REMARKS
Lack of ferry access in the West Bronx and its impact
2:02:29
·
105 sec
Council Member Stevens expresses frustration over the lack of ferry access in her West Bronx district and its impact on residents. She highlights the limited transportation options and the potential benefits of adding ferry service to the area.
- Stevens points out that the narrative suggests ferries are not for communities of color due to their absence in these areas.
- She emphasizes the limited transportation options in Highbridge, including unreliable bus service and challenging bike routes.
- The council member argues that a ferry could provide a viable transportation alternative for residents and potentially generate significant revenue due to attractions like Yankee Stadium.
Althea Stevens
2:02:29
But some of it is, like, the narrative is that people of color shouldn't be on here because you're not putting them in their communities.
2:02:35
And maybe you know that that's not intentionally happening.
2:02:37
But even when conversation with residents in there.
2:02:40
They were like, yeah, that's not for us because that's that is the narrative that you're creating.
2:02:44
And so I'm just a little bit frustrated because in my district and hybrid where we do have waterfront, but we don't have access to it.
2:02:52
And there is no other options because we we have the bus, which is the 13th, that's really terrible.
2:02:57
And it's like I think it's like 8 buses on our route, which always gets stuck in traffic.
2:03:01
And then they say, oh, ride city bikes.
2:03:03
And if you've ever been to highbridge, you and I ride the city like, you gotta be committed.
2:03:09
So having a ferry is a real life option for a lot of these residents who are often stranded there, who have to either drive, and there's no parking, or they have to take a Uber because it's just too fair zone.
2:03:21
And so thinking about could be a real option for people to have real transportation and it's not even being considered.
2:03:27
And we have places where there's actually options for them and they could get access and we're putting additional ferry landings there.
2:03:35
Like, I think that we have to get real about what's happening here because I feel like I've been here for 2 years and I've gotten things where I've said, hey, we would love to have a ferry on the West Bronx, and there's actually a land that you could put there, and it's not in my district because actually an deputy, because I all district, that's there.
2:03:49
That could be put there because it was put there in the eighties, and it could be done, and it's just not happening.
2:03:54
And so I'm really confused.
2:03:55
And so that's why I'm asking these questions because people in my district deserve this.
2:03:59
We don't have other options, and this needs to have a real consideration.
2:04:03
And so even with the Yankees being there, we would actually probably bring in more revenue than a lot of your other fairies just because we have so many people that come into this district.
2:04:12
So I'm I'm just a little frustrated at this point.
Michelle Lamberti
2:04:14
Yeah.