Jet Ditches in Hudson; All Are Said Safe

A big thank you to Capt. Chesley B. Sullenberger, the pilot who guided his plane, fellow crew members and passengers to safety.

New York Hospital Queens Expansion on Schedule

From the Queens Chronicle

The $300 million expansion project at New York Hospital Queens in Flushing is right on target for a scheduled completion in mid-2010.

The seven-story wing will provide 80 single-bed rooms, in accordance with a 2006 state law. The remaining space will be used for surgery and expanded services.

New York Hospital Queens Expansion

Located on the front side of the hospital, the wing replaces the facility’s Main Street parking lot.

Already completed is NYHQ’s three-level parking garage at 141st Street and Booth Memorial Drive. It holds 372 cars and opened in November.
—Liz Rhoades

Padavan vs. Gennaro – still undecided

James Gennar

From the Queens Courier

BY VICTOR G. MIMONI
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 7:05 PM EST

With the State Senate completing its second week of work and the seat for northeast Queens’ 11th District still empty, the saga of the undecided race between incumbent Frank Padavan and City Councilmember James Gennaro finds the parties back in court.

After all the machine votes and paper ballots approved by Board of Elections (BOE) clerks were counted, Padavan was leading by 580, with 252 disputed paper ballots unopened – and this the only undecided election in the state.

Next, Gennaro’s representatives went to State Supreme Court, and Judge Kevin Kerrigan declared that roughly 1,750 paper ballots declared invalid by the Queens BOE should be examined again.

Immediately, Republicans went to the Appellate Division; a four-judge panel said the central BOE hadn’t made a “final determination” on the invalid ballots, so the courts couldn’t rule. The city BOE commissioners voted 7-3 to agree with the Queens clerks.

Serph Maltese, Phil Ragusa & Frank Padavan

This brought the matter back to Kerrigan’s court on Tuesday January 6, where Republicans asked him to declare the counting over and allow the BOE to certify Padavan the winner.

Kerrigan gave the Democrats until Wednesday, January 14, to respond to the nearly 50 pages of arguments and exhibits filed by Padavan’s side.

After several hours of legal arguments, Kerrigan set another hearing for Friday, January 16.

Cell Phone Towers Free of Municipal Oversight

Cell Tower Siting Requires Municipal Oversight

Councilmember Tony Avella has taken the lead in opposing a proposal that would allow the siting of Cell Phone Towers without municipal oversight. Follow the link below for the whole story.

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