After some time away from the keyboard of my laptop to enjoy the company of family and friends, I suddenly felt just a little guilty that I have not communicated with you in a while . . . but I know you have been busy as well.

We are at the top of another calendar with a whole year ahead of us to correct past mistakes, make new ones, initiate goals, perhaps fall short of those goals, make improvements to our lives or allow life to slide for another 300 or so days.

Everything around us is new this year and it gives us an opportunity both as individuals and collectively as a City to make significant changes in our lives and our lifestyles.

As a City, there are new heads just about everywhere in government. The mayor, our borough president, city council members, Police and Fire Department commissioners . . .you name it and just about every spot is occupied by a new person.

The good news is that we now have fresh ideas and new perspectives on how this City should be run, rebuilt, and re-energized. For too long the same antiquated, bureaucratic methods of palm- greasing and back-room dealing drove up the cost of operating in the Big Apple. Now with a budget deficit of approximately 4 BILLION dollars, (that’s with a ‘B’ like BIG) it means cuts and belt- tightening. New people should act only on behalf of the constituents and their conscience and, like anyone making sacrifices to balance a budget, the City will get there.

The bad news is that all these new folks have relatively little experience in their positions, with the exception of some agency heads like new Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who held the job before in the early 90s.

The problem of course for council folks is that they shouldn’t spend too much time getting acclimated, since there will be a lot of bacon-grabbing going on at City Hall in the next year. I have seen a lot of the new lawmakers in and around town in recent weeks. Some have a good look in their eyes and seem ready for the task. They seem to appreciate the weight of their responsibilities. However, others seem full of themselves, still trying to break their own arms patting themselves on the back for beating the odds of getting the gig.

A warning to those who may think it’s their turn to chew on the fat of the land: Four years is not a long time and your term and political life will be judged much sooner than that.

I suggest you have the presence of mind to learn from the mistakes of others because, like your mother told you, unless you learn from the past, you are surely destined to repeat those same mistakes and end up where your predecessors are now . . . looking for work.

Queens City Council members need to be especially vigilant since it appears now with the new mayor and council speaker being from Manhattan, you will have you make your presence known to get things done for us.

I heard once that "Every minute that passes is a new chance to turn everything in your life around." The start of a new year is certainly a chance to do that on a number of levels.

Personally, there were definitely some things left undone for me in 2001. I plan to make them happen this year and since some of them are things that were left undone from the year before as well, my sense of urgency is greater indeed. Sept. 11th taught all of us that nothing is guaranteed.

And speaking of the single most memorable day in my life, I can honestly say that I look ahead with a cautioned optimism I did not have before that day. Knowing that every day counts make one more efficient in planning what’s ahead. (At least it’s supposed to).

I am grateful I can visit with family and friends, unlike thousands of other people who now plan life without loved ones. My own testament to survival will be to make the most out of the 300-plus days I have left in the year.

I believe much has been made about re-energizing the City and its businesses. You should also use this year to re-energize your own life.