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Letters to the Editor Need Health Care Now To The Editor:
Expiration Date Laws To The Editor: While recently grocery shopping in a local supermarket, I purchased a package of pepperoni that I found in a display case at the end of the produce section. Upon opening the package at home, and biting into one of the slices, I experienced a foul, uncharacteristic taste. In looking at the package, I saw that the expiration date had passed quite a while prior to my purchase. When I returned to the store on another occasion, I found that, in addition to the pepperoni that I had purchased, the store was also offering for sale bags of lettuce that had already expired. Subsequently, on a Sunday morning, I decided to make pancakes for my family. Since we had no pancake flour in the house, I walked to a nearby delicatessen to purchase pancake flour. After the purchase, I discovered that the expiration date on the box had passed. Coincidentally, during this period of time, I received an e-mail from my uncle relating the story of a young boy who almost died after eating pancakes from an expired pancake mix. According to the story, pancakes and cake mixes that have yeast develop spores over time. The mold that forms in old mixes can be toxic. This story confirmed my suspicion that the sale of expired food products can be deleterious to one’s health. The hazards created by the sale of expired food products call for measures to combat this problem. Research revealed that, apparently, there is no state or federal law that prohibits the sale of all expired food products. Local laws in Westchester, Suffolk, and Nassau Counties do prohibit the sale of outdated perishable foods. New York state prohibits the sale of expired over-the-counter drugs, and the sale of expired milk is prohibited under the New York City Health Code. There are state and federal laws prohibiting the sale of adulterated food products, but state and federal law does not specifically prohibit the sale of expired food products. In order to prevent the serious health con- sequences that may result from the sale of expired food products, there should be state and federal legislation aimed at this problem. Intentional sale of expired foods should result in significant penalties to deter such conduct and to impel food vendors to diligently guard against the shelving of outdated food products. The public health requires no less. Keep Q56 Bus, Z Train To The Editor: As you know, I write often about our Woodhaven Business Improvement District on our Woodhaven’s Jamaica Avenue and while we think of Jamaica Avenue, we must think of our Jamaica Avenue bus, the Q56. Did you know that our Q56 bus is scheduled to be discontinued as well as the Z Train on the J Line again? Well, I have made it known to all of our elected officials and the MTA that this cannot happen and that Woodhaven will fight as we did last year these MTA proposals. Woodhaven needs the Q56 and the Z Line! In January of 2008, I submitted this written testimony to the MTA, it still holds true as we begin our fight, for the second time. As in my testimony in 2008 I stated “What Are You Thinking”? “Good Evening Honorable Members of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. My name is Maria Thomson, and I am the Executive Director of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation and the Woodhaven Business Improvement District and have been involved in community activities for the past 35 years. These community organizations are located in Woodhaven Queens, N.Y.C., where I also reside. On the flyer for this meeting it states it is a ‘Hearing held on proposed changes in fares and crossing charges, levels of service and partial or complete closing of subway stations’. I am here this evening to protest vociferously against the proposed elimination or the limited services for the Q56 bus route in Queens N.Y., to us known as the “Jamaica Avenue Bus”. This contemplation begs the question: what are you thinking? This bus runs along Jamaica Avenue from Jamaica Queens through Woodhaven then into Brooklyn. Our Woodhaven’s Jamaica Avenue commercial area, the Woodhaven Business Improvement District is located on 25 blocks on this Jamaica Avenue route from Dexter Court to 100th Street. Within this district we have small mom and pop stores, dentists, doctors, chain stores, restaurants and some unique one of a kind specialty businesses. Our main transportation sources are the J Line elevated train and the Q56 bus. We have many elderly in our area and young families with children. Since the stairs to the J line El are a problem to mothers with young children with their strollers and the elderly, they use this Q56 bus. This bus is also used by students from our community, for the thinking is that riding the surface bus is safer than the elevated train. This Q56 bus also transports shoppers from Jamaica, Richmond Hill, Brooklyn and the ends of our Woodhaven community to the different parts of our WBID to shop. This bus is vital to the shopping at our small businesses and an important part of Queens and the Woodhaven community. One has to think, what are you thinking? This is the worst change you could contemplate for our Woodhaven and the economy of Queens and Brooklyn. Every resident that lives in Brooklyn through the end of Queens will tell you the Q56 bus is their transportation lifeline to Jamaica Hospital, to shopping along this Avenue and to the human resource, Social Services and the courthouses in Jamaica Queens. As for the proposed increase in fares and tolls, I would suggest that the MTA secure federal funding to subsidize these monies as part of the ‘bailout program’ now being approved. As to the discontinuation of the Q56, I can only state our concerns and opposition, and ask you on behalf of all that will suffer if you do this, incredulously, What are you thinking? I thank the esteemed members of the MTA Board for this hearing and I hope that you not only heard me but that you also listened. I appreciate your time.” Now, we fight again, the fight against the MTA implementing their draconian proposals of eliminating our Q56 Bus line and our Z Train on the J Elevated Line. Also the elimination of bus passes for our students and the mean-spirited proposed treatment of our disabled with their plans to “drop them off” at the nearest bus stop. This fight has to be fought hard and now. If you would like to write to the MTA in regard to not discontinuing our Q56 Bus, please write to: Douglas Sussman Sincerely, ‘Participation’ Isn’t Enough To The Editor:
I remember when “Social Studies” was a required subject in school. That’s where I learned about the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and that the role of government is to maintain an army, a police force and to deliver the mail. I remember a time when it was inconceivable the government would bail out failed businesses, dictate bankruptcy terms and short-change bond holders, determine compensation, design and build automobiles, manage and control availability and cost of medical services, determine the amount of salt and fat in our diet, adjust our thermostats, etc. What article in the Constitution sanctions the depletion of our treasury by spending and borrowing beyond our means, the creation of an unsustainable debt and the redistribution [of] other people’s money? The IRS has been renamed the Internal Redistribution Service. I remember when schools kept score and used their score boards at events to foster competition. I remember when we rewarded exceptionalism and excellence with trophies. rather than “Certificates of Participation”. In a few weeks, I am scheduled for a procedure on my heart. I hope my surgeon did not just “participate” when in medical school. No Hydraulic Fracturing To The Editor:
There is a proposal in our state to allow for the drilling of natural gas deposits in the Marcellus and Utica Shale underground geological formations that exist throughout a large portion of New York state. This includes areas in watershed lands that supply water to over 9 million people in New York City and adjacent areas. The trouble with this proposal is that oil and gas companies dig using a process called hydraulic fracturing. The process involves pumping huge amounts of water into wells in order to facilitate the extraction of the natural gas deposits. This water is reportedly laced with toxic material, including benzene and other poisonous and carcinogenic substances. Some of the fluid employed can be recovered; however, much of the fluid is left to seep into the ground which can leach down into aquifers that feed into our wells, streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs. This would threaten the purity and safety of our water supply. The fluid that is reclaimed has to be stored and eventually disposed of, but how and where are very problematic. A document was prepared seeking permission to drill in our state using hydraulic fracturing technology. The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is considering this document for approval. Some public hearings were held across the state and the public comment period was extended an additional 30 days expiring on December 31, 2009. A decision by the DEC is expected soon. Several environmental organizations have spoken out against hydraulic fracturing including Environmental Advocates of New York, Riverkeeper and the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection has taken a strong stance against drilling in watershed areas using this process. Many elected officials have voiced opposition as well. Hydraulic fracturing has already poisoned some wells and waterways in other states where it is allowed. Some fish kills have been reported. Yet, despite all of this evidence and opposition, the drilling lobby is calling for thousands of wells to be drilled throughout New York state using hydraulic fracturing. These wells use diesel burning drill equipment that run 24/7. Habitat and wildlife are disturbed because land has to be cleared around each well. Truck traffic to and from these wells disturbs the quality of life for residents living near these sites. There are experts who feel that technologies can be developed to extract natural gas deposits safely without the use of harmful chemicals that can contaminate our water supply. The other problems associated with drilling may also be able to be mitigated. These options should be studied and pursued. There are just so many reasons not to use the hydraulic fracturing process. If the city water supply ever became contaminated, a filtration system would have to be built, costing billions. It would probably take years to construct. What would be the toll on our health and on our economy? Please take the time to contact the governor and your state representatives to ask for their help in preventing the use of hydraulic fracturing in New York state. |
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