FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com NOVEMBER 28, 2013 • THE QUEENS COURIER 33 HALL OF SHAME Flushing Main Street Incidents of graffi ti have risen. The Courier invites you, our readers, to submit photos of vandalism — or addresses where you see graffi ti — for our “Hall of Shame.” Conversely, if a home or business has “cleaned up their act,” submit them for induction into our “Hall of Fame.” Send all high resolution JPG images (300 DPI) to [email protected] with a location and a contact number. Otherwise, contact us at 38-15 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361. Help us take our borough back from the vandals! How do you feel about the reduced future fare hikes? Luckily, I have a job that provides me with transit checks. I feel sorry for the people who are working hard and who really depend on the rise and fall of these fares. Brian Rodriguez It’s still going to go up! These increases strain us. We are already having a hard time fi nancially. Grace Thomas Either way, I have to pay it. What can I do? I’m not sure what should be done about the inevitable rise in fares. Even if it’s not 7.5% now it might ultimately get there. Jim Grayshaw The fares have to be raised, so even if it’s only by 4% now it’s bound to climb higher. Rich English It makes it diffi cult, bigger fair hike, lower fair hike… This is just one more thing that contributes to the pretty high cost of getting by here in New York City. Jennifer Nieves All of this adds up and it’s really costly. It’s not fair to people! There are people out there who struggle; this is just another thing that’ll be burdensome. Kirk White I don’t like it, the fare won’t remain stable! I don’t take the bus often but fare hikes are an inconvenience no matter how big or small. Rosa LoGiudice It really doesn’t bother me that much. I drive to work. However, I’m sure these hikes no matter how miniscule really affect people and can make things more diffi cult. Nick Burke oped street talk BY RACHEL LANDAU LIRR station The Western Queens Renaissance: A BURGEONING COMMUNITY ON THE RISE BY STATE ASSEMBLYMEMBER ARAVELLA SIMOTAS At its core, western Queens is a community built by small businesses. From the time the Steinway brothers built their fi rst factory in the U.S. in 1853 to the television and fi lm production and hightech enterprises we see fl ourishing today, this part of New York City is fi rmly grounded in innovation and civic leadership. As a lifelong resident of Astoria and a New York State elected representative, I have been dedicated to ensuring that this wonderful community continues to thrive. As we continue to recover from the economic downturn, western Queens has been a powerhouse of new ventures and a center for job creation. As the most diverse county in the United States, our borough is uniquely positioned to cultivate a dynamic hub of economic and cultural activity. The area is growing fast, with an infl ux of new families and workers eager to contribute and establish themselves in the neighborhood. As the home to three fi lm production studios, western Queens is also a driving force behind the continued strength of the New York City fi lm industry. These studios and the movies and television they produce contribute thousands of jobs and untold indirect revenue and economic activity that benefi t community residents. Located adjacent to the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, the Museum of the Moving Image, and the new home of the Queens Council on the Arts, this part of the borough has become a veritable epicenter of arts and culture. In addition to the hundreds of restaurants, boutiques, hardware stores and every imaginable variety of momand pop stores, western Queens is a model for responsible innovation. The hard work of so many ensures that growth benefi ts all members of our community. Recently, construction began on the $125 million expansion and modernization project at Mt. Sinai Hospital. This new state of the art facility will be much better equipped to serve the growing population of new residents who will now enjoy expanded fi rst-rate medical care in the heart of Astoria. Our local seniors have also benefi ted from the construction and opening of the brand-new HANAC/PCA Residence, a 90-unit facility which will make affordable housing more accessible, especially important in a city with scarce land resources and a high demand for real estate. Together with other local leaders, I have worked to ensure that our community welcomes these new waves of growth. I have made it a priority to keep our streets free of trash and our centers of commerce clean and welcoming for consumers. Working with concerned residents, I have also striven to preserve the family-oriented character of local neighborhoods so that our children can always feel safe and our small businesses can thrive. I will always pledge to work both in the community and through my role in Albany to encourage and promote an environment conducive to the continued growth of western Queens. Working together with businesses, residents, and local institutions, we can ensure that our world-class neighborhood remains a beacon of economic and cultural development for decades to come. Aravella Simotas represents parts of western Queens, including Astoria and parts of Long Island City in the New York State Assembly.
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