EDITORIAL
MAKING IT OUR SUMMER
It won’t be the “Summer of Love” of the late
1960s, or the “Summer of George” of Seinfeld
fame. But this coming season will be the
“Summer of New York City,” according to
Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The mayor made that pronouncement last
week in setting a goal for having the five boroughs
fully opened to business, leisure, travelers,
entertainment and much more by July 1.
De Blasio made the goal on the basis of continued
strong indicators that the spread of COVID-
19 is dropping by the day. This happens as vaccines
continue getting into New Yorkers’ arms
— with more than 6.5 million doses administered
to date.
The city sought to get ahead of the various
variants floating around the five boroughs, putting
the lives and health of all in jeopardy. The
vaccination effort, though it was off to a bumpy
start, has hit full stride, and the proof is in the
continued spread reductions.
For the first time in more than a year, New
York is ahead of the curve on COVID-19 — and
potentially for good. However, it all depends upon
whether we continue not only to follow the health
protocols a little longer, but also to get the vaccine
itself.
The two-shot Pfizer and Moderna remedies
have an efficacy rate of more than 90 percent, according
to the Centers for Disease Control. The
one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, even with
the rare blood clot warning, has a 66 percent efficacy
rate and is 100 percent effective at avoiding
serious illness, hospitalization or death among
those who contract COVID-19.
The vaccines work; its benefits far outweigh
the risk of side effects. Yet plenty of New Yorkers
may still be hesitant about receiving it — to
the point where de Blasio spoke of potentially offering
an incentive program to get more people
inoculated.
But what better incentive can there be than a
revived New York City of old — the way we enjoyed
it all the way back in 2019?
What better incentive can there be than to be
able to go to a ballgame, eat at a restaurant, enjoy
a movie or musical, or do anything in this town
without worrying about being infected by a potentially
deadly virus?
This can and should be the “Summer of New
York City” — and it will be if we all do our part to
protect ourselves, and each other.
That means getting vaccinated.
HOW TO REACH US
TIMESLEDGER | Q 18 NS.COM | MAY 7-MAY 13, 2021
CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLANNED
DOUGLASTON HOMELESS SHELTER
The following is an open letter
to Hon. Erin Drinkwater,
deputy commissioner
of Intergovernmental
and Legislative Affairs for the
New York City Department of
Homeless Services:
The Little Neck Douglaston
Lions Club is a not-for-profit charitable
organization that has served
our community for over 25 years.
It has come to our attention that
New York City is planning to open
a homeless shelter at 243-02 Northern
Blvd. in Douglaston.
We acknowledge the need to
provide shelter to our homeless
population and that such facilities
should be equitably distributed
across the city. Nevertheless, we
are concerned both about the lack
of community involvement in the
planning of this shelter and what
we have come to understand are
the city’s plans for it.
The legitimacy of the process
depends on our community having
a real voice in it. Thus, community
input must be immediately solicited,
and the planning process must
be thoroughly transparent.
The city’s decision to limit the
shelter population to adult women
over 50 years of age is appreciated,
especially in light of the city’s commitment
to give priority to homeless
women from our neighborhood. We
are extremely concerned, however,
about the city’s plan to house 75
people in the shelter, because there
is clearly insufficient space for that
number of residents to live in that
building. The planned capacity for
the shelter must be significantly
reduced.
Further, the city has not articulated
an adequate transportation
plan for the shelter residents, nor
has it addressed the complete lack
of parking for this facility. We have
not been apprised of what services,
if any, will be provided to the shelter
residents. Moreover, the community
has not been advised of
any plan for security at the shelter.
Finally, we have no idea what the
city has in mind for staffing the
shelter.
The aforesaid issues must be addressed
immediately in a dialogue
with our community.
If the city truly engages with
our community, we believe that a
homeless facility which provides
needed shelter and services to
its population will be welcomed.
In keeping with our mission, the
Little Neck Douglaston Club
stands ready to serve our homeless
neighbors.
John F. Duane, president of the
Little Neck Douglaston Lions Club
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Mayor Bill de Blasio said this coming season will be the “Summer of New York City.” Photo by Dean Moses
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