Candidates tackle vexing transit issues

South Queens residents braved the cold on Wednesday, February 4 to hear what the City Council candidates had to say about transit problems in the area.
The South Ozone Park Civic Association West and the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund teamed up to make the meeting, held at St. Anthony’s of Padua Church on 128th Street in South Ozone Park, possible.
“The meeting will be especially helpful to those running for City Council in the upcoming Special Election on February 24,” said Dan Hendrick, the Communications Director of the New York League of Conservation Voters. “We want those who are running to be able to give their input.”
According to the co-chair of the Association, Ken Fisher, New York City needs to be more accessible.
“We want to speak about the lack of express buses and train lines,” Hendrick said.
Glenn DiResto, Sam Di Bernardo and Frank Gulluscio were among those sitting on the panel even though they were knocked off of the City Council ballot last week, though Gulluscio and DiResto appealed.
Eric Ulrich, Geraldine Chapey and Lew Simon were also present at the meeting.
“We shouldn’t feel like outsiders,” DiResto said of the hardship residents have with traveling in southern Queens. “We should be able to access New York City more easily than this.”
The President of the South Ozone Park Civic Association West, Anthony Gellineau, and Fisher conducted the questioning before opening the floor up to residents.
Questions arose about issues such as violence in schools.
“We need to uproot gangs out of the community and then target specific schools,” Ulrich said.
Developing Rockaway Beach and the forth-coming casino in the Aqueduct Race Track area were topics as well.
And when an elderly woman stood up and demanded there be elevators added to all train platforms in the area, Simon stood up and said, “Take my number. I’m ready to work with you at a moment’s notice.”