44 The QUEE NS Courier • OCTOBER 24, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com editorial letters 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 Bill Krese Jan DiGeronimo 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 Editorial Cartoonist Director, Business Developm ent 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 2013 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. Meet in the middle As 2013 continues, what does the future hold for our nation? Will the antogonists, miscreants and fools in Congress be able to sit down and negotiate so that we will not have to go through another bout of another possible government shutdown and possible default? The American people are totally fed up and disgusted with this Congress and its total inability to agree on anything. President Barack Obama also has to be willing to give a little. There has to be civility from all sides, or else we will be going through all of this foolishness and insanity again in January and February 2014.Our Congress and president need to get their act together and stop all of their political gerrymandering and grandstanding-NOW! John Amato Fresh Meadows No lessons learned The US national debt is increases when Congress passes a budget that exceeds revenues. Increasing the “national debt” does not increase the debt. It should be required that any budget passed by Congress and continuing resolutions include legislation that authorizes the Treasury to borrow additional funds when required to meet the obligations Congress has previously approved. The political theatre that played out at the insistence of the Tea Party and Senator Ted Cruz cost the nation billions of dollars while making the US a comedy to be enjoyed and profited by our enemies and competitors. The Chinese won tremendously with England for the first time, arranging for trading their currency in an international setting. To have attacked the full faith and credit of the United States for political gain brings into question the patriotism of those advocating a default. Brinkmanship is a game that should be played with caution and consideration of the consequences. Wars have been started by fools willing to believe bluff would conquer their foes. The districts that elected members of the Tea Party are so far removed from the reality of Democracy to insure the same reactionaries will be returned to office. These voters believe compromise is poison and that winning means the destruction of any opposition. Sadly, it may be no lessons were learned during the government shutdown and the threat posed to our national security by threatening the good faith and credit of the US will once again be a prize awarded our enemies. Edward Horn A Concannon fan Joseph Concannon is running for the City Council seat in the 23rd District in Queens. This district covers Fresh Meadows, Oakland Gardens, Hollis Hills, Queens Village, Little Neck, Glen Oaks Village, Bellerose, Floral Park and Jamaica Estates. Here is a man who is concerned for the safety of all residents and would be a measurable asset to the City Council. Concannon has a distinguished career, with 25 years in the NYPD, rising to the rank of captain. He also was appointed by Mayor Rudy Giuliani to the position of Deputy of Public Safety. Concannon is very successful in business and very knowledgeable in government. So please vote for Joseph Concannon on November 5 on the Reform Party Line. I know I will. Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Glen Oaks Village Make some noise Protesting LaGuardia jet danger and noise is “about rallies, protests and street demonstrations.” The only way the residents of northeast Queens are going to get results from the new assault of danger and noise from the aviation industry is to start immediately protesting in front of the FAA’s offices and other government buildings like Queens Borough Hall and City Hall. Organize legal rallies and protests to put the spotlight on those responsible for this risky business activity. Those dangerous airplanes should only be taking off on the relatively safer Whitestone Climb, over Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, for an extra margin of safety, not over the densely populated bedroom communities of northeast Queens. Bang your pots and pans and make some noise of your own outside the offices of the administrators and politicians. Your health and real estate wealth is at stake! Joe Fabio Fabio Realty SANDY DIDN’T STOP US How does one measure a year? In the case of those affected by Sandy, it’s in those valuable keepsakes recovered, in those memories that no storm can wash away, and in the time it takes for them to return to their homes and businesses – many of which had, or still have, to be completely rebuilt – and to a sense of normalcy. Our hearts go out to the people who have lost much – or even everything. But yet, among the destruction and ensuing despair, we have proven why New York is “the greatest city in the world.” People remained calm. They followed instructions and hunkered down as best as possible. They helped each other. And now they are recovering. As one Breezy Point homeowner put it, “It was a total loss. But we’re going to rebuild in the same spot.” We didn’t let Sandy stop us. It has been a long road, as many home and business owners have been dealing with FEMA, insurance claims, and even paying for repairs out of pocket. Currently, our city’s and state’s portion of the federal funding of $61 billion to help Sandy victims is being distributed through the NYC Build It Back program, and the state’s utilization of community leaders in its NY Rising Community Reconstruction program aimed at improving our infrastructure. A range of bills aimed at addressing various aspects of Sandy’s impact were passed by the state legislature and have been recently signed into law by the governor. Some topics include rebates of real property taxes, assisting Breezy Point residents with street frontage issues unique to Breezy Point, exemptions to filing fees related to federal Small Business Administration Disaster Loans, and the implementation of improved tornado warning systems. The Office of Emergency Management even released new flood evacuation maps. If Sandy has taught us anything it is the value of preparedness. We must build higher, stronger so that, in case of another superstorm – or worse – we do not suffer the same fate. But Sandy did not beat us. She might have thrown a walloping punch, but New York City – and Queens especially –persevered.
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