Category Archives: Editorials
All the libraries in Queens are being threatened by a proposed budget cut of $29.6 million. It is part of a citywide proposed budget cut to public library services of more than $100 million. If that were to become reality, libraries all over the borough, in every community, would close; some community libraries would close permanently, others would close more days each week. The impact would be unthinkable. We know our representatives in City Hall and the City Council value … Continue reading
Local artist James Wilson penned the original design above to introduce our new editorial feature: Train of Thought. We hope you’ll hop aboard and read. And if you have an issue you’d like to discuss in this format please let us know. We hope to cover many of your issues and concerns in this space. Just remember, we always want to hear what you have to say. When we read about Gov. Cuomo’s decision to offer the proposal of full fledged gambling to the … Continue reading
While the technical review in consideration of updates to the Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) maps by FEMA continues, many nearby communities continue to struggle with the anticipation of how their insurance rates will escalate and how the physical modifications required at their homes will affect their lives. The Forum held a meeting with a small group of well-informed individuals in order to formulate a base plan on how to proceed in the coming months as we prepare to coordinate … Continue reading
Over the last few weeks we have been discussing the implications of the revised flood maps released by FEMA, which have altered the designation of flood zones within our communities. We have also discussed the possibility that exists with the potential to have flood insurance rate premiums skyrocket to virtually unaffordable rates as a result of these revisions. None of these subjects was introduced to bring panic to our readers and we walk a line of caution in that area, … Continue reading
For the past decade, Woodhaven Boulevard has been a traffic nightmare. The daily commute during the morning and evening rush hours is sluggish at best. Whether you’re in a car or on a bus, the slow and painful crawl up and down Woodhaven Blvd. is sure to make your daily commute even more stressful and time consuming. Since taking office, I have been working with the Department of Transportation to alleviate traffic congestion along Woodhaven Blvd. and have suggested a … Continue reading
A new report released by the Fairness Coalition of Queens raises the volume on the group’s opposition to United States Tennis Association (USTA) plans to expand in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park by spotlighting a host of negative impacts on the park as well as the surrounding communities. Key findings of thte report, “Double Fault,” include that while city taxpayers provided more than $322 million in city bonds for USTA construction, the majority of the organization’s full-time and high-salary jobs are located … Continue reading
It seems that even in a state as robust and diverse as ours, certain groups still must fight to be heard. And after reviewing this years’ proposed executive budget, it appears that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in New York is no exception. We live in times that are tough economically – and when calls for balanced budgets grow louder, times get even harder. We commend the Governor and the legislature for making every effort to right … Continue reading
The tragic result of the slip of a finger—that is how the attorney for cop killer Lamont Pride described his client’s actions on the night he shot Police Office Pete Figoski in the face, killing the 22-year NYPD veteran. A little over two years after the slain officer was laid to rest, a jury failed to convict the monster that killed him of the most serious of the charges levied against him, aggravated murder. Now instead of a mandatory life … Continue reading
January 30, 2013 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this letter in response to an article written by Pat Adams that was the cover story of the Forum Newspaper on January 24, 2013. The article was about the safety of PS/MS 146 in Howard Beach. Let me be very clear by stating that I am very upset and angered by this article, and I feel that Pat Adams is targeting PS/MS 146 for no reason other than to … Continue reading
I would like to take this opportunity to wish the loyal readers and advertisers of The Forum a very happy and healthy new year. For many this has been a very difficult year and challenges that at times seemed insurmountable were and are being met every day. There is not a person who has not been touched by the events that closed out this year. There is also not a person who is not touched by the degree of resiliency … Continue reading
The automobile was one of the easily overlooked casualties of Superstorm Sandy. As storm surges overwhelmed large swaths of Queens, leaving thousands without power and homeless, automobiles were like sitting ducks as seawater slammed through local streets. More than a month after the storm, thousands of automobiles in the borough have been ruined. Vehicles which take salt water to the dash are likely totaled by insurance companies. In New York, a mandatory crush law is in effect for all cars … Continue reading
Individuals in the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy should beware of a solicitation letter sent out by GC Environmental, Inc., a private company with no affiliation with the State of New York, falsely claiming to be from the “Department of Remediation,” the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) warned today. The letter states that homeowners will be fined $25,000 per day for failing to clean up their residences from oil spills after the storm and featured a likeness … Continue reading
A man was shot and killed by police on Saturday night after pointing what appeared to be a handgun at Brooklyn North narcotics officers following a drug operation. According to police, the incident occurred at about 10:43pm at the intersection of Gates and Seneca Avenues in Ridgewood, Queens when two plain-clothes NYPD narcotics detectives had just arrested a suspect in a buy and bust operation when they were suddenly confronted by a 42-year-old Hispanic male who drew what appeared to … Continue reading
FEMA moving into Forest Hills has been a welcome sight for the area’s local businesses. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy hitting New York and other parts of the northeast, the federal agency has taken over the vacant space at the Forest Hills Towers on 118-35 Queens Boulevard that was left by airline Jet Blue, which opened its new headquarters in Long Island City earlier this year. The agency has brought hundreds of employees— about 700— to the area, according … Continue reading
Former counsel to Assembly members Audrey Pheffer, Phil Goldfeder Forest Hills resident Larry Love will be getting a new office on January 1st. Love, a former private practice attorney, was elected to the New York City Civil Court, 5th District on November 6th. He was sworn into office amont later on December 6th in Queens. Love ran unopposed in the last general election and was endorsed by Democratic, Conservative, Republican and Independence parties. The New York City Civil Courts are … Continue reading