Editorial
Op-ed
Another yoke on our neck
For all the talk about “supporting
local journalism,” it appears New
York state government isn’t all that
interested in doing so.
It’s no secret that the journalism business
— the only industry protected by the
Constitution, as John F. Kennedy once said
— is under siege by a barrage of fi nancial
complications that predate the pandemic
itself. At this point, no company can afford
additional burdens that stand in the way of
producing quality, essential journalism to
keep the public informed.
Yet the state legislature seems hellbent
on throwing another yoke onto the neck
of our oxen with the Extended Producer
Liability Act.
The legislation has an aim that doesn’t
sound so bad on paper: making product
producers responsible for recycling their
products after use. But if passed, it will
have the unintended consequence of driving
another nail into the local journalism coffi n.
The bill mandates that any company
that produces “product packaging, plastic
wrappers and bottles and paper products”
— such as brochures, fl yers, catalogs, booklets,
telephone directories and, you guessed
it, newspapers and magazines — bears the
fi nancial burden of paying to have unused
or undistributed materials to be recycled.
For full disclosure: Our company,
Schneps Media, has more than 70 different
newspapers and magazines circulated
across New York City daily, weekly and
monthly. You can imagine the kind of devastating
impact this act would have should
the legislature pass it, and should Governor
Andrew Cuomo sign it into law.
As Michelle Rea, New York Press Association
president, recently pointed out, newsprint
accounts for less than 7% of all solid waste in
a community. The printing industry has committed
to using more recycled newsprint in
its products, and the materials themselves —
including non-toxic ink — are biodegradable.
Newspapers should be exempt from
the Extended Producer Liability Act. The
legislation further endangers an already
stressed industry that needs more relief, not
more restrictions, to deliver the news and
essential information you need every day.
Long Island state Senator Todd Kaminsky
is the main sponsor of the bill. Reach
out to his offi ce by calling 518-455-3401
and let him know that this bill is bad for
New York journalism.
And please call your local state Assembly
member or state Senator and tell them to
give your local newspaper a break!
Publisher of The Villager, Villager Express, Chelsea Now,
Downtown Express and Manhattan Express
PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER
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© 2021 Schneps Media
VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA SCHNEPS
ROBERT POZARYCKI
EMILY DAVENPORT
MARK HALLUM
DEAN MOSES
ALEJANDRA O’CONNELLDOMENECH
BOB KRASNER
TEQUILA MINSKY
MARCOS RAMOS
CLIFFORD LUSTER
(718) 260-2504
CLUSTER@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
GAYLE GREENBURG
JULIO TUMBACO
ELIZABETH POLLY
New York Press Association
Member of the National
Newspaper Association
Member of the
Member of the
Minority Women Business Enterprise
Buses essential to NYC despite
being under-funded for years
A zero-emissions bus on the M60 route in January 2020.
BY KAREN HAMILTON
Last week, I had the opportunity to
ask leading Mayoral candidates their
vision for improving bus service
for approximately 2 million bus riders. I
was impressed to hear the majority of the
mayoral hopefuls speak on the importance
of better buses, committing to adding more
bus lanes to help riders get around faster
and even agree to take the bus to City Hall
if elected. Candidates prioritizing buses is
a recent development and in stark contrast
to how previous elected offi cials have addressed
bus challenges.
New York City buses have chronically
been deprioritized and under-funded for
decades. These decisions have left riders
with some of the slowest service in the
country. Buses have a public image problem
which is perpetuated on the big and
small screens, in advertisements and public
policies. “Successful people drive. Trains
are viewed as faster and more effi cient.
Bikes are characterized as youthful and
progressive. Walking is considered good for
exercise and an opportunity to gather one’s
thoughts. And buses are the last resort for
children, seniors, the mobility challenged,
and the working class.”
These stereotypes of bus riders were
challenged this past year. City buses provided
critical transportation for several
hundred thousand essential workers during
the height of the pandemic, proving buses
transport heroes. Trains, commuter rail,
airlines all saw a deep decrease in ridership
while bus service ridership hovered
near 70% of pre-pandemic levels. For the
fi rst time, bus ridership surpassed subway
ridership.
As a resident of a “two-fare zone” and
PHOTO COURTESY OF MTA/MARC HERMAN
transit desert in Southeast Queens buses
are the main transit option. The nearest
subway is only accessible by a thirty (30)
minute or longer bus trip or “dollar” van.
I often use the Long Island Rail Road for
a faster commute to Manhattan or Brooklyn.
The LIRR is not a fi nancially feasible
alternative to all since the higher fare does
not include transfers to the bus or subway.
Past transit decisions and policies resulted
in communities like mine with limited
transit choices, unreliable bus service and
long commutes.
Although buses have been critical to
riders without other transit options, the
pandemic elevated the importance of buses
when other services were unavailable or
shunned. New York’s City economic and
social prosperity are inextricably linked
with good public transit, the variety of
transit options, and levels of service. Buses
are essential as NYC residents emerge from
a year of lockdowns, as a safe commuting
option to return to work and resume daily
living. While I am thrilled to hear leading
Mayoral candidates talk enthusiastically
about their bold visions to improve transit,
commuters can’t wait until 2022 for better
buses. We have a Mayor who can help
bus riders now by fulfi lling his promise to
improve bus speeds by 25%.
In 2020, the Mayor completed nearly 16
miles of new bus lanes and busways which
are paying riders amazing dividends. Riders
are now requesting the Mayor honor his
commitment to add 30 miles of bus lanes
before the end of the mayoral term. Faster
and more reliable buses prioritize riders
and workers essential to NYC’s recovery!
Karen Hamiliton is a Riders Alliance
member, Urban Planner, and Southeast
Queens resident.
8 April 8, 2021 Schneps Media
/www.thevillager.com
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