Queens Gazette

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On The Brief Side…


Lafayette Calls For More Arts Funding


Declaring that "the arts are central to the enrichment of our lives," Assemblymember Ivan Lafayette (D–Jackson Heights) recently joined several artists and actors in calling for more funds for the arts.


"New York State must encourage an atmosphere that celebrates and promotes the arts," Lafayette stated. "They are simply too important to New York’s economy to take for granted."

Takes Step To Privatize Airports


Declaring that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has "proven itself unable or unwilling to maintain "Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports" as first class airports, "Mayor Rudolph Giuliani announced last Friday that New York City is preparing to hire BAA USA Inc., a British firm, to manage the two airports when the current PA lease expires in 2015. BAAUSA was one of four firms that submitted bids to manage the airports after the Giuliani Administration solicited them.

Leffler: ‘Hold Line On Rent Hikes’


Citing "record high revenues" for the city’s landlords, City Councilmember Sheldon Leffler (D–Queens Village) last week urged the Rent Guidelines Board to "hold the line on rent increases." Leffler joined the Queens League of United Tenants (QLOUT) and other tenant advocates in making the request.

Maloney Meets With Greek, Turkish Officials


Following a recent luncheon in honor of George Papandreou, Greek Foreign Minister and Ismail Cem, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Congressmember Carolyn Maloney (D–Manhattan/Astoria) said the meeting "was useful in furthering an understanding of Greek–American concerns on international issues, including the status of Cyprus and the Aegean." Maloney is co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues.

Stavisky: Safe Burning Cigs Save Lives


A bill mandating safeburning cigarettes to be sold in New York state, which has passed both the Assembly and Senate, will "save lives," state Senator Toby Stavisky (D–Whitestone) stated after Senate passage of the measure.


Stavisky said the new selfextinguishing cigarettes will reduce the deaths caused by cigarette-ignited fires.

State’s Highest Court Upholds Topless Club


A lower court ruling that held a Manhattan topless club was operating lawfully by limiting its topless activities to 40 percent of its space was upheld last week by the Court of Appeals the state’s highest court.


Following the unanimous decision, which was another setback to the Giuliani Administration, the mayor’s Criminal Justice Coordinator, Steven Fishner said in a statement that the administration "will consider legislative changes to ensure that our residences, schools and places of worship remain far from the shadows cast by strip clubs and other adult businesses."

Bill To Recruit Teachers Passes


Governor George Pataki’s bill to award incentives to qualified teachers who agree to work in areas of severe teacher shortages has passed both houses of the state legislature. State Senator Frank Padavan (R–C, Bellerose), the sponsor, said eligible teachers would receive $3,400 for each year of service for the maximum four years of eligibility. Padavan said the bill would help relieve an expected shortage of 54,000 teachers in the city’s school system over the next five years.






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