FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com MARCH 31, 2016 • THE QUEENS COURIER 37 oped Queens bus study is waste of time BY LARRY PENNER Assemblymember Nily Rozic recently sent a letter to the Metropolitan T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Authority requesting that they conduct a study on Express Bus service for her constituents. This would just be a waste of both money and time. If funded, it would end up nothing more than a placebo designed to placate demagogues who are not regular users of the numerous public transportation alternatives that have been available for decades. Eighteen months ago, other local elected offi cials proudly announced securing $500,000 in funding for the “Northeast Queens Restoration Study.” Last fall, the MTA released a fi nal report. It contained some recycled ideas from previous studies, proposed restoration of some services cut under previous budget shortfalls along with very few new potential transportation improvements that can be implemented. Don’t be surprise if you end up with the same results from any “Express Bus study” as well. The “Express Bus study” will just duplicate the Northeast Queens Bus Restoration study. The dollars paying for these studies would have been better spent on real improvements instead of just lining the pockets of consultants. All you will end up with is a series of press conferences and news releases designed to provide free publicity for elected offi cials to assist them in greasing the wheels of future elections. In the end, it all comes down to the availability of increased funding for additional transportation service to serve residents of two fare zones in Queens. Operating subsidies are required to increase the level of service and reduce the amount of time one waits for a bus on existing routes. Same for adding more off-peak, late night and weekend service. Capital dollars are required for purchase of additional buses, off board fare collection equipment, real time communications systems to notify riders for anticipated arrival of the next bus, shelters and facilities. These are not new ideas that need to be studied once again. There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch or in this case bus ride. Better to spend time convincing Governor Cuomo to come up with $7.5 billion of the $8.5 billion he promised the MTA for funding the 2015 - 2019 Five Year Capital Program. Larry Penner is a transportation historian and advocate who previously worked in the transportation fi eld for 31 years. FOR MORE NEWS VISIT QNS.COM A LOOK BACK Before technological advances letters & comments REMEMBERING LATE FIRE COMMISSIONER SCOPPETTA Former Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta was a dedicated public servant who cared deeply about the people of this city. His term working as the head of Children’s Services showed his compassion for children and their well being. When he became Fire Commissioner, that same compassion was shown for the dedicated men and women of the FDNY. He was always a gentleman and a true professional in his dealings with the public. I offer my deepest condolences to his family on his passing. He left an indelible mark on this city and its people, one that will never be forgotten. May he rest in peace. John Amato, Fresh Meadows ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING My husband is a retired New York City public schoolteacher with a great credit score. My credit score is great, too. We’ve been looking to move somewhere else in Queens, but the apartment buildings where we’ve been shown 1-bedroom units have minimum annual income requirements of anywhere from $60,000 to $65,000. Even though we have great credit scores, we’re getting turned away–even though our income is just $5.00 shy of $60,000. One place we were offered for viewing required a nonrefundable application fee of $500.00–even if our application would be declined. But the affordable housing plan in Astoria isseless to my husband and me. Our income right now is $59,995. We’re in the doughnut hole. QNS user Elyzsabeth Ahne REALITY CHECK ON MAJOR M TRAIN SHUTDOWN Let’s be realistic about this: 1) The MTA needs to fully renovate the entire Myrtle Avenue Line because it is in a terrible shape, especially on the viaduct; 2) It is essential part for the MTA contingency plan for the full brought the world natural gas furnaces, most homes, business and public buildings were heated during the winter through coal. As we see in this 1941 photo, the Cypress Coal Company of Ridgewood is picture making a delivery to Grover Cleveland High School on Himrod Street. Of course, in the years that followed, reliance on the noxious fossil fuel dropped as many places converted to natural gas, oil and even solar power. Share your historic photos of Ridgewood with us on our Facebook or Twitter pages, email them to editorial@qns. com or write to The Queens Courier. 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361. All mailed pictures will be carefully returned to you! shutdown of 14th Street Tunnel that serves the L train starting in 2018, thanks to damage suffered from Superstorm Sandy; 3) This could make the line more effi cient, more reliable and more sustainable; 4) It will handle more M train service during rush hours. I know that straphangers in rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods such as Bushwick and Ridgewood will be greatly inconvenienced by this critical work. Decades upon decades, as well as billions upon billions of dollars in deferred maintenance, are catching up to us. More people are living in the fi ve boroughs, especially in Queens, where there is a major population boost. A lot of residential developments are going on in NYC; A lot of good paying jobs, especially for medical, retail and technology, are clearly available, particularly in the outer boroughs. Crime, specially quality-oflife crimes, are at a all-time low. All of this has resulted in a massive surge in overall ridership. Making our own infrastructure more maintainable and more resilient is crucial for our generation and our own future generations. QNS user Pedro Valdez Rivera Jr. NOT SATISFIED WITH ONE OF THE MAYOR’S ANSWERS Regarding the Ask the Mayor question: What should residents do if they believe a next-door neighbor has an illegal conversion in their home? When can the resident expect that their complaint will be answered, inspected and resolved? This question was not answered whatsoever, and if the mayor is truly answering these questions he would realize that this issue does not fall into any of the violation classes as posted. Illegal home conversions for mainly renting purposes are rife within Flushing/Whitestone/ Bayside, yet little is done about it. One illegal house is closed down around once a year for every one closed 20 are being converted. Yet 311 and the Department of Buildings do nothing about it, as it doesn’t generate enough revenue for the city. They would prefer to spend there time fi ning local contractors who are building legitimate housing projects. QNS user Brian
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