Boro Lawmakers Rename Streets for Gay Activists
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• JAMAICA TIMES • ASTORIA TIMES • FOREST HILLS LEDGER • LAURELTON TIMES LARGEST AUDITED • QUEENS VILLAGE TIMES COMMUNITY • RIDGEWOOD LEDGER NEWSPAPER IN QUEENS • HOWARD BEACH TIMES • RICHMOND HILL TIMES Aug. 2-8, 2013 Your Neighborhood - Your News® FREE ALSO COVERING ELMHURST, JACKSON HEIGHTS, LONG ISLAND CITY, MASPETH, MIDDLE VILLAGE, REGO PARK, SUNNYSIDE Woodhaven teen stabbed as she returns from work PagesPages Page 11 27-3827-38 Exxon ordered to clean water Boro lawmakers in SE Queens rename streets BY RICH BOCKMANN ExxonMobil owes the city nearly $105 million to help pay the cost of treating contami- for gay activists nated groundwater in southeast Queens, a federal appeals court ruled last week after the interna- tional oil behemoth challenged Both men worked with HIV/AIDS patients the 2009 jury award. A three-judge panel in Man- hattan’s Second Circuit Court BY CHRISTINA SANTUCCI cilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D- of Appeals last Friday affirmed Sunnyside) was joined by City a Brooklyn federal court jury Western Queens leaders hon- Council Speaker Christine Quinn award of $104.69 million in com- ored two late gay rights activists (D-Manhattan) in Woodside to pensatory damages after it found over the weekend with streets re- pay tribute to Lou Rispoli, who the Irving, Texas-based company named in their honor. was beaten to death in October liable for contaminating well In Jackson Heights, Council- 2012. Police are still searching for water with methyl tertiary butyl man Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson two suspects who were last seen ether — a chemical additive used Heights) led a ceremony Satur- with Rispoli walking on 43rd Av- to reduce harmful emissions by day for Guillermo Vazquez at enue in Sunnyside. Authorities increasing the oxygen level of Elmhurst Hospital Center, where believe the pair hit 62-year-old gasoline. friends spoke about his work to Rispoli over the head before flee- “Yet again, this company prevent the spread of HIV and ing to a waiting car. Immediately — which carelessly polluted our Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (l.) and Rispoli’s niece Christina ODonnell (r.) ap- AIDS, which ultimately took after the attack, he was placed in groundwater supply — has been plaud after a commemorative sign in memory of Lou Rispoli is given to his hus- Vazquez’s own life. hospice care, and he died six days Continued on Page 54 band, Danyal Lawson. Photo by Ken Maldonado About an hour later, Coun- Continued on Page 54 A CNG Publication Vol. 1 No. 30 64 total pages CATS For MAYOR A New Yorker for all New Yorkers cats2013.com Paid for by Catsimatidis 2013 2 TL State nixes liquor store Kaufman begins work COM . on outdoor movie lot Springfi eld Gds. claims victory over proposed biz near high school BY CHRIS ENGELHARDT sets can be constructed, stunts and car chases can TIMESLEDGER BY RICH BOCKMANN Construction on the be staged and large-scale back lot of Kaufman Asto- equipment can be used. Springfield Gardens is ria Studios officially kicked It will also ensure for two-for-two when it comes off two weeks ago, making productions to shoot exteri- . 2-8, 2013 . 2-8, 2013 to fighting unwanted busi- way for New York City’s or and special effects shots UG nesses near the neighbor- first outdoor film set. adjacent to sound stages. , A hood high school after the Kaufman Studios shut Ultimately, the back lot EDGER state rejected an applica- down 36th Street between will enable Kaufman Stu- L tion for a liquor store across 34th and 35th avenues in dios to continue to attract a IMES T the street. Astoria where construction variety of world-class films “The New York State commenced for the project. and television series, the Liquor Authority has dis- A spokeswoman for Quinn spokeswoman said. approved the liquor license & Co., a Manhattan-based Kaufman Studios was for the proposed liquor public relations firm for opened by the legendary store across the street from the studios, said the studios Adolph Zuckor in 1920 and Springfield [ Gardens] High worked with the city and is now headed by Chair- School and we ought to David Rockwell, an award- man George S. Kaufman, applaud that today,” City winning architectural an active fixture in the film Councilman Donovan Rich- firm, to design the entry and real estate industries ards (D-Laurelton) said Fri- gate and rear gate as well for more than 40 years, day outside an under-con- as the streetscape of the who took over the studio struction strip mall across studio lot. Work is expected in 1980. He is on the boards from the school, which up to be completed by the fall, of numerous philanthropic until last year was the pro- she said. and civic organizations, posed site of a hot-sheets The spokeswoman including the Whitney Mu- Councilman Donovan Richards holds up a rejection letter from the state Liquor Authority regarding a motel. “I think it’s a great noted that the outdoor lot, seum, the Fashion Institute proposed liquor store near Springfield Gardens High School. Photo by Rich Bockmann victory.” which will run from 34th of Technology, The Real Es- Concerned communi- to 35th avenues, will pro- tate Board of New York and ty members sent petitions to build this community up, developer known for oper- our community,” she said. vide filmmakers with a the New York City Partner- to the authority express- that they will not be here,” ating pay-by-the-hour ho- “We need quality of life in controlled outdoor envi- ship. He is also chairman ing their disapproval after the councilman said. “You tels. our community and we are ronment where temporary Continued on Page 9 learning Gurmel Singh have an obligation when Community members going to implement quality had filed an application in you come here to ensure ... battled the developer for of life.” February to put the Billa that these children who go years, and after the city Rosedale Civic As- Wines & Liquor Inc. in the to this store are going to Department of Buildings sociation member Irnel strip mall, Richards said. leave better and if you want pulled his construction Stephan reiterated the sen- In a letter dated June to bring something here permit in 2011 the site was timent. 12, the authority informed bring a library, bring some quietly sold off to the For- “We are pleased to win Singh his request had been sort of tutoring center, but est Hills-based Platinum this victory and we are also shot down because he did nothing that is going to kill Realty Associates. ready to fight any other not have a valid lease with their dreams.” Fay Hill, of the Friends battles regarding any orga- his landlord, as required by Richards stood with of Springfield Park, said nization that tries to attack statute. several community mem- her children all graduated our children, to attack our Singh could not be bers near the corner of from Springfield Gardens way of life,” he said. reached for comment. Springfield Boulevard and High, at 143-10 Springfield “I just want to put any North Conduit Avenue Blvd., and she never had Reach reporter Rich businesses on notice today where construction is un- to worry about them walk- Bockmann by e-mail at that if they intend to come der way on a strip mall on ing out of the school’s doors [email protected] to our community and build a site where the community and into a liquor store. or by phone at 718-260-4574. Construction crews are working to build an outdoor film set in anything that is not going had pushed back against a “We don’t need this in Astoria. 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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the TimesLedger C/O News Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. 41-02 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, N.Y. 11361. 3 Old Rockaway Courthouse to become medical center TL T IMES L Facility to house ten doctors from Rockaway ASC Development, fi lling void left by Peninsula closure EDGER BY BIANCA FORTIS Patrick Muncie, a spokes- much-needed medical facil- , A UG man for the city Economic ity in an underserved com- . 2-8, 2013 The old Rockaway Development Corp. munity. courthouse, abandoned for The Harmony Group “With only one hospi- decades, will soon undergo said it plans to keep the tal on the peninsula, this a makeover as it becomes building’s Tennessee mar- resource is much-needed TIMESLEDGER a medical center, officials ble and limestone exterior. and I am grateful to the said. The project is expected Bloomberg administration The Albany-based Har- to cost more than $10 mil- and the Harmony Group for .