On the brief side...

Greek Complaints Stop VISA Card With Star Of Vergina

Acting on complaints from the Cyprus Action Network of America and the Hellenic League of America, Congressmembers Carolyn Maloney and Gus M. Billrakis have requested VISA to remove the Star of Vergina, which belongs to Greece, from a "Macedonian" credit card. The two organizations had taken action to "stop the false historical revisionism".

In a letter to VISA CEO Joseph Saunders, Maloney (D- Queens/Manhattan) and Billrakis (R- Florida), co-chairs of the Hellenic Caucus in Congress and representatives for large Greek-American constituencies, expressed their "strong concern" about efforts by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to adopt symbols and images significant to Greece "as part of a propaganda campaign".

The lawmakers said their complaint was about the VISA card portraying the Star of Vergina to be issued by UMB Bank on behalf of the "United Macedonia Diaspora". They emphasized that the Star of Vergina is copyrighted exclusively by Greece and protected by the Paris Convention for the protection of State Emblems and Names.

Maloney and Billrakis added, "All historical and archaeological evidence demonstrates that the Macedonians were Greek. Macedonia is a Greek name that has designated the northern area of Greece for 2,500 years." They strongly urged VISA "to reconsider issuing this credit card with the Star of Vergina on it, and to work with Greek-Americans to ensure that this type of situation does not occur in the future".

The Star of Vergina was unearthed in the 1970s during archaeological excavations in the Greek province of Macedonia. Vallone Criticizes Paterson's Non-Diet Soda Tax

City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. says he opposes Governor David Paterson's proposed tax on non-diet sodas because in encouraging people to drink diet sodas, Paterson is giving them a dangerous, unhealthy alternative.

Vallone pointed out that many experts say diet sodas may cause a number of adverse health conditions. "Diet sodas are full of substances that can cause all sorts of problems, obesity the least of them," Vallone said. "Obesity taxes are a tricky issue, even when we desperately need revenue, but this plan would only trade sugary liquid for a batch of dangerous chemicals."

Vallone said that rather than have the governor's tax on non-diet sodas raise an estimated $400 million, he would charge a smaller tax on both regular and diet sodas, while still excluding juice, milk and bottled water.

This would encourage healthy eating habits, especially among children. The Astoria lawmaker has fought obesity previously by passing legislation to ban trans fats in restaurant foods. Markey Opposes Cell Tower Again

After four postponements, the Omnipoint Company returned to the Board of Standards and Appeals with an amended plan for a cell tower on a building at 53-20 72nd Pl. in Maspeth, which was "no more acceptable" than the original proposal, according to Assemblymember Margaret Markey (D- Maspeth).

Markey said, "There is universal agreement in the community—among neighboring homeowners, civic organizations and public officials—that it is wrong to place a commercial transmitting structure on top of a two-story house in this residential neighborhood."

Even though the revised plan is somewhat lower than the original one, Markey said, "It will still have the same negative impact on the community—and that is why I oppose it."

Markey said Omnipoint didn't make a true, good faith effort to find alternative locations for the tower and she questions if there is even any need for a tower at all. Public Toilet Installed In Corona

The first public toilet in Queens has been installed and is operating at Corona Plaza in Corona, Assemblymember Jose Peralta announced. He said it's the second of 20 Automatic Public Toilets (APTs) that will be installed throughout the city by Cemusa Inc. under a contract with the city that will bring in $1.4 billion in new revenue.

Peralta (D- Corona) said the 20-year contract also calls for construction and maintenance of 3,300 bus shelters, 330 newsstands, and 37 sheltered bike parking stands. Since June 2006, Peralta reported, Cemusa has installed more than 1,000 new bus shelters and 39 newsstands citywide, as well as four bike parking facilities. To date, $118.5 million has been paid to the city.

The toilets cost 25 cents to operate, with a time limit of 15 minutes and operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Each is climate controlled and also contains a wash basin with warm running water. An automated system controls the door and prevents unauthorized entrance. They are fully compliant with the American Disabilities Act.—Compiled by John Toscano