FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARСH 12, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 29
oped letters & comments
WE MUST DO
MORE TO PREVENT
CORONAVIRUS
FROM SPREADING
As coronavirus continues
to spread across the country
and New York state, Governor
Cuomo has declared a state of
emergency.
Now, why don't all public,
parochial and private schools, as
well as all colleges and universities
throughout the state, immediately
close in order for their
facilities to be disinfected and
cleaned thoroughly to further
prevent the spread of this virus?
Parents may soon begin to
start keeping their children
home because of what they are
hearing on the news, and many
businesses may also start closing
and requesting that their
employees work from home.
Sports arenas and theaters may
start to have very few to no people
coming to events.
Restaurants and hotels will
start to see signifi cant drops in
people coming to eat or stay at
their places.
Churches, synagogues,
mosques and temples may start
to see fewer of their congregants
in attendance.
Th ese steps to halt the spread
of this dangerous virus should
be taken immediately, not down
the road. Time is precious and it
cannot and must not be wasted.
Our medical and government
offi cials must be totally honest
about the coronavirus and how
it will aff ect everyone.
John Amato, Fresh Meadows
CELEBRATE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION
365 DAYS A YEAR
Why not celebrate the March
10 New York Public Transit
Association Transit Awareness
Day every day of the year?
Millions of Americans, on a
daily basis, utilize various public
transportation alternatives.
Th ey include local and express
bus, ferry, jitney, light rail, subway
and commuter rail services.
All of these systems use less fuel
and move far more people than
conventional single occupancy
vehicles.
Depending upon where you
live, consider the public transportation
alternative. Try riding
a local or express bus, commuter
van, ferry, light rail, commuter
rail or subway.
Fortunately we have the MTA
and its various operating agencies,
including NYC Transit subway
and bus, Long Island Rail
Road, Metro-North Railroad,
Staten Island Rapid Transit
Authority and MTA Bus.
Chartered by the state
Legislature in 1965 as the
Metropolitan Commuter
Transportation Authority, it was
created to purchase and operate
the bankrupt LIRR.
Th e MCTA changed its name to
the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority in 1968 when it took
over operations of the NYC
Transit Authority. Previously,
in 1953, the old NYC Board of
Transportation passed on control
of the municipal subway system,
including all its assets to
the newly created NYC Transit
Authority.
Th ere is also New Jersey
Transit, Port Authority of
New York and New Jersey
(PATH), NYC Department
of Transportation Staten
Island Ferry, NYC Economic
Development Corporation private
ferry program along with
many downstate suburban counties,
cities and towns including
Nassau, Suff olk, Westchester,
Rockland, Putnam and Orange
counties along with City of Long
Beach and Town of Huntington
all provide such options. Th ere
are other private bus and ferry
operators along with many
smaller suburban operators providing
service.
Using MTA MetroCards provides
free transfers between the
subway and bus. Th is has eliminated
the old two-fare zones,
making public transportation an
even better bargain. Purchasing
a monthly Long Island Rail
Road, Metro-North or NYC
Transit subway/bus pass reduces
the cost per ride and provides
virtually unlimited trips.
In many cases, employers can
off er transit checks which help
subsidize a portion of the costs.
Utilize this and reap the benefi
ts. It supports a cleaner environment.
Many employers now allow
employees to telecommute
and work from home. Others
use alternative work schedules
which aff ord staff the ability
to avoid rush hour gridlock.
Th is saves travel time and can
improve mileage per gallon. Join
a car or van pool to share the
costs of commuting.
Th e ability to travel from
home to workplace, school,
shopping, entertainment, medical,
library etc. is a factor when
moving to a new neighborhood.
Economically successful communities
are not 100 percent
dependent on automobiles as the
sole means of mobility.
Seniors, students and low-
and middle-income people need
these transportation alternatives.
Investment in public transportation
today contributes to economic
growth, employment and
a stronger economy. Dollar for
dollar, it is one of the best investments
we can make.
Larry Penner, Great Neck
Planning the future together
at Sunnyside Yard
BY ELIZABETH
LUSSKIN AND SHARON
GREENBERGER
With public land an increasingly
scarce proposition, and
the demands of a rapidly growing
population placing undue
strain on our existing infrastructure,
smart planning that
safeguards the long-term future
of New York City and Queens
is more important than ever.
But any plans for the future
should be borne out of a collaborative
conversation with the
community.
Th at’s why when New York
City and Amtrak embarked on
one of the largest possible public
planning opportunities in
the city, they chose to create an
advisory committee comprised
of a broad base of stakeholders.
Th e group’s mandate was
not to rubber stamp or own
the plan, but to advise on an
inclusive process and to give
honest, sometimes very challenging
feedback. We had the
honor of co-chairing this committee
of 40 New Yorkers and
watching the process of public
engagement shape the plan
being released today.
Th is 18-month public process
was designed to do three
things: 1) engage the community
in thinking holistically about
their immediate needs for the
area; 2) look ahead to the next
generation of New Yorkers; and
3) maintain and protect critical
rail operations. Planning eff orts
included regular Steering
Committee meetings, well-attended
public meetings, four
community workshops, a digital
town hall, group interviews
with more than 145 organizations,
and more than 100
in-person interviews with community
stakeholders. We were
inspired to see the high level
of civic engagement throughout
the process in this variety
of forums.
Th e Sunnyside Yard Master
Plan Steering Committee gave
important advice on this process,
to facilitate a broad based
and direct approach to assessing
the best solutions for our
community. Together, this
group of community
leaders,
advocates, policy
experts, and
elected officials
began by draft -
ing Guiding
Principles for the
project, which
were then refi ned
through the public engagement
process. We have watched
as those principles, the subsequent
feedback from the
Steering Committee and the
robust public engagement,
have shaped the framework for
growth for the neighborhood,
city and region.
We see the public input
refl ected in the reality that
this plan is not about maximum
density, but rather about
enhanced livability and a balance
of uses in a sustainable
community. It’s worth noting
that the proposed fi rst investment
is for a new regional transit
hub, Sunnyside Station, a
civic central hub and major
new open space, in response to
the priorities clearly articulated
in the public process.
Th is long-term framework
is a starting point to guide
future decisions and projects
that will deliver public goods to
strengthen western Queens and
the city. Th e work is far from
done. Th e city and Amtrak are
now forming a nonprofi t governance
entity in partnership
with elected offi cials, community
representatives and other
key stakeholders to ensure that
the master plan priorities are
followed, and that the public
will always have a seat at the
table.
As the largest remaining
undeveloped public space in
New York City, both centrally
located and sitting within
the heart of western Queens,
Sunnyside Yard presents a
unique opportunity to build
a stronger New York, and
responsible, ambitious, inclusive
planning must continue
to be at the heart of that process.
We encourage residents
and stakeholders to continue
engaging at every stage to
help create a brighter future
for western Queens and New
York City.
By Co-Chairs of the Sunnyside
Yard Master Plan Steering
Committee Elizabeth Lusskin,
president of the LIC Partnership
and Sharon Greenberger, president
and CEO of the YMCA of
Greater New York.
GRABBING A BITE AT SABRY’S IN LITTLE EGYPT
ON STEINWAY// PHOTO SUBMITTED BY LALITA D.
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