To The Editor:

Doomsday Budget. Suspended payments to hospitals and school districts. A $3.2 billion budget gap. It certainly looks like our State government is struggling with the most difficult economic times in many years. The Queens Chamber of Commerce seeks to find solutions. If a decision had been reached on the winning bidder for the re-development of Aqueduct Racetrack, New York State government would not have sacrificed nearly $350 million in 2009 or leave another $200 million check on the table. The Queens Chamber of Commerce, representing over 1,500 businesses and organizations doing business in our borough urges Albany to reach a decision now. In fact, it is a demand that all New Yorkers should be making.

For almost a decade, discussions have been held regarding the installation of Video Lottery Terminals (VLT) at Aqueduct Racetrack. In that time, eight other racetracks across New York State have installed VLT’s adding thousands of jobs to local economies and millions of dollars into New York State coffers. In 2008, we thought progress was being made when a bidder was selected, but alas, that bidder defaulted and the selection process came to a grinding halt. Now, several groups have re-introduced proposals that could make Aqueduct not only a revenue generating, job creating venue, but a destination point in our borough. Located only a mile from JFK International Airport, plans include restaurants, meeting space, entertainment venues and retail shops that all would add employment opportunities to our borough’s workforce and procurement prospects for Queen’s businesses.

It is time to select a vendor to re-build an under-achieving, outdated racetrack. Let us learn from our mistakes and select a vendor with close ties to the Queen’s community. Select a vendor who has an established presence and a demonstrated record of success hiring Queen’s workers and sub-contractors. Both SL Green/Hardrock and the Aqueduct Entertainment Group meet those criteria. The other bidders have either retreated back to Vegas or have already been given the opportunity and couldn’t produce. Both SL Green and AEG have laid out proposals that go far beyond slots-in-a-box, and include the type of economic generating businesses this borough needs and a destination point this borough sorely lacks. So let’s start 2010 on the right track. Don’t gamble with our children’s futures or our senior’s health. The smart money says pick a vendor with a winning record. Start collecting the nearly $1 million a day that VLT’s will generate in new revenue. Collect the $200 million that will help towards balancing a budget that is waiting to be paid from the winning bidder. The results will be a win for Queens and for New York State.

Jack Friedman,
Executive VP
Queens Chamber of Commerce

To The Editor:

I have been an avid reader of the Queens Tribune for years. It is an excellent newspaper.

Recently, I read an article entitled, “Alt Therapy Ideas Abound in Boro” written by Kaitlyn Kilmetis. Ms. Kilmetis’ article was very useful for families seeking alternate forms of therapy for their children. Nevertheless, at the same time, she proceeded to unfairly/unjustly insult rehabilitation therapists and psychologists in her statement, “...therapy no longer means monotonous rehabilitation exercises or humdrum sessions with a psychologist.” I sent Ms. Kilmetis an e-mail for her to address this statement and apologize for trying to undermine the work that rehabilitation therapists and psychologists do in helping the public. Will you please address this issue in a timely fashion?

David Amsterdam

To The Editor:

Upon opening the cover page [of the Person of the Year edition] I was appalled to see Brian McLaughlin’s face. Of all the local politicians pictures available, how could you possibly choose one of the most despicable and dishonest people to have ever represented Queens residents to appear with John Liu - at the very beginning of his new term!

You people sure have a very short memory.

Eileen Abramson

To The Editor:

After his third term was secured, Mayor Bloomberg’s Department of Education proposed closing 20 schools, including Jamaica High School. Meetings and a public hearing about closing JHS have been held between local elected officials, community and school leaders, and members of the DOE. At these, every community and school leader opposed the closing, and instead wanted the school given the ability and opportunity to improve. Every non-DOE person also wanted local students given a zoned preference for any new school. Despite this opposition, the DOE is determined to close the school and not provide a zoning preference.

In support of closing, DOE officials claim the school is underperforming and place emphasis on the less than fifty percent of students graduating in four years. In opposition to closing, community and school leaders have presented facts that show the DOE has failed to properly support efforts made to improve school performance. They also showed that in many important categories, JHS has outperformed comparable high schools. In particular, students who enter JHS not performing at grade level graduate at rates substantially higher than other High Schools. Hearing both sides, a reasonable person would have doubts about closing. Unfortunately, the procedures for closing schools are not reasonable and the Mayor and Chancellor can ignore opposing views. This pervades the public sessions as people believe closure is a done deal merely awaiting the stamp of approval by the Panel for Education Policy.

Adding to this negative sense are the proposed replacement schools, which are primarily led by teachers with little administrative experience. None of these schools emphasize Math, Science, and Computer programs which is incomprehensible given their importance in today’s economy. None offer students the opportunities currently available at Jamaica High School and none should replace JHS.

Regarding the zoning preference for local students, all students have a right to attend a quality high school, however, it is equally important to provide the high school with the best chance to become a quality school. A zoned preference would best enable any new school to accomplish its goals. Local students at a local school bring with them social attachments and civic obligations that benefit their performance and the health of the school and community. In fact, three of the four leaders of the proposed schools indicated that schools would be enriched and would work best if attended by local students. Perhaps these benefits stem from students not having to travel long distances to a school in a neighborhood they have no ties with. Finally, since the surrounding community has suffered from an alleged underperforming high school, they should be the first to benefit from an alleged better school.

Chancellor Klein should withdraw the proposal, or the members of the Panel on Education Policy should reject the proposal, or a zoned preference should be implemented at the new schools.

Rob Caloras, President
CDEC 26

To The Editor:

Our New York Congressional delegation has failed miserably in protecting our state from the failed policies of the Marxist-Alinsky-Obama administration. They have saddled us with mandates costing us millions, they have refused to solve the illegal immigration problem, thus virtually bankrupting our own healthcare providers and they have refused to take any positive stand concerning the treatment of captured combatants as common criminals, contrary to the Geneva Conventions.

It should be remembered that FDR’s Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr. in 1940, wrote this in his diary: “... we have tried spending money. We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work. I say after eight years of this Administration we have just as much unemployment as when we started... and an enormous debt to boot!”

Perhaps its time to let the citizens of New York State decide who will be their party’s representatives, not the political lobbyists and bosses. Therefore I support former Congressman Harold E. Ford, Jr. in his bid to enter the Democratic Primary for Senator this coming fall.

David Rivkin,
Jamaica

To The Editor:

The Jets have just defeated the Bengals 24-14. Jets coach Rex Ryan, Quarterback Mark Sanchez and the rest of the team have shown true grit and have shown all the disbelievers what they are made of. They still have a bit of a mountain to climb but they have guts and heart to go all the way. JETS, are spelling out,” Just-Energized-The-Season.” Let’s give a shout out for our team,” Jets, Jets, Jets!

Fred Bedell Jr.,
Glen Oaks