Pols Urge Rockaway Line Revival to Boost Sales Queens Lawmakers Ask Feds for Sandy Relief Money to Fund Feasibility Study
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CF:8C :C8JJ@=@<;J @EJ@;< Mar. 31, 2013 Your Neighborhood — Your News® Atlas Park set for new stores Pols urge Rockaway line revival to boost sales Queens lawmakers ask feds for Sandy relief money to fund feasibility study port of reopening the derelict last week requesting that Sandy (D-Jamaica) and Hakeem Jeffries BY STEVE MOSCO BY JOE ANUTA Rockaway Beach rail line fired relief money be used to fund a fea- (D-Brooklyn), along with state off a letter to the head of the U.S. sibility study. Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder The owners of a mall in Glen- Queens lawmakers in sup- Department of Transportation U.S. Reps. Gregory Meeks (D-Ozone Park), urged DOT Sec- dale announced vast changes this retary Ray LaHood to allocate a week in an effort to inject new life portion of the roughly $60 billion into the struggling shops. COURT CONSTRUCTION aid package approved by Con- After revealing last Au- gress in January to paying for a gust that trendy fashion retailer study to determine the best use Forever 21 planned to open a of unused elevated track stretch- 15,000-square-foot store at the ing along 99th Street from Forest Shops at Atlas Park this sum- Park down to Rockaway Boule- mer, Macerich, the mall owner, vard. declared more alterations are on That track once connected the way. rails now used by the A train The Shops at Atlas Park, lo- from the Rockaways to Long Is- cated at 80-00 Cooper Ave., also land Rail Road tracks that run said trendy women’s clothing through Forest Hills and into the retailer Charlotte Russe will be city. added to the mall, and construc- “Immediate investment in tion has started on updates to the this project would offer a perma- property’s Center Green open nent and viable transit solution space. for the millions of hardworking “These two exceptional re- families all across Queens,” Gold- tailers are a real fit for the dy- feder said. namic community surrounding The Rockaway Beach branch The Shops at Atlas Park,” said of the Long Island Rail Road was Liza Diaz, property manager for shut down more than 50 years the shopping center, which was Councilman Ruben Wills (second l.) counts down as U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (c.) and Councilman Leroy Comrie ago, and its tracks have rotted and acquired by Macerich in a fore- prepare to hit their shovels to mark the ceremonial start of the renovation of the South Jamaica Houses bas- rusted. Nearly all of the track ap- closure auction in 2011. “We are ketball courts. In total, $350,000 was secured by Wills and the New York City Housing Authority from the City pears to be owned by the Depart- pleased to be bringing more excit- Council for basketball courts with fiber glass back boards, bleachers and lighting. Photo by Christina Santucci ment of Citywide Administrative ing, destination retail concepts to Services, according to a review of Continued on Page 10 Continued on Page 10 Screening of ‘Central Park Five’ Women’s group heads to Totten spurs SE Queens talk on rights BY PHIL CORSO Ann Jawin, CWNY Fort Totten. BY KAREN FRANTZ president, said her pa- “It has been slow, but After nearly a decade tience was validated when we are thrilled to be at this A screening of the documentary “Central of dealing with money, the center learned the state stage,” Jawin said. “We Park Five,” which recounts the case of five meetings and management, Dormitory Authority had don’t have to hope things teenagers who were falsely convicted of the the Center for the Women of approved renovations for will go through anymore. brutal rape of a woman jogger in Central Park The building at 207 Totten Ave. in Bayside New York’s journey back to the historic landmark in It’s a reality.” in 1989, turned into a teachable moment for is in dire need of renovations before the Fort Totten was given the Bayside, marking a vital With this approval, many at the Robert Ross Johnson Family Life Center for the Women of New York can stamp of approval and may next step in an ongoing the Dormitory Author- Continued on Page 10 move back into the spot. relocate by next year. mission to return home to Continued on Page 10 A CNG Publication • Vol. 2, No. 13 UPDATED EVERY DAY AT TIMESLEDGER.COM 2 FACT: Smoke-free Homes . 31, 2013 are Healthier and Safer. AR , M EEKLY W UEENS Q Going smoke-free is the only way to protect your family and neighbors from the dangers of secondhand smoke at home. It’s easier than you think. Contact the Queens Smoke-Free Partnership today to learn more about how your building can go smoke-free. Visit: NYCSmokeFree.org/housing Candidates opine on best way to be beep 3 Hopefuls gunning for Helen Marshall’s job have different ideas on most effective way to govern Q UEENS BY JOE ANUTA powers of the borough pres- W EEKLY ident for constituents and The borough presi- how she would use them. , M dent’s job is not clearly de- Peralta wants to be- AR . 31, 2013 fined in the City Charter, come a spokesman for the which has led the seven borough and, in essence, Democrats rebrand it as a destination vying for to attract more people and, the spot to in turn, more economic mold their activity. Brown has not ap- own ideal of how Queens peared at any forums. should be run. The candidates hoping State Sen. Tony Avella to fill the borough’s top slot (D-Bayside), businessman are competing for a position Everly Brown, City Coun- whose power was greatly cilman Leroy Comrie (D- Several candidates for borough president, including (l.-r.) Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., state Sen. Jose Peralta, Barry Grodenchik, (David diminished when the City St. Albans), Director of Weprin, who is not running), Melinda Katz and Tony Avella, gather together after a small forum. Photo by Nat Valentine Charter was rewritten in Community Boards Barry 1989. Before that the heads Grodenchik, former state on whatever projects he or problems in Queens. limits, he added. utations as outspoken law- of each borough sat on the Assemblywoman Melinda she deems fit. So why are six sea- And because the bor- makers who are not afraid now-defunct city Board of Katz, Sen. Jose Peralta But the majority of du- soned politicians running ough president’s role is to speak up for Queens Estimate, which voted on (D-East Elmhurst), Coun- ties outlined in the charter for the job? largely that of a cheerlead- — even though they often budget and land use issues. cilman Peter Vallone Jr. show the borough president “It’s a step-up in vis- er, the position’s power de- ruffle political feathers. And when the Board (D-Astoria) are all hoping is supposed to offer advi- ibility and opportunity,” pends on the personality of Grodenchik and Com- of Estimate was abolished, to replace Helen Marshall sory opinions on a host of said Dick Dadey, executive who is in office, according rie have focused on improv- many questioned whether next year. issues, including land use director of the good govern- to Dadey. ing education in the bor- the position of borough The most tangible applications, hold public ment group Citizens Union. And voters have ough and bringing more presidents should be re- source of power is capital hearings on matters that af- “But its power is limited.” caught glimpses of those control back to communi- tained, according to Claire spending. The borough fect the borough, offer sug- Some candidates might personalities throughout ties. Shulman, former Queens president receives 5 per- gestions to the mayor and want to stay in public office recent political forums. Katz emphasizes her borough president who cent of the city’s capital create multiple task forces despite being forced out of Avella and Vallone experience in city govern- made the position a power- budget each year to dole out to collect information on their current roles by term have both touted their rep- ment and has outlined the ful force for the county. Dream Foundation grants fi nal wish to Maspeth man BY STEVE MOSCO championships in profes- like going to Mecca.” turn down the chance if it sional golf. With a prognosis of came up. Raymond Finerty has “We are honored to fewer than six months to The Finertys’ children, long dreamed about visit- serve Raymond’s dream, live due to advanced stage Keith, Sheila and Amy, ing the sacred links of the especially since he’s waited mesothelioma, Finerty is all learned golf from their Augusta National Golf Club his whole life to visit Au- currently on hiatus from father after they left West- in Georgia for the Masters gusta National,” said Kelly treatment while he sup- meath, Ireland, for America tournament. Sweda, communications ports his wife who is also close to 30 years ago. And it And after three years manager with Dream Foun- battling cancer. was his children, all adults battling cancer, the termi- dation, which sent several “We are good, we are today, who fought to fulfill nally ill 59-year-old Mas- officials to meet Finerty strong and we are going to their father’s final wish. peth resident is about to and his wife Mary at their keep going,” said Finerty’s “I’m so glad he will be wake up in a world where Maspeth home Tuesday. unshakable wife Mary. out there on the course,” that dream is a reality.