Gjonaj letters & comments
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,BTR JUNE 26-JULY 2, 2020 13
BY COUNCILMAN
MARK GJONAJ
Phase 2 reopening has begun
in our city. Where Phase
1 saw merely the resumption
of construction, manufacturing
and curbside pickup for select
retail, Phase 2 plans, naturally,
are more expansive, and
I am proud that the administration
has heeded my calls
and those of my colleagues in
the Council to advance the reopening
process.
Now open for New Yorkers
are professional offi ces,
real estate services, hair salons
and barbershops, in-store
retail shops, motor vehicle
leasing and sales, houses of
worship at 25% capacity, playgrounds
and outdoor dining. It
is my sincere hope that these
reopenings, performed when
the proper authorities deemed
it safe to do so and not with potential
to aggravate our progress
in fl attening the infection
curve, are integral in jump
starting our city’s economy.
I am especially glad that
outdoor dining capability has
been granted to restaurants,
who are fi ghting to survive the
mandate closings and partial
operation orders. Sidewalks,
section of the street, parks,
plazas, alleys and other areas
are eligible categories of public
space that restaurants can
apply to repurpose for outdoor
dining.
To begin the application
process, restaurants are to
contact the NYC Department
of Transportation, including
by website at their Outdoor
Dining page. Let’s get creative
in developing possible dining
spaces.
I am certain, following the
success of Phase 2 reopening,
both in its support to small
businesses and lack of effect
on the growth of COVID,
we will then look forward to
Phase 3 reopening and later,
Phase 4.
There are 8 enumerated
phases of reopening that Governor
Cuomo’s offi ce have provided,
of which specifi c services
we can look forward to
returning include: hotel and
hospitality services, houses
of worship at full capacity and
indoor dining. I look forward
to, as much as I’m sure you do,
to returning to normalcy and
reviving small businesses.
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Note that the address and telephone number will NOT be published and the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.
To NYC Mayor de Blasio
and NYS Governor Cuomo,
Both have not continued
our laws of protecting the citizens
of our city and state but
have started a revolving door
to our justice system. Governor
Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio,
you have no respect for
every American citizen. You
have changed the laws to let
criminals on the streets and
let our New York City become
a sanctuary city that not only
harbors illegal aliens, but also
criminals among them, exposing
every American citizen
who has worked and sacrifi ced
to live their American Dream.
Mayor de Blasio, your
daughter was arrested. The
daughter who, as a parent,
you backed 100 percent. Did
you ever teach her to pray and
protest in a Christian manner
to injustice; not joining
in with violence and looting?
My mother always said, “You
can always tell a person by the
company they keep.” Maybe
you should reassess the company
she keeps. Better yet,
give up your protection detail
that protects you and your
family, then maybe a little fear
would enter your life, like myself
and others are experiencing
at this time.
May I also suggest to our
Governor Cuomo that you also
should give up your protection
detail and come down to our
level and experience what the
citizens of your NYS are feeling
— fear of losing all they
have worked for and sacrifi ced
for, which may be a total loss.
Barbara Argiento
Dear letters editor:
During the amNewYork
MTA NYC Transit and NYC’s
Reopening transportation webinar
in response to a question
about plans for any fare increase
as a result of COVID-19,
MTA Chairman Pat Foye said
in no uncertain terms there
is no consideration toward
imposing a fare hike in the
worst-case scenario due to the
COVID-19 ridership loss.
What he failed to mention is
the previous plan agreed upon
by both Governor Andrew
Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio.
It included both congestion
pricing and fare increases
as part of a funding package to
support the $51 billion MTA
2020-2024 Five Year Capital
Plan. This plan includes fare
increases no greater than 2%
per year.
The MTA and State Legislature
committed to fare increases
occurring every two
years. With a fare increase
in 2019, the next would be
in 2021. The MTA currently
faces fi nancial shortfalls in
the billions for both capital
and operating expenses. Any
fare increase for NYC Transit
local, express and select bus
service, subway, Staten Island
Railway, MTA Bus along with
Long Island and Metro North
Rail Roads could be up to 4%.
There is still no guarantee
that congestion pricing will
begin in 2021.
Due to the economic recession
as a result of COVID-19,
billions anticipated from
congestion pricing, real estate
transfer, internet sales,
along with other city and state
taxes, will be lost. The result
could be a larger fare increase
in 2021. The alternative could
be reductions in the level of
service, frequency of maintenance
along with delays
to capital projects and programs
to minimize any fare
increases.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
CM Gjonaj talks
Phase 2 plans
CM Gjonaj Courtesy Facebook of Mark Gjonaj
Bronx Zoo mask giveaway
Fashion designers distributed over 300 masks to the community at a spcial event at the Bronx Zoo. Bronx resident Renelis
Seguis gets a nice face mask from designer Humberto Penaloza, a New York City-based designer who is focused on
sustainable fashion. Photo by Miriam Quinones
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