30 THE QUEENS COURIER • FEBRUARY 21, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
editorial
30 The Queens Courier • FEBRUARY 21, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS www.qns.com
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STORY: Many Queens priests on Diocese of Brooklyn list of
clergy credibly accused of sexually abusing minors
SUMMARY: The Diocese of Brooklyn released on Feb. 15 its list
of living and deceased clergy who were determined to have
been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor.
REACH: 32,282 people reached (as of 2/18/19)
Queens loses, now and in the future
Moments aft er Amazon broke up with Queens on Valentine’s Day and scrapped its
multi-billion deal with the city and state, we thought about the lost potential of it all —
and the lack of political courage that contributed to the outcome.
As one Queens fi gure told us, “We were looking at jobs, internships, economic activity,
donations to local nonprofi ts and eventually millions of dollars in taxes. Now we
have nothing but a reputation for being hostile to business.” Th at is very much true.
But beyond the economic potential lost, we think of the current and future generations
of Queens children who had no say in the process — and who have been denied
the opportunity to fi nd a great job close to home in an ever-growing fi eld.
Soon aft er the news broke, opponents of the Long Island City project said that this
was a victory for the borough. It was stunning to see people revel in such economic
misfortune. How is throwing away an opportunity at 25,000 good-paying jobs, $27 billion
in economic activity over the next quarter-century and a redeveloped waterfront
a victory?
Th e opponents off er many reasons -- chief among them, that they were upset
Amazon was getting $3 billion in tax subsidies that they don’t need.
Whether you love or hate them, tax subsidies are an integral part of doing business in
New York City. Th ey’ve played a huge role in its development over the last quarter-century,
such as Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Th e battle to build Barclays Center also saw Brooklyn lawmakers resolve to get it
done over the head of a small, passionate contingent of ideological components. But in
the case of Amazon in Long Island City, there was a palpable lack of political courage.
Some lawmakers joined the passionate minority of people who opposed it, while others
who supported the project were content to lead from behind, mistakenly believing
it would happen no matter what.
Despite the concerns they voiced, grandstanding opponents of the plan — namely
state Senator Michael Gianaris and City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer — just said
no to the whole thing instead of trying to work something out. Th ey didn’t off er up any
viable alternatives — it was either their way or the highway.
Well, last Th ursday, Amazon took the highway and ditched Queens — and then
Gianaris had the gall to suggest that Amazon was acting like, in his words to Th e New
York Times, “a petulant child.” Van Bramer and far-left progressives were thrilled to
see the multibillion-dollar deal go down in fl ames, the economic potential for Queens
be damned.
All of us who love Queens want what’s best for this borough and for its people. At
least we should want that. We should not just want a comfortable present; we should
want our kids to have even more opportunities to success and comfort than we have.
History will note, in the end, that those who helped drive Amazon away for pride and
pettiness (and politics) have taken Queens several steps backward — choosing a regressive,
rather than progressive, future for our kids.
Shame on them!
sun
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Publisher & E ditor Victoria Schneps-Yunis
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A. SCHNEPS
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