FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com FEBRUARY 13, 2014 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11 Travelers react to Veep’s LaGuardia comment BY LIAM LA GUERRE [email protected] Travelers and legislators know that LaGuardia Airport needs some T.L.C., but feel Vice President Joe Biden went too far in calling it a “third world country” airport. “LaGuardia obviously needs an upgrade, but that being said, the airport manages an extraordinary amount of traffi c and the people who work there make it work under very diffi cult circumstances,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “So, as a proud New Yorker, I didn’t like that comment, and I think it was not the right way to talk about it.” Travelers that talked to The Courier agreed the 75 year-old airport could use some sprucing up. Some complained that public transportation was diffi cult to get, and some griped that “taxi drivers won’t take us to Brooklyn.” Others complained that the gateway has narrow, crowded hallways, with poor lighting and little Wi-Fi connectivity. But most believed LaGuardia, which saw a record 27 million passengers last year, is doing a fair job. “It definitely could use a good remodeling,” said It’s not a “third world country” airport, but everyone agrees LaGuardia Airport needs an upgrade. Silvio Cuellar, who was fl ying home to San Diego through LaGuardia. “I don’t think it’s that bad. He just said that so it could trigger a reaction.” Biden made the comments on February 6, comparing an airport in Hong Kong to a “modern airport” in America, but LaGuardia to “some third world country.” The airport, which has been ranked the worst airport in the country numerous times, was a main point in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State address last month. Cuomo proposed modernizing THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre LaGuardia by having the state assume management from The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey of a $3.6 billion investment plan to transform the gateway. Checking that earns like savings. BestRate Checking1.00% APY1 Plus, get up to $ 1 5 0 when you open a new checking account.2 Additionally, a BestRate Checking account provides you with: Free online banking and bill pay, Free Mastercard® ATM/Debit card, Free direct deposit and more. For more information or to find a branch near you, call 800.581.2889 or visit www.FlushingBank.com. On balances of $5,000 or more. 1 New accounts and new money only. Existing checking account customers are not eligible. An existing checking customer is defined as anyone who currently has or has had a Flushing Bank checking account within the last 24 months. New money is defined as money not currently on deposit with Flushing Bank. The APY is effective March 1, 2013. The annual percentage yield (APY) for BestRate Checking is 1.00% and will remain in effect for 90 days after account opening. At the end of this 90-day period the rate will revert to 0.60% and rate may change at any time without notice. You must maintain a daily balance of $5,000 for the statement cycle to receive the disclosed yield and to avoid the monthly maintenance fee of $10. A daily balance below $5,000 will be assessed a lower Annual Percentage Yield. Fees may reduce earnings. 2 New accounts and new money only. Existing checking account customers are not eligible. An existing checking customer is defined as anyone who currently has or has had a Flushing Bank checking account within the last 24 months. This offer is limited to one checking account per household. Minimum deposit required to open a new checking account is $100. Debit Card Purchases – You will receive $75 for the completion of 5 debit card purchases. Each debit card purchase must be $25 or more. Online Banking Bill-payments OR Direct Deposit – You will receive $75 for completing 5 online banking bill-payments via Flushing Bank’s Online Banking portal OR signing up for and receiving a recurring direct deposit of $250 or more. Each online bill-pay must be $25 or more. Tax refund checks do not qualify as direct deposit. Online Bill-payments, Debit Card Purchases and Direct Deposits must be completed prior to 60 days after the account is opened. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ANY CUSTOMER CAN RECEIVE IS $150. The compensation will be credited to the checking account on or about 75 days after the account is opened. A 1099 will be issued in the amount credited to your account. Other fees and restrictions may apply. All offers are subject to change and termination without prior notice at any time. Speak with a Flushing Bank representative for more details and information about these offers. From Forbes.com March 18, 2013. © 2013 Forbes.com LLC. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this Content without express written permission is prohibited. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
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