Posted on 10/16/2005 11:36:41 PM PDT by chris9364
Stop Flushing Commons Now!
Raquel Lacomba Walker has agreed to serve as spokesperson for the Coalition to “STOP FLUSHING COMMONS NOW”. She will be present at the up coming Coalition rally Tuesday, October 18, 2005 at 3:00 p.m. at 135-27 38th Ave. (one block West of Main Street), Flushing, New York.
The Coalition to “STOP FLUSHING COMMONS NOW” includes Flushing residents and small business owners opposed to the $500 million commercial construction project, known as “Flushing Commons”, which is to be built on the site of the existing Municipal Parking Lot #1, in Downtown Flushing. Principal business members of the Coalition include the Korean-American Small Business Association of Flushing and Save Our Flushing Community (SOFC). Many Korean and other ethnic small businesses are presently located in the area served by Municipal Parking Lot #1.
Lacomba-Walker said “I am honored that residents and small business owners in downtown Flushing have selected me to serve as their spokesperson in the grassroots efforts to stop the poorly planned Flushing Commons project. The project, as presently designed, is not good for the Flushing Community. It will needlessly create more congestion and overcrowding and severely strain conditions in the downtown Flushing area. City officials and the developers have been trying very hard to sweep these problems under the rug.”
Mr. Rim Ikhwan, a leader of the “STOP FLUSHING COMMONS NOW” Coalition and Member of the Korean-American Small Business Association of Flushing said “We are very happy that Ms. Lacomba-Walker has agreed to serve as a spokesperson for the “STOP FLUSHING NOW” Coalition. Ms. Lacomba-Walker met with us and listened to our concerns – we truly appreciate her efforts. She will be a strong voice for the Coalition and the Flushing Community”.
Lacomba-Walker, a resident of Flushing and a candidate for the Flushing City Council seat (District 20) is an advocate and strong supporter of small businesses. A small business owner herself, she understands the concerns and needs of small business owners, including the need for lower taxes and less government red-tape.
One of their major problems with the Flushing Commons project is the negative impact it will have on the quality of life in Flushing, which is already one of the most crowded urban centers in the county. A major public transportation center, Downtown Flushing serves over 80,000 commuters a day, 23 different bus lines, the Flushing/Times Square # 7 train and the Long Island Rail Road.
Home to tens of thousands of residents, Downtown Flushing’s concentrated environment is a major shopping and restaurant destination for thousands of visitors and residents every day – many of whom rely on the availability of the 1,100 existing parking spaces at Municipal Parking Lot #1. One of the main goals of the “STOP FLUSHING COMMONS NOW” Coalition is to ensure ample parking and easy access for residents and visitors to the already bustling Flushing Community.
Lacomba-Walker said “The Flushing Commons project will remove over one thousand public parking spaces that attract many thousands of customers to small businesses in downtown Flushing every day. Without these spaces, many Flushing residents and customers will be adversely impacted and many existing small businesses in Flushing are likely to suffer a significant loss of business.”
Lacomba-Walker said “Flushing Commons is starting to look like a textbook case of back room city politics, with local city politicos getting cozy-wozy with big business and wealthy campaign contributors while ignoring the needs of the local community. The Coalition to “STOP FLUSHING COMMONS NOW” intends to end this shameless political hypocrisy. Municipal Parking Lot #1 is public property, it belongs to the people – it is not a get rich playground for the politically connected and the privileged few. The people of Flushing want their voices heard on Municipal Parking Lot #1 and City politicians better start listening.”
Mr. George Balbi, a Flushing resident for over 30 years and participant of the “STOP FLUSHING COMMONS NOW” Coalition said “Raquel (Lacomba-Walker) fully recognizes the serious problems with the Flushing Commons project and wants to help fix the situation. This is a big improvement over some officials, who have been ignoring the problems and avoiding complaints from Flushing residents. Now it’s time for a change.”
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The Walmarting of America continues.
This headline made me look twice.
But wouldn't it stink if one stops flushing?
BUMP
Why the need to build a commercial construction project there?
What would be the point if businesses are severly crippled by taking away the customers, and the ability to shop in that area?
Seems like a no brainer to me.
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