Home Run Needed
To The Editor:
The Queens Tribune editorial board is to be congratulated for asking “When Does It Stop?” (Feb. 21-27), referring to the ongoing assault on the integrity of Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Acknowledging the importance in raising the question, with due respect, it is at best a single or two base hit. The issue however deserves a home run and hopefully at its next time at bat, the Queens Tribune hits that home run by without any ambiguity it opposes the USTA’s demand for not simply less than an acre of parkland, but the right to drastically increase its physical structures in the park, the purpose of which is to make more money and the park be damned. A second home run is on the board by rejecting Major Soccer League’s request to build a stadium in the park, this for the benefit of private for-profit multi-millionaire sports club owners who are capable of purchasing non-parkland on the open market. A third home run would be rejecting Mayor Bloomberg’s end run around the difficulties he has encountered with his ill advised Willets Point plan, by tabling his original plan for decades if at all, and allowing the Mets to vacate its parking lots, which are on parkland and permit it to build new parking lots on Willets Point property. The purpose is then to permit Mets owners Wilpon and their Sterling Equities company to then construct a huge shopping mall on the vacated parking lot property.
The answer to the question “When Does It Stop?” is a resounding NOW. One hopes the Queens Tribune steps up to the plate, accepts the challenge, and let right be done to the ringing approval of the park fans.
Benjamin M. Haber,
Flushing
Green Needs
To The Editor:
Regardless if you believe or do not believe in global warming and climate change, we can all do our part in promoting a cleaner environment (“Queens Reps Get Green Grades,” Natalia Kozikowska – Feb. 21). Recycle newspapers, magazines, glass, plastics, old medicine, paints and cleaning materials. For local neighborhood trips, walk or ride a bike and leave your car at home. For longer travels, consider many public transportation alternatives such as local and express bus, ferry, jitney, subway and commuter rail services. If none are available, join a car or van pool. All use less fuel and move far more people than cars. Ask your employer to periodically telecommute and work from home.
Use a hand powered lawn mower instead of a gasoline or electric one. Rake your leaves instead of using gasoline powered leaf blowers. The amount of pollution created by gasoline powered lawn mowers or leaf blowers will surprise you.
A cleaner environment starts with everyone.
Larry Penner,
Great Neck
Postal Mandate
To The Editor:
It is sad to contemplate the possible demise of our dear reliable Post Office. However that P.O. may very well fall victim to the onslaught of the P.P. (Privatization Pirates).
The groundwork for the financial distress that the Postal Service is going through is caused by Congressional mandates that were imposed upon the Postal Service. The Republican-led Congress passed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA), which was signed into law by President G.W. Bush on Dec. 20, 2006. Under the guise of modernizing the Postal Service for the 21st Century, it actually doomed the Postal Service. If not for the PAEA, the Postal Service would be functioning fine even with the impact of email and the financial collapse of 2008. The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act is an unprecedented piece of legislation that requires the USPS to prefund its pension benefits for 75 years through the $5.5 billion annual payment which no other government agency or private company is forced to do.
The Postal Service does not receive taxpayer dollars for operational costs, but is nonetheless under Congressional control. The USPS is legally obligated to deliver mail to every single house in the country, including in remote areas where UPS and FedEx won’t venture. Were the USPS to collapse, it would hit poor Americans the hardest. And while other private delivery companies have continued to grow and diversify, Congress has stymied the Postal Service from directly competing.
The solution is simple; Repeal the pre-funding mandate of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, implement common sense postal service reforms, and stop undermining the USPS with needless and unfair legislation.”
Nicholas Zizelis,
Bayside
No Comfort
To The Editor:
According to the news, Mr. Peter Koo, a New York City Council member, is promoting a street renaming project in Flushing, Queens, to commemorate “comfort women” and the building of a monument there to praise them.
As you may know, comfort women issue has discrepancy of recognition between Korean and Japanese, and now it is a hot controversy between us. I don’t think Councilman Peter Koo really understands this issue. I doubt if his action is simply for votes for the next election.
Every street name represents the street’s history, and therefore should have a legitimate reason behind the name. [New York] is not related with the comfort women issue. If “Comfort Women Street” appeared in NY, many Japanese will be disappointed, and feel bad about both countries Korea and America.
We believe that the American people cherish and enthusiastically defend fairness, justice and the truth. We hope that you will make a truthful, fair and objective judgment in regards to this issue.
Miki Yamamoto,
Tokyo, Japan