Letters to the Editor
Leave Reservoir Alone To The Editor:

The Ridgewood Reservoir is an area on the Queens- Brooklyn border by Highland Park that the Parks Department and the city would like to develop into recreational space. The problem, however, is that it would mean that acres of trees would have to be cut down.

How ironic that would be! The city in conjunction with the Parks Department wants to plant one million trees throughout the city for health and ecological benefits. Yet in this pristine area, they are willing to sacrifice hundreds of trees to put down Astroturf and the like. In the meantime, there are many ball fields and other recreational spaces around the city that already exist and are in need of improvement. Some of those areas are even near the Ridgewood Reservoir. Shouldn't some of the money that would be allocated for this project be better used to repair what already exists?

It is not only the trees at stake at the Ridgewood Reservoir site. The area is an oasis for birds. Over one hundred types of migratory birds have been identified there. Many of those nest there as well. It is an ideal habitat for birds and other types of wildlife.

The Ridgewood Reservoir was used as a backup water supply for Queens and Brooklyn into the 1960s. It was made up of three basins. Two of those three water areas subsequently became reforested in the typical way that land changes over time in nature. That process is known as succession and this particular site is on its way to becoming a full fledged Eastern forest. Why interrupt this urban forest by cutting down trees?

My understanding is that the city and Parks Department are planning on spending anywhere from $46 million to $55 million on this project, depending on the source. That money should be spent on improving existing recreational areas and purchasing additional parcels of land to be used for open space and park uses.

In Queens, many concerned citizens urged the purchase of several parcels including the St. Saviour's church property in Maspeth, the Klein Farm in Fresh Meadows and the Iris Hill wooded property in Bellerose. Other parcels are available as well, and all of this land should be used for green areas for the public.

According to the mayor, one million more residents are expected in the city by 2030. It is difficult to figure where everyone will live, given the overdevelopment, infrastructure and flooding problems that we are already facing today. In addition, where will everyone go to relax and enjoy nature? Where will our children play? It is time to plan ahead and think of the future. We must buy open space in the city to meet those needs and we also have to preserve land that is environmentally sensitive like the Ridgewood Reservoir area. Henry Euler Bayside

Italians Left Out To The Editor:

I've been watching the documentary "The War" by Ken Burns on Channel Thirteen Public Television.

As usual, Italian-Americans, although being the largest contingent of servicemen of any nationality in World War II, are completely overlooked and not mentioned, nor their heroic efforts in both the European and Pacific Theatres.

The documentary gives much time to U.S. Japanese Battalions and singles out U.S. Soldiers of Japanese descent. They also talk at length about the internment of Japanese Americans while fleetingly mentioning the internment of Italian Americans, never stating the fact that Italian Americans could not fish off the California Coast thereby robb[ed] them of their livelihood.

The documentary also tells of the Blacks' contributions and when Hispanics complained that they weren't being properly represented, Ken Burns apologized and gave them ample footage. It's the same old same old when it comes to Italian-Americans and we better start to wake up and complain ourselves. Sincerely, James J. Condes Woodside We Speak English Here To The Editor:

This is to express my agreement with the radio commercial I've been hearing about the need to make English America's official national language.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why Congress refuses to do this.

The commercial is right. Without an official language, we are becoming a nation without a single identity as Americans, but, rather, a series of sub-cultures, many of which have allegiances elsewhere than to America.

The politicians need to stop pandering to every new group that comes to the country and do what's right for our country and for the citizens of our country.

Enough is enough. Congress needs to do the right thing and create one national language.

Kudos to Mr. Michael Ricatto and his group, Better Leadership America, for having the courage to stand up and fight for this issue. We need more people out there like Mr. Ricatto. Mona Almona East Meadow, Long Island

Thanks Con Ed, KeySpan, FD To The Editor:

I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work that the community Fire Department along with Con Edison and KeySpan has put in to fix a serious problem that arose on October 28, early Sunday morning.

I was on my [way] home from a Halloween party at 3:00 a.m.; I smelled a strong odor of gas at the end of my block as I was looking for parking. I notified my mother who then called the NYC 311 hotline. She was connected to emergency 911 then to the Fire Department. The FDNY showed up in record time within five minutes of her call. Four fire engine trucks pulled up and assessed the situation. It was then established that there was a gas leak coming from the sewer cover in the street on 70th Street on 32nd Avenue.

Some of the neighbors' homes were filled with toxic carbon monoxide and were immediately advised to evacuate. Con Edison and KeySpan have been working extremely hard and around the clock 24 hours a day for the last three days.

It seems there has not been any type of recognition to the hard work put in by the local Fire Department, Con Edison and KeySpan.

I am writing to you to acknowledge the wonderful job that these men and women are doing for our community. Krystle Long

Wants Fun Before He Goes

To The Editor:

Although hardly a fan of [Vice President Dick] Cheney, I nevertheless feel kind of sorry for the guy, kind of. Here he is with a heart condition that could prove terminal at anytime and he comes to, Duchess County to have a little fun before he goes…on. All he wanted to do is go out into our beautiful, wildlifefilled woodlands in New York state and kill things. What's wrong with that? It's not that he is necessarily an evil person, necessarily. Perhaps he is just looking to enlist nature's company to join him in the hereafter. None of us know if there is anything to shoot, up…or down, there. It may very well prove frustrating, trying to kill those little birds or whatever he enjoys killing when they're already dead, conundrum: but I digress. Nevertheless, those detractors seem to have intentionally left out the fact that this time he did not shoot a hunting partner in the face. How devious as well as transparent an omission.

And then there is the Confederate Flag inside the shooters' club. So what! He didn't put it there; he was merely the guest of honor of those who did. Besides, it's just [a] flag; a design. Where's the beef…where's the noose?

So much for you Darth Vader conspirators. Careful you don't get shot in the face. Zack Pal Bayside