FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JULY 30, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
Partying is driving up COVID-19 numbers: Cuomo
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
While Governor Andrew Cuomo
respects the “right to party,” he said that
young people are putting themselves and
others more at risk for COVID-19 while
doing so.
In his July 23 press conference, Cuomo
stated that New York’s coronavirus numbers
City completes Atlantic Ave. Extension project
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Downtown Jamaica now has more park
space and greater access to the LIRR and
AirTrain hub with the completion of the
long-awaited Atlantic Avenue Extension
project.
City offi cials and community leaders
gathered in the newly created Gateway
Park Tuesday, July 21, for a ribbon-cutting
ceremony to celebrate the latest step forward
of the Jamaica NOW Action Plan.
“Today’s unveiling of the Atlantic
Avenue extension and opening of the new
Gateway Park marks an incredible milestone
for the DowntownJamaica community
and the city at large,” New York City
Economic Development Corporation
President and CEO James Patchett said.
“For years, residents in this community
have advocated for safer roadways and
more open space and were thrilled to
deliver on a promise that turns their
vision into a reality. We want to thank
Parks, DOT, our elected offi cials and the
Jamaica NOW Leadership Council.for
their collaboration in this eff ort, which
is making this community stronger today
and for years to come.”
Th e project’s design and construction
were managed by NYCEDC and improves
access by creating a gateway between
the Van Wyck Expressway and the transit
hub. It extended Atlantic Avenue one
block south to 95th Avenue, created the
new Gateway Park around the new roadway,
and improved the streetscape on
94th and 95th avenues from the Van
Wyck Expressway Service Road to
Sutphin Boulevard.
“Th anks to several years of collaboration
among several agencies and community
groups, this multi-faceted project will
give New Yorkers a smoother transition
into the Downtown Jamaica core, creating
a gateway to the neighborhood and simplifying
traffi c patterns with new one-way
streets and bicycle facilities,” Department
of Transportation Commissioner Polly
Trottenberg said.
New playground equipment in Gateway
Park. (Photo by Dean Moses)
Th e nearly one-acre park boasts a new
playground, additional open space and
shaded seating.
“Transforming this underutilized site
refl ects our commitment to accessibility
as we expand and enhance our green
spaces,” NYC Parks Queens Borough
Commissioner Michael Dockett said. “We
look forward to maintaining this new
parkland. Th e new Gateway Park brings
much needed open space for recreation to
the heart of Downtown Jamaica.”
Th e Jamaica planning initiative was
conducted by the Mayor’s Offi ce in partnership
with the Queens borough president,
to identify community priorities and
create a coordinated and equitable economic
development strategy in Jamaica.
“Downtown Jamaica experiences continued
growth in the number of people coming
to live, shop and do business,” Greater
Jamaica Development Corporation
President and CEO Hope Knight said.
“Th e completion of the Atlantic Avenue
Extension and Gateway Park provides a
much-needed infrastructure enhancement
to alleviate vehicle congestion getting in
and out of our downtown core.”
Gateway Park features a spray shower.
(Photo by Dean Moses)
Funding for the $19.8 million project
includes $9.3 million in city capital funding,
including $5.6 million in funding
allocated for projects containing upgrades
around city airports, $3 million for the
Queens borough president’s offi ce, and
a $7.5 million in grant funding from the
Federal Highway Administration.
“Aft er a long wait, and bated breath, the
Atlantic Avenue Extension project is now
completed and will usher access to the
LIRR Jamaica Station/AirTrain Station
from the Van Wyck Expressway,” Jamaica
NOW Leadership Council Co-Chair
Tameka Pierre-Louis said. “Th e Jamaica
NOW Leadership Council is proud to
present three new parks leading to the
beautiful open plaza at the Jamaica station
for the residents of Queens and beyond.”
continue to be good. On July 22, New
York had 706 hospitalizations, the lowest
amount since March 18, and 13 deaths.
Out of the 69,698 tests performed, 811
came back positive, giving the state an
infection rate of 1.16 percent.
While the numbers are looking good in
New York, Cuomo said that the increased
COVID-19 numbers in other states could
put New York at risk for a second wave.
“We know that if we don’t control the
virus in the other states, we are then in
danger of dealing with a second wave,”
said Cuomo. “Not the second wave they
talked about, which was a mutated virus
comes back; it’s a second ricochet of the
fi rst wave.”
Cuomo said that in New York, there is
an uptick in COVID-19 cases
in those aged 21 to 30 years
old. While the other age
groups have flattened
down, the 21 to 30 age
group jumped from a 9.9
percent infection rate to
a 13.2 percent infection
rate in a matter of one
week. Cuomo stated that
the increased number of
gatherings that are driving
the number of cases up.
“It is not hard to understand
what is going on,”
Cuomo said.
“You get
groups of young people — it’s warm,
they’ve been locked up for a long
time, they’d like to socialize, I get
it. You don’t socially distance,
you don’t wear masks —the
virus spreads.”
As a result, the state will
be launching a new video
ad campaign targeted
toward the younger demographic
to show them that
they are just as vulnerable
to COVID-19 as anyone
else.
“Th is is not the time to
fi ght for your right
to party. I respect
your right
t o
party. I would enshrine it into state law if
you want to know that you have the right
to party,” said Cuomo. “But let’s be smart
about it. Th ere is an attitude that young
people are immune — you are not. Th e
virus can kill you. And if it doesn’t kill you,
you can bring it home and give it to someone
inadvertently and it can kill them.”
During the briefi ng, Cuomo acknowledged
that he had a conversation with
President Trump about sending federal
troops into New York City. While Cuomo
said that President Trump agreed to not
send troops at this time, the president
claimed he would talk to Cuomo should
anything change.
“It was a good conversation and I am
going to hold him to his word,” said
Cuomo. “I have no reason to believe anything
other than that. But I will stay on
top of this and monitor it.”
Should Trump go back on his word,
Cuomo said that New York would sue,
stating that constitutional law is clear
about leaving policing up to the states.
However, Cuomo noted that a lawsuit
might not be the most eff ective shortterm
plan for retaliation.
REUTERS/Mike Segar
Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks during a daily briefi ng.
Courtesy of NYCEDC
Offi cials celebrate the completion of the Atlantic Avenue Extension and the opening of Gateway Park in Downtown Jamaica.
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