22 The Queens Courier • november 21, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Cuomo: $37M to keep LGA from flooding BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] After Sandy forced LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to close last year for three days, Governor Andrew Cuomo has designated $37.5 million for storm mitigation and resiliency projects to protect important infrastructure from future flooding. “Sandy forced us to reevaluate how we prepare for and respond to major natural disasters in New York,” said Cuomo. “The question is not if another storm will hit, but when, and the state is doing everything it can to ensure that New York’s infrastructure is strong and durable when the time comes.” Last year during Sandy, LGA’s airfield was flooded by more than 100 million gallons of water from Flushing Bay, causing the airport to cease commercial flight operations for three days. The surge flooded the five high-capacity pump houses which the airport depended on to drain any water. The five projects announced by the governor include the installation of flood barrier raised banks around the West Field Lighting Vault, which houses runway and taxiway lighting systems, and construction of a concrete flood wall around the West End Substation that is key to powering the airfield systems. The other projects feature construction of two gravity drains that will release storm water into Flushing Bay, replacement of existing generators with bigger and more efficient emergency back-up generators, and restoration of LGA’s monitoring and control system, to allow the airport to quickly monitor and deal with any issues with its electrical distribution system. “Projects like these will significantly improve flood protection and electrical resiliency at LaGuardia and throughout the state,” said Cuomo. “New York State government is working every day to build back better than before.” Federal funds are expected to cover $28.1 million of the total project costs. SPEAKER RACE TO REPLACE QUIN BY TERENCE M. CULLEN [email protected] It’s off to the races for six legislators looking to become the next City Council speaker. Councilmembers Melissa Mark-Viverito, Inez Dickens, Dan Garodnick, James Vacca, Anabel Palma and Mark Weprin are vying to replace incumbent- Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who is term-limited. Quinn was voted to lead the Council, the city’s de facto second most powerful office, in 2005. Weprin, the top Queens candidate in the race, was elected to the Council in 2009 after 15 years in the Assembly. He is campaigning on a promise that he will not run for higher office and is not term-limited in 2017. “I am not running for the mayor of the City of New York,” Weprin told The Courier. “I can spend all my time being the best speaker I can be. I think one thing that has been lacking in previous speakers is they have all been running for higher office.” Mark-Viverito, an ally to Mayorelect Bill de Blasio, is considered a Councilmember Mark Weprin is the top Queens candidate vying for the City Council Speaker spot. top contender for the seat. Candidates have been taking part in forums throughout the THE COURIER/File photo city, though councilmembers will internally vote on a new speaker January 4. Our job is making sure no longer goes that waste to waste. Find out more at ThinkGreen.com Energy creation. Recycling programs. Closed-loop solutions. Those are just a few of the innovations we’re delivering for customers and communities alike. We live in a world where things can no longer go to waste. That’s why Waste Management is working to get the most from resources. It’s good for business and the environment. ©2012 Waste Management, Inc.
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