As a rule, New York Knucklehead Awards don’t appear at the top of this column. But today, we make an exception. For two exceptionally pandersome politicians: state Senator Frank Padavan and Assemblymember Ann-Margaret Carrozza. Who are pandering at the expense of critically ill infants and children.
It is cynical vote-chasing at its worst.
Padavan, a Republican, and Carrozza, a Democrat, represent Bayside, Queens - home to St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, an institution that has devoted itself to caring for the sickest of youngsters for more than half a century. It’s a place of inspiration and, unavoidably, sadness.
No one would deny the best of accommodations to the young patients of St. Mary’s, would they? Well, yes.
Some of Padavan’s and Carrozza’s constituents worked themselves into a lather when the hospital proposed much-needed renovations.
However, the plan was wholly inoffensive. No public funds were involved. St. Mary’s would stay at its present 100-patient capacity. Construction would take place inside a courtyard, and the new facilities would be no taller than the existing structure. No views would be blocked. No traffic would increase.
Basically, St. Mary’s wants to provide more comfortable two-bed rooms for the children, instead of - as it must do now - cram them into four-bed wards. Who could possibly object to that? The disgruntled locals, to whose cause Padavan and Carrozza rallied by writing mumbo-jumbo letters urging the state Health Department to put the plan’s approval on hold.
Health Commissioner Richard Daines rightly ignored them and gave St. Mary’s a prompt go-ahead.
Padavan and Carrozza say they only wanted further study. They profess love and admiration for St. Mary’s and wish the hospital the best. Etc. Etc. Etc.
Nevertheless, the fact remains they went to bat for nut cases who were all too happy to deny the sickest of children the best of care.
For pandering above and beyond the call of duty and into stunning new depths, Padavan and Carrozza are granted a dual New York Knucklehead Award.
Editor’s Note: We could not agree more or say it more elegantly.
Reprinted from the Tuesday, February 19 editions of The New York Daily News
The Atlas Solution
In Greek mythology, Atlas carries the whole world on his shoulders. In Queens, Damon Hemmerdinger, owner of The Shops at Atlas Park, is trying to carry our economy on his.
The retail developer has taken $20,000 of his own money and has been giving it out to people in Queens in the hopes that the recipients will spend their newfound dollars in our local economy. Dubbed “The Atlas Solution,” Hemmerdinger touts his plan would be capable of infusing the economy with $342.8 million - if every shopping center in the country gives away a proportionate amount or 5 cents per square foot - about 6.8 billion of retail room in total.
Hemmerdinger said that along with the random giveaways on Queens streets, The Shops located in Glendale at 8000 Cooper Avenue will hand out thousands of “I Support the Economy” stickers, which when displayed on a person or home, can win the wearer an instant cash prize from $1 to $1,000.
We hope some of our other shopping centers do in fact step up to the plate and copy the Hemmerdinger plan. Those nickels can mount up mightly.
