Readers sound off on Gateway, congestion pricing and the Staten Island ferry
Published on Apr 4, 2019 by
Readers sound off on Gateway, congestion pricing and the Staten Island ferry
WRITTEN BY VOICE OF THE PEOPLE | NEW YORK DAILY NEWS |
WRITTEN ON APRIL 4, 2019
Keep that Gateway project on track
Manhattan: The thought process behind the Daily News Editorial Board’s insistence that we completely scrap the Gateway Program and start over from scratch (“Stop digging,” March 15) is precisely why major projects like this don’t get built in the New York City area and why our region’s infrastructure is in its current state of disrepair.
Years of planning, preparation and careful engineering have already gone into the project, and early work to prepare construction sites on both sides of the Hudson has already begun.
Moreover, the rationale given by the Trump administration that Gateway is not eligible for federal funding and somehow a “local responsibility” is misguided. The tunnel is owned by Amtrak — a federal entity — and is the only major passenger rail link for 20% of the nation’s economy.
It’s certainly important that Amtrak and its Gateway Development Corp. partners look for ways to reduce costs, which they’ve committed to doing, but starting from scratch is the worst way to do that. Every day that we wait to build Gateway adds $1.2 million to the project’s overall cost and makes it more likely that we’ll face a nightmare scenario in which the existing tunnel fails before a new one can be built.
Delaying or canceling necessary projects is how we got ourselves into a terrible situation to begin with. The notion that it’s time to go “back to the drawing board” is categorically false. We must build Gateway now. Carlo A. Scissura, president & CEO, New York Building Congress
Pricing out the middle-class
Glendale: Voicer Mitchell Markowitz is 100% correct with his analysis of the congestion pricing scheme and its history. Middle-class taxpayers should be up in arms with this tax (call it what you want, bottom line is the government is taking your money). The sad part of this fiasco is that my fellow voters put these politicians in office. Furthermore, New York’s recently passed budget of more than $170 billion is almost twice that of Florida’s $91 billion despite the fact that Florida has about 1.8 million more citizens than New York. When will people ever wake up and ask where is our money being spent? Enough is enough! Thomas Murawski
Rich subway, poor subway
Flushing: The plan to tax cars entering Manhattan below 60th St. is nonsense. Congestion anyplace is self-adjusting. Only a limited amount of cars can fit in any particular place anyway, and when it becomes uncomfortable, people tend to avoid the crowds. So places tend to reach their saturation point and that point remains the norm. What will happen is that only the people who can afford the tax will then join other “affordables” and then saturate the space to capacity again creating the same congestion as before. And in a city of 8 million people, there are lots of “affordables.” It is only another excuse to tax and drive people out of the state. As for the cost of operating the subways: Who not only benefits but absolutely depend on from the subways? Real estate owners of commercial buildings in Manhattan. Without the subways, their buildings would be empty and not worth a plug nickel. So those owners should be responsible for the operating and maintaining of subways. As a matter of fact, they should own the subway system. If they did own the subway system it would run better and be cleaner to boot. It would also probably show a profit as well. John Procida
Benghazi truth
Allentown, Pa.: Responding to Voicer Barbara Berg’s statement on Benghazi hearings, which she submitted as factual when it was only her opinion, here are the true facts: Rep. Trey Gowdy urged Americans to “read the report for themselves. Look at the evidence and reach their own conclusions.” Reps. Mike Pompeo and Jim Jordan filed separate “additional views” alleging the U.S. government bureaucracy took steps to protect Obama’s and Clinton’s foreign policy legacy instead of focusing on rescue. Pompeo said Clinton’s leadership throughout the ordeal was “morally reprehensible.” Rep. Paul Ryan said the report “makes clear officials in Washington failed our men and women on the ground when they were in need of help.” The only people contending the report absolves Clinton of blame are Democrats. Joseph Marrongelle
Free ferry facts
Staten Island: To all the Voicers complaining about the Staten Island Ferry being free.They need to educate themselves before speaking. All the East River crossings (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Williamsburg and Queensboro) are free. Mayor Giuliani made the S.I. ferry free since prior to that move, Staten Islanders had no way of to get off the island without paying. This move was done in fairness, so, we had the same benefit as you all enjoy in the other boroughs. Ellen Settanni
Ferry to free-dom
Staten Island: To Voicers Manny Agostini and Karen Gallagher: Do some research as there is only one “free” way into Manhattan for those of us on Staten Island, our ferry! Most of us have to take a train or bus to that ferry, we don’t just “walk” for free to the boat either (yes, idiots, we have trains here too). By the way, the ferry is a glorious boat ride; it’s always crowded with tourists, hot in the summer and cold in the winter! As for that inflated bridge, so what we get a discount? We are the forgotten borough, so if you don’t want to pay to come here, stay home. We don’t need any more garbage — don’t forget we got stuck with your trash for years (let’s please remember our world famous dump)! So, basically, just stop running your mouth when you don’t know the facts! Patty Boccio
Keep yourself on Thrive
Jackson Heights: : I would like to second Chirlane McCray’s praise of the ThriveNYC services (“Mental health aid for all,” Op-Ed, March 31). Back in 2017, I took the one-day training to be a mental health First Aider and, as a result of the course, was able to provide the help a close relative needed when she was undergoing an emotional crisis. In addition, on a few occasions, I called the NYC Well helpline to get support in the middle of the night for some stressful events in my own life. I highly recommend both of these programs and think New Yorkers are most fortunate indeed to have these free services available to them. Judith Natkins
Cross out those ‘Lines’
Brooklyn: I agree with Voicer Kris Becker. “Between The Lines” is not funny and a poor example of humor. I can’t believe that the paper continued to run this crap after, on the very first day of a new Star Wars movie, they put in a spoiler that Hans Solo dies in the movie. That was not funny, but was actually very mean. Please dump this useless cartoon and replace it with something truly funny. After all the funnies are suppose to make us laugh. Greg Ahl
Click here to read the article at New York Daily News.