WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES AUGUST 31, 2017 13
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. This 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
This past Saturday marked Women’s
Equality Day, a celebration of women’s
suffrage. The 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. There
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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OP-ED
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.
The 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. This gave her excellent
credibility with other major funding
agencies, such as the Federal Transit
Administration. The 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.
The 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. The
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. The
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. The 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.
LETTERS AND COMMENTS
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.
