For years now, residents of Malba and the surrounding neighborhoods have been plagued by persistent disruptions caused by illegal street racers tearing through their streets in the early hours of the morning. But everything came to a head the Sunday night just before Thanksgiving, and everyone from locals to elected officials have spoken out against the threat these illegal activities pose to their communities.
On Nov. 23, a group of around 50 individuals tore through the neighborhood of Malba in the early hours of the morning: making donuts through the residential streets, burning a car and even assaulting two home owners, both aged 50. This incident comes with a history of complaints made by community members on the influx of street racing groups, comprised mostly out of younger individuals, who congregate in North East Flushing due to the abundance of wider roads and open parking lots. On Dec. 4, officers of the 109th Precinct arrested Justin Aguilera, a 19 year old from Far Rockaway, for the crime and faces up to 25 years in prison if found guilty, and the Malba community approved that something had been done to curb the dangerous drivers’ activities.
