FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM APRIL 25, 2019 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
Traffi c signal to be
installed near Bayside
elementary school
Two Queens lawmakers announced that the
intersection near a Bayside public school will
soon be safer for students.
On Monday, Councilman Paul Vallone
received word from the Department of
Transportation (DOT) that the agency will
install a traffi c signal in front of P.S. 376 at
the intersection of 48th Avenue and 211th
Street. Prior to the news, Vallone along with
Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and members
of the P.S. 376 community had embarked on
months-long advocacy for more traffi c safety
in the area.
Vallone’s advocacy for traffi c calming measures
began before the school opened in
September 2017. Th e councilman wrote multiple
letters to DOT and took a tour of the school
site with the city agency.
“Aft er asking the Department of Transportation
to reevaluate this issue and requesting the addition
of traffi c signals at 48th Avenue and 211th
Street, I am pleased to hear that DOT will install
traffi c treatments at this location,” said Vallone.
“Collaboration with Principal Kang, the school’s
PTA and the DOT was a critical part of implementing
these positive changes. Th e safety of
our children always comes fi rst, and I thank the
DOT for their responsiveness to the concerns of
the community.”
Jenna Bagcal
Bob’s Discount
Furniture coming
to College Point
shopping center
Bob’s Discount Furniture store is coming to
College Point.
Th e chain that boasts quality furniture at
“everyday low prices” will soon open its doors
at 139-19 20th Ave. at the Triangle Plaza I. Th e
new store location will replace the Babies R Us
store that closed in June 2018.
A member of the College Point community
Facebook group reported the news last Friday
showing workers assembling the “Bob’s” sign on
the store’s facade.
According to the company’s website, its
founder, Bob Kaufman, opened the fi rst store
in Newington, Connecticut, in 1991. Bob’s
Furniture has established over 110 stores across
the country since its inception. In addition to
the College Point location, the company plans
to open seven additional stores in Michigan and
California.
Back in March 2018, Toys “R” Us fi led for
Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, which meant
the total liquidation of all United States assets.
Th is came aft er the company fi led for Chapter
11 bankruptcy in September 2017 and closed
180 stores nationwide, including two in Queens.
Babies “R” Us locations in Queens, including
the one in College Point’s Triangle Plaza, were a
casualty of the Toys “R” Us bankruptcy.
Other stores at Triangle Plaza include Old
Navy, Modell’s Sporting Goods, McDonald’s
and Starbucks.
Th e Courier reached out to Bob’s Discount
Furniture to confi rm an opening date and is
awaiting comment.
Jenna Bagcal
Photos courtesy of Councilman Paul Vallone’s offi ce
NE Queens votes to fund schools & security cameras
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com
@jenna_bagcal
Th e fi ft h year of participatory budgeting
is over and the people of northeast
Queens have spoken once again
for school and security projects.
Councilman Paul Vallone
announced on April 22 the results
of the 2019 round of participatory
budgeting, which garnered just over
8,500 votes in District 19. According to
Vallone’s offi ce, this year’s showing beat
northeast Queens’ previous record of
over 5,000 votes and was the best in
New York City.
From March 30 to April 7, residents
in Council District 19 had the
opportunity to vote on 20 projects that
could potentially receive funding from
Vallone. Each resident voted for up to
fi ve projects and the top three projects
at the end of the voting period would
receive funding.
Th is year the three winning projects
were the P.S. 129 gymnasium renovation,
a green biome at Bayside High
School and NYPD security cameras.
“Th e results once again clearly
show that northeast Queens has overwhelmingly
embraced the success of
the participatory budgeting process,”
said Vallone. “Th is grassroots process
encourages voter participation at a
time when voter turnout is at a record
low and is a great way to teach our
youth the power and importance of
voting. Th is tremendous eff ort could
not have been possible without the
continuous dedication of our delegates,
community liaisons, volunteers,
staff and Vito Tautonico, our director
of constituent services, who spearheaded
the process. I look forward to
continuing to grow the process next
year!”
Last year, Vallone allocated nearly
$1.8 million in funding for Bayside
High School’s new music rehearsal
rooms, J.H.S. 194 gymnasium renovations
and new NYPD security cameras.
Th is year, P.S. 129 Patricia Larkin in
College Point came in fi rst place with
2,009 votes. Funding will go toward a
full renovation of the school’s existing
gym space in order to enhance educational
opportunities for the school
community.
“Th e P.S. 129 school community
would like to thank Councilman
Vallone’s offi ce for the opportunity
to improve our school building and
to participate in the District 19 City
Council Participatory Budget Vote,”
said Principal Marilyn Alesi. “Th e
gymnasium renovation will be greatly
appreciated by all the students. We are
so grateful to the P.S 129 community,
students, parents, community members,
teachers, paraprofessionals and
everyone who participated in support
of this project.”
1,807 residents voted for Bayside
High School’s green biome, which will
allow hands-on learning about hydroponics,
solar energy, recycling and
urban gardening.
“Th e students, parents and staff of
Bayside High School are thrilled to have
learned that their dream of a Green
Biome/Environmental Science and
Sustainability Center will be fulfi lled,”
said the school’s Assistant Principal
Jonathan Hirata. “Council Member
Vallone’s Participatory Budgeting initiative
introduced Bayside High School
students to the political process and
allowed them to express their voices
through civic participation. Th e Green
Biome will be a cutting-edge learning
facility for our students as well as
a community center. It will continue to
raise awareness about the importance
of environmental sustainability in the
community.”
NYPD security camera funding came
in third place with 1,574 votes. Vallone’s
allocation will go toward the funding
and installation of four NYPD security
cameras, which are meant to enhance
crime prevention in District 19.
“Th e 109th Precinct Community
Council would like to thank
Councilman Paul Vallone and the
community for selecting the NYPD
Security Cameras in the participatory
budget vote,” Jerry Filippidis, President
of the 109th Precinct Community
Council. “One of the main concerns
of our community is safety and it is
great to see that the community voted
for the NYPD Security Cameras. Th e
NYPD Security Cameras are a proven
eff ective tool that helps deter crime
and help the NYPD keep our city safe.”
“Security cameras are a deterrent to
crime,” added Jack Fried, President of
111th Precinct Community Council.
“Our community is grateful to
Councilman Vallone for recognizing
the need and for helping us to keep the
111th community safe.”
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
