Where are the marshlands?
While riding the A train from Broad Channel to Howard beach, you may have noticed that the water is almost to the train tracks where there was once marshland. It was only about a year ago that the marshlands extended out about 20 or 30 feet.
Even the beaches in the Rockaway’s are loosing their sand area.

My research has revealed that it is estimated that throughout the Jamaica Bay area alone we are loosing about 40 acres of wetlands each year with only 1,000 or so acres remaining. At this rate we will have no marshlands left in about 25 years. Notice was originally taken in about 1995 that the marshlands were deteriorating. This effect has been happening to marshlands throughout the country for the past 100 years.

What this means to us is that the buffer that helps protect the communities bordering Jamaica Bay from winds and waves is disappearing. The Jamaica Bay island marshes have been disappearing much more quickly, and the rate seems to be increasing each year. The Army Corps of Engineers have not been able to figure out why this is happening, and with out a cause they can’t find a solution. The main problem that I have come across for not finding a solution is funding.

In 2003 Congressman Anthony Weiner announced a $34-million project to refurbish cities only federally administered park, which includes Howard Beach, Hamilton Beach and Charles Park. These funds can be seen in action when you pass the visitors center at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. However these funds will also be applied in an effort to save the ecosystem. For the sake of the people of Queens and the residents of Broad Channel I hope some of the funds will be going towards dealing with the digs at the bats bottom, capping the land fills that border the bay, narrowing down the over flow drains that run into the bay and the issue of the shrinking of the islands in the bay. Though I have found nothing to support my hopes besides the words “applied in an effort to save the ecosystem”.


Written and researched by Arthur Wallace

Community Supervision Week July 17-23
July 17-23 is Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week “ a time for the people of Queens, N.Y. to recognize the men and women who work each and every day on the front lines with probationers and parolees. They are exposed to many of the negative aspects of life, they deal with the trauma offenders cause victims, as well as deal with stress and often-unsafe conditions in which they work. Yet each day they continue to work to make our communities a safer place.

These professionals provide protection to our communities. They are often the silent partners, yet they spend the more time with offenders than other agencies. Their services are vital, they are truly our “home land security” if we don’t feel safe in our homes, world safety will mean little to us.

Join Queens, N.Y. and the nation in honoring these invaluable public servants during the week of July 17-23 for Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week.

Information provided by http://www.appa-net.org/

Written by A. Wallace

Two Frozen to Death

It has been all over the news about the two homeless men that were found frozen to death in Queens this weekend. But what has not been explained on the news is the 32-degree law. In the police academy we were taught about what they called the 32-degree law, this law requires that when the temperature drops below 32-degrees, police that come in contact with a homeless person are to take them into custody and/or assist them in finding proper shelter. In the case of the two men found this weekend, they were dead prior to the police finding them. But are other homeless people left to freeze without receiving the help they should have been given? This is a question that I cannot answer. I would like to think that the NYPD is doing everything in their power to follow the 32-degree law. With that in mind, the NYPD cannot be everywhere all the time. It is up to the people of Queens to do their part as well. If you see someone that is homeless, do not approach him/her. Approaching him/her can prove to be a danger to yourself. Yet do not hesitate to pick up a phone and call 311 or approach a police officer (if there is one near by). The city has people that are trained to approach these people in a safe manner and get them the help that they need.



By A. Wallace

When Justice becomes a crime
Just who is to decide when Justice is truly Justice, and when it crosses the line and becomes a Crime.
Recent cases show that our legal system cannot handle this role. There are many cases that I can present to you, but lets work with a topic that is of great concern in today's society. That being Sex Offenders. I know this is a very touchy area for most people, but it needs to be addressed.
In review of statistics 90% of all that are charged with a sexual crime are found guilty, 80% of the ones found guilty accepted a plea, and about 85% of those who took a plea had little or no jail time.
What do these stats say to you? They tell me 3 things. First being that if you were accused of a sexual crime tomorrow (no matter if you were innocent or guilty), there is very good a chance that you're going to be a convicted Sex Offender. Second that most who are charged are taking a plea instead of going to trial (that raises a lot of questions in itself, main one being WHY?). And third is if about 85% who take a plea serve little to no time, has anyone stopped to look into just how many of these people are taking the plea to stay out of jail (including innocent people taking the plea).

To be continued in next months issue.

Written by

Arthur Wallace (in 2004

Arthur Wallace

Corruption within our system
This is not a new topic, but one that needs to be looked into.
About 2 years ago I was asked to research and write an article for a national group regarding those falsely accused of sexual offences for their monthly newsletter (see first part of article “When Justice becomes a crime” below). Last week I was contacted by a nightclub owner from Florida and asked to research a problem he is having with the local sheriff involving drugs. After starting my research into this article, I found that it is a story that needs to be told. Although this site is based around local news for our area, taking a look at the larger picture is sometimes needed to understand just how we are affected on the local level. When corruption is permitted anywhere it will only spread and get worse, it will continue until it hits us locally. Although the follow up to this article in next weeks issue will be based on the situation in Fl., the article will be continued in following weeks displaying problems on more of a local level. It is an important topic and deserves all of our attention. I argue you to follow along as I reveal the information that they don’t want you to know each week. Be sure to send in your comments on each article, your input will make the difference in getting those in charge to take action against the corruption’s as they are revealed.
(Copied from old article)
When Justice becomes a crime
Just who is to decide when Justice is truly Justice, and when it crosses the line and becomes a Crime.
Recent cases show that our legal system cannot handle this role. There are many cases that I can present to you, but lets work with a topic that is of great concern in today's society. That being Sex Offenders. I know this is a very touchy area for most people, but it needs to be addressed.
In review of statistics 90% of all that are charged with a sexual crime are found guilty, 80% of the ones found guilty accepted a plea, and about 85% of those who took a plea had little or no jail time.
What do these stats say to you? They tell me 3 things. First being that if you were accused of a sexual crime tomorrow (no matter if you were innocent or guilty), there is very good a chance that you're going to be a convicted Sex Offender. Second that most who are charged are taking a plea instead of going to trial (that raises a lot of questions in itself, main one being WHY?). And third is if about 85% who take a plea serve little to no time, has anyone stopped to look into just how many of these people are taking the plea to stay out of jail (including innocent people taking the plea).

To be continued in next months issue.
Written by
Arthur Wallace