Readers: Build that train!
COURIER LIFE, JAN. 31-FEB. 6,2020 35
Engineering gurus will begin
studying a proposed billion-dollar
passenger train that would run
through southern Brooklyn, authorities
announced on Wednesday.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority
awarded infrastructure
fi rm Aecom with a $1.3 million
contract on Jan. 22 to determine
the feasibility study for the project,
which would revive passenger
service on the Bay Ridge Branch
— a freight line that once carried
straphangers through Bay Ridge,
Bensonhurst, Midwood, and East
Flatbush until it was decommissioned
in 1924.
The study will evaluate the potential
for a subway, commuter
rail, light rail or even a bus service
for the line, all of which would operate
in conjunction with existing
and planned freight rail service,
the MTA announced.
Readers had a lot to say online:
Sounds great, but I’m sure I would
not see this happen in my years left
on this earth.
Cheryl Sealey
Unless I am missing something,
This project follows the gentrifi cation
line from Prospect Park into Bay
Ridge and NOT running into Southern
Brooklyn. Marine Park, Sheepshead
Bay, Brighton, Gerritsen are
part of south Brooklyn as well as the
southern section of Midwood. This
article would be better served by
showing a complete map of Brooklyn
and showing how the South is essentially
ignored in this project.
Co Lo
This would be awesome. Doing
this wagonwheel would really cut
down on travel time.
Steve Zakszewski
It will cost $20 billion, be ten years
behind schedule and create hundreds
of new millionaires from the resulting
patronage mill.
Shawn Eng
The “tracks that are already
there” is misleading. Pretty much
there is one beat up track that runs
from Bay Ridge into Queens. It handles
a train or two a day that moves
freight at a restricted speed. Some
places on the right of way has space
for 2 tracks, some places up to 4. The
whole line would require a massive
clean up, new tracks, signals, stations,
power lines, etc. It will never
happen.
Richard DiCristi
A billion dollars so the fatneck
beardos can transport their longboards
to the kickball tournament.
Ugh.
Seamus McHenry
It’s the same hipster trolley boondoggle
these d’bags have been talking
about for years, only repackaged
to sound more working-class, and
less of what it really is, a steaming
tribute to Liberal elitism.
George Ryan
More businesses in Coney!
A hotly anticipated upscale eatery
opened its doors without fanfare
at a new Surf Avenue complex
near the Cyclone rollercoaster,
staff confi rmed on Wednesday.
Teraza Restaurant Lounge, located
between W. Eighth and W.
10th streets, serves high-end American
fare such as prime steak, seafood,
and duck liver mousse. According
to its general manager,
the restaurant offers a culinary experience
new to the People’s Playground.
“We’re going to be the fi rst fi ne
dining experience in the area,”
said Imyas Abramov.
Readers spoke up online:
I have no complaint regarding
what business ‘pops up’ as long as
they ARE NOT DRIVE THROUGHS
– maintain the civility of the walking
community – Have you experienced
the ‘Stereo Music’ blasting from these
cars ? have you witnessed the indifference
to ‘other objects’ in a cars
path – Oh No – No Drive Throughs – I
will build walls to block this insanity
– A Real Quality of Life Issue –
Capiton Carl
We need new community board
members under the age of 30 to represent
the evergrowing wealthier
and younger generation currently
occupying CI. They are protesting
everything that’s potentially good,
everything that stands in line with
gentrifi cation and luxury developments,
everything and anything that
has to do with a positive change in
the right direction. These raisins are
stuck in the past and are a burden
on CI’s future as an all year round
venue full of quality developments. I
can’t wait till we have some quality
bars pop up, they will surely throw a
hissy fi t. Luckily they are no match
for huge developers ex. Neptune 6th.
Cannot wait for Starbucks to open, a
much-needed cafe in this lackluster
area. Looking forward to some quality
mom & pop shops to compete with
Starbucks as well.
Alex Skills
As an “old” person...the favorite
tune of my contemporaries is
Groucho Marx’s “Whatever It Is I’m
Against It”. They would rather see
rat-infested, urine-decorated buildings
than renewal of the neighborhood.
It’s pretty disgraceful. The
smallest change is met with a miserable
attitude of negativity.
Bruce Brodinsky
I remember how to the board was
fi ghting to preserve the boardwalk to
be from wooden planks. And what we
have now? All rotten, nail sticking,
squeaking but wooden boardwalk. I
think they are happy. Just check how
they did in Rockaway, so nice boardwalk
they have now.
R.A.
Canarsie good, transit bad
Brooklynites looking to live
on a budget should head south
to Canarsie, which boasts the
cheapest rents of any neighborhood
in Kings County, according
to one recent study.
With the average one-bedroom
going for $1,500 per-month, and
two-bedrooms for $1,900, Canarsie
ranks as the most affordable
area in the borough, according
to the real estate fi rm Propertynest
— which compared 2019
rental averages using data compiled
from their own listings and
other apartment search platforms.
Predictably, a quintet of bourgie
northern Brooklyn neighborhoods
topped the rankings
as the most expensive places to
rent, but Dumbo took the crown
— demanding a monthly average
of $4,450 for a one-bedroom and
$6,180 for a two-bedroom from
would-be residents.
Readers made themselves
heard online:
Eventually, Canarsie will be gentrifi
ed and become the suburb it once
was. If people can stick it out, buying
a home there can pay off at some
point. However...the time between
now and then might just be a bit...
much!It was awesome back in the day,
tough. Lived there til 1999. It changed
overnight, and was not a safe place to
raise our kids.
Donna Ross O’Shaughnessy
Because Canarsie is practically
the middle of no where. If you work
in Midtown Manhattan your commute
from Canarie sucks.
Chris Maldonado
Ave L was so great back in the day.
Abracciamento’s on the pier too!
Seamus McHenry
Horrible! New York is no longer
for New Yorkers.
Victoria Wurdinger
What’s the problem?
Residents living around a Williamsburg
state park want to take
back the green space from the country’s
largest outdoor food market,
Smorgasburg, which they say monopolizes
the public space at the
expense of locals.
“The fact that we have a great
shortage of parkland in North
Brooklyn and that huge piece of
your park fi lled with little shacks
isn’t really a park use, that’s a
commercial food venture,” said
Community Board 1 member Tom
Burrows at the panel’s monthly
meeting on Jan. 14.
Readers experssed themselves
online:
Come to Coney Island please!!!!!!!!!!!
Alex Skills
Sounds like a bunch of “entitles”
trying to rule the world.
Suzi La Regina
I may be wrong but from what I
remember they have it on a area that
really isn’t used for anything so what
are they complaining about?
Phillip Brendunn Grady Jr.
LET US HEAR FROM YOU
Submit letters to:
Colin Mixson, Edi tor, Courier Life,
1 MetroTech Center North, Brooklyn,
NY 11201, or e-mail to editorial@
schnepsmedia.com. Please include
your address and tele phone number
for so we can con fi rm you sent the
letter. We reserve the right to edit all
correspondence, which becomes the
property of Courier Life.
SOUND OFF TO THE EDITOR
LETTERS AND COMMENTS FROM OUR READERS
/schnepsmedia.com