Thursday, April 27, 2017: Queens residents, journalists, and community leaders gathered at the Queens Vocational & Technical High School for a town hall with Mayor Bill de Blasio—hosted in part by Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer, Borough President Melinda Katz, and State Senator Michael Gianaris.
Residents had the opportunities to ask questions and raise concerns that affected their neighborhoods as well as the borough at large. Access Queens members Melissa Orlando, Founder/Executive Director, Brandon W. Mosley, Senior Director, and Pat Dorfman, Strategist were in attendance.
Melissa asked de Blasio what the city can do to subsidize public transportation considering all of the looming development and service shut downs presently underway.
“There’s three pieces to the answer — part one: ferry service,” said de Blasio in response. It was implied that ferry service would enable the city to move forward without having to wait on the MTA. New service is scheduled to be added to Long Island City this summer as part of the ferry service rollout program.
As for part two of transit solutions for Queens, the city would work with the MTA to increase bus service as well as look at Select Bus Service.
Development of Sunnyside Yards was not discussed in relation the impact on transit.
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