OCTOBER 2020 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 15
COVID-19 RECOVERY
FEDERAL SUPPORT NEEDED
BY PHIL ENG
LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD PRESIDENT
It is fair to say that there’s no Long Island
without the Long Island Rail Road.
It’s no secret that we keep Long Island
moving – and not just to the world-class
beaches. We moved – and continue to
move – the front-line workers of this
pandemic who helped New York weather
some of our darkest days.
But federal government inaction – failing
to allocate $12 billion in emergency
funds to the MTA — is showing New
Yorkers that our economic viability
doesn’t matter.
Making matters worse, it has now
crossed a line no government agency
should cross when we all serve the public:
FEMA is set to cut critical funding
that helps keep our system clean and
disinfected amid this ongoing global
pandemic.
Denying help is one thing. But it’s
unconscionable to take steps that intentionally
hurt the public.
It’s because of the leadership of Gov.
Andrew M. Cuomo, the heroic efforts
of the front-line workers, including
the LIRR and entire MTA workforce,
and the cooperation of the public for
doing their part in staying home and
wearing masks, that New York crushed
the curve.
We’ve been doing our part, by cleaning
and disinfecting our trains and stations
at a rate and level never before seen in
our history. We’ve set up hand sanitizer
dispensers as our ambassadors hand
out free masks at stations. We have
one of the most robust public health
campaigns currently out there. We’re
keeping up these efforts in anticipation
of a possible second wave. We need to
be prepared. The latest cleaning funding
cuts from the federal government
put us all at risk.
New York is and will continue to be
resilient. Because of all our efforts, I’m
grateful now to see a slow and steady
resurgence of the great state we call
home. And I remain hopeful as we
welcome customers back to our system.
We need to keep up this momentum
and we need to keep going. And we
need to make sure our employees and
customers remain safe. We know the
value of public transportation in our
densely populated corner of the world.
It cannot be underestimated what commuter
rail – that served more than 91
million trips last year – means to a
metropolis like ours. And we wouldn’t
be what the governor rightly calls
“New York Tough” without fighting
for what’s right.
Washington, D.C.: We need major federal
funding. Now. Our future, New
York’s future, and, quite frankly, the
nation’s future, lie in the balance.
POINT OF VIEW
"The latest cleaning funding cuts from
the federal government put us all at risk."
Food Bazaar Takes Over F airway in W estbury
Food Bazaar, a Brooklyn-based grocery chain
harder-to-find foods from around the world.
touting international fare and community
“We developed a know-how into international
involvement, opened Monday its second location
and ethnic items as well, like sauces and
on Long Island at the former Fairway in
spices and different items that those who
Westbury.
immigrated here could not find here but were
The supermarket will continue providing the
used to finding back home,” Suh said, noting
products that have proven popular at Fairway,
that no two Food Bazaar stores are alike.
including gourmet cheeses and meats, olives,
He also touted the company’s community
in-house roasted organic coffee, specialty
involvement, support for neighborhood
all-natural, organic, dairy, frozen, and grocery
nonprofits, scholarship offerings, and hiring of
items as well as Kosher goods — while adding
local residents as part of its mission,
Food Bazaar’s selection to the store’s shelves.
epitomized by its motto: “Feeding Your Way of
“We plan on keeping all the signatures that
Life.”
made Fairway a Fairway,” said Edward Suh, vice
Suh noted that Food Bazaar staffers wear
president of Food Bazaar’s parent company,
masks, practice social distancing, sanitize
Bogopa. “We plan on keeping all of that but then
store facilities regularly, and are adding
adding to and improving the perishable side and
acrylic walls to service areas to reduce the
hopefully having people walking out with a lot
Hunts Point Produce Market and seafood
possibility of contamination. The store also
more for their money because of our pricing.”
market,” Suh said. “That allows us to provide
offers online ordering through its website,
The company, which launched in Queens in 1988,
the highest-quality, freshest items at lower
foodbazaar.com
opened its first LI location in Brentwood in 2016.
and affordable costs.”
“Fairway was a great brand,” Suh added. “We
It recently acquired and converted Fairways in
He touted the staff’s commitment to service,
plan on learning their strengths and creating
Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx after Fairway
such as steaming a fish or lobster upon
a synergy with our existing operations to offer
went bankrupt this summer. Food Bazaar has 28
purchase. He added that the company’s
a better shopping experience for our
stores, with a 29th on the way in Manhattan.
history of serving diverse New York City
customers — especially for the Westbury
“We are one of the largest retail buyers in the
neighborhoods helped Food Bazaar deliver
community.”
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