FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 10, 2018 • THE QUEENS COURIER 33
letters & comments
Keep production credits rolling
This gem from the Oct. 20, 2011, Ridgewood Times shows the Students of the Month at Sacred
Heart School in Glendale. The awards were given to those students who achieved “overall
excellence during the fi rst month of class” that school year. Among those pictured at the award
presentation was Fr. John Fullum, the church’s pastor at the time. Send us your historic photos
of Queens by email to editorial@qns.com (subject: A Look Back) or mail printed pictures to A Look
Back, Schneps Communications, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361. All mailed pictures will be
carefully returned to you.
As a restaurant owner in New York, I
appreciate the National Small Business
Week focus on businesses like ours. It’s
good to give a shout-out to all those
entrepreneurs and small businesses that
keep our communities running.
But I want to use this opportunity to
take a look at what keeps our small businesses
in business. For many of us in the
New York area, that is the New York State
Film Tax Credit Program. It is designed
to strengthen our state’s fi lm production
industry and its positive impact on our
economy. I want to help educate people
on the fi lm tax credit and why it’s so
important for me and my family.
Th e program encourages companies to
fi lm projects in New York instead of taking
their production to another state or
country. Production companies may be
eligible to receive 30 percent of qualifi ed
production costs and post-production
costs incurred in New York state when
they fi lm a project here.
Th at incentive has brought big productions
to our area, including “Girls,”
“Girl on the Train,” “Th e Good Wife,”
“Th e Blacklist” and “Royal Pains.” When
these productions come, they bring business
for all of us, not just those directly
involved in the fi lming process.
For example, I own and operate a mom
and pop restaurant in Long Island City.
Th e fact of the matter is that the fi lm industry
has kept my business afl oat through
some of the hardest times. Th ese productions
bring people to our area, and people
need to eat — and that is what keeps my
business thriving. Without the tax credit, I
don’t think I’d be able to stay in business.
When a small vocal group shut down
fi lming on Vernon Boulevard, I advocated
to have that ban removed so we could
continue to benefi t from the fi lm industry
using our neighborhood for locations
in their projects. Th is is important to our
livelihood.
I urge our governor and our Legislature
— and all candidates who are running
for offi ce — to continue supporting New
York’s production tax incentive program.
I know the tax credit is set to expire soon.
During National Small Business Week
and always, please consider the needs of
those of us who rely on fi lm tax credits.
Please do your part to keep our small
businesses in business.
Gianna Cerbone Teoli, Manducatis
Rustica, Long Island City
TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE
ON DREAM ACT
Recently, Jose Peralta held a press conference
to claim he was fi ghting to pass the
DREAM Act. He rallied with a few students,
paid lip service to immigrant families,
and faked concern about college access
for thousands of undocumented students.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
New York State’s DREAM Act would
allow undocumented students across the
state to access fi nancial support for college.
Th is essential legislation could open
up paths to opportunity for thousands of
hard-working immigrant students. Yet for
years, Peralta has blocked the DREAM
Act by empowering the Republicans in the
state Senate.
On Jan. 25, 2017, fi ve mere days aft er
Donald Trump’s inauguration, Jose Peralta
left the Democratic Party and joined the
“Independent Democratic Conference” —
a group of turncoat Senators who vote for
Republican leadership in the state Senate.
And for more than a year, Peralta and his
fellow Trump Democrats gave power to
the party of Trump, ensuring the DREAM
Act would never pass the state Senate.
In April 2017, New York’s state budget
passed without the DREAM Act because of
Jose Peralta and his alliance with the Senate
Republicans. And just last month, New
York’s state Senate budget passed once
again without the DREAM Act because of
Jose Peralta and his alliance with the Senate
Republicans.
Now, with an election looming, Peralta
has conveniently decided he is suddenly a
Democrat once again and will fi ght to pass
the DREAM Act. But Queens residents
won’t fall for this bait and switch. We know
that Peralta empowered Republicans, helping
the party of Donald Trump block the
DREAM Act.
As the daughter of Colombian immigrants,
I’m disgusted by Peralta’s false concern
for undocumented students. Our city’s
immigrant families deserve equal access
to education. And our district in Queens
deserves a state Senator who will actually
fi ght to pass the DREAM Act, instead of
shamefully using students for a photo-op.
It’s time to make our colleges accessible
to all students, not just those who can
aff ord it. And it’s time for our borough
of Queens to have a real Democrat in the
state Senate who will stand up every day for
immigrant families.
Jessica Ramos, Candidate for
12th State Senate District
LIEN ADS AREN’T
VERY LEAN ON
TAXPAYERS’ BUDGET
Drip, drip, drip, watch your tax dollars go
down the drain. Have you also seen all the
“Don’t Let Tax, Water, Or Repair Charges
Come Between You and Your Property”
full page ads in many daily and weekly
neighborhood newspapers?
Even worse, was the 104-page recent supplement
which appeared in the New York
Daily News on Monday, April 30. Th e
advertisement lists, line by line, the name
of every New Yorker who owes real estate,
tax, water, sewer, emergency repair or other
property-related charges that would result
in the city placing liens on their property.
Is this the best way the NYC Departments
of Finance, Environmental Protection
along with 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 fi ling 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, letter or email informing them
of their overdue obligations.
What’s next, will the city send out
Marshals going door-to-door serving subpoenas?
Larry Penner, Great Neck
MOTHER’S DAY WISHES
FROM A DEVOTED READER
Sunday, May 13, is the day we honor
all mothers near, far and deceased. As
I was reading, a woman named Anna
Jarvis campaigned for a day to mothers
living and deceased in 1905. She has succeeded
and on May 8, 1914, President
Woodrow Wilson signed into law a bill
establishing the second Sunday in May as
Mother’s Day.
I remember my mother, who I only had
a short time; her name was Teresa Bedell.
She passed away in 1963 when I was 14
years old and living in Queens Village.
My mother was dedicated to me and the
entire family and was active in Grace
Lutheran Church and in the community
raising funds for the sick and those in
need. I was a sickly child and had health
and educational issues and she got me
help in those areas. For that I will be eternally
grateful.
So to all mothers, let me say thanks
for all you have done. Have a Happy
Mothers’ Day!
Frederick R. Bedell Jr., Glen Oaks Village
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views expressed in all letters and comments
are not necessarily those of this publication
or its staff .
A LOOK BACK
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