WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES DECEMBER 28, 2017 19
2017 Year in Review
NOVEMBER — DECEMBER
November
Holden defeats Crowley in an election stunner
The biggest Election Night surprise
in New York City this year came
out of Queens. Incumbent Councilwoman
Elizabeth Crowley faced off
against Juniper Park Civic Association
President Bob Holden. Though Crowley
won the Democratic primaries handily
back in September, Holden turned the
tables on Election Night in November. He
ended the evening with a 133-vote lead on
Crowley. A recanvassing of ballots and
absentee ballots saw his lead grow by four,
and Crowley conceded, making her the
only incumbent Democratic City Council
member to lose to a Republican candidate
this election cycle.
Select Bus Service debuts on
Woodhaven & Cross Bay Blvds.
To the cheers of some and
derision of other residents,
the MTA launched Select Bus
Service on the Q52 and Q53 lines
along Woodhaven and Cross Bay
Boulevards on Nov. 12. The new
system -- featuring longer buses, off -
board fare payment and dedicated
bus lanes -- aims to speed up daily
commutes for tens of thousands of
people who use the bus lines. Drivers,
on the other hand, complained
about the loss of parking spots for
extended bus stops and travel restrictions
on bus lanes during rush
hour periods. The latter issue has
been said to aggravate congestion
along the boulevards.
December
Illegal I
Maspeth nightclub closed down
Detectives slammed the doors on an illegal
nightclub in Maspeth early on Dec. 9.
According to the criminal complaint
that the Queens District Attorney’s offi ce provided,
the undercover detectives were met at
the door by bouncers and escorted to the second
fl oor, where they were each charged a $20
entrance fee. Aft er being frisked by security
guards, the detectives were allowed into the club.
More than 60 people were inside the premises at
the time, prosecutors said. The two detectives
walked up to a bartender, then ordered (and subsequently
received) two alcoholic drinks for $15
each. Nine workers were arrested.
DOT defaults contract on Metropolitan Ave. bridge work
Aft er months of reported problems, a Department of Transportation
spokesperson confi rmed to QNS that its contract with
Mugrose Construction to rebuild the Metropolitan Avenue
and Fresh Pond Road bridge over the Montauk line of the Long Island
Rail Road has defaulted. The project that was once projected to have
its fi rst phase completed by January 2018 has now been completely
stalled. The DOT cited delays that were beyond its control, and is
now working closely with the bonding company to get the project
completed as quickly as possible, the spokesperson said.