28 The QUEE NS Courier • FEBRUARY 13, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com editorial letters Rethink idea Mayor Bill deBlasio and other city officials are floating the idea of legalizing illegal basement apartments and other units as a way of dealing with the need for more affordable housing in our city. The outgoing Chair of the City Planning Commission, Amanda Burden, has stated that we must accept an increase in density and height in our neighborhoods if we are to accommodate all of those needing housing. She admitted that this would be a hard sell in most areas of the city. These proposals should send up red flags across the city. Many civic organizations have fought against illegal conversions and overdevelopment for many years. Civics have lobbied for rezoning of our neighborhoods that would maintain the character of those communities. Those rezonings have been accomplished with the help of elected officials and the City Planning Commission. We must not move backwards and negate those rezonings by allowing legalization of units that will overburden the infrastructure of existing communities. In addition, many schools in our city are overcrowded, especially in northeast Queens. Cramming additional people into already stressed areas will strain those educational resources. We must also consider the plight of the individual homeowner, who has invested a huge amount of money to afford a home in our city. If they chose to live in a single family district, or any other area for that matter, and supported zoning that protected those areas from overdevelopment, why should the city be able to overrule those protections to remediate the need for more housing units? We must also consider the safety of the people who would live in these newly legalized units. Yes, we definitely need more units of affordable housing in our city. But there has to be other solutions that would not impinge on the rights of current homeowners. When you look at some of the huge projects already underway in certain parts of the city, perhaps more units should be set aside for affordable housing and fewer units for luxury and market priced units. Two examples that come to mind are the Flushing Commons and the Willetts Point projects. Those projects and others must also take into account their impact on existing neighborhoods, businesses, schools and traffic, and adjust plans accordingly. These are all very complex issues requiring careful planning and thought to address everyone’s needs and desires. Henry Euler Bayside Not a fan of charters Mayor Bill de Blasio deserves the praise of all New Yorkers for using public money to fund public schools rather than rifling the taxpayers’ wallet to grease profit-making private charter operators. The mayor is demonstrating fiscal responsibility and adherence to the core values of principled leadership, as well as respect for the spirit of the law. It is right to re-claim the $210 million that by prior arrangement had been hijacked into the treasuries of entrepreneurs who run their private institutions strictly as commercial ventures. They are not gangsters, but the public money that’s earmarked for them to exploit at their pleasure almost has the ring of an underworld kickback. Not only have NYC public schools produced more Nobel Prize winners and other distinguished graduates than any other system, they have also created the middle class, breathed life into the Constitution’s otherwise theoretical declaration about the pursuit of liberty and happiness, enabled social mobility and trained us in the definition and expectation of democratic values in our everyday existences. Charters have had a life based on false premises (in more ways than one). Put them out to pasture. Ron Isaac Fresh Meadows Goodbye to a legend The passing of former New York Mets radio announcer and baseball Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner is indeed very sad. He had a career in baseball that spanned many years, until back problems forced him to retire at age 32. He went on to a long career as a radio announcer for the New York Mets, along with Bob Murphy and Lindsey Nelson. They all were an important part of the organization. With the passing of Ralph Kiner, the era of the great radio sportscasters is at an end. Now he is in that big broadcast booth in the sky. He will be missed very much. John Amato Fresh Meadows IDENTIFY THIS PLACE Go to www.queenscourier.com and search “Identify This Place” to find out where this is NOT ENOUGH Ok, MTA. Good try. After meeting with local elected officials and community leaders, the agency said it plans on making no changes to the upcoming No. 7 train suspensions, but plans to help promote Long Island City. We say the plan is not enough to help area businesses and residents. Between February 28 and July 21, there will be 13 weekend suspensions. The MTA also intends to hold nine tentative weekend shutdowns for August through November. The effect on borough business – from Flushing all the way through LIC – will be devastating. Although the agency said it cannot put a stop to the suspensions, it plans on working with officials to create a marketing campaign for LIC. The campaign would include a “pretty robust presence” at subway stations with brochures in different languages, posters, a homepage banner and information on the digital urban planners. The agency also plans to provide a social media presence, press releases and any additional help that would be associated with a “full and robust campaign” for businesses in Long Island City. They are also considering doing a two-side branded MetroCard with information on Long Island City. Great. Exposure for our borough is always welcomed, but why is the MTA saying no to shuttle bus service into the city, as suggested by elected officials? Or better yet, why aren’t they doing the upgrades at a more convenient time for the area, like overnight? The MTA previously said the latest round of work is expected to modernize, improve and fortify the Flushing No. 7 line. We’re all for it, but think the agency should get on track with what our borough businesses and residents need. FORWARD LOOKING Mayor Bill de Blasio held his first State of the City at LaGuardia Community College. How telling.The mayor said the school’s namesake, former Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, and the college in many ways, represent his own vision for the city. “LaGuardia Community College is a place where New Yorkers from all walks of life can find a path to a future, with a good job and a shot at a better life,” he said. To that end, de Blasio vowed to battle the inequality gap, with plans to provide ID cards for undocumented workers, raise the city’s minimum wage and provide more affordable housing. We’re all for his plans and fully support our mayor in his vision. BEST OF THREE There are reports that Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski is in the running to oversee the city’s parks. She is one of three, according to reports – including state parks chief Rose Harvey, and Emily Lloyd, who has headed the city’s departments of Environmental Protection and Sanitation. Our vote goes to Dottie. She has done a great job here in Queens and has the chops to oversee the city’s green spaces. So, Mayor de Blasio, go ahead – pick the best of three! 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:[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 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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