DMV Materials In Greek

A copy of the following letter was received by the Gazette. Nancy A. Naples Commissioner Department of Motor Vehicles 6 Empire Plaza Albany, NY 12228 Dear Commissioner Naples,

I write regarding a very important issue concerning many thousands of New Yorkers of Greek descent.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers written examinations and driver's manuals in various languages to better serve non-English speaking New Yorkers. According to your website, the DMV offers translated materials in frequently spoken languages such as Spanish, French, Chinese, but also in less frequently spoken languages such as Polish, Albanian, and even Bosnian.

In Western Queens alone, there are hundreds of thousands of Greek-speaking New Yorkers that require similar accommodations from the DMV. Furthermore, there are Greek-Americans throughout New York State that would benefit from DMV materials translated into Greek.

Accordingly, I ask that you make your written examinations and driver's manuals available to the public in Greek. In this way, many more New Yorkers will find the road to obtaining a driver's license.

I would appreciate whatever attention you can give to this matter. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Sincerely yours, Michael N. Gianaris Member of Assembly

Hails Mayor, Governor To The Editor:

I applaud our governor and our mayor for doing two really humanitarian gestures that will greatly enhance life for specific groups of people. Their deeds go far

beyond their political party affiliations. Our mayor will give $125 million to enact programs that will help smokers to quit their really fatal habit.

About 16,000 people die from smoking related diseases a year and many hours of productivity are lost as a result of chronic respiratory illness due to smoking. In addition, so much money has to be spent by Social Security Disability, Medicare and company health insurance to take care of the financial needs of those smokers who are ill and unable to work and who have exorbitant medical bills to pay. This is truly a humanitarian gesture to donate this large money out of his own funds.

Our governor in granting our 9/11 victims' families, their children and those who became ill as a result of spending countless hours at that toxic site after the dark days of the attack on America. As a result of this program Workers' Compensation benefits and pensions will be given to families, their minor children and to those who become so ill as a result of noxious fumes, debris, etc. encountered at 9/11's work site. This is a fine gesture, honoring the brave, valorous and undaunted heroes of all walks of life who gave of their lives or who labored diligently to find and rescue and clean up the debris.

Again, I salute these two public officials. Their caring goes far beyond party lines or their political beliefs. When it comes to the protection, preservation or to the promotion of human life, it matters not what political party we belong to. Cynthia Groopman Long Island City

Fool Us Once To The Editor:

As the DNA results are in on John Mark Karr and it is safe to say he is not the one. Now the DA in Boulder, Colorado has mud on her face. Yet I, for one, thought this guy was out to lunch and from the very beginning I didn't think he was guilty of killing JonBenet Ramsey. In my opinion there were too many loose ends, added to the fact his ex-wife said he was with her at the time of the murder. I think John Karr was looking for his 15 minutes of fame and he got it. I also found it really amazing how the media ran with this story as if it was true. Yet what really got to me was who really paid for his trip back to the U.S. from Thailand, in which he traveled in business class and had a grand old time. Oh, I remember now, we the taxpayers. Well, only in America. Sincerely Yours Eva P. Bedell Bellerose

Wall Needs Attention

A copy of the following letter was received by the Gazette. August 10, 2006 Hon. Patricia Lancaster Commissioner Department of Buildings 280 Broadway - 7th floor New York, NY 10007 Dear Commissioner Lancaster:

I am writing to follow up on my previous correspondence (most recently May 1st) to your agency regarding the shoddy construction and dangerous condition of the so-called "retaining wall" at the rear of the property, owned by Mr. Tommy Huang, at 39-39 223rd Street and 223- 09/15/19 Mia Drive. To date, I have not received a response to my most recent letters.

As you should know, the stability of the rear "retaining wall" is clearly in doubt. The back portion of the property has almost completely collapsed on at least one occasion. I recently visited the site and ascertained that the developer has relocated the back fence further into the property and brought piles of dirt onto the site to fill in two huge sinkholes.

As I have stated before, four homes should never have been allowed to be built on this site. The stability of the homes and grade is in jeopardy. An immediate inspection is required.

In addition, "For Sale" signs are posted in front of these homes. Under no circumstances, should any certificate of occupancy be issued for any of these buildings until all of the violations have been cleared and the structural integrity of the homes has been assured.

Please let me know as soon as possible how these conditions are being investigated. Sincerely, Tony Avella Councilmember District 19-Northeast Queens

Thoughts On Bush To The Editor:

We now fully acknowledge that your readers, to borrow a phrase, speak our language, particularly Zak Pal of our hometown, Bayside [Letters to the Editor, Stem Cell Research, August 23 issue]. Where is our President's thinking? Where did he obtain his degree in bamboozling, and who are these folks who are beguiled by him?? I agree with the writer-"Fire him-give him the sack!!

This is a great paper!! Sylvia Bailen Bayside

Give 'Em A Break

A copy of the following letter and a photocopy of a ticket issued by a Sanitation Enforcement Agent to a Steinway Street laundromat were received by the Gazette.

Attention Department of Sanitation:

I am happy that you have people out making sure the streets are clean. I also find it unfair to fine store owners for the littering of people on the street. The store

owners should be given a reasonable amount of time to clean the mess. I have seen this establishment out cleaning multiple times a day. People continue to drop their garbage in front of stores because they are too lazy to walk to the corner for the garbage cans. The store should be given a break once in a while. They are working and don't notice every time someone drops trash in front of their door. Sincerely, Bob Boggs Astoria

Keep Our Trees! To The Editor:

It was with great sadness that I read that a 150-year-old pin oak tree, the largest tree in Northern Flushing, had been cut down recently. Also destroyed were several other historical trees. All the trees were reportedly healthy and in no danger of falling. Misguided people need to be enlightened as to just how important trees are to our health and our community.

Trees filter the air we all breathe. In our polluted environment, we need all the help we can get. It is a known fact that children who live in our most polluted areas have higher rates of asthma than other children. Trees can help with that problem.

Trees are also natural air conditioners, cooling us on hot summer days and lowering our energy bills. They conserve the water table and prevent erosion. The leaves that come down in the fall can be used for mulch or they can be composted. Trees provide shelter and food for the birds and other wildlife. And they are just beautiful to look at in any season.

Trees increase the value of a property. The most desirable neighborhoods are all noted for tree lined streets and properties. They are a community asset.

It surprises me how many new homes are built on property that has been totally denuded of trees and plants. Concrete yards replace green areas. Perhaps many of the new homes would be more acceptable to the community if some of the vegetation was preserved or at least the completed sites were landscaped nicely.

Some people do not realize that street trees, those between the curb and the sidewalk, are city owned and are prohibited from being removed unless a permit is granted by the Parks Department. What even more people do not realize is that the city owns a part of the land that goes beyond the sidewalk towards the building on the property. Trees in that area are also considered to be street trees and should not be taken down unless a permit is granted by the city. Heavy fines can be assessed to those who break the law.

In the movie, "An Inconvenient Truth", we are warned about the dangers of global warming. One of the suggestions in the film to fight this danger is to plant more and more trees. Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, to her credit, authorized the planting of 1,000 trees throughout Queens in the recent past, We need to build upon that and continue to green our neighborhoods and protect the trees and other vegetation already present.

If you would like a free street tree planted in front of your home, contact your local community board. They will send you a simple form to fill out. If you wish to plant your own tree in the cityowned part of your property, call 311 for information. All newly planted trees should be watered regularly, especially in hot, dry weather. The trees will reward you with a lifetime of beauty and benefits. Henry Euler Bayside

Mourn For The Bravest To The Editor:

This past Sunday [Aug. 27, 2006] was a sad day for the FDNY, who lost two more of their own in a bad fire in The Bronx which also saw 12 of the Bravest also injured. Rookie firefighter and Iraq war veteran Michael Reilly and Lieutenant Howard Carpluk, a 20-year veteran, lost their lives doing what they do best and that is fighting fires and trying to save lives. It is at this time that we must applaud what these brave men did and also all of our Bravest, who put their lives on the line to serve and protect us and by doing so put themselves in harm's way. There is nothing we can do or say except extend our heartfelt prayers to the families who are in such grief right now. Let me say one more thing: all of us New Yorkers feel your pain and all we want to do is say "thank you to all of our Bravest who put their lives on line every day when that fire alarm goes off in your fire house". May God Bless you and protect you in all that you do. Sincerely Yours Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Bellerose