On behalf of the New York City Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thank you to The Queens Courier for being a media sponsor of this year's Light the Night Walk.
It was through your support that the 2006 Light the Night Walk expects to surpass its $1.7 million goal, a record for the chapter. The opportunity that you provided for us to publicize the walk was an enormous help in our efforts.
The mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. One of the most compelling aspects of the Society's work is that there are real, tangible, demonstrable results of our research.
When the Society was founded in 1949, the survival rate for childhood leukemia was 0. In 1960, it was about 3 percent. Today it is over 86 percent. Although, sadly, cure rates for other kinds of blood cancers have not yet reached that level of success, our hope is that, through research supported through the generous efforts of friends like you, we will be able to report similar progress in the future.
On behalf of the 785,000 individuals affected by blood cancers in the United States and the 100,000 people expected to be diagnosed in the next year, thank you for your generous support of our work.
We look forward to working with you again in 2007!
Sara Lipsky
Senior Campaign Director
I Declare My Candidacy
I have just about had it with politics and politicians. Therefore, I have decided to run for Alderman, and start my own political Party. It's the “None of Your Business” Party.
Did I smoke marijuana in college? Did I withhold Social Security for the kid who shoveled my sidewalk? Did I declare the income from any poker game I may or may not have been in? That's none of your business.
I promise that I won't sell my office without cleaning it out first. I promise that I will listen to your complaints before I ignore them or take all the credit for your ideas myself.
Now, since I'm the only one in my Party, you can be confident that I was fairly selected. Because there hasn't been a Board of Aldermen in Queens since New York City was consolidated in 1898, you can be sure I'll attend every meeting and never miss a vote.
All my campaign jobs will be no-show. All my volunteers will be paid double the going rate, and kick back half of that to me. From what I see, that's equality.
I have walked the length and breadth of this great land, from my home to the convenience store, and I can tell you that people aren't happy, except when they are. They want change and they don't want to wait for it.
I'll clean up Albany and City Hall and Washington, too. Right after I straighten out my desk. And my closet. And my garage. You can be sure of it, because I say so.
So, when you go to the polls this year, remember me. And if an exit pollster asks you which Party you voted for, tell them it was mine.
Tell them, “None of your business!”
Victor G. Mimoni
Douglaston
The 300 Millionth American Citizen
I read the very nice and warm article written by your reporter Mr. Christopher King. However, with all the illegal immigrants sneaking into the United States and having babies here to get free health, education, etc., did anyone check if Armando Jimenez and his wife are legal citizens? I feel this is a legitimate question. I know the hospitals are NOT ALLOWED to refuse anyone but they have to verify if the incoming patients do have health insurance. I understand the couple has two other older children born in this country, if not Elmhurst Hospital.
Richard Betancourt
Fresh Meadows
Editor's Note: All children born in the United States are American citizens.
UFT Endorses Senator Padavan
The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) has proudly endorsed Senator Frank Padavan for the New York State Senate. His opponent, Nora Marino, is simply wrong in trying to assert that the UFT endorsement is bad for UFT members. It is sad to see a Democrat - which I proudly am - use the same tactics that right-wing conservatives use to union-bust.
The UFT, without regard for party affiliation, endorses candidates who support and fight for the issues of importance to our members and to the one million plus children in New York City public schools. Senator Padavan has been a champion for New York City schoolchildren and its educators. Most recently, he was instrumental in achieving the unprecedented $11 billion capital plan for New York City schools.
When he chaired the mental health committee, he created the alcohol and substance abuse prevention program that has served our children so well. He has fought every year to maintain and grow funding for that program and others that are important to New York City’s public schools.
Senator Padavan also has been a champion for the rights of working people. When the UFT began to fight for the right of family day care workers to organize, Senator Padavan was one of the first to speak out in support and help pass legislation to ensure those rights. He worked to ensure that the State Senate overrode Governor Pataki’s veto.
Those are just some of the reasons why the UFT is proud to support him.
Randi Weingarten
President, United Federation of Teachers
