It is simply impossible to follow Larry Penner’s opinion piece on the opening of the Belmont Arena. The author knows transit. He is an expert. Probably most people reading it are not.
The author begins with the Empire State Development Corporation. It would be nice if he explained the ESDC’s role in the arena.
Bus manufacturers have a backlog of orders of up to two years. Does this include every bus manufacturer in the country?
The author asks if the buses will be ADA Compliant. It would be nice if he would briefly describe an ADA compliant bus. Presumably, this means hydraulic lifts for wheelchairs or those on walkers. While I am not as ADA literate as I would like to be, isn’t that pretty much standard now for buses?
The MTA is investing $105 million in the station. The author asks about additional costs. What is he referring to? The author wants to know if the costs are Zone 3 or Zone 4. I’ve ridden the LIRR maybe half a dozen times in my life. What are Zone 3 or 4 (I can infer it refers to the fare). What did the MTA say about the fare beforehand? What is the difference in Zone 3 vs. Zone 4? Coming from where?
What is the cost and funding source to relocate the eastbound platform farther west and extension of the visual barrier at the station, the author asks. What is a visual barrier? Both would involve a change in the existing construction contract, says the author. I’m not following. Why does the Eastbound platform need to be relocated? Both would involve a change order to the existing construction contract., says the author. Again I’m not following. If there is a construction contract to build a new station, why does it need to be changed? The author asks if the change orders have been reviewed. It would be nice if he explained who is supposed to review them.
The author goes on to discuss the retail village. It would be nice if he explained what the retail village is, although a reasonably intelligent person can infer this. A 12/19/20217 document linked off the Islanders’ website does provide some explanation.
How will living in a COVID-19 and post COVID-19 world impact ESDC’s promise of 3,000 plus good-paying jobs upon the opening of the Islanders Arena, the author asks. Although no one can possibly answer this question for sure, I would imagine the logical answer is if the vaccine slowly puts the pandemic down, the jobs may very well be created by 2022 or 2023.
“The Belmont Park arena project promises various service options that are already available.” What is the author talking about? What are “service options?”
“There are already plenty of hotels and colleges which offer conference centers. The same is true for movie theaters and smaller more intimate concert facilities. More people are meeting via zoom than in person.” I agree with the author about Zoom. However, is it not the hope of most people that eventually we will return to normal and meet in person? In addition, there is nothing in the 12/19/2017 announcement about movie theaters or conference centers.
“All of these so-called benefits would just have competed against existing shopping malls, upscale stores, restaurants, sports bars and end up stealing some of their customers.” Is the author, who has in the past taken has taken decidedly Libertarian stances, not familiar with the concept of “the free market decides?”
Entity “B” opens a business and competes with Entity “A.” If “B” does a better job of wooing and keeping customers than “A,” is that “stealing” or tough but honest and fair competition in a free market?
A classic example is Uber and Lyft. Not judging but quoting, someone once told me that “Uber vehicles are clean, the drivers are clean, and they speak English,” as opposed to yellow taxis. Is there anything to stop “A: from attempting to expand into the new venue? Or reexamining and modifying his/her business practices?
The author states “Elmont residents along with other nearby communities… deserve real answers today.”
In my humble opinion, a layman reading the author’s letter deserves a letter that does not require six different Internet searches to understand.
Nat Weiner
Bronx
