Great Neck officials are planning an offensive in opposition to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s plans to cut bus service in Great Neck, according to Great Neck Village Mayor Ralph Kreitzman.
At a Village of Great Neck board of trustees meeting Tuesday, Kreitzman said there is a groundswell of opposition mounting against the MTA announcement several months ago to cut ABLE Ride services by approximately 10 percent in order to slash its budget by $1.2 million. The changes in service would leave some areas of Nassau County with virtually no public transportation for the disabled.
“They want to eliminate all of the buses going north of the railroad station and a weekend one going south that services the hospital,” Kreitzman said.
The Great Neck Village Officials Association, the Nassau County Village Officials Association and other area groups and local officials plan to take action against the plan in the coming weeks, according to the mayor.
“I met with the Great Neck Clergy Association who are going to take an active position against it,” said Kreitzman. “I know a number of our legislators are as well, including Judi Bosworth, our county legislator.”
Kreitzman was granted permission by other trustees at the meeting to write a letter on behalf of Great Neck Village to the MTA in opposition to proposed the bus service cuts.
Also at the meeting, the village board of trustees adopted a resolution authorizing the building inspector to act on behalf of the court in granted building permit extensions for up to three months. If residents request more than three months or request a waiver of the fee, they also may request permission of the board.
In other news, Trustee Jeffrey Bass was assigned the responsibility of talking with representatives from village bakeries, fish markets and green groceries during the next few weeks regarding possible competition posed from the proposed Farmer’s Market, to be sponsored by the Great Neck Park district.
“When it comes to the guy who’s is clearly going to be hurt who doesn’t want to participate then we might want to consider it differently, so I really think somebody needs to talk to them,” Kreitzman said.
Also discussed:
• The village board authorized the village clerk, based on the recommendations and findings of the building inspector, to take all actions necessary to bring a special proceeding to the state Supreme Court for permission to demolish an abandoned building at 14 South Gate Road in an effort to make the area safe.
• The public hearing regarding the placement of wireless communication cells on the roof of the King’s Point Tennis Center, located at 143-147 Steamboat Road, was adjourned until the May 3 board of trustees meeting.
• An April 5 public hearing was scheduled regarding the preliminary village budget.
