FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM OCTOBER 19, 2017 • THE QUEENS COURIER 33
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It’s only fi tting, it seems, that this picture of Trotting Course Lane in Glendale taken in 1911 shows a horse-drawn buggy
in the background heading toward the railroad crossing. Trotting Course Lane was once one of Queens’ earliest and
most important roadways, its name refl ecting the old Union Course racetrack in Woodhaven. Much of the roadway was
incorporated into what is now Woodhaven Boulevard, but two surviving segments remain: one in Rego Park between
Woodhaven Boulevard and Metropolitan Avenue, and the other near the Forest Park Crescents co-op building. Send us
your historic photos of Queens by email to editorial@qns.com (subject: A Look Back) or mail printed pictures to A Look
Back, The Queens Courier, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361. All mailed pictures will be carefully returned to you.
letters & comments
EVERYONE MUST CONFRONT
CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is one of the single biggest threats
to our environment, our public health and our economy.
Global climate change occurs as a result of the
excessive use of fossil fuels. Th e release of carbon and
methane emissions into the atmosphere is accelerating
climate change; as a result, extreme weather is
taking place as well as a rise in sea levels.
To put it bluntly, most people wouldn’t care, but they
will once they realize how this aff ects their lives. For
example, one eff ect of the rise in temperatures is the
development of storms. Wasn’t the United States just
hit by a consecutive line of relatively strong hurricanes?
I join the New York Public Interest Research
Group (NYPIRG) in calling on all state and local
elected offi cials to say no to the oil and gas industry.
By denying the oil and gas giants the right to set up
a foundation in New York State, you are in essence
benefi tting yourself. By halting the basis of climate
change, this improves both the economy and security
of the natural environment.
Jason Lam, Queens
APPRECIATING THE
HISTORY OF COLUMBUS
I was disappointed that no one voiced outrage
for the graffi ti-laden message mounted on the
Columbus Statue in Astoria.
Th at statue was actually hidden during World
War II in some basement out of fear that it would be
melted for bullets in the war. Today, the eff orts of a
few politicians and individuals to remove the significance
of Columbus and eliminate his importance in
history is appalling and disturbing. Th eir ignorance
is as equal as their arrogance.
Th e meaning of Christopher Columbus is simple.
It is a message to all immigrants who had the courage
and determination to risk it all to come to this
great land with nothing but a glimmer of hope and a
desire for a better future.
Of course, like any of us, Columbus had his
fl aws. So did many historical fi gures who shaped
this nation; we still honor, respect and value them.
George Washington and Th omas Jeff erson were
slave owners. Should we, then, tear up the paper
money that their faces are imprinted upon?
John Ciafone, Astoria
BREAST CANCER
SCREENINGS SAVE LIVES
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month,
the Cancer Services Program (CSP) of Queens would
like to take this opportunity to remind your readers
about the importance of getting screened for breast
cancer.
With regular screening, breast cancer is more likely
to be detected at an earlier stage when treatment
may be most successful. Simply stated, early detection
can save lives and regular screening is the key
to early detection.
Th e United States Preventive Task Force Services
recommends women ages 50 to 74 years who are
at average risk for breast cancer be screened with a
mammogram every two years. However, according
to data from the state Department of Health, there
are populations of women who are less likely to have
received a mammogram as recommended. Th ese
women are the uninsured and those without a regular
health care provider.
We help eligible, uninsured women get free mammograms,
and we are here to encourage every
woman to get their mammogram.
If any woman needs help, call us at 718-670-1561.
Jacqueline Xouris, Clinical Director CSP of Queens
Email your letters to editorial@qns.com (Subject:
Letter to the Editor) or leave a comment to any of
our stories at QNS.com. All letters are subject to
editing. Names will be withheld upon request, but
anonymous letters will not be considered for publication.
Th e views expressed in all letters and comments
are not necessarily those of this publication
or its staff .
Constitutional convention
will help expand voter
participation
BY RACHEL BLOOM
When looking at the extremely low voter turnout for New
York City’s recent primary election, one wouldn’t know that
city residents were deciding who would run for mayor this
year. It is clear that New York needs to do more to encourage
voter participation and competitive elections.
While the need is evident, what is lacking is the political will
to change the status quo and breathe new life into our politics.
Th at’s why this November, New Yorkers must take control
themselves and vote to hold a state constitutional convention
to introduce much-needed reforms that make it easier to vote,
reduce the power of incumbents and level the playing fi eld.
In this year’s primary, just 14 percent of New York City’s eligible
voters turned out to vote. Dismal, yes, and sadly on trend
with previous years. In 2016, 8 percent of eligible city voters
voted in June’s federal primaries and 10 percent voted in
September’s state and local primaries.
What’s behind these low numbers? First and foremost are
diffi culties New Yorkers have getting to the ballot. New York
has no early voting and no Election Day registration, and the
state limits access to absentee ballots, which means that all voting
must happen in person, on a work day.
Laws governing voting in primaries are even more restrictive.
Not only does a voter need to be registered with a political
party before being able to vote, but New York also doesn’t
allow citizens to register or switch parties on Election Day.
And the cut-off deadlines to do so are absurdly early. First-time
voters must register with a party 25 days before the election.
Th ose who want to switch their affi liation must do so 25 days
before the general election of the year before the primary they
plan to vote in, by far the longest deadline in the entire country.
(Some New Yorkers may remember that this is also why
Donald Trump’s children were unable to vote for him in our
state’s primary.) Th ese rules mean that new voters this year or
those who want to change their party for next year was Oct. 13.
With voting so diffi cult, it’s also no surprise that voters don’t care
to turn out, especially when most elections are noncompetitive and
feature an incumbent heavily favored to win. Perhaps that’s why
city voters didn’t show up yesterday. With a decision between an
incumbent mayor with low approval ratings and a longshot challenger,
why even bother to make time to go a polling station?
Voters see the same names, faces and ideas year aft er year,
in part because elections in New York have become a race for
dollars. Rules that treat limited liability corporations as individuals
allow special interests and wealthy donors to pour
money into elections, making the cost of mounting a campaign
exceedingly expensive and discourage anyone but an incumbent.
Public fi nancing of elections, like we have in New York
City to great acclaim, would also benefi t fi rst-time candidates,
but there isn’t a statewide system, meaning that many wouldbe
challengers are shut out.
Several commonsense proposals would energize our politics
and allow new faces in the room — enacting term limits, allowing
early voting and lowering maximum campaign contributions
are just a few reforms that New York needs. Despite these
obvious solutions, legislators have been unwilling to enact
any changes. Perhaps not surprising when the current system
makes it easier for those in power to stay in power.
For the fi rst time in 20 years, these solutions can be created
outside of the legislative process and passed without
the interference of legislators. New Yorkers must seize the
once-in-a-generation opportunity provided by the constitutional
convention and pass these much-needed reforms that
will make our elections more dynamic and include more voices
in the process.
With Albany unwilling to act, change must come another
way, and that way is a constitutional convention. New Yorkers
must vote yes on Nov. 7 to fi x our broken democracy.
Rachel Bloom is the Director of Public Policy & Programs
for Citizens Union.
A LOOK BACK