26 The QUEE NS Courier • APRIL 17, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com editorial letters Ex-BP Marshall urges prudence in Queens Library changes I am writing to echo the Queens Courier editorial which highlights the effective leadership of Queens Library President & CEO Tom Galante and its caution against a rush to judgment regarding the Library. Over the past several weeks, I have been troubled by the assault on the reputation of this vital institution. Serious questions have been raised which deserve and are receiving careful evaluation. However, I am also troubled by the rush to judgment and the hurried changes to a library system that has served our borough with distinction. As a former Borough President and the first Director of the Langston Hughes Library I can attest that Queens libraries are the heart and soul of their communities. With recordlevel assistance from my tenure as Borough President, our library branches have expanded to help keep pace with the demands of our growing and diverse population. Last year, more than 12 million visits were made to the Library; more than 17.5 million items were circulated; and 7.5 million questions were asked and answered by library professionals. The value to the community that the library provides is not in question; innovations including state of the art digital access and job search programs only underscore the increased relevance of our library every single day. The Queens Library continues to receive national recognition as a model of excellence. This year, it has received the prestigious American Library Association Library of the Future Award. This recognition did not happen by accident. It was earned by the visionary leadership of a dedicated Board of Trustees, professional library management and hardworking staff. Every responsible organization must evolve to ensure efficiency and accountability. Those entrusted with expending tax dollars must be doubly vigilant; must be transparent and must continually improve in the interest of good governance and accountability. That is why I fully support the Library Board of Trustees’ thoughtful process that has resulted in a host of enacted reforms. At the same time, independence is a central premise of every free public library. Every year, people come to this country for freedom of thought and information to better their lives. Where do so many of those people make their first stop? Queens and the Queens Library! I urge the Library Board of Trustees to continue to uphold the independence of the library while taking prudent reforms that will enhance and protect its services for future generations. Helen Marshall Mourning one of the finest The death of Police Officer Dennis Guerra as a result of being overcome in a fire in an apartment building is indeed a tragedy for his wife, four children and the NYPD. This never should have happened, but it did, allegedly due to a senseless act by a 16-yearold boy who was bored and decided to set a mattress in his room on fire. Now this young man should face the maximum punishment allowed under the law. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Guerra’s wife, children, family and colleagues, as well as prayers for a speedy recovery for his partner, who was also injured in that fire. John Amato Fresh Meadows Paycheck Fairness Republicans continue to deny that they’re waging a war against women. If so, how can they explain that Senate Republicans blocked a vote on Wednesday to open debate on the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would hold employers more accountable for wage discrimination against women? The bill would prohibit companies from retaliating against employees who share their salary information with each other, eliminating the culture of silence that keeps women in the dark about pay discrimination. It would also force the Department of Labor to require employers to show that wage differentials between men and women in the same jobs are for a reason other than sex. Every single Republican voted against it. Every single Democrat (along with Sen. Bernie Sanders, independent from Vermont) voted for it. What a surprise. Robert LaRosa Whitestone IDENTIFY THIS PLACE Go to www.queenscourier.com and search “Identify This Place” to find out where this is THE QUEENS Victoria Schneps-Yunis Joshua A. Schneps Bob Brennan William J. Gorta Amy Amato-Sanchez Nirmal Singh Graziella Zerilli Stephen Reina Ron Torina, Jennifer Decio, Cheryl Gallagher Liam La Guerre, Cristabelle Tumola Angy Altamirano, Katrina Medoff 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. 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 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 Quens 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. A clarification: Four photos of the LIC Flea (page 35) were inadvertently credited to the wrong photographer. Mike Savitzky took those pictures as well as the photos of the Everything Kids Expo on pages 38 and 39. IT’S A BLAST The Queens Courier is overjoyed at the news that the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks spectacular will return to the East River this year. For far too long, residents of Queens (and Brooklyn) were denied the rockets’ red glare and businesses suffered through five years of dampened spirits. Macy’s hasn’t promised — yet — to make the East River the permanent site for the celebration; The Courier hopes the turnout this year will be so huge that Macy’s will want to keep the fireworks here forever. 7 TRAIN SENSE This space has taken the MTA to task for its decision to shut down the 7 train on weekends, disrupting lives and livelihoods throughout Queens, most recently and acutely in Long Island City. But when the MTA gets it right, we are happy to acknowledge it. Service is being restored on the line for the weekend of May 17 and 18, just in time for thousands of New Yorkers and tourists to get to the World’s Fair Festival at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. But there are many others who are rejoicing at the news. LIC Springs!, a block party along Vernon Boulevard, along with popular destinations like LIC Flea & Food and LIC Open Arts, will be accessible to the throngs prevented from visiting by the 7 train shutdowns. So kudos to the MTA for listening to the community and doing something positive. Now, while we have the MTA’s ear, how about those other weekends? EASTER GREETINGS Easter is a time of rebirth, both as the most holy day of the Christian calendar and as a symbol of the season when the earth comes back to life after winter. It’s also a great time for the kids: Easter finery, decorated eggs and, of course, chocolate rabbits. (The Courier endorses snapping the ears off the bunny to eat first.) We wish everyone a joyous holiday. REMEMBERING THE FINEST In the midst of the joyous season, we ask everyone to take a moment to reflect on the sacrifice of Police Officer Dennis Guerra, a Rockaway resident who died responding to a fire in a Brooklyn high-rise. The Courier mourns the passing of this brave officer and prays for the recovery of his partner, who was also injured.
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