By Stephen S. Mills As you may have heard in the news, recently-enacted health care reform legislation will assess penalties starting in 2013 against hospitals with higher than average readmission rates for certain conditions, such as heart failure, heart attack and pneumonia. Reducing hospital readmission rates has emerged as a core strategy at both state [...]
What is the Department of Education (DOE) doing? Administrators at the city’s public school system are seemingly asleep at the wheel, allowing teachers to run amok — WITH OUR CHILDREN. In the past week alone, two teachers — who are supposed to be role models for our youth — were busted, one for inappropriately touching [...]
With all of the problems that teachers in today’s classrooms have to deal with, they certainly do not need to be constantly lambasted by the media. Most, if not all, teachers are very hardworking, dedicated, and very professional in their everyday dealings with students, parents and administrators. Teachers work very hard to help each and [...]
Apparently many of the crew aboard the cruise ship Costa Concordia, which grounded off the coast of Tuscany, attempted to save their own lives without trying to help others. That sort of selfish conduct is in direct contrast to what happened aboard the RMS Titanic 100 years ago. After that ship struck an iceberg, its [...]
As many potential hot spots in the world continue to simmer, are we really free of the threat of nuclear war? While the Cold War may be over, the possibility of nuclear war between the United States and Russia still very much exists. Do not think for one moment that both countries still do not have [...]
By Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr. So why was a councilmember asked to write about the music scene inQueens? Little-known fact — upon graduating college, I had to make the tough decision between going to law school and signing a record contract and touring with my band. After a (short) conversation with my father, I [...]
No sooner was it announced than we were told it was dead on arrival. Well, announced isn’t really the way to describe it; leaked would be better. Last week it came out that the official Office of the All-Intrusive Nanny State, otherwise known as the Department of Health’s Partnership for a Healthier New York City, [...]
BY DOROTHY LEWANDOWSKI Under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Borough President Helen Marshall and all of our Queens elected officials, we are continuing to benefit from the largest period of park renovation and expansion since the 1930s. Over the past decade, almost half a billion dollars has been allocated for more than 600 upcoming and completed projects [...]
It seems to me that Congressmember Bob Turner’s standing with others to raise thousands of dollars for the family of slain Police Officer Peter Figoski might soften his views against gun control. I implore him to stand with Congressmember Carolyn McCarthy to ban the sale of extended capacity ammunition magazines. Extending background checks on purchases [...]
Ordinarily, I would not be writing to a newspaper or even worrying about national politics, but I fear for the future of this country. Today’s policies are unsustainable, and no matter which party is in power, the problems will remain. We are now on a course which has brought an end to many a civilization [...]