Queens Councilman Drops F-Bombs On Noisy Auto Shop

Queens city councilman Dan Halloran has allegedly been caught on tape berating the manager of an auto repair shop for not taking care of noise complaints the dealership has received. "He had anger in his eyes. He was standing a foot in front of me, pointing at me," manager Elliott Rothman told the Daily News. A video that the newspaper is selfishly not posting on the internet apparently shows Halloran saying, "I'll park every f*cking city agency down here for the rest of f*cking two years." Rothman adorably told the paper, "I couldn't believe this was a politican acting like that."

Halloran is no stranger to using profanity when it comes to protecting his constituents from societal ills: he cursed out the "Coolatta Cop" who was apparently terrorizing Queens residents with his selective policework. That cop, Daniel Chu, has been reassigned and was docked vacation time by the NYPD, and is suing Halloran for his allegedly racist rants.

Residents who live around the Star Nissan on 172nd street in Flushing have lodged complaints about early morning deliveries, air horns, and loud equipment, and Halloran—who had visited the shop before—demands that they keep their doors closed. "I'm not fucking joking. Either these doors stay closed, top to bottom, all the fucking time or we're gonna have a problem! This is the last time we have this conversation!" he says on tape.

Though Star Nissan has only received four noise complaints in the past two years, the president of a local civic association seems to agree with Halloran. "They treat the neighborhood like garbage…there's nothing bad enough that could happen to them that would make me feel bad. They're intolerable." The neighborhood has apparently been at odds with the shop for ten years.

When told that Rothman wants an apology, Halloran places himself right where he wants to be: behind his constituents. "I'm certainly not going to apologize for their lack of compliance with agreements they made with me or the city or the neighborhood."

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By Christopher Robbins in News on October 30, 2011 3:20 PM

Comments [rss]

luke_1

Good for him. There are a few businesses around here that need that kind of treatment. Maybe the condo they're preparing across the street that starts with the jackhammers at 7 AM.

Detex

This is good, we need more guys like this!

refni

I'd rather see politicians curse out tax evaders, greedy corporatists, or Rick Perry than have a local poltico act in such an uncivil way. There's a difference between taking on an important issue and just being a blowhard.

on171

The NY Daily News originally did not post the video, most likely because of all of the background noise of the car alarms. Imagine listening to that for 15 hours a day. They start between 4 and 5AM and close anywhere from 8 to 11PM. And...who deserves an apology? Star needs to comply with the law.

neighboron171st

It is unimaginable that Mr Rothman would be taken aback by the councilman's language, Star customers must use that language all the time when they get their inflated bills. The video is more illustrative of their noise violations as the councilman's words were mostly drowned out by the alarms. If the workers thought about it they would realize that the compliance the neighbors seek would drastically improve their working conditions. And lastly the neighborhood is waiting for an apology from the owner(s) of Star for the hell we have endured for the past ten years - 6 days per week, 15 to 20 hours per day.

on171

Does the Daily News video qualify as evidence for a DEP noise violation? It should! Add the power tools, air guns, tow trucks, delivery trucks, fumes, the bad attitude of the owner, his sons and management and you can see how Star wins the neighbor from hell award.Star may be confused. Complying with NYC laws is not voluntary or something you "promise" to do one day. As for the F' word the CM used, get over yourself Mr. Rothman. You must have heard the word a thousand times from your unhappy customers.
Thank you CM. Bayside and Auburndale will not forget an elected who goes all out to serve his community.

neighboron171st

If the workers thought about for a moment they would understand that if the business were ever to comply and install the required ventilation system and keep all the bay doors shut, the workers would get a climate controlled atmosphere in which they would not have to open the doors for cool air in the summer and would have heat in the winter.

M P

Did you watch the video? Halloran did raise his voice - but only because the shop had a car alarm blaring the entire time, with their doors open. It sounds like the residents and councilman have a valid point. I know this shop (there's a toyota repair shop with it) and area - all they need to do is keep the one door close that faces the residential area; they have other doors they can leave open.

Chuckell

I would move to Queens just so I could vote for this guy. Let's have more politicians cussing out polluters!

Hugh G. Rection

i'm pretty sure halloron is literally going to have every city, state, and federal agency looking over this business with a fine tooth comb now...

AaronRed99

Finally a civil servant who actually serves his constituents.

tooldan

I guess you feel a civil servant posting on facebook that all star employees are F*cking morons is serving his constituants. Then maybe you're a moron too for voting for this idiot.