38 The QUEE NS Courier • march 21, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com View More Neighborhood News queenscourier.com editorial letters THE QUEENS Victoria Schneps-Yunis Joshua A. Schneps Bob Brennan Tonia N. Cimino Amy Amato-Sanchez Nirmal Singh Wayne Robins Graziella Zerilli Stephen Reina Ron Torina, Jennifer Decio, Cheryl Gallagher Melisa Chan, Terence Cullen, Cristabelle Tumola Maggie Hayes, Angy Altamirano Cliff Kasden, Samantha Sohmer, Elizabeth Aloni Cristabelle Tumola Bill Krese Jan DiGeronimo Maria Romero Louise Cavaliere Celeste Alamin Maria Valencia Victoria Schneps-Yunis Joshua A. Schneps Publisher & E ditor Co-Publisher Associate Publisher Editor-In-Chief VP, Events, Web & Social Media Art Director Copy Editor Assistant to Publisher Assistant Art Director Artists Staff Reporters Contributing Reporters Web Editor Editorial Cartoonist Director, Business Developm ent Events Manager Senior Acc ount Executive Classified Manager Controller 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 2013 by The Queens Courier All letters sent to THE QUENS COURIER should be brief and are subject to condensing. W riters 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. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of THE QUENS 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 QUENS COURIER within five 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. In support of Pope Francis I would like to applaud the College of Cardinals for the selection of Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, who is the first to be called Pope Francis. He is a Jesuit priest who is a man of God and has great concern for the poor and those in need. Pope Francis, I feel, will be a beacon of light to lead his flock into this most troubling century we now live in. Here is a humble cardinal who prefers public transportation, cooks for himself, has kissed the feet of AIDS patients and will now lead 1.2. billion Catholics. As a Catholic and as Grand Knight of St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus in Douglaston, I feel this is a proud moment laced with hope and faith for the people of the world. Now for that I say, “Viva Pope Francis.” Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Glen Oaks Village Parents’ worst nightmare I felt a pain in my chest as I read “Kindergarten Kid: I am Outta Here” on page 14 of The Queens Courier on March 7. How frightening for a five year old to arrive home alone. When a parent sends a child to school, the parent and child should feel that the child will be well taken care of, as well as educated. It is distressing to read that the principal cannot guarantee that it will not happen again. This situation needs further investigation. Could it be that this school is understaffed? There needs to be an employee posted at all exits to make sure a child does not walk out unescorted. How many children are in the kindergarten class? A five year old should not leave the classroom alone. There needs to be a second teacher assistant in the room for safety. New York City teachers are overworked, but need to be accountable for every child. Debbie Vogel Alternative to project “Commons Coming” (Terence M. Cullen, March 14) is still not a done deal. This project is currently managed by the New York City Economic Development Corporation and was approved in 2010. Three years later the developers have yet to «ink the deal» prior to placing a shovel in the ground. Why the delay? This is a sure sign that the developer may be having second thoughts about the project’s financial viability. The developer may be renegotiating terms and conditions with NYC behind closed doors. They may be looking for low cost or interest free loans, additional tax credits and municipal capital improvements from NYC -- all at taxpayers expense. Permits granted by NYC for this project will end in 2014. Construction of an intermodal bus terminal promised at this site since the 1960s is still the better deal for taxpayers and riders. This facility would take hundreds of buses off the surrounding streets, where they discharge and pick up riders. This could assist in improving traffic and pedestrian circulation in and around the intersection of Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue, along with the rest of downtown Flushing. Tens of thousands of rush-hour riders would be protected from heat, cold, rain, snow and winds. There could be a smoother transfer between the bus and subway. Opportunities would still be available for air rights above the bus terminal for parking, joint development of retail, office and or residential units. Why not discuss canceling the stalled Flushing Commons project. Building a state-of-the-art intermodal bus terminal project in the long run might be a far better investment than lining the pockets of the Flushing Commons developers. Larry Penner Good move, Mr. Mayor Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants cigarettes hidden from view in stores. This he feels will make young people less likely to start smoking. Like they say, “Out of sight, out of mind.” Well let me say,”Good move.” In my view, one less young person not smoking is an adult not smoking and dying of cancer and leaving their own young children. Kudos Mike! Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Glen Oaks Village FULLY RESTORE THE CUTS The State Legislature might have recently voted to restore funds through its budgets to disabled programs, but with negotiations still on the horizon, the battle isn’t over. Hundreds of organizations citywide tailored toward developmentally disabled individuals could be subject to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget amendments that will result in a $240 million cut in funding, effective April 1, if an accord between the executive and legislative branch is not reached. The current assembly budget proposal would restore $120 million to not-for-profit organizations that work with developmentally disabled individuals, and an additional $20 million to maintain state-operated mental health services. The Senate proposal also would restore $120 million. But we say budget cuts should have never even been considered. Cuts to services for these consumers have a real, human toll. More than just numbers, legislators must look at what effect a lack of funding will have on PEOPLE. A main issue concerning administrators of these organizations, elected officials and disabled individuals is losing members of the “family” they have created in their respective programs. And what’s worse is that many programs might have to be shut down, and potential layoffs mean that consumers will not receive the individualized care they so desperately need and deserve. “It would be a movement back towards custodial kind of care, rather than community integration,” said Charlie Houston, executive director of the Queens Centers for Progress (QCP). “It’s a real step backwards.” Please, let us not harken back to the days of the Willowbrook State School, when so many were neglected. Like Houston said, “This isn’t a matter of agencies taking cuts. It’s going to affect people – a lot of people.” A SAD LOSS The staff of The Queens Courier would like to extend our deepest condolences to our publisher, Victoria Schneps-Yunis, and the entire Yunis family on the loss of Dr. Stuart L. Yunis. A pioneer in the field of nephrology, Yunis was a well-respected physician – and a beloved family man. As his grandson Sam noted, “He really listened and always asked insightful questions, even until the end.” Considered “heroic” by his family and all who knew him, Yunis was laid to rest at Beth David Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in Dr. Stuart Yunis’ memory to Life’s WORC, the Lara Rebecca Schneps Fund (www.lifesworc.org); and Amani Global Works (amaniglobalworks.org). IDENTIFY THIS PLACE To find out the answer to last week’s “Identify this place” please visit www.QueensCourier.com
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