12 SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Get out and vote on Sept. 13!
It’s not easy to vote in New York
state, and it shows. The Empire
State ranks 46th in the nation
when it comes to voter turnout, according
to the U.S. Election Assistance
Commission.
That’s an embarrassing statistic, and
it doesn’t have to be this way.
Our state doesn’t make it easy for
people to vote, of course. We don’t have
early voting. Getting an absentee ballot
is a hassle. For many New Yorkers,
they simply can’t fi nd the time to vote
within the 15-hour window when polls
are open on an Election Day.
It’s our hope that next year, the
state government will fi nally get its
act together and pass voting reform
that makes it easier for New Yorkers to
participate in their democracy. But we
can’t let those current obstacles stand
in the way of voting now.
All of us who are registered to vote
must fi nd the time and make every
eff ort to vote in the Sept. 13 primary,
and in the Nov. 6 general election.
No one should take the right to
vote for granted. This isn’t professional
wrestling; the outcomes aren’t
predetermined. The voters ultimately
have the fi nal say.
If you don’t believe us, then think
back to all of the surprises we’ve had
in recent Queens elections.
Two years ago, nine-term Assemblywoman
Margaret Markey was knocked
off in a primary election by Brian
Barnwell, a Woodside attorney. The
following year, longtime civic activist
Robert Holden narrowly defeated twoterm
Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley.
Then, back in June of this year, the
upset of all upsets: upstart candidate
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez soundly
defeated 10-term incumbent Congressman
Joe Crowley, who also happens to
be Queens County Democratic Party
boss and a rumored candidate for
Speaker of the House.
For all of these shocking outcomes,
however, there is one thing that each of
them have in common: incredibly low
turnout. Just 12 percent of registered
Democrats participated in the June Congressional
primary. We have to do better.
The Sept. 13 primary features
the races for governor, lieutenant
governor, attorney general and local
Assembly and state Senate seats. It’s
critically important for every registered
voter in Queens to show up at the
polls and cast their votes.
Sacrifice a few minutes of your
morning or evening commute and get
over to your local polling place to vote.
Find the time to do it; your democracy
depends upon your participation.
We don’t care who you vote for
in this primary; just be sure that
you vote!
EDITORIAL
SNAPS
CLEAR NIGHTS
IN LONG ISLAND CITY
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY LISA KEST-FEIN
The Q52/Q53 select bus service route will see
improvements along Woodhaven and Cross
Bay Boulevards this month.
THE HOT TOPIC
STORY:
Outback Steakhouse at Queens
Place mall in Elmhurst abruptly
closes its doors
SUMMARY:
Visitors to the Outback Steakhouse
at the Queens Place mall at 5 p.m. on
Monday aft ernoon, Aug. 27, found
the doors locked and a sign posted in
the window stating, “This location is
now closed.”
REACH:
23,179 people (as of 9/4/18)
COMMENTS:
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MARLENE RUIZ
Reporter
RYAN KELLEY
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L’shana
tova!
Jews across Queens and
around the world will celebrate
Rosh Hashanah, the arrival of the
Jewish new year, this weekend.
May those observing this joyous
holiday savor the sweetness of
the celebration, and may they
enjoy many good blessings in the
year ahead
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