Businesses Along Liberty Avenue In Ozone Park Struggling To Survive by Stephanie Tsoflias- WPIX

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Businesses on Liberty Avenue in Ozone Park are dying for a lifeline.

A portion of the street went from two way to one way and now, shop owners say people have stopped coming to their shops.

"Liberty was the busy area, it was the busy side street now it's Rockaway Blvd.," said Kimberly Liverpool a store manager.

Liverpool has managed a pizza shop on Liberty Avenue for four years. She says since the traffic pattern changed, she has gone from having four employees to two.

"Honestly, how many stores on the block have to go, I don't want to be next," said Liverpool.

Four months ago, the Department of Transportation put concrete barriers up on Rockaway Blvd.

The DOT said it made the street on way back in November because of safety concerns. The intersection near Liberty Ave and Rockaway is notorious for accidents, the agency said. Last year, a young boy was killed crossing the street.

But it has been a disaster for businesses.

The bakery on the block now advertises breakfast sandwiches for $1.95 just to attract customers -- and even that is not enough.

"We only sold one muffin today....business is down about 25 percent and we are not sure how much longer we will last," said Maria, the bakery manager.

The DOT said it will work with businesses but had no immediate plans to reopen both lanes to traffic.

Parking spots were put in to make it more conducive to shoppers but drivers say it just has caused more congestion.

Grandmother Uses Whistles To Protect Queens Neighborhood Reported by Monica Morales - WPIX

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With NYPD Comstat Stats just out, and assaults, burglaries, and grand larcenies are all jumping double digits from last year, one Woodlawn woman is on a mission to change that.

Maria Thomson, the President of the 102nd Precinct Community Council, is taking to the streets, armed with whistles. Thomson has raised hundreds of dollars for whistles and was handing them out at trouble spots in her neighborhood.

The idea, she says, is to whistle if you are in trouble to get a police officer's attention. New Yorkers have mixed feelings about this old-fashioned crime fighting approach.

Woodhaven resident Chino Rivera said, "I'll whistle after I knock them out. That's a real New York answer isn't it?"

While other New Yorkers praised Thomson and her efforts like George Penetta. Penetta said, "Thanks for caring about our neighborhood."

While some crime was up, 102 precinct officers were able to reduce robberies by 25 percent and misdemeanor assaults by 31 percent, according to the new stats. The NYPD did not comment on this story.

Troubled Company Denied $100(M) Contract by State Comptroller - Rejected MTA Contract with SAIC - Mocker Blog – WPIX-TV

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NY State Comptroller [Tom DiNapoli] rejects MTA contract for subway radio upgrades based on current controversy between city and company. State asks MTA to provide an explanation of company's role, if any, in current city payroll system problem.

What happens next? Info and video below: click here

MTA has some homework before the contract could be resubmitted. Here's theletter from the NY State Comptroller to NYCTransit:

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/dec10/Schaffner122110.pdf

This has to be the most reviewed contract in MTA history. MTA says it did several reviews. NYC Comptroller John Liu urged caution and several NY Council Members, including Letitia James [and Joe Addabbo].

Here's the MTA's statement to me tonight:

"We share the Comptroller's concerns, and in light of the gravity of recent developments it is essential that we pursue additional review before proceeding with this contract."

Man, 49, Fatally Shot In Head In Queens by Shelley Ng - WPIX

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A man was fatally shot in the head just before midnight in Howard Beach, Queens.

Police say the 49-year-old man was discovered by officers at about 11:55 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of 79th Street and 151st Avenue.

Reports say the victim was found between two vehicles in a parking lot in the middle of the residential neighborhood.

EMS pronounced the man dead at the scene. The victim's identity is pending family notification.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

Queens Center Mall Accused Of Using Fake Parking Signs To Steer Revenue - WPIX

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Bogus "No Parking" signs had shoppers shelling out even more cash.

A recent report finds parking attendants have been posting no-parking signs marked with fake NYPD emblems outside the Queens Center Mall, forcing drivers to pay to park their cars in the garage.

The signs may have looked official, but they're not, NYPD spokesman Sgt. Carlos Nieves told the Daily News.

"The precinct was not aware that these signs were being put up," Nieves said. "The only people that are allowed to put these signs up are the NYPD."

The fake, neon signs often appeared on holidays and most Sundays, when metered parking is free.

Queens Center Mall spokeswoman Dawn Simon said eliminating street parking was meant to "facilitate traffic flow." Garage employees began posting the signs in 2004, when the mall was undergoing an expansion. Years later, garage employees continued posting the signs, apparently to increase revenue.

The parking garage costs $3 for the first hour and $1 an hour after that.

The signs could warrant charges of defrauding the city or obstructing governmental administration -- both Class E felonies.

NYPD Officer Caught Sleeping in Terrorist-Targeted Subway Station - WPIX

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A New York City police officer whose job is to monitor a terrorist targeted subway station underneath Grand Central Station, was caught snoozing on the job Thursday.

In photos exclusively obtained by PIX News, the officer is seen sound asleep inside the platform surveillance booth on the 7 train platform. The photos were taken at around 9:45 a.m. Thursday, just after the height of rush hour.

The officer was apparently nodding off for about 30 seconds, tried to wake up and then fell fast asleep.

NYPD Commissioner Paul J. Browne, released a statement late Thursday, saying the incident is under investigation.

"The NYPD is investigating whether an officer, who experienced a death in the family overnight, fell asleep on duty the following morning," Browne said.

Considered to be a high security "fishbowl" station, the subway platform handles tens of thousands of commuters daily. To make matters worse, Grand Central Terminal - which houses the station in question - was one of many locations where Al Qaeda operative Najibullah Zazi planned on carrying out suicide bombings. The plot was foiled by authorities in September 2009.

Woodhaven Residents Battle Over Parking Spaces - WPIX.com

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A number of Woodhaven residents are growing tired of out-of-state cars hogging parking spots for weeks at a time - so they've decided to take matters into their own hands.

The Woodhaven Residents' Block Association has created a program aimed at reporting out-of-state vehicles that have remained parked on the community's streets for extended periods of time.

People living in the community are urged to contact the WRBA if a car with license plate outside from New York has been parked on their street for more than a month. The group will then contact the appropriate agency from the other state to inform them of the vehicle's whereabouts and launch a probe into whether the vehicle is appropriately registered.

For more information: Project Woodhaven

Man, 22, Killed in High-Speed Car Wreck - WPIX

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A 22-year-old man is dead after he and two of friends crashed their vehicle into a pillar early Wednesday morning in Rego Park.

According to authorities, the three men were caught swiping rims from a parked car at the corner of 59th Road and 68th St. before 2 a.m. The trio then made a run for it, jumping into what police believe was a stolen black Lincoln Town Car, and raced from the scene.

The getaway vehicle reportedly reached speeds of up to 105 mph eastbound on Eliot Avenue. Cops say when it attempted to make a turn onto Woodhaven Blvd, it crashed into a Long Island Railroad support pillar.

The driver, who was not immediately identified, was pronounced dead at the scene while the two others are said to be seriously injured at Elmhurst Hospital.

Unconfirmed reports state that the ages of these two teens are 14 and 16.

Teen in Critical Condition Following Queens Fire - wpix.com

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An 18-year-old woman is listed in critical condition after she was injured in a house fire Friday. The blaze was reported at 11:15 a.m at 106-10 101st Avenue in the Ozone Park section of Queens. The woman's family was able to get out of the house, but the young woman was trapped inside, officials say.

Firefighters who responded to the late-morning blaze, managed to pull the teen to safety. Authorities say the victim sustained second- and third-degree burns over much of her body, and is being treated at the burn unit in Cornell Medical Center. Doctors say they expect her to survive.

Police are still investigating the cause of the blaze.