A gathering of mourners along Queens Boulevard is once again visible. Flowers appear on lampposts and mourning candles flicker in the darkness of the night. Families and friends are in disbelief and shock at the suddenness of death for their young children and friends. They think of what the victims could have been of lives that had great promise and eagerness to capture the future and enjoy it.
A Memorial of Remembrance to the Dead of Queens Boulevard stands proudly at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church in Forest Hills. Flowers still stand at 67th Avenue where 14-year-old Sophia Leviyev died. Now the flowers are at 78th Avenue and Queens Boulevard. Queens Boulevard, the "Boulevard of Death," has become the "Boulevard of Memorials."
We, the elders of the community and the leaders of the Forest Hills Action League, feel a great sorrow and despair. Once again, the cry of "What is a life worth?" echoes through the canyons of Queens Boulevard. There is talk of a monster march to stir elected officials to action.
Law enforcement must become a presence on the boulevard. The time is now for action, not indifference and excuses! Rebuild the killer highway!
Queens Boulevard must be re-engineered now to protect the people of this county. We ask, once again, from our elected officials: what is a life worth? We demand that the carnage of innocent lives on this highway in our midst stop now.
The pleadings by the Department of Transportation and the elected officials representing us that there is no money to re-engineer Queens Boulevard must stop. Find the money to save the people of Queens County.
Norbert and Estelle Chwat
Co-Presidents, Forest Hills Action League
