Hats off to everyone involved in creating a dog run at Little Bay Park. The new facility makes permanent a temporary dog run that was opened at the same location in 2005. This was made possible by $500,000 secured by Tony Avella when he was a city councilman.
When first proposed, the debate over the run actually led to fist fight. We hope even those people who do not like dogs will come to see the value of the dog run. The facility will allow dog owners to run their pets off leashes without bothering other parkgoers. It will be good for dogs that need to run and good for owners who will get the chance to socialize with other dog lovers.
The run includes a 4-foot-high fence and drainage and drinking fountains for pets and people. A group of volunteers has promised to keep the dog run clean, but this should not be necessary. People should clean up after their own pets.
City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe showed foresight and courage in allowing the dog run to be built in a city park. He had to know there were residents who were opposed to the run. But he also understood that dogs are beloved members of many families. As long as the run is kept clean and the dogs are kept on leashes outside the run, no one has reason to complain.
Stop the DOE Madness
Talk about not learning fast. Once again, the city Department of Education is talking about closing Jamaica High School and three other schools in southeast Queens. The idea is as dumb now as it was a year ago. The DOE bureaucrats do not have a clue what this school means to its community.
The other schools targeted for closure are Beach Channel HS, IS 231 Magnetech 2000 in Laurelton and PS 30 in Jamaica. They are on a list of 26 “failing schools” citywide. They will be required to stop taking in new students, opening the way for the creation of smaller schools in the same building.
We urge incoming city Schools Chancellor Cathie Black to put a moratorium on this madness. Jamaica HS is more than a set of scores on a standardized test. It is part of a community with a history and has a role to play in Jamaica’s future.
