WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MAY 17, 2018 13
GIVE CITY’S
INDEPENDENT
VOTERS THEIR SAY
AT LAST
As the coordinator of the Queens
Independence Club, I testifi ed on May
9 at a public hearing of the mayor’s
appointed New York City Charter
Revision Commission encouraging
the Commission to put an amendment
to the vote for nonpartisan municipal
elections in New York City.
Every American believes in our
founding principle of “no taxation
without representation,” and we need
to enforce that principle today. The
NYC Charter Revision Commission
could create a proposal for nonpartisan
municipal elections to be voted
on by the people of New York City,
asking whether everyone should be
allowed to vote in the fi rst round of
voting regardless of whether they are
registered in a party or not.
Political parties should have the
right to organize, and as private
associations, they should be able to
decide how their nominees are chosen.
However, they shouldn’t have it
both ways. If they function as private
associations, then our collective tax
dollars should not fund their private
activities. Taxpayer funds should be
used to benefi t all our citizens and
LETTERS AND COMMENTS
should fund an election process that
benefi ts and includes all voters.
We cannot justify funding a primary
system in which the taxpayers fund
Democratic and Republican party primaries
in New York City at a moment
when there are over 1 million independents
in the city — over 300,000 more
than Republican registrants.
The Charter Revision Commission
has been charged by the mayor to
“include an examination of New York
City’s campaign fi nance system, enhancing
voter participation, and improving
the electoral process.” Surely
that needs to embrace making sure
independent voters have full voting
rights.
Nancy Hanks, Sunnyside
OH SO MANY
EXPENSIVE REPAIRS
NEEDED ON THE 7
LINE
There is more to “Mixed reviews
over improvements as 7 line troubles
persist” (Jenna Bagcal, May 10). The $32
MTA 2015-2019 Capital Program originally
provided funding to upgrade the
Mets Willets Point ($48 million), 111th
Street ($16 million), 103rd Street ($18
million) and 82nd Street ($22 million)
in 2018. Additional stations including
69th Street ($17 million), 61st Street
Woodside ($17 million) and 52nd Street
($18 million) are programmed for 2019.
Work for 2018 and 2019 stations may
begin under two separate construction
contracts. Is this work going to
proceed or be postponed until the next
MTA 2020-2024 Capital Program?
Larry Penner, Great Neck
KEEPING WHAT’S
IMPORTANT
IN MIND FOR
MEMORIAL DAY
As we are approaching Memorial
Day, many things come to mind.
First of all, let’s remember all those
who gave their lives to protect our nation.
That includes all those confl icts
since the Revolution. Let us also salute
all of our brave men and women who
are now serving today to preserve
those freedoms we all hold most dear.
Secondly, what comes to mind is this
war against terrorism, something that
changed our nation since the attack
on 9/11. I fi nd myself thinking what it
means to be an American. The answer
seems crystal clear: to live in a nation
that allows us our personal freedom
and the ability to speak our minds.
We may not have the best system, but
it still is the best in the world.
This freedom some come with a
price, like former President John
F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your
country can do for you but what you
can do for your country.”
We also have a duty and that is to
inspire our youth to be more involved
in our communities and to get out to
vote. We have many issues facing our
nation like Medicare, Social Security,
the national debt, war, terrorism,
homelessness, AIDS, global warming,
etc. We as Americans must stand up
and dedicate ourselves to make this a
greater nation.
Go out on Memorial Day and take
part by attending parades in our communities
and cheering and waving the
American fl ag for our brave men and
women serving in the military, and in
our neighborhoods as police offi cers
and fi refi ghters and EMS workers.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.,
Glen Oaks Village
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Names will be withheld upon request,
but anonymous letters will not be
considered for publication. The views
expressed in all letters and comments
are not necessarily those of this publication
or its staff .
“God speed them home” was the
message on the honor roll erected
at the corner of 71st Street and
Eliot Avenue in Middle Village
bearing the names of local soldiers
serving in World War II. This 1943
photo shows just one of many honor
rolls popped up in communities
across the country during the war.
This particular honor roll was sponsored
by the Elm Civic Association,
and is located on the site that
would later be developed into Our
Lady of Hope School. Send us your
historic photos of Queens by email
to editorial@qns.com (subject: A
Look Back) or mail printed pictures
to A Look Back, ℅ The Queens
Courier, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside,
NY 11361. All mailed pictures will
be carefully returned to you.
A LOOK BACK
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