Page 4

RT11062014

But of course, few treatment plans will succeed if the doctor continually fails to make a proper diagnosis before surgery begins. When I look at our nation’s massive federal debt, it is clear that Washington has chronically misdiagnosed the situation, which has resulted in a seemingly never-ending cycle of borrowing and spending. Much like a lifethreatening disease, if the underlying cause is left unaddressed, patient recovery seldom occurs. Bold leaders in both parties have warned for years that entitlement spending is the major driver of unsustainable deficits, and they have further advised that Washington implement policies to address this problem. While it is distressing to see continued inaction, what troubles me more is that virtually no one has addressed the underlying cause. In other words, why were programs created in a manner that they would eventually become so financially upside-down that our entire economy would be in jeopardy? Furthermore, can and should we do something to ensure that future entitlement programs are created carefully and responsibly? Let’s look at recent history. In Join The 104th Precinct Civilian Observation Patrol Volunteers Needed from Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village & Ridgewood 718-497-1500 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, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 • 4 BEN CARSON News & Opinion Times Newsweekly EEDDIITTOORRIIAALL Credit Due For Creek Cleanup 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 22001144 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 I have had a fulfilling career as a pediatric neurosurgeon, which unfortunately included numerous instances where worst-case scenarios played out in the operating room. Good surgeons plan ahead for these possible events so that bad outcomes are minimized. -SEE CARSON ON PG. 27- Slowly but surely, the plan to clean the fetid Newtown Creek is coming together, infused with cash from the corporate giants that polluted it for decades. Last week, as this paper reported, the bankrupt Getty Corporation agreed to pay the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) $16 million for its share of the damage, caused by fuel and chemical leaks from the tanks at its creekside facility. The company is just one of many the EPA is pursuing to cover cleanup costs for the creek, which was previously declared a Superfund site. The government is outlaying the money needed to remediate the contamination, but the businesses deemed responsible will soon pay for their share of the blame. For decades, the public knew how damaged the Newtown Creek was; the pollution first came to light in 1978, when officers in a helicopter flying over the waterway reported seeing oil flow out of a bulkhead. But the impetus to clean up the creek only began nine years later, in 1987, when the city Sanitation Department proposed building a garbage incinerator in Maspeth, a short distance from the waterway. A gathering of engineers and government representatives came to a July 1987 meeting at Community Board 5 to present their idea for Maspeth, since the area was industrial and manufacturing and had little or no residences in its immediate proximity. The representatives made a very intelligent and compelling presentation to the small group from Community Board 5 that was gathered. They claimed burning garbage at very high temperatures in facilities equipped with towering smokestacks would not impact surrounding neighborhoods. Following their presentation came Frank Principe, a resident of Maspeth, a successful local businessman and, at that time, a new Board 5 member. In his usual quiet manner, he pulled out a large map of the Board 5 area, and proceeded to explain to those present the imminent dangers of an incinerator in the Maspeth area of Newtown Creek. With a host of information at his fingertips to prove his theory he explained that the area designated for the smokestack was in a low point of the topography. He further showed how the top of the smokestack would almost be level with the surrounding areas which rose in height around Newtown Creek. “It’s like putting a candle in the bottom of a deep soup bowl where the flame would be level with the rim,” he explained to the host of representatives, who were busy shuffling papers looking for information that apparently wasn’t given to them before their presentation. To add just one more hammer blow, Frank introduced his guest, a retired Fire Department deputy chief who spent many years working on both the Brooklyn and Queens sides of Newtown Creek. He reported on the many fires that seemed to emanate on top of the water in Newtown Creek, adding that there were large oil tanks under the water which oozed gasoline and all other sorts of nasty things into the Creek. “Putting an incenerator in this location is like lighting a match while pumping gas into a car,” the chief said. “The explosion that would probably happen would be like a fireworks show on the Fourth of July.” The Maspeth incinerator plan was scrapped, and the city owes a great debt to Principe and company for striking the first blows in a battle for cleaner air and water in New York City. Principe died in 2004, and we can only hope his descendants and future generations will get to see a Newtown Creek cleansed of the damage that reckless industries inflicted on it for decades. Spending: America’s Most Incurable Disease Board 5 To Meet This Wed. Night Public hearings on a Ridgewood gym and a Glendale spa will top the next Community Board 5 meeting this Wednesday night, Nov. 12, in Middle Village. As announced by District Manager Gary Giordano, the session will begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night in the cafeteria of Christ the King High School, located at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave.T he agenda will include a public hearing regarding BSA Cal # 229-14 BZ, which is an application to the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals, by Gonzalez Saggio and Harlan, LLP, Attorney at Law, on behalf of Marmel Realty Assoc. Corp., the owner of record for a Special Permit, under Section 73-36 of the Zoning Resolution, to have a physical culture establishment for Lucille Roberts Women’s Gym at 55-05 Myrtle Ave., Block: 3450; Lot: 1, in Ridgewood. A second public hearing regarding BSA Cal # 269-14 BZ relates to an application to the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals for a Special Permit, submitted by Gerald J. Caliendo Architect, P.C., for the location of a physical culture establishment for Massage Envy Spa, under Section 73-36 of the Zoning Resolution, at 89-44 Metropolitan Ave. in Glendale, Block: 3872; Lot: 33. Following the public hearings, the board will conduct its regular business, which includes the public forum; reports by Giordano and Board 5 Chairperson Vincent Arcuri; a review of demolition notices and liquor license applications; and committee reports. For additional information, or to register to speak in advance, call Board 5 at 1-718- 366-1834. ©Times Newsweekly 2014 – GCOP NEXT MEETING: Thurs., Nov. 13, 2014 8:00 pm St. Pancras Pfeifer Hall Myrtle Ave. and 68th St., Glendale All It Takes For Evil To Thrive Is For Good Men & Women To Do Nothing


RT11062014
To see the actual publication please follow the link above