West Flushing Civic Association

Issues Facing Flushing As 2002 Rolls Into 2003

By RICHARD JANNACCIO, president

In the final two months of 2002, the issues that are hot and heating up now are clear. Equally clear is that many of these concerns will continue to affect us in 2003 and beyond.

With nationwide and global problems looming like dark clouds over everyday life in New York City, we must not lose sight of more strictly local issues and initiatives that affect the quality of our everyday lives as residents of the Town of Flushing in the County of Queens in the City of New York.

These issues and initiatives include the following (not in any particular order):

1) Plans to form a business improvement district for downtown Flushing. A meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at the Flushing Library from 6 - 7:30 p.m. with John Liu to discuss the plan.

2) Development Plans for RKO Keith, the former Caldor's, etc.

3) The sewage retention tank and its environmentally destructive and health threatening fallout: how bad is it and when will it end?

4) A redevelopment plan for the Queens Botanical Gardens and its impact on residents of Flushing. The proposed plan includes moving the Gardens' parking lot into a residential district.

5) The 2012 Olympics: Flushing seems to be targeted for environmental destruction of its waterways, and also to become the site for a fourth stadium --mostly by people who do not live in Flushing.

In addition, there are ongoing issues and concerns that seem to be getting worse rather than improving. These include:

1) The desecration of our environment and its impact on our health and survival, on our quality of life, and on future generations. This degradation includes the quality of our air and water. It includes concerns about the decline of wholesomeness and purity in our food supply.

2) The quality of our healthcare system, and its unaffordability and inaccessibility.

3) The neglect, misuse and abuse of our local parks.

4) The erosion of our civil liberties, and the growing malignancy of social and economic injustices.

5)The rampant corruption local politics, disenfranchisement of voters, and other actions associated with the subversion of democracy.

6)The dysfunctionalization of our "community," including, but not limited to, the epidemic of racism, and other forms of ignorance, in our community.

We certainly have no shortage of serious problems, and at this point in time, for the most part, it does not appear that we are moving forward.

Many of topics of concern have been covered in the local press. Many of the more important ones have not been covered adequately--or not been covered at all.

To read more, click on the topics that interest you under the heading "Community Hotlinks," which you will find on the lower right of the WFCA Homepage.

And please use the "Talk About It" section (upper right of Homepage) to communicate your thoughts, your concerns, or just to say hello.

Best regards and Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Richard Jannaccio