Letters
109th Pct. Needs Split To The Editor:

The Bay Terrace Community Alliance wholeheartedly supports Councilman [Tony] Avella’s proposed legislation to split the 109th Police Precinct into two forces. Our organization has long advocated for such a change—a change which would bring a visible police presence to Bay Terrace, Clearview, College Point and Whitestone.

We applaud the police officers assigned to the 109th Precinct. They work hard to keep our streets safe, but unfortunately, by necessity, a large portion of the precinct’s resources are allocated to South Flushing. Patrol vehicles are rarely seen in the other communities being served by the 109th. The one sector car assigned to cover all of Bay Terrace is often dispatched in response to incidents in surrounding areas. Bay Terrace is then left without any police protection. A similar situation exists in Clearview, College Point and Whitestone.

Northeast Queens deserves better.We are pleased that Councilman Avella has taken up the cause. Hopefully, his unorthodox but innovative approach will produce a positive result. Warren Schreiber President Bay Terrace Community Alliance Bayside

Misses WWRL Beacon To The Editor:

I was saddened to read that radio station WWRL has moved from my neighborhood of Woodside to Manhattan. (On The No. 7 Line, Gazette, Feb. 15, 2006).

When I was a baby, 60 years ago, and my parents bought our home, they would hold me up to the second story front window to look at the glittering panorama of New York City. I would notice this flashing red dot to the southwest and ask what it was. “That’s our radio station, WWRL,” came the reply. Wow, a radio station, here in the backwaters of Woodside! Not even fancy Astoria had that.

I remembered passing in front of the station on 58th Street, and seeing their transmitter, this wonderful thing, right in their backyard! It was like seeing the Statue of Liberty!

What was unusual was that WWRLwas an all Black radio station in the days when Woodside was strictly white, and I was proud of that. At least the airwaves were integrated.

My family did not listen to it, however. Not out of prejudice; they only listened to WQXR classical and opera, 1010 WINS, and Martin Block’s “Make Believe Ballroom”, and later, the late and very much lamented WCBS FM.

But even though we never tuned them in, WWRL’s flashing signal was part of our neighborhood. Whenever we would have a raging storm or threat of nuclear attack, I would look for the red beacon of WWRL. If it was flashing, all was well. Woodside’s own friendly lighthouse.

I wish WWRLgreat success in their new location. But their red signal will always be shining in my heart. Vera De Milo Woodside Stop Genocide Denial A copy of the following letter was received by the Gazette. William F. Baker President and CEO, Thirteen/WNET 450 West 33rd Street New York, NY 10001 Dear Mr. Baker:

We are troubled that WNEThas decided to air a panel discussion including genocide deniers following the debut of “The Armenian Genocide” on April 17. We urge you to reconsider.

When PBS purchased “The Armenian Genocide” from filmmaker Andrew Goldberg, the network agreed to air it without major changes. Including a panel discussion that provides a venue for genocide denial amounts to a massive change in the presentation of this sensitive issue.

As you surely know, Ottoman Turks murdered 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1920 in an effort to suppress Armenian support for Russian forces invading their occupied homeland.

The genocide is a matter of history. Convening a panel discussion that includes deniers of the existence of this horror is a grave injustice.

Keep these genocide deniers off the air. Sincerely, Congressmember Anthony Weiner 9th Congressional District (Queens/Brooklyn) Congressmember Carolyn Maloney 14th Congressional District (Queens/Manhattan) Sex Subs For Talent To The Editor:

The gratuitous sex and violence on television disgusts me so much that I no longer watch modern movies and sitcoms. I catch classics on TCM, instead, which date back 50 years and more.

Sure there’s some violence and sex in these movies, too, but it’s tastefully handled. When a husband and wife are about to get intimate, for instance, the screen goes black and cuts to another scene, leaving the viewer to imagine what the couple did when left alone together in a bedroom or some isolated locale. Amodern version of this same scene, by contrast would have the husband and somebody else’s wife doing everything but the act itself—and this in a movie that’s been rated PG!

To account for this trend, I contend that modern film directors have little or no talent in comparison to ones from the past, like Fritz Lang or D.W. Griffith, forcing them to fill their movies with flesh and gore in a desperate attempt to get audiences to watch their otherwise crummy flicks. Name Withheld On Request

We Tell It Like It Is To The Editor:

I must applaud the Gazette issue of Feb. 22, 2006 for presenting and pointing out several important issues that were thought-provoking and as a result gave me food for thought.

I strongly agree that scissors should be banned from flights because they present a clear and present danger and compromise the health and safety as well as security on airplanes. In fact, any sharp object is hazardous. Since the terror of 9/11 we have learned our lesson in an unfortunate way. It is better to be safe than sorry, as the wise maxim says.

In addition, I applaud the fine work of our state legislature for overriding our governor’s veto of providing funding to pay for medications needed by our most elderly and poor people in order to sustain life.

As for the governor trying to change EPIC coverage recipients into receiving Part D under Medicare, well, this is very unwise and not cost effective at all. EPIC, throughout its many years, has supplied senior citizens with a sound and secure method of prescription drug coverage. There is too much chaos and confusion concerning Medicare Part D and to plunge the satisfied EPIC users into this sudden change and confusion will cause more serious problems and also compromise the health of these most important segments of our population. The elderly and the needy aren’t targets for balancing the state budget.

I support the new type of voting machines since they allow accessibility to the visually impaired and other disabled voters and will not break down. Optical scanners will prevent voting machine problems. Voting is such a vital part of our democracy and, in fact, it is the heart and soul of freedom. These machines are needed and vital in order to protect the voting rights and preserve the democratic process that makes our government unique and so outstanding.

Finally, I commend [City Councilmember Peter] Vallone Jr. and the rest of the lawmakers for standing firm against cell towers. These cause radiation and other hazardous substances that can compromise the health and safety of our population.

All of these articles deal with issues that we hold close to our heart, namely security, health, safety and the preservation of democracy. We laud our lawmakers on all levels of government who have the best interests of the population at heart. Cynthia Groopman Long Island City

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