Airtrain Might Run to LGA Proposal Hits Cuomo Pitches New Rail Line Connecting Willets Pt
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LARGEST AUDITED COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER • LITTLE NECK LEDGER IN QUEENS • WHITESTONE TIMES Jan. 23–29, 2015 Your Neighborhood — Your News® FREE ALSO COVERING AUBURNDALE, COLLEGE POINT, DOUGLASTON, GLEN OAKS, FLORAL PARK New bus line AirTrain might run to LGA proposal hits Cuomo pitches new rail line connecting Willets Pt. station to airport bumpy road BY BILL PARRY BY MADINA TOURE Gov. Andrew Cuomo made two proposals this week that Two northeast Queens will have significant impact on lawmakers have expressed the borough: the unveiling of concerns about a proposal for plans to build an AirTrain to a Select Bus Service route in LaGuardia Airport and a plan and between Flushing and Ja- to increase the minimum wage maica. in New York City. The Metropolitan Transpor- Cuomo Tuesday presented tation Authority and the city his six-point plan to strengthen Department of Transportation and modernize the state’s in- are proposing a Flushing to Ja- frastructure, including better maica Select Bus Service con- access to LaGuardia for the 27 necting three corridors: Main million passengers who use it Street, Kissena and Parsons annually. boulevards and 164th Street in “You can’t get to LaGuar- andbetween Flushing and Ja- dia by train and that’s really maica. inexcusable,” Cuomo said in a City Councilman Rory speech to the Association for a Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows) Better New York. “That is go- and state Assemblyman Mi- ing to change over the next sev- chael Simanowitz (D-Flushing) eral years.” said a travel or parking lane The AirTrain will be con- could possibly be eliminated to structed by the Port Authority accommodate the service, hurt- and the MTA at an estimated ing motorists, residents and cost of $450 million. The long small businesses. overdue project would connect They met with the DOT and with the No. 7 subway line with the MTA last Friday, where the a new terminal just south of the agencies updated them on the Willets Pt.-Mets subway station proposal. The lawmakers ex- between Citi Field and Flush- pressed support for ideas such ing Meadows Corona Park. as offboard ticketing, synchro- Bella Mia is one lucky dog. Her owner, Rose Ann Bolasny of Little Neck, has written a will that leaves There is a Long Island Rail nizing lights and reconfigur- the 3-year-old Bella a dog-gone fortune, including a trust fund and a Florida vacation home worth Road station as well, part of the ing left-turn signals. more than a million dollars. Bolasny just wants to make sure her pampered pooch can continue to Port Washington line. “The final proposal could have the lifestyle to which she has become accustomed after the owner is gone, she told the New The elevated tracks are to include a menu of strategies York Post. Photo by Christina Santuccirun a mile and a half along the for improving bus service and Grand Central Parkway avoid- Continued on Page 57 Continued on Page 57 Malcolm X’s daughter speaks to kids BY MADINA TOURE Academy in Springfield Gar- 59th anniversary of the march dens as the 50th anniversary from Selma to Montgomery, On Saturday afternoon, of his assassination nears. Ala. Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Her appearance was one of the late African American several events held in Queens See coverage on Pages 4 Muslim civil rights activist to honor the birthday and and 5. Malcolm X's daughter reads a passage from her children's book “Malcolm Malcolm X, announced her work of pastor and activist Dr. Little.” Photo by Madina Toure latest novel “X” at the Merrick Martin Luther King Jr. on the A CNG Publication Vol. 8081 No.No. 44 Vol. 80 No. 4 64xx total pages 7 to run on New Year No. 2 suspect busted in Bay Terrace heist MTA says Flushing train will operate for Chinese holiday BY JUAN SOTO of $100,000 bond. The victims “weren’t just A second suspect was ar- robbed of their possessions,” rested in connection with Brown said. “The defendant April’s brutal home invasion allegedly stole the couple’s that sent an elderly couple sense of security that they to the hospital and rocked a were safe from harm in their quiet Bay Terrace neighbor- own home.” hood. Brown said that ac- Vicente Barzola, a 39-year- cording to the criminal old Brooklyn resident, was complaint, when one of the busted and arraigned in victims opened the door of Queens Criminal Court on their Bay Terrace apartment, burglary, robbery and assault Barzola allegedly punched charges in relation with the the woman in the face and violent episode,l said Richard knocked her to the ground. Brown, the Queens District The suspect then allegedly Attorney. choked the victim, who was According to the crimi- 85 at the time, until she lost nal complaint, Barzola and consciousness. For the first time, the 7 train will run without interruption during Lunar New Year celebrations. the other suspect arrested, The Queens district attor- Christopher Ramírez, alleg- ney said when she awoke, her Kim said Flushing is known edly rang the door bell of the home had been ransacked. BY MADINA TOURE throughout the world for its home of the victims posing According to the com- Lunar New Year celebrations. as maintenance workers and plaint, Ramírez allegedly For the first time, the 7 Last year, “The 7 train is essential for then stormed into the home went upstairs and found the train will be running at full all those traveling to Flush- of the octogenarian victims elderly man asleep in bed. capacity during all Lunar construction on ing and the Main Street hub is as one of them opened the Authorities said the suspect New Year celebrations in Feb- the 7 train was one of the busiest in New York door. yanked the man to the floor ruary. City,” he said in a statement. A judge ordered Barzola and bound his hands with The 7 train will be running suspended only “I hope that the MTA will con- be held without bail. Both plastic ties. without interruption for the tinue to keep this tradition he and Ramírez, a 24-year- Both victims were taken weekend of Lunar New Year, on the day of the throughout the rest of the 7 old Corona resident, are due to New York Hospital, where Feb. 21-22, and the weekend line construction in the next back in court Jan. 30, Brown they were treated for the seri- before the holiday, Feb. 14-15. paradee. few years.” noted. ous injuries they sustained. Last year, construction on the Stavisky acknowledged Ramírez was arrested in The woman received med- 7 train was suspended only on that overhauling the entire 7 June and is being held in lieu Continued on Page 57 the day of the parade. before the holiday to symbol- line is an enormous endeavor City Councilman Peter Koo ize the new year. but said the move gives the (D-Flushing) praised the MTA In 2012, Koo, state Sen. Toby holiday value. for the move, saying that indi- Stavisky (D-Flushing), state “They’re sending a mes- viduals must purchase special Assemblyman Ron Kim (D- sage that keeping this line foods a month in advance and Flushing) and U.S. Rep. Grace open without interruption for that the train is the easiest Meng (D-Flushing), along with this holiday is just as impor- transportation for elderly resi- local small business own- tant as transporting fans to a dents to use. ers and community leaders, Mets game or the U.S. Open,” “That’s why it’s important had meeting with the MTA in she said in a statement. “This to keep the train service open which they voiced the signifi- is an example of the religious and understanding that most cant disruption 7 line service and cultural tolerance New immigrants, especially senior changes had on area business- Yorkers are famous for and I citizens, they don’t drive,” Koo es whose customers could not am delighted to wish everyone said. “They don’t even know travel easily to Flushing. a very happy Lunar New Year how to take the bus. On the 7 “It was a long meeting,” free of transit hassles.” train, it’s easy because they Koo said. “We told them this is just get on it and they arrive.” very important in our commu- Reach reporter Madina Koo also noted the Chinese nity to have the service.” Toure by e-mail at mtoure@cn- tradition also calls on indi- Other Flushing lawmakers glocal.com or by phone at (718) Emergency responders help the elderly woman seriously injured in viduals to get a new haircut praised the decision as well. 260–4566. last year's Bay Terrace home invasion. 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