Letters to the Editor

57 Years of Public Transportation in Long Island

Dear Editor:

July, 2021 marks the 57th Anniversary of federal government support for public transportation. The success of public transportation can be traced back to one of the late President Lyndon Johnson’s greatest accomplishments which continues benefiting many Americans today. On July 9th, 1964 he signed the “Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964” into law. Subsequently this has resulted in the investment over time of several hundred billion dollars into public transportation.

Millions of Americans today on a daily basis utilize various public transportation alternatives. They include local and express bus, ferry, jitney, light rail, subway and commuter rail services. All of these systems use less fuel and move far more people than conventional single occupancy vehicles. Most of these systems are funded with your tax dollars thanks to President Johnson.

Depending upon where you live, consider the public transportation alternative. Try riding a local or express bus, commuter van, ferry, light rail, commuter rail or subway.

Fast forward to today. Fortunately we have the MTA and its various operating agencies, including NYC Transit subway, bus and Staten Island Railway, Long Island Rail Road, Metro North Rail Road and MTA Bus.

There is also New Jersey Transit, Port Authority Trans Hudson (PATH) subway, NYC Departments of Transportation Staten Island Ferry and Economic Development Corporation private ferries.

Using MTA Metro Cards provides free transfers between the subway and bus. This has eliminated the old two fare zones making public transportation an even better bargain. Purchasing a monthly commuter rail or MTA subway/bus pass reduces the cost per ride and provides virtually unlimited trips. In many cases, employers can offer transit checks which help subsidizes a portion of the costs. Utilize this and reap the benefits. It supports a cleaner environment.

Many employers now allow employees to telecommute and work from home. Others use alternative work schedules which afford staff the ability to avoid rush hour gridlock. This saves travel time and can improve mileage per gallon. Join a car or van pool to share the costs of commuting.

The ability to travel from home to workplace, school, shopping, entertainment, medical, library etc. is a factor when moving to a new neighborhood. Economically successful communities are not 100% dependent on automobiles as the sole means of mobility. Seniors, students, low and middle income people need these transportation alternatives. Investment in public transportation today contributes to economic growth, employment and a stronger economy. Dollar for dollar, it is one of the best investments we can make.

What better way to honor the late President Johnson and all that has been achieved these past 57 years in public transportation by continuing funding the federal Highway Trust Fund and Mass Transit Account.

Sincerely,
Larry Penner

(Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for the MTA, NYC Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro North Rail Road MTA Bus, NYC Department of Transportation along with 30 other transit agencies in NY & NJ).

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Not Happy with NYC Gov’t

Dear Editor:

Wilhelm deBlasio is retiring, leaving us to pick up the pieces of his rubble. He reduced New York City to ruin, gleefully implemented AOC’s if-I-Only-Had-a-Brain’s demented calls to defund police, stood by as murder, rape, daylight assaults on citizens, tourists, skyrocket. “The Democratic Legislature, with the backing of both Mr. de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, ended cash bail last year.” This releases repeat, dangerous criminals who now account for much of the increase in crime we are seeing now.

“NYC’s Mayor Bill DeBlasio quipped at a Tuesday news conference that he may consider a second act in comedy…I just want to volunteer, I have an incredible new act where I just eat food live…De Blasio said.” I have a better idea. Retire to Cuba where you once honeymooned and stay there. Enjoy your third world food and drink. And leave us alone. You’ve already done enough damage here, to the once great city of New York which will never fully recover from your failed attempts to inflict a warped, naive, knee jerk, version of socialism on New Yorkers who have suffered under your reign and will continue to suffer long after you are gone. Go away. Go far away.

Sincerely
Julia Merendorf

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Who You Gonna Call?

Dear Editor:

Israel is under attack again. Even Biden said Israel has a right to defend itself. Whew. That’s a relief because if we left Israel’s defense up to Elizabeth Warren, or the Squad, who call for an end to military aid to Israel, or Bernie Sanders of IfNotNow Israel bashing fame, there would be no Israel left to defend. Or, if left to the ADL, The Jewish Voice, “that former, vital and fearless Jewish defense group, now under the leadership of Jonathan Greenblatt who has shamelessly joined other such worthless groups as HIAS, J Street, T’ruah, Jewish Voices for Peace and The National Council of Jewish Women, who beg their Jewish benefactors for cash while serving the interests of anti-Jewish causes and movements”, whose Greenblatt excused BDS boycotters as “social protesters” when BDS’ clearly stated goal is the total elimination of Israel. What lesson will it take for Jonathan and his ilk to learn, the more you bend over backwards, the harder you will get kicked.

So maybe it’s time for the smug 600 Jewish groups who “put aside their differences’’, took out an ad in the Israel smearing rag, NY Times, for “unequivocal support for BLM”, to take out ads protesting say, the Islamic jihad of Hamas, genocidal threats of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Nazi Jew hate in Arab textbooks, or the antisemitism of Muslim SJP, largely unchallenged, left to fester for the past decade by American Jewish groups, so that Jewish students are now unsafe on college campuses. I’d rather depend upon the courage and strength of the IDF, who know a true victim from an oppressor, who know they must stand tall, who deserve a full page ad, something “progressive” Jews in America no longer see fit to do.

Sincerely
David Smythe