Huge Turnout at MTA Hearing

Attendees waiting to get through insane security check
(this is the one photo BoogieDowner was able to take before our camera battery died... yeah, it was one of those nights)

BoogieDowner took a stroll over to Lehman College's Lovinger Theatre last night to attend the MTA public hearing. The hearing began around 6pm, and we arrived at 5:45pm to find the lines to get into the theatre were already quite long (not to mention slow moving).

With the insane amount of security present you would have thought that Bernie Madoff was a scheduled guest speaker or something. Attendees had to go through metal detectors and get the ol' wand treatment as well for any questionable keys/coins/explosives they may have been trying to hide in their pockets. And forget hurling rotten tomatoes at MTA Chief Exec Lee Sander: no food or drink permitted.

Because I had the one year old with me, attending the hearing was much more complicated than I thought it would be. Like much of NYC, it just wasn't stroller friendly. It took me 10 minutes to find the balcony area where I'd actually be able to stand with Pearl, but then I was told I needed a 'police escort' to get into the area. After another 15 minutes of securing said escort, I made it to the balcony only to be told it wasn't really for strollers but more for handicapped individuals. So after listening to only one speaker Pearl and I decided community activism was just too much work for us and headed home.

Aside from my own personal difficulties in attending the hearing, it was quite inspiring to see so many concerned Bronxites in attendance. There were reportedly nearly 400 people there protesting the MTA's proposed fare hikes and service cuts.

Hey, did I mention we have a petition going here on BoogieDowner to protest the proposed elimination of the Bx34 bus and night-time suspension of the Bx10 bus? Just click below to sign it.

Petition powered by ThePetitionSite.com

~ErLu

MTA Meeting Tonight at Lehman

As surely you know by now, the MTA will be holding a public hearing to discuss proposed service cuts in the Bronx this evening at 6pm at Lehman College (we incorrectly listed the start time yesterday as being 6:30pm... apologies).

Registration to make a formal statement will be open until 9pm, and supposedly every registered speaker will be heard. Testimony is limited to 3 minutes per speaker. You can even register in advance by contacting Douglas Sussman, Director, MTA Community Affairs at 212-878-7483. Click here to visit the MTA website for more information about the proposed cuts.

If you cannot attend tonight, you can still have your voice heard by signing the BoogieDowner/Bedford Mosholu Community Association petition protesting the proposed elimination of the Bx 34 and nighttime suspension of the Bx 10. So far, we have nearly 40 signatures... but we need more! Click HERE to sign your name - feel free to sign anonymously.

~ErLu

NY Times Takes Notice of Impending Bronx Transit Woes

Big ups to Katie Bindley over at the New York Times who wrote a great piece detailing the potential impact on Bronxites' daily lives if the MTA goes forward with the proposed cut of the Bx 34.

Click here to check out her story.

Click here to sign BoogieDowner and BMCA's petition to save the Bx34 and Bx10 bus lines. And don't forget that the MTA will have a public hearing regarding this issue this Wednesday, 2/4, at 6:00pm at Lehman College.

*Photo courtesy of Robert Stolarik for The New York Times*

~ErLu

Bx34/Bx10 Petition Needs Some Love

Come on Bronxites - we know you want to save the Bx34 and Bx10 bus routes. Apparently you're just being a little shy about it though...

Let's get some numbers behind this petition. Click here for some background info on this issue, and then sign away by clicking HERE.

Help Save the Bx34 and Bx10 Buses!

Last week I was discussing some community issues with a couple of the women who live in my building in Bedford Park. Among their chief concerns were the potential elimination of the Bx34 bus route (which connects Fordham Road/Bedford Park to Woodlawn, and also serves as a main route of transport to Montefiore Medical Center), as well as the possible nighttime suspension of the Bx10 bus (which connects Riverdale to Bedford Park) due to MTA cutbacks.

These bus routes are of supreme importance to many Bronx residents. I don't care what the MTA's ridership numbers show... There are many elderly people in my building alone who depend on these buses because subways with many stairs are just not an option for them.

To read more out this important issue, click here to check out the Norwood News' coverage, and here to read a New York Post article by yournabe.com's Daniel Beekman.

So, please join together with BoogieDowner and the Bedford Mosholu Community Association to urge Council Member Oliver Koppell to continue fighting to save these bus routes on behalf of the many Bronxites who depend on them each day by signing the below petition.

Please note, you can check "anonymous" if you'd like your name to be kept confidential from the public. Also, you are asked to provide your home address for verification purposes, but only your City and State will be made public.

Click here to view and sign petition.

In addition to signing this petition, Bronxites are encouraged to attend an MTA public hearing on Wednesday, February 4th, at 6:30pm at Lehman College to express concerns related to possible mass transit cuts.

Here's a copy of the letter we'll be sending along to Council Member Koppell:

We, the undersigned, object to the proposed elimination of the Bx34 bus which runs from Woodlawn to Fordham Road and serves as a major route of access for Montefiore Hospital. Additionally, we object the proposed elimination of nighttime service of the Bx10 which connects Norwood to Riverdale.

Our objections to these planned Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) service cuts are based on the grounds that if these transportation services were indeed eliminated, there would in turn be detrimental effects on the residents of the Northwest Bronx communities of Fordham, Bedford Park, Norwood, and Riverdale.

Council Member Koppel, we implore you to continue to fight on behalf of the residents of the Northwest Bronx against the planned MTA service cuts which would affect both the Bx34 and Bx10 routes.

Thank you for your steadfast dedication to improving the lives of the Bronx residents you serve.

Please forward this post around to friends, neighbors and relatives so that we can reach our goal of 500 signatures!

~ErLu