Community News
www.qns.com I LIC COURIER I SEPTEMBER 2017 23
transforming the Hallets Cove Peninsula
where they have some of the longer commutes,”
he said. “They can see Manhattan
from their homes…and yet it’s the longest
commute in the district so to see now
this connection for school, for work, for
recreation is just a transformative moment
for western Astoria.”
The mayor arrived at 34th Street in time
to shake hands with commuters and ask
them how the ride went.
“Folks at Astoria Houses used to have
to walk almost 20 minutes to get to the
nearest subway and that honestly cut
them off from a lot of the things they
needed,” he said. “NYC Ferry is going to
help people get around. It’s going to help
reduce congestion on our roads and trains.
It’s going to right wrongs of the past.”
Claudia Kroger, the president of the
Astoria Houses Resident Association,
has lived in the Astoria Houses for more
than 50 years. She said the route is an
important one for the community, which
has struggled to connect to the rest of
New York City.
“I’m excited,” she said. “We’ve been
waiting a long time to connect, so this
is our day of connection. I find the ride
beautiful. I love the water. I’m just a nature
girl.”
Kroger added that the community understands
the need for the service and
acknowledges that “this is going to make
a difference.” But others are worried about
the congestion it will bring as nearby
residents park their cars in the area to
take the ferry instead of a bus or train.
“Most people express concern about
the congestion, automobile parking and
things like that, things that they see will
impact the stability of their communities,”
Kroger said. “But these are things we deal
with on a regular basis all over the city of
New York, so it’s not new to me.”
Jerelene Fitzgerald, 93, has lived in the
Astoria Houses since 1953 and also took
the first ride on the ferry. She gave the
service a stamp of approval, especially
because it was easy to navigate with
her cane.
“It was beautiful,” she said. “I didn’t
have to go into Long Island City to get
the train and come into the city to go up
all those steps and go down the steps.
I loved it.”
