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14 The Courier SUN • february 28, 2013 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com editorial letters   sun WWW.COURIERSUN.COM Victoria Schneps-Yunis Joshua A. Schneps Bob Brennan Tonia N. Cimino Amy Amato-Sanchez Nirmal Singh Wayne Robins Graziella Zerilli Stephen Reina Ron Torina, Jennifer Decio, Cheryl Gallagher Melisa Chan, Terence Cullen, Cristabelle Tumola Maggie Hayes, Angy Altamirano Cliff Kasden, Samantha Sohmer, Elizabeth Aloni Cristabelle Tumola Bill Krese Jan DiGeronimo Maria Romero Warren Susman Celeste Alamin Maria Valencia Victoria Schneps-Yunis Joshua A. Schneps Publisher & E ditor Co-Publisher Associate Publisher Editor-In-Chief VP, Events, Web & Social Media Art Director Copy Editor Assistant to Publisher Assistant Art Director Artists Staff Reporters Contributing Reporters Web Editor Editorial Cartoonist Director, Business Developm ent Events Manager Senior Acc ount Executive Classified Manager Controller President & CEO Vice President Schneps Communications, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 718-224-5863 •  Fax 718-224-5441 Sales fax: 718-631-3498 website: www.couriersun.com e-mail:editorial@queenscourier.com ads@queenscourier.com queenscourier@queenscourier.com Entire Contents Copyright 2013 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. Lou will be missed Please pass on my deepest sympathy both to The Queens Courier family and his own family on the passing of former editor Lou Parajos. Lou never censored my letters to the editor during his time as editor-in-chief. Prior to the launching of your digital edition in December 2007, it was Lou who suggested the names of several regular letter writers including myself as potential bloggers to co-publisher Joshua Schneps. To this day, I continue to have many of my letters to the editor published. I also have the honor of “Penners Pen” being the longest running continuous blog for over five years. Not only The Queens Courier staff, but many of your regular letter writers, bloggers and thousands of regular readers will also miss Lou. Sincerely, Larry Penner A farsighted program India is launching its 101 satellite into orbit. The country’s agenda is to earn money for the exploration of space by placing into orbit satellites of other nations and private companies. The goal set by India is to land astronauts on Mars. Exploration of the Red Planet holds many promises for short- and long-term return of investment. National prestige, aside from research and development of new technologies, has a proven track record for empowering economic growth while developing new industries. Without extensive R&D invested during the Second World War and the Cold War our modern world would not exist. At a time when nations across the globe are debating austerity India, with millions of impoverished, has made a commitment to its future. Realizing that growth is the means to improve the lives of its citizens, India is willing to take risks to achieve growth. The future belongs to those willing to see beyond the limitations of today. It would be interesting to have a cost/benefit analysis of NASA. Assuredly many people are curious to learn whether the US investment in space exploration has paid measurable dividends. India’s farsighted program may offer opportunities for American entrepreneurial skills, national engagement and security. Edward Horn Alternate solutions With last year’s $16 billion loss combined with another increase in the price of stamps for a first-class letter, there are alternatives to “How do you feel about the impending end of Saturday mail” (Street Talk by Adjani Shah, February 21). Why not consider untapped revenue sources available to reduce operating deficits and perhaps even turn a small profit? The US Postal Service could sell advertising space on the sides of mailboxes, inside and outside the post offices along with on the small jeeps, regular trucks and heavy-duty longhaul trucks. Sell off some of the valuable real estate and move to less expensive locations. Why not join banks and fast-food restaurants that sublet space at Wal-Mart and other big box stores to open smaller post offices? Generate both revenue and customers by subletting excess capacity at underutilized post offices to other city or state agencies along with private sector businesses. License corporations to sponsor stamps for a fee Charge the full price for all junk mail. Future increases in the price of stamps should be directly tied to inflation. Why not apply free-enterprise solutions to provide a more cost-effective product, reduce deficits and prevent more branches from closing? Larry Penner Better way to do things Have you seen all the “Don’t Let Tax, Water, or Repair Charges Come Between You and Your Property” full page ads in your daily and weekly newspapers? Even worse was the 118-page supplement which appeared in The New York Daily News on Monday, February 11. It listed line by line the name of every New Yorker who owes real estate taxes, water, sewer, emergency repair or other property-related charges. Is this the best way the NYC Departments of Finance, Environmental Protection and Housing Preservation and Development can spend taxpayers’ dollars? Why can’t all three agencies compare their respective lists of people who owe money with those filing city and state tax returns? Surely the technology exists to place a lien on any tax refunds? You could also extend citizens the courtesy of a telephone call or letter or e-mail informing them of their overdue obligations. What’s next, will the city send out marshals going door to door serving subpoenas? Larry Penner THE GOOD . . . Queens taking center stage The third Annual Queens World Film Festival is just around the corner, with organizers and filmmakers from near and far ready to take the stage. The festival, which brings together international and local filmmakers, will take place from March 5 - March 10 and feature 104 films, with 19 works from Queens. What’s great about the festival is that it puts Queens in the spotlight. Aside from bringing bright, artistic people to our burgeoning borough, the festival will showcase all we have to offer – from food to shopping to our multiculturalism. It will be a boon for local businesses big and small and will help put us on the map. Watch out, Tribeca Film Festival. THE BAD . . . DANGEROUS DATING With two gay men murdered in Queens within the past weeks, we want to urge caution to EVERYONE who utilizes online dating. Undoubtedly, it is a great way to meet people, but, as with other things, common sense must be applied. Online dating giant Match.com offers the following tips for all people: • Get to know the other person before meeting them offline • Always meet in public • Stay in a public place • Tell a friend • Drive yourself to and from the first meeting • Keep personal items with you at all times THE UGLY . . . SPEWING SEWAGE For weeks a broken pipe in a Woodhaven home has meant gushing water, rife with human waste, spilling out into the street. Undoubtedly a health hazard, what’s worse is that there’s a nursery school next door. Members of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association have contacted city agencies about the problem, but most agencies cannot interfere with a private residence. Since the problem is inside the house, the city is limited as to how it can intervene. DEP has visited the home several times, but the problem seems to be with an absentee landlord. We urge someone – anyone – to clean up this mess, for the health and safety of everyone in the neighborhood.


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