DiResto Eying Pheffer's Assembly Seat by Toni Cimino - Queens Courier

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Retired NYPD Lieutenant Glenn DiResto may be throwing his hat in the ring for Audrey Pheffer’s empty Assembly seat.

At least one person may be throwing his hat in the ring for Audrey Pheffer’s empty Assembly seat.

Retired NYPD Lieutenant Glenn DiResto said he decided to explore the possibility of running for the seat after Pheffer’s former chief of staff, Jo Ann Shapiro, decided not to run.

“Jo Ann has a tremendous amount of experience and would have been a great candidate. However, with her not running it makes the race more appealing,” said DiResto.

DiResto was a former City Council candidate in the 2009 Special Election that was won by Eric Ulrich.

“I am interested in the position because the problems that face our neighborhoods are the same as they were two years ago,” said DiResto. “We really need someone who understands the problems of the neighborhoods and has the personal, professional and civic experience to help solve those problems.”

DiResto has said he does not expect to get an official party line designation and notes he “hopes to be making a final decision in the next couple weeks” as to whether or not he will run.

“As a constituent, I believe everyone has an opportunity to run,” said County Clerk Pheffer. “There are many people who are very involved, and those who run must be responsive to the community.”

The 23rd Assembly district encompasses areas of Ozone Park, Howard Beach and the Rockaways. Pheffer told The Courier that the biggest challenge for whoever fills the seat will be the budget.

“He or she needs preparation to learn the process and make decisions,” she said. “The budget process is tough, and there’s still a deficit.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo has not yet set a date for the Special Election.

Borough Taxis Draws Boos at Meeting by Steve Mosco - The Queens Courier

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Finding a taxi in Queens is a lot like catching a glimpse of Bigfoot – it’s a rare sight and worthy of snapping a photo for posterity.

However, that might soon change as a new law proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg aims to create an outer borough cab service for passengers in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island and Queens. The livery cab type service would do away with the need for unlicensed – and in some cases, unsafe – ‘gypsy cabs,’ which are usually the only outer borough option.

David Yassky, who heads the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), is charged with implementing the plan that Bloomberg unveiled back in January.

“As all New Yorkers know yellow taxis almost never leave Manhattan, except to go to the airports,” said Yassky. “The ‘gypsy cabs’ that fill the void in [the outer boroughs] are decidedly third-rate.”

The bill requires a vote from the City Council and, if passed, would equip For-Hire Base Station vehicles with meters, allowing them to pick up random fares. Borough taxis will be assigned a uniform color separate from yellow taxis along with GPS locators, meters and the option for customers to pay by credit card as well as cash. The fare structure will be determined

“While the system works pretty well in Manhattan, there is enormous room for improvement in the rest of the city,” said Yassky. “That's what this plan should accomplish.”

At a Community Board 10 (CB10) meeting on March 3, TLC representatives gave attendees a general overview of the proposal – many residents did not like what they heard and voiced their disapproval, stating that there are safety concerns as well as concerns that they already have with TLC transportation in the area.

“Before we get involved with another layer of cabs, we need to deal with the ones we have now,” said Betty Braton, CB10 chairman, who stated that current issues include problematic routes and off-street parking locations.

TLC representatives did not provide specific details about the borough taxi service, but only a general overview, which residents felt was not enough to convince them to support the proposal.

“It seems like you only have half a package and you are already visiting community boards,” said one community board member. “There are many questions you can’t answer.”

TLC is looking for passenger feedback on what customers would want to see from the borough taxis. A short survey can be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NYCTaxiSurvey.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority declined to comment on this story.

– With additional reporting by Laura Cimera and Will Sammon

Plans to Revive the Forest Park Carousel by Will Sammon - The Queens Courier

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The President of the Woodhaven Resident’s Block Association fondly recalls when his late father used to take him as a child to ride the 100-year-old Forest Park carousel.

Ed Wendell said that many residents who live in the Woodhaven community that hosts the shuttered carousel have similar intimate stories regarding the attraction. He runs a Facebook page that boasts approximately 900 fans to prove it.

“It’s a special share of history. It was some place that my dad used to take me and this carousel is a touchstone for people who not only live here but for those who once did,” said Wendell.

The tradition of passing on stories about the carousel from generation to generation has been put on hold for the past two years. New York One, the company that was in charge of running the carousel allowed it to deteriorate over the years, according to civic leaders. After their contract was up with the city in 2008, they did not re-bid to run the concession, according to the NYC Parks Department.

Since that time, the Parks Department has had no luck in finding someone to run the carousel, mostly because it is not viewed as a money-maker. However, the Parks Department has a new plan for the future of the carousel. Their plan will link its future operator together with the operator of a profitable carousel nearby who benefits from more foot-traffic.

“The Parks Department is currently creating a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the operation of the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (FMCP) carousel that will allow the selected concessionaire to also run the Forest Park Carousel. We look forward to receiving proposals to run these two beloved carousels,” said Patricia Bertuccio, a Parks spokesperson.

The FMCP carousel is currently run by New York One, the former operator of the one in Forest Park and a vendor that has several city concessions. Their contract expires in March 2012. After the new RFP is awarded, operation of the Forest Park Carousel can begin right away, according to Bertuccio.

The Forest Park’s 1910 D.C. Muller Bros. carousel is one of two Muller carousels in operation. This carousel features three carved Muller menagerie animals, a lion, tiger and deer positioned on the outside row. These three carvings are the only Muller figures on an operating carousel. The remaining outside row are all standing horses, including ten Muller horses, two Carmel horses and one Dentzel horse. The two inner rows include thirty-six Muller jumpers. Two Muller chariots complete the carousel.

Carousel enthusiasts and historians regard Daniel Muller as one of the elite carousel carvers.

“This is a very, very rare carousel. The Forest Park Carousel with further restoration and future operation would give New York City another rare example of carousel history. The Forest Park carousel, once operating, would join several other rare operating antique carousels in New York City. Together, this group of antique carousels would arguably be the finest in one location of any place in the world,” said National Carousel Association Census Chairman Patrick Wentzel.

Wendell believes that more money would be made if more attractions were built around the Forest Park carousel.