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Think Of The Children The New York City school system is failing our children. While conversations continue on about how to improve the system, discussions between the teachers, elected officials and Mayor Mike Bloomberg have been nothing more than political arguments that remove the education of our children out of the equation. City schools have suffered because of the political machinations of the Mayor, the teachers unions and elected officials, all of whom have forgotten that the main purpose of our school system is to educate children and prepare them for a better future. While the debate continues over whether mayoral control should be changed or eliminated, we hope that someone steps in to advocate for the children affected by these political decisions. When Gov. Cuomo took office, he said that he would be a champion for the children when it came to education. As the dialogue over how to fix our schools carries on, we hope that Cuomo lives up to his word.
In Your Opinion: Track Issue To the Editor: I must take issue with Steven Aiello of Howard Beach (Viable Option, Feb 7-13, 2013). He writes that those of us who live adjacent to the tracks “had to be aware that possibly someday the track line might be utilized again.” Mr. Aiello, I’m not a stupid person. I went and looked at the house. I saw this 3 story berm in the backyard. I asked, “What’s that?” I looked into NYC records. And you know what I found? The facts. Fact: that track hasn’t been used by the LIRR since 1962 (50 years ago!), in large part because the people of Howard Beach finally had the A train. Fact: that track belongs to NYC, specifically the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. Fact: the City sold the rightof-way to the homeowners along 98th Street. Now that you know the facts, maybe you can understand how someone could think that track line might not be used again. Neil C Giannelli, Woodhaven
This initiative will be held on a monthly basis to ensure that all my constituents have easy and regular access to my office and the services we provide. Queens Office Hours sessions will be an opportunity for you to meet with my staff and ask questions without leaving your neighborhood. It’s important to me that the Queens community is being heard and supported in every way possible. During office hours, we will have staff members on hand to assist you with any issues you may have concerning federal agencies. This includes, but is not limited to: claims with the Veterans Administration, immigration, passport issues, federal student loans, IRS problems, Small Business Administration guidance, Medicare/Social Security issues, and grant support. To find out when we’ll be holding office hours next, please call my permanent district office for more details at (718) 875-1675, or email Michael.Stinson@mail.house.gov. I look forward to working on your behalf and solving problems for the Queens community U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, Melville
Office Hours
New Location
To The Editor: Last week my office held the first installation of “Queens Office Hours.”
To The Editor: As evidence grows to demonstrate the folly of building a professional soc-
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cer stadium in Flushing Meadows, I would like to suggest my own backyard as an alternative. As a longtime resident of Ravenswood Houses, I would like to see my neighborhood prosper economically, creating jobs and cultural venues close to my home. Less than a year ago and only a mile away from lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn parcel known as Atlantic Yards was reborn as the Barclays Center. The basketball arena has quickly demonstrated itself as an economic engine, attracting not only the Nets basketball franchise, but also the Islanders hockey team and top headliners in the music industry. I believe that much of the arena’s success is derived from its location above a major hub for the subway, buses and a Long Island Railroad terminal. In addition, it is within a mile of downtown Manhattan and even closer to downtown Brooklyn, a burgeoning business district in its own right. It is an arena accessible to everyone from the metropolitan region. In contrast, the Barclays Center with the proposed Flushing Meadows location, tucked deep inside Queens, accessible by only one subway and railroad line, in a location that would encourage driving rather than public transit, with three highways surrounding it. Far from centers of commerce, situated atop landfill with a high water table. Now imagine Major League Soccer in Long Island City, built within proximity to four subway lines so that spectators from around the city could easily arrive to the games, leaving their cars at home. Sitting atop a rail yard, the arena would be accessible to fans from across Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut. Located within minutes of Midtown, it would easily attract an affluent clientele that could also contribute to the hotels, restaurants and arts institutions in the surrounding neighborhoods. At the same time, being adjacent to the 7 subway line, the arena would also attract the working class fan base from the borough’s Hispanic neighborhoods. With Manhattan as a backdrop, the arena would be instantly recognizable and attract not only enough fans, concertgoers and conventioneers to make it profitable, but maybe it could even lure the Jets football team back to the bought of their origin. Game on! Eugene Krymko, Long Island City
Gun Control To The Editor: Oh that darn liberal Vatican; now they’re praising President Obama’s proposals for curbing gun violence. What’s next; two people of the same gender and in love, being allowed to marry? But I digress (or progress), that is yet another subject. Their realization of the mad “guns gone wild” scenario being insane is one more step in the growth to their enlightenment… an important one. I suppose that “Thou shalt not kill” thing had something to do with their decision. This will upset those many that enjoy the fun of killing things labeled “sport” who may feel that there is far too much breathing going on in our country and more guns mean less breathing. It may be seen as providing those worthy of remaining alive with somewhat more of that vital air. There are probably an infinite number of such irrational rationales for their love of killing. Fortunately this perverse mindset predominately though not exclusively, exists in the armpit of our country; predominately but unfortunately not exclusively as shown by some of our local Letters to the Editor. Edward Rothe, Douglaston
Dolan For Pope To The Editor: Pope Benedict XVI has just announced that he will retire on February 28, now as a Catholic and a grand knight in the Knights of Columbus, I was shocked. According to what I have read, no pope has retired since 1415, when Pope Gregory XII did so. I feel the church is facing many issues in our ever changing world. I feel though there is one Cardinal who might be up to the challenges and that is our own Cardinal Timothy Dolan. He is a relatively young cardinal who is committed to the church and its people. He is not afraid to speak out on the issues and that he urges more Catholics to do so. Here in Cardinal Dolan we have a man of God, who is not afraid of controversy and who will speak out for his religious beliefs and who has spoken out for religious freedom for all people. This is what a pope should do and who is young enough to accomplish these aims. That is why I hope when the cardinals meet in Rome that Cardinal Timothy Dolan is made a Pope for we need such a man who will be a guiding light. Frederick R. Bedell Jr., Glen Oaks Village
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