Say Ex-Cop Killed His Wife -CONTINUED FROM PG. 1- reportedly confronted Mera-Canty after she and their two children returned home last Saturday morning, leading to an argument. Law enforcement sources said Canty shot his wife 10 times in the chest with a handgun, then fled from the home on foot. Officers from the 102nd Precinct and EMS units responded to the shooting. The children were found in the bodega unharmed. Paramedics, meanwhile, rushed Mera-Canty to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. During a search, authorities said, police officers located Canty at the corner of 97th and Centreville streets; published reports indicated the suspect appeared intoxicated. Canty was taken into custody and later booked by the 102nd Precinct Detective Squad for second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. During his arraignment hearing on Sunday, Apr. 20, court records noted, Canty was ordered held without bail by Queens Criminal Court Judge Gia Morris. The suspect is due back in court on May 7. TIMES, THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2014 • 26 Arrest Made In B’wick Homicide walking along Suydam Street near Maria Hernandez Park moments before the gunfire erupted. Officers from the 83rd Precinct and EMS units rushed to the scene. Martinez, who was hit with multiple shots about his body, was pronounced dead at the scene. Based on information obtained during its investigation, the 83rd Precinct Detective Squad tracked down Ortiz and arrested him last Wednesday following questioning at its Bushwick stationhouse. Ortiz was arraigned the following day, Thursday, Apr. 17, in Kings County Criminal Court on charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. He was ordered held without bail, according to court records. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 2- No Booze Allowed At Knockdown Concerts adjournment to provide the SLA with such information. Rosen chided him, noting he had more than a week and ample notice to submit the additional documents. The hearing moved on as scheduled, and a parade of Knockdown Center opponents came to the microphone urging the SLA to deny the permit outright. “I don’t know anyone in this community who’s in favor of it,” said Community Board 5 District Manager Gary Giordano. The board recently voted unanimously to request that the SLA reject the Knockdown Center permit, citing concerns of quality-of-life problems emanating from the facility impacting nearby residential areas. “There have been some very rowdy events there before where people came out intoxicated, whether from alcohol or substance abuse,” Giordano stated. He particularly offered concerns over the permit, which would allow the Knockdown Center to serve alcohol to 600 or more patrons, “an enormous range for what could take place there.” The district manager also wondered about the impact of the upcoming M.I.A. concerts, which could attract thousands of people to the area. “When they (Knockdown Center’s operators) first approached me, it was supposed to be an arts venue,” Giordano said. “It’s gone from that to the potential for 5,000 people there at one time.” Rosen asked Giordano about the board’s opinion on the Knockdown Center if the application sought to serve fewer people. Giordano responded that he couldn’t speak for the board with regard to a possible reduced maximum occupancy. Several elected officials also sent representatives who read statements in opposition to the application. The representatives were David Aglialoro for Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Jacob Tugendrajch for State Sen. Michael Gianaris and Alex Maureau for State Sen. Joseph Addabbo. “The establishment has applied repeatedly for an assembly permit to allow for 5,000 people to attend events and concerts,” according to Nolan’s statement. “This would lead to hundreds, possibly thousands coming into the neighborhood at all hours of the night.” Nolan and Gianaris charged large crowds would put particularly great strain on the 104th Precinct to respond to any problems and offer, if needed, traffic and crowd control. The precinct previously sent the SLA a letter also recommending denial of the application. The lawmakers’ representatives also mentioned a lack of public transportation, noting that the nearest subway station—the Jefferson Street L train stop—is nearly a mile away. “In order to get there, you’d have to pass through a residential area,” Maureau added. Christina Wilkinson, representing both the Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together (COMET) civic association and the Juniper Park Civic Association (JPCA), pointed out that complaints about illegal occupancy at the Knockdown Center have been raised since 2011, but have gone unresolved since the owners did not allow buildings inspectors access. One of the complaints, she noted, was that the property owner lives on the premises with children. Flynn later denied that claim. “They do not have their city cabaret license from the Department of Consumer Affairs or a food service permit from the city Department of Health,” Wilkinson added. She added that the Buildings Department previously rejected an assembly permit allowing up to 5,000 patrons on site at a given time. Wilkinson also called into question the legality of the application itself, claiming that two individuals introduced by Knockdown Center representatives as “major investors”—Gina and Tony Argento—are not listed on the liquor license application. “We don’t feel it’s necessary to have a liquor license to serve 5,000 people for them to display art,” she stated. Seeking to allay concerns Upon hearing these complaints, Rosen voiced concerns to Flynn about the potential for drunk driving, since the lack of public transportation options would lead many guests to take their own vehicles to the Knockdown Center. “My first concern is there would be a lot of people who would have a hard time getting to this venue,” he said. “You just can’t assume there would be drunk driving,” Flynn responded. “If that were the case, no place would get a liquor licenses.” The attorney contended that five bus lines—the B57 on Flushing Avenue, the Q54 on Metropolitan Avenue, the Q39 and Q59 on Grand Avenue and the B38 on Seneca Avenue—are within a six-block walk of the facility and adequately service the area. But those who choose to drive to the Knockdown Center would find plenty of parking, he claimed. “There are private lots in the immediate area for 550 cars,” Flynn said. “In the non-residential area, there are 410 street parking spaces, which gives you 960 spots for cars.” Fifty of the spots are located on the Knockdown Center property, he noted. Flynn insisted that the proprietors are in talks with the 104th Precinct in arranging for a limited schedule of activities at the Knockdown Center, including setting a maximum occupancy for certain events. “That way police wouldn’t be taxed by an overabundance of people,” Flynn told the board. “They would know specifically when these events take place and plan accordingly.” The attorney dismissed the notion that Knockdown Center would frequently hold events serving up to 5,000 people at a time. “They seem to think 5,000 people are coming to this place. That’s not correct,” he noted. “There are certain times when they are going to have a big event with an artist.” All of the information provided to the SLA will be forwarded to Board 5 and other opponents of the Knockdown Center application, and those parties will have until May 5 to provide any responses to the SLA, one day prior to the next board meeting. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 2- Bushwick Bodega Shot & Killed Officers from the 83rd Precinct and EMS units rushed to the location. Maged, who lived above the store, was brought by paramedics to Kings County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Various police units canvassed the surrounding area for the suspect and clues, but no immediate arrests were made, authorities noted. The case was presented to the 83rd Precinct Detective Squad for further investigation, police said. Anyone with information regarding the homicide or the suspect’s whereabouts that could prove helpful is asked to call the 83rd Precinct Detective Squad at 1-718- 574-1796 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. Information may also be sent to Crime Stoppers via text message to 274637 (enter information, then the code TIP577) or online at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com. All calls and messages will be kept confidential. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 3- Retired P.O. Kevin Canty was arrested last Saturday, Apr. 19, for allegedly murdering his wife in their Ozone Park home. (photo courtesy of NYPD Facebook) Ben Carson News & Opinion illegitimacy of a bill passed largely on the basis of false information provides a barometer on the lack of importance placed on virtue in our society today. How can such a society in any way claim to be good? How can a society that kills millions of innocent unborn babies and then labels anyone opposing the practice “anti-woman” claim even a modicum of goodness? How can a nation that uses its news media to subtly trash traditional families, promote a drug-filled lifestyle and ridicule faith in God claim the mantle of righteousness? I could go on pointing out how far we have strayed from our Judeo- Christian roots. For some, such a departure cannot come soon or dramatically enough. However, I believe the majority of Americans understand that we are different from everyone else, and that difference had a great deal to do with our rapid rise to the pinnacle of world power and wealth. As we depart from our former values of decency, honesty, compassion and fairness, our status as a blessed nation will also be diminished. Our decline is not necessary if we can learn from the mistakes of others and reclaim the values upon which our nation was built. I am not advocating for a national religion, but I do think we should seriously consider the words of John Adams, who said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.” America can be great, but it requires real courage and conviction to resist the urge to be “cool.” None of this means we should impose Judeo-Christian values on those who wish to adopt a different kind of lifestyle, but it does mean we should not allow an alternative lifestyle to be imposed upon us. Fairness is a two-way street, and so is tolerance. If the majority refuses to fight for its rights, while a vocal minority uses a compliant media to try to fundamentally change America, we will have only ourselves to blame. Ben S. Carson is professor emeritus of neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University. Weekend M Train Extension Coming directions. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 4- Last July, the MTA announced the weekend M train extension and a host of other service enhancements which were, at the time, scheduled to be phased in this year. This was the result of additional funding made available to the MTA in its financial plan last year. Presently, M train riders in Middle Village, Ridgewood, Bushwick and surrounding communities looking to travel to Manhattan would need to transfer to the L train at Myrtle-Wyckoff Avenues or the J train at Myrtle Avenue-Broadway. Once the extension takes effect, four-car M trains will offer customers a one-seat ride between Metropolitan Avenue-Middle Village and Essex Street-Delancey Street in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. From there, riders heading uptown can transfer to the F train, and commuters heading downtown can switch over to the J train. According to a report issued last year, it is anticipated that 37,000 riders who use the J and M trains to travel to and from Manhattan each weekend would experience reduced wait times and transfers as a result of the weekend M line extension. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 8- WE’RE ON TWITTER @timesnewsweekly Follow Us For Up-To-Date Information
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