FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com january 16, 2014 • The Queens Courier 3 Mayor’s ‘vision’ for traffic fatalities: ZERO BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com With 11 people, including seven pedestrians, killed in traffic accidents in just the first two weeks of the new year, Mayor Bill de Blasio is calling for a stop to what he calls an epidemic. De Blasio announced the launch of an interagency working group, together LOCAL BAR MAY SOON GO DRY BY MELIS A CHAN mchan@queenscourier.com A problematic bar near St. John’s University is facing its last call after a local community board voted against renewing its liquor license. Community Board 8’s Liquor License Committee rejected Cheap Shots’ renewal application on January 13, citing numerous complaints the 149-05 Union Turnpike bar has racked up since it opened in March 2010. “This is the most I’ve heard about any establishment,” Committee Chair Michael Hannibal said. “There’s a concern.” Rowdy customers break out in fights, repeatedly robbing neighbors in a residential area of a good night’s sleep, board members said. Some have also been spotted urinating and vomiting in front of the store, according to 107th Precinct Community Council President Carolann Foley. “It appears to me your business is a cancer to the community,” said board member Marc Haken. “It is decaying the community. You have to be cut out of the community.” Bar owners have had multiple meetings with local civic leaders, but to no avail, the board said. “It’s pretty serious,” said Councilmember Rory Lancman, calling the bar a “magnet for criminal activity” and the site of four arrests in the last year. “Cheap Shots has failed to clean up its act and has instead remained a blight on our community,” he said. The committee unanimously voted to shut down the renewal and urged the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) CheapShots, a bar at 149-05 Union Turnpike, may soon lose its liquor license. to follow suit. The sobering news means Cheap Shots could be forced to close if it loses its ability to serve alcohol. Its current liquor license expires February 28. SLA officials did not immediately comment. “Right now, we don’t know what this means for us. It’s basically in jeopardy,” THE COURIER/Photo by Melissa Chan said Louis Abreu, the bar’s owner. “I’m trying my best to fit in. It’s not easy, but I’m not throwing in the towel.” The bar boss said he shells out at least $800 on security detail on weekends to keep a handle on commotions and often calls the police himself when fights erupt. “What happened at the meeting was a lynch mob,” Abreu said. Borough Board casts vote on project BY MELIS A CHAN mchan@queenscourier.com The Queens Borough Board approved the $1.5 million sale of a vacant Flushing lot during its first meeting of the year. Board members unanimously voted to allow the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to turn over a 2,500-square-foot parcel in the heart of Flushing to an entity of the city’s Economic Development Corp. The property at 135-15 40th Road will then be sold to developer Success 88, to be built into a six-story building with commercial and office space. It will also have a community facility, which includes a school for English learners. “This is a very good project,” said Councilmember Peter Koo, who represents the area. “It will bring prosperity and jobs to the community.” Then-Borough President Helen Marshall approved the city’s ULURP plans in October. The $4.5 million project is expected to begin construction in 2015 and end in late 2016, officials said. Voting members of Monday’s board included Borough President Melinda Katz, the borough’s City Council delegation and Community Board 7 Chair Gene Kelty. “Even though it’s my first meeting as the borough president, it’s not everybody else’s first meeting,” Katz said. “You guys have been doing great work, and I look forward to continuing that.” “I look forward to having a very active borough board,” Katz said. “It’s an exciting time for us.” Developers of the long-delayed Flushing Commons project also updated the board on changes to its $850 million plan, including a parking strategy that would retain the lot’s 1,144 spaces during construction. “This will have a softer impact on the community,” said Michael Meyer, president of F&T Group. “I think it’s a win-win-win. We’re excited we’re finally getting started.” The two-phase upscale complex, when complete, will include a total of more than 600 residential units, 500,000 square feet of retail space, a 62,000-squarefoot YMCA and a 1.5-acre space, with a fountain plaza and amphitheater. with the NYPD, Department of Transportation, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Taxi & Limousine Commission, to implement a “Vision Zero” plan and make sure another life is not lost. The mayor’s initiative aims to reduce traffic fatalities to zero within the next 10 years. “Our top responsibility is protecting the health and safety of our people,” said de Blasio. “From tougher enforcement to more safely designed streets and stronger laws, we’ll confront this problem from every side – and it starts today.” De Blasio gathered on January 15 with local officials, family members of victims of traffic fatalities and representatives from the city agencies, to announce the working group at P.S. 152 in Woodside, just less than a block from where thirdgrader Noshat Nahian was fatally struck by a tractor trailer in December. The working group will come together to implement the mayor’s plan by developing a report, due to the mayor by February 15 and released publicly, that will serve as a blueprint for “Vision Zero.” The report is expected to have “concrete plans” to dedicate a sufficient number of NYPD resources and personnel to prevent dangerous actions such as speeding and failing to yield to pedestrians; annually improve close to 50 dangerous corridors and intersections to “discourage dangerous driving;” greatly expand the number of slow zones across the city; and pursue a traffic safety legislative agenda in order for the city to position red light and speed enforcement cameras based on safety needs. “This will be a top-to-bottom effort to take on dangerous streets and dangerous driving,” said de Blasio. “We aren’t going to wait and lose a son, a daughter, a parent or a grandparent in another senseless and painful tragedy.” De Blasio also said that as of Thursday, January 16, speed cameras installed on city streets will begin issuing tickets to enforce speed limits. The NYPD will also be implementing additional and more severe enforcement against traffic violations, according to de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton. Since taking office, Bratton has increased Highway Division personnel by 10 percent and has a goal to double the staff. “Our job is to save lives. We will be just as aggressive in preventing a deadly crash on our streets as we are in preventing a deadly shooting,” said Bratton. “Our police are going to enforce the laws on our streets consistently and effectively. This is going to be central to our work to keep New Yorkers safe.” THE COURIER/ Photo by Angy Altamirano Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the launch of his “Vision Zero” initiative.
QC01162014
To see the actual publication please follow the link above