Little Neck Resident Honored For 50 Years On Community Board 11

LITTLE NECK, QUEENS — Little Neck resident Allan Palzer was recognized this month for 50 years of service to Northeast Queens as a member of the local community board.

At Queens Community Board 11's December meeting, members celebrated Palzer's decades-long tenure serving on Queens Community Board 11, which include more than 20 years as the board's vice chairman.

Palzer may be only the second person in New York City to have spent 50 years serving on a community board: Last year, Douglaston resident Bernard Haber commemorated his 50th anniversary on the same board.

“Truly a very significant accomplishment," Queens Community Board 11 Chair Mike Budabin said. "We appreciate all your hard work and dedication.”

Palzer joined what is now known as Queens Community Board 11 in 1970, several years before the New York City Charter Revision Commission formally established the city's 59 community boards as hyperlocal government institutions.

At the time, Palzer told Patch, the board was more of a civic association — not unlike the homeowners' association he was then leading in Little Neck.

“There were so many things changing, and I wanted to be part of the change," Palzer said.

He has since done stints on the board's budget, transportation, zoning and senior citizens committees, including as co-chair of the latter two.

Palzer said he draws from his experience working for nonprofits that help seniors and for the business analytics firm Dun & Bradstreet to contribute to the community board.

Key issues he handled include the establishment of senior centers in the neighborhood, school safety measures and home rezoning proposals.

"I always wanted to be helpful to people, if I knew something that could be helpful," he said.

Bayside resident Mohan Jethwani, who has spent 35 years alongside Palzer on the board, called him "one of the most productive and involved members of our community" during the December board meeting.

Palzer said he is encouraged by the growing number of young people expressing interest in community boards, whether by serving on the board or participating in meetings.

He hopes even more people will get involved.

"We’re all out to make our towns, our neighborhoods, better towns, better areas, and we want participation and we wish we had more,” he said.