Penner Archives - Page 2 of 3

F-ing express!

glendaleregstg on September 16, 2021

Dear Editor,
The maintenance planned for F and G lines is nice, but remember between 1968 and 1976, NYC Transit routinely used the middle track rush hours south of the Church Avenue Station for Manhattan-bound F subway line trains between Kings Highway and Borough Hall.
During the p.m. peak, it was used in reverse for Brooklyn-bound express service.
With future completion of Communication Based Train Control in 2022, NYC Transit could decide to extend rush-hour express service by operating more trains to stations south of Church Avenue using the middle track.
Manhattan-bound express service could run until 1 p.m., while Brooklyn-bound express service could start at 2 p.m. This could save thousands of commuters even more time.
More people work staggered hours rather than the old traditional 9 to 5 jobs.
Assignment of additional subway cars to the F line would require a minimum of additional operating costs and might make for a great MTA investment for improvement of service.
Why not take advantage of this underutilized asset upon completion of CBTC on this subway line?
Sincerely
Larry Penner
Great Neck

Diner demise

glendaleregstg on September 8, 2021

Dear Editor
Regarding Larry Penner’s dispatch last week on the demise of the city’s diners, the Bel Aire Diner in Astoria is still open, and where Nevada was, that’s where Georgia Diner moved to.
I miss Shalimar though, but Georgia Diner has good food.
Sincerely,
Sherri Rosen
Forest Hills

Save your diner

webadmin on September 1, 2021

Dear Editor,
“Sad Milestone for old Avenue Diner” in The Woodhaven Beat column concerning the first anniversary of the closing of the popular diner is reminiscent of other diners who have met a similar fate.
Over the years, we have seen the demise of the Bay Terrace (Bayside), Bel Aire (Astoria), Gold Star (Bayside), Seville (Douglaston), Sage (Elmhurst), Nevada (Elmhurst), Kanes (Flushing), Saravan (Flushing), Palace (Flushing), Future (Fresh Meadows), Forest Hills (Forest Hills), Waterview (Howard Beach), Fame (Jamaica), Scobees Grill (Little Neck), Sky Line (Glen Oaks), Shalimar (Rego Park), and Tasty (Ridgewood) diners.
Remember these people are our neighbors. Our local entrepreneurs who own and operate diners have continued to invest in our community creating new employment opportunities.
They work long hours, pay taxes and provide local employment. If we don’t patronize our local restaurants, they don’t eat either.
In these difficult economic times, it is important to patronize your favorite restaurants.
Here’s hoping that our remaining diners all continue to survive and prosper.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Great Neck

Let Al speak

webadmin on August 25, 2021

Dear Editor,
The unannounced last-minute cancellation by CBS of August 16’s “United States of Al” episode will not soothe America’s guilt.
The Biden Administration’s incompetent planning for the evacuation of thousands of our own citizens along with Afghans who served as interpreters or worked for Americans will do nothing to save their lives.
The Taliban will extract their revenge in coming days, weeks and months for those citizens who worked with us during the 20 year war in Afghanistan.
It is too bad that no one in the Biden administration paid attention to the end of one episode of “United States of Al.”
Two of the actors, Adhir Kalyan who plays Al the Afghan interpreter, and Parker Young who plays Riley the Marine promoted a private organization dedicated to bringing Afghan citizens, who put their lives on the line for us, helping them come to America.
CBS should be ashamed of themselves for promoting Taliban-style censorship to America.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Great Neck

Blood in the water

webadmin on August 12, 2021

Dear Editor,
As Governor Andrew Cuomo enters the twilight of his political career, he has three options. The first is to resign and hope in coming years he can rehabilitate his image and career.
The second is continue to fight the inevitable impeachment by the state legislature.
The third is cling to the office and run in the June 2022 Democratic Primary for a fourth term.
Most of his former friends, be they other office holders, party leaders, major campaign contributors or union supporters have abandoned ship. A campaign war chest of $16 million will not buy him another term. Cuomo fatigue has taken root.
While he decides what to do, he will have less time to deal with other ongoing issues facing New Yorkers.
Should Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul become governor, she will likely be preoccupied with winning the June 2022 Democratic Primary to run for a full four-year term.
And being attached at the political hip to Cuomo may adversely impact her ability to win any cooperation from the state legislature.
The political sharks have already begun circling the political carcass of Cuomo, and many are now considering their own run for Governor.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Great Neck

Attack vs. Protest

webadmin on August 6, 2021

Dear Editor,
In response to Larry Penner’s “Two kinds of riots” dispatch on July 22, does Mr. Penner deny that the January 6th violent attack on our elected leaders, Vice President Michael Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the Capitol police who courageously tried to defend them, although outnumbered against a violent armed organized mob needs a laser-focused investigation?
Comparing the attack on Congress, which was in the process of certifying the presidential election results certified by state officials, to the demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd in May of last year is not valid. It is a ploy to deflect attention from what happened on January 6.
Mr. Penner is engaging in “whataboutism.” He wishes to change the subject, conflating the Black Lives Matter demonstrations and the January 6th Capitol riot. This is a tired repetition of a weak line of counterattack.
If democracy survives, it will be because we have nothing to fear when it comes to uncovering the facts about the January 6th riots.
Sincerely,
Janet James
Maspeth

LIRR issues

webadmin on August 6, 2021

Dear Editor,
Besides the noise from work at the Bayside LIRR rail yard (“Another push to shut down work at Bayside Yard” – July 28), there are also ongoing problems at the Bayside Long Island Rail Road Station that impact several thousand dally riders.
I give the LIRR full credit for installation of new concrete ties and ballasts. This will insure a safer and more comfortable ride. They have also recently completed repairs to sections of the westbound platform edge.
However, there is still other significant outstanding maintenance and repair work to be done.
The original wooden support beams for various sections of the canopy have deteriorated. Pigeons have moved into the rotting bottom section of the westbound canopy stairs roof.
Other portions of the canopy roof are also in need of repair. The metal structure supporting the overpass connecting the east and westbound platforms has begun accumulating rust.
There is also a hole in one of the eastbound staircases.
Why does the LIRR allow these issues to grow even worse? When will the necessary repairs to these structural deficiencies be dealt with and completed?
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Great Neck

No Chick ban

webadmin on July 28, 2021

Dear Editor,
State Assembly members Harry Bronson of Rochester and Deborah Glick and Danny O’Donnell of Manhattan recently sent a letter to the New York State Thruway Authority executive director Matthew Driscoll opposing the opening of Chick-fil-A franchises at the Thruway rest stops.
They claim to represent the interests of the LGBTQ community, but in calling for the denial of this free enterprise business to open new locations is also intolerant.
Chick-fil-A has opened dozens of stores in New York State. They are in the process of opening 200 stores in New York City alone.
Chick-fil-A provides gainful employment to construction contractors and their employees to build each operation, as well as cooks, cashiers and food supply deliverers. This benefits many who reside in communities with high unemployment in upstate New York.
Many more open-minded members of the LGBTQ community work or dine there. Chick-fil-A provides a quality product at reasonable prices.
And revenues generated by Chick-fil-A at Thruway rest stops will help the Thruway Authority pay off the $3.9 billion tab for the Mario Cuomo Tappan Zee Bridge.
If you don’t like the politics of Chick-fil-A, don’t eat there, but don’t deny the civil liberties of others who might prefer Chick-fil-A.
Chick-fil-A owners and employees are our neighbors who pay taxes. True tolerance means accepting those with different values than your own. There are plenty of other dining options available at New York State Thruway rest stops if you don’t want to patronize Chick-fil-A.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Great Neck

Two bills

webadmin on July 28, 2021

Dear Editor,
In his letter last week, Dispatcher Larry Penner tries to equate the January 6th Capitol riot with the protests that took place after what he refers to as the unfortunate death of George Floyd.
First of all, the “unfortunate death” was murder. He’s right that taxpayers were “stuck with the bill” to clean up after the protests, but what is “the bill” to be paid after Donald Trump incited white supremacists to attempt an insurrection of our democracy?
Penner complains of a bill that needs to be paid, yet looks the other way regarding an attack on the Constitution of the United States.
Sincerely,
Robert LaRosa, Sr.
Whitestone

Two kinds of riots

webadmin on July 20, 2021

Dear Editor,
Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s commission to investigate the January 6th Capitol riots merits consideration if the scope is expanding to include other violent protests that occurred around the nation as well.
What about Antifa and the nightly demonstrations that frequently turned into chaos in Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland and other major cities after the unfortunate shooting and death of George Floyd?
Taxpayers were stuck with the bill to clean up afterwards. Many minority-owned businesses in these communities were destroyed and will never reopen. How many thousands of jobs have been permanently lost as a result of this anarchy?
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Great Neck

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