WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES NOVEMBER 24, 2016 13 LETTERS AND COMMENTS We wonder if some of our readers recognize this picture that we found in the Ridgewood Times archives. This 1982 photo shows the members of the St. Pancras Choristers of Glendale, who traveled to Rome that year to perform for Pope John Paul II. The performers are pictured with James McArdle, the choir’s director. Share your historic pictures of Queens with us by emailing them to [email protected], or by mail to A Look Back, c/o The Queens Courier, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361. All mailed pictures will be carefully returned to you. A LOOK BACK OP-ED LET’S GIVE TRUMP A CHANCE... I’ve really had it with all this news on marching against our president-elect. Everyone deserves a chance. Enough. Respect the decision that was made, move on and let’s try and work together. United we stand — God bless America. Kim Fasolino-Romito, Bayside ON SECOND THOUGHT... It is shameful that the United States selects the nation’s leader less democratically than most of our allies. An online petition has garnered over 4 million signatures requesting Electors vote for Clinton based on her victory in the national popular vote. For the second time in 16 years, a candidate has achieved an Electoral College majority without a national plurality. If this is not a constitutional crisis, then what is? Donald Trump is nothing if not shrewd, and more likely than not, he is consciously emulating Hitler. The opposition needs to declare that we shall fi ght and we will never surrender. Robert Berger, Bellerose FORGET TRUMP. THANKS, OBAMA! In my lifetime, I have never seen the country so divided. Personally I put most of the blame where I believe it belongs, that is with President Obama. Many liberals want to blame Donald Trump, until now he has done nothing as the president. He has been all talk and no action so to speak. President Obama however chose early on in his presidency not to act as a uniter but as a divider. Thomas Murawski, Glendale SOMEONE HELP THESE COLD FOLKS IN FLUSHING! We fi nd ourselves in a situation of trying to obtain a plumbing permit from the Department of Buildings to repair our gas line. We are told that this division is extremely backlogged in processing these permits. We have been without gas service and thus without heat and hot water since Sept. 29. The DOB’s response to our plumber’s queries is, “We will process it when we get to it.” This is just not acceptable, especially since we are paying thousands of dollars in fees to have this done. To be without heat and hot water for 7 1/2 weeks is not only a major inconvenience, but a health problem in the making, especially since we are senior citizens. I can appreciate the need to do a thorough assessment of issuing permits. However, if the demand so exceeds the capabilities of the DOB, something must be done to rectify this, especially as colder weather is approaching. Is it a personnel shortage at the DOB, or just an ineffi cient bureaucratic system with layers of hierarchies that are contributing to these delays? Whatever the excuses, the taxpayers of NYC deserve better treatment in trying to get essential services like heat and hot water restored. Eileen Kissag, Flushing Queens must always celebrate diversity BY COUNCILMAN RORY I. LANCMAN Of all the reasons I’m proud to call Queens home, one is particularly important today: We’re the most diverse county in America, and we’re proud of it. There is nothing more disruptive and traumatizing to a community like ours than a hate crime. Tragically, we’ve seen a 31 percent increase in hate crimes across New York City so far this year. The numbers are staggering. More than 100 New Yorkers have been the victims of anti-Semitic attacks so far this year — and the true fi gure is almost certainly higher since not all crimes are reported. Swastikas are being painted on playgrounds, drinking fountains, cars and people’s homes. And while Jews are the most frequent target of hate crimes, other groups are seeing significant increases as well. Attacks on Muslims in our city are up. Nearly 100 people have also been targeted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Nationwide, things are just as grim: More than 200 acts of hate were reported less than a week aft er the election. But considering the president-elect ran a campaign oozing with bigotry, racism and sexism, it isn’t a surprise that hate is on the rise. In fact, aft er Donald Trump won the election, the number of recorded hate crimes in New York was up 50 percent from a typical week, and there’s no sign the surge is dissipating. The president-elect’s recent appointment of the “alt-right” darling Steve Bannon as his chief strategist only adds fuel to hateful individuals’ fi re. Anyone confused about what the alt-right really is should read about a “victory” conference the movement held over the weekend, where speakers made countless anti-Semitic remarks. Putting the spokesman for an anti-Semitic and racist movement in the White House is completely unacceptable. On the streets of Queens, mosques, synagogu es and churches coexist peacefully. Our city must continue to celebrate its diversity, and not let anything tear us apart. Councilman Rory I. Lancman is chairman of the Courts & Legal Services Committee.
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