EDITORIAL
READERS WRITE
Everyone must follow the rules of the road
As our city streets are becoming
more congested with bikers,
motorists and pedestrians,
the one commonality among
all three groups is that nobody
seems to observe traffic rules
and regulations.
A “stop” sign means to come
to a full stop before the crosswalk
— not halfway through
it — and many motorists do not
make a full stop anymore. They
just slow down and roll right
through the intersection.
When pedestrians have the
“walk” sign, motorists who are
turning into those intersections
are supposed to yield the right of
way.
Also, bicyclists often do not
observe full stop signs or red
traffic signals anywhere — they
just pedal right through, ignoring
the red lights and stop signs.
There have been several pedestrians
seriously injured and
killed by reckless bicyclists because
of their abhorrent behavior.
Many pedestrians are constantly
jaywalking all over the
city, creating traffic nightmares
for motorists. And many people
— whether walking, biking
or driving — also are on their
phones, constantly texting and
not even paying the least bit of
attention to their surroundings.
Folks, let’s get with the program
and be more observant of
the traffic rules and regulations
which are in effect for the benefit
and safety of everyone, and stop
using your mobile devices while
driving, walking or biking.
John Amato
Fresh Meadows
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JUST SAY NO
When the City Planning Commission approved
the de Blasio administration’s plan to build four
borough-based prisons in order to close the Rikers
Island prison complex, a City Hall press release
on Sept. 3 called the 9-3 vote “penultimate
approval” and that the ULURP process now heads
to the City Council for final approval.
But to Community Board 9, which in March
voted unanimously against the plan to build a new
jail on 126-02 82nd Ave., in Kew Gardens, where
the old Queens Detention Complex is located, this
is a case of ULURP usurped.
This week, CB9 fired off a letter to the City
Council urging it to vote no on the borough-based
jails saying the city’s Uniform Land Use Review
Procedure, in this instance, failed to comply with
the New York City Charter.
In a detailed explanation signed by CB9 Chairman
Kenichi Wilson, the advisory body stated
that the application “violates” New York City
Charter’s “Chapter 9, sections 210 and 222, Chapter
8 sections 197 and 204.”
In brief, this ULURP application contains no
plan, no design, no budget and no program details,
all of which are specifically required by the
New York City Charter for a NYC capital budget
project, CB9 explained. The so-called facts presented
by the Mayor’s office are a moving target,
“The eventual project cost is in the billions of
public dollars,” the CB9 statement continues. “We
believe that no comparable private applicant, even
one using private funds, would have had such a
vague application certified to enter the ULURP
process.”
To vote for a “concept,” a vague outline that
will cost billions of public dollars is a violation of
the New York City Charter, CB9 declared.
If the City Council approves of the ULURP application,
the proposal will be on track to impose
the changes by 2026. It will cost taxpayers approximately
$11 billion over the course of that period.
A no vote is what is required at this stage, CB9
concluded, and we agree. However, 11 out of 15
City Council members from Queens, including
Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz who represents
Kew Gardens, who will vote on the borough-based
jails in a couple of weeks, will be term-limited out
of office in 2021. The Mayor is also term-limited
in 2021.
Maybe that is why this entire ULURP process
has raised so many eyebrows from the start.
No one will be around to be held accountable
by 2026. ULURP usurped, indeed.
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16 TIMESLEDGER, OCT. 4-10, 2019 BT QNS.COM
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