24 THE QUEENS COURIER • JANUARY 25, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
24 The Queens Courier • JANUARY 25, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com
sun
THE QUEENS
editorial
WWW.COURIERSUN.COM
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
CO-PUBLISHER
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
VP, EVENTS, WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA
ART DIRECTOR
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
STAFF REPORTERS
CONTRIBUTING REPORTERS
ASSISTANT TO PUBLISHER
CLASSIFIED MANAGER
CONTROLLER
PRESIDENT & CEO
VICE PRESIDENT
VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA A. SCHNEPS
BOB BRENNAN
ROBERT POZARYCKI
AMY AMATO-SANCHEZ
NIRMAL SINGH
EMILY DAVENPORT
KATRINA MEDOFF, RYAN KELLEY, ANGELA MATUA
SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
CLIFF KASDEN, SAMANTHA SOHMER, ELIZABETH ALONI
DEBORAH CUSICK
CELESTE ALAMIN
MARIA VALENCIA
VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA A. SCHNEPS
Schneps Communications, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361
718-224-5863 • Fax 718-224-5441
www.qns.com
editorial e-mail: editorial@qns.com
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STORY: Elmhurst couple charged with illegally converting one-family
home to house 15 people
SUMMARY: An Elmhurst couple was charged with endangering the
lives of up to 15 people who have been living in the couple’s illegally
converted one-family home .
REACH: 15,907 people (as of 1/25/18)
Healing our city’s traffi c ‘toothache’
When we think about traffi c in this city, we believe it is analogous to a festering
toothache that refuses to go away.
We complain about it constantly; some of us even lose sleep over it. We fear
about the cost and/or the uncomfortability involved in having the problem
remedied. We try every patchwork remedy to make the pain disappear for a
while; sometimes the anesthetic works, but it wears off quickly.
Regrettably, many of us only do something about a toothache when it has
become so unbearably painful that it can no longer be ignored — then we see
a professional. Th is city and state has arrived at that point on traffi c congestion,
and some professionals have come up with a plan to “Fix NYC” traffi c.
Unveiled on Jan. 21, the proposal calls for what was previously known as
“congestion pricing” in Manhattan south of 60th Street. Th at means any driver
from the outer boroughs going into that zone would be charged $11 each
time they enter it. Th e revenue generated from this toll would go toward
much-needed public transit improvements.
Almost immediately, the critics pounced. Th e toll is too much money and
it would saddle drivers and businesses in the outer boroughs and Long Island
with yet another unwanted expense of traveling into Manhattan.
With a toothache, depending on cause and severity, there are multiple solutions
to fi xing it. Before Fix NYC was the highly-unpopular “congestion pricing”
plan that Mayor Mike Bloomberg proposed more than a decade ago;
and Move NYC, which would put tolls on every single East River crossing in
New York City while simultaneously lowering the tolls on the MTA bridges
and tunnels.
Every plan to tackle the city’s congestion problem seems to involve drivers
and businesses alike spending money to get around by automobile. Th e ultimate
goals of these plans are to discourage driving in favor of using public
transportation, and improving the city’s public transit system as a whole. Th e
state of the city’s trains and buses is certainly disappointing, to say the least.
Some ask if there’s any way to ease our congestion problem without digging
deeper into the pockets of drivers and business alike. Th at’s a diffi cult question
to ask, but it’s one worth thorough exploration.
We challenge the opponents of Fix NYC to investigate the problem and
quickly come up with an alternative plan that addresses our city’s needs without
overburdening the taxpayers.
Make no mistake, though; our festering traffi c “toothache” isn’t going away
without substantial action. We ought to see all of our options for a cure, but
we must decide on a plan of action soon — lest the city choke on its own
congestion.
Publisher & E ditor Victoria Schneps-Yunis
Co-Publisher Joshua A. Schneps
Associate Publisher Bob Brennan
E ditor-In-Chief Robert Pozarycki
VP, Events, Web & Social Media Amy Amato-Sanchez
Art Director Nirmal Singh
S ocial Media Manager Emily Davenport
S taff Reporters Katrina Medoff, Ryan Kelly, Angela Matua
Suzanne Monteverdi
Contributing Reporters Cliff Kasden, Samantha Sohmer, Elizabeth Aloni
Assistant to Publisher Deborah Cusick
Classified Manager Celeste Alamin
Controller Maria Valencia
President & CEO Victoria Schneps-Yunis
Vice President Joshua A. Schneps
Schneps Communications, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361
718-224-5863 • Fax 718-224-5441
www.qns.com
editorial e-mail: editorial@qns.com
for advertising e-mail: ads@qns.com
Entire Contents Copyright 2017 by The Courier Sun
All letters sent to THE COURIER SUN should be brief and are subject to condensing. Writers should
include a full address and home and office telephone numbers, where available, as well as affiliation,
indicating special interest. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request.
No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of THE COURIER SUN. The
publishers will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by
the error. Errors must be reported to THE COURIER SUN within five days of publication. Ad position
cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication.
VIctoria Media Services assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes
all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold The Courier SUN and its
employees harmless from all cost, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the
publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement.