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A LOOK BACK
Schools reopen next week, so we thought it would be a good opportunity to take a look back at the way one of Queens’ most renowned
schools looked long ago. This 1909 photo shows the brick exterior of Richmond Hill High School, which would later graduate some famous
pupils including singer Cyndi Lauper, comedian Rodney Dangerfi eld and legendary New York Yankee shortstop and broadcaster Phil
Rizzuto. Send us your historic photos by email to editorial@qns.com or mail printed pictures to A Look Back, The Queens Courier, 38-15
Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361. All mailed pictures will be carefully returned to you.
letters & comments
Cuomo makes his bets
with new MTA leaders
BY LARRY PENNER
Governor Cuomo’s appointments for his new
Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the
equivalent of placing three bets at the transportation
race track. One is a winner, the second will
place and the third show.
Th e winner was Ronnie Hakim, who as acting
MTA chairman has proven an excellent choice to
serve as the next MTA chairman or president. In
her new position as MTA managing director, she
will be able to play a major role in solving ongoing
problems of running the nation’s largest public
transit system.
As NYC Transit president, she ran the nation’s
largest bus and subway system. She also served as
special counsel at NYC Transit as well as executive
vice president and president. She has also
served as the executive director of New Jersey
Transit, the nation’s second largest transit agency.
While working for both the MTA and NJ
Transit, Hakim never promised what could not
be delivered. Her word was her bond. Th is
gave her excellent credibility with other major
funding agencies, such as the Federal Transit
Administration. Th e MTA is heavily dependent
upon federal assistance for over $6 billion in formula
and potentially $1 billion or more in discretionary
competitive funding to support the
MTA’s $32 billion 2015 - 2019 Five Year Capital
Program. She makes an excellent advocate for
federal formula and potentially billions more in
future federal discretionary dollars.
Th e appointment of past MTA Chairman Joe
Lhota to assume his old position placed second.
No doubt that as MTA chairman and
CEO between November 2011 to December
2012, Lhota did a great job bringing MTA transportation
back from the damages brought by
Superstorm Sandy. Th e bad news is that it is disappointing
to learn that he will retain his position
as a senior vice president of NYU Langone
Medical Center.
Now more than ever, his MTA assignment is
a full-time job well beyond the standard 9 to 5
hours most New Yorkers work. Lhota can’t serve
two employers at the same time.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Executive Director Pat Foye as the new MTA
president shows up third. He may not be the
best choice. Consider his track record at the Port
Authority between 2011 and today. Th e World
Trade Center PATH Station costs doubled from
$2 billion to $4 billion. It took 15 years aft er 9/11 to
complete this project many years behind schedule.
Sixteen years aft er 9/11, the Cortlandt Street
station on the 1 line (near the World Trade
Center) is still two years away from reopening.
Th e Port Authority and MTA fought for years
over budget, funding sources, scope and schedule.
If there are no new delays, perhaps the station
will reopen by December 2018.
Let us hope the new MTA team of Lhota,
Foye and Hakim can successfully manage the
MTA $32 billion Five Year 2015 - 2019 Capital
Program. Taxpayers and riders will be watching
and should hold Governor Cuomo accountable if
conditions do not signifi cantly improve.
Larry Penner is a transportation historians
and advocate who previously worked 31 years
for the U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY
Offi ce.
SADNESS & CONCERN
AMID HARVEY
HORRORS
It is with a great deal of sadness to
see and read of the millions impacted
by hurricane Harvey’s path of destruction.
To bring this closer to home, we
have a close cousin named Ronald
Moyne and his future bride named
Robin who are living in Texas. We
have not been able to get in touch with
either of them and are extremely worried
about their safety. He also has a
granddaughter and daughter living
there as well.
We would at this time like to off er
our heartfelt prayers that everyone is
safe and fi nds suitable shelter from
the storm. Th is Hurricane Harvey, we
can’t help but believe this storm was
of biblical proportions. Our political
leaders who say there is no global
warming should look at Texas in the
aft ermath of great destruction.
We pray to God that this also shall
pass.
Eva Bedell & Frederick R.
Bedell Jr., Glen Oaks Village
THE FIGHT FOR REAL
EQUALITY GOES ON
Th is past Saturday marked Women’s
Equality Day, a celebration of women’s
suff rage. Th e Women’s City Club
of New York was founded 100 years
ago in anticipation of the ratifi cation
of the 19th Amendment as a space for
women “to prepare for the full exercise
of their infl uences when they shall
have the vote.”
Since then, WCC has developed
into a nonpartisan multi-issue activist
organization that advocates for gender,
economic, and racial justice for all
so that New Yorkers can achieve economic
stability, enjoy equal opportunity,
and live in safe and secure communities.
The heartbreaking events of
Charlottesville were a painful reminder
that our country still has a long
road ahead before we achieve true
equality for all—for women, for people
of color, for immigrants, for the
poor, and for refugees. Th ere are still
individuals and organizations that
believe that not everyone should be
aff orded the same rights, simply based
on the way they were born or for what
they believe.
But they are far outnumbered
by those who recognize that our
society thrives when we lift each
other up rather than tear each other
down. Women’s Equality Day was a
reminder that as women, we do have
a voice.
We also have a responsibility to
use that voice to continue to fi ght for
equality. We must resist those who
seek to suppress us, and use our platform
to speak out for others, engage
with our elected offi cials, and take to
the streets to combat hatred and violence.
Annette Choolfaian, President,
Women’s City Club of New York
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