oped BTR letters & comments
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J BTR UNE 14-20, 2019 13
Ways to pay for
ferry service
statements
The press choses to
describe me as a villain
BY COUNCILMAM
REV. RUBEN DIAZ, SR.
You should know that our
laws require all public offi -
cials to provide a fi nancial report
of all assets, income, and
possessions we have acquired
during the year.
You should also know that
every year, throughout my
entire public life, I have been
very careful and extremely
meticulous to insure full disclosure
and transparency. I
have been honest in providing
receipts, and all of my fi nances
to the last penny. I do this in
an effort to avoid any misunderstandings,
criticisms and
to always walk with my head
held high.
It is said in an ancient Roman
cliché that “Caesar’s wife
must not only be pure, but she
must also have the appearance
of purity.” Which means
that one must not only look
the part, but live the part. In
other words, you look pure, because
you are pure.
It is important for you to
know that as the senior pastor
of the Christian Community
Neighborhood Church I do not
receive a salary. I also do not
receive a salary to serve as the
president of the New York Hispanic
Clergy Organization.
The services I provide within
my ministry are all in-kind
contributions, and I do not
deduct the value of these services
when fi ling my taxes.
Most churches, including
mine, celebrate annually ‘The
Pastor’s Appreciation Day’.
Pastors Day at my church, is
celebrated on my birthday.
On this day the community,
church and clergy members
and elected offi cials are invited,
and I receive gifts, in
the form of love offerings. I
have also reported those gifts
when received. I’ve never hidden
anything. I am transparent,
because as a man of faith,
I must answer to a higher authority,
not just the IRS, and
other requirements.
Now the press along with
my political enemies (who
never get tired of looking for
an opportunity to accuse me
of wrong doing) instead of giving
me kudos for my transparency
and honest virtue, for reporting
all gifts and income,
fi nd cause to mock me.
Some reporters are so disingenuous
that it’s as if it
were their investigative work
that disclosed my information.
They reported as if they
had a great ‘gotcha’ moment,
intended to give the appearance
as if they caught me doing
something illegal.
But what you should know
is that it was I who voluntarily
reported the gifts. There was
no need for any investigative
reporting and there was no
great ‘gotcha’ moment which
would greatly please my enemies.
The community, both
Christian and secular, have
elected an honest, transparent,
public servant that has
nothing to hide. When they
elected me, they elected a
virtuous man of faith, with a
clean conscience, who takes
pride in my integrity, and
preserving my reputation. As
I said before; I must because
I answer not only to secular
laws but to the laws of a
higher moral authority.
Sadly, what can be said of
political enemies and some
disingenuous reporters, when
instead of recognizing one’s
honesty and transparency
chose to mock, deride, and
disparage me. It is clear that
they would give anything to
destroy my good name and
reputation.
To them I say, I will always
be the same, my beliefs will
always be the same and I will
never waver on my beliefs,
virtues, and principals which
are biblically rooted.
Dear editor,
Here are some ways to pay
for ‘TN ferry service expansion
meeting set for June 18th’
(Patrick Rocchio -- May 31)
The Federal Transit Administration
earlier this year
announced the opportunity to
apply for $30 million in Fiscal
Year 2019 competitive grant
funding for passenger ferry
projects nationwide. The Passenger
Ferry Grant Program
is authorized by Congress for
projects that develop and support
ferry service on many
of the nation’s waterways, including
the purchase, repair,
and modernization of ferry
boats, terminals, and related
facilities that communities depend
on.
FTA will award competitive
grants to states and public
entities to purchase, repair, or
modernize ferry boats, terminals,
and related facilities and
equipment, supporting existing
ferry service and the establishment
of new passenger
ferry service.
Did Mayor de Blasio and local
elected offi cials ask NYC
Department of Transportation
Commissioner Polly Trottenberg
to submit grant applications
to both the FTA
Passenger Ferry Program and
NYS Department of Transportation?
There are other annual
FTA grant programs such as
Urban Area Formula, Capital
Annual Investment and Congestion
Mitigation Air Quality
that could also be used as
funding sources.
Why not apply for capital
grants from Washington
and Albany to assist in funding?
NYCDOT does this and
receives millions annually
on behalf of the Staten Island
Ferry. Albany also provides
State Transportation Operating
Assistance for transportation
systems such as the Staten
Island Ferry along with local
share against federal grants.
Ridership on any transit service
generates yearly federal
transportation formula capital
assistance. Numerous past
private ferry operators have
come and gone. They could not
fi nancially survive based upon
farebox revenue alone without
government subsidy. MTA bus,
subway and commuter rail
along with NYCDOT Staten Island
Ferry is subsidized by a
combination of city, state and
federal assistance for both capital
and operating costs. All of
these proposed new ferry services
will require similar subsidies
to survive.
Riders could purchase
weekly or monthly passes for
discounted fares. These could
be supplemented by using
Transit Checks which will further
reduce the cost per ride.
Riding a ferry can be less
stressful than being packed
in a subway car like sardines
in a can or stuck on a bus running
late in traffi c.
Larry Penner
This week’s As Stated features
comments on undocumented
immigrants receiving
access to driver’s licenses
and the ongoing battle to stop
Mayor de Blasio from putting
a prison in Mott Haven.
Speaker Carl Heastie
and Assemblyman Marcos
Crespo issue a joint statement
on access to drivers licenses
for all New Yorkers.....
“The Assembly Transportation
Committee took a critical
fi rst step and passed legislation
(A.3675A) to allow
undocumented immigrants
access to drivers licenses.
“ The full Assembly will
take up and pass this legislation
when we return to session
next Tuesday. Make no
mistake, this legislation is a
critical step towards making
our roads safer, boosting our
state’s economy and protecting
hardworking New Yorkers
and their families.
“With or without this legislation,
undocumented immigrants
are driving. In fact,
until 2001, this fundamental
privilege was extended to all
New Yorkers, regardless of
immigration status. As legislators,
we have an obligation
to do what is in the best
interest of public safety, and
we know licensed drivers are
safer drivers. They know the
rules of the road and understand
traffi c regulations. By
ensuring all drivers are licensed
to drive in the state,
we can be certain that every
driver is trained, tested and
operating a registered, inspected
and insured vehicle.
“While our opponents continue
to spread misinformation
and stoke fears about the
intentions and consequences
of this legislation, we will
continue to do what is best
for New Yorkers.”
Statement from Borough
President Diaz, Jr. re Diego
Beekman lawsuit and mayor’s
jail proposal..... “The lawsuit
fi led by the residents of Diego
Beekman Houses is a direct
result of this administration’s
failure to give true consideration
to an alternative
site in the Bronx.
“The Lippmann Commission’s
own recommendations
make it clear that the Mott
Haven tow yard is the wrong
site for the proposed jail, as it
does not meet the principles
of restorative justice. There
is a perfectly valid alternative
site for the proposed
Bronx jail—adjacent to The
Bronx Hall of Justice inclusive
of the current site of
Bronx Family Court—yet the
city has blatantly refused to
give this location any consideration.
“In the interest of political
expediency the administration
has chosen the wrong
site for its proposed jail, and
the residents of the Diego
Beekman Houses are justifi
ed in seeking legal remedy
to the city’s intransigence.”
SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE
ASSEMBLYMAN MARCOS CRESPO
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.
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