32 The QUEE NS Courier • august 14, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com editorial letters A CALL FOR A COUNTER MARCH The Rev. Al Sharpton was looking to hold a march walking across Verrazano Bridge to protest the death of suspect Eric Garner who died while resisting arrest. But because of logistic problems he has changed the venue whereas protesters will now park their cars and buses in Tompkinsville where Garner died, and march from that address to the office of Staten Island DA Dan Donovan. Now this was a tragic outcome with the encounter with the police. And for that we all grieve for the death of another human being. And yet our men and women in the NYPD risk their lives every day protecting those who need protection from the gangs and criminals who seek to do the average person harm. Not to mention there have been innocent children that have been murdered and shot with illegal hand guns. Let us also not forget their valiant efforts in protecting us from terrorists. Well if Al Sharpton wants a march so be it. But in that case I call for a counter march but not only in Staten Island but in every borough, town and village in New York in support of our Finest who for the large part go beyond the call of duty protecting and serving in the communities in which we all live. It’s time for all law-abiding citizens to stand up and say to our Finest, “Thank you for all that you do, you men and women of the NYPD blue and for that you are truly true Blue.” Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Glen Oaks COSTS AND BENEFITS OF SLOW ZONES In your editorial on slow zones, you state you are “in favor of anything that reduces death.” This sounds noble, but it’s impractical as a general philosophy: if you followed it to its logical conclusion, you’d be in favor of banning automobiles altogether. It may seem callous to try to put a value on human life, but society couldn’t function if we didn’t accept some risks as necessary. A more practical approach on slow zones or anything similar is “Let’s try it and see how many lives it saves and how much trouble it causes.” This weighing of costs and benefits is actually the way society has been making decisions about almost everything since civilization was invented. My personal guess is that the 5 mph speed limit reductions will have little effect on either safety or on the functioning of the City, but let’s see what happens. Harvey Wachtel Kew Gardens, NY NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED… For years the Queens Library board of trustees has met dozens of times annually to oversee the operations of the library. They were appointed by mayors and borough presidents to see that the library provided the best service to residents of Queens. One of their chief responsibilities was selection of a director who implemented and managed outstanding programs and services through qualified, creative staff. In the last 45 years they hired 4 directors who reported to them countless times each year in meetings, reports and one-on-one conversations. Now they are pilloried in the press for not firing the current director, who has done a phenomenal job but whose salary, some say, is TOO HIGH. What is too high? I read that an outside firm was brought in to examine his salary and to compare it to other N.Y. nonprofits. If that survey was completed, what were the results? Could it be that many others in N.Y. had higher salaries? The press claims he had a second job. That is a second job he has held for about 25 years. It certainly hasn’t had a negative effect on his performance. Sometimes a workaholic just can’t help it. As to the shocking news that the director’s office was redecorated, it was last remodeled in 1992. What is this Soviet-style ouster of the eight trustees really about? Does the borough president have a friend she thinks should be the director? If not, who does she think would even apply for a position with such micro-managing oversight? This sad story has gone nationwide in the library press. Candidates won’t be lining up for such a tenuous position. The borough president has called the Queens Library a successful model in library service. Did she forget the adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Constance B. Wingate Garden City IDENTIFY THIS PLACE Go to www.queenscourier.com and search “Identify This Place” to find out where this is ROBIN WILLIAMS R.I.P. We were distressed to hear of the death of the actor Robin Williams, whose unique talents brought so much joy to so many. And we were doubly saddened to hear that he took his own life as he was struggling with the crippling effects of depression. We hope that he is at last at peace. If there is any good to come of this tragedy, it is the heightened awareness of the need for mental health care across all strata of society. Many, many people die each year and many more suffer because of untreated or undertreated mental health issues. As a society, we share a responsibility to eradicate the stigma that often comes from seeking help for mental diseases. Everyone knows someone who has suffered through mental issues, yet we are quick to dismiss their illness as something one can snap out of. And the casual use of pejoratives related to mental health only further reinforces reluctance to seek treatment. Let’s also demand more of our health system, too. Psychiatrists rarely accept health insurance as payment in full and partial reimbursement of fairly high bills is often slow and grudging. Grassroots organizations find themselves strapped for cash amid dwindling resources. Health care professionals should be on constant lookout for signs of mental health issues while dealing with other patient complaints. And medication, while often efficacious, should be seen as a tactic in tackling mental health problems, not the sole solution. The strain of mental illness on individuals, families and communities is staggering. Let’s make sure our legislators, insurance companies and health care professionals know what an important issue this is. And let’s look after each other. Let’s offer support and kindness to those we know to suffer from mental health problems. And let’s keep an eye on family and friends to make sure avoidable tragedies are prevented. HONORING THE QUEENS LIBRARY TRUSTEES Eight trustees of the Queens Library were purged — and another resigned because of the “acrimonious” conditions at the institution. Much has been made of their support of library boss Tom Galante and their votes against the express wishes of Borough President Melinda Katz. What no one speaks of is their many years of selfless service: raising funds, raising the library’s profile and raising the institution to the acme of American libraries. Should the borough president fire people who — in good conscience — vote opposite her instructions? That’s not a board, that’s a dictatorship — just the kind of thing libraries and books and the free exchange of ideas are meant to defeat. Instead, we have decent — nay, spectacular — people painted with the brush of cronyism, incompetence and corruption. Another paper went as far as to call them “bums.” And that’s the reward for more than a century of combined service to the people of Queens. The nine former trustees are model citizens and consistent benefactors to the library and many other causes. They are what makes Queens great — and we salute them. 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, Eric Jankiewicz, Salvatore Licata Cliff Kasden, Samantha Sohmer, Elizabeth Aloni Cristabelle Tumola Demetra Plagakis 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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