Dear Editor,
Here in Little Guyana, or Region 11 – where the largest number of expatriate Guyanese abound in the largest region – the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) must be reminded about their public commitment, promise and obligation to complete the wheelchair-accessible elevator in the heart of the Richmond Hill community – the Lefferts Boulevard and Liberty Avenue subway stop.
The ubiquitous presence of the New York editions of the Kaieteur, Guyana Chronicle, Guyana Times and Mirror newspapers, which are read more than the NY Times and NY Daily News newspapers, keep our community of expatriate Guyanese Americans informed; and we kindly ask your media to publish this representative petition.
MTA’s $29 million project, commenced since 2014, was scheduled to be finished since the end of 2016, but unpalatable excuses abound each time we enquire about the constantly deferred completion date, making it a “white elephant.”
Seniors, pregnant mothers, kids, the physically challenged, students, workers; indeed, everyone in our tax-paying community, would benefit greatly from this elevator, which makes mobility and travel easier, and would love to see this project completed. MTA would also benefit from increased revenue. The Richmond Hill community is one of the few in the USA that do not have any escalators or elevators serving subway patrons, which raises serious concerns.
Moreover, the failure to complete this project has forced the closure of the adjacent main stairway, affecting businesses and the local economy, and congesting traffic. The fencing, construction and accumulating garbage are an eye sore, and present a danger to public safety.
The MTA must recognise that they are failing in their duty to make access easier for residents with disabilities, contrary to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Indeed, the non-profit Center for Independence of the Disabled New York just filed a lawsuit against the MTA for lack of elevator access citywide. Richmond Hill/Ozone Park residents may also bring a class action lawsuit against the entity.
As a matter of customer obligation and due compliance with our laws, this project is long overdue, and must be completed now!
Albert Baldeo
Community
Advocate
