Dear Friends:

It is with great pleasure that I send my best wishes and congratulations to Mike Schenkler and the staff of the Queens Tribune as they celebrate their 30th anniversary.

This milestone occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on the ways in which the borough of Queens has changed and grown. Virtually every nation in the world is represented in Queens, and JFK Airport has become the new Ellis Island for millions of new Americans – with the Unisphere often being the first sight they see on American soil.

With the dawn of the new millennium comes the beginning of a new era of affordable travel for New Yorkers – and Queens is at the center of it all. JetBlue Airlines has made New York City the hub of its ambitious new business plan with the presence of 75 slots at JFK Airport. As a result, people flying to and from New York are going to be having the first shot at this low-fare, high-tech airline.

And working with Queens Borough President Claire Shulman, the city has gotten the state, the MTA and the Port Authority to commit to the study and construction of a one-seat ride between Manhattan and JFK. In the meantime, construction on the Port Authority’s JFK Light-Rail Link is under way and should be completed by 2003.

Queens will be keeping New York on the move in the 21st century, and the Queens Tribune will be along for the ride – providing its readers with another 30 years of journalistic excellence. Best wishes for continued success.

Greetings!

This week’s 30th anniversary edition of the Queens Tribune marks the latest milestone in the paper’s continuing history of growth and progress.

Back in 1970, when an eight-page edition of the Trib hit the streets, the bad news was that the subway and bus fares had just been increased to 30 cents. The good news was that ground had been broken for a new school. The subway is now five times more expensive, but we still look forward to breaking ground for new schools in the 21st century.

As the Trib turns 30 and our borough begins its 102nd year as part of New York City, new schools are just part of what we can all celebrate. The completion of a new Queens Hospital Center, the new FDA regional laboratory and FAA headquarters, together with millions of dollars invested in transportation and infrastructure improvements, will help ease our borough’s transition into a new century.

All of these events, and many more, along with our borough’s history, will continue to be chronicled in the Trib. Thanks to a dedicated and talented staff, the news stories, columns and editorials contained in the Trib make it a must-read for Queens residents.

On behalf of all our residents, I extend sincere congratulations and best wishes to the entire staff, and hope that the Trib’s three decades of growth and progress are a portent of things to come.

On behalf of all New Yorkers, it is a pleasure to salute the readers and staff of the Queens Tribune on the celebration of its 30th anniversary.

This milestone not only provides the opportunity to reflect on the important role the Tribune has played in the progression of Queens over the past three decades, it also looks ahead for the people of this proud New York community.

Queens enjoys a heritage rich in history and long on accomplishment, which has made a lasting contribution to the citizens of the Empire State and the world. As the site of the first meeting of the United Nations more than 50 years ago, Queens set the course for the formation of a common council of nations committed to the protection of freedom, peace and basic human rights. That same spirit lives on today in the residents of Queens, who are proud to live in a community thriving with businesses, cultural attractions and beautiful parks.

Queens is part of a growing economic success story taking place across our great state; one that will lead New York into the new millennium and beyond. Employers have created hundreds of thousands of new jobs in a decidedly pro-business New York. This includes Queens, where two of New York’s 52 Economic Development Zones are attracting businesses by offering the kind of incentives that help bring new jobs and new opportunities.

Just as it has faithfully reported the events that have shaped Queens over the past 30 years, the Queens Tribune will continue in the coming century as a forum for its citizens and as a central information resource for a vibrant community. May the next 30 years bring the Tribune continued success and prosperity.