Keep Church Out Of Politics



To The Editor: The suggestion by one Golzalo “Jun” Policarpio that Congressman Gary Ackerman is somehow “anti-Christian” for casting a vote against a bizarre resolution about Christmas on December 10 is ludicrous, as Ackerman was one of the few representatives who had the guts to say “no” to something that was unconstitutional, but “politically correct” nonsense, and an insult to […]

Op- ed

City Neighborhoods Need Supermarkets, Not Pushcarts

The New York City Council and the Mayor have proposed Intro 665 to increase the number of food carts that sell fresh fruits and vegetables in neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs where access to fresh fruit and vegetables is limited. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn should be commended for bringing to light an important issue. Clearly […]

Will Queensboro Bridge Stay Free Under Pricing Plan?



Across the East River, in Manhattan, the Queensboro Bridge is widely known as the 59th Street Bridge. Next year marks the centennial of its opening on Mar. 30, 1909. Will it still be a free bridge? A plan to draw an arbitrary line at 60th Street will make a trip into Manhattan across the Queensboro cost $8 for cars, $21 […]

On the brief side…



Film Featuring Gennaro Wins Award City Councilmember James Gennaro (D- Fresh Meadows) was on hand in Park City, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival where a film, “Fields of Fuel”, won the Documentary Audience Award, selected by popular vote of viewers as best documentary. The film, which looked into the causes of and possible solutions to the United States’ dependency […]

Cuomo Bill Goes After Sex Offenders Seeking Kids On Internet



A bill described by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo as the nation’s most comprehensive legislation to dramatically enhance protections for New Yorkers, especially children, from sexual predators on the Internet has been introduced in Albany. Cuomo was joined in announcing the legislation by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, assuring bipartisan support for the measure. […]

Bush Funds Transit Programs But Stiffs Other Services



President George W. Bush won praises for lavishing billions of dollars on New York City’s major transit programs in his 2009 budget, but he was lambasted for slashing Medicare and other city services in the spending plan. Praises came from Senator Charles Schumer and Congressmember Carolyn Maloney for the $211 million grant for the East Side Access Project that will […]

Congestion Pricing Could Lead To ‘Hunting Licenses’



A hunting license. That’s how the Department of Transportation described residential parking permits in neighborhoods that may be impacted by congestion pricing. Residential permit proposals were discussed, commented on, and rated by residents attending a parking workshop last week in Long Island City. The workshops are the DOT’s answer to local concerns about “park and ride” activity near subway stations […]

NY Lawmakers Shocked At Bush’s 77% Cut In 9/11 Health Funding



New York lawmakers in Washington who have been persistently pressing the White House for increased funding for healthcare programs for ailing 9/11 World Trade Center workers were jolted last week when President George W. Bush’s proposed budget slashed those programs by 77 percent. Only last Wednesday, they pointed out, a White House spokesman had issued a statement that the president’s […]

New 114th Precinct CO Sees Only Solutions



“There are no problems here- only solutions,” Deputy Inspector Paul Vorbeck said of his new command, the 114th Police Precinct in Astoria. Vorbeck came to the 114th Precinct after some three years and three months at the 94th Precinct in the Williamsburg-Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, where he was executive officer for a year and commanding officer for the remaining two […]

Vallone Attends P.S. 85 Class Officer Installation



As students at P.S. 85, the Judge Charles A. Vallone School, listened, City Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr. spoke at the installation of class officers at the Astoria school, which is named for his grandfather.