32 The Queens Courier • FEBRUARY 28, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com
32 THE QUEENS COURIER • FEBRUARY 28, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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STORY: Over 95 clergymen from Queens accused of sexual
abuse named in Diocese report
SUMMARY: The Brooklyn Diocese has released a list of priests
spanning the 20th century who they say have credible claims
of sexual abuse against them from victims, either before or
after their death.
REACH: 11,704 people (as of 2/21/19)
The $27 billion sabotage
If you’ve ever wondered what the expression “the cow’s out of the barn” means, take
a look at the actions of state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins last weekend.
On Feb. 23, she announced that she was withdrawing her nomination of Astoriabased
state Senator Michael Gianaris from a seat on the Public Authorities Control
Board aft er taking fl ak publicly from Governor Andrew Cuomo over her choice.
Th ere have been many acts of political cowardice in this entire fi asco — from the
fl ip-fl oppers like Gianaris and Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer who were for Amazon
before they were against it; to other lawmakers who led from behind, off ered the supportive
press release or two, but weren’t nearly as loud as the vocal minority who
opposed the Amazon plan.
But Stewart-Cousins’ nomination of Gianaris, and then her withdrawal of his nomination,
was a particularly cowardly act worthy of its own mention. It’s an example of
politics at its very worst.
Stewart-Cousins picked Gianaris to the board on Feb. 4. Th is would have given
Gianaris the potential to veto the entire plan — and many observers believed that this
was the straw that fi nally broke Amazon’s back when it came to its HQ2 vision for
Queens.
Ten days later, on Feb. 14, the retail giant gave new meaning to the term “Th e St.
Valentine’s Day Massacre” by announcing that it was pulling out of its plans for Long
Island City, taking $27 billion in economic activity and at least 25,000 jobs with it.
Cuomo rightly blamed Stewart-Cousins’ selection of Gianaris as one of the contributing
factors to the deal’s demise. In an obvious eff ort to save some face, she subsequently
withdrew Gianaris’ nomination.
By then, of course, the cow was not only out of the barn — it also managed to burn
the barn down on the way out.
At best, she didn’t realize where Gianaris stood on the project (which is impossible to
believe). At worst, she knew Gianaris’ opposition to Amazon, and embraced it wholeheartedly.
She saw the opportunity to give him power and provided it, fully realizing
along the way that it would jeopardize Amazon’s fate in Queens.
We’re wise to remember that our state, city and country are not direct democracies.
We elect representatives to represent us and make the tough decisions on our behalf.
Th ey shouldn’t be swayed by rabble-rousers and special interests. Th ey should always
do the right thing, and that is protecting and promoting what’s best for their communities
Th is sorry episode was a toxic combo of “politics as usual” and political cowardice.
Th ose elected to represent us either fell in with the “in crowd” or sat back and played it
safe, putting their own aspirations fi rst.
As one local civic leader said, “Nobody should believe them. Th ey let us down.”
THE QUEENS
and their voters.
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