8 The Queens Courier • august 21, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ANTI-JOHN LIU PROTESTORS DISRUPT POLITICAL FORUM BY ERIC JANKIEWICZ ejankiewicz@queenscourier.com/@ericjankiewicz A group of protestors crashed a political discussion forum in Flushing Aug. 19, claiming that one of the candidates, John Liu, was a spy for the Chinese government. Liu and Paul Gilman are challenging state Sen. Tony Avella for his seat in the state Senate. They were invited to discuss issues ranging from immigration to the minimum LAGUARDIA NOW $2 OFF Expires 12/31/14 With coupon only $2 OFF Any Ride To Manhattan/Queens Minimum $20 Not to be combined with any other offer NEWARK NOW $5 OFF Expires 12/31/14 With coupon only KENNEDY NOW $3 OFF Expires 12/31/14 With coupon only 23-03 Astoria Boulevard • Astoria • 718.204.5861 “LI# B01506” wage. Unlike a debate, each person answered questions individually. But as soon as Liu took the stage several people from the large audience stood up from their seats, walked up to Liu and unraveled a sign that said, “Arrest john sic Liu to Prevent his further Harm to the U.S.” Liu supporters quickly tore the sign down but the protestors, shouting in Mandarin, prevented the forum from continuing for more then 20 minutes. Workers from the MinKwon Center, the organization that held the forum, attempted to remove the protestors by pushing them out, but the anti-Liu group wouldn’t budge. Eventually cops were called and escorted the protestors from the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Flushing. “This injustice must be exposed,” protester Guohua Liu said through a translator. “Mr. Liu is not an American; he is with the Chinese government.” After the protestors left, Liu, the politician, explained that these protestors often follow him around and crash other parties. The other candidates were not present for the protest. Each addressed the group separately. THE COURIER/Photo BY ERIC JANKIEWICZ Derelict boat goes unnoticed in College Point BY ERIC JANKIEWICZ ejankiewicz@queenscourier.com @ericjankiewicz The origin of an abandoned boat on the College Point shoreline in Flushing Bay is a mystery but like the bay’s water, which government agency is responsible for abandoned vessels is murky. According to the Coast Guard and other organizations, there is no agency that’s responsible for such unworthy sea vessels that aren’t obstructing waterways. “It just appeared here one day and we’ve been salvaging it for parts ever since,” said a construction worker, who didn’t want his name revealed because he didn’t know whether it was illegal to take parts of the boat. He said that the boat has been in the bay for five years. While the decrepit boat shell doesn’t bother the construction worker, he wonders why the city hasn’t done anything about it. “If someone abandons their car, the government is going to tow it, right? So why do different rules apply here?” The hulk, which has the word “Fright” written in white on its bow, is completely rusted over and its innards, engine and all, have been gutted by the mechanics in the area. Since the boat sits on the muddy shore near 119th Street and 20th Avenue, the Coast Guard doesn’t need to do anything about it. The Coast Guard will only do something if dysfunctional boats block waterways. The same goes for the Army Corps of Engineers, but neither knows anything about the boat, according to spokesmen for the two entities. College Point’s civic association also doesn’t know anything about the boat, and the Arrow Yacht Club, which is located near the abandoned boat, is unaware of the beached vessel, which is about 60 feet long. There are indications that the boat once traversed New York City’s waterways in the service of helping larger vessels move, such as its stout but thick build and the corroded rubber bumper. Things like clothes and sleeping bags below deck suggest that someone now might be using the boat as a home. THE COURIER/Photo by Eric Jankiewicz An abandoned boat sits in Flushing Bay Harbor in College Point
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