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FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com APRIL 28, 2016 • THE COURIER SUN 25 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com APRIL 28, 2016 • TIMES 13 oped oped  STANDING AGAINST A LOOK BACK ROCKAWAY BEACH The Triborough Bridge is perhaps one of the greatest engineering feats in the city’s history. The “traffi c machine” is not one bridge, but rather a system of three bridges connecting Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx together by way of Randalls and Wards Islands. Here’s a picture of the most famous part of the system, the suspension bridge over Hell Gate between Queens and Ward Island. Construction had begun in the late 1920s but stalled during the Great Depression. After Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and master builder Robert Moses came to power in the 1930s, work resumed as part of the New Deal, the series of federal programs that helped get the nation working again amid fi nancial calamity. The bridge opened in July 1936, and this year marks its 80th in operation. Share your historic pictures of Queens with us by emailing them to editorial@ qns.com, sharing them on our Facebook or Twitter pages (@QNS) or mail printed pictures to The Queens Courier, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361. All mailed pictures will be carefully returned to you upon request.  letters & comments THE UNIQUENESS UNIQUENESS OF OF THE THE 2016 2016 PRESIDENTIAL RACE PRESIDENTIAL RACE As disquieting as this election season has been with mountains of negatives, little has been said about its uniqueness. To replace the fi rst African- American president, there is a woman, a Jewish Socialist from Brooklyn and an outsider pseudo- Republican who has dedication to no particular ideology but his candidacy. Many contend the troubled administration of President Obama is the result of prejudices. Trump debases any opponent and his supporters relish in his insults and attacks. Trump infamously has defi ned Carly Fiorina and Megyn Kelly, Mexicans, lying Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham and so many others as ugly, stupid, rapists and so on. History will defi nitely record this presidential race as remarkable. It has broken all rules. The current campaign is unlike any other. Yet what makes it a source of pride and wonder are these differences. These candidates in the past would never achieve the position they hold today. All restrictions and confi nements have been exterminated. It is diffi cult to contemplate what comes after this race. Yet in so many countries democracy exists in name only. Voters’ choices are simply submitted for affi rmation. Confl icts in nations across the globe are wars to determine singular power and dictates that eradicate opposition. Only in the U.S. could the current race for the White House occur. Though many voters absolutely detest one or the other candidates there is no question that a president will be sworn in peacefully. Many may vilify or distrust the new president and wish it wasn’t so, but America’s democratic institutions will continue and the rewards to all will be our guaranteed freedom and rights. Ed Horn, Baldwin ISN’T ALWAYS THE ANSWER I have lived in Flushing for over 30 years and have supported the Broadway-Flushing Homeowners’ Association’s efforts to improve and enforce zoning and building codes as well as the Rickert-Finlay Covenant. I cannot, however, support its quest to permit an unelected unaccountable bureaucracy to usurp a portion of our property rights; that is to impose landmark designation. In an effort to obtain NYC Landmark designation, the association requested the homeowners to vote in favor or against seeking landmark designation. According to the law, landmark designation is not the subject of a vote by the community or homeowners, and notifi cation to homeowners is not required. In a response to my concerns regarding landmark designation, the Law Department of New York City apprised me that “A formal application process does not exist. The commission considers eligible buildings and districts for designation in response to suggestions from many sources, including groups and individuals as well as the observations of Commission members and staff. While the Landmarks Commission seeks and encourages community and property owners’ participation and support when considering proposed landmark designations, neither is a required condition for the designation of a landmark.” The letter continues “…the determination as to whether a building or a district is to be landmarked is not the subject of a referendum or vote by the community or property owners.” It is clear the wishes and desires of the homeowners are superfl uous. Invoking Landmark Laws to resolve problems resulting from un-enforced building codes, inadequate zoning laws, indiscriminate variances, corruption and lack of oversight is disingenuous. This is neither the intent nor spirit of the Landmark Laws. Restricting and regulating homeowners’ property rights may stifl e their proclivity to enhance and enrich the “gracious sense of place” they created in the fi rst place. I implore my neighbors to get informed and assert their common sense. Ed Konecnik, Flushing AGAINST BEACH LINE REACTIVATION BY COUNCILWOMAN KAREN KOSLOWITZ I am adamantly opposed to the reactivation of the non-operational, abandoned section of the Long Island Rail Road also known as Rockaway Beach Branch Line (RBBL), and here’s why. While I am a dedicated transportation REACTIVATION advocate with a proven record of supporting the improvement of transportation options enjoyed by the residents of our great city, spending hundreds of millions of dollars to study and then reconstruct this outdated rail line which last ran more than 50 years ago is not an option that should be considered. Proponents have secured funding for another study regarding reactivating the obsolete RBBL, however, after this study is presented, in order to fi nish this massive project, a substantial amount of activity must be completed before a shovel even hits the ground, not the least of which is securing the necessary funding for all phases of the operation. Among the numerous tasks that need to be fi nalized may include but are not limited to design consultant selection and contract registration, preliminary design work, environmental impact statement reviews, community outreach for preliminary design, fi nal design work, real property acquisition, obtaining needed permits, bid-award and registration of construction contracts, construction procurement, and then actual construction for the approximately 3.5-mile route. Indeed, another 50 years might pass before all this happens. Focusing on other actual and achievable transportation alternatives would be more helpful. Residents of southern Queens should never have their interests put against the interests of those people living in other Queens’ neighborhoods. That is why I actively support the introduction of bus routes to the nearest subway station, expansion of express bus service into Manhattan, and subsidies to support full-time ferry service for southern Queens commuters looking for new and better transportation options that have an actual opportunity to reach service sooner rather than later. The Rego Park/Forest Hills area already has an active LIRR line running through it which causes my constituents grief to no end. I am constantly confronted by local residents and business owners complaining of the noise and vibration emanating from this rail service and the trash in and around the tracks. Local homeowners and apartment owners have consistently told me about conversations that need to be stopped in mid-sentence when a train goes by. Sleep is often interrupted, dinnerware vibrates on tables, and windows facing the railroad are rarely opened. As a result, I am a regular correspondent with current LIRR President Patrick Nowakowski, and routinely “harassed” his predecessor, former LIRR President Thomas Prendergast, with complaints. To have an additional line in our community which literally runs through people’s backyards, in a densely populated residential area, near our schools, Little League fi elds and houses of worship means much more noise, more trash, more destructive vibration and more intrusiveness, and it would drastically lower property values. Reactivation would have a devastating impact upon the people of the 29th Council District, and that is why I steadfastly oppose this disastrous and dangerous plan. Koslowitz’s 29th Council District includes all or parts of Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Rego Park and Middle Village. LANDMARKING ISN’T ALWAYS THE ANSWER


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