With just a month to go before the state Legislature breaks for the summer, New Yorkers are strongly in favor of both increasing the minimum wage and cutting taxes on businesses, according to a new Siena Research Institute poll. Comment.

Queens is in the midst of an incredible period of economic growth, with billions of dollars in proposed construction and thousands of new residents expected in the next 20 years. The borough is home to two airports and they are the lifeblood of our local business community. Comment.

Labor negotiations have not reached a tipping point yet at Bayside’s Ozanam Hall nursing home, but members of the UFCW Local 342 union voted Monday to authorize a strike, the group said. Comment.

The New York Racing Association, which oversees the racetrack at Aqueduct, said Friday it fired two top executives after a state report revealed they illegally withheld $8.5 million in bettor winnings. Comment.

The Ironworkers Local Union No. 40 and 361 will conduct a recruitment from March 22 through May 24 for 100 ironworker outside apprentices. Comment.

In order to start the state in the direction of pay equality, state Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) announced a legislative package that would work to end wage discrimination statewide. The legislation was accompanied by a resolution proclaiming April 17 as Equal Pay Day in the state. Comment.

A broad stroke from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s veto pen eliminated funding for too many local community groups, according to state Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach). Comment.

A College Point construction business was ordered to cough up more than $1 million after admitting it failed to pay its workers the “prevailing wage” mandated for any company with a public works contract doing business with the city. Comment.

As 2012 moves along, there has been an improvement, ever so slight, in the unemployment figure. Comment.

Those with the “drill, baby, drill” mentality are either ignorant to the fact that we do not need more oil or are being manipulated and used as shills by the big oil conglomerates in order to increase their unprecedented profits. Comment.

The Ironworkers Local Union No. 40 and 361 will conduct a recruitment from March 22 through May 24 for 100 ironworker outside apprentices. Comment.

Where is the Glass-Steagall Act when we need it? In 1933, U.S. Sens. Carter Glass (D-Vt.) and Henry Steagall (D-Ala.) introduced the legislation which bears their name. Due largely to unregulated bank market speculation, we suffered the Great Crash of 1929. Comment.

For 2013, Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposes to slash $26.7 million from the Queens Public Library budget. This dramatic reduction in funding is disheartening and borders on outrageous. Comment.

A group of Flushing organizations will host a job fair and career expo Friday at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel at 10 a.m. Comment.

I was disappointed to read your March 2 editorial “Save the College Point Mail Center,” as you incorrectly characterized my role in fighting the closure of the U.S. Postal Service’s College Point mail facility. Comment.

As we continue through 2012 toward the presidential election in November, there is one thing that is definite: This country is still in big economic trouble and things do not seem to be improving at all. Comment.

In three months, the U.S. Postal Service plans to close its College Point facility, which employs 1,000 people. The USPS has decided to move the operation to a facility in Brooklyn. Comment.

Racino gambling is a big money and job generator in the Empire State. Comments (1).

It would create a good feeling if once in a while taxpayer dollars produce a legislator who takes the time to seriously look at an important issue that will affect the residents of this city. Comment.

As we watch the numbers of Occupy Wall Street protesters dwindle, understandably so with the advent of the winter months and cold weather, many may think or even wish that they have gone away, but the 99 percent movement is far from dead. Comment.

In New York state, more than 3 million people are living beneath the federal poverty line. From 2007 to the present, that number has increased by 11 percent, according to federal census data. Comments (9).

The good news is Fresh Direct has decided to relocate to the Bronx. The bad news is Queens will lose 2,000 jobs. Comments (1).

Relief will soon be on the way for Queens homeowners on the brink of foreclosure and to some who have lost their houses after the federal government and five of the country’s largest mortgage providers reached a $25 billion agreement over foreclosure abuses. Comments (1).

Mayor Michael Bloomberg unveiled last Thursday his $68.7 billion budget — a spending plan that has no tax increases or calls for teachers and uniformed city workers to lose their jobs. Comment.

More and more New Yorkers cannot afford to retire and a principal reason is that dwindling numbers of people have pensions, according to a new study. Comment.

As New Yorkers await the arrival of their W-2s, Mayor Michael Bloomberg visited a Corona church Monday to promote the city’s multiple free tax preparation sites and a multi-city program that can make tax returns for the city’s poorest residents go further. Comments (2).

The next time you ride an N, a Q or an R train, it might be Occupied. Comment.

The punishment should fit the crime. Fining law-abiding citizens up to $300 because they put their trash cans out too early in the day is nuts. Comment.

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) said he supports raising the legal age to gamble to 21 from 18, saying the move would limit the number of youngsters with gambling addictions. Comments (1).

In 1935, at the height of the Great Depression, a group of retired policemen came together to organize one of the largest international expositions the world had ever seen. The end goal: to lift the city out of an economic depression. Comment.

The country’s unemployment rate dropped for the fourth straight month to a three-year low of 8.5 percent in December, according to statistics released Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor. Comment.

The District Council 16 Cement and Concrete Workers Training and Education Fund will conduct a recruitment from Jan. 3 to 17 for 15 skilled construction craft laborer apprentices. Comment.

As I have made clear from Day 1, the main reason I got into politics is out of concern for the future of our nation. As a grandfather of 13, my priority is to improve our economy by helping foster an environment where businesses can create lasting jobs and address our national debt crisis so our children and grandchildren can prosper in this country. Comment.