EDITORIAL
PLUGGING INTO CHANGE
When seemingly the entire world shut down
last spring as the COVID-19 pandemic
went into high gear, an interesting, yet
not surprising, phenomenon occurred.
The environment changed in cities all over the
world, albeit temporarily. The lack of land and air
travel, the absence of exhaust-emitting vehicles,
literally cleared the skies and even waterways.
This cleanup came at a terrible cost that we’re
still paying for today, in human life and economic
suffering. Yet this pandemic poses the opportunity
to build a better city, country and world
not only for ourselves, but unborn generations to
come.
Green, renewable energy must be front and
center in the recovery effort. We know that the
current administrations at City Hall, and in
Albany and Washington, support the construction
of a new infrastructure that will help move
our country away from filthy fossil fuels toward
cleaner, more efficient alternatives.
Still, there are some who would rather just
go back to the way things were before the pandemic,
who are unwilling to change the way we
power our cars, our homes, our society. To continue
clinging to the way things are only keeps us
stuck in the past, and doesn’t advance us toward
the future.
New York City and state have invested billions
in remaking the energy infrastructure — from
approving a wind farm in Sunset Park, to expanding
solar power, to making a commitment to
electrify the public school bus fleet by 2035. And
there’s more to come.
The Green New Deal is being pitched again in
Congress. The program represents a real chance
to simultaneously modernize the energy infrastructure,
re-energize the economy and reduce
our dependence on fossil fuels.
There may be items in the Green New Deal
which aren’t ideal that could be removed from
the final plan. But we find it hard to believe that
people of all parties cannot find common ground
in developing a plan that boosts our own energy
production, provides new jobs and cleans up our
skies, land and rivers.
We can’t settle for the status quo and stick to
the same old technology. The times that we live in
demand that we change. We must adapt, or we will
perish under the weight of our own ignorance.
As Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light
bulb, said, “If we did all the things we are capable
of, we would literally astound ourselves.”
HOW TO REACH US
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.14 COM | APRIL 30-MAY 6, 2021
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
SHOULD FOLLOW NYC’S LEAD
We call upon the federal government
to emulate the
exemplary walk-in initiative
set by the city where
anyone can go to any city-run site
and get a shot, no matter where
they live.
This is a timely and crucial
move in our fight against the pandemic
and its corollary hardships
and suffering.
This can be achieved by designating
and funding similar walkins
at the state’s community health
centers, local hospitals, private
health care providers, schools,
churches, senior centers, nonprofit
organizations and other locations
to be sites for administering the
life-saving doses of vaccines.
Not only will this upping the
ante be a wonderful initiative
shown by the committed Biden
administration, but herd immunity
can be achieved faster, and life
can return to normal, as flowers
blossom, and spring ushers in and
heralds a new beginning in our embattled
lives.
The COVID-19 vaccination is
not a partisan issue. It is a humanitarian
and national one, where our
nation should be steadfastly united
as one, and speak with one voice.
Mayor Bill de Blasio was right in
lauding former President Donald
Trump for encouraging all Americans
to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
We stand in solidarity, united
against this evil.
United Communities Alliance
President Albert Baldeo
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Queens residents rally in favor of the Green New Deal at Rufus King Park in Jamaica. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
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