FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM NOVEMBER 21, 2019 • THE QUEENS COURIER 39
BE KIND AND
CHARITABLE THIS
HOLIDAY SEASON
As we begin another holiday season,
we should all refl ect on what it means
to be kind to others, as well as trying to
help those who are less fortunate.
It does not take much to smile at people
when we are walking down the
street, even to say hello. Also, the number
of destitute and homeless families
in the city has surged dramatically over
the last several years. Th ese people need
more assistance, especially during the
holiday season.
While there are those who are fortunate
enough to be in a good situation,
the majority of homeless people are very
sincerely asking for help, because they
really do need it.
Many organizations have food and
coat drives at this time of the year to
help those in need, which is very wonderful.
Th e FDNY and NYPD also have
many activities for those who are less
fortunate, and also visit hospitals to
bring holiday cheer and goodwill to
those who are sick.
Th ere are many wonderful organizations
that work very hard to bring
holiday cheer to all New Yorkers, and
they are all to be commended for their
wonderful, dedicated work. Merry
Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy
Kwanzaa and Happy New Year to all!
John Amato, Fresh Meadows
WE MUST CHANGE
HOW WE TEACH
Just aft er participating in the writing
and signing of the Constitution, Ben
Franklin was asked, “What have you
given us?”
He responded, “a republic, if you can
keep it.”
Recent events and trends suggest we
may be losing it. Public schools no longer
teach history, logic or critical thinking,
so people don’t know what they
don’t know and don’t know what that
means.
If Americans had solid foundations in
our history, they would be more critical
of the emerging Democratic Socialist
platform which is a rewrite of the programs
initiated in Venezuela.
Hugo Chavez’s program was to end
income inequality, provide free education
and get rid of privately owned guns
to improve security. Th e Democrats
added free healthcare for all and open
borders.
Ending income inequality is literally
impossible. Some people will always
make more money than others. Th ere
are rich and poor people in both capitalist
and socialist countries. Th e main
diff erence is the rich in communist
and socialist countries are more likely
to have stolen or killed to acquire their
wealth.
Once you seize power in a centralist
system, you’re free to take whatever
you want from whoever has it. Th at’s
what Castro did in Cuba and what
Chavez did and Maduro is still doing
in Venezuela. Castro and Chavez both
died very rich men.
History is not just dusty books, but a
chronicle how we got where we are. It is
oft en a foreboding warning. Socialism
is a mix of greed, lust, envy and slavery.
If you are not allowed to own property
or keep the fruit of your ideas and
labor, you are enslaved. Th at is the ultimate
promise of socialism.
But because we teach nothing, we
know nothing and that stands a chance
of costing us everything.
Ed Konecnik, Flushing
BLOOMBERG
WILL FAIL IN HIS
PRESIDENTIAL RUN
Former NYC Mayor Michael
Bloomberg’s dreams of winning the
Democratic Party Presidential Primary,
let alone becoming president, is the
same as you or I winning a $100 million
lotto (“Bloomberg’s bid and moderation”
— Editorial, Nov. 14). It belongs
in comics section.
Despite being able to spend a billion
or two of his personal wealth, he will fail
in this quest just like many other New
York City mayors. Democrats want to
tax, confi scate and redistribute wealth
of the 1 percent and billionaires — not
have any one of them as their candidate
for president.
Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor
Bill de Blasio have a lot in common
with late Republicans Governor Nelson
Rockefeller (1959-1974) and Mayor
John Lindsay (1966-1973), along with
Governor George Pataki (1995-2006)
and Mayor Rudy Giuliani (1994-2001).
Th e same is true for the late Democrat
Governor Mario Cuomo (1983-1992)
and Mayor Ed Koch (1978-1988).
Rockefeller, Pataki, Mario Cuomo
and son Andrew deal with mayors
who want equal billing on the political
marque. Lindsay’s urban, Koch’s
Big Apple, Giuliani’s safety/quality of
life and de Blasio’s progressive agenda
is dependent upon both increased state
and federal assistance.
De Blasio envisioned himself as the
national spokesperson for progressive
mayors from all cities. Virtually all
members of the National Conference
of Mayors looked toward other
Democratic Presidential Primary candidates
to support rather than de Blasio.
Th is confl icts with governors who
have to worry about all 62 counties
making up New York state. It also creates
problems for both Cuomo and de
Blasio, who harbored Presidential ambitions
in 2020.
Cuomo was smart enough to read
the tea leaves and checked his immense
ego at the door, deciding to bide his
time till 2024. Cuomo, like his father,
Rockefeller and Pataki and de Blasio,
like Lindsay and Guiliani, will never
come close to winning any primaries, let
alone occupy the White House.
De Blasio can resume his full time
job that taxpayers are paying for. He
will also have time to begin packing
for his move back to his old Park Slope,
Brooklyn, home when his term ends in
December 2021.
Bloomberg can go on, enjoy the good
life and fi nd some other hobbies rather
than running for president.
Larry Penner, Great Neck
oped letters & comments
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HEAP can help you
stay warm this winter
BY MIKE MILLER
New Yorkers are no
strangers to the frigid
temperatures, lake-effect
storms and walloping
Nor’easters that
defi ne winter here in the
Empire State. Whether
upstate or downstate, we aren’t fazed by
slush-covered streets and subway entrances
or the occasional moose crossing on a county
road.
For new residents, that fi rst winter can
certainly be a rude awakening. But once the
snow begins to thaw in March — or April,
let’s be honest — braving the cold weather
will begin to seem more like a badge of
honor. New Yorkers are tough, but the reality
is that many families need a little assistance
to stay warm during the winter months.
Th at’s where resources like the Home Energy
Assistance Program (HEAP) come in.
HEAP is a federally funded program that
helps renters and homeowners keep their
homes warm by covering the costs of electricity,
wood, kerosene, coal, oil, propane,
natural gas or other heating fuels. Th e program
also off ers funds to eligible families
for any repairs and necessary home-heating
equipment.
Th e application for regular HEAP benefi
ts is now open. Eligibility for the program
is based on income, household size, primary
heating source and whether a member of the
household is under the age of 6, over the age
of 60 or permanently disabled, with applications
for assistance accepted on a fi rst-come,
fi rst-served basis.
Th is year, a family of four that has a household
income of up to $4,797 a month may
qualify for help and each household can
receive up to $726 in assistance. Applications
for an extra emergency benefi t open on Jan.
2, 2020, and are available to households that
are in danger of having their service shut off
or have run out of fuel.
As energy costs rise, heating can become
a burden for families with low or fi xed
incomes. For those facing extreme temperatures,
that could mean dire consequences.
HEAP is a necessary resource for low-income
families and senior citizens who rely
on the assistance to keep them warm during
these cold winter months. In the Assembly,
I’ll continue fi ghting to make life more
aff ordable for New Yorkers so that no one is
forced to go without life’s necessities.
To learn more or to apply for HEAP, you
can visit www.mybenefi ts.ny.gov. For more
information regarding HEAP benefi ts in
New York City, visit www.nyc.gov/html/hra/
html/services/energy.shtml or call 1-800-
692-0557.
As your assemblyman, your health and
safety is important to me. I encourage anyone
who needs assistance to apply for HEAP.
As always, please feel free to contact me
with questions about this or any community
issue at 718-805-0950 or millermg@nyassembly.
gov.
Mike Miller is the assemblyman for the
38th District.
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