FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 24, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 27
oped letters & comments
ADMIRING THE SNOW IN FLUSHING // PHOTO SUBMITTED BY HAIFA BISRAH
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Dealing with a diffi cult
year in the New York
City subways
BY SARAH E.
FEINBERG
Th is has been an
incredibly diffi cult year
for many reasons. In
addition to the heartbreaking
losses suff ered
by the NYC Transit
family due to the pandemic,
we’ve all struggled
deeply with the murder of our friend and
colleague Garrett Goble — who tragically died
aft er an arsonist set fi re to his 2 train on March 27.
Every single day since then NYCT has grieved
and mourned his loss. Each time we speak with
his wife Delilah, our hearts are broken all over
again and each time we spoke to police, spoke
to Garrett’s mother Vicki, or spoke with Garrett’s
friends at Transit, they broke again.
But fi nally, we can take solace in knowing
his alleged killer is being brought to justice.
Th e NYPD has arrested and charged a suspect
with murder in connection with Garrett’s death.
Nothing can bring him back to his sweet family,
but we are grateful to the police for their relentless
persistence and hard work on this case.
Th ere should be no tolerance for any form
of violence in our transit system. Fires, sexual
assaults, assaults on our workers – these are
crimes committed against the very best of New
York — the brave men and women who show up
and serve this city each day and keep us all moving
forward no matter the challenges.
Last week, our valiant workforce was tested by
the fi rst major winter storm of the season and
they came through heroically, just as I knew they
would. By the time the storm was tapering off
Th ursday morning, service was already starting
to normalize, and by midday the subways were
operating a normal weekday schedule with only
scattered delays and a few isolated re-routings on
our buses in the outer boroughs. Th is is an amazing
feat.
Th ere is so much preparation that happens
before the fi rst fl akes of any blizzard even fall.
Th ousands of people are mobilized to get snow
fi ghting equipment into place across the city,
move trains from yards to be stored underground,
outfi t buses with tire chains, start deicing,
and more. Everyone plays a part in any well
executed storm response.
I had no doubt the NYC Transit team could
handle it. Th ey have managed to deliver on projects
big and small throughout this year, which has
been one of the darkest in our agency’s history.
Our workers have been the heroes moving heroes
throughout the pandemic. Transit’s tireless eff orts
serve as a reminder that the women and men of
New York City Transit are essential workers and
public servants in the truest sense of the words. It
is one of the greatest privileges of my life to lead
this agency and its brave employees.
Aft er all that we’ve been through this year, I
look forward to what will hopefully be a better
2021, especially now that vaccines are becoming
available and a transit-friendly Biden administration
is set to take over the White House. But no
matter what happens, I know that New York City
Transit is ready for whatever comes our way.
Sarah Feinberg is acting MTA New York City
Transit president.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Th e holiday season is upon us and
with it is a time to think about helping
others during this deadly pandemic.
Th ere have been so many sick people
and several people dying during
the COVID-19 pandemic. As such,
it is time for caring, sharing, giving
and helping others in need of human
kindness.
We are required by our higher
power to love one another and to keep
in our prayers those who protect us,
including our police offi cers, fi refi ghters,
EMS workers, doctors, nurses and
the rest of our fi rst responders. Let’s
not forget those men and women in
the military who protect our nation
and put their lives on the line.
Times are hard for many of our
neighbors. Aside from all of the sickness
and death, many are now unemployed
as a result of the pandemic.
So please give to food kitchens, food
pantries, and those organizations and
community groups that help the poor.
Added to all this, we are now having
a severe blood shortage and donations
are badly needed, so please give
the gift of life.
I am asking you to please make a
diff erence this holiday season — you
will be glad that you did.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr., Bellerose
SOME BUS LANE
QUALMS ARE OFFBASE
While some of Councilman I.
Daneek Miller’s disagreements with
the NYC Dept. of Transportation over
the Merrick Boulevard bus lane project
may have validity, on other points
I believe that he is off -base.
First, Merrick Boulevard belongs
to all the residents of Queens and
not just businesses or property owners
there or residents of the 27th
Council District. In deciding how to
allocate very valuable street and curb
space among many diff erent users and
needs, NYC DOT must consider the
wider audience of users and not just
local interests.
Second, bus lanes move many more
people than regular traffi c lanes and
ensuring that they are free of illegally
parked or stopped vehicles for 16
or so hours a day, seven days a week
is critical for shortening travel times
and improving transit in our borough.
If Councilman Miller is serious
about improving mobility in his district,
he needs to get on board for bus
lanes and other transit improvements
in southeast Queens.
Steve Strauss, Forest Hills
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