THE GOOD . . . Taking back our streets. We applaud the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association (WRBA) — and all others like it — in their efforts to curb vandalism. Though we are lovers of art, we feel that graffiti is a blight on our communities. It lowers the value of area homes and reduces [...]
It’s like the 1960s all over again. As the United States Supreme Court upheld parts of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA), it harkened back to June of 1965, when the country — and our bipartisan elected officials — were divided over Medicare. With a Cold War mentality, many feared that Medicare meant socialism — [...]
Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Willets Point announcement last week came with some nice numbers. More than 12,000 construction jobs and 7,000 permanent jobs will come from the proposed Willets Point renovation, which includes retail space, a hotel and quicker access to the Van Wyck Expressway. The reconstruction — to be funded by $3 billion in private [...]
Have you tried lately to commute to south Queens via public transportation? There is a phrase to describe it: nearly impossible. With gas prices still hovering near the $4 a gallon mark, politicians and civic leaders may have a solution. We support the proposal by Assemblymember Phil Goldfeder to reinstate the Rockaway line of the [...]
Over the years, it seems, serving sizes have been increasing proportionally to waistlines. With obesity — and all its related ailments — on the rise, we say bravo Bloomberg for being brave enough to do something about it. Although his new plan — to ban sugary drinks over 16 ounces — is being met with [...]
THE GOOD . . . Queens came out in force on Memorial Day to pay tribute to those heroes who have fought – and continue to fight – for the freedoms we enjoy. As Mayor Michael Bloomberg pointed out, freedom is not, in fact, free, and the men and women in uniform – from our [...]
As you go about your day, we implore you to stop for a moment and think — just once — of all the freedoms we have here in the United States. Now take a second to think of what life would be like without those liberties. And finally, stop and say “thank you” — to [...]
By Assemblywoman Grace Meng On Tuesday, I joined with my colleagues in the State Assembly in voting to raise New York State’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50. I voted for and co-sponsored this bill because it will have a tremendous positive impact on the lives of working families here in Queens and throughout New York. [...]
As the nation celebrates National Teacher Appreciation Week, we need to definitely show our appreciation for all teachers across the United States. Teachers work extremely hard under a myriad of conditions, ranging from overcrowded classrooms, to dealing with discipline problems, lack of instructional materials, sometimes difficult parents and sometimes unsupportive administrators and supervisors. Also, teachers [...]
Ok, so no tax increases, more city funding for education and no cuts to the NYPD are some of the positives of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Fiscal Year 2013 Executive Budget. Ready for the negatives? Cuts to the FDNY, cultural institutions and libraries — and fewer funds for after-school and day care programs. So it’s two [...]
