FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JUNE 28, 2018 • THE QUEENS COURIER 49
oped letters & comments
New taxis bring
new opportunity
BY DAVID BEIER
At a time when it has become increasingly
challenging to own or operate a taxi in
New York City, all medallion owners and
drivers should consider taking advantage
of new rules that allow for more fuel-efficient,
high-quality vehicles to be used as
yellow taxis.
The city’s Taxi and Limousine
Commission this month reversed rules
requiring the use of the deeply flawed and
unpopular Nissan NV200, known to some
as the “Taxi of Tomorrow.” Now, drivers
will be able to select from a variety of
more than 30 different vehicles that can be
used as yellow taxis – including the Toyota
Camry hybrid.
The Committee for Taxi Safety has been
working on this issue for years and played
a central role in advancing the new driver
friendly rules – and we are pleased that
owners and drivers across the industry will
now have access to better, more reliable
and more cost-effective vehicles.
As everyone in our industry knows, the
Nissan NV200 has provided nothing but
problems ever since it was rolled out. It is
first and foremost a gas guzzler, leaving taxi
drivers frustrated with unnecessarily high
fuel costs even as drivers in other sectors
have long enjoyed more efficient options.
The NV200 also caused headaches with
regard to the high costs of the all-too-frequent
maintenance required to deal with
its poorly retrofitted accessibility components.
These concerns are part of the reason
why expanding the list of allowable vehicles
– particularly the Camry hybrid – has been
such a priority for those, like CFTS, who
fight for the interests of yellow taxi owners
and drivers across the city. The Camry
hybrid has become a ubiquitous presence
on New York’s streets mainly because of its
reliability and fuel efficiency – and now it
will be part of the city’s iconic yellow taxi
tradition.
Winning this rule change was important,
but it is now equally important that fleet
and medallion owners become aware of
the new regulations so they and their drivers
can take advantage of these additional
vehicles and maximize their own cost savings.
Other challenges facing the industry –
whether they be the ongoing failure to regulate
Uber or the unfair tactics advanced by
the National Credit Union Administration
– should not distract us from leveraging
any new opportunities we have to move
forward.
However, CFTS and other stakeholders
will of course continue advocating for a fair
and level playing field for the taxi industry
– including our push for sensible restrictions
on the number of ridesharing vehicles
in New York City. These broader efforts are
the only way to truly address the root causes
of the challenges facing our industry –
and we will keep pushing until those problems
are solved and fairness is secured.
David L. Beier is the counsel and president
to the Committee for Taxi Safety
‘HEARTSICK’ OVER FAMILY SEPARATIONS
To those who should be concerned, I
hope this letter finds you heartsick.
Every single human who has the ability
to make decisions knows what it is like
to be a child. Each and every one of us is
a former child. Enough of your words.
Enough of your finger pointing. You are
a former child. You have the responsibility
A MOMENT OF MORAL
CLARITY IN QUEENS
As a member of Community Board 6,
it was encouraging to see members of the
community come together at the June
monthly meeting regarding the abomination
that is the forcible separation of families
at the border.
A fellow board member made clear to an
aide to Representative Grace Meng that we
wanted her to be more vocal and active in
resisting this un-American policy.
All too often, our representatives have
been hesitant and reticent to describe the
existential identity crisis that has befallen
our country. The moral consequences
of this crisis are now being borne by innocent
children. Their lives and the life of this
nation will never be same.
This is a time that demands moral clarity
and firmness from our members of
Congress.
Ethan Felder, Member of
Community Board 6
TRUMP’S POLICY DOESN’T
SOLVE IMMIGRATION
PROBLEMS
President Trump’s immigration policy
focused on illegal migration has separated
parents from their children. It is just wrong
and does not solve the problem.
ICE is going after those who are here illegally
but are not breaking any other laws
while they are here, and only working hard
to support their families. This humanitarian
crisis has caused the children to suffer,
and this I find most appalling and
extremely sad.
In my opinion, I truly can understand
why so many immigrants are trying to
cross the American borders because of
extreme poverty, abuse, torture and risk
of death for speaking out against tyranny.
The problem, however, is the parents who
are bringing along their children, endangering
themselves and their children.
We do need to protect our borders from
the few who are terrorists, drug dealers or
gang members who wish to do America
harm. But the many who illegally cross our
borders are only longing for a better way of
life for themselves and safety for their children,
and they are the ones who truly suffer
from all this.
Something needs to be done or more
children will suffer.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr., Glen Oaks Village
LAMENTING LOSS OF
LOCAL BANK BRANCH
Capital One bank is going to close
yet another one of its branch office here
in Fresh Meadows at the end of this
September. Many people, myself included,
depend on this branch office because it
is so close and easily accessible.
There are many senior citizens as
well as disabled people and others who
depend on the Parsons Boulevard branch
located in Electchester and Pomonok. It
makes absolutely no sense to close this
bank branch. The nearest ones now will
be on Main Street, where there is no
parking lot, and on 188th Street in Fresh
Meadows, which does have ample parking,
but is a distance away.
Many seniors and those who are disabled
and/or do not drive will now have
to struggle to take public transportation
to either one of these other bank branch
locations, causing added aggravation and
stress.
The bosses who make these decisions
to close these branches are being very
inconsiderate, and obviously do not care
that closing this and other branch offices
will create problems for the customers
who have done their banking there.
There should be more compassion for
the customers, and also for the staffs of
these branches that will be closed. I was
told by one of the tellers at the Parsons
Boulevard branch that they will have
other jobs, but that they do not as of yet
know where they will be sent.
That is not fair to these very hardworking
and professional people to have to
wait to find out their new job assignments.
Why can’t they be told immediately
where they will be working after this
branch shuts?
John Amato, Fresh Meadows
BLAME DELI’S DEMISE
ON CHANGING
DEMOGRAPHICS
Although Ben’s Best has been a regular
of kosher corned beef sandwiches for me
for 30 years, I must dispute the argument
that the nascent installation of bike lanes
on Queens Boulevard is the primary cause
of Ben’s alleged 25 percent decline in business
revenue.
According to the DOT, only 10 parking
spots, not 200, were lost in the immediate
environs of Ben’s. Also, Ben’s has been
reimbursing patrons’ parking in the Rego
Center parking lot and, prior to installation
of parking on the service roads contiguous
to the main thoroughfare by former
Mayor Bloomberg, there was only
curbside parking for 50+ years of Ben’s
existence without any adverse sales effects
at Ben’s. The venue is easily accessible via
subway and multiple bus lines.
The major impetus for their business
decline is the demographic change in central
Queens from European Ashkenazi
Jews, a dominant cultural group, to
Russian-speaking Bukharian Jews with
their own unique Asian cuisine. In fact, a
couple of doors down from Ben’s is a new
Glatt Kosher Bukharian restaurant, as well
as others in Rego Park and Forest Hills.
Although I do not think the Queens
Boulevard bike lanes are appropriate, the
argument thereof for Ben’s demise is moot.
Joseph Manago, Flushing
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to act. As former children, we are
outraged.
Keep families together. If you don’t,
you are a monster; the kind that snatches
children from their mothers and fathers,
screaming, wailing, weeping. Whether
your parents are alive or dead, you are
all children.
We are outraged and condemn the
actions of every ICE worker, every government
official, every Ivanka, Melania,
Kirstjen, Donald that allowed and actively
enforced this horrific catastrophe.
Together, you are villains. You perpetrate
evil and we want you gone. You
snatched children from their weeping
mothers and fathers.
Liz Soolkin, Queens