened soon thereafter. A casino, beach, and fishing pier were added in 1915 and the name of the neighborhood was changed to Howard Beach on April 6, 1916. Development continued and ownership was expanded to a group of investors who sold lots for about $690 each starting in 1922. Development, however, was limited to the areas east of Cross Bay Boulevard near the LIRR station known as Coleman Square. The rest of Howard Beach consisted of empty marsh land except for the area to the south of Coleman Square, which consisted of many small fishing bungalows that dotted alongside Hawtree Creek and Jamaica Bay. This area of Howard Beach would retain the name "Ramblersville" only to become more known later on as "Hamilton Beach." Despite its close proximity to the Howard Beach station at Coleman Square, the LIRR would establish a station a quarter of a mile down the line at Hamilton Beach in 1919.
After World War II
, Queens and Long Island went through a major suburban building boom leading to the marsh land west of Cross Bay Boulevard to be filled in. This led to the development of many Cape-Cod and High-Ranch style houses on 50 and 60 x 100 lots. This area was officially named "Rockwood Park" or "New Howard Beach" while the area east of the boulevard became known as "Old Howard Beach." In the early 1950s, farm land north of Rockwood Park was developed with the building of many red bricked two-story garden style cooperative apartments along with some six story co-op and condo apartment buildings. A number of private two family houses were also built in this neighborhood, which was named Lindenwood
. The various neighborhoods continued to be developed through the 1960s and 70's as Cross Bay Boulevard became the area's main shopping district. During the 1990s and 2000s, Rockwood Park would see even further high scale development as many of the area's old houses were torn down and replaced with upscale million dollar mini-mansions.
, Hamilton Beach
, Ramblersville
, Rockwood Park
, Lindenwood
, and Howard Park
. Howard Beach proper is a small peninsula bordered by the Belt Parkway
and Conduit Avenue on the north, Jamaica Bay
on the south, Hawtree Creek
on the east separating it from Hamilton Beach and Shellbank Basin
on the west that separates it from Cross Bay Boulevard
.
Cross Bay Boulevard is the main commercial strip of Howard Beach and going northward it eventually turns into Woodhaven Boulevard after Ozone Park. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, the Boulevard was made up almost exclusively of locally-owned shops and restaurants. However, starting in the 1990s, chain stores and restaurants began moving in and now many well-known franchises are on the boulevard. Entertainment venues on Cross Bay Boulevard such as the Kiddie-Park and Cross-Bay Lanes were popular until their collapse in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge
(named for a deceased member of the United States House of Representatives
who once represented the district that includes Howard Beach) connects mainland Queens to Broad Channel
.
Bernard Coleman Memorial Square (colloquially Coleman Square) is the small plaza
at Howard Beach-JFK
on the IND Rockaway Line
of the New York City Subway
(served by the train) and AirTrain JFK
. There is a memorial
to servicemen
from Howard Beach who died in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
, the son of former Congressman Joseph P. Addabbo
, represents the area as member of the New York State Senate
. Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) represents that part of Howard Beach east of Cross Bay Boulevard and the west part of Cross Bay Boulevard currently has no representative in Congress. Former Congressman Anthony D. Weiner
(D-NY) represented of the part west of Cross Bay Boulevard until he resigned from Congress. A special election to replace former Congressman Anthony D. Weiner will take place on September 13, 2011. Eric Ulrich
(R-NY) is the New York City Councilman for Howard Beach.
was formerly a Long Island Rail Road
station on the Rockaway Beach Branch
. Frequent fires on the trestle
to Broad Channel forced the LIRR to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the 1950s, which allowed New York City Transit to purchase the line in 1956.
The station provides a connection between the train and AirTrain JFK
(and was the terminus of the former JFK Express
, known colloquially as the "Train To The Plane"). Prior to the AirTrain JFK, the Port Authority
provided a free shuttle bus to the terminals at JFK Airport
. The AirTrain now provides these connections.
For grades 9-12, most residents attend John Adams High School
in nearby Ozone Park, Specialty High Schools such as Beach Channel High School
in Rockaway Park
, or Catholic
High Schools such as Christ the King
, St. Francis Prep, or Archbishop Molloy and Forest Hills High School
.
s.
after their car had broken down in Broad Channel. By some eyewitness accounts, a teen driver in a passing car yelled a racial epithet at the men and a verbal altercation ensued. Three of these teens later returned with seven to nine friends aged fifteen to eighteen. The three black men fled, pursued by the teens. Grimes escaped unscathed, while Sandiford was caught and assaulted with baseball bats, tree limbs, and fists. Griffith was killed when a car ran over him on the Belt Parkway
where he had run while attempting escape. Early the next morning, then-Mayor Ed Koch
condemned the crime in the media comparing the incident to a lynching. Then-Governor Mario Cuomo
appointed a special prosecutor, Charles J. Hynes
.
One of the accused youths, Robert D. Riley, the son of a New York City police officer, agreed to cooperate with authorities, in exchange for leniency. Riley fingered Jon L. Lester, Jason Ladone, Scott Kern and Michael Pirone as the ringleaders of the attack. The four teens were charged with manslaughter
, second degree murder and first degree assault. After a lengthy trial, Ladone, Kern and Lester were convicted of second degree manslaughter and assault
. Ladone was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. Kern got up to 18 years. Lester received 10 to 20 years. As part of his plea bargain, Riley received six months in jail and 400 hours of community service.
A second wave of seven teens were accused of lesser charges; William Bollander, James Povinelli, and Thomas Farino were convicted of second degree riot charges after a lengthy appeals process. Salvatore DeSimone and Harry J. Buonocore plead guilty to the same charge. John Saggese was acquitted of the riot charge, and Thomas Gucciardo was acquitted of the charges of attempted murder, assault and riot.
Al Sharpton
led several protests in the neighborhood Special prosecutor Hynes has since gone on to become the District Attorney of Brooklyn and written a book about the incident.
and white locals resulted in two injured white teens. What caused the confrontation is not certain, but at 10:00 PM, a group of 30 to 40 black chased four white youths into a McDonald's
restaurant and assaulted two of them. Joseph Friedman was struck in the head with a broom handle that broke on contact. Friedman was taken to the hospital, where the wound was tended to with seven staples. Another victim, Sean Camaratta, was punched in the face and suffered minor injuries. Witnesses reported hearing racial slurs during the attack. Five suspects, Patrick Pugh, George Morales, Victor Tossas, Terrance Scott and Talique Jackson, were later arrested and indicted for assault, menacing and criminal possession offenses.
The Thursday following the attacks, more than 150 Howard Beach residents marched down 157th Avenue calling for the accused to be charged with hate crimes. A bias motive was investigated, but prosecution efforts were hindered when a police lineup produced one positive identification of Tossas but nothing else and DNA tests of the defendants came back negative.
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It is bordered in the north by the Belt Parkway
Belt Parkway
The Belt System is a series of connected limited-access highways that form a belt-like circle around the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. The system comprises four officially separate parkways; however, three of the four are signed as the Belt Parkway...
and South Conduit Avenue in Ozone Park
Ozone Park, Queens
Ozone Park is a working class neighborhood located in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Queens bordering Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Howard Beach, and City Line, Brooklyn....
, the south by Jamaica Bay
Jamaica Bay
Jamaica Bay is located on the southwestern tip of Long Island in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, and the town of Hempstead, New York/hamlet of Inwood...
in Broad Channel
Broad Channel, Queens
Broad Channel is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It occupies the southern portion of Rulers Bar Hassock , which is the only inhabited island in Jamaica Bay. The neighborhood stands on Big Egg Marsh, an area of fill approximately 20 blocks long and 4 blocks wide...
, the east by 102nd-104th streets, and the west by 78th Street.
The neighborhood is part of Queens Community Board 10
Queens Community Board 10
The Queens Community Board 10 is a local government in the New York City borough of Queens, encompassing the neighborhoods of Howard Beach, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Tudor Village and Lindenwood. It is delimited by the Brooklyn border to the West, Liberty Avenue and 103rd Avenue...
. and home to a large Italian population. The ZIP code of Howard Beach is 11414.
History
Howard Beach was established in the 1890s by William J. Howard, a BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
glove manufacturer who operated a 150 acre (0.61 km²) goat farm on meadow land near Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
as a source of skin for kids' gloves. In 1897, he bought more land and filled it in and the following year, built 18 cottages and opened a hotel near the water, which he operated until it was destroyed by fire in October 1907. He gradually bought more land and formed the Howard Estates Development Company in 1909. He dredged and filled the land until he was able to accumulate 500 acres (2 km²) by 1914. He laid out several streets, water mains and gas mains, and built 35 houses that were priced in the $2,500-$5,000 range.
The Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
established a station named Ramblersville
Ramblersville, Queens
Ramblersville is a section of Howard Beach, in the New York City borough of Queens. Ramblersville is a small neighborhood between Hawtree Creek and JFK Airport, nearly surrounded by waterways leading into nearby Jamaica Bay...
in 1905 and a Post Office by the same name opened soon thereafter. A casino, beach, and fishing pier were added in 1915 and the name of the neighborhood was changed to Howard Beach on April 6, 1916. Development continued and ownership was expanded to a group of investors who sold lots for about $690 each starting in 1922. Development, however, was limited to the areas east of Cross Bay Boulevard near the LIRR station known as Coleman Square. The rest of Howard Beach consisted of empty marsh land except for the area to the south of Coleman Square, which consisted of many small fishing bungalows that dotted alongside Hawtree Creek and Jamaica Bay. This area of Howard Beach would retain the name "Ramblersville" only to become more known later on as "Hamilton Beach." Despite its close proximity to the Howard Beach station at Coleman Square, the LIRR would establish a station a quarter of a mile down the line at Hamilton Beach in 1919.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Queens and Long Island went through a major suburban building boom leading to the marsh land west of Cross Bay Boulevard to be filled in. This led to the development of many Cape-Cod and High-Ranch style houses on 50 and 60 x 100 lots. This area was officially named "Rockwood Park" or "New Howard Beach" while the area east of the boulevard became known as "Old Howard Beach." In the early 1950s, farm land north of Rockwood Park was developed with the building of many red bricked two-story garden style cooperative apartments along with some six story co-op and condo apartment buildings. A number of private two family houses were also built in this neighborhood, which was named Lindenwood
Lindenwood, Queens
Lindenwood is a section of Howard Beach, Queens, New York. This middle class area was developed in the 1950s and 1960s and sits on landfilled land...
. The various neighborhoods continued to be developed through the 1960s and 70's as Cross Bay Boulevard became the area's main shopping district. During the 1990s and 2000s, Rockwood Park would see even further high scale development as many of the area's old houses were torn down and replaced with upscale million dollar mini-mansions.
Geography
Like most Queens neighborhoods, Howard Beach is composed of several smaller neighborhoods — Howard Beach, Old Howard BeachOld Howard Beach, Queens
Old Howard Beach is a section of Howard Beach, in the New York City borough of Queens, that lies between Shellbank Basin and Hawtree Creek, to the west of Cross Bay Boulevard. Colemans Square and Charles Park are located in Old Howard Beach. It's referred to as Old Howard Beach since it's the...
, Hamilton Beach
Hamilton Beach, Queens
Hamilton Beach, one of the oldest sections of Howard Beach, is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. Its boundaries are the 102nd Street Creek to the north, the IND Rockaway Line tracks and JFK Airport to the east, Hawtree Creek to the west, and Jamaica Bay to the south...
, Ramblersville
Ramblersville, Queens
Ramblersville is a section of Howard Beach, in the New York City borough of Queens. Ramblersville is a small neighborhood between Hawtree Creek and JFK Airport, nearly surrounded by waterways leading into nearby Jamaica Bay...
, Rockwood Park
Rockwood Park, Queens
Rockwood Park is a neighborhood in Howard Beach, in the New York City borough of Queens on the west side of Cross Bay Boulevard. It mainly consist of single family homes and is considered to be a more upper class section of Howard Beach. It is commonly referred to as "New Howard" by many residents...
, Lindenwood
Lindenwood, Queens
Lindenwood is a section of Howard Beach, Queens, New York. This middle class area was developed in the 1950s and 1960s and sits on landfilled land...
, and Howard Park
Howard Park, Queens
Howard Park is a neighborhood in Howard Beach, in the New York City borough of Queens....
. Howard Beach proper is a small peninsula bordered by the Belt Parkway
Belt Parkway
The Belt System is a series of connected limited-access highways that form a belt-like circle around the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. The system comprises four officially separate parkways; however, three of the four are signed as the Belt Parkway...
and Conduit Avenue on the north, Jamaica Bay
Jamaica Bay
Jamaica Bay is located on the southwestern tip of Long Island in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, and the town of Hempstead, New York/hamlet of Inwood...
on the south, Hawtree Creek
Hawtree Creek
Hawtree Creek is a small saltwater creek that empties into Jamaica Bay in Queens, New York. The creek separates the neighborhoods of Hamilton Beach and Howard Beach.In the early 1900s, a canal was dug at the southern end of the creek to create Hawtree Basin...
on the east separating it from Hamilton Beach and Shellbank Basin
Shellbank Basin
Shellbank Basin runs south from 157th Avenue on the east side of Cross Bay Boulevard, in Howard Beach, Queens, New York to Jamaica Bay, 165th Avenue and the The Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge....
on the west that separates it from Cross Bay Boulevard
Cross Bay Boulevard
Cross Bay Boulevard is the main north–south road in Howard Beach, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. In the south, it originates in The Rockaways, runs over the Cross Bay Bridge into Broad Channel and then over the Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge into Howard Beach...
.
Cross Bay Boulevard is the main commercial strip of Howard Beach and going northward it eventually turns into Woodhaven Boulevard after Ozone Park. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, the Boulevard was made up almost exclusively of locally-owned shops and restaurants. However, starting in the 1990s, chain stores and restaurants began moving in and now many well-known franchises are on the boulevard. Entertainment venues on Cross Bay Boulevard such as the Kiddie-Park and Cross-Bay Lanes were popular until their collapse in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge
Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge
The Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge located in the New York City borough of Queens, is a bridge that runs south from Howard Beach, crosses the Grassy Bay portion of Jamaica Bay to Broad Channel. The bridge is named for the late Joseph P...
(named for a deceased member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
who once represented the district that includes Howard Beach) connects mainland Queens to Broad Channel
Broad Channel, Queens
Broad Channel is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It occupies the southern portion of Rulers Bar Hassock , which is the only inhabited island in Jamaica Bay. The neighborhood stands on Big Egg Marsh, an area of fill approximately 20 blocks long and 4 blocks wide...
.
Bernard Coleman Memorial Square (colloquially Coleman Square) is the small plaza
Plaza
Plaza is a Spanish word related to "field" which describes an open urban public space, such as a city square. All through Spanish America, the plaza mayor of each center of administration held three closely related institutions: the cathedral, the cabildo or administrative center, which might be...
at Howard Beach-JFK
Howard Beach-JFK (IND Rockaway Line)
Howard Beach – JFK Airport is a station on the IND Rockaway Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Coleman Square between 159th Avenue and 103rd Street in Howard Beach, Queens, it is served by the A train at all times.-History:...
on the IND Rockaway Line
IND Rockaway Line
The IND Rockaway Line is a rapid transit line of the IND Division of the New York City Subway. It branches from the IND Fulton Street Line at Rockaway Boulevard, extending over the Jamaica Bay, into the Rockaways.-History:...
of the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
(served by the train) and AirTrain JFK
AirTrain JFK
AirTrain JFK is a 3-line, -long people mover system and elevated railway in New York City providing service to John F. Kennedy International Airport...
. There is a memorial
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
to servicemen
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
from Howard Beach who died in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
Government
Joseph Addabbo, Jr.Joseph Addabbo, Jr.
Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. is an American politician, a Democratic member of the New York State Senate from the 15th District representing Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth and parts of South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Rego Park and Sunnyside...
, the son of former Congressman Joseph P. Addabbo
Joseph Patrick Addabbo
Joseph Patrick Addabbo was a New York City politician who served as a Democrat in the United States House of Representatives from 1961 to 1986...
, represents the area as member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
. Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) represents that part of Howard Beach east of Cross Bay Boulevard and the west part of Cross Bay Boulevard currently has no representative in Congress. Former Congressman Anthony D. Weiner
Anthony D. Weiner
Anthony David Weiner is a former U.S. Representative who served from January 1999 until June 2011. A Democrat, Weiner held the seat previously occupied by Democrat Charles Schumer and won seven terms, never receiving less than 59 percent of the vote...
(D-NY) represented of the part west of Cross Bay Boulevard until he resigned from Congress. A special election to replace former Congressman Anthony D. Weiner will take place on September 13, 2011. Eric Ulrich
Eric Ulrich
Eric A. Ulrich is a Republican politician from New York City Borough of Queens.- Early life and education :...
(R-NY) is the New York City Councilman for Howard Beach.
Transportation
Howard Beach - JFK Airport on the IND Rockaway LineIND Rockaway Line
The IND Rockaway Line is a rapid transit line of the IND Division of the New York City Subway. It branches from the IND Fulton Street Line at Rockaway Boulevard, extending over the Jamaica Bay, into the Rockaways.-History:...
was formerly a Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
station on the Rockaway Beach Branch
Rockaway Beach Branch
The Rockaway Beach Branch was a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in Queens, New York City, United States. The line left the Main Line at Whitepot Junction in Rego Park heading south via Ozone Park and across Jamaica Bay to Hammels in the Rockaways turning west there to a...
. Frequent fires on the trestle
Trestle
A trestle is a rigid frame used as a support, especially referring to a bridge composed of a number of short spans supported by such frames. In the context of trestle bridges, each supporting frame is generally referred to as a bent...
to Broad Channel forced the LIRR to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the 1950s, which allowed New York City Transit to purchase the line in 1956.
The station provides a connection between the train and AirTrain JFK
AirTrain JFK
AirTrain JFK is a 3-line, -long people mover system and elevated railway in New York City providing service to John F. Kennedy International Airport...
(and was the terminus of the former JFK Express
JFK Express
The JFK Express, advertised as The Train to The Plane, was a premium-fare service of the New York City Subway, connecting midtown Manhattan to John F. Kennedy International Airport.-Fares and Rolling Stock:...
, known colloquially as the "Train To The Plane"). Prior to the AirTrain JFK, the Port Authority
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
provided a free shuttle bus to the terminals at JFK Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
. The AirTrain now provides these connections.
Schools
- PS 146 The Howard Beach School K-8
- PS 207 K-8
- PS 232 The Walter Ward School K-8
- Our Lady of GraceOur Lady of GraceOur Lady of Grace is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It may also refer to:England*A Roman Catholic church in Chiswick, London, England, in the Archdiocese of Westminster*Our Lady of Grace School , in Prestwich, Greater Manchester...
CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
School K-8 - Saint Helen CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
School K-8
For grades 9-12, most residents attend John Adams High School
John Adams High School (Jamaica/Ozone Park, NY)
For schools with similar names, see Adams High School.John Adams High School is a public high school in the Ozone Park neighborhood of Queens, New York City. John Adams High School, Samuel J...
in nearby Ozone Park, Specialty High Schools such as Beach Channel High School
Beach Channel High School
Beach Channel High School , is a high school in the public school system of New York City, is located at 100-00 Beach Channel Drive in Rockaway Park in the borough of Queens . The school opened in 1973 and, as of 2006, has an enrollment of 2,175 students. The school was built on the edge of...
in Rockaway Park
Rockaway Park, Queens
Rockaway Park is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. The area is on the Rockaway Peninsula, nestled between Jamaica Bay to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The neighborhood of Rockaway Beach lies on its eastern border while the community of Belle Harbor is situated...
, or Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
High Schools such as Christ the King
Christ the King
Christ the King is a title of Jesus based on several passages of Scripture. It is used by most Christians. The Roman Catholic Church, together with many Protestant denominations, including the Anglican Churches, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Methodists, celebrate the Feast of Christ the King on the...
, St. Francis Prep, or Archbishop Molloy and Forest Hills High School
Forest Hills High School
Forest Hills High School , dedicated in 1937, is a public secondary school in Queens, New York City. It educates students in grades 9–12 and is operated by the New York City Department of Education.- Location :...
.
Hate crimes
Howard Beach has gained notoriety in recent years for several well-publicized hate crimeHate crime
In crime and law, hate crimes occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, social status or...
s.
1986
At approximately midnight on December 20, 1986, three African-American men, Michael Griffith, 24, Cedric Sandiford, 36, and Timothy Grimes, 20, entered New Park Pizzeria on Cross Bay BoulevardCross Bay Boulevard
Cross Bay Boulevard is the main north–south road in Howard Beach, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. In the south, it originates in The Rockaways, runs over the Cross Bay Bridge into Broad Channel and then over the Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge into Howard Beach...
after their car had broken down in Broad Channel. By some eyewitness accounts, a teen driver in a passing car yelled a racial epithet at the men and a verbal altercation ensued. Three of these teens later returned with seven to nine friends aged fifteen to eighteen. The three black men fled, pursued by the teens. Grimes escaped unscathed, while Sandiford was caught and assaulted with baseball bats, tree limbs, and fists. Griffith was killed when a car ran over him on the Belt Parkway
Belt Parkway
The Belt System is a series of connected limited-access highways that form a belt-like circle around the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. The system comprises four officially separate parkways; however, three of the four are signed as the Belt Parkway...
where he had run while attempting escape. Early the next morning, then-Mayor Ed Koch
Ed Koch
Edward Irving "Ed" Koch is an American lawyer, politician, and political commentator. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977 and three terms as mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989...
condemned the crime in the media comparing the incident to a lynching. Then-Governor Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
appointed a special prosecutor, Charles J. Hynes
Charles J. Hynes
Charles Joseph Hynes is the current district attorney of Kings County, New York . A Democrat, Hynes was first elected to office in 1989 and is currently serving a fifth term.-Life and career:...
.
One of the accused youths, Robert D. Riley, the son of a New York City police officer, agreed to cooperate with authorities, in exchange for leniency. Riley fingered Jon L. Lester, Jason Ladone, Scott Kern and Michael Pirone as the ringleaders of the attack. The four teens were charged with manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
, second degree murder and first degree assault. After a lengthy trial, Ladone, Kern and Lester were convicted of second degree manslaughter and assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
. Ladone was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. Kern got up to 18 years. Lester received 10 to 20 years. As part of his plea bargain, Riley received six months in jail and 400 hours of community service.
A second wave of seven teens were accused of lesser charges; William Bollander, James Povinelli, and Thomas Farino were convicted of second degree riot charges after a lengthy appeals process. Salvatore DeSimone and Harry J. Buonocore plead guilty to the same charge. John Saggese was acquitted of the riot charge, and Thomas Gucciardo was acquitted of the charges of attempted murder, assault and riot.
Al Sharpton
Al Sharpton
Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton, Jr. is an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist, and television/radio talk show host. In 2004, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidential election...
led several protests in the neighborhood Special prosecutor Hynes has since gone on to become the District Attorney of Brooklyn and written a book about the incident.
2005
On June 29, 2005, three African-Americans were attacked with baseball bats by white men. One of them was injured seriously enough to be hospitalized and two arrests were made in the case. The convicted assailant, Nicholas Minucci, claimed that the victims had attempted to rob him. On June 10, 2006, Minucci, 20, who uttered a racial epithet during the baseball bat attack, was found guilty of robbery and the racially motivated assault of Glenn Moore. On July 17, 2006, Minucci was sentenced to 15 years in prison.2007
On October 31, 2007, a confrontation between minority youths from BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
and white locals resulted in two injured white teens. What caused the confrontation is not certain, but at 10:00 PM, a group of 30 to 40 black chased four white youths into a McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
restaurant and assaulted two of them. Joseph Friedman was struck in the head with a broom handle that broke on contact. Friedman was taken to the hospital, where the wound was tended to with seven staples. Another victim, Sean Camaratta, was punched in the face and suffered minor injuries. Witnesses reported hearing racial slurs during the attack. Five suspects, Patrick Pugh, George Morales, Victor Tossas, Terrance Scott and Talique Jackson, were later arrested and indicted for assault, menacing and criminal possession offenses.
The Thursday following the attacks, more than 150 Howard Beach residents marched down 157th Avenue calling for the accused to be charged with hate crimes. A bias motive was investigated, but prosecution efforts were hindered when a police lineup produced one positive identification of Tossas but nothing else and DNA tests of the defendants came back negative.
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 28,121 people residing in Howard Beach. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 87.5% White, 2.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.0% African American, 2.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 10.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.9% of the population is foreign-born. The estimated median household income as of 2007 is $69,800.Notable residents (past and present)
- Jack KerouacJack KerouacJean-Louis "Jack" Lebris de Kerouac was an American novelist and poet. He is considered a literary iconoclast and, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, a pioneer of the Beat Generation. Kerouac is recognized for his spontaneous method of writing, covering topics such as Catholic...
, writer. A plaque for him can be found on Crossbay Boulevard and 133rd Avenue, his apartment is now home to the Lindenwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and across the street is the bar Glen Patrick's, where he reportedly replenished his "fuel" while writing "On the RoadOn the RoadOn the Road is a novel by American writer Jack Kerouac, written in April 1951, and published by Viking Press in 1957. It is a largely autobiographical work that was based on the spontaneous road trips of Kerouac and his friends across mid-century America. It is often considered a defining work of...
". - Woody GuthrieWoody GuthrieWoodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
, folk musicFolk musicFolk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
legend (son Arlo Guthrie'sArlo GuthrieArlo Davy Guthrie is an American folk singer. Like his father, Woody Guthrie, Arlo often sings songs of protest against social injustice...
music is frequently copyrighted to "Howard Beach Music, Inc.") - Vitas GerulaitisVitas GerulaitisVytautas Kevin Gerulaitis was a Lithuanian–American professional tennis player. He is known for winning the men's singles title at one of the two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977. Gerulaitis won the tournament held in December, while Roscoe Tanner won the earlier January tournament...
, professional tennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player - John GottiJohn GottiJohn Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
, the well-dressed, Gambino crime family head was a resident of 85th Street in Howard Beach - Mario Mancuso, former national security official and senior member of the administration of President George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
- James MaritatoJames MaritatoJames Maritato is an American professional wrestler, of Italian origin, currently working on the independent circuit. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment and Extreme Championship Wrestling under the ring names Little Guido Maritato and Nunzio.-Starting out:While...
, professional wrestlerProfessional wrestlingProfessional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport... - George MartinGeorge Martin (American football)George Dwight Martin is a former American football defensive end who played his entire career in the National Football League for the New York Giants...
, played for the New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
football team - Vito AntuofermoVito AntuofermoVito Antuofermo is an Italian-American actor who is also a former world Middleweight boxing champion.-Background:Antuofermo was born in Italy, in the town of Palo del Colle, which is located about 15 km inland from the city of Bari. but his family moved to the United States when he was 17...
, former boxer and actor - Rick HearstRick HearstRick Hearst is an American actor, best known for roles in US soap operas.-Personal life:Born in Queens, New York in 1965 and raised in Dallas, Texas....
, soap-opera actor - DJ SkribbleDJ SkribbleDJ Skribble is an Italian-American DJ, producer, remixer, radio personality and actor.In the early 1990s he teamed up with Kamron, ATA, Firstborn, and Tommy Never in Young Black Teenagers, who released two albums before splitting up.In 1996 he worked with Bill Irwin on the musical Hip Hop Wonderland...
, DJ, producer, remixer, radio personality and TV star. - Raymond R. York, firefighter who gave his life in the line of duty at the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. At 159th Road and Colman Square, The 159th Road street sign was renamed "Ray York Way" after the deceased firefighter.
- Pia ToscanoPia ToscanoPia Ann Rose Toscano is an American singer from Howard Beach, New York. Toscano placed ninth on the tenth season of American Idol. Considered to be a frontrunner in the competition, her elimination came as a shock to judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Steven Tyler, all of whom were visibly...
, contestant on American Idol Season 10. - Joey RamoneJoey RamoneJoey Ramone was an American vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist in the punk rock band the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon.-Early life:Joey Ramone was born Jeffry Hyman to parents Noel and Charlotte Hyman...
and his brother Mickey Leigh lived here as children. - Danielle Kase, grew up in Howard Beach. Known for her role in the movie Doubt alongside Meryl Streep.
Notable Media Events
- A movie was made based on the 1986 racial incident entitled "Howard Beach: Making A Case For Murder".
- On The Chris Rock ShowThe Chris Rock ShowThe Chris Rock Show is a late night comedy talk show featured on HBO. It was created by Chris Rock and featured various guests. The show won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program in 1999. It ran for three seasons from 1997 to 2000. Seasons 1 and 2 were released as a DVD set...
, comedian Chris RockChris RockChristopher Julius "Chris" Rock III is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. He was voted in the US as the 5th greatest stand-up comedian of all time by Comedy Central...
proposed renaming Cross Bay Boulevard after Tupac ShakurTupac ShakurTupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
, asking the predominantly white residents of the neighborhood to sign a petition. - In the 1989 Spike LeeSpike LeeShelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
Movie "Do the Right ThingDo the Right ThingDo the Right Thing is a 1989 American dramedy produced, written, and directed by Spike Lee, who is also a featured actor in the film. Other members of the cast include Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, and John Turturro. It is also notably the...
," in a riot scene near the end of the film, a chant rises up: "Howard Beach! Howard Beach! Howard Beach!" This immediately follows a scene wherein a young black man is killed by police using excessive force to break up a fight.