Golden: Restoring B4 Service Is Not My Responsibility
Last month, I discussed several bus routes that were either restored or modified after last year’s service cuts as a result of community pressure. I also asked the question, where is the pressure to restore the B4, which now only serves Sheepshead Bay part-time?
At least one person, Garibaldi 8 who posts on NYCTransitForums.com, has written to several elected officials requesting reinstitution of the B4 as well as other bus routes that were discontinued. Senator Golden’s office was the only one to respond. The senator has been very active in getting weekday express service in Bay Ridge returned to the way the routes ran before last June’s service cutbacks, and is now attempting to get weekend service restored as well by circulating a petition.
Part of the problem is who to complain to. Due to gerrymandering (which I was taught in school was illegal), the B4 runs in Senator Golden’s district in Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst, but then it leaves his district for a few blocks along 86th Street, returns, leaves it again, returns to his district along Avenue Z, leaves it again along Emmons Avenue and has its terminus in his district. So who is responsible?
Joan Byrnes, Director of Community Affairs for Senator Golden recently stated to Garibaldi 8, “I am going to discuss your concerns further with the Senator. The B4 along Emmons is technically not in our district and I think that may have something to do with it. I will be in touch next week with more information.”
Well, Senator Golden’s office has since replied that since the route is “outside his district,” he will concentrate his efforts on restoring the other eight routes affected that are in his district. Sounds like a cop out to me, since the entire Avenue Z portion is either within his district or on the boundary of his district, as well as the terminal stop at Voorhies and Knapp. It is only the Emmons Avenue portion that is clearly outside his district.
According to Garibaldi 8 in a post on NYC Transit Forums: The shortening of the B4 during middays and on weekends “has forced me to significantly change my travel patterns when visiting friends back in my old neighborhood or running my normal errands that I do down there. I know I certainly do not spend as much money down there as I used to because of the lack of bus service in the area. Before the cuts, I would run my errands and then go and relax at a restaurant somewhere and have drinks or whatever, but now I just run my errands and jump back on the BM3.”
Others surely have similar stories. Add your voice by calling or writing Senators Golden and Kruger on this matter. Also, do not forget, our other elected officials.
Here’s who you should contact:
Borough President Marty Markowitz
718-802-3700 – askmarty@brooklynbp.nyc.gov
State Senator Martin J. Golden
718-238-6044 – golden@senate.state.ny.us
State Senator Carl Kruger
718-743-8610 – kruger@senate.state.ny.us
State Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz
718-743-4078 – CymbroS@assembly.state.ny.us
State Assemblyman Alan Maisel
718-968-2770 – MaiselA@assembly.state.ny.us
State Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein
718-648-4700 – weinsth@assembly.state.ny.us
City Councilman Lewis A. Fidler
718-241-9330 – LFidler@council.nyc.gov
City Councilman Michael C. Nelson
718-368-9176 – nelson@council.nyc.ny.us
CB 15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo
718-332-3008 – BKLCB15@verizon.net
And don’t forget the MTA complaint form.