4 The Queens Courier • JUly 18, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ‘ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN’ RESIDENTS RALLY AGAINST BUS ROUTE BY MELISA CHAN mchan@queenscourier.com Buses are still going down a narrow residential street in Whitestone and often getting stuck, residents say, despite two years the community has spent pushing for another route. “It is incomprehensible that the MTA would consider such a narrow street for the routing of a city bus,” said State Senator Tony Avella. “This is an accident waiting to happen and is ruining the quality of life for the residents on this block and jeopardizing their safety.” The Q15A bus route has run through 10th Avenue, between Clintonville and 152nd Streets, since 2010, when the MTA axed Q14 service. Officials said the line was created to serve former Q14 riders and continues on the old route along 150th Street to 7th Avenue. But since then, residents say they have been squeezed in as buses rumble down the tight two-way street. “Residents living on this block are very fearful when driving out of the driveway due to the dangerous traffic pattern created by this bus route,” said Whitestone resident Kevin Leibowitz. “Due to the buses speeding down this narrow street, many drivers are fearful of getting hit and damaging their cars.” Karen Babizh, whose family owns Clinton Restaurant, said the eatery lost four parking spots and is constantly interrupted by traffic jams. “Buses often get stuck as they go down on the street, and whenever it happens, the bus driver would come into our restaurant, State Senator Tony Avella joined Whitestone residents in a rally protesting two years of problems with the Q15A route. asking customers to move their cars,” she said. An MTA spokesperson said the agency looked into having the alternate route join the Q15, but the changes were not effective. “At the community’s request, the MTA did look at having the Q15A travel on 7th Avenue, Clintonville Street, and 14th Photo Courtesy of State Senator Tony Avella Avenue to rejoin the Q15,” said MTA spokesperson Deirdre Parker. “However, this would take many of the riders along a long, circuitous, U-shaped routing and greatly slow their commute.” The MTA believes 10th Avenue is “a wide enough street” for both buses and cars, Parker said. The authority does not have plans to reroute either lines. Embattled councilmember launches law practice If You’re Ready to Buy a Home,We are Ready to Help. The State of New York M ortgage Agency offers: Up to $15,000 Down Payment Assistance 1-800-382-HOME(4663) for Housing www.sonyma.org BY MELISA CHAN mchan@queenscourier.com An embattled Queens legislator has launched a law practice as he awaits his own day in court. Councilmember Dan Halloran is still taking on legal cases as an attorney and has formed a separate office to handle them, The Courier has learned. This firm’s website, www.halloranlaw. org, describes Whitestonebased Halloran Law P.C. as a “one-stop shop for all of your legal needs” and touts the eponymous partner’s legal expertise. In nearly 1,250 words, a biography details Halloran’s law background and concludes with local newspapers calling him “a highly respected member of the City Council” and praising his “‘community-oriented’ view of government.” It does not mention that the head of the practice is facing federal corruption charges for his alleged hand in bribing GOP officials to get Democratic State Senator Malcolm Smith on the Republican mayoral ticket. Feds say Halloran pocketed nearly $21,000 in cash for setting up meetings between Smith and GOP officials. He also allegedly offered up councilmember item cash in exchange for bribes, a criminal complaint detailed. Halloran and Smith were arrested on April 2. Both deny any wrongdoing. A Halloran Law P.C. spokesperson said the website “has been online since January 2013, when Mr. Halloran formed a separate law office to handle the legal work he was receiving.” However, domain records show the site was created on June 13. Halloran has been a practicing attorney for more than a decade and remains a counsel to several firms, said the spokesperson, who did not give a name. Halloran was previously a partner at Palmieri and Castiglione, handling civil litigation, general practice matters and criminal cases outside New York City. The lawmaker represents the 19th Council District for the remainder of the year. He said he would not seek reelection in order to focus on clearing his name. His council spokesperson, Victor Mimoni, said the practice does not impede with the councilmember’s duty to his district. “He attends certain committee meetings when the subject matter affects the district and he goes to the stated meetings,” Mimoni said. “The office is open from 9 to 5, Monday through Friday. We’re still handling constituent calls. The district is still being served.” Halloran has previously received flak for what some see as a headin the-sand approach to his legal troubles. Council Speaker Christine Quinn reportedly called him “stupid” and “arrogant” for sending out a budgetrelated press release six days after his arrest. For more on Halloran’s legal woes, turn to page 8-9 Amendment allows for dining al fresco BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com Residents in parts of Long Island City and Sunnyside will now be able to dine al fresco. On May 22, the City Council adopted the LIC-Sunnyside sidewalk cafés and bulk modification text amendment into legislation. Before this amendment, it was illegal to have outdoor cafés in those areas. “It was really important for us to change those rules and to give restaurants and cafés that option, should they choose it,” said Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer. The amendment would change the zoning to include blocks generally between 2nd, 5th, 11th and 23rd Streets on the west, 37th Avenue on the north, Sunnyside Yards on the east, Borden Avenue on the south, and along Skillman Avenue between 46th and 47th Streets. According to the Department of City Planning, this change in zoning will enliven the streetscapes and help bring in growing residential, employee, student and tourist populations out onto the streets. “Sidewalk cafes provide a different kind of experience and there are people looking to stay outdoors and eat,” said Van Bramer. “They create traffic and life on our streets and we really want our commercial thoroughfares to be bustling. Not only is that profitable for local businesses but it makes our neighborhoods lively and safer places.” Restaurants would have to apply to the City Department of Consumer Affairs for a sidewalk café permit.
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