The Ghost Workers are representative of all that is wrong with this nation. Certainly their story is not new or unique, it is history repeated. We take these immigrants in for a day’s work at the lowest possible wage and ignore the fact that they go back to less than satisfactory living conditions. We ignore them completely when we have no work for them. We have no conscience.
As long as the American people allow exploitation of people in this country and third world countries; as long as we allow the capitalists of this country the liberty of allowing prices of oil to rise out of control causing a rippling effect on our economy; as long as we convince ourselves that driving a gas guzzling vehicle is acceptable; as long as we indulge ourselves in conspicuous consumption and as long as we allow corrupt government officials to manipulate third world nations into becoming deeply indebted to us, we are to blame.
Geri Cicero
Willets Point questions
The refusal of The New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and its president, Robert Lieber, to select a developer and to make public the specific details of the Willets Point proposal, well in advance of any ULURP process, is an example of bureaucratic arrogance, indifference to the public’s interests, and suggests one should question the credibility of anything he says. (Willets Point hearing raises concerns - The Queens Courier, December 6-12). If Lieber wants to redeem any credibility, he should well in advance of any ULURP process publicly answer the following:
l. The name of the developer, and if there isn’t one now, why can’t there be a hold on the proposal until there is one?
2. Of the purported 5,000 housing units, how many will be luxury, middle class, low rent and subsidized housing?
3. Given the fact that the taxpayers of this city and state are committed to spending $1.4 billion and possibly, close to $2 billion to enlarge the Javits Convention Center, what is the purpose of a 400,000 square foot convention center in Willets Point? Moreover, while they are at it, is EDC familiar with an article that appeared in the Metro Section of The New York Times on January 18, 2005 citing a Brookings Institution report finding there exists a glut in convention space throughout the country. Included in that report was the following: “In an environment where every major center around the country is sharply reducing rental rates or giving space away and throwing in incentives, the likelihood of a (center) succeeding is remarkably dim.”
If I were to describe a convention center in Willets Point as being a foolish idea, I could be accused of being too generous.
4. In the Flushing and LaGuardia Airport area, there exist many hotels. What is the point of a 700-room hotel?
5. How much money directly and indirectly will the taxpayers of this city and state contribute to the overall cost of the proposed development and include in that figure inflation and cost over runs?
6. Given the fact there are about 225 businesses in the area with about 1,300 workers currently employed, making it an economically viable area, what is the legal basis of threat to utilize eminent domain?
7. Why would upscale retail shops serve any greater public need and interest than the businesses currently there?
8. Since the proposal would require the city to install streets and sewers, something they should have done years ago, why can’t that be done and the current businesses remain?
9. Are we dealing with a legitimate public need, or is this a public rip off on a grand scale?
Benjamin M. Haber
Flushing
CB 8 letter to mayor
We are particularly disturbed and can no longer silently sit by while our communities are negatively impacted by a number of recent actions by city agencies that have circumvented the involvement of this board, our legislators and our community.
The processes by which findings by a number of city agencies are being imposed upon our community with impunity and without regard for our views and recommendations are creating the potential for harmful consequences. The process has resulted in a collective discouragement, and we experience the anger of affected residents of the community.
Some examples are:
Despite the overwhelming opposition and the submission of viable options by CB8 and the local community to the Department of Transportation, extreme changes in traffic patterns have been implement by the agency at two local elementary schools, P.S. 200 and P.S. 117, with anticipated harmful consequences.
Please understand our utter frustration with our inability to carry out our mandate as Community Board members and responsible community leaders. Our board hopes that such uncompromising acts do not reflect a course formulated by your office. We call upon you to review these patterns of insensitivity, and to meet with us at your earliest convenience in order to consider how our city agencies would be able to give greater weight to the views of our local Community Boards to assure them a more meaningful role in the process of governance.
Alvin Warshaviak
Chairman of CB 8
Letters To The Editor
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