On May 26, Memorial Day, the Vietnam Veterans of America, Queens Chapter #32 proudly and honorably participated in the Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade. To the dismay and surprise of all our members, the Speaker of the NYC Council, Christine Quinn was also present and participated in walking the parade route and audaciously spoke about her support of veterans at the podium after the parade.
This is the same speaker, who several weeks ago admitted that her office had set aside “Slush Fund” money in the amount of $422,763 allocated to a veteran’s organization called “The American Association of Concerned Veterans.” As we knew then and know now, the Speaker confessed, this is a fictitious organization. This “Slush Fund” is what prompted the investigation of the Speaker’s office by the NYC Comptroller and has caused unfair delays for hundreds of legitimate organizations in receiving their grant money.
It baffles me how Speaker Quinn could participate in any veterans’ event after admitting to the misappropriation of taxpayers’ money by her office. It was a slap in the face to my brave ‘Brothers and Sisters’ veterans who have given so much in defense of our country. It is just another disgraceful example of how some of our elected officials would not hesitate to ride on the unbreakable backs of the same veterans they choose to ignore.
As President of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Queens Chapter #32 and on behalf of the Executive Board, Board of Directors and the membership, I demand an official written apology by the Speaker to all veterans and their families.
Pat Toro Jr., President
Vietnam Veterans of America
Queens Chapter #32
New precinct placement
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is the second-most-used park in the city’s municipal park system. It also has the dubious distinction of being the most abused and pillaged park courtesy of myopic politicians who do not have a clue as to what urban parks are all about.
This park is replete with a host of non-park structures that would not be tolerated in Central, Prospect or Bronx Parks. Another non-park structure would be the proposed building of a new 110th Precinct in the park. The alleged purpose of this plan is to reduce crime in the park, a laudable objective, but one unnecessary since it can easily be accomplished without further destroying valuable land. (Kelly proposes new 110th Precinct in park - The Courier May 22, 2008)
It should be noted when the Mets and the U.S.T.A. are in play, the New York Police Department has no trouble assigning a horde of police to the area courtesy of taxpayer dollars.
I suggest we no longer do that and insist the Mets and the U.S.T.A. provide and pay for their own and the surrounding areas’ security. The police thus freed up can be assigned to the park. There is land available in College Point and that should suffice for a new precinct.
Benjamin M. Haber
Flushing
Park police a bad idea
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park had a police facility that covered only the park, and when it was eliminated a few years ago, we were told that it was not needed and the land would be used for parkland only.
We are infuriated to learn that the park is to be assaulted by another agency, such as the Police Department, and the city, once again, breaks its promise to the public it claims to serve, by intending to place the 110th Precinct there creating a loss of more parkland in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. If Corona needs a new precinct it should be put in Corona as that is where it belongs in order for the Corona community to be served.
Shirley B. Weinstein, President
Mid-Queens Community Council
Flushing
Thanks from a survivor
I want to thank your paper and especially Noah Rosenberg and Jessica Lyons for the Herculean job you all did on the reporting of the Holocaust in your paper as well as on the video. I, as a survivor, have been talking for years about it in schools, before organizations, etc. and I could not have done better.
I often hear people say, “What, the Holocaust again?” We cannot talk enough about it as long as we live and unfortunately, survivors are passing away daily. That is the reason that a paper like yours keeps it alive and we must talk to the younger generations to let them know what happened so that they become vigilant and don’t let it happen again.
As a member of the Jewish War Veterans, I also want to thank the liberators of the concentration camps who have joined us survivors to talk about what they encountered on arrival at these camps and how they provided help. Many of them later married a woman they had liberated.
Hannah Deutch
Jackson Heights
More feet - fewer tires
According to statistics, on average, 144,000 vehicles cross the Brooklyn Bridge every day. Only 2,001 pedestrians and 1,115 bicyclists are taking the same path.
Therefore, the ratio of cars to human beings crossing the bridge is 46 to 1.
We can save money on gas and improve our health if we try to reduce this ratio.
[Even Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky (“The Nutcracker,” “Swan Lake”) crossed the bridge in 1891 when he arrived in New York to perform at Carnegie Hall.]
Victor Maltsev
Rego Park
Thanks from a reader
When my wife and I bought our home over 45 years ago, it was not simply a structure to house our family. We bought into a neighborhood. Homes back then fit comfortably on the allotted land - replete with many trees, shrubs and grass. They were pleasing to the eye.
Lately however, these homes acquired by individuals and in some cases speculators, are demolished, all trees, shrubs and grass removed, replaced by structures incompatible with the lot size and totally denuded of any greenery. Front areas are totally concreted or bricked over to become parking lots. It is clear there is no intention of moving into a neighborhood, but rather just a large box with a lack of any respect for the neighborhood or its residents.
Trees, lawns and shrubs are not simply things of beauty. They represent important ecological functions. Trees and shrubs remove noxious carbon dioxide from the air and replace it with clean air. Our planet could not have evolved without greenery nor could it survive. Lawns prevent water run off which is beneficial to our drainage system.
Congratulations are in order to The Queens Courier for highlighting this serious problem and to the New York City Council for enacting legislation to remedy this odious practice. (An end to the concreting jungle. Queens Courier May 15, 2008)
Benjamin M. Haber
Flushing
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