Queens Gazette

Letters to the Editor


Family Court Legislation

A copy of this letter was received at the offices of the Queens Gazette. The Honorable Lawrence K. Marks, Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts New York State Unified Court System Dear Honorable Judge Marks,

We write to respectfully express our significant legal, policy, and fiscal concerns regarding section 205.18 of the Uniform Rules of the Family Court which are aimed at providing court rules for the implementation of the Families First Prevention Service Act (FFPSA). We believe the provisions outlined in 205.18 are inconsistent with and contrary to the statute that was recently enacted by New York. It is imperative that we correct these issues before implementation later this month.

The state law, Chapter 56 of the Laws of New York 2021, ELFA Part L was enacted in April 2021. While we appreciate the Court’s efforts to prepare to implement the complex requirements of this new legislation, the content outlined in the court rules appears to have established procedures inconsistent with the law recently negotiated and enacted by the legislature.

We have heard from relevant stakeholders, including OCFS, ACS and others who have expressed similar concerns to the extent the court rules are outside the scope of the statute and legislative intent negotiated by all parties. We share their concerns and support their efforts to change course. As such, we respectfully urge the Court to reconsider and revise Rule 205.18 to ensure compliance with the statutory language and legislative intent set forth by the state and federal legislatures.

We thank you for your attention to this critical matter and look forward to a resolution that preserves the intent of FFPSA. The successful implementation of this new policy is imperative for the wellbeing of the foster care youth in New York. Sincerely,

Andrew D. Hevesi, 28th AD
And signed by 48 other Assemblymembers and NYS Senators

Help The Vulnerable First

To The Editor:

Hurricane Ida is the most recent example of the disastrous effects of climate change. More lives were lost in Queens –in their own homes–than in the thick of the storm. The floodwater to blame was contaminated with sewage and dangerous chemicals. In his encyclical Laudato Si, Pope Francis highlights the serious health detriments contaminated water presents. Catholic social teaching reminds us that the poor and vulnerable should always be at the forefront of our service. President Biden highlighted this, saying lower-income communities, people of color, the elderly, and the most vulnerable need to be helped first.

Decades of insufficient sewage infrastructure and inadequate flood prevention tactics resulted in entire homes, memories, and lives being taken away. The insufficient sewage systems expose people to untreated waste and have caused Queens residents to suffer from norovirus and e. coli. In caring for our common home, we need to recognize the effects of climate change, work to reverse its damage, and relieve the pain our neighbors are experiencing.

The Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021, if passed, would improve the wastewater crisis by authorizing funding for sanitary sewer overflow and storm water reuse municipal grants. It would also allocate at least 25% of these funds towards systems serving disadvantaged communities. It is important for our representatives to fight for a bill that would push for the safety of their constituents. Representatives Ocasio-Cortez, Meeks, and Meng need to the room where policy change be in is made.

Sarah Quispe
Richmond Hill

Why Stop There?

To The Editor:

The opening of the new underground NYC Transit subway passageway between Bryant Park and Times Square Station shuttle platform is great news. It will connect the 6th Avenue, 7th Avenue and Broadway 42nd Street subway stations. But why stop there? Few remember the underground passageway along 6th Avenue from 34th Street Herald Square subway station complex which went as far north as 42nd Street. As a teenager, I remember avoiding the rain and snow by using this indoor path. It would provide easy access to both the New York public library main branch and Stern’s 42nd Street department store.

The passageway connecting the 34th and 42nd Street 6th Avenue subway stations was closed decades ago by NYC Transit. If reopened today, commuters would have easier connections to the Broadway N, R, Q & W and 6th Avenue B, D, F & M subway lines along with the Port Authority PATH subway system – rather than walking outside on the street exposed to both inclement weather and heavy vehicular traffic.

How disappointing that the old 6th Avenue midtown underground corridor, which previously provided transit options for thousands of commuters continues to remain inaccessible after so many decades.

Here in Queens, the new Court Square – 23rd Street station connection only provides the ability to transfer between the 7, E, M & G lines.

A connection between Queens Plaza and Queensboro Plaza stations would provide the ability to transfer between the 7, N & W lines, along with the E, F, R & M lines.

It is always a wise policy for the NYC Transit to provide redundancy or different options for customers for when some lines are temporarily out of service due to signal or mechanical failure or overnight or weekend construction/repairs.

It would also be helpful if this new connection would be ADA-compliant for those who are physically challenged.

Perhaps this project might be included in the upcoming MTA 2020 – 2040 Twenty Years Capital Needs Assessment Plan.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo and former MTA Chairman Pat Foye promised that this critical MTA transportation planning document would be released in December 2019. It is now 20 months overdue. Let’s see if Governor Kathy Hochul and Acting MTA Chairman Janno Lieber will make this a priority for release of this long overdue report in coming weeks or before the end of the year.

Perhaps this project might be included.

Larry Penner
Great Neck

One Generation Away

To The Editor:

I feel comfortable in saying that President Reagan saw what was coming and issued this warning. But nobody listened. Please pass it on.

Former President Ronald Reagan said: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed to them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

Dino Pavlou

Food Justice

To The Editor:

Last week while I happened to be eating some Clementines purchased at a local supermarket, I discovered upon closer examination that the label on the package said: “Product of South Africa.” This launched me into thinking about the mantra that I was introduced to when I first started my investigation into our city’s food system about a decade ago, which provided the advice to eat locally grown whole foods that are in season. Even though I was well versed in this concept, it was my husband who recently reminded me that if we want to eat produce that is out of season, markets might have to get that item from other countries that grow it. This gave me something to think about, but I also noticed some changes that had occurred since returning from a vacation where I ate only whole, locally produced, in-season food and prepared items that contained less sugar and salt. The realization that the prior seventeen days of vacation eating had me feeling lighter with better digestion launched me into a total recall of the food philosophy that was a cornerstone of my understanding of the consciousness raising annual event known as Food Day, which will take place this year on Saturday, October 16th.

Since my initial introduction to Food Day, I have grown in my awareness of many related things such as food justice; food access and equality; food insecurity; and community supported agriculture (CSA) connecting producers and consumers through the provision of weekly shares of food from local farms. When I taught a course at Hunter College on American Social Welfare Policy, one of my students who was passionate about food justice and introduced me to the concept of “food deserts” that identifies certain inner city communities as places where healthy food options are not readily available. An invitation to join a colleague in writing on the subject of agriculture and food systems in New York State, got me even more involved in this subject as I learned about farm workers and the fact that our local representative Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan was instrumental in helping to implement a “day of rest” for them; which spoke to me of fair labor practices and human rights. The subject continued to unfold, ever expanding my awareness of the meaning and importance of food in our lives.

This time around, I recently delved deeper into the origin of the day and discovered, to my surprise, that World Food Day is reported to have first begun in 1945 “to celebrate the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization.” It was later recreated by Pal Romany, former Hungarian Minister of Agriculture and Food in 1979. The celebration has spread to 150 countries and is referred to as World Food Day with a focus on relieving hunger.

I was introduced to National Food Day in 2011. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) initiated the annual celebration in 1975, highlighting the “industrialization of American agriculture, rising food prices, hunger, as well as the American diet and health crisis.” I went to FoodDay.org and got fact sheets and information on how to do local event planning. They noted that “Nationally, low-income ZIP codes have 30% more convenience stores, which tend to lack healthy items,” and that “as of 2007, compared to predominantly White ZIP codes, the majority of African American ZIP codes had about half the number of supermarkets, and mostly Latino ZIP codes had about one-third as many.” My interest in the implications for diet and health, in turn, led me to the work of Dr. Mark Hyman, author of “UltraMetabolism” and his other books that warned about the dangers of high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated fats in the American diet resulting in increased rates of diabetes and heart disease. Marion Nestle, who is described as “America’s preeminent public health nutritionist,” also caught my attention with her illustrated guide to food politics entitled: “Eat, Drink, Vote,” which sheds light on what is wrong with the US food system and the phenomenon that “half of the world is starving while the other half battles obesity.” These “red flags” led me to do a few Food Day events to share what I had learned.

Today, I am looking at what appears to be a shrinking number of farmers markets. Fortunately, Sunnyside has robust support for its year-round Skillman Avenue Greenmarket between 42nd and 43rd Avenues that operates on Saturdays from 8am-3pm. It may be time once again to reboot a collective interest in doing our part to get informed and implement action steps to raise awareness about the importance of our local and national food system. Let this year’s Food Day, scheduled for October 16th, be a time to commit to one or more of the many goals that raise awareness about food in our lives; or becomes the start of your personal campaign to talk to grocers, elected officials or local leaders as a way of influencing policies that decide our options for food. They will pay attention because purchase power and votes can go a long way in determining outcomes. The presence of food and calorie labeling and increased access to organic options are evidence of how consumers have affected the marketplace. Maybe, like me, you will decide to check labels to find out where your food comes from. This year, I am thinking about how helpful it would be if supermarkets bought their seasonal produce from local farmers. Perhaps this is already being done and, if not, you can be sure that I will be checking into it. In the meantime, let me be the first to extend well wishes as you prepare for a Happy Food Day 2021!

Dr. Sharon M. Cadiz

105 Children Shot!

To The Editor:

It has just been reported that 21 children were killed in shootings and stabbings this year in New York City and surrounding boroughs. The death toll goes from ages 13 to 17 years old. The number of shootings under the age of 18 has risen to 105. This has to stop! We have had the COVID-19 pandemic, and now we have another pandemic, which I call, “Killing of our youth 101.” In my opinion, we need to bring back Stop and Frisk to take guns off the street, bring back anti-gang units and have more youth programs. Our youth are getting killed and many are just bystanders. Parents should not have to bury their child. Children should outlive their parents and not the other way around. The Mayor and the NYPD need to step up and try to stop the killing of our youth. So far Mayor Bill de Blasio has dropped the ball.

Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose

Good Going With Vax

To The Editor:

I am glad that all teachers and DOE employees must have at least had one shot of the vaccination. These vaccination mandates are essential and we are not out of the woods yet. I am so elated to learn that the borough of Queens leads city in vaccination efforts. I remember when Queens County had the highest surge of Covid cases. We have come a long way.

I am glad the FDA or CDC will look into booster shots for the two other vaccinations and also perhaps give approval for children 5 to 11 years of age; these are school age children and it is important to keep them safe.

I am appalled that organizations such as the Lighthouse Guild and Helen Keller Services all get money from the state and also from rich benefactors, but will not help blind people over 55 who are not seeking employment through the NYS Commission for the Blind rehab services to learn computers. They do not even have one to one hands-on computer training even for a fee to visit a home or residence. Also there are no recreation programs for blind seniors over 65 at these agencies that supposedly help the blind.

I am dismayed that the show Alladin had to close due to a breakthrough Covid case.

That a family man was fired due to the fact that he had to take care of his wife is awful; what happened to the Family Leave act?

Congratulations to LaGuardia, the long-maligned terminal, for winning an award for 4B renovation.

I support Queens leaders who joined the fight against building the LaGuardia Airport AirTrain.

Cynthia Groopman
Little Neck

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.