Maloney, LIRR Create Jobs To The Editor:

Every time I see the construction of the Eastside-LIRR Connector, I am reminded of all of the work that Congress[member] Carolyn Maloney is doing to create jobs in Queens.

This project is bringing billions of dollars and thousands of good jobs to our community. In these tough times, it is important to have projects like this that provide job opportunities and improve services in our neighborhoods.

Not only does Carolyn understand the importance of creating jobs, she understands that Queens residents need good paying jobs now and in the future. It’s great to know that we have someone in Congress who fights for her constituents every single day.
Rose Tibaldi
Sunnyside

Legal Immigrants Boost U.S.

To The Editor:

The federal government, working with the border states, should provide the personnel and resources to secure our borders.

Over the years, tens of millions of immigrants from Europe and other continents entered the U.S legally through Ellis Island and other locations. They learned English, studied U.S. history, and took a citizenship examination to qualify to become citizens.

Currently we have approximately 11 million illegal immigrants in this country who do not qualify for citizenship. They committed an illegal act when entering this country. We are a country of laws, and the 11 million illegal immigrants broke our laws, and should be deported over an extended period of time to their native countries.

These potential immigrants can then go through the established application process, become proficient in English, and obtain knowledge of U.S. history and our government, and then qualify for citizenship.

By following our current immigration laws the immigrants will find it easier to be assimilated, and our country will be stronger.
Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, New Hampshire

Has Simple Answers

To The Editor:

A substantial majority of the American people agree with Arizona on illegal aliens because the federal government does not enforce a federal law. It’s that simple. Elitist politicians refuse to acknowledge that their constituents demand that the government enforce the law. What’s so hard about that? Don’t blame Arizona.

Politicians should also note that a substantial majority of New Yorkers do not want a mosque at or near Ground Zero. It’s that simple. The people do not want it there. Locate it in Woodside, or north of Federal Plaza. But no mosque near Ground Zero!

The prolonged recession with its near-10 percent unemployment has slowed new immigrants and sent many immigrants home, both legal and illegal. President Obama can help. $400 billion of last year’s stimulus money has not been spent. The Mexican wall is shovel-ready, as they say. Build that border wall with stimulus money. Create jobs, Help enforce the law. It’s that simple. Very truly yours,
Al Volpe
Woodside

Don’t Close Liberty Exit

To The Editor:

As a community advocate and attorney at law I have started a petition drive and awareness outreach to elected officials, the community boards, the [city] Department of Transportation, and other government agencies demanding that the proposed closure by the Department of Public [sic] Transportation of the Liberty Avenue exit to the Van Wyck Expressway be permanently and immediately discontinued.

Any closure of this important economic life to our community will severely hurt the businesses and professions that serve the community here in Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Jamaica, South Ozone Park and environs, and will cut off a vital flow of traffic and the concomitant benefits to city, state and federal government and the residents who depend on the services offered in this district. We presently have a large unemployment and foreclosure rate, and government should be helping, not stifling businesses to make ends meet. I call upon all elected representatives and concerned citizens to ensure that this plan does not see the light of day.

The Department of Transportation and other government agencies should work with local owners in partnership to improve parking, safety, lighting, sanitation, quality of life services and promote businesses in the area to the broader city and state markets, because this area provides an important tax base for the government. We have revitalized these communities, and will not sit by and allow the DOT to take this ill-advised action and ruin our communities.

Moreover, closing this exit will overburden the Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevard exits, which are already congest ed. It also creates a dangerous precedent for other vital communication arteries like Myrtle, Metropolitan, Atlantic, Hillside, Jamaica Avenues to be closed.
Albert Baldeo
President
United Communities Alliance

Testing Doesn’t Teach

To The Editor:

I have not lost much sleep over the news that fewer New York City public school students, based on their test results, met state standards this year. As a parent, I care deeply about how our children are performing in school, but I do not worry much about scores on high-stakes tests. Up or down, above or below any particular proficiency cutoff, the test scores fail to indicate what parents really care about: Is my child learning? Instead, they are likely to reflect the rampant use of test-preparation drills that keep scores high but rob students of the opportunity for real learning. I am not participating in the handwringing over lower percentages of students deemed proficient because I reject the premise that high-stakes standardized tests ever provided an accurate picture of students’ performance in the first place.

Since the Department of Education introduced its regime of high-stakes testing in New York City public schools, it has taken each report of test results as an opportunity to trumpet students’ purported gains. When fewer students met the standards this year, DOE’s spin was that all is still well because the actual test scores held steady. For DOE, it’s all about test scores.

What DOE fails to report is the high cost associated with keeping the test scores at a level they can continue to brag about. How many students do not know basic geography? How many missed out on science experiments, field trips, music, dance, art and public speaking in favor of a focus on the narrow range of material that appears on state tests? Test preparation has crowded out a broad curriculum, as time and resources consistently shift away from any subject matter that will not appear on state examinations. There is a monetary cost too, in the form of millions spent on test-prep materials as well as on administering and then grading the exams.

Instead of taking this week’s news as another opportunity to tout illusory educational progress, DOE should double down on enhancing the education that today’s students need to truly succeed. Regardless of the latest test results, the real news is that schools are testing more but students are learning less.
Sincerely,
Mark S. Weprin
Councilmember
23rd Council District, Eastern Queens

We Lost Poverty War

To The Editor:

Does anyone remember any politician campaigning on a platform to redistribute the wealth of their constituents? So what happened?

In the 1960s, the federal government sidestepped the Constitution, declared War on Poverty, and promised us a Great Society. Which side won the war? Not only has poverty been spread across the nation, it has stormed and occupied every government agency, binding them with debt.

We were told that takeovers and stimulus deals, and bailouts would bring prosperity. We were told that NAFTA, CAFTA, and SCHMAFTA would stimulate our trade.These con jobs were intentional. Our economy continues to implode.

Historically, Socialism always brings poverty and corruption, so how did we let them sell this to us? Redistribution of the wealth is pure Marxism, yet we permit it to continue domestically and internationally through foreign aid. How long will the revolutionary mechanism continue to destroy our middle class? It is bipartisan treason!
Larry Burke
Roslyn, New York