DANGEROUS DRIVING KILLS

BUT MIAMI DOES NEXT TO NOTHING TO STOP IT

An innocent person lost their life in my Miami neighborhood.

Their crime -- being a pedestrian in a city that tolerates people driving up to double the speed limit on otherwise quiet, residential streets.

Enough of the BS rhetoric about right wing this, left wing that -- it's all a distraction while our elected and appointed "leaders" get rich in office while not protecting us.

Every commissioner, mayor, city manager, police chief, road designer, planner, etc. -- is 100% failing us when it is a death defying act to simply walk around one of our wonderful parks.

A FILTHY, LOATHSOME POX ON AN OTHERWISE DIVERSE AND VIBRANT JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS, NEW YORK

THE ELMHURST HOTEL HOSTS PROSTITUTION

AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE

Access to a train into Manhattan and points I was working in throughout Queens was a major factor in enduring the trash at the no-tell motel

I worried the whole time during that last half day in the city – and was shocked that the bag was in the closet upon my return.

For dealing with noise at all hours, cigarette stench, most electrical outlets broken, unsecure bag storage, entering my room against my clear wishes and above all else – the fear for safety from the overt, vulgar and constant prostitution – 

I am owed 50% of what I paid as a refund.

Booking.com Please send a secret shopper to this property. 

When you see it is more brothel than hotel, you will hopefully stop doing business with it – so legitimate travelers, especially families with children, will NEVER be subjected to my experience.

When I escaped the hell hole that is the Elmhurst Hotel, I sent direct emails to: the Queens Borough President, New York City Councilmember for this district, two senior staff members of that councilmember and two senior police officers at the precinct in which the hotel is located.

My note was honest, earnest, brief and to the point.

To date, only the police precinct has pledged to look into my dire warning.

Disgracefully, none of the other leaders/professionals or their assistants have had the common courtesy to phone or email me to know they are lifting a finger to address this cesspool that will kill tourism and investment.

A FILTHY, LOATHSOME POX ON AN OTHERWISE DIVERSE AND VIBRANT JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS, NEW YORK

THE ELMHURST HOTEL HOSTS PROSTITUTION

AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE

Vacant restaurant next door to shameful Elmhurst Hotel

During booking and upon checkout, I explained that my flight was a half day past check out and that I would need safe storage of my small suitcase.

I was told this would be no problem.

On checkout, the front desk person rudely said they do no such thing.

 I asked if there was a locker storage place nearby.

The person just glared at me.

I showed my message – routed through Booking.com site – where a manager promised safe bag stowage.

The front desk person walked to a chemical-wreaking, janitor/maintenance closet without a lock on it and told me I was welcome to toss my bag in, but no promised it would be there.

I worried the whole time during that last half day in the city – and was shocked that the bag was in the closet upon my return.

A FILTHY, LOATHSOME POX ON AN OTHERWISE DIVERSE AND VIBRANT JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS, NEW YORK

THE ELMHURST HOTEL HOSTS PROSTITUTION

AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE

I do not how this hotel gets a better than 5 out of 10 star rating on Booking.com.  Booking.com is my bible for booking rooms all over the world.

Its contributors are much more spot-on than rival online booking sites.

I have to figure that either the Elmhurst management has recently shifted to being hooker hotel central, or the handful of non prostitute-john customers are immune to seeing this frightening and filthy activity.

I made it clear I did not want my room entered while I was there. I had a do not disturb sign on door and left notes each day with front desk.  

In middle of my stay, my bed was made and stuff changed around.  

I honestly wonder if they sort of sublet my room for a 2-hour tryst, gambling that I wouldn’t be back till night – giving them time to clean up a mess.

A FILTHY, LOATHSOME POX ON AN OTHERWISE DIVERSE AND VIBRANT JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS, NEW YORK

THE ELMHURST HOTEL HOSTS PROSTITUTION

AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE

On the third day, I was propositioned by a pair of scantily clad gals in the elevator who were clearly stealing the same NYC skyline cheap poster photo that was in my room.

On the fourth day, I left early Sunday morning to find provocatively dressed prostitutes on 8-inch platform shoes of every stripe – trans, female, male….

The fifth day, a shirtless, high/drunk pimp was screaming – both into his phone and at a cowering working gal – in the tiny dreary lobby. 

Guess this why the sullen front desk staff hides behind bullet proof glass – speaking through a tiny cut out and taking your credit card/ID through a tiny slot.

Why did I stay?  Very good question.

I had just gotten some very bad news the week leading up to my trip and I was in a funk and less aware of the world around me.

Plus, they charged the full amount of the stay the first night and I figured owners uncaring enough to run a house of prostitution would never in 10 million years refund my remaining nights stay if I checked switched hotels.

A FILTHY, LOATHSOME POX ON AN OTHERWISE DIVERSE AND VIBRANT JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS, NEW YORK

THE ELMHURST HOTEL HOSTS PROSTITUTION

AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE

I was tired when I arrived, so I didn’t think about the set up being a giveaway that this is a by the hour hotel.

As noted by many reviewers, only a fraction of the outlets work. 

So you pick between a lamp and charging your smart phone, etc.

The dead bolt wouldn’t click, so I had to use the little rocker arm to hope to be extra protected when sleeping.

On the second day, I realized something was up, because housekeeping was cleaning rooms constantly. 

Like people were only in them for a couple hours.

A FILTHY, LOATHSOME POX ON AN OTHERWISE DIVERSE AND VIBRANT JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS, NEW YORK

THE ELMHURST HOTEL HOSTS PROSTITUTION

AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE

I thought I was getting a decent sized room at a decent price next to a prime subway station in the culturally-diverse and amazing heart of Jackson Heights.

What Booking.com steered me to (despite fairly high ratings, perhaps based on a lodging better run by previous owners/managers?) was the Elmhurst Hotel – a seedy site of rampant prostitution.

I could no more recommend it for families than I would recommend sleeping on the sidewalk.

On check in, you get a creepy vibe.

The lobby is tiny and the front desk is behind tall, bullet proof glass. 

The images on both Booking.com and the property’s site are false – they show a modest front desk open and not fearfully covered in bullet proof glass.

There are no plants, no photos – nothing but a hard bench, beverage vending machine and elevator.