24 THE QUEENS COURIER • JANUARY 16, 2014 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com editorial letters Don’t mess with Mother Nature The recent severe Arctic outbreak that enveloped nearly the entire country has been attributed to the “Polar Vortex,” which is a swirling area of low pressure near the North Pole. We just experienced the coldest outbreak in nearly 20 years, from the Rockies to the Atlantic coast south to the Gulf coast, including Florida. Pipes burst, electrical and phone service was interrupted, schools were closed in several northern states due to extreme cold and heavy snow, and new low temperatures were recorded in more than 35 states. Is this now going to be the new norm for winter, or was this Arctic outbreak a “100 year event”? With so many variables involved in climate change, who can accurately predict whether there will be more Polar Vortexes coming down from the North Pole? If there are, we are going to be in a lot of trouble. The brutal cold could effectively bring every day activities to a sudden and screeching halt. Mother Nature is a force to be reckoned with, as we have seen many times, especialyy in the last several years. John Amato Fresh Meadows The real meaning of inequality During every election cycle our leaders conjure up conditions they claim are ruining our republic and can only be rectifi ed with more laws, regulations, fees and taxes. According to the progressive establishment, the most serious threat to our society at the moment is “inequality.” It is common knowledge that humans are not equal in height and weight, mental and physical attributes, skills and capabilities. In fact, it is reasonable to assume that inequality is the nature of man. To rail against human nature is absurd, yet no one questions the premise. It is blatant and arrogant hypocrisy by the elite to denounce “inequality” while exempting themselves from many of the laws they infl ict on the rest of us. Does equality mean salaries of pilots and doctors should be the same as those of bus drivers and bank tellers? Does equality mean we should all drive the same cars, wear the same clothes? The term “inequality” is vague and amorphous and their vision of “equality” is never defi ned, yet we acquiesce as regulations and taxes are increased and more of our wealth is redistributed. If after a half century of a “war on poverty,” the scourge of “inequality” still exists, common sense dictates we should reexamine our priorities. The success of government welfare programs is measured by how many people are added and not by how many drop out and become self reliant. What was once temporary “assistance” has become an “entitlement.” The inconvenient and undeniable truth is that a claim for equality of possessions and outcomes for all can be met only by a government with totalitarian powers. The Constitution only guarantees equality of opportunity. We ignore its tenets at our peril. The French historian Alexis de Tocqueville, who wrote about his travels in the United States in his book Democracy in America in 1835, observed: “Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.” Ed Konecnik Flushing Shame on you, Governor Christie Well, there it is plain as day: the difference between a president like Barack Obama who tries to work with Republicans while they spit in his face, and a Republican presidential wannabe who punishes the people that don’t vote for him. Hey Chris Christie, see that puff of smoke in the distance? It’s your dreams of the White House! What a disgrace! First responders delayed for hours while trying to get to fi res and medical emergencies. Citizens trying to get to work or home. Families unable to get their kids to school on time (for days) and parents getting to work late as a result. All for political retribution! And Christie claims he is innocent. One of two things is true. Either Christie is lying and he should be brought up on charges, or he is telling the truth, and is an inept “leader” that has no clue what his staff is up to. Christie goes on to say that he’s not a bully. Really? And of course, FOX News and Republicans commended him for the way he handled himself during his press conference. Christie even joked that he was one of the workers who put out the traffi c cones. Robert LaRosa Whitestone IDENTIFY THIS PLACE Go to www.queenscourier.com and search “Identify This Place” to fi nd out where this is KATZ + QUEENS = GREAT FUTURE We were very excited to welcome Queens’ 19th borough president, Melinda Katz, at her swearing-in last week. Dignitaries, including our new mayor, as well as business and civic leaders, packed LeFrak Concert Hall at Queens College to witness history. “I have to tell you that Melinda brings so much to this job,” de Blasio said. “She has a real passion for the people she serves. She loves this borough. I can tell you that because I’ve seen her stand up for Queens many times.” Katz takes over from her predecessor, Helen Marshall, who served 12 years. But she has already served our borough for 20 years, in the Assembly, City Council and at Borough Hall, under the guidance of the legendary former Borough President Claire Shulman, who set the bar as our very fi rst female BP. Katz’s plans for the borough include making the Rockaway ferry permanent and pushing for more primary and urgent care facilities. Her promise to us is to “move it forward. Let’s make it a place for families to have everything they need right here in the borough of Queens.” We have every faith that, over the course of the next four years, she will keep her word. A SAD LOSS Our hearts go out to the family, friends and colleagues of photographer Cohen was a legend, having photographed literally hundreds of events – and thousands of Queens people. Ever a professional, he was a welcome face all over the borough. He will be missed. FERRY GOOD NEWS Attention residents of Astoria Cove, Long Island City North and Beach 108th and 116th Street in the Rockaways: traveling may soon get easier. The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) released a preliminary report of a 2013 Citywide Ferry Study in which it considered new ferry stops, including some community-based proposals, based on the success of the current stops of the East River Ferry. In the end, the NYCEDC decided on only 11 possible spots, including those in our borough. And ferry service is also being looked into for LaGuardia Airport. This is ferry good news. Better accessibility means “momentum for continued development along the city’s waterfront,” according to NYCEDC President Kyle Kimball. We’re all for the plan and hope it keeps “rolling on the river,” full steam ahead. THE QUEENS VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS JOSHUA A. SCHNEPS BOB BRENNAN TONIA N. CIMINO AMY AMATO-SANCHEZ NIRMAL SINGH GRAZIELLA ZERILLI STEPHEN REINA RON TORINA, JENNIFER DECIO, CHERYL GALLAGHER MELISSA CHAN, LIAM LA GUERRE, CRISTABELLE TUMOLA MAGGIE HAYES, ANGY ALTAMIRANO CLIFF KASDEN, SAMANTHA SOHMER, ELIZABETH ALONI CRISTABELLE TUMOLA BILL KRESSE MARIA ROMERO LOUISE CAVALIERE CELESTE ALAMIN MARIA VALENCIA DAPHNE FORTUNATE VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS JOSHUA A. SCHNEPS Ira Cohen. PUBLISHER & EDITOR CO-PUBLISHER ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF VP, EVENTS, WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA ART DIRECTOR ASSISTANT TO PUBLISHER ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR ARTISTS STAFF REPORTERS CONTRIBUTING REPORTERS WEB EDITOR EDITORIAL CARTOONIST EVENTS MANAGER SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE CLASSIFIED MANAGER CONTROLLER OFFICE MANAGER PRESIDENT & CEO VICE PRESIDENT Schneps Communications, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 718-224-5863 • Fax 718-224-5441 website: www.queenscourier.com e-mail:editorial@queenscourier.com ads@queenscourier.com queenscourier@queenscourier.com Entire Contents Copyright 2014 by The Queens Courier All letters sent to THE QUEENS COURIER should be brief and are subject to condensing. Writers should include a full address and home and offi ce telephone numbers, where available, as well as affi liation, indicating special interest. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, AS WELL AS OP-ED PIECES IN NO WAY REFLECT THE PAPER’S POSITION. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of THE QUEENS COURIER. The publishers will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to THE QUEENS COURIER within fi ve days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. Schneps Communications assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold THE QUEENS COURIER and its employees harmless from all cost, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement.
QC01162014
To see the actual publication please follow the link above