NO CELL PHONE SERVICE IN SUBWAYS - The first anniversary of the terror attacks in London's subways has just been observed. The grim revelation that terrorists planned poison gas attacks in our subway system has come to light. Three years ago, Representative Anthony Weiner asked the MTA to enable the subways with cell phone service. Last year the MTA asked for bids on the project and today we still have no cell phone service in our subway system. The No. 7 line is the lifeline for millions of Queens residents and Mets fans every year. Riders need to be able to use their cell phones in our subway system. Hey MTA - just get it done!
WHOOP-WHOOPING THROUGH RED LIGHTS - There is enough noise in this city as it is, but added to the din of fire engines and ambulances racing to emergencies, there is the annoying whoop-whooping of New York Police Department precinct patrol cars toggling their sirens in order to bypass red lights. We have all observed uniformed cops in marked police vehicles rolling through red lights all over Queens. If you live near a traffic light, you will hear the “whoop-whooping” all day and all night long.
Shouldn't the police observe the same traffic laws that we have to - under penalty of points against our licenses and expensive tickets? We think they should!
RUDE CELL PHONE USE! - You cannot drive and talk on your cell phone too. That is the law! You drive poorly while on the cell phone - slower, weaving, veering to the left or right of the white lines - and are just a huge road hazard. Pull over and talk. Get an ear bud or other hands-free device and USE IT! When you are in public, at a restaurant, in a line at the bank, walking on the street, keep your voice down. No one around you wants to hear your end of a conversation. You are an annoying lout when you talk loudly on your cell phone in public. Take it outside and keep your voice down.
SHORT SHEETING THE BILLS - Start checking your monthly bills carefully. Many companies are engaging in short sheeting the time that you have to pay your monthly obligations. Say you have been told you have 25 days to pay your cell phone bill or Master Card bill, but the issuing company takes several days to issue the bill and mail it to you - that is short sheeting. You may wind up with less than fourteen days to pay it and mail it back to the issuer. That same issuer has already informed you - in fine print of course - that it may take them as long as ten days to credit your payment to the account, resulting in LATE FEES charged to you! Beside the expense, these late fees can now trigger other negative events in your credit files including but not limited to triggering higher or even default interest rates on your credit cards. Ouch!
