We are curious about Borough President Helen Marshall’s decision to reject a proposal to build a second spa in College Point. It took Marshall several weeks to decide that that spa would create a parking and traffic problem in the Corporate Park.
The property where the New York Spa of College Point, a two-story relaxation hub, was to be built is owned by Kwang Nam Park. Plans for the spa include a rooftop pool and restaurant. The first area spa had to overcome community-based opposition.
Marshall said the spa would create more traffic than warehouses and offices. Street parking is not allowed in that location. The developers said they will provide valet parking, but Marshall insists the spa’s parking plan would not be able to handle the increased traffic.
In September, the College Point Corporate Park Task Force, a combination of citizens and Community Board 7 members, approved the plan 8-1. But in October, CB 7 recommended against the spa.
The final decision will be made by the city Board of Standards and Appeals, which will be hard-pressed to justify not approving the plans.
We cannot help but wonder if Marshall’s rejection did not have much more to do with politics than parking.
More Harm Than Good
State lawmakers are considering a bill that would require new registered nurses to earn a bachelor’s degree within 10 years if they want to keep working in New York.
We would be all for it if we did not think RNs in city hospitals, including those with a two-year degree, are already doing outstanding jobs.
Of course RNs should be encouraged to go on to get a bachelor’s. The experience they get while working on a hospital floor should help them earn that degree faster.
But passing a law that would require a four-year degree could discourage people from becoming RNs. If federal projections are correct, this legislation could aggravate the nursing shortage.
In that case, it will do more harm than good.
