40 The Queens Courier • JUNE 14, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com
40 THE QUEENS COURIER • JUNE 14, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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THE QUEENS
editorial
WWW.COURIERSUN.COM
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
CO-PUBLISHER
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
VP, EVENTS, WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA
ART DIRECTOR
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
STAFF REPORTERS
CONTRIBUTING REPORTERS
ASSISTANT TO PUBLISHER
CLASSIFIED MANAGER
CONTROLLER
PRESIDENT & CEO
VICE PRESIDENT
VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA A. SCHNEPS
BOB BRENNAN
ROBERT POZARYCKI
AMY AMATO-SANCHEZ
NIRMAL SINGH
EMILY DAVENPORT
KATRINA MEDOFF, RYAN KELLEY, JENNA BAGCAL
SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
CLIFF KASDEN, SAMANTHA SOHMER, ELIZABETH ALONI
DEBORAH CUSICK
CELESTE ALAMIN
MARIA VALENCIA
VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA A. SCHNEPS
Schneps Communications, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361
718-224-5863 • Fax 718-224-5441
www.qns.com
editorial e-mail: editorial@qns.com
for advertising e-mail: ads@qns.com
Entire Contents Copyright 2017 by The Queens Courier
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STORY: Ben’s Best Deli in Rego Park announces it will close at
the end of June
SUMMARY: After more than 70 years of serving pastrami,
corned beef and cold cuts in Rego Park, Ben’s Best
Delicatessen is on the verge of closing its doors for good at
the end of June.
REACH: 11,780 people (as of 6/11/18)
Bike lane war has few winners
Queens fi nds itself in the middle of a three-front battle over the proliferation of bike
lanes across the borough.
On one side of the battlefi eld is a coalition that includes the city’s Department of
Transportation, bicyclists and street safety advocates who want a dedicated network of
bike lanes to protect commuters on two-wheels while promoting an alternative way of
getting around.
On the other side are a number of Queens residents, drivers and business people who
believe the bike lanes take up valuable parking and travel space — causing inconvenience
and, in some cases, crippling fi nancial problems for local merchants.
Th is battle could have been avoided, however, had the DOT and local residents more
eff ectively communicated and collaborated. It also would have helped if the DOT had
taken the community boards seriously — and if some residents had abandoned their
obstinate opposition to bike lanes.
A closer look at the battle demonstrates the dysfunction.
In the west, Community Board 2 voted down a plan to install protected bike lanes in
Sunnyside. It didn’t matter to some opponents the intentions of the proposal, which
came about aft er a bicyclist was struck and killed by a drunk driver. “I don’t care about
cyclists,” one attendee said.
Even so, the DOT indicated in a statement aft erward that it considered the board’s
vote advisory in capacity — in other words, the protected bike lane plan isn’t exactly
dead yet.
Meanwhile, Forest Hills and Rego Park residents complain about the existing bike
lanes on Queens Boulevard, and the DOT’s eff orts to expand them. One business, Ben’s
Best deli, is closing up because, its owner claims, the bike lanes caused a loss of parking
spots, keeping customers away.
Nevertheless, even as Community Board 6 members voiced concerns about expanding
the Queens Boulevard bike lanes at a recent meeting, the DOT indicated that it was
moving forward on the plan regardless of whether the board even takes a vote.
Finally, in the northeast, residents have been screaming for months about the
Northern Boulevard bike lanes which included terribly placed jersey barriers near a
Cross Island Parkway off ramp that led to several accidents.
Before the bike lanes were built last year, Community Board 11 suggested that the
lanes be constructed on the sidewalk; the DOT ignored the request and proceeded with
their plan virtually unaltered.
Bike lanes are a necessary part of New York City’s 21st-century infrastructure, but
they need to be built with the community in mind. We urge the DOT not to dismiss
reasonable community concerns regarding bike lane construction and placement. Th e
agency must also fi x any hazardous conditions that may result.
We also urge local residents not to be openly hostile of bike lanes. Not everyone can
aff ord a car or a $121 monthly unlimited MetroCard. Bicyclists shouldn’t have to risk
their lives competing against vehicular traffi c.
Publisher & E ditor Victoria Schneps-Yunis
Co-Publisher Joshua Schneps
Associate Publisher Bob Brennan
E ditor-In-Chief Robert Pozarycki
VP, Events, Web & Social Media Amy Amato-Sanchez
Art Director Nirmal Singh
S ocial Media Manager Emily Davenport
S taff Reporters Katrina Medoff, Ryan Kelly, Angela Matua
Suzanne Monteverdi
Contributing Reporters Cliff Kasden, Samantha Sohmer, Elizabeth Aloni
Assistant to Publisher Deborah Cusick
Classified Manager Celeste Alamin
Controller Maria Valencia
President & CEO Victoria Schneps-Yunis
Vice President Joshua A. Schneps
Schneps Communications, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361
718-224-5863 • Fax 718-224-5441
www.qns.com
editorial e-mail: editorial@qns.com
for advertising e-mail: ads@qns.com
Entire Contents Copyright 2017 by The Courier Sun
All letters sent to THE COURIER SUN should be brief and are subject to condensing. Writers should
include a full address and home and office telephone numbers, where available, as well as affiliation,
indicating special interest. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request.
No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of THE COURIER SUN. The
publishers will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by
the error. Errors must be reported to THE COURIER SUN within five days of publication. Ad position
cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication.
VIctoria Media Services assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes
all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold The Courier SUN and its
employees harmless from all cost, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the
publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement.
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