Urging Albany legislative leaders to kill two birds with one stone, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proposed a 12- cent-a-can tax on “heavily sweetened” sodas and beverages to raise funds to meet budgetary needs while at the same time attacking a major problem plaguing children: obesity. The much-needed funds will close a looming $1.9 billion budget gap for health care for […]
Weprin Denounces Proposed Youth Program Cuts
City Councilmember Mark Weprin has voiced opposition to plans by a city agency to cut a youth program at four schools in Eastern Queens as a costreduction measure. Weprin (D–Oakland Gardens) wrote Department of Youth and Community Development Commissioner Jeanne Mullgrav that proposed termination of the Out of School Time (OST) programs in the three schools would be a disservice […]
Endorses Peralta For State Senator
The Queens Gazette endorses Assemblymember Jose Peralta in Tuesday’s special election for the 13th state senate district seat left vacant when Hiram Monserrate was expelled by his colleagues last month. Monserrate, running as an independent, will oppose Peralta, who has been endorsed by the Queens Democratic Party. Also in the race is Robert Beltrani, a Republican–Conservative administrative law judge who […]
No More Need For Daylight Saving Time
Every spring and fall we go through the completely unnecessary annoyance of putting the clock forward or back by an hour so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less and vice versa. This practice began in the United States during World War I in an effort to conserve incandescent light bulbs so that production of war materials could […]
Letters to the Editor
Politicians Cause Problems To The Editor: If the never-ending stalemate and gamesmanship in Washington continues, voter anger will be a stumbling block to economic recovery. In the absence of leadership that honestly confronts and resolves issues haunting the nation like health care, bank reform, stimulus, entitlements, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Americans will remain hotly divided. Elected representatives […]
Gazette Calendar Of Events
Community Meetings Dates & times are subject to change, call to confirm. Associations Mar. 11, 7:30 p.m., Dutch Kills Civic; Growing Up Green Charter School, 39-38 28th St., LIC; 718.786.2049. Mar. 11, Apr. 8, May 13, 7 p.m., United Forties Civic; St. Teresa’s Parish Center, 50-22 45th St., Woodside; 718.392.0416. Apr. 27, 8 p.m., Bayside Hills Civic; Bayside Colonial Church, […]
Bayside Historical Society Plans Irish Celebration
The Bayside Historical Society will hold an Irish Celebration on Thursday, March 18 at 7 p.m., featuring the Bayside Glee Club, Henry McDonaugh III, conductor, Irish Dancers from the Ryan Irish Dance Academy, (former “Riverdance” Broadway production cast member Kathleen Ryan, director) and, with photos and items from the BHS archives, an evening of remembering citizens past, among them the […]
Rally Against Maspeth Route
Elected officials joined residents of Maspeth at noon on Friday, March 5, in a rally to press the Department of Transportation to change Grand, Flushing and Myrtle Avenues from through routes to local routes. City Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley introduced the speakers—Congressmembers Joseph Crowley and Anthony Weiner, state Senator Joseph Addabbo, Assemblymember Marge Markey, City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, Community Board […]
State Private Jobs Increase 1st Time Since Apr. ’08, Maloney Says
Congressmember Carolyn Maloney said last week’s New York State Labor Department jobs report, which showed private sector employment rising in the state for the first time since April 2008, was attributable, in large part, to steps taken by the Obama Administration. The data showed private sector payrolls in the state rose by 30,500 from December 2009 to January 2010 and the […]
Con Edison Launches Energy Cost Cutting Program
Con Edison on February 25 launched new programs to help large businesses cut their energy costs, while helping the environment and earning financial incentives. The goal is to reduce peak electric use during New York City’s hottest summer days by 200 megawatts (MW), enough to eliminate emissions from several small power plants. From March 1 to April 1, businesses that […]