In my opinion, I think there are too many people trashing Senator Hillary Clinton. I am also troubled that that too many Democrats are asking Hillary to drop out of the race. I think Barack Obama ought to drop out of the race for the good of the party for he is too inexperienced and cannot win in the national election. Added to that, he refuses to cut all ties to Reverend Wright who in my opinion is all wrong and whose sermons are very racist.
I believe Senator Clinton has the courage and the will to go all the way. As she said in Philadelphia, “I never quit. I never give up, and neither do the American People.” I believe Hillary is for all America and has our best interests at heart. Furthermore Hillary is an American and proud to wear our flag.
Eva P. Bedell
Bellerose
Quinn’s fund knowledge conspicuously lacking
I find it rather sad that City Council Speaker Christine Quinn had knowledge of unethical practices. Moreover, to think a policy of disbursements went to fake charities and political pals. I hope an investigation looks deeply into this matter. We really need honesty and ethics being returned to our local and statewide governments. We the people demand much of our elected officials and the great thing about democracy is that if they screw up, we the people can put pressure on these people to be impeached not to mention we can vote them out of office. Democracy is such a beautiful thing.
Frederick R. Bedell, Jr.
Bellerose
Con Ed CEO raise a joke
It makes absolutely no sense that Kevin Burke, CEO of Con Edison is going to receive a 24 percent increase in his salary. For what? This man showed absolutely no understanding for the suffering and economic loss that the residents of northwestern Queens endured for 10 sweltering days in July 2006.Who is he kidding? That offer to pay residents who lost their power $100 compensation is such a bunch of pure unadulterated ballyhoo! If anything, this buffoon should take a 24 percent cut in his salary, as should all of his vice presidents. Con Edison is such a poor excuse for a power company. It does not have the interests of the public at heart - only the desire to line its pockets with our hard-earned money!
John Amato
Fresh Meadows
All about breathing
In all the years I have been reading The Queens Courier, the most memorable and inspiring article I have read was the Senior Profile “The Force Is With Her: Opera singer, 86, has strong voice and even stronger personality” by Karen James on page 39 of the April 5, 2007, issue.
It was about how opera singer Maria Ferrar saved her friend Nancy DiCroce’s life by teaching her how to breathe deeply.
I made copies of the article for friends and kept a copy for myself, something I never do with articles. I wanted to study with Ferrar but as I do not drive, Richmond Hill is a long distance from my Flushing home. I very much appreciated that the article served as a useful consumer guide for deciding if a voice teacher is worth studying with.
I finally found a teacher, Myrna Lake, who lives near Kennedy Airport and teaches at Queens Conservatory of Music, 42-76 Main St., Flushing (www.bqcm.org). She is a jazz singer who performs every Sunday evening at Smalls Jazz Club in Manhattan (www.smallsjazzclub.com). It is rare for any performing artist to consistently keep an audience returning week after week paying $20 each time.
The key is in the breathing. As my breathing becomes deeper, I, like DiCroce in the article, feel healthier and find my vocal range extending too.
When a performing artist such as Lake is good enough to be competitive in Manhattan, it is fortunate that she is teaching in Queens and sharing her craft with local residents.
Maureen Chen
Flushing
Protect all our cops
As a former NYPD police officer injured in the line of duty and as a candidate for State Assembly in the 26th Assembly District (Whitestone, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Flushing, Little Neck, Douglaston, Floral Park), I was appalled to hear about the recent treatment of a criminal case involving the arrest of a recidivist criminal who attacked retired police captain Charles Stravalle in a Rego Park restaurant, hitting him with a set of brass knuckles in retaliation for a 2002 arrest.
It is unconscionable that this heinous crime initially charged as a felony assault was downgraded to a misdemeanor assault. I must lend my voice to that of NYPD Captains Endowment President Roy Richter, in that the people of this city have an obligation to seek aggressive prosecution of criminals who assault a police officer in revenge. This protection should be extended to retired officers because the criminals we arrest do not forget us. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is adamant that serious consequences should extend to anyone who retaliates against a retired officer for having enforced the law while still on the job.
While we hope that the judge in this case imposes stiff penalties, including jail time, on the perpetrator, it is high time the legislature toughens the Penal Code to ensure that attacks on retired law enforcement officials are treated with the same vigorous seriousness as that of officers still “on the job.”
Police officers put themselves in harms way day in and day out to keep us safe. It is only right that they are afforded the same protections under the law after they put in their papers after years of service.
Robert Speranza
Republican Candidate for State Assembly 26th AD
Retired Police Officer
111th Precinct Community Council
Stop the spitting!
Once again, baseball season is upon us. I cannot wait to grab the remote, crawl up on my easy chair, and tune into the game on TV. One thing I can do without is all that spitting that goes on. This is very disgusting and those that spit all over the place should be fined. Have you seen what the dugout looks like after a game? I do not know about you but I would think twice about sliding head first into home plate. Yuck! I wonder if these players spit all over their living rooms at home. It is time to Stop the Spitting.
M. Schwartz
Bayside
Letters To The Editor
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