SHB_p003

SC06022016

FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com JUNE 2, 2016 • THE COURIER SUN 3 ‘MILLENNIAL-FRIENDLY’ MTA BUSES INCLUDE FREE WI-FI AND CHARGING PORTS By Briana Ellis bellis@qns.com/@briinformed If the MTA can’t do anything about the bus delays, they hope that at least passengers will spend their trips more effectively thanks to the free Wi-Fi and charging ports. In May, MTA rolled out the first batch of the new bus fleet that features Wi-Fi and USB charging ports. Seventy-five buses will serve Richmond Hill, South Jamaica, South Ozone Park, Springfield Gardens, Rosedale and Far Rockaway. The remaining 2,042 buses will be added by 2020, replacing nearly 40 percent of the current bus fleet. The new buses touted as “Millennial-friendly” and “state-ofthe art” with “European flair” are supposed to help the passengers to spend their often endless time on the bus effectively. The Courier took a ride to test out the Wi-Fi and charging ports and can report that both work flawlessly. The bus driver Andy Rodriguez told us, “It’s gonna be effective in the sense where it’s gonna alleviate other buses and the crowds. People are gonna be less frustrated and operators as well so overall it’s good for everyone.” “I think this is fabulous … everyone on a bus has a phone in their hands” one person commented on our Facebook post about the new buses. However, not everybody shared the same excitement. Brokelyn listed 25 things Millennials actually want from the MTA before the Wi-Fi and charging ports, which included buses arriving near their THE COURIER/Photos by Brianna Ellis schedule as well as countdown clocks. Many other people took on to Twitter to share their perspective on MTA’s technological advancement. “Absurdity of prioritizing USB charging over a properly-funded system that doesn’t need multi-year shutdowns is infuriating,” Mark D Beazley tweeted. “Misguided idea. Muggings for tech devices and fights over use of the charging ports will become major problems,” CEO BUCCS wrote. Howard Beach Dunkin’ Donuts robber also linked to two other heists in Flushing and Forest Hills By Robert Pozarycki rpozarycki@qns.com/@robbpoz This robber ran on Dunkin’ — and Carvel ice cream, too. A knife-wielding robber who held up a Dunkin’ Donuts shop in Howard Beach on May 25 hit two other eateries in Queens earlier this month, according to police. The most recent stickup occurred at 11:55 p.m. on May 25 inside the eatery located at 163-02 Cross Bay Blvd. According to authorities, the suspect — described as a black male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black jeans, brown work boots and black and white gloves — entered the location and displayed a knife. Authorities said the bandit then walked behind the counter and demanded that a worker open the register. The suspect then grabbed $776 in cash and fled the scene westbound on 163rd Avenue. Officers from the 106th Precinct responded to the incident. The employee was not injured. On May 26, police announced that the same suspect allegedly robbed two other Queens businesses this month in much the same fashion. At 9:50 p.m. on May 11, authorities said, the crook visited the Carvel ice cream store at 103-21 Security camera footage shows a knife-wielding robber in Flushing on May 23. Metropolitan Ave. in Forest Hills, displayed a knife to an employee and demanded that the register be opened. The suspect then grabbed $500 in cash out of the register and fled. Then, at 11:30 p.m. on May 23, the suspect came calling to the Dunkin’ Donuts shop at 146-36 45th Ave. in Flushing. Police said he displayed a knife and demanded that a male worker open two cash registers. The employee complied with the request, and the suspect removed a combined $600 in cash before fleeing. The NYPD released security camera footage from this incident (see below). NBC New York reported that the NYPD Queens Robbery Squad is investigating a possible link between the Queens holdups and an active business robbery pattern in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Photo courtesy of NYPD Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.


SC06022016
To see the actual publication please follow the link above