WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES JULY 19, 2018 13
LOOK AWAY,
REPUBLICANS, LOOK
AWAY!
Republicans held a hearing on Capitol
Hill accusing FBI agent Peter Strzok
of political bias at the FBI and Justice
Department because of his anti-Trump
texts.
Republicans show more interest in
an FBI agent’s texts than the leader of
the free world undermining the western
alliance while ignoring Russian
interference in a presidential election!
There have been 19 indictments and
fi ve convictions so far, yet Republicans
continue to look away and assist
Trump with his distractions.
Choosing to defend the disgraceful
actions of the president rather than
uphold the dignity of the United States!
What a disgrace.
Look away, Republicans, look away!
Robert LaRosa, Whitestone
GRATEFUL FOR
THE MIRACLE IN
THAILAND
As I was reading 12 boys and their
soccer coach were all rescued from a
fl ooded cave in Thailand. Truly this
was, “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.”
These boys and their coach were
trapped in this cave due to fl ooded
waters in this cave. This was a most
diffi cult mission and one that brought
many groups from around the world
including the U.S. to help. This mission
could have cost many lives including
the boys. Although one life was lost in
the rescue. As stated about 100 workers,
including the brave navy Seals
from Thailand were involved in the
rescue. Let me also mention this was
a miracle to have found all alive in
that cave during and aft er the search.
Praise must be given to all that came
to help and risked their lives. I guess
God has a reason for all this and that
life is his to take or to give.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.,
Glen Oaks Village
NO NEED TO BLOCK
THIS SCOTUS
NOMINEE
President Trump’s selection to the
Supreme Court, Judge Brett Kavanaugh,
was an excellent choice. Judge Kavanaugh
has served in our nation’s judicial
system for nearly 30 years in various
capacities, and has the experience and
know-how of our legal system.
Also, it is very wonderful that he is
so devoted to his family, coaching his
two girls CYO basketball teams and
also working with his local parish
priest helping to feed the hungry in
his community.
Hopefully, his confirmation proceedings
will be completed as quickly
as possible, and that there won’t any
bureaucratic red tape that could
possibly slow down or stop this very
important process of approval by the
Senate committee. President Trump
defi nitely has made the right choice.
Let’s hope that Democrats and Republicans
can work across the aisle in
a bipartisan fashion to conclude these
proceedings without any problems.
John Amato, Fresh Meadows
WHO ARE THE
MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS
WORKING FOR?
As a lifelong Queens resident, it amazes
me how the usual crowd of feckless
Dems are falling over each other with
their words and actions to “protect”
those who are in this country illegally.
Not a single word or action about
the young lady who lost her life at a
notoriously dangerous intersection on
Utopia Parkway. Not a peep about rising
property taxes, or failing Queens
schools or the multibillion-dollar farce
that would build a train line connecting
LaGuardia Airport to Citi Field.
Perhaps these pols need to be reminded
just who they are “working” for.
Gary Posch, Whitestone
Editor’s note: In our indirect democracy
(republic), each Member of Congress
works for the people of their district
and their interests. They also represent
their constituents in the formation of
legislation, and are able to campaign for
or against certain policies based on what
they believe is best for the people of their
district. The voters choose these Members
of Congress at elections conducted
every two years. If voters are dissatisfi ed
with what their Members of Congress
are doing, they have the opportunity to
vote in someone else.
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expressed in all letters and comments
are not necessarily those of this publication
or its staff.
LETTERS AND COMMENTS
HELPING THE HOMELESS WITHOUT BURDENING LOCAL COMMUNITIES
BY STATE SENATOR JOE ADDABBO
Once again, Mayor Bill de Blasio
and the NYC Department
of Homeless Services (DHS)
have come into Queens with a fl awed
plan for housing homeless individuals
in our community without any
gaining input from the people who
live there.
This time DHS has targeted the
former Christ Evangelical Lutheran
Church located at 85-15 101st Ave. in
Ozone Park. Work is already underway
to transform this space to house
113 men with mental disabilities by
winter 2018. I do not support this
proposal by the mayor.
While I understand that there is
currently a homeless crisis facing
our city, I do not believe that because
of the mayor’s inability to credibly
address the homeless issue, middle
class communities should be
negatively aff ected by having large
population shelters placed without
input. Where are the impact statements?
Where are the reports showing
the eff ect on our schools or public
safety? My colleagues in government
and I — along with residents of Ozone
Park — will not accept a shelter housing
more than 100 mentally ill men to
be built in this community, given the
location’s proximity to fi ve neighborhood
schools and high population of
children under the age of 18 who live
near the proposed shelter.
Another reason why I stand
opposed to this shelter location is
that there is little to no information
on how the city plans to help these
individuals. The administration
gives limited information as to what
services or programs will be made
available to the men to transition
them out of the homeless shelter
system. If the population at the
shelter is to be mentally ill men,
there must be constant on-site help
for them, as well as security at all
times to help protect not only the individuals
there, but the Ozone Park
neighborhood as well. The burden
on the 102nd Police Precinct could
have an impact on the surrounding
communities.
I have stated my opposition to this
site for a shelter both publicly and
privately to DHS. As a result of a
meeting that DHS had with the local
elected offi cials, the 102nd Pct. and
Community Board 9, the agency has
given us 30 days to fi nd a new alternative
location for this proposed shelter
to house the 113 men. Those 30 days
end on Aug. 5, so I am hopeful that
by working together as a community,
we can fi nd a suitable replacement
site for these individuals.
Over the years, the mayor’s offi ce
has been made aware of my suggestions
for ways to assist the homeless
without creating frustration and animosity
in our communities. Where
is the aff ordable housing that was
proposed by the mayor and to be
built? The city has vacant property to
utilize for permanent or temporary
housing to help the homeless. The
city can also consider using smaller
sites for population sizes that better
acclimate into a community. There
are other solutions to address the
homeless crisis and assist individuals
in need, but until the mayor
decides to work with us who want to
help, well before the call to my offi ce
dictating a site in the community, the
opposition to inappropriate sites will
continue.