EDITORIALS
OTHER VOICES
An obvious choice to replace Lhota
Ms. Ronnie Hakim would
make an excellent choice to
replace Joe Lhota as the next
MTA President.
In her current position as
MTA managing director, she
plays 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.
As general counsel at the
MTA Capital Construction,
she worked on mega projects
such as the Second Avenue
Subway, East Side Access and
the No. 7 subway Hudson Yards
extension.
She has served as the
executive director of New
Jersey Transit, the nation’s
second largest transit agency.
She also served as executive
director of the New Jersey
Turnpike Authority.
While working for both
the MTA and NJ Transit, she
never promised what could
not be delivered. As they
say in Brooklyn, 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 formula and
potentially billions more in
future federal discretionary
dollars.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo could
not find a better replacement
for Lhota. She has already
proven her experience to hit
the ground running on behalf
of commuters and taxpayers.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
STOP THE SHUTDOWN
The government shutdown has gone on for far
too long and residents in Queens and throughout
the country will suffer if it continues.
President Donald Trump said that Democrats
needed to back funding for a wall to halt what he
called a “crisis” at the Mexican Border.
The president has repeatedly demanded that
Congress cough up $5.6 billion for the wall, and
said he would veto any spending bills that don’t
include wall funding.
While Trump is standing firm, the government
shutdown continues, the effects of which will be felt
here across the five boroughs and beyond.
With each passing month of the partial
government shutdown, the MTA stands to lose $150
million per month in federal funds, Sen. Chuck
Schumer said this week.
Without federal funds from Washington, which
are allocated for track repair work and construction
projects, the MTA may have to cut back service or
borrow money, if the shutdown continues.
Additionally, Shumer said that more than 16,650
of 51,000 federal workers in the state “are out of
work and not getting paid,” which, needless to say,
is a huge problem.
Airport employees are among those affected
by the shutdown, which means that commuters
traveling to and from JFK and LaGaurdia Airports
will endure more headaches than usual. Schumer
said to expect longer lines at the airport and
delayed flights.
Federal funding for children in need is also at
risk, according to Schumer.
The bottom line is this: the government
shutdown is hurting not just federal employees, but
U.S. citizens across the country.
Queens Congresswoman Grace Meng said “only
President Trump is responsible for the government
shutdown and the impasse between the White
House and Congress.”
The Trump administration is trying to bully
Congress to get what he wants and this can’t go on
any longer.
There must be a stronger push from local, state
and federal lawmakers to end the shutdown. Words
only go so far — there needs to be action, too, and
we haven’t seen enough response from our elected
officials.
So call on your representatives in office and
demand change. Make sure your voices are heard
and together, we can let the president know that we
won’t put up with his bullying tactics and hopefully
force his hand to do what is right.
ASTORIA TIMES ■ BAYSIDE TIMES
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JACKSON HEIGHTS TIMES ■ JAMAICA TIMES
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WHITESTONE TIMES
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