WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES NOVEMBER 22, 2018 13
MAKE AMAZON
WORK FOR LOCAL
TRANSIT
There are opportunities to increase
capacity and service by running subway
trains and buses more frequently
off peak, mid-day, evenings, overnight
and weekends (“Primary concerns
over how LIC transit will handle Amazon
infl ux,” The Courier, Nov. 15).
There is always equipment used primarily
for rush hour peak service that
is available to provide additional service
during off peak hours. It is a question of
fi nding millions of dollars more to cover
operating costs for additional service.
Give Amazon naming rights for
Long Island Rail Road’s Long Island
City station in exchange for fi nancing
station, signal, interlockings and other
capital improvements which would
aff ord increased LIRR service.
Extend eight of 14 LIRR trains currently
terminating at Hunters Point
during the morning rush hour to
Long Island City. Turn trains around
to provide reverse commuter service.
In the evening rush hour, start seven
of 12 trains from LIC instead of Hunters
Point.
Establish new off -peak, midday and
evening service between LIC and Jamaica.
Use underutilized Jamaica Station
tracks 4 and 5 and extend this route to
the Belmont Park station. This could
also serve the future Islanders Belmont
Arena scheduled to open in late 2021.
Reopen the LIRR Lower Montauk
branch closed in 1998 including interim
stations between Jamaica and LIC.
Run a simple two car scoot service
reconnecting LIC, Glendale, Middle
Village, Richmond Hill and Jamaica.
Larry Penner, Great Neck
FEELING GRATEFUL
AND EMPOWERED
This Thanksgiving is truly a time
for an expression of gratitude for the
great response of our voters who put
their emotions and sense of outrage
at the results of the last presidential
election into constructive action!
During these last two years, we saw
the reality of our worst fears when
changes taking place in our Congress
and presidential orders taking away
our basic freedoms which we thought
were sacred. New gains in women’s
rights and human rights were being
threatened and also taken away.
But in January of 2017 and again in
January of 2018, women gave their answers
in the largest Women’s March ever
recorded in the U.S. and around the world.
This anger and outrage was channeled
into constructive action and, on
Nov. 6, resulted in the largest number
of women members elected to Congress,
governors of states, and members of legislatures.
The result, the pollsters say, of
women voters across the country organizing
to register and pull out the vote
as well as running for offi ce themselves.
How welcome and needed is the
sweet taste of victory. But we have to
get back to the planning and follow-up
and continue to engage women and all
voters about our issues to see that they
are implemented.
Our Center for the Women of New
York is proud of our “Take Action” philosophy
and we were not only among
the fi rst organizers of the Women’s
March in Queens, but we boast of our
members who went out and did the oneon
one door knocking, telephoning and
literature distribution to educate the
voters about the issues to see that they
get implemented. We encourage all who
feel empowered by their actions to join
with us at our next meeting to decide
on how to move in a positive direction.
Ann Jawin,
Center for the Women of New York
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LETTERS AND COMMENTS
The case for Amazon HQ2
BY GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO
The Amazon transaction is an historic
transformative moment for
the entire New York City region.
I have done enough development work
during my career to know there is no
large development project that is accomplished
without controversy: especially
in a city like New York and especially
in this polarized, hyper-political time.
While I appreciate the ideological
and political points of view, we must
still govern and analyze based on facts.
In fact, given the current political turmoil,
it is more important than ever.
Several cities across New York
state and over 238 cities across North
America competed for the Amazon
headquarters and the Long Island City
proposal is the only NYS project that
was selected as a fi nalist.
This transaction is a lightning rod
for the political rhetoric on both extremes.
The extreme conservatives
and the socialists both now vehemently
oppose “incentives” for Amazon,
which is one of the most profi table
companies in the country.
Nothing in the Amazon transaction
is new. The tax incentives we
provide for single business transactions
are usual and typical and have
been operational for decades. They are
long-standing programs supported by
both Democrats and Republicans in
both the city and the state.
Nor are tax incentive programs
unique to New York. Every state offers
incentives to attract businesses
and we are in a constant competition
with other states and nations to attract
and keep good businesses. One could
argue that in a perfect world no city
or state would be legally allowed to
off er incentives and there would be
no competition for individuals or
businesses. True.
But this is not a perfect world. Our
state is in an intense daily competition
with other states and, indeed, other
countries.
On the other side of the extreme,
the socialists argue that we gave a $1
billion grant to one of the richest men
in the country and that we should have
given that money to the poor and the
needy. Once again, it is a politically
appealing argument; but also, it is once
again wrong.
We give Amazon nothing and their
revenues give us approximately $900
million annually. If Amazon does not
employ 25,000 New Yorkers, we lose
$900 million.
They also argue that we should let
Amazon come to New York but provide
no incentive. However, without the
incentive Amazon, which owes duties
to its stockholders (including the New
York Pension Plan) would not come to
New York and would not bring their
revenues or jobs.
The essence of the Amazon competition
was that they were shopping for
the best economic benefits. Amazon
could have located all employees in
Virginia or gone to Newark — just
across the river — for a larger incentive:
a $7 billion incentive package
and a giant revenue loss to New York.
As for the local officials who now
oppose the project, many of these
same individuals signed a letter
supporting the application for the
same location knowing full well
it was a national competition in
which states and cities were putting
together incentive packages. These
same officials voted and authorized
the long-standing economic development
programs deployed in the Amazon
transaction. It is pure political
posturing.
Mark my words, come election
time, when the opponents of these
politicians side with the businesses
and residents who are benefi ting from
the Amazon infusion, these same politicians
will fi nd a way to change their
position once again. Political winds
blow strong in New York, but they also
shift rapidly.
I applaud Mayor de Blasio for acting
responsibly as a government offi cial
rather than catering to a convenient
political position.
I appreciate the anxiety of the
neighboring community. Any large
development will cause disruption if
steps are not taken to mitigate these
issues. However, the answer for a
smart society is not to stop growing
but rather to manage the growth and
its consequences.
The reaction by some on the extremes
to the Amazon transaction is
merely a sign of the times — and the
times are troubled. Political polarization
tears at our social fabric. But when
the lens of public offi cials is fogged by
political expediency, bad decisions
are made.
My father used to say, “We campaign
in poetry but we govern in prose.” The
essence of this saying was that during
campaigns political rhetoric soars
for the aspirational and the perfect.
However, in government, we must deal
with facts and reality.