June 25, 2018                                                                                                                                          

COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO GOVERNORS SIGNING BILL AUTHORIZING

AIR TRAIN AT LA GUARDIA AIPORT

COMMUNITY GROUPS UNITED IN OPPOSITION TO PROJECT

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 East Elmhurst, Queens     

 

Today, the East Elmhurst Corona Alliance and the Ditmars Blvd. Block Association denounce the Governors signing of the bill to authorize construction of an Air Train to LaGuardia Airport and pledge to fight against it.  

Last Thursday in the dark of the night with no public hearing or scrutiny the NYS Senate passed an Assembly bill which gives broad power to the Port Authority to possibly alienate park land and use eminent domain to acquire properties to construct an Air Train to LaGuardia Airport. 

The local community organizations say NO!

Frank Taylor whose family has lived in East Elmhurst since 1956 and is President of the Ditmars Blvd. Block Association said, “I cannot see any upside to an Air Train in our community.  Simply stated, I believe this project will negatively impact our quality of life for a service that is not needed.  I also call to question the large taxpayer investment with no economic upside for our community or the State.   Our Association stands firmly against this project.”

Former Councilman, member of the East Elmhurst Corona Alliance and resident of East Elmhurst Hiram Monserrate stated, “Our community is tired of the constant disregard by our local government.  We have been targeted again.  We have endured many years of massive expansion and construction at LaGuardia Airport.  We have congestion from the nearby stadiums and a disproportionate amount of homeless shelters.  We have off-the-charts environmental pollution, noise pollution and more. The State cannot point to any indicator that demonstrates anything has gotten better from any of it.  This Air Train is another bureaucratic boondoggle that doesn’t benefit taxpayers or the local community.  

Monserrate added, “Where were the hearings on this Two Billion dollar project?  Where is the environmental impact statement and cost benefit analysis?  There is no study as to how many passengers would use this Air Train.  How about the thousands of local residents who will be impacted by another mega project?  Today, we the community members pledge to fight back!”   

David Aiken, a life-long resident of East Elmhurst and Alliance spokesperson stated, “Enough is enough.  We don’t need an Air Train.  We need permanent affordable housing.  We need better sanitation services.  We need an MTA system that works with on-time service.  Why spend billions of dollars on something that does not deal with the immediate needs and issues our community faces?”