6 TIMES • JULY 30, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.timesnewsweekly.com LaGuardia Airport to get $4 billion, ’21ST-CENTURY’ OVERHAUL BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] @aaltamirano28 After Vice President Joe Biden compared it to a “third-world country,” LaGuardia Airport is getting a muchneeded makeover bringing it to the 21st century and allowing New York City to start to once again lead in infrastructure. Gov. Andrew Cuomo was joined by Biden on July 27 to announce that the Queens airport would be receiving a complete redesign taking it from a 1939 airport to a globally renowned, state-ofthe art facility. “LaGuardia is slow. It’s dated. It’s a terrible front door entranceway to New York. It is a lost opportunity. It’s almost universally decried as a poor representation of an airport let alone a New York airport,” Cuomo said. Bringing up the vice president’s comments last year that referred to LaGuardia Airport as a “third-world country,” Cuomo said that it served as a wake-up call to a city that at one point in history was leading the way in infrastructure. “It was a strong, some would say prophetic vision, which I believe in many ways is an impetus to say to New York, ‘Get up, move.’ This is not acceptable and it’s not acceptable for New York,” Cuomo said about Biden’s comment. In order to tackle the issue of the airport — which passengers have called dirty, cramped, hot and delayed — the governor appointed an advisory panel, led by Dan Tishman, to work with the Port Authority and come up with a new plan for LaGuardia. After getting together and going over goals and obstacles, the group came up with the plan that would create an entirely new facility, replacing the current airport in its entirety. It would run adjacent to the Grand Central Parkway, 600 feet closer to the parkway than it is now. There would be more fl ight operating space, a world-class retail and hotel complex, and a unifi ed terminal instead of the current isolated terminals. Later, there will be AirTrain and ferry access. “The goal is not really to repair and rebuild a 1939 airport. We want an airport that is a state-of-the-art facility. We want a globally renowned airport for the next century that is worthy of the name New York and what we’re doing,” Cuomo said. The project is a $4 billion publicprivate sector partnership with more than 50 percent of the money being privately funded. The fi rst half of the project is expected to break ground next year with new facilities approximately in 39 months, with all construction complete within 18 months thereafter. Delta has also agreed to be a partner in the new airport and will work to redevelop their two terminals — C and D — to work together with the unifi ed terminal. The airport will remain open and functional during the construction phase. “This is the greatest city in the world. It’s not a hyperbole. It’s the greatest city in the world and it requires a 21stcentury infrastructure,” Biden said. “The airport has a fi rst-class workforce, and they deserve a fi rst-class facility to serve customers who count on them.” In response to the project plan, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz said she recommends the Port Authority expands its Aircraft Noise program throughout construction phases of LaGuardia; creates a cellphone lot; and creates more short- and long-term airport parking. “As much as LaGuardia and JFK International are tremendous economic assets to Queens and to the region, with them has come the need to mitigate the direct, daily impacts of growth upon the thousands of families immediately surrounding them,” Katz said. “When convening this blue-ribbon panel on which I have had the pleasure to serve, the governor charged us with ensuring that community needs are addressed, especially with regard to noise and alleviating traffi c congestion.” Along with LaGuardia, Cuomo also mentioned improvements that will take place at Stewart Airport in Newburgh, New York, to accommodate more commercial fl ights to reduce traffi c at LaGuardia and JFK airports and make the airport a “New York Free Trade Zone”; renovations at JFK such as a historic renovation of the Saarinen building being constructed to a state-of-the-art hotel; and putting to use the Republic Airport also as a “New York Free Trade Zone.” Maspeth, Middle Village set to co-name two streets for community leaders BY ANTHONY GUIDICE [email protected] @A_GiudiceReport The City Council unanimously passed a bill on July 23 that includes the proposed co-naming of two Queens streets, one in Maspeth and the other in Middle Village. Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley proposed the bill to honor Frank Kowalinski and Bishop Joseph Sullivan. Maspeth Avenue between 61st and 64th streets is slated to become Frank Kowalinski Way. Kowalinski was born in 1894 and grew up on Clinton Avenue. In 1918, Kowalinski became the fi rst U.S. Army soldier of Polish decent to be killed in combat during World War I. In honor of his service, the local veterans post in Maspeth is named after Kowalinski. Middle Village will see 71st Street, from Eliot Avenue south of the railroad, be named Bishop Joseph Sullivan Way. Sullivan served the Our Lady of Hope parish since its founding in 1960 until his death in 2013. Sullivan was also involved with several Catholic charities, hospitals and other religious, interreligious and secular organizations. “Recognizing and memorializing the dedication of these two men to their country and community is truly a privilege,” Crowley said. “Queens is both fortunate and unique in that it has a history of such strong public servants, whether they are soldiers or clergymen. It is only right to post their names for all to see in the neighborhoods they have made such an impact on. That way, their legacy can live on for generations to come.” The dates for the co-naming ceremonies have yet to be determined. Photo via Google Maps The Frank Kowalinski Post 4 on Maspeth Avenue is named after Frank Kowalinski. Photo courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office
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