We do not blame readers if they are somewhat bewildered by the local response to the city's plan to build a $1.2 billion police academy in College Point. To us, it seems like a match made in heaven.
The site would include 250 classrooms, a field house, a tactical village, facilities to mimic prisoner processing stations and a simulated subway station to permit training in biological, chemical and radiological attacks.
So where's the downside? Councilman Tony Avella, a mayoral candidate, is complaining, “This is just how the Bloomberg administration goes about things. There's no planning at the local level. But if they think that they're just going to do anything they want without confronting the community, they've got another thing coming.”
Take a breath, councilman. The proposal must still go through the ULURP. There will be ample time to exam what appears to be a very sensible use of city-owned land. Unless Avella knows something sinister that we are unaware of, we think the people of College Point will welcome the training center.
