LIC Spot

Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer at the Queens Library in Long Island City
Photo by Anthony DelMundo for New York Daily News

The Daily News reports that the Queens Library in Long Island City has installed a few junk food vending machines to help with the budget crisis. Last time we checked, libraries were here to help us get smarter…but not necessarily fit. And besides, isn’t food not allowed in libraries?

 Apparently King didn’t take a look at what was inside the current vending machines as they are stocked with fudge-striped cookies, M&Ms, chips and a variety of water, ice teas and soda.

Read more at The Daily News.

Photo courtesy of Jimmy Van Bramer's office

If you’re one of many who has walked over towards the waterfront on 47th Ave. you’ve noticed that when you get to 5th Street (next to the running track) things get a bit dangerous. In fact, just a few weeks ago Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and local community members erected a fake stop sign to protest the DOT’s refusal to put a real one up.

5th Street currently has a speed limit of 30 mph (though we all know cars are often flying at 45 mph) and because of the parked cars on both sides of the street, it’s difficult to see at this intersection. How insanely dangerous does it have to get so that we can just put in a stop sign? Well, the DOT claims the intersection doesn’t meet any of the criteria.

We’re assuming that a pedestrian getting hit by a car would eventually meet that criteria, therefore we are asking for volunteers to step forward (we’ll provide for the wearable airbag armor).