short in 1968, his philosophy and vision live on. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” said Dr. King. These words ring as true today as they did nearly 50 years ago. Although strides have been made in the fight for equality and social and economic justice throughout our state and our nation, there are still many problems we cannot ignore. As Dr. King said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” In facing and dealing with these issues head on, we must act as Dr. King did. By acknowledging our problems and working together, we can enact positive change and restore trust. Only by working together, can we achieve this important work. Shining a light on the struggles of the less fortunate was Honoring MLK’s Legacy by Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan A civil rights leader, community activist, humanitarian and Nobel Laureate, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remains a remarkable and influential figure. . within the liberal encampment, and matters of amusement in Middle America. More serious have been the months-long protests against police, following the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson and Eric Garner on Staten Island, some of which have featured chants like, “What do we want? Dead Cops!” The protests climaxed with the Selma, a film focused on the unearthed emails between studio execution in Bedford-Stuyvesant of police clubbing of civil rights chief Amy Pascal and producer Scott marchers led by Dr. King at Selma Rudin yukking it up over President bridge in March of 1965, is being Obama’s reputed preference for films denounced by Democrats as a like Django Unchained, 12 Years a cinematic slander against the Slave and The Butler. president who passed the Voting “Racism in Hollywood!” ran the Rights Act of 1965. headlines. In the movie, King is portrayed as Pascal went to Rev. Sharpton to decisive and heroic, LBJ as devious seek absolution, which could prove and dilatory. And no member of the expensive. Following a 90-minute Selma cast has been nominated for an meeting, Al tweeted that he had had a Academy Award. All 20 of the actors “very pointed and blunt exchange” and actresses nominated are white. with Pascal, that her emails reveal a Hollywood is like the Rocky “cultural blindness,” that Hollywood Mountains, says Rev. Al Sharpton, has to change, and that Pascal has the higher up you go the whiter it “committed to this.” getsThese cultural-social spats—LBJ Even before the Selma dustup, the loyalists vs. the Selma folks, hacking of Sony Pictures had Sharpton vs. Hollywood—are tiffs MMAAUURREEEENN EE. WWAALLTTHHEERRSS..........................................PPuubblisshheerr && EEdditoorr JJOOHHNN TT.. WWAALLTTHHEERRSS................................................................................................PPuubblliisshheerr EEmmeerriittuuss RROOBBEERRT POOZZAARRYYCCKI.................................................MMaanaaging EEdditorr JJOOSEE VVAARRGAAS.............................................Prrodducction//Saaleess MMaanaageerr DDEEBBOORRAAHH CCUUSSICCKK..............................................CClaassssiffieedd MMaannaaggeerr MMAARRLLEENNEE RRUUIZZ............................................AAssssisst. CClaassssifieedd MMaanaageerr TTIIMMEESS NNEEWWSSWWEEEEKKLLYY IIss LLiisstteedd WWiitthh TThhee SSttaannddaarrdd RRaattee && DDaattaa AAnndd IIss AA MMeemmbbeerr OOff TThhee NNeeww YYoorrkk PPrreessss AAssssoocciiaattiioonn TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015 • 4 Times Newsweekly EEDDIITTOORRIIAALL Times Newsweekly Established In 1908 As Ridgewood Times PPhhootoo SSuubbmmissssioonnss AAnndd RReeqquueesstss Photographs submitted to the Times Newsweekly/Ridgewood Times should be in electronic high resolution (300dpi) JPEG (.jpg) or TIFF (.tif) formats. Sharp and clear non-Polaroid photo prints in color or black and white are also acceptable. Photographs submitted will become the property of this newspaper, with the exception of photos or other materials sent for use by The Old Timer and photos which are part of paid announcements. We welcome the submission of unsolicited photos or related materials for consideration of publication, but we cannot guarantee their use. The return of such photos or materials, except in cases as noted above, is not possible. We regret that we are unable to accommodate requests for photos taken by photographers working on assignment for the Times Newsweekly/Ridgewood Times. Reaching The Queens Homes Of Ridgewood, Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Woodside, Sunnyside, Astoria, Long Island City, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Richmond Hill, Rego Park, Forest Hills, Woodhaven, Elmhurst & Kew Gardens. Reaching The Brooklyn Homes Of Ridgewood, Bushwick, Cypress Hills, East Williamsburg & Williamsburg. COMPOSITION RESPONSIBILITY: Accuracy in receiving ads over the telephone cannot be guaranteed. This newspaper is responsible for only one incorrect insertion and only for that portion of the ad in which the error appears. It is the responsibility of the advertiser to make sure copy does not contravene the Consumer Protection Law or any other requirement. CCOOPPYYRRIIGGHHTT 22001155 RRIIDDGGEEWWOOOODD TTIIMMEESS PPRRIINNTTIINNGG && PPUUBBLLIISSHHIINNGG CCOO., IINNCC. 60-71 Woodbine St., Ridgewood, N.Y. 11385 General Pub. Office: P.O. Box 863299 Ridgewood, N.Y. 11386-0299 Periodicals Postage Paid At Flushing, N.Y. (USPS 465-940) TTEELEEPHHOONEE: 11--771188--882211--77550000/77550011/77550022/77550033 FFAAXX: 11--771188--445566--00112200 EE-MMAAIILL: iinnffoo@@ttiimmeessnneewwsswweeeekkllyy..ccoomm WWEEBB SSITTEE: www.timessnnewssweekklyy.ccoom OON TTWWITTTTEER @@timessnnewssweekklyy PPUUBBLLIISSHHEEDD EEVVEERRYY TTHHUURRSSDDAAYY FFOORR OOVVEERR 110066 YYEEAARRSS PAT BUCHANAN News & Opinion Let’s Rebuild Queens! On Martin Luther King Day, 2015, how stand race relations in America? Figuring out how to spend a $5 billion windfall sounds like a nice problem to have, and in New York State, it’s a hotly-contested debate. From property tax decreases to increased education funding, it seems everybody has a bright idea on how to spend hundreds of millions of dollars the state received last year through settlements reached with financial institutions over regulation violations and other misdeeds. In a very encouraging sign, Gov. Andrew Cuomo outlined on Tuesday, Jan. 20, a host of infrastructure projects—including a proposed AirTrain line to LaGuardia Airport—paid for in part with the settlement funds. But we think the governor and the state could go even further in funding projects that make it easier to navigate this borough and city. Our coverage area alone could use about $200 million to move forward on several long-delayed city street improvement projects. We’ve covered in the past the troubles at the Grand Street Bridge over the Newtown Creek between Maspeth and East Williamsburg. The narrow, 110-year-old span can’t accommodate two passing big rigs in the heart of an industrial area, causing delays on either side. Moreover, the city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) closed the bridge many Saturdays last year for patchwork repairs to the deck and sidewalk. Replacing the Grand Street Bridge would cost about $70 million, and the project has been delayed until about 2024 for myriad reasons. Reportedly, engineers are redesigning the replacement plans to reflect flood zone changes following Hurricane Sandy two years ago. Meanwhile, commuters and businesses will continue to suffer with delays and closures—and given its deteriorated shape, the bridge itself will be lucky to survive the decade. Then there’s the proposed reconstruction of roadbeds, sewer mains and curbs in southern Middle Village. First proposed in the 1990s, the city also delayed this project until about 2020 due to financial constraints. Many streets in this area haven’t even been repaved in years as a result of questions regarding when, or if, this project will start. Similarly, there’s the Wyckoff Avenue reconstruction project, also perennially delayed due to city funding cuts. The multi-million plan includes replacing sewer and water mains and the roadbed along the full length of Wyckoff Avenue between Flushing and Cooper avenues in Ridgewood and Bushwick; various side streets would also be improved. If the state gave the city between $75 and $100 million for these projects, residents and businesses would benefit with more reliable sewer and water mains, smoother streets and improved streetscapes. It would improve property values and attract new residents and businesses into the area, leading to increased tax revenue for the state and city. Who wouldn’t want that? Of course, there are even larger-scale projects around Queens just waiting to happen. As Governor Cuomo looks to link LaGuardia by rail, he should also seek to revitalize rail service on the long-defunct Long Island Rail Road Rockaway Beach branch and cut the QueensWay. The state recently gave the QueensWay proponents thousands of dollars toward its effort, but Queens residents desperately need a train alternative to get around. Why turn the Rockaway Beach branch into parkland when its location alone provides the opportunity to build a oneseat, direct rail link between John F. Kennedy International Airport and midtown Manhattan? Most every other major metropolis in the U.S. has a direct transit link between its primary airport and its downtown except the one city that needs it the most: New York City. Building a JFK-Manhattan train line via the Rockaway Beach branch won’t be cheap—it will cost several billion dollars, and federal aid will be needed—but this project is far more necessary to the city’s economic viability than a nature trail and bike path. Expensive, lengthy cab rides on traffic-filled expressways are a terrible greeting to the tourists our city so heavily relies upon for income. Let’s get serious about Queens infrastructure. Hey Governor Cuomo, can you spare us a billion? Selma, 50 Years On -SEE BUCHANAN ON PG. 29- It is important to remember Dr. King’s legacy and how we can continue to honor it with our actions. In the words of Dr. King himself, “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” It is up to us as individuals to follow his lead and embrace his values as we work for the betterment of others and our community as a whole. Addressing inequality ingrained in society, Dr. King gave a voice to those who needed it the most, tirelessly advocating for civil rights and social justice. He encouraged change through peace and discourse, respect and unity, and he remained committed to these principles. In 1964, Dr. King became, at the time, the youngest recipient of the Noble Peace Prize. His work was integral to the passage of such landmark legislation as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Though his life was cut tragically -SEEMY SAY ON PG. 29- My Say Print Snafu Made Issue Arrive Late A printing error caused a delay in publication of last week’s Times Newsweekly/ Ridgewood Times. The paper hit newsstands on Friday, Jan. 16. We apologize for any inconvenience which may have resulted.
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