PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Rose Uscianowski, Staten Island Organizer from Transportation Alternatives
2:25:06
·
123 sec
Rose Uscianowski, a Staten Island resident and organizer for Transportation Alternatives, argues that the NYC Ferry system primarily serves wealthy areas and fails to address the transit needs of underserved communities like Staten Island. She emphasizes the need for better ferry connections to relieve transit issues in Staten Island, particularly on the North Shore.
- Criticizes the NYC Ferry as a "subsidy for the wealthy" rather than true mass transit
- Highlights Staten Island's long commute times and lack of transit options, forcing car dependency
- Calls for reconnecting Staten Island's coastline with ferries, as was done in the past
Rose Uscianowski
2:25:06
Hello, everyone, and good afternoon.
2:25:09
I'm Rosie Shadowsky, and you did quite well, my last name.
2:25:12
So I applaud you.
2:25:13
It's not easy.
2:25:15
I'm gonna go a little bit off script, if that's alright.
2:25:19
I am the Staten Island in South Brooklyn, Oregon with transportation alternatives, and I am also a lifelong Staten Island resident.
2:25:28
I am also going to speak to connecting Staten Island's disconnected, ferry service to the rest of New York City.
2:25:38
I believe that Avia Stevens spoke very well when she was talking about who our New York City ferry system serves, who it doesn't, and what message that sends.
2:25:49
When you have a mass transit system that serves those who already have the most access, the best, then I don't think it's a mass transit system.
2:26:04
I think it's a subsidy for the wealthy.
2:26:06
I think that's what it is from the start, and the New York City ferry system is getting better, but that's what it still is.
2:26:13
It's a subsidy for the wealthy.
2:26:15
Staten Island's North Shore has, you know, again, some of the longest commutes in the nation, and we you know, people think that Staten Island is a car borough.
2:26:27
That's because we're forced to be.
2:26:30
It's not because we choose to be.
2:26:32
We need more we need more options.
2:26:34
We need more access.
2:26:37
Don't even talk to me about city bike, but there is an obvious way to relieve our transit issues.
2:26:47
We are an island.
2:26:48
We used to be we used to have ferries going up and down or coastline.
2:26:53
And this is also something that I know Russia was speaking to.
2:26:57
If we could have fur if we could, you know, connect New York City by Farleys in the 19 fifties, then saying that we can't do it today, seems a bit backwards.