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QC10162014

42 The QUEE NS Courier • october 16, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com editorial letters EVERYONE SHOULD VOTE Election Day is fast approaching, and all registered American voters should step up to the plate and vote for the candidate of their choice. We need to vote for those candidates and those issues that best serve the city, state and local communities. But there are those who say, “My vote doesn’t count,” or “The candidates elected will only maintain the status quo of the rich and powerful and line their pockets.” Well, there are those who are running for office who want to make a difference and honestly want to help those who are hurting. This is not going to happen if we don’t vote. Whatever happens and whoever gets elected will affect all of us. When the wrong person gets into office, this could mean an increase in taxes, cuts in public services and a decline in all we hold most dear. So please get out and vote, for every vote does really count! Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Glen Oaks WHAT’S IN A NAME? Never heard of the Academy for Forensic Parcheesi? How about the Magnet School for the Study of Cactus and Oratorios? These are not the names of actual NYC public schools, but nobody familiar with the Department of Education’s directory of existing schools would be surprised if they were. It’s full of real schools with unreal specialties. A tourist of a different land or a time traveler from a past generation would be mightily impressed. No branch of human knowledge has been overlooked. As wisdom expands and evolves, the DOE’s Dept. of Euphemisms and Jive rolls out a new school with a theme title. With a straight face they prank the public. No wonder America leads the world! Ron Isaac Fresh Meadows B-TECH SCHOOL The long-anticipated B-TECH school recently opened with great fanfare and excitement as a co-location at the Martin Van Buren HS Campus. The B-TECH HS will provide a pathway for higher education and meaningful job prospects to students willing to dedicate themselves to academic pursuits. One of the unique benefits offered by B-TECH is a tuitionfree college education at Queensborough Community College. By partnering with SAP a Fortune 100 company, B-TECH graduates will be eligible for open job slots at SAP. As a co-located school, B-TECH will likely elevate the status of Martin Van Buren after years of disappointing test scores and graduation rates. This newspaper covered the B-TECH opening. Photos of a beaming B-TECH principal alongside elected officials was part of the story in many newspapers. The smiles and presence of these elected officials seem to create the illusion that B-TECH was widely supported by them. The fact is B-TECH was almost sabotaged by them. The local press reported extensively on these same local officials who appeared last year at anti-B-TECH rallies and public hearings. Their opposition nearly scuttled the program before it even began. If not for the strong and vocal support of many local civic leaders, the battle may never have been won. Alongside me, Bobby Sher the President of Bell Park Manor Terrace the co-op directly adjacent to the school, Rhonda Kontner, President of Royal Ranch Homeowners Association and Jerry Wind, President of Bellerose Hillside Civic Association bravely defended B-TECH against the vociferous opposition of local politicians and UFT members who packed the audience to shout down any dissenting voices. These civic leaders spoke eloquently about B-TECH’s well-designed plan to restore high standards and quality schooling to this community while offering students a roadmap to success through academic excellence. Readers should remember that if not for the civic leaders who stood up against a barrage of vitriol and political grandstanding, this opportunity for students and families may never have materialized. This should be an eye-opener for residents who are not members of their local civic associations. Civics have proven time and again that they are champions of our communities. For a nominal membership fee of $25 or less per year, you can help your local civic association and it will be your best return on a $25 investment. Bob Friedrich President, Glen Oaks Village AMERICA IN PERIL The economy of our country continues to be very stagnant, and that is not very good at all. With a Congress and president who cannot seem to agree on anything or work together, and with the current status of this nation as a powerful one now being doubted by other nations, we are in big trouble, and the situation is not likely to improve much at all. From unemployment to breaches of security at the White House, to ISIS and Ukraine, North and South Korea and China, we are in major, major trouble, folks! John Amato Fresh Meadows sun WWW.COURIERSUN.COM 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 Warren Susman 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 Sales fax: 718-631-3498 website: www.couriersun.com e-mail:editorial@queenscourier.com ads@queenscourier.com queenscourier@queenscourier.com Entire Contents Copyright 2014 by The Courier Sun All letters sent to THE CO URIER SUN 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. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of THE CO URIER SUN. 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 CO URIER SUN within five days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. VIctoria Media Services 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 Courier SUN 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. IDENTIFY THIS PLACE Go to www.queenscourier.com and search “Identify This Place” to find out where this is PARK THE QUEENSWAY We like parks. And we understand they are a necessity in an urban environment. And as much as the QueensWay sounds like a wonderful place for fun and frolic, we’re convinced it is wrong for the borough. Public transportation is one of the cornerstones of New York City. Indeed, our metropolis would never have developed into the world powerhouse that it is without its transportation infrastructure. Queens and the city are more populous than ever and our transportation system, which is far too dependent on automobiles, has not evolved at the same rate as our environs. Queens has developed in ways city planners never imagined and the constant transformation continues. While it may not be possible to predict exactly what the borough will look like, we think the best way to ensure a prosperous future for residents and businesses in all neighborhoods is to make sure every corner of Queens is served by a fast, affordable and reliable transit system. For that reason, we support the restoration of the Rockaway Branch rail line. We like parks. But not at the expense of transportation infrastructure vital to the borough’s continued growth. JAMAICA ON THE RISE We’re excited about the establishment of a tax-free business zone at York College. It’s about time one of our borough’s true urban centers shares in the explosion of money, development and good news so prevalent in other parts of Queens. Jamaica is already a great place to live, shop or invest. This zone, coupled with nearby development next to the Long Island Rail Road and AirTrain stations, should help propel Jamaica to renewed prosperity. QUEENS RESTAURANT WEEK Queens Restaurant Week is in full swing and, like last week, we urge everyone to get out and enjoy all the great food offerings — and the savings. The event runs through Oct. 31, so there is ample opportunity to visit many of the restaurants, most of which are offering prix fixe dinners for $28 and lunch for $14. It’s a great event and we encourage everyone to dig in and enjoy.


QC10162014
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