Mayor Bloomberg and the City’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) have once again demonstrated their indifference to small businesses in favor of their bedmates, fat cat developers. (City starts Willets Point review as Council objects, - The Queens Courier April 24, 2008).
In seeking a Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP) without first setting forth all of the aspects of the Willets Point proposal, the mayor and EDC exhibit contempt for the more than 200 small businesses in the area and their more than 1,300 employees and families.
By seeking a ULURP, if successful, they will then be free to do as they wish and the public be damned. This underhandedness does not serve the public interest nor does it inspire confidence in good government. Openness is the pillar of a democratic process, and it would appear the mayor and his appointees need a refresher course in civics. One hopes the Willets Point businesses fight this foolish and unwarranted proposal.
Benjamin M. Haber
Flushing
Save Woodhaven Lanes
I am writing to you, Mr. Robert Corroon of Parkwill Management Corporation, regarding the Woodhaven Lanes Bowling Alley. I am sure from all the publicity you know just where it is. As a Glendale resident for all 36 years of my life, I know this place. I have seen it at its best and at its worst, but Woodhaven Lanes has always been there, and the people who love it have always been there as well.
As a young girl my mother would bowl at these lanes, my sister and I would be in day-care in the basement of the bowling alley and my mom would bowl upstairs; just steps away from us, if we should need her.
My husband and I along with my sister and brother-in-law also bowl in the Ball & Chain bowling league on Tuesday nights. My mom still bowls; it is the only exercise she gets and our kids hope to be able to bowl in leagues here one day as well.
When our first child was diagnosed with cancer (she is recovering now) this bowling alley rallied around us to raise money so we could live our lives and still be able to help our daughter.
In the bowling alley, you can be yourself. It does not matter if you can or cannot bowl. You do not have to be the best at what you do, because bowling is easy enough to do. Your age is not a factor when it comes to bowling either. In the bowling alley we’re all just friends; and no one minds, because we’re all here for the same goal. Fun!
Please help us keep our lanes open. Doing away with this business certainly won’t help the community, the neighborhood, or the future of our society.
Jennifer A. Thek-Bonowitz
Bowler, Wife, Mother and Part-time worker
Glendale
Clear and present danger
The verdict is in and Justice Arthur Cooperman has declared all three officers not guilty in the death of Sean Bell. His verdict was based on law and the evidence and testimonials given. Well in my opinion, the District Attorney did not prove its case beyond a shadow of a doubt.
The bottom line was that the police officers believed they were in clear and present danger and had acted accordingly. Lives of all families have been changed forever on that fateful night and our prayers go out to all those affected by what happened. The families need to try to find peace but that is easier said than done.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose
Pope Benedict XVI’s visit
Watching the various events surrounding Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Washington D.C. and New York City, I was spiritually moved. Everywhere he went, the Pope was welcomed wildly by thousands of people, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. It was very moving to see him meet with the rabbi at the synagogue in Manhattan.
Both of them were very sincere in their remarks; both were deeply affected by the Nazi regime, the pope being forced to be in the Hitler youth movement, the rabbi being a Holocaust survivor. Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and other faiths should all take a lesson from this - we can get along and work with each other, and respect each other’s religion and religious beliefs.
The visit to Ground Zero was one that brought tears to my eyes, watching the pope personally greet each of the 24 people who in some way had been so deeply affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Again, thank you your holiness, for your very comforting words that you said when you visited the World Trade Center site. May God bless you with many more years as our Holy Shepherd.
John Amato
Fresh Meadows
Willow Lake fire
As I write this email, there is a huge fire in the area of Willow Lake. The park has been shuttered due to repeated fires over the years.
Although the park is officially closed - the entrances are not fully secured. Anyone can enter the park and commit arson. I would hope that the entire park be completely secured so that it would be impenetrable. Fire not only destroys wildlife, it can potentially spread and put people and property at risk. This is another example of how the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park area is under patrolled and has been allowed to deteriorate.
Carl Herr
Flushing
Medicare woes
Skyrocketing health care costs have placed an unfair burden on the four million Americans who rely on Medicare for affordable health coverage in the form of unfair premium increases. Vital screenings for bone density changes, glaucoma, prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes are some of the services that are accessible to seniors through the Medicare program. If premium payments continue to increase, older Americans, who live on a fixed income, will lose access to these services.
There are out-of-pocket expenses such as visits to the hospital or doctor’s office that are not covered by Medicare that many seniors struggle to meet.
If Congress once again fails to act to restructure how physicians are paid for treating Medicare patients, premiums will continue to rise until seniors no longer have access to health care coverage. It is not fair to continue to force Medicare beneficiaries into paying more money into a system that is not working for them. Seniors should rightly have access to affordable prescription drugs, medical screenings and preventive services so vital to a longer, healthier and better quality of life. It is unfair to deny them that right. Medicare must be kept fair.
Juanita Washington Rier
Queens
Letters To The Editor
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