EDITORIAL
THE UNSAFE REALITY
Traditionally, the head of the MTA and the leader
of its biggest labor union are often on the
opposite sides of most things related to public
transit.
So we took notice when MTA Chair and CEO
Pat Foye and Transport Workers Union Local 100
President Tony Utano came together last week to
denounce the latest rash of subway crime in Queens
and around New York City, and practically beg the
city to step up and do something to stop it.
“The city appears to have defunded the NYPD
on the subways,” Foye charged. Utano elaborated
by pointing out that the subway and bus workers
his union represents have been regularly “spit on …
punched … and stabbed.”
“And then you have a mayor who says there’s no
problem,” he added.
That’s not entirely accurate, but Mayor Bill de
Blasio has downplayed the seriousness of the recent
crime spike in New York City — with major crimes
up 30 percent in April alone, and shootings skyrocketing
by 166 percent.
During a press conference last week, de Blasio
blamed the shooting spike on a few bad apples spoiling
the Big Apple, saying, “There’s a very small
number of people” — a few thousand, he surmised
— ”committing the acts of violence.”
Even if that were true, it doesn’t shake the incredible
insecurity New Yorkers are feeling. When
they read about subway workers getting attacked, or
dozens of people being shot on a spring weekend, or
overall crime ballooning to levels unseen in years,
residents become alarmed enough to think twice
about going out.
And that’s the last thing they need as the city recovers
from COVID-19.
The mayor can’t brush off the MTA, nor TWU Local
100, nor the public any longer when it comes to
crime. We applaud the efforts made to find alternative
enforcement to help stop crime — from expanded
mental health services to violence interrupters.
But it’s not enough.
The simple answer is also the right one: We need
more cops on the streets and subways, and we need
them today.
It’s pollyannaish to think that we can keep our
city safe without the NYPD; they are, indeed, necessary
for the city’s safety. We must not accept police
brutality or racial injustice, and we refuse to believe
that the NYPD cannot do its job under the new reforms
being implemented.
Mayor de Blasio must increase the NYPD’s
presence, and help ensure our safe comeback from
COVID-19.
HOW TO REACH US
TIMESLEDGER | Q 18 NS.COM | MAY 14-MAY 20, 2021
STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS AT
THE BAYSIDE LIRR STATION
MUST BE ADDRESSED NOW!
There are ongoing problems
at the Bayside Long Island
Rail Road station that impact
several thousand daily
riders.
I give the LIRR full credit for
the installation of new concrete
ties and ballast. This will ensure
a safer and more comfortable ride.
They have also recently completed
repairs to sections of the westbound
platform edge.
But there is still other significant
outstanding maintenance and
repair work to be done.
The original wooden support
beams for various sections of the
canopy have deteriorated. Pigeons
have moved into the rotting bottom
section of the westbound canopy
stairs roof, and their droppings can
be seen at the bottom of the westbound
stairs and the second set of
stairs for the eastbound platform.
The metal structure supporting
the overpass connecting the eastbound
and westbound platforms
has begun accumulating rust.
There is also a hole in one of the
eastbound steel staircases. Other
portions of the canopy roof are also
in need of repair.
Why has the LIRR waited so
long to allow these issues to grow
even worse? When will the necessary
repairs to these structural
deficiencies be dealt with and completed?
Larry Penner,
Great Neck
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Mayor de Blasio must increase the NYPD’s presence, and help ensure our safe comeback from COVID-19.
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