FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 17, 2018 • THE QUEENS COURIER 29
Give city’s independent voters their say at last
As the coordinator of the Queens
Independence Club, I testifi ed on May 9
at a public hearing of the mayor’s appointed
New York City Charter Revision
Commission encouraging the Commission
to put an amendment to the vote for nonpartisan
municipal elections in New York City.
Every American believes in our founding
principle of “no taxation without
representation,” and we need to enforce
that principle today. Th e NYC Charter
Revision Commission could create a proposal
for nonpartisan municipal elections
to be voted on by the people of New York
City, asking whether everyone should be
allowed to vote in the fi rst round of voting
regardless of whether they are registered
in a party or not.
Political parties should have the right to
organize, and as private associations, they
should be able to decide how their nominees
are chosen. However, they shouldn’t
have it both ways. If they function as
private associations, then our collective
tax dollars should not fund their private
activities. Taxpayer funds should be
used to benefi t all our citizens and should
fund an election process that benefi ts and
includes all voters.
We cannot justify funding a primary
system in which the taxpayers fund
Democratic and Republican party primaries
in New York City at a moment when
there are over 1 million independents
in the city — over 300,000 more than
Republican registrants.
Th e Charter Revision Commission has
been charged by the mayor to “include
an examination of New York City’s campaign
fi nance system, enhancing voter
participation, and improving the electoral
process.” Surely that needs to embrace
making sure independent voters have full
voting rights.
Nancy Hanks, Sunnyside
KUDOS FOR CANCER
FUNDRAISER COVERAGE
As a longtime avid reader of Th e
Courier, I thank you for the cover story
about the fundraiser for a cancer-stricken
child that was held at Butch’s Boxing and
MMA Gym in Bayside. It’s heartening to
see such a worthwhile event. It was also
inspiring to witness the large turnout and
generous support. Th ere was an atmosphere
of optimism and community spirit
that should make us all proud.
Th e Courier’s unique spotlight on special
events like this one is typical of your
thorough and long-established commitment
to all communities for which you
publish news of specifi c relevance to them
and of general interest.
You have your eyes open and are the
reliable source of comprehensive and
engaging reporting on which your readership
depends to be informed, entertained
and in the case of the MMA school’s charitable
celebration of hope, emotionally
moved to the core.
Th anks for being the voice that echoes
the voices of the many neighborhoods
you serve.
Ron Isaac, Fresh Meadows
OH SO MANY EXPENSIVE
REPAIRS NEEDED
ON THE 7 LINE
Th ere is more to “Mixed reviews over
improvements as 7 line troubles persist”
(Jenna Bagcal, May 10). Th e $32 MTA
2015-2019 Capital Program originally
provided funding to upgrade the Mets
Willets Point ($48 million), 111th Street
($16 million), 103rd Street ($18 million)
and 82nd Street ($22 million) in 2018.
Additional stations including 69th Street
($17 million), 61st Street Woodside ($17
million) and 52nd Street ($18 million) are
programmed for 2019.
Work for 2018 and 2019 stations may
begin under two separate construction
contracts. Is this work going to proceed or
be postponed until the next MTA 2020-
2024 Capital Program?
Larry Penner, Great Neck
KEEPING WHAT’S
IMPORTANT IN MIND
FOR MEMORIAL DAY
As we are approaching Memorial Day,
many things come to mind.
First of all, let’s remember all those
who gave their lives to protect our nation.
Th at includes all those confl icts since the
Revolution. Let us also salute all of our
brave men and women who are now serving
today to preserve those freedoms we
all hold most dear.
Secondly, what comes to mind is this war
against terrorism, something that changed
our nation since the attack on 9/11. I fi nd
myself thinking what it means to be an
American. Th e answer seems crystal clear:
to live in a nation that allows us our personal
freedom and the ability to speak our
minds. We may not have the best system,
but it still is the best in the world.
Th is freedom some come with a price,
like former President John F. Kennedy said,
“Ask not what your country can do for you
but what you can do for your country.”
We also have a duty and that is to
inspire our youth to be more involved
in our communities and to get out to
vote. We have many issues facing our
nation like Medicare, Social Security, the
national debt, war, terrorism, homelessness,
AIDS, global warming, etc. We as
Americans must stand up and dedicate
ourselves to make this a greater nation.
Go out on Memorial Day and take part
by attending parades in our communities
and cheering and waving the American
fl ag for our brave men and women serving
in the military, and in our neighborhoods
as police offi cers and fi refi ghters
and EMS workers.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.,
Glen Oaks Village
Email your letters to editorial@qns.com
(Subject: Letter to the Editor) or leave a
comment to any of our stories at QNS.
com. You can also send a letter by regular
mail to Letters to the Editor, 38-15
Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361. All letters
are subject to editing. Names will be
withheld upon request, but anonymous
letters will not be considered for publication.
Th e views expressed in all letters and
comments are not necessarily those of this
publication or its staff .
letters & comments
A LOOK BACK
“God speed them home” was the message on the honor roll erected at the corner of 71st Street and Eliot Avenue in Middle Village bearing the names
of local soldiers serving in World War II. This 1943 photo shows just one of many honor rolls popped up in communities across the country during the
war. This particular honor roll was sponsored by the Elm Civic Association, and is located on the site that would later be developed into Our Lady of
Hope School. 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, The
Queens Courier, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361. All mailed pictures will be carefully returned to you.
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