BRONX TIMES REPORTER, N BTR OV. 19-25, 2021 13
letters & comments
To the Editor,
“It could take nearly a decade
for public transit to return to
pre-pandemic levels” by Marco
Quiroz-Guitierre appeared in
Fortune Daily, Nov. 2, 2021. This
is must reading to understand
the long-term ridership impacts
in our post COVID-19 era over
the next 10 years. Here is the link:
https://fortune.com/2021/11/02/
covid-public-transportation-prepandemic
levels/ In our new
COVID-19 world, the MTA, NYC
Transit, Long Island and Metro-
North railroads along with New
Jersey Transit have to reevaluate
anticipated future ridership
growth projections. Anticipated
ridership fi gures for the
$11.2 billion East Side Access to
Grand Central Terminal, $6.9
billion Second Avenue Subway
Phase 2 and $1.5 billion Metro-
North Bronx East Penn Station
Access all need to be updated.
More people will continue telecommuting
from home on a part
time or permanent basis. There
will be fewer face to face meetings
and conferences, with increased
use of Zoom and other
technologies. Why initiate any
new system expansion projects
that cost billions until each operating
agency, NYC Transit bus
and subway, MTA bus, Long Island
Railroad and Metro-North
have reached a state of good repair
for existing fl eet, stations,
elevators, escalators, signals,
interlockings, track, power, tunnel
lighting, pumps, yards and
shops. This should also include
insuring a majority of subway
and commuter rail stations are
in compliance with the Americans
With Disabilities (ADA)
Act. Ensure that maintenance
programs for all operating agencies
assets are fully funded and
completed on time to ensure riders
safe uninterrupted reliable
service. There is insuffi cient
funding to support all of the
above state of good repair projects
in the $51 billion MTA Five
Year 2020-2024 Capital Plan. It is
a down payment which will require
funding several more fi veyear
capital plans before each
operating agency can reach a
state of good repair for all asset
categories.
Larry Penner
To the Editor,
This week the hard-right
columnist correctly pointed
out that the political divide
in America is caused by some
citizens being realistic and
other citizens denying reality,
unable to discard their biases.
Sounded promising, initially.
Had the arch-conservative
fi nally seen the light, I wondered?
But alas, it was not to be,
for he continued his column
espousing the same tired canards
that comprise his biased
world view. In his topsyturvy
world any idea or
program that would help individuals
improve their lives is
anathema; progressive ideas
are to be feared, for after all,
isn’t the world perfect as it is?
The right-wing ideologue
believes the Pentagon budget
is being shortchanged, despite
its spending $778 billion,
more than the next 11 countries
combined. Yet he is concerned
about federal spending
on social programs. Amazing
how conservatives cry for
“fi scal responsibility” when
a Democrat is at the helm but
shamelessly grant their well
heeled donors signifi cant tax
breaks.
The author consistently
confl ates progressivism with
socialism, which, to be charitable,
is a misstatement but
typical of the method used
by the author to support his
biases when the facts do not
align with those biases. He
ends the column complaining
about those who are “intentionally
misleading.” The
irony is apparently lost on the
columnist.
Pasqual Pelosi
To the Editor,
There are a number of ignorant
know-it-alls in the
neighborhood spreading lies,
telling people that this upzoning
is a done deal. Wake up because
it is not over. It has just
started. The application must
have a public hearing before
Community Board 10; when
that happens you will be notifi
ed and I hope you all attend.
Then it will be voted on; then it
goes to the borough president
followed by the City Council.
None of this has taken place
yet.
We as a community have
just begun to fi ght this proposed
zoning change. Seventeen
years ago the Department
of City Planning granted our
low density growth management
zone. And for good reasons
— to protect your homes.
Why would they change our
zoning?
We will continue to keep
the fi ght up to protect our
homes. Don’t believe these
neighborhood know-it-alls,
they know nothing. If you
have an honest interest in
your community, help us. Go
to our website, www.stopupzoning.
com, and sign our petition
and make a donation.
Any amount will help.
Andrew Chirico
LET US HEAR FROM YOU
Letters to the editor are welcome from all readers. They should be addressed
care of this newspaper to Laura Guerriero, Publisher, the Bronx Times Reporter,
3604 E. Tremont Ave., Bronx, NY 10465, or e-mail to bronxtimes@cnglocal.com.
All letters, including those submitted via e-mail, MUST be signed and with a
verifi able address and telephone number included.
Note that the address and telephone number will NOT be published and the
name will be published or withheld upon request.
No unsigned letters can be accepted for publication. The editor reserves the
right to edit all submissions.
Photo Adrian Childress
The U.S. Capitol Building following a rainstorm on Capitol Hill in Washington,
U.S., December 4, 2020. Photo by REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo
MTA bus Photo Pablo D. Castillo Jr.
/www.stopup-zoning.com
/www.stopup-zoning.com
/www.stopup-zoning.com
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