WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES OCTOBER 8, 2020 13
Thanks to LIRR workforce for keeping trains running
BY PHILLIP ENG
There aren’t enough thanks I could
give the LIRR workforce for all
the eff orts and strides they’ve
collectively made over the past six
months to keep our region safe, and to
keep Long Island moving.
And that goes for you, too — the public
— for doing your part in helping us
stop the spread. But as we see clusters
of COVID-19 positive cases popping up
in communities around the New York
metropolitan area, it’s important that
we stay vigilant. We must continue to
protect one another.
It was with a heavy heart that I
shared the news Friday with colleagues
that a member of the LIRR family, Kyle
OP-ED
Fulcher, succumbed to COVID-19 on
Oct. 1. Kyle joined the LIRR almost two
decades ago, working fi rst as an electrician,
and more recently as a training
specialist.
Upon learning of Kyle’s positive
COVID test, we moved quickly to protect
the health and safety of those who
worked with him. I hope you’ll join
me in keeping Kyle’s family in your
thoughts and prayers.
As circumstances continue to evolve
in our work lives and our personal
lives, with many children across our
region returning to in-person school
instruction, we must continue to practice
everything we’ve been doing, both
at work and at home: wearing masks,
washing hands, using hand sanitizer,
giving each other extra space when
we’re able to, and staying home if we
don’t feel well.
Riding public transportation remains
a safe way to get around. We’re
doing our part to keep it that way with
increased cleaning and disinfection
eff orts at stations and on our trains,
and handing out masks to riders who
need one.
Now we need final enactment of
the second HEROES Act passed by the
House Thursday night to ensure our
region continues to have critically
robust and safe public transportation
as we rebuild.
Since the height of the fi rst wave of
COVID-19 through New York, there
has been much talk about preventing a
second wave, which some experts have
said is inevitable. But it doesn’t have to
be, if we stay smart.
Don’t let down your guard. Everything
we did to fl atten the curve is even
more vital now. We cannot lose sight of
all the losses we’ve already incurred
and all the suff ering that’s gone on.
We owe it to everyone to do our best
to avoid a surge in new cases. And it’s
important to remember that you, yes
you, have the power to stem this virus
and help save lives. We must all contribute
to this eff ort.
Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Stay
home if you’re sick. It’s not complicated,
but it is imperative.
Stay tough, New York.
Phillip Eng is president of MTA
Long Island Rail Road.
SNAPS
VIEW FROM THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JAVIER FOJO
Send us your photos of Queens
and you could see them online or in our paper!
To submit them to us, tag @qnsgram on Instagram,
visit our Facebook page, tweet @QNS
or email editorial@qns.com (subject: Queens Snaps).
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link