30 The QUEE NS Courier • FEBRUARY 6, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com editorial letters Level the playing field When it comes to the need to fund universal Pre-K, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio are both “right on the money,” though they differ on the best means of getting it. Linking this specific program to a specific revenue source may have been de Blasio’s tactical error, because it lets the rich off the hook of their moral debt, muddles the issue of their responsibility and encourages the perception of a split between the state and city’s political camps. Whether or not the perception is accurate almost doesn’t matter. Confusion and delay have done their dirty work. The tax liability of the wealthiest Americans has been slashed by almost two-thirds since the 1950s. The mayor’s proposal for an increase of half of one percent is extremely modest, but you’d never know it from the resisters, who practically accuse the mayor of being a revolutionary bent on overthrowing the greatest Democracy on earth. The proposed tax increase, targeting New Yorkers whose incomes are at least and often much more than 10 times those of average salaried workers would have a tiny, indeed invisible effect on their way of life. Let us not “soak the rich.” Fair enough. But by the same token let’s finally and at long last halt their soaking of the rest of us! Ron Isaac Remain focused on objective I offer my sincere congratulations to Councilmember Eric Ulrich on his new appointment as the Chair to the Veterans Committee. It is not just a high profile position, but an opportunity to provide his vetted establishment as an already accomplished legislator to the veteran community throughout the city when it is needed most. I, as well as many other veterans throughout the city, was surprised to hear of his appointment to this position considering the “Pledge of Allegiance” issue that came out of his decision to support Melissa Mark-Viverito for Council Speaker. I must also concede to the fact that I was one of those veterans who was disdainful over his choice, but after some thought in regards to the issue I came to the conclusion that we were looking too deeply into what we perceived as a problem within our legislative ranks, yet at the same time we were depriving the time and energy which can be put into serious projects that will improve the lives of this city’s veterans. Furthermore, as we all know from our military experience, communication on the battlefield is key to making sure the mission runs smoothly as well as successfully. This same line of communication should also be relayed to Ulrich as he takes on this challenging position and the same should be transparently afforded back to the veteran community from the newly appointed chair. I urge all fellow veterans throughout the city to remain focused on our objective, which is to improve the lives of our brothers and sisters who have served and are still serving and to work proactively with Ulrich to make sure that these objectives are successful for our warriors who have given so much and asked for so little. Ryan S. Graham Chairman, Legislative Committee Queens County Council VFW ‘Show me the money’ In every debate over inequality and redistribution of wealth there is an unnoticed or ignored elephant in the room. Every three working Americans provide sustenance for two who are not ill or disabled and the number of non-working is growing (an additional 10 million were idled in the Obama “recovery” alone) and it is likely to keep growing. At some point, we will hit a 50/50 ratio of idle versus active. The obligations of the working to care for the 70-80 million who genuinely cannot work become more difficult when the 90 million who can work for all sorts of reasons won’t. The more we provide unemployment insurance, food stamps, subsidized housing, health care and disability insurance, the more the recipients find it all inadequate, inherent proof of unfairness and inequality, and always not enough. The unhappy truth is not just that we are insolvent, but that we are so insolvent that it is now a thought-crime to talk of bankruptcy, default and irresponsible spending. Such comments are all damned as symptoms of “callousness” to the poor, “obsession” with deficits and proof of “social injustice.” The consensus at the moment is that we damn the agents of inequality, the one percenters, with higher taxes, more regulations and more obligations to others. At the risk of sounding “callous” to the poor and “obsessed” with deficits, can anyone “show me the money?” In the spirit of “social justice,” let me propose I keep what I earn, you keep what you earn and if you disagree with me, please tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you… and why? Ed Konecnik IDENTIFY THIS PLACE Go to www.queenscourier.com and search “Identify This Place” to find out where this is ON THE LOOKOUT We applaud officers of the 106th Precinct – under the leadership of Commanding Officer, Deputy Inspector Jeffrey Schiff -- who are literally “taking it to the streets” to combat car break-ins. “Spot it to Secure it” is a program launched last week that targets areas in the precincts where car break-ins were heavily reported. Through the initiative, if cops see loose items in parked cars, they track the vehicle’s owner and either visit the person’s home or send them a letter detailing the issue – if they can spot it, you need to secure it. This is a great idea that we feel will go far in helping to bring down crime stats in our borough. So bravo to the men and women in blue – all over our city – who work so hard to keep us safe. GOOD MOVE The city was on their side. It was recently decided that all District 26 elementary school students enrolled in Gifted & Talented (G&T) programs be grandfathered into middle school programs. Good move, since parents had been rightfully outraged when they learned students would no longer be automatically accepted into their local middle school G&T programs. Under the city’s decision, the Department of Education will also create more middle school G&T programs for high-performing general education students. Good move, since the children are our future – and a good education is the key to their success. HOMETOWN PRIDE Speaking of success, we are in awe of Elsa Alvarado, a resident of Glendale and Benjamin Cardozo senior, who received the National Youth Award in the education category from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) for her extracurricular activities and high academic performance. She was just one of six students to earn the honor, which identifies young leaders in the Latino community. Alvarado, who is of Nicaraguan descent, received a $1,000 grant and a Google Chromebook laptop, along with roundtrip accommodations to Miami for the awards ceremony. Humble, bright and motivated, Alvarado averages a 3.9 GPA at Cardozo. She is passionate about languages, and is currently fluent in three-- English, Spanish and French. She is also learning German and launched The Future Educators of New York club at Cardozo last year. Good job, Elsa. Continue to make us all proud! 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 Melisa Chan, Liam La Guerre, Cristabelle Tumola Maggie Hayes, Angy Altamirano Cliff Kasden, Samantha Sohmer, Elizabeth Aloni Cristabelle Tumola Maria Romero Louise Cavaliere Celeste Alamin Maria Valencia Daphne Fortunate Victoria Schneps-Yunis Joshua A. Schneps Publisher & E ditor 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 Events Manager Senior Acc ount 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 office telephone numbers, where available, as well as affiliation, 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. 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