Editorial: Hopes for 2014

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We hope for a boardwalk in 2014. If that’s impossible we hope the Parks Department and EDC will put in place some temporary measures to create a continuous stretch of boardwalk for 2-3 miles. And they should get after DOT to put some fresh blacktop between the jersey barriers on Shore Front and the beach. That bike/walking lane could be made a lot smoother and enjoyable.

We hope the new mayor, Bill de Blasio, gets a long loud cheer when he comes to Rockaway St. Patrick’s Parade. He’ll deserve the cheer after he announces the ferry service will continue through 2019 (just like Bloomberg did with the East River ferry).

We hope the Game Changer competition changes the game. The EDC (same guys running the boardwalk show) are in charge of dispensing up to $18 million dollars to the winners of a competition that would dramatically change Rockaway or at least a part of Rockaway.

We hope real work gets started on the Courthouse. How many years have we been asking about that?

We hope construction is completed and the lousy, lousy roads along Beach Channel Drive and Rockaway Beach Boulevard are made driveable.

We hope the east end gets an assemblyperson who shows up. Michelle Titus has ignored about 60,000 people in the post- Sandy era, a time when people have really needed help. She’s Exhibit A for those who want term limits on the state level.

We hope new businesses continue to pop up. As crazy as 2013 was, a lot of small business people showed their faith in Rockaway by launching new ventures.

We hope the big sand replenishment starts in January and is done by Memorial Day.

We hope the disastrous Biggert-Waters Act which will trigger flood insurance premiums sure to devastate the community is delayed. While delayed, legislators can get to work fixing it.

We hope the Far Rockaway Shopping Center turns into a real destination with new shops.

We hope you – our cherished readers - will stay with us and stay engaged. Rockaway has a lot going for it but top of the list are the people here.

We hope the sewer treatment plants stops smelling like an open sewer.

We hope the Army Corps gets their reformulation study done. We can’t hope forever about more beach protection.

We hope we’re not repeating this list in 10 years!