EDITORIALS
OTHER VOICES
Transit questions at Belmont Park
Will upgrades to the existing
Belmont Park Long Island Rail
Road Station include a bus terminal
to accommodate Nassau Inter
County Express bus, NYC Transit
bus, MTA bus and private bus charter
operators who may establish
new routes for serving the Islanders’
Belmont Arena?
There are several thousand reverse
commuters from New York
City who travel from either Flushing
or Jamaica to jobs or schools in
Nassau County via NICE Bus. Using
the Metro Card with a free transfer
from the NYC Transit subway
to NICE Bus only cost $2.75. They
ride the bus versus more expensive
LIRR fares.
How is the Empire State Development
Corporation planning for establishment
of these future services?
What is the current status for
scope of work, budget, funding
source and implementation schedule
for these improvements?
What is the current status for dialogue
with Nassau County, Nassau
Inter County Express (NICE), New
York City Transit and MTA Bus for
establishment of new or extension
of existing bus routes?
Will there be creation of any new
closed door express bus shuttle services
for employees, sports fans and
shoppers from Jamaica, Flushing,
Hempstead Multi Modal Bus Terminal,
Rockville Center, Lynbrook,
Floral Park or Queens Village LIRR
and or NYC Transit subway stations
to the Belmont Arena?
Will the NICE Bus N6 and N6X
bus routes provide additional service?
Will NYC Transit bus Q1, Q27
or Q88 routes be extended to provide
direct connections with the Islanders
Belmont Arena?
How will taxi, Uber, Lyft and other
car services be accommodated?
Will any potential future MTA
LIRR, NYC Transit bus, MTA Bus
or NICE bus transportation facility,
other capital and service transportation
improvements be paid for by
the developer or MTA?
Why is the Empire State Development
Corporation following the
state SEQUA and not federal National
Environmental Protection
Act?
Following NEPA is necessary
to preserve eligibility for potential
Federal Transit Administration
funding opportunities to pay for
any planned transportation improvements.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
THE GIVING SPIRIT
Looking back on 2018, we’ve had our fair
share of stories — both positive and negative —
pop up throughout the borough.
As we wrap up the year, let’s try and remember
all the good the people in Queens have done.
This holiday season, we’ve seen tons of nonprofits
and local organizations work hard to provide
for those who are less fortunate.
There have been so many self less acts of kindness
that deserve recognition and we’d like to
say thanks to those who have gone above and beyond
to make a positive impact in our borough.
We’ve seen Vessel of Life, a nonprofit founded
by Flushing/Fresh Meadows resident Angelica
Ramirez, hold a free Thanksgiving dinner for
survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Long Island
City, where 16 people in six families were
served.
The Queens region of Champion Martial Arts
partnered with Operation CR (Child Rescue) to
collect 2,171 canned and boxed foods to be donated
to the Food Bank for New York City ahead of
thew Thanksgiving holiday.
Jessica Chacha, the co-founder of the Jackson
Heights-based nonprofit Together We Can Community
Resource Center, was named a 2018 Well-
Care Community Hero by WellCare of New York.
Chacha was recognized for her organization’s
work in supporting immigrant families.
Ridgewood’s 104th Precinct did not slow down
for the holidays, but kicked the season of giving
into gear with toy giveaways coordinated with
the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council (GRYC)
and the Rafael Ramos Foundation Toy Drive.
NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill came
to Bayside in December — along with NYPD
officers — to help spread holiday cheer to the
children and families at St. Mary’s Hospital for
Children.
In a separate event, the FDNY also stopped by
St. Mary’s, bringing smiles to everyone’s faces.
There have been countless acts of kindness in
Queens, especially around the holidays. But we
can do better.
Rather than saving these wonderful acts for
the holiday season, we should make a greater
push to make them happen year-round.
The holidays are a great time to lend a helping
hand. But people need help all year, not just
around the holidays.
A greater push to be kind and help others is
something everyone should be on board with. So
let’s make it happen.
ASTORIA TIMES ■ BAYSIDE TIMES
FLUSHING TIMES ■ FOREST HILLS LEDGER
FRESH MEADOWS TIMES
JACKSON HEIGHTS TIMES ■ JAMAICA TIMES
LAURELTON TIMES ■ LITTLE NECK LEDGER
QUEENS VILLAGE TIMES ■ RIDGEWOOD LEDGER
WHITESTONE TIMES
BRIAN RICE
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