On the brief side...

Addressing a group of New York City corporate leaders last week, New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly criticized the low starting salary for beginning police officers, saying, "The last thing we want to do is compromise our ability to recruit and retain the best and the brightest."

The starting salary for new recruits was recently changed to $25,100 annually for the first six months in the Police Academy.

Addressing the Business Executives for National Security organization, Kelly asked, "Who are you hiring for $25,000 a year? Certainly not those who are in the most critical position to determine the success or failure of your organization." Discussion On Historic Districts In Queens

Several Queens councilmembers, led by Councilmember Melinda Katz, recently held hearings in Borough Hall, which Landmarks Preservation Commissioner Robert Tierney attended. The lawmakers expressed their concern about the extensive length of time required to establish a historic district in Queens and the paucity of the number of districts in Queens as compared to other boroughs.

Katz (D-Forest Hills) said there are only six such districts in Queens. There are 55 in Manhattan, 16 in Brooklyn, nine in The Bronx and three in Staten Island.

Katz stated at the end of the session, "This hearing is an important step in preserving the beautiful and historical neighborhoods that exist throughout many parts of Queens. My colleagues and I will continue to work with Chairman Tierney and the Landmarks Preservation Commission to establish the historical districts residents of Queens want and deserve."

Other Queens councilmembers at the meeting were Dennis Gallagher (R-C, Middle Village), Leroy Comrie (D-Jamaica) and John Liu (D-Flushing). Mayor Applauds 16 New IBZs

In a statement released by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, he said that the recent designation of 16 Industrial Business Zones (IBZ) marks a major milestone in our effort to retain and grow this important sector of our five-borough economic development policy.

The mayor said the zones would be safe havens for manufacturing and industrial firms that have been affected by real estate pressures brought on by a booming market and ensuing speculation.

The mayor thanked Assemblymember Catherine Nolan (D-Ridgewood) for helping to make the zones a reality by sponsoring and guiding legislation that calls for their creation through the state legislature. Seeks Higher Penalties For Delivery Attacks

Citing the frequent violent attacks on food delivery workers, Assemblymember Jimmy Meng plans to seek increased penalties for these crimes as a way of discouraging them.

The latest attack occurred last Wednesday night in Hollis as a deliveryman, Shi Yai Yan, was shot and seriously wounded by two robbers who took the $19.25 order he carried. A bullet just missed his heart, sparing his life.

Meng's bill would increase the penalty for attacks on delivery men, making them a B felony. Meng said, "The public needs to know that an attack on a delivery person is an attack on the security of a community. These people's lives are valued and for those who choose to senselessly and viciously attack them need to be punished." Crowley Supports Indian Nuke Initiative

Congressmember Joseph Crowley, addressing the House International Relations Committee, voiced strong support for the proposed Indian civilian

nuclear initiative, declaring it would be a chance to bring India into the nuclear non proliferation tent by opening its civilian facilities to International Atomic Energy Agency inspections."

Crowley also stated, "This initiative is, first and foremost, an energy deal that would provide one of the world's fastest growing economies with access to the much needed power to continue to develop in the 21st century."

Crowley (D-Queens/The Bronx), who visited India while on a diplomatic trip in February, reiterated his commitment to support pending legislation that would approve the civilian nuclear deal.