2 THE QUEENS COURIER • JANUARY 19, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM Meng won’t attend Trump inaugural Congresswoman Grace Meng announced on Jan. 18 that she will not participate in President-elect Donald Trump‘s inauguration ceremony tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 20, in Washington, D.C. “With just days before his inauguration, I had hoped that President-elect Trump would put an end to his infl ammatory rhetoric. But obviously that pivot has not occurred,” Meng said in a statement. “I have heard from many constituents and I thought long and hard about this decision. I respect the Offi ce of the President and our nation’s peaceful transfer of power. But the president elect must get the message that his antagonistic and divisive comments are unacceptable.” Many elected offi cials have made the decision to boycott Trump’s inauguration due to his infl ammatory campaign rhetoric, verbal attacks against women and minorities, and most recently his dismissal of Georgia Congressman John Lewis aft er the civil rights icon said Trump was an illegitimate president. Anthony Giudice Queens women to march against Trump Saturday Women and men from across Queens are encouraged to join the Center for the Women of New York to march on New York City the day aft er Donald Trump becomes the nation’s 45th president in the name of protecting equal rights. Founded by Ann Jawin in 1987, the Center for the Women of New York is a Queens-based organization that was created to bring together the eff orts of business, professional and community women and create a one-stop walk-in resource center for women. Th is weekend, the non-profi t is organizing a march on New York City to protect the rights that have already been won and push ahead for full equality in society. Marchers will meet at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (located at East 48th Street and First Avenue) on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 11 a.m. To join the Center for the Women of New York on this historic event, email centerwny@yahoo.com or call 718-793-0672. Emily Davenport Astoria pol: Key intersection needs more safety A dangerous six-lane intersection in Astoria needs additional safety improvements, according to Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas. The intersection at 32nd Street, the Grand Central Parkway exit ramp and Astoria Boulevard North is served by one stoplight. Before initial safety measures were installed by the Department of Transportation (DOT) in 2015, vehicles were forced to cross three, four or five lanes of traffic to make a turn onto 31st Street. Simotas first wrote a letter to the Department of Transportation in October 2013 to ask for improvements. Th e assemblywoman met with Queens DOT commissioner Nicole Garcia in December 2015 and was told that another study would be conducted to fi nd solutions to the new problem by summer 2016. Th e DOT delayed the completion date of the study until October 2016 but a study has not yet been released. “I fi rst reported the daily danger faced by motorists and pedestrians at this intersection to the DOT over three years ago and improvements have been repeatedly delayed despite acknowledgement of the issue,” Simotas said in a letter addressed to DOT on Jan. 12. “I respectfully request immediate action to improve the safety of this intersection.” Angela Matua Douglaston residents launch petition to stop movie theater from closing its doors BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI smonteverdi@qns.com/@smont76 Residents are fi ghting to have their voices heard aft er learning that a Douglaston movie theater may soon hold its fi nal picture show to make way for a big-box home improvement retailer. A petition to save Movieworld Douglaston within the Douglaston Plaza shopping center has been circulating aft er news emerged that the family-owned business and the adjacent Macy’s department store may need to leave some time this year to make way for a Lowe’s Home Improvement store. “Th is theater has been around since 1983 and is one of the last family friendly and most aff ordable theaters in New York City,” the petition reads. “We want to keep it running for our community.” With Macy’s slated to close within the next few months, Lowe’s is looking to take over that storefront, along with the MovieWorld space, to open up a new location, as indicated by a work application fi led with the Department of Buildings (DOB). Th e application, which estimates the total cost of work at just over $7 million, is listed as disapproved. Well known for its low movie ticket prices and as an aff ordable destination for birthday parties and school fi eld trips, many petition supporters say Movieworld’s departure would present a loss to the community. “One of the reasons we moved to Douglaston was because of the small town feel,” petition supporter Denise Racan wrote. “Douglaston Movieworld is a part of that. It would be horrible to close it down!” Th e petition was posted about a week ago with a goal of 1,000 signatures. It has attracted 626 supporters. “MovieWorld is a vibrant, family friendly, and positive alternative to overpriced theaters in Queens,” supporter Katina Manko said. “Please help it stay as part of our neighborhood.” Russell Levinson, general manager of MovieWorld, explained that though they would like to stay at the location, Photo: Angela Matua/THE COURIER the landlord does have the option to buy out the lease. Depending on DOB approval and the landlord’s decision regarding the lease, Levinson said the movie theater could still remain at the location for another eight to 12 months. The signed petition is slated to be sent to Councilman Barry Grodenchik, Congressman Tom Suozzi and Senator Charles Schumer, who each represent the area. Douglaston Plaza is located at 242- 02 61st Ave., at the intersection of the Long Island Expressway and the Cross Island Parkway. Th e Courier has reached out to Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation (AAC), landlord of Douglaston Plaza shopping center, for comment. Cops release photos of suspect who robbed a Bayside bank BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI smonteverdi@qns.com/@smont76 Police continue to search for a suspect who robbed a bank in Bayside on the morning of Jan. 12. NYPD helicopters and authorities from the 111th Precinct responded to the scene aft er an individual robbed an Atlantic Bank branch on 41-11 Bell Blvd., near the Bayside Long Island Rail Road station, at 10:33 a.m. on Jan. 12. The suspect approached the 50-year-old bank teller and passed a note demanding money. Th e bank teller complied and the individual fl ed the scene on foot in the direction of Northern Boulevard with an undetermined amount of money and a dye pack — an incendiary device used by banks to permanently mark cash aft er a robbery. Th ere were no reported injuries during the incident. Th e suspect is described as a white male, approximately 40 to 50 years old, 5 foot 10 inches, 200 pounds with a tattoo on his neck. He was last seen Photos by Suzanne Monteverdi/THE COURIER wearing blue jeans, a black hat, red hoodie and black jacket. Authorities on the scene said police have an idea of who the suspect is. Th e investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information regarding the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish speakers, dial 888-57-PISTA), visit their website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confi dential. Police on the scene at Atlantic Bank in Bayside. Photos provided by NYPD
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