Queens Gazette

Letters to the Editor





 

 

Mideast Is Still The Same To The Editor:

The chickens have come to roost. The evil that is the Middle East is a cauldron of hate mixed with religious bigotry and fundamentalist terrorism. Not one party is innocent nor is one totally guilty.

Hamas acted as if there would be no response from Israel from rocketing civilian settlements. Perhaps the Hamas leadership thought it could imitate the success of Hezbollah, enjoyed at Israeli expense in Lebanon. Attempting to unseat Hamas, Israel’s closure of the border crossings created a prison of limited resources in Gaza.

Iran by surrogates is confronting the U.S. wherever it can without risking an American military response. No one questions the involvement of Iran and Syria in arming Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran is feared by Sunni governments throughout the region and has not been deemed a friend to Iraq, now a Shiite-governed nation. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States have not intervened or diminished their financial support for terrorist organizations, all in the name of the Prophet.

Russia and China seeking to carve out bases of support for their regimes and to secure natural resources have a hands-off approach when peace negotiations are sought by the U.S. or the EU. The Bush Administration abandoned the region for seven years.

Israel during the interlude between Obama and Bush has a free hand to act. The ravages that will befall the Palestinians are horrific. The threat to Israel will be temporarily abated by its offensive. Yet in the long term, nothing will have changed. To date the carnage is acceptable to each party seeking revenge for past acts. When repulsion replaces hate, there may be a chance for peace. Edward Horn Baldwin, New York

Phone Bills Unfair To The Editor:

Congress can help the poor by repealing the Federal/Interstate Access Charge on land line phone bills.

Prior to divestiture, there were two main land line phone companies (AT&T and GTE), with no access charges. Today, we are back to two main land line phone companies (AT&T and Verizon), yet we now have high access fees. What started as a dollar is now 40 to 50 percent of line charge.

These billions are gifts of millions to CEOs and top phone company executives. In 2007 the top two at AT&T were compensated $105,437,054.00, while in 2006 Verizon’s top was gifted $21,206,700.00.

Companies merged. When will Congress wake up?! Let’s help the poor on Social Security, the rural poor and the city poor.

What happened to “for the people”?

P.S. We used to get service; now we get a menu or slammed. Merry Christmas, James D. Myers North Aurora, Illinois

Hospital, Club Left Out To The Editor:

I would like to thank you for publishing the story on “Cassino Restaurant Hosts Early Gift for Troops” [Amy Fisher, Queens Gazette, Dec. 24, 2008]. The public cannot honor this country’s servicemembers enough for all they’ve done and continue to do.

However, some of the information you printed was in error, including one organization that was not given any credit for their involvement. In addition to the participants mentioned, such as the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums Band, the AFJROTC Unit NY-932 from Aviation H.S., Monsignor Ogle of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Astoria and the Anzalones of Cassino Restaurant, New York Hospital of Queens was responsible for collecting and donating all of the toys that were given to the children of the servicemembers who attended. Without the help of all of these participants, including many individuals, we would not have been able to make this event for our servicemembers such a success. I hope this article encourages others to also show their support for our troops, whether it’s to sponsor an event like this or to contribute to the monthly care packages sent out to the troops currently deployed overseas.

Thank you. Connie Morinello Event Coordinator Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club New York

Starts New Year With Praise To The Editor:

What a wonderful way to begin a brand new year full of hopes and aspirations than to read the several positive articles that were featured in the Dec. 31, 2008 issue of the Gazette.

I am truly thankful to the TD Charitable Foundation of the TD Bank for their generous donation of $25,000 for the food bank. That is truly the embodiment of the holiday spirit of giving, caring for the less fortunate and feeding the hungry, which are all good deeds in the eyes of God.

With the downturn of the economy, and people out of jobs or with low-paying jobs and food so costly, so many are hungry and depend upon food banks. This donation is a blessing and we applaud the donors for their kindness.The donors are role models and others can follow. Donation of even a dollar is helpful. If everyone in the city contributed $1, then we would have $8 million. Nobody in our city should go hungry and food is definitely one of the basic needs of human beings to survive. This was uplifting indeed to read on this snowy afternoon.

I also laud the Queens DA and his office for conducting the toy drive for needy children. This is indeed the fulfilment of the true meaning of the holiday season. Children who would otherwise not have a toy to play with as a gift were indeed blessed through the kindness of these people who truly cared.

Thanks, Gazette, for featuring such positive articles that truly show that this city does have kind and generous sharing people.

We can all give of ourselves, our time, some money, some non-perishable food to make a difference in other’s lives and this can be done throughout the year.

I applaud Councilperson Peter Vallone Jr. for his concern about the reduction of the police force. Of course there is a budget crisis in our city, but during previous administrations of different mayors, the police were never cut. Police are necessary to promote law and order, reduce crime, make our city safe from terrorism, violence and to protect the public safety and property.

Councilmember Vallone was wise in his statement and he is to be applauded in all that he has done for our city and borough during his tenure in the City Council.

I am also glad that our mayor decided to change his mind concerning the treatment of senior citizens in Meals On Wheels and senior center services. After all, the senior citizens are the largest voting block of our city. During the re-election campaign which will shortly begin for mayor of our city, Mayor [Michael] Bloomberg has to save face and support senior services.

I am definitely glad that the mayor will be in control of our public schools. He did a tremendous job in promoting learning and discipline.

I also applaud [City] Comptroller William Thompson for his caring about senior citizens and their centers.

Senior centers are the lifeline for people over 60, giving them recreation, education, socialization, meals that are nutritional, and social service support services and computer literacy and exercise and joy.

I appreciate that the Gazette has done so much in providing us with the news of our community borough, city and world during the past year and thank the staff for doing such a superb job.

I wish a happy, healthy New Year to the readers and to the staff.

I also appreciate the fact that my voice and opinions are heard in the Letters column. Cynthia Groopman Long Island City

Don’t Cut Schools To The Editor:

Governor [David] Paterson laid out a drastic plan to close the state’s $1.5 billion budget. He’s slashing hundreds of millions of dollars in education for public schools, hiking SUNY and [C]UNY tuition and calling for almost 90 new or increased fees.

Well, I feel education of our children should not be one of the cuts because our youth represent the future of the state and in turn represent growth. Now, I have a question and that is what happen[ed] to New York State Lotteries, which in part is to help pay for education, or [are] the funds being funnel[ed] into other programs, which I think is just downright wrong?

Let’s right this unrightable wrong and make it right by writing to our state representatives. Children need to be all they can be, and these cuts take that away from them. Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Glen Oaks Village

Likes High-Speed Rail To The Editor:

“High-Speed Train Travel Is Idea Whose Time Has Come” (Editorial- December 17) on the potential for Amtrak or others to offer high-speed rail service between New York and Washington along with other corridors offered real, longterm solutions. Our elected officials need to stand up and support decisive action to make this a reality. In addition to looking at any private sector investments, why not also develop a dedicated capital revenue stream, which could include allocating a penny per gallon gasoline tax to Amtrak. These funds could provide a reliable yearly source for financing capital investments to upgrade tracks, signals, passenger equipment, stations and maintenance facilities.

Any responsible agency needs the assistance of a long-term dedicated secure revenue stream. This is needed to develop a long-term capital infrastructure plan for maintaining both an operating system in a state of good repair and any system expansion, perhaps by establishing a reasonable minimum fare box recovery rate of 50 percent to justify continued operation of any route. Give local governments one year to come up with locally generated operating assistance to support service on routes to those communities who can’t meet this goal. In the long run, these simple reforms will take the politics out of inter-city passenger service. Ask unions to allow management more flexibility in work rules and assignments to support greater productivity. Share some of the savings accrued from this with workers to foster improved partnering between management and employees. With all of this in place, many more routes could survive and some grow stronger. Service in high density corridors such as New York City to Washington may eventually actually turn a small profit, which Amtrak management could use to support other routes.

Vice President Elect Delaware Senator Joseph Biden is a regular commuter on Amtrak between his home in Dover, Delaware and Washington D.C. Members of our New York Congressional delegation, business and civic leaders could also set an example and do the same. Sincerely, Larry Penner Great Neck

Guardian Angel Visits To The Editor:

My sister-in-law called from her home in Columbia Heights, Minnesota last week to tell her sister and me who live in Queens, New York that she was visited by her Guardian Angel, when her car battery went dead and a male stranger appeared on the scene and gave her a boost with his battery cables. She actually called him her “Guiding Angel”.

Now my angel could not have been the same, for mine was [Asian] and was a woman. And where is it written in stone that all Guardian Angels must be alike? My only concern was that one came to assist me.

I was coming home from shopping and had two letters to mail that I usually drop off at the same mail box. Getting out of my car, I walked the 10 or so feet to the mail box. Upon my return I found the door not only closed but locked. I must have accidentally pushed the lock button on the door on my way out, which hadn’t been done before. And I didn’t have an extra key on me. I talked about carrying one but never got to it. To my deep disappointment the other three doors were also locked. So I was stuck outside with the engine running. In the five years that I owned this car this is the first time such a disaster has ever happened.

Now I was about seven blocks from home and didn’t know anyone in the neighborhood. It was bitter cold and I had no intention of walking home for the extra key. Unless a cab came rolling along, I’d have to flag the first car. And sure enough, in no time at all a car did appear and I flagged it down. A woman opened her door and asked what was the trouble. This could be my Guardian Angel, I hoped.

I told her and then asked if she’d mind driving me home, I told her the distance and without hesitation she offered me a ride. But what surprised me all the more that while I went inside getting my key, I didn’t think she was going to wait for me; she actually drove me back to my running car.

Oh, talk about luck.

On our return, I told about the car being five years old and that this was the first time for such an accident. She listened and was very friendly as though we had been old friends for years.

And more surprises. She waited until I had unlocked the door and still didn’t budge I waved to her but she did not drive away. I’m glad because I wanted to thank her again and more profusely. I crossed over and ask if she would give me her address, some way I could contact her to show my appreciation.

“That won’t be necessary,” she replied smiling.

I was compelled to give her something. She certainly deserved it. I thought of money, but on second thought that would only cheapen the situation. I didn’t want to do anything that would louse up the wonderful scene.

And while I was thinking of something else to say, she waved her hand and drove off. John Favicchio Flushing

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