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18 THE COURIER SUN • JUNE 27, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com editorial letters   THE QUEENS Victoria Schneps-Yunis Joshua A. Schneps Bob Brennan Tonia N. Cimino Amy Amato-Sanchez Nirmal Singh 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 Louise Cavaliere Celeste Alamin Maria Valencia Daphne Fortunate Victoria Schneps-Yunis Joshua A. Schneps Publisher & E ditor Co-Publisher Associate Publisher Editor-In-Chief VP, Events, Web & Social Media Art Director Assistant to Publisher Assistant Art Director Artists Staff Reporters Contributing Reporters Web Editor Editorial Cartoonist Director, Business Development Events Manager Senior Acount Executive Classified Manager Controller Office Manager President & CEO Vice President Schneps Communications, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 718-224-5863 •  Fax 718-224-5441 website: www.queenscourier.com e-mail:editorial@queenscourier.com ads@queenscourier.com queenscourier@queenscourier.com Entire Contents Copyright 2013 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 office telephone numbers, where available, as well as affiliation, 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 five 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 ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold THE QUEENS COURIER 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. RIP James Gandolfini It was sad to read of the passing of actor James Gandolfini who was best known for his portrayal of Tony Soprano. He has played many roles and won many awards. In my view they were well deserved, as he immersed himself in the characters he was playing. Off screen he was a husband and a father and had great concern for those in need, not to mention a mentor to many. It was said of him that he was a man of warmth and humility who was a guiding light. He died too young. He had much more to give and will be truly missed. Rest in peace James Gandolfini, for you’ve done good. Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Glen Oaks Village Government in chaos As the events regarding Edward Snowden continue to unfold and develop, it seems that our government cannot seem to follow any type of procedure - everything is in a total state of chaos, and it only seems to be worsening. Congress seems to be unable to get anything substantial accomplished, our nation’s military is going to be scaled back, which it should not be, and there are scandals galore in Washington. It’s a regular three-ringed circus, with President Barack Obama the ringmaster and all the rest of Washington the clowns. We are in big trouble, folks! Bring on The Wizard of Oz and Toto too! John Amato Fresh Meadows Feats of bravery Nik Wallenda has done it again with another death-defying act on the high-wire. He has conquered a canyon known as Little Colorado Gorge on the Little Colorado River, land of the Navajo Nation, located near Cameron, Arizona. He walked 1,500 feet above the Little Colorado River Gorge, which was no less than phenomenal. He now wants to walk across from the Empire State Building to the Chrysler building which is 4,000 feet. This is a most remarkable undertaking if he gets permission. But I have a better suggestion -- he should walk across Queens Boulevard, which is known as the “Boulevard of Death.” Now that would be really scary and dangerous. I say to Nik Wallenda, go for it! Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Glen Oaks Village Political unrest The 2016 race for the White House is underway. To believe otherwise is refusing to accept the obvious. Hillary and Bill Clinton are lining up the troops while Jeb Bush is formulating his platform. Governor Chris Christie has arranged the New Jersey Senatorial election to insure his easy reelection. Senator Lindsey Graham is advocating immigration reform as the only means by which Republicans stand any hope of continuing as a national party. Senator Cruse of Texas opposes reform, which if successful will emasculate the Republicans. The pundits seem to be blind to the political unrest that has protest marches in Brazil and Turkey battling police and the establishment. They do not foresee these popular marches against the status quo a possibility for the US. Nothing could be further from the realities most Americans confront daily. The occupy Wall Street movement is dramatically similar to the protests overseas. What began as anger over small issues ballooned into rage covering a myriad of complaints. No single leader or group has taken the lead; rather there are organizations each with their own agendas marching in mass. Congress has infuriated Americans as ineffectual, partisan and self-serving. The acrimony towards the president is unprecedented, stroked by those who question where he was born and racial discord. The IRS has acted stupidly and the administration has permitted Edward Snowden to define a debate that rightfully should have been the obligation of the government to begin. Unemployment, stagnant incomes and millions who deem themselves stuck in economic decline should be understood as potential protesters filling the streets of American cities. Edward Horn SUMMER FUN & SUNSHINE Here’s to being outdoors, with plenty to do in Queens. With the official arrival of summer, and with temps beginning to soar, we are very excited to report that Queens is buzzing. From the pools and the brand new volleyball courts at Flushing Meadows to the 39th annual Jamaica Famers’ Market, to the newly redone London Plane Tree Park in Ozone Park – a haven for skateboarders – to the newly renovated Lou Lodati Park in Sunnyside, where fourlegged residents can frolic, there is so much to do in Queens this summer. And let’s not forget the newest addition – LIC Flea & Food, open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 5th Street and 46th Avenue. Why are we so excited, you ask? Because, in our beautiful, multiethnic borough, there’s plenty to do . . . for all ages. We’re even pet friendly! We must thank our elected officials for helping to make the refurbished parks a reality, and we must commend all those who bring so much to our borough. So get out there, enjoy the sunshine and explore Queens! GOOD THINKING Over the weekend, it seems our legislators put their thinking caps on. The New York State Legislature passed a bill allowing for the installation of speed cameras near 20 schools with documented speeding issues. Drivers caught speeding by the cameras will face $50 fines. “Speeding remains the single greatest contributing factor in traffic fatalities in New York City, and we have long advocated in Albany for the authority to install speed cameras to help save lives,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. “If a driver strikes a child at 40 miles per hour, there is a 70 percent chance the child will be killed. At 30 miles per hour, there is an 80 percent chance the child survives.” And though the city experienced historic lows in annual traffic deaths last year, vehicle accidents increased from 49 in 2011 to 81 in 2012. They were “the greatest single factor in traffic deaths,” according to the DOT. So the cameras near schools just make sense. We just wonder why it took so long for our elected officials to figure it out. In March, the City Council approved a resolution calling on the state Legislature to pass a law for a city speed camera pilot program that would test 20 to 40 speed cameras at high-risk locations The DOT asked that priority be given to streets near schools with documented speeding problems. But the following month, the state Legislature failed to include funding for the program when it passed the 2013-2014 budget. Now, three months later, it seems they’ve woken up. Better late than never.


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