By The TimesLedger
Out of the terrible events of 9/11 have come changes that will have an impact on the quality of life* in Queens. One of those improvements is the creation of a high-speed ferry service that is taking commuters from Hunters Point to midtown Manhattan in just five minutes. From there the ferry continues on to Wall Street.
At just $3 a ride the ferry is bargain. It most definitely beats a rush-hour drive over the 59th Street Bridge or through the Midtown Tunnel. The ferry will help to reduce traffic in Manhattan and congestion in Long Island City. It may also encourage Manhattanites to discover Queens.
We agree with the governor who said “today we take another step toward the rebuilding and renewal of our great city. The goal is not just to rebuild but to go beyond where we were the morning of Sept. 11.”
With each step forward we send a signal to the extremists and terrorists of the world that this city has not been brought to its knees.
Editorial: 'No greater love'
One year after the attack on the World Trade Center, we have come to understand that there is no closure. The wounds from that day have not even begun to heal. The anger has subsided, but it still exists just beneath the surface of our existence, ready to explode at any moment.
The people of New York have endured incredible pain with strength and a courage that have inspired the world. In a very brief span of time, Queens lost 41 firefighters. Of the 23 police officers who died, three lived in Queens. There is nothing more moving and nothing nobler than the funeral of a firefighter or police officer who has given his life to save others. But in the year that has passed the drums and bagpipes have sounded more times than the heart can bear.
“No greater love exists than the one that leads a man to lay down his life for another,” said a eulogy to one Queens firefighter. “America is a better place because of your unselfish dedication to fellow citizens. You embody the spirit of America and love. America will never forget your sacrifice.”
On the anniversary of 9/11, our heart goes out to all Queens families who lost loved ones at the World Trade Center. We salute the men and women who worked tirelessly for months digging through the rubble looking at first for survivors and later for the remains of fallen heroes. And we salute the citizens who found the courage to keep moving forward, refusing to be defeated by the hateful act of madmen.
There was concern in the days following the attack that innocent Americans who happen to practice the Islamic faith would be blamed for the acts of a handful of fanatics. We must continue to be vigilant to make certain that the tragedy of 9/11 does not become an excuse for intolerance. For their part, the borough’s Islamic leaders must be unequivocal in their condemnation of the hatred that created this horror.
One year later, we are all Americans. We all share the pain and the determination to move forward.
