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FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com JANUARY 23, 2014 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11 LIC to MTA ‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’ BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO altamirano@queenscourier.com Long Island City residents and business owners are telling the MTA “enough is enough,” as they face yet another round of No. 7 train suspensions. The line will not run in parts of western Queens and Manhattan for more than a dozen weekends this year, starting the end of February, according to a notice from the MTA. The news once again upset residents, business owners and local politicians, who gathered in front of the Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue subway station on Friday, January 17 to tell the MTA they are fed up with the constant disruptions and the lack of notice. Between February 28 and July 21, there will be 13 weekend suspensions. Those dates are fi nalized, the transit agency said, but there are nine tentative weekend shutdowns scheduled for August through November. The suspensions will be in effect from 11:45 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday between Times Square-42nd Street and Queensboro Plaza. On some weekends there will also be reduced or express only service between 74th Street-Broadway and Queensboro Plaza. Business owners are tired of potential fi nancial losses, residents are sick of longer commutes and local politicians just want the MTA to fi nally listen to their ideas and communicate with the neighborhood. “It is outrageous and all we are asking for is the Long Island City residents, business owners and local politicians rally against the MTA’s recent announcement of No. 7 suspensions for up to 22 weekends throughout the year. opportunity to be heard, to present some common sense ideas that we have presented to them year after year after year,” said Senator Michael Gianaris, who has suggested the MTA offer a shuttle bus from Vernon Boulevard through the Queens Midtown Tunnel into the city. “The MTA needs to listen to us once and for all.” Rebecca Trent, LIC resident and owner of The Creek and The Cave on Jackson Avenue, said the area has grown by 500 percent and the suspension will only make business owners’ jobs harder. “I don’t know how I’m going to survive this, I do not know and neither do many of my neighbors,” Trent said, holding back tears. “What they are trying to do to this neighborhood is disgusting, we deserve better, THE COURIER/ Photo by Angy Altamirano enough is enough.” Trent said that in order to compensate the community for the “irresponsible shutdowns,” the MTA should give local businesses, who will suffer, free ad space at the E and G subway stations and on the trains. The latest round of work is expected to modernize, improve and fortify the Flushing No. 7 line, according to the MTA. The work will also include tunnel duct reconstruction and replacement and improvements on components damaged during Superstorm Sandy. “We have made every effort to schedule these projects simultaneously to get as much work done as we can during these periods,” said MTA NYC Transit President Carmen Bianco. BUY DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER FREE Measuring & Installation w/purchase of $100. with this ad. • Draperies • Vertical Blinds • Honeycomb Shades • Custom Window Shades • Mini Blinds Nobody Beats Our Prices! • Roman Shades • Balloon Shades • Swags & Jabots • Shutters • Upholstery • Radiator Covers • Table Pads UP TO 70% OFF LIST PRICE Free Interior Design Consultation $20 OFF with purchase of $200 or more *Not to be combined w/other offers. Expires 2/28/14 $50 OFF with purchase of $500 or more *Not to be combined w/other offers. Expires 2/28/14 $100 OFF with purchase of $1,000 or more *Not to be combined w/other offers. Expires 2/28/14 GOMER’S Window Treatments SINCE 1962 FREE SHOP AT HOME SERVICE SERVING QUEENS AND LONG ISLAND 1.800.522.6156 www.gomersdecorators.com


QC01232014
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