oped letters & comments
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,BTR JULY 10-16, 2020 11
oGpjoendaj CM Gjonaj Courtesy Facebook of Mark Gjonaj
BY COUNCILMAN
MARK GJONAJ
I am proud to announce a
series of food pantries in my
New York City Council District
13. At nine different locations
throughout our Bronx
district, residents near those
locations can receive food donations.
The pandemic has
placed major fi nancial constraints
on many of us, with
the Bronx being perhaps hit
harder than other boroughs,
and individuals out of work
or struggling to make ends
meet deserve to have some of
that burden lessened. My offi
ce is committed to providing
sustenance to individuals
and families hit hardest
by the pandemic recession.
Since the onset of the
COVID-19 pandemic, my offi
ce is proud to have hosted
over 90 food giveaways already
in the Council District
13. In gracious cooperation
with, Catholic Charities
of New York, ICNA Relief,
AAOH, the Bronx Community
Council, Martin Brower
Distributors, and others, I
will be now hosting food pantry
events.
Locations, dates and times
include 2157 Holland Ave.
on Thursdays from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m., 2141 Holland Ave.
on Saturdays at 9 a.m., 2626
East Tremont Ave. on Mondays
at 11 a.m., 1812 White
Plains Rd. on Wednesdays at
12 p.m., Saint Lucy Church at
833 Mace Ave. on Sundays at
1 p.m., and 2500 Westchester
Ave, on Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
That is by no means an
enumerative listing, and
our food pantry event lists
includes other locations.
To fi nd an event closest to
you and full details of these
events and their times and
dates, in addition to each
event’s cooperating organization,
see my relevant social
media postings on Twitter,
Facebook and Instagram.
You are also enjoined to contact
my district offi ce directly
and a constituent services
staffer will be pleased
to assist.
For these additional inquiries
about our food pantry
events, please contact
my district offi ce by phone at
718-931-1721 or at MGjonaj@
council.nyc.gov. I am proud
to help support fellow Bronxites
make it through these
tough fi nancial times, providing
the essential goods
and services that individuals
and families require.
Dear letters editor,
HAPPY 56TH BIRTHDAY
TO BRONX PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION!
July 9, 2020 marks the 56th
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 benefi ting
many Americans today. On
July 9, 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, including
many residing in the
Bronx 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.
Most have forgotten that
up until the 60’s, bus drivers
made change and drove the
bus at the same time. Nobody
would dare bring soda or food
on the bus or leave any litter
behind.
Fast forward to today. Fortunately
we have the MTA and
its various operating agencies,
including NYC Transit
subway, bus and Staten Island
Railway, Metro North Rail
Road, Long Island Rail Road
and Westchester Bee Line
Bus.
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 Metro North Rail
Road or MTA subway/bus
pass reduces the cost per ride
and provides virtually unlimited
trips.
Elected offi cials and government
employees can turn
in their taxpayers funded vehicles
and join the rest of us
by using public transportation
to get around town. In
many cases, employers can offer
transit checks which help
subsidizes a portion of the
costs. Utilize this and reap the
benefi ts. 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.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Larry Penner is a transportation
advocate, historian and
writer who previously worked
for the Federal Transit Administration
Region 2 New York
Offi ce. 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,
Westchester Bee Line Bus along
with 30 other transit agencies
in NY & NJ.
East Bronx Hibernians supported fi rst responders by buying dinner for the Throggs Neck Ambulance Corps.
The food was catered by Mike Sullivan, owner of Jimmy Ryan’s on Middletown Road and division brother. This
funding is part of the larger allocation of $3,000 approved and distributed to East Bronx Catholic Churches
to feed the needy during the pandemic.
From left to right: Austin Rodriguez, chief of staff, Bob Nolan, District #4 director A.O.H., Erika Newsome,
executive director and Roger Fahey, Division 3, president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Photo courtesy of Bob Nolan
Gjonaj talks COVID-19
food distribution events
LET US HEAR FROM YOU
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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.
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Note that the address and telephone number will NOT be published and the
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right to edit all submissions.
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