Avella and Halloran working together on police academy

Halloran Stands up for College Point at City Hall Hearing
Candidate Makes Case for Safeguards in New Police Academy Proposal

Dan Halloran had a simple message for City Council Members on Monday at the Meeting of the Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses: College Point needs a police academy.

But Halloran cautioned we must listen carefully to the concerns expressed by the community and plan properly. The police academy is a $1.5 billion project, and it must be implemented with measures to mitigate adverse impacts on the community.

“This police academy could potentially be helpful to the area around College Point Boulevard, but only if the community's recommendations are incorporated into the final project,” said Halloran.

Halloran warned that the City must do its due diligence in planning, or the new academy may actually hurt the neighborhood.

“There are only three roads in and out of College Point, and this station is going to be at the intersection of two of them,” Halloran said. “I have serious questions about the transit impact this will have on the community.

“I am joining with Council Member Tony Avella and civic leaders in cautioning that this has to be done right or not at all. If done right, there will be adequate mitigation measures, the opportunity for increased public safety, and even a police substation, which would ultimately benefit the neighborhood."

Halloran pointed out that a police academy will add hundreds of police cars to the streets of College Point.

“The neighborhood already has very few parking spaces available for its residents,” Halloran said. “We have to have a plan in place – where are these extra cars going to go? The people of College Point deserve answers, and we owe it to them to think things through.”

As added benefits, the police academy will make the neighborhood safer and boost College Point’s economy, Halloran said.

“The small businesses of College Point just got 5,000 new potential customers,” Halloran said. “And those potential customers also happen to give the area a strong police presence. This will deter crime.”