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Positive Thinking
To The Editor: I was delighted to read in your January 22 [issue] about the dental van coming to Long Island City and helping to promote dental hygiene and good dental health to the children of the Head Start Program. This is very important because fostering good dental health habits in the preschool years helps children to have better nutrition and overall better health as well. I applaud the dental school which donated its services. This again restores my faith in humanity by showing the positive powers of people who make a positive difference in the lives of others. I also praise the Gazette for bringing this story to our attention and by always publishing articles that show positive aspects of New Yorkers. Cynthia Groopman Long Island City Dump Stop Sign! A copy of the following letter was received by the Gazette. Dear Assemblywoman [Catherine] Nolan: I have no problem with the new traffic light to be installed at Skillman Ave. and 47th Street in Sunnyside. I do have a problem with the all-way stop sign now installed temporarily until the light is installed. It is dangerous. Just drive down Skillman Avenue, as I do daily. Skillman has progressive lights at many of the streets. You get a green light at 50th Street, 49th Street, 48th Street, look ahead and see green lights, keep up the speed. Then, boom! You have to jam on the brakes at 47th Street, with green light at 49th Street. I gnash my teeth when I realize I will miss the green light at 46th Street, and I think that this could be dangerous. Well, it is dangerous. Just drive as I did along 47th Street. You stop for the all-way stop at Skillman, see cars on Skillman coming "Well, they have to stop" you think, but they don’t. Half of those cars coming down Skillman Avenue just go barreling through that stop sign. So, please, for safety’s sake, remove that stop sign on Skillman Avenue before somebody gets killed. Al Volpe Woodside Water Shaft A copy of the following letter was received by the Gazette. Mr. Christopher Ward, Commissioner NYC Department of Environmental Protection 59-17 Junction Boulevard Corona, NY 11368-5107 Dear Commissioner Ward: Saving water these days can cause a big leak in the pocketbook and purse of many of the city’s homeowners. Since the early part of the year 2002, DEP has indicated a drought warning and later a water emergency. This was due to the lack of appropriate rainfall and little snowfall the previous winter. Many of the homeowners heeded this directive. A considerable amount of money was expended on purchasing water saving devices. Hundreds of dollars were spent on replacing water closets, new shower heads and other water saving practices. [People] cut back on baths and used the shower instead; stopped watering lawns and washing autos; used washing machines and dishwashers only with a full load. Many lawns were lost due to the lack of water and will have to be replaced at considerable cost. Homeowners and others responded to this emergency in a yeoman fashion and should be given credit, not penalized, for their effort. For the homeowners’ effort and being a good citizen, DEP is giving them the royal shaft. A minimum water usage was established by DEP of $0.22 per day plus 159 percent of the water charge for the sewer. If the actual water charge (meter reading) is below the minimum usage he is subjected to a penalty for saving water. This arrangement is dumb, arbitrary and counter productive. It is strongly suggested that you review this bias policy of minimum usage charge and come up with an equitable arrangement. This minimum charge should not apply to any active account regardless of the water usage thereby promoting the incentive and water savings. May we hear from you? Very truly yours, Karl Christensen, President Jackson Heights Neighborhood Association |
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