28 The Queens Courier • MAY 2, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com
28 THE QUEENS COURIER • MAY 30, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
editorial
Ideological purity threatens DA race
A few weeks ago, aft er Queens lost its
28-year district attorney, Richard A. Brown,
we expressed a wish that the borough’s next
top prosecutor put the job ahead of their
own politics.
Th at was the kind of prosecutor Brown
was, never seeking to bring attention to
himself. He didn’t actively seek the limelight
Photo: Mark Hallum/QNS
Betty Lugo speaks before a crowd at the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights about her positions on issues in the race for Queens District Attorney.
STORY: ‘Landmark’ seafood restaurant London Lennie’s in
Rego Park listed for sale with ‘development’ potential
SUMMARY: An advertisement on the real estate website
Zillow that surfaced on May 23 listed the beloved eatery at
63-88 Woodhaven Blvd. as being “for sale or lease” with a $6.5
million price tag.
REACH: 22,507 people reached (as of 5/28/19)
or to curry favor with certain political
groups. Th e job always came fi rst.
Of all the elected positions we have in
city government, the county’s district attorney’s
offi ce is one which we can least aff ord
to be pulled too far to the left or right. Th is
is the offi ce entrusted to help fi ght crime
and represent those who can not or could
not defend themselves. It must always act in
the interest of the borough fi rst, not political
ideology.
So far, the ongoing Democratic primary
campaign seems to be a contest among the
seven candidates over who can please the far
left the most. It continues a political trend
around Queens of late, and it’s evolving into
more of a test of ideological purity than a
campaign over ideas and qualifi cations.
Th is is the kind of campaign that has
made American politics what it is today. To
be sure, that’s not good for anyone.
Th e primary system has become the
breeding ground for polarization on the
left and right. An incumbent who votes 85
percent of the time with Democrats, for
instance, is vilifi ed by another who votes
90 percent of the time with Democrats.
Likewise, a Republican who votes 90 percent
of the time with their party is challenged by
someone who votes 95 percent of the time.
Too many of the parties’ voters search for
the perfect candidate — and, too oft en in the
end, wind up electing ideologues who can
spout off platitudes but are wholly incapable
of governing.
sun
THE QUEENS
WWW.COURIERSUN.COM
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
CO-PUBLISHER
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ART DIRECTOR
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
STAFF REPORTERS
CONTRIBUTING REPORTERS
PRODUCTION MANAGER
INSIDE SALES MANAGER
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PRESIDENT & CEO
VICE PRESIDENT
VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA A. SCHNEPS
BOB BRENNAN
ROBERT POZARYCKI
NIRMAL SINGH
EMILY DAVENPORT
JENNA BAGCAL, MARK HALLUM, KATRINA MEDOFF,
CARLOTTA MOHAMED, MAX PARROTT, BILL PARRY
CLIFF KASDEN, SAMANTHA SOHMER, ELIZABETH ALONI
DEBORAH CUSICK
CELESTE ALAMIN
MARIA VALENCIA
VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA A. SCHNEPS
Schneps Media, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361
718-224-5863 • Fax 718-224-5441
www.qns.com
editorial e-mail: editorial@qns.com
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Entire Contents Copyright 2017 by The Queens Courier
All letters sent to THE QUEENS COURIER should be brief and are subject to condensing. Writers should
include a full address and home and offi ce telephone numbers, where available, as well as affi liation, indicating
special interest. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, AS WELL AS OP-ED PIECES IN NO WAY REFLECT THE PAPER’S POSITION.
No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of THE QUEENS COURIER. 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 QUEENS COURIER within fi ve days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed
unless paid prior to publication. Schneps Communications assumes no liability for the content or reply to any
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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.
For decades, the Queens DA’s Offi ce has
been virtually immune to “politics as usual,”
but the new normal appears to be setting in
through this primary process.
Political polarization threatens to undermine
the offi ce’s independent work at prosecuting
off enders and protecting the 2.3 million
residents of this great borough.
Th is publication has covered this race
extensively, including participating in various
debates across Queens. We plan to hold
one of our own online next month.
We urge every reader who is planning to
vote in the June 25 primary to carefully consider
the positions and merit of each candidate
and choose wisely. Don’t look for the
perfect candidate, because none exists.
To quote the tongue-in-cheek words of
the late Ed Koch, “If you agree with me on
nine of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree
with me on 12 of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.”
Publisher & E ditor Victoria Schneps-Yunis
Co-Publisher Joshua A. Schneps
Chief Operating Officer Bob Brennan
E ditor-In-Chief Robert Pozarycki
Art Director Nirmal Singh
S ocial Media Manager Emily Davenport
S taff Reporters Jenna Bagcal, Mark Hallum, Katrina Medoff
Carlotta Mohamed, Bill Parry
Contributing Reporters Cliff Kasden, Samantha Sohmer, Elizabeth Aloni
Production Manager Deborah Cusick
I nside Sales Manager Celeste Alamin
Chief Financial Officer Maria Valencia
President & CEO Victoria Schneps-Yunis
Vice President Joshua A. Schneps
Schneps Media, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361
718-224-5863 • Fax 718-224-5441
www.qns.com
editorial e-mail: editorial@qns.com
for advertising e-mail: ads@qns.com
Entire Contents Copyright 2017 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.
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