14 The Queens Courier • april 4, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Family sues MTA over fatal subway shove BY MAGIE HAYES mhayes@queenscourier.com Four months after her father was fatally pushed onto the subway tracks, Ashley Han has filed a lawsuit against the MTA. Ki Suck Han, 58, was struck by a Brooklyn bound R train last December at the West 49th Street and 7th Avenue station after suspect Naeem Davis, 30, allegedly shoved him following an altercation. “We believe that the Transit Authority must be held accountable for their actions,” said Han’s lawyer, Michael Kremins. Kremins said that the Elmhurst man’s death could have easily been avoided if the motorman of the train had simply been paying attention. “Their only job is to look forward and see what there is to be seen,” he said. “All you have to do is push a button to stop a train. It’s not even driving a car.” Kremins also said that the family is still in the grieving process, and along with receiving justice, they hope to shed light on the actions of the MTA and the dangers of subway pushing. “You can’t pick up a newspaper or turn on the television without seeing some other poor person who has been injured in the subway system,” said Kremins. Han filed suit in Manhattan Supreme Court on Friday, March 29. Davis was charged with intentional murder in the second degree and depraved indifference murder in the second degree, said police. “It’s a tragedy,” said Kremins, “especially given the fact that this man didn’t have to die.” The lawyer trusts that the Transit Authority will do a comprehensive investigation, as they typically do when someone is injured. At the end, he hopes he, Han and her mother will get a clear story as to why the “unfortunate occurrence” happened. The Han family is seeking reimbursement for funeral expenses, but more so, they want peace of mind. “It’s a wrongful death,” said Kremins, “it’s a conscious pain and suffering. They’re going through a very difficult time.” The MTA declined to comment. With additional reporting by Melissa Chan NYCHA residents outraged over parking hikes BY MELISA CHAN mchan@queenscourier.com Queens residents are outraged over a price hike in the city Housing Authority’s annual parking rates. “Raising the cost to park in public housing . . . is a slap in the face to all,” said Monica Corbett, president of the Pomonok Residents Association. “These fee increases hurt all residents, especially our seniors and fixed income population.” The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has spiked parking costs for some residents from $75 to $340 for non-discounted drivers, $60 to $272 for seniors and handicap, and $150 to $650 for on-site employees. The agency has two types of parking facilities — reserved spaces for renters with assigned designations and non-reserved ones for motorists with no specific spots. It is doing away with non-reserved lots and changing them to reserved ones starting May 1, said NYCHA spokesperson Zodet Negrón. Expenses will rise only for drivers who currently pay for non-reserved slots. NYCHA began a new partnership with Greystone Parking Services last month. New parking rules include police ticketing and towing of unauthorized vehicles. “These changes to the Resident Parking Program Leaders and residents protested the parking charges at the Pomonok Houses. will help ensure cleaner and safer parking lots for all residents,” Negrón said. Conversion plans were released last December, according to the agency. But Queens residents said the news was sudden. “NYCHA’s massive parking fee hike is unfair enough, but springing it on residents with next to no HOMECOMING Women’s Center Returns to Totten BY MELISA CHAN mchan@queenscourier.com A women’s resource center has been given the green light to come back to Bayside. The Center for the Women of New York (CWNY) received approval and funding from the state’s Dormitory Authority to go through with a project to renovate the exterior of a historic Fort Totten building and refurbish its first floor. The 207 Totten Avenue site will be CWNY’s new home by next year, officials said. The walk-in resource center for women will have a cultural and conference center and offer career, legal and financial support services. “I’m thrilled,” said CWNY president Ann Jawin. “We’ve been waiting a long time. It’s good to know we’re finally on the main track.” CWNY founded in 1987, is a volunteer-based nonprofit. Photo Courtesy of Rory Lancman Its Fort Totten operations were suspended in 2002 when CWNY was pushed out by a city Fire Department facility. CWNY has been operating in Kew Gardens in a donated classroom space at Queens Borough Hall since then, but Jawin said the space is too small to be completely efficient. The organization went from a 12,000-squarefoot location to a tiny office, she said. “Here I’m extremely limited in what I can do,” Jawin said. “I had a wonderful operation going there. It was very successful. I should not have been forced to leave.” The state approval comes after a decade of legal battles and ongoing talks to return to Fort Totten. Officials are completing designs of the new 10,000-square-foot space and expect to bid out the first phase of the project later this year. They hope to secure more funding. The project received a unanimous approval by Community Board 7 last February. notice and requiring payment in full up-front really adds insult to injury,” said former Assemblymember and City Council candidate Rory Lancman. “NYCHA needs to focus on fixing its many shortcomings, from backlogged repairs to inadequate security, and not gouging residents.” Assemblymember Mike Simanowitz said the change would force people to look for parking on public streets. “The idea that our city streets will be further choked with vehicles is simply unacceptable,” he said.
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