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Jamaica Center BID Ousts its Executive Director

 Felicia Tunnah, who took over the Jamaica Center BID last September, was dismissed earlier this month.
Felicia Tunnah, who took over the Jamaica Center BID last September, was dismissed earlier this month.
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DNAinfo/Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska

QUEENS — The board of the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District dismissed its executive director this month, less than a year after hiring her, over clashing visions of how to best promote Jamaica, sources said. 

“The only thing I can say is that there was a difference of opinion with the board,” said Felicia Tunnah, who took over the organization last September and added that she could not discuss the issue further.

Michael Hirschhorn, president of the Jamaica Center BID, declined to comment on reasons for Tunnah's dismissal, but confirmed that the organization is "looking for a new executive director."

Sources said that the board was not pleased with Tunnah’s focus on issues involving urban planning, and that they wanted her to pursue more traditional approaches to attracting new businesses to the district.

Tunnah, who holds a master's degree in urban planning from the University of Pennsylvania, has more than 10 years experience in working at other neighborhood business organizations, including the Downtown Alliance and the Union Square Partnership.

During her tenure at the Jamaica Center BID, she collaborated with the Department of Transportation to open an outdoor exhibit near a subway station in Jamaica.

She also who worked on bringing a pedestrian plaza to downtown Jamaica and secured $229,000 from Queens Borough President Melinda Katz to pay for more than 100 lamps along Jamaica Avenue to improve safety and encourage more nightlife in the district.

Greg Mays of A Better Jamaica, a nonprofit organization promoting family activities in the neighborhood, said he was surprised by Tunnah’s abrupt departure.

Mays, who also chairs Community Board 12's Parks Committee, said he recently worked with Tunnah on issues related to Rufus King Park, one of the most popular hangouts in downtown Jamaica, and they “were going to examine the feasibility of doing a food kiosk" in the park, he said.

“Then all of a sudden I hear that she is gone and everyone seems to be kind of quiet about it,” he said.

Tunnah said that she is now looking for another position that would allow her to work on "neighborhood development and urban planning," as well as "building new affordable housing and activating open spaces."

Derek Irby, the executive director of the 165th Street Mall Improvement Association, was selected as interim director of the Jamaica Center BID.

The Jamaica Center BID, which covers Jamaica Avenue between 169th Street and Sutphin Boulevard, and Union Hall Street from Jamaica to Archer avenues, was founded 35 years ago and is one of the oldest BIDs in the city.