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From the
New York World:
Mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner lived up to his reputation as a quixotic lawmaker as he unveiled an ambitious roadmap to take power back from Albany.
Through his “City Bill of Rights,” unveiled on a dark blue carboard placard mounted on a wooden stand, Weiner vowed that if elected mayor he would slash the power of the state capital over New York City on a range of issues that have long remained out of the hands of frustrated city lawmakers.
He vowed to attempt to reclaim New York City’s power to make decisions affecting some essential functions of government, including taxation, rent regulation, the MTA and charter school authorization.
His proposal echoed a position he previously staked out in “Keys to the City,” a policy document he introduced before entering the mayoral race in May.
“Every 4th of July we should not only think about the independence of our country, but we should think a little bit about the independence of New York City from the shackles of Albany,” he said next to the steps of City Hall, noting that he had, for effect, carefully chosen the national celebration as his time to pick a fight with Albany.
Weiner singled out giving New York City authority to raise and lower taxes as his day-one priority. Currently, changes in the city’s income, sales and business taxes must first get the nod of the state Legislature.
From the
Daily News:
With the American Revolution raging in the fall of 1776, a British battleship sailed to Whitestone to punish a patriot.
Mortar shells crashed into the home of Francis Lewis, who had recently signed the Declaration of Independence. He wasn't there, but soldiers destroyed his estate and imprisoned his frail wife.
He lost nearly everything for the fledgling nation.
Nearly two and a half centuries later, Lewis' descendants fear his sacrifice is largely forgotten in Queens, and they want to honor their ancestor with a tribute near the site of his home.
New York City was home to three signers of the Declaration of Independence, but not a single abode of theirs remains.
Like Francis Lewis' estate, the South Bronx home of signer Lewis Morris was trashed by the British. Housing projects and boarded-up buildings mark the site today.
The British also seized the Brooklyn Heights mansion of signer Philip Livingston and turned it into a hospital.
Among New York State’s four signers, the only home that still exists belonged to William Floyd, a wealthy land speculator who resided in Mastic Beach, L.I.
From the
Times Ledger:
Bay Terrace Community Alliance members unanimously threw their support behind a declaration of independence that the group unveiled last week, calling for them to separate from Community Board 7 and join CB 11.
The Bay Terrace residents said at their Dec. 8 meeting at the Benenson Family Center of the Chabad of Northeast at 212-12 26th Ave. in Bayside that they wanted to join CB 11 because they felt closer geographically and culturally to the area represented by CB 11 than to CB 7. A number of the members stressed the move was important because they then would be covered by the 111th Precinct, which is physically closer to them than the 109th Precinct, which now has jurisdiction over Bay Terrace.
“CB 7 is a really hardworking board,” said Warren Schreiber, the BTCA president. “They have terrific, dedicated members, but it’s not where we belong.”
The 200-acre section of northeast Queens between 26th Avenue and Fort Totten was originally considered part of Bayside, but it has long been a part of CB 7 despite its being far closer to Bayside and Little Neck than to CB 7’s hub in Flushing. Bay Terrace is also near Whitestone, which is a part of CB 7.
CB 7 covers Flushing, Whitestone, College Point, Murray Hill and Bay Terrace, while CB 11 includes Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, Hollis Hills and Oakland Gardens. The two boards share Auburndale.
The declaration of independence, which BTCA members voted to adopt, revealed at last week’s meeting, begins in a familiar way.
“We, the people of Bay Terrace, hereby declare our rights as residents of the community of Bayside, Queens,” the document reads.
The declaration goes on to say that Bay Terrace has “always been part of the historical, geographical, governmental, social and religious fabric of the community of Bayside,” and residents have “been forced to remain within Community Board 7 against our will.”
The document states that police response time could decrease should Bay Terrace be covered by the 111th Precinct.
