TIMES, THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014 • 64 The STARS Were Out In H. Beach Bus Lanes Coming To Wdhvn., Cross Bay Blvds. boulevards which will hold signage informing drivers of the bus lane and subsequent restrictions. This fall, the DOT will install the signs and painted markings on the pavement indicating the bus lanes. The bus lanes are the latest improvement resulting from the DOT’s ongoing Woodhaven Boulevard Congested Corridors study, which primarily focuses on improving traffic flow and safety along the full length of Woodhaven Boulevard between Queens and Rockaway boulevards. Along with the bus lanes, the DOT will also realign the Woodhaven Boulevard service roads in both directions between Park Lane South and Rockaway Boulevard. Reportedly, the improvement aims to prevent vehicles from sideswiping each other and providing refuge for pedestrians crossing at busy intersections. Crews will install a 5’-wide buffer zone, painted with stripes, along the left side of each road. An 11’-wide travel lane will be created in the center of each roadbed, leaving a 9’-wide right lane used for parking and bus stops. Meanwhile, the DOT and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority continue to formulate a plan for introducing Select Bus Service along Woodhaven and Cross Bay boulevards. In recent months, the agencies held public meetings in the area gathering comments from residents on the plan, and the DOT indicated outreach will continue in the weeks ahead. Select Bus Service, a system aimed at expediting bus travel times, includes establishing bus only lanes on major roadways and installing devices at bus stops to allow passengers to pay their fare in advance, rather than stopping to pay when boarding. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/brt or send an email to [email protected]. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 10- Willets Pt. Lawsuit Dismissed there, and found that the developers proposal did not violate state or city law. O pponents of the development tapped the precedent of public trust to bring the lawsuit. This principle argues that certain resources will be preserved strictly for the public use. “The public trust doctrine does not apply,” Mendez said. “(The) Administrative Code (§18-118b) applies to the use of the property for a shopping mall, because it will serve the public purpose of improving trade or commerce.” Gruen and others disagree with this interpretation. “We figure a shopping center is not a park service,” he said. “We thought this was an example of the worst of the worst in park alienation.” To construct Shea Stadium, the land in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park was transferred to private owners to promote commerce, not engage in it directly, Gruen believes. “We think it’s absolutely plain in the context,” Gruen told the Times Newsweekly Tuesday. “Promoting trade and commerce is different from engaging in trade and commerce. The two concepts are entirely different.” Along with the civic group opponents of the Willets West plan, Avella has long advocated against the proposal, and after the decision said, “It was disheartening to learn of Justice Mendoza's decision today in respect to the Willets West lawsuit. We made some very good legal arguments and strongly believe that we are in the right on this issue. I look forward to submitting an appeal alongside the other plaintiffs and feel confident about a future positive outcome.” Geoffrey Croft—president of NYC Park Advocates, another plaintiff in the lawsuit—was frustrated by the decision. He believes it could set a troubling precedent for the seizure of parkland. “The decision flies in the face of the Public Trust Doctrine and ignores long-established case law,” Croft said. “Equally troubling is it bestows the powers of the former Board of Estimate for land-use decisions to one person, the Mayor. This is ironic considering the Board was declared unconstitutional because it violated the “one man, one vote” provision of the Equal Protection Clause which was determined to be un-democratic. “The city is attempting to hand over 47.5 acres of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park worth an estimated $1 billion to Related Companies and Sterling Equities,” Croft added. “This is unacceptable.” -CONTINUED FROM PG. 10- Countdown To Democratic Primary On Sept. 9 Earlier this year, Duffy declined to run for a second term as lieutenant governor. Whoever the Democrats choose for governor and lieutenant governor will face the Republican ticket of Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and Chemung County Sheriff Christopher Moss, along with third-party candidates, in the Nov. 4 general election. Locally, there are six State Senate and Assembly Democratic primaries to watch in the Times Newsweekly coverage area. Aside from intra-party races for district leader and committee posts, there are no major Republican primary contests. In the Assembly, long-time incumbent Assemblywoman Margaret Markey is facing a challenge for her 30th Assembly District seat from Community Board 5 Second Vice Chairperson Dmytro Fedkowskyj, a former Panel for Educational Policy member. The 30th District covers parts of Astoria, Sunnyside, Woodside, Maspeth, Middle Village and Rego Park. Two Cypress Hills residents are competing for the open 54th Assembly District seat, which covers parts of Bushwick, Cypress Hills and East New York. Former City Council Member Erik Martin Dilan and local pastor Kimberly Council are competing to succeed Rafael Espinal, who vacated the seat earlier this year to become a City Council member. Though incumbents tend to be favored in primaries, one lawmaker who figures to be in jeopardy of losing is State Sen. Malcolm Smith of the 14th Senatorial District, which covers parts of parts of Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill and southeastern Queens. Smith was indicted in April 2013 on federal corruption charges; a mistrial was declared in his case earlier this year, and he is awaiting retrial. Smith is being challenged by Deputy Queens Borough President Leroy Comrie of St. Albans, also a former City Council member, and attorney Munir Avery of Jamaica. Another incumbent facing a challenge is State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky of the 16th Senatorial District, which is gerrymandered across central Queens and covers parts of Elmhurst, Forest Hills, Maspeth, Middle Village, Rego Park, Woodside and eastern Queens neighborhoods. Stavisky’s opponent is community activist and businessman S.J. Jung of Flushing. State Sen. James Sanders is facing two challengers for his 10th Senatorial District seat, which includes parts of Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Jamaica, southeastern Queens and the eastern Rockaways. They are businessman Everly Brown of Rosedale and real estate broker Gian Jones of Far Rockaway. Finally, State Sen. Martin Malavé Dilan, the long-time incumbent representing the 18th Senatorial District, is facing a challenge from tenant organizer Debbie Medina of Williamsburg. The 18th District includes parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick, Cypress Hills, East Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Williamsburg. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 8- News From The WRBA WRBA. The Man of the Year will be Allan Smith, a historian of Woodhaven who has long been involved in the community. The Woman of the Year will be Margie Schmidt, the owner of Schmidt’s Candy on Jamaica Avenue. The Business of the Year will be The Avenue Diner, owned by Paul Vasiliadis. This year’s inductee into the Woodhaven Hall of Fame will be Lewis’ of Woodhaven. To buy a ticket to the fundraiser with a credit card, please visit http://bit.ly/Wdhvn3 (keep the capitalization the same). To purchase an advertisement in the Fundraiser Journal with a credit card, please visit http://bit.ly/Wdhvn4 (again, keep the capitalization the same). You can also e-mail or call us to buy tickets or an ad. On Saturday, Sept. 20 at 5 p.m., we and our elected officials are holding a pasta fundraiser dinner to help save the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps. It should be a lot of fun, but more importantly, all proceeds will go to the ambulance corps, whose existence is threatened by the collapsed building next door (which I wrote about in my last column). Tickets are $20. Call or e-mail the WRBA for a ticket, or purchase online by visiting http://bit.ly/WRHVACfundraiser. And on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., we will hold the Great Woodhaven Yard Sale. This is a coordinated date when households across the neighborhood will have yard sales all at the same time. The WRBA will distribute maps (with locations but without specific addresses) so that shoppers can visit them all and make a day of it. Call or e-mail the WRBA if you’d like to join in, either as a shopper or a seller. There’s a lot going on in Woodhaven, and the WRBA wants you to know all about it. * * * Editor’s note: The next Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association meeting is on Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, located at 89-02 91st St. Blenkinsopp is a member of Community Board 9 and director of communications for the WRBA. For additional information on the WRBA, visit www.woodhaven-nyc.org. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 10- Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder recently joined dozens of children and families for rides, face painting and entertainment at a community fun day with Reach for the S.T.A.R.S. in Howard Beach. He is pictured with many of the kids and Frances Scarantino, owner of Reach For the STARS.
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