The Buses Keep Rolling... For Another Month At Least

As an update to my previous post, Big Loss For North Shore Commuters, it appears that there is hope afterall. The following message was recently sent by the good people at Long Island Transit to their riders:

Dear Loyal Patrons of Long Island Transit:

We wanted to let you know that on March 1, 2011, Long Island Transit representatives will be meeting with Edward P. Mangano, the County Executive for Nassau County.  We are hopeful that the concerns raised in yesterday's message can be resolved at that time, if not sooner.  LIT will also be inviting representative members of its ridership to voice any concerns that they may have at that and other meetings.  While nothing has yet been resolved, an open dialogue is a very good first step, and LIT is cautiously optimistic...

It is gratifying to see when government actually works for the people. I applaud the efforts by Mr. Mangano and as well as the other public officials that have been contacted and are working on a long term solution. I hope that today's meeting will be fruitful in saving this much needed service.

I think that recent actions by the MTA proves that additional commuting options are necessary for Long Island to continue to prosper. To be captive to the whims of any monopoly especially those run by the government is not consumer friendly. Take for example the MTA's implementation of a $10 fee for ticket refunds. So, if I want to return a $7.50 ticket, I would have to pay more than the value of the ticket for a refund? Imagine if one of those big box stores tried to implement such a policy, the politicians would be all over themselves to condemn it. Why then does the MTA get a pass on this?

That's why government should continue to encourage the private sector to assist in these areas. Perhaps by relieving the MTA of some of it's burden it can find ways to operate more efficiently. We see it in all other sectors, competition creates innovation. Perhaps when the MTA can longer just write blank checks and needs to compete for riders, maybe then we will see them really begin to become efficient.

In the mean time, I wish the Long Island Transit Company every bit of success. I hope that the actions taken today lead to expansion and profit for them. Hopefully with their success, we will see a real choice in commuter options on Long Island.

Big Loss For North Shore Commuters

For the past two years commuters from the Glen Cove/Roslyn/Port Washington area have had the benefit of an alternative commuter line. A line that has been providing comfortable, reliable service to and from Manhattan each work day. The line features comfortable buses with free wi-fi connectivity, allowing riders to catch up on e-mail or the latest news as the ride their daily commute. Not to mention that this is a private company providing this premium service at a better price than the the Government's MTA system.

So, imagine the commuters surprise when they received this notice from the commuter line just yesterday:
(Long Island Transit, Dear Loyal Patrons...)

"We regret to inform you that due to circumstances beyond our control, Long Island Transit  will be forced to shut down its service at the end of February 2011.  Since January 2009, Long Island Transit has provided an alternative method for commuting residents of Nassau County to travel to Manhattan.  However, Long Island Transit has operated without a contract with Nassau County and the towns and cities it serves for more than a year and has been unable to secure certain governmental incentives that were necessary to continue the service."

Why aren't our elected officials working to save this much needed service? Why are they allowing this service to die? If this service is shuttered, residents are left withe the government monopoly known as the MTA. A service that is more expensive and less reliable the the Long Island Transit Bus. In this difficult economy entrepreneurship should be encouraged and rewarded. Especially when the private business is reaching out into the public sector in an attempt to supplement a needed service.

I ask our elected officials to look into this matter and see what can be done to save the Long Island transit bus. I ask State Senator Carl Marcellino, State Assemblyman Charles Lavine, County Executive Ed Mangano and Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi to work with the people at Long Island Transit and work out a solution to keep the buses rolling!

Yellow Light, Red Light, 1, 2, 3

The Nassau County Legislators are patting themselves on their backs for installing red light cameras all around the county. They are so excited at the prospect of bringing in an expected $13 Million in Revenue in 2010 (http://newsday.com/1.2212978) that now they are asking Albany for another $25 Million to put up more cameras (Syosset Jericho Tribune Oct 1, 2010). You'd think they would wait until the program paid for itself. This is another example of government spending gone crazy.

But to the point, is Red Light Cameras for public safety or for government revenue? I think the example above makes it obvious that our legislators love for red-light photography is only equal by their love of green backs. Red light cameras do not make the road any safer. In fact, I would contend that it makes the roads more dangerous as motorists have to worry about the car in front of them slamming on the brakes at the site of yellow. The yellow light was created to avoid such a hazard. But, the problem of the yellow light as well as road rage in general has come about because of two simple underlying issues on the road. If these issues were addressed, I think the need for the cameras (as far as safety is concerned) would be diminished as the roads would be much safer. What are these underlying issues?

1. Traffic lights that are not in sync with each other, causing drivers to stop at every other block.
2. Inconsistent timing of the Yellow light.

Let's first look at the synchronization of traffic lights. I'm not saying that every light should turn green as I approach it (although it would be nice). I do think that once a driver hits a red light they should have a reasonable expectation to have the traffic light go their way for a good stretch within the speed limit, before coming to another red light. But, that is not the case on most roads in the area. In fact, on many roads it would seem that the timing of the lights are set to actually frustrate a driver. Thus, generating road rage, and thus making a driver more likely to want to blow through that yellow light. I don't think any driver minds hitting a red light or two, but when every light seems against you... it could make even the mildest mannered person scream.

The second is the inconsistent timing of the yellow lights. At some corners the yellow may stay on two or three seconds while at others the yellow light barely has a chance to appear before the red light comes on. I understand that different intersections require different timings. I know that I have gotten into the habit of watching the walk signs for a signal of when a traffic light is about to change, but not every intersection has a pedestrian crossing. With modern technology I think the yellow light should be retooled. Perhaps embedding a countdown so a motorist knows whether they should slam on the brakes. Although, if they have the countdown to see as they approach the intersection, it would give them fair warning. If an embedded countdown is not practical, why not set the yellow light to blink as it changes, blinking faster as the time ticks down. I actually remember seeing this on old traffic lights that had only red and green. The green light would begin to blink just before turning to red as a warning to drivers.

Maybe it's time to start being fair to motorists again, instead of seeing them as a revenue stream. The government taxes us on the sale, registration and inspection of our cars. They put toll booths up to collect money as we leave the island, they tax our fuel, and they lay traps out to catch us if we miss a light. And most of the money collected for all this goes to the MTA. How about doing something nice for the drivers for a change?

Campaign Contributions and the Media

I consider myself a big believer in freedom of the press and free speech. But, I have to wonder whether it is reasonable to expect that the media to be unbiased in the election process. I was outraged the other day when I saw that Newsday's parent company, Cablevision donated $40,000 to Andrew Cuomo's NY Gubernatorial Campaign.

To their credit, Newsday did disclose it in an article in their paper. However, that is only a small portion of their contribution. Again my source: http://politics.newsday.com is a Newsday site however it shows that Cablevision's overall contribution is $145,000 (not including an additional $11,000 from Dolan family members). The same searches show no results for similar donations to Carl Paladino's campaign.

 I find this very concerning afterall, with such a heavy bet on one candidate it would be hard for them to keep their coverage unbiased. Admittedly, Paladino appears to be shooting himself in the foot these past few days but when I read these reports in the newspaper or see it on News12, I have to question whether or not the comments are being sensationalized or being taken out of context.

I do feel that Newsday's coverage of the campaign has been slanted from the beginning. Whenever Cuomo makes a comment it is highlighted in the headlines and whenever Paladino does something it makes the inside pages, except for his missteps. I kind of understand Paladino's frustration last week when he lashed out at the reporter. Maybe Cuomo is perfect and has made no mistakes, I doubt it every human makes an error. But, the size of the contributions makes me question and creates a big doubt that Cuomo would be a good choice. I really wish that there were more than two major parties in the system. I hate having to vote based on the evil of two lessers.

Author's note: I'm not sure if the Newsday link above is available to non-subscribers. Just in case, here is a link to an image of the Cablevision Contributions to Andrew Cuomo's campaign as of October 13, 2010.
Click Here to View.

Fighting the MTA Taxpayer Abuse

I have always gotten a chuckle whenever I hear the MTA use their slogan, "Going your way." I laugh at the audacity of this agency to actually try and make us believe that they are doing anything any way but their own. Take a look at the recent increase in the fares. They are proposing the largest hikes in a long time during a time that the economy is bleak. Yeah, I know some eggheads in Washington pronounced the recession is over. Try telling that to the people still on the unemployment line. But, I digress...

Today in Glen Cove Bill Schoolman came to address the Chamber of Commerce and enlightened the group of local businesses about the abuse that the MTA has inflicted on this region during the Agency's 40 year history. The latest fare hikes and MTA Payroll Tax are only the latest in the MTA's crimes. I was happy to see that there are others out there that are getting outraged over this issue and I hope that come November it is reflected in the voting results.

Bill had enough and is fighting back with a lawsuit against the MTA Payroll Tax. His investigation found that this burdensome tax contains five violations of the NYS Constitution and one violation of the Public Authorities Law. He spells it out on his website:

http://www.mtataxpayerabuse.com/ 

He represents a growing group of concerned citizens who have had enough and are ready to fight back. He demonstrates the total disregard to fiscal responsibility that the MTA displays. For example:

• MTA Salaries represent 58% of the total MTA Expenses
• MTA Salaries and related benefits are greater the MTA Revenues ($8.0 Billion vs $6.1 Billion)
• MTA has $3.7 Billion in Investments that could be liquefied to avoid service cuts
• MTA has spent of $600 million in overtime, approved without question, 77% undocumented)
• $20 Million spent on an employee lounge at Grand Central Station in October 2009

Please, I urge you to visit his site, sign up for the newsletter and tell your friends and neighbors. It's time to get angry and to take a stand. The MTA has not stopped increasing their greed in 40 years. It's not going to stop until we stand up and say enough is enough!

Join the fight! Remember when you vote on election day who voted for the MTA Tax and let the hear you with your vote!

September 11, 2010

On this day of remembrance,

Let's never forget that day in 2001 when our lives changed.

Let's never forget the lives that were lost

and let's rededicate ourselves to moving forward

as a country united and free!

September 11, 2010

Restaurant Recommendations - Part 2

Thanks to the great feedback the last time I did some restaurant reviews, I thought it was time to do a few more. Today I'm going to look at two of my local favorites.

Fatty Fish Restaurant
2 Glen Street, Glen Cove, NY
516-676-1823
Web: http://www.fattyfish.com

I've always liked sushi since my college days. In fact the first time I tried it was in a Japanese restaurant in Glen Cove that is long since gone. So, I was very happy when Fatty Fish opened in Glen Cove about three years ago and brought quality sushi and Japanese Cuisine back to my hometown.

Fatty Fish has an inviting, modern decor. The staff is very friendly and helpful even when they are overwhelmingly busy as this local restaurant is very popular with locals as well as the occasional tourist. The restaurant is located at the corner of Glen and School Streets, in the heart of downtown Glen Cove, just across the street from Glen Cove City Hall.

For those who love sushi, you will find the sushi chef at Fatty Fish very skilled in creating dishes that are as pleasing to the eye as they are to taste. The fish is always served fresh and skilfully crafted and they are always happy to explain what they are making while you sit at the sushi bar. My wife and I enjoy sharing the Sushi Deluxe dish which consists of about 15 pieces of sushi and a Tuna Roll. We also enjoy some of their specialty sushi rolls including the Long Island Roll. This roll is served on an extra long plate of a 16 piece roll of lobster salad, cucumber and spicy tuna topped with two different  tangy sauces which are really delicious.

For those not inclined to sushi, don't worry there is plenty of great cooked food here as well. The Bento Boxes, a traditional Japanese meal is sort of like a Gourmet TV Dinner. It is served in a special plate which is divided into sections. The box includes the main dish (your choice of beef, chicken or salmin terriyaki), shrimp tempura, soup, salad and appetizer. It also includes a small sushi roll which can be a California Roll (which is made with fresh vegetables instead of raw fish) if you prefer.

My other favorite meal at Fatty Fish is the Nabeyaki Udon. This is a large soup dish which is loaded with vegetables, fish cake, egg, chicken, tofu, and large Japanese egg noodles. If that's not enough, Shrimp Tempura is served on the side and comes with your choice of a soup or salad (I recommend choosing the salad since the main dish is a soup).

Fatty Fish is definitely worth the drive for those out of the area as it is great for local Glen Cove residents. If you're planning to dine during the weekend or Friday night, it's best to call for reservations because this restaurant fills up fast!

Sal's Pizza
137 Glen Street, Glen Cove, NY
516-676-5444

I think everyone who has ever lived on Long Island must have their favorite pizza place. We're spoiled living here it seems most of the USA lives on Dominoes or Pizza Hut. There's really nothing wrong with those restaurants and I have had a slice or two from them, but nothing beats real pizzeria pizza.

When I first came to Glen Cove in 1978, I first met Sal as he opened the store on Glen Street and from the first taste, I was hooked. For a time, when I lived in Queens I would travel back out to Glen Cove for a taste. The quality of the pizza at Sal's has never wavered and is as tasty today as it was back then.

Of course since the late 70's Sal's Pizza has expanded, adding more seating as well as new options on the menu. For me, I am a traditionalist. I love regular pizza with just sauce and cheese. My wife loves toppings and thinks I'm crazy. What can I say? Give me a regular slice and I'll add a little oregano and some Parmesan cheese and I'm happy. For a change of pace I'll have a square slice as I'll crave the thick crust.

Sal's also makes a large assortment of the usual Italian dishes like Chicken Parmesan, Meatball Heroes,Garlic Knots as well as excellent Mozzarella Sticks. They have ample seating and do offer free delivery within the area. So, next time you're in the Glen Cove area and looking for a bite to eat, check out Sal's you will be happy you did.

LIRR - An Exercise in Patience

I used to commute into the city everyday. I was part of the rat race taking the Railroad to work each day. Spending three hours or more commuting. I may have to do it again some day, but for now I'm safe from the hustle and bustle of the LIRR.

When I did travel through the MTA system, I was always struck by the dehumanizing experience it is. Commuters are often treated as cattle, in fact with the overcrowding of some train, I would dare say worse than cattle. Seriously, if you shoved so many heads of cattle into a railroad car heading to the slaughterhouse, the ASPCA and every other Animal Rights group would be on the case protesting and, rightly so. Therefore my question is why do we recognize these atrocious conditions when forced on animals but accept it when it is forced upon us?

What can we do about it? I realize it is tough. After all, we want to get home on Friday evening after work and don;t want to wait another 90 minutes for the next train. It is understandable. But, why not stand up for ourselves through letter writing, making phone calls of protests, even blogging about it. Why do we accept MTA's treatment of ourselves even when we know it is wrong. Have you ever noticed, that when the Railroad really messes up, is running late and the train is overcrowded, often you will never see the conductor coming through for tickets. They know that tempers are high and really don't want to get into conversations about subjects they can't do anything about. We are upset but as soon as we get home, we shrug the whole incident off as just another day in the rat race.

I would suggest that the next time you're stuck on a delayed train and being treated unfairly, that you get out your Blackberry or Android or iPhone and start writing to the LIRR and MTA and get your voices heard. Why do you think that there are so many trains running on the Port Washington line during rush hour? The commuters on that line have made a very strong campaign and are not afraid to be heard.

Oyster Bay trains are typically an hour apart so when they cancel one of our trains there is a long wait. During a bad day in Penn Station I once saw someone complaining loudly that they canceled his Great Neck train and forcing him to take a Port Washington train instead that was five minutes later. As a rider on the Oyster Bay line, I was totally mystified by the man's outrage. But, my point is that the riders on the Port Washington branch are not afraid to have their voice heard. I would encourage everyone out there to do the same.

Let's stop commuting like sheep and stand up for our own rights. If your train is overcrowded, too hot, too cold, running late or any other bad service, let them know. However, I would also suggest that when they do something good that you also let them know that as well. If a conductor was especially nice (an many of them are) or the train had a good record of being on time, don't be afraid to send a compliment. This gives good managers a chance to praise good employees and hold them up as an example for others to follow. If you're going to criticize the dark side, don't forget to compliment those on the side of good as well.

The Increasing School Tax and The Declining Enrollment

As all the excitement of Back to School starts taking over parents around Long Island I remember reading a Newsday article on July 17th, "LI children age 9 or younger decrease by 10 percent" by Olivia Winslow (Link).

The US Census data shows a 10 percent drop or 40,500 fewer residents 9 and younger on Long Island since the turn of the century. Overall school enrollment has decreased across Long Island since 2005. So, why then are school budgets still escalating?

Maybe the school officials need to take some math classes because it seems so logical, less students mean less resources needed which equals in lower budgets. I know, I can hear some people already saying "won't someone think of the children?" I know it's not politically correct to challenge the school board after all they are only caring for our children and they are our precious future. Hogwash! The school boards are thinking only of their pockets and precious jobs. In my opinion this just a case of spend all your budget so you can ask for more next year. My local school board was so good with their budget that they were able to afford a neat electronic LED message board to announce their school board meetings on. Gee, thinking of the cost to purchase and install the sign, not to mention the monthly electric bill, do you think they could have used that money for something better? Oh, like buying a couple of extra books, hiring another teacher or maybe paying for some extra-curricular activity that they keep telling us is so important?

Speaking of extra-curricular activities, I find it highly offensive that the community should pay for these this. I'm not opposed to school tax entirely. I think that it is each resident's responsibility to help fund education. I just think it should be reasonable, fair and centered around education. That means paying for teachers, books, administration and maintenance of school property. But, when it comes to activities like sports or after school clubs, I draw the line. These activities are selective and the cost of these should be funded by the students who partake in them and their parents. The school can provide the venue and supervision, but should not foot the bill for supplies or anything else. Let them do a bake sale or car wash to raise money.

It also seems like there is a belief that smaller classes mean a better education. Frankly, I think that is just the Teacher's Unions looking  to get more teachers hired. I can't say I blame them as teachers are very under appreciated in our society. However, when I was a kid, growing up in the late 60's, 35-40 children in a classroom was the average. I think the increased pressure drove us to work harder for recognition. During my elementary school career was when the change from the old school (1950's) style of strict education was giving way to the newer, softer, new age education. Even at a young age I noticed the difference when my textbooks were changed and found the newer ones fluffier and easier to get through. I think back on that today and wonder of that was better. Would I have developed different in a more competitive environment?

I have to think yes. In Asia class sizes are huge and yet they consistently produce students that beat our students in academics. I have to think that it is the competition that drives them to do better.

In my opinion our current classroom structure and concepts about budgets were created in the 1950's during a time of prosperity and population explosion. We need to rethink our education system and how we fund it. In truth, I stopped voting on my school budget because I believe it is a farce especially in New York State. This became apparent a few years ago when the school budget was voted down, twice and the school board overrode the vote because there was money that needed to be paid. How can they do that? I felt cheated and I still do. There is only one line of candidates to vote for and if anyone tries to challenge that line, they are ostracized by the current school board members. If you vote against the budget, they pull out the kids with puppy dog eyes crying to save their school.

Then if it gets voted down again, New York State grants them a contingency increase. In all fairness, this was the first year in my recollection that the contingency budget was a 0% increase. However, in past years the contingency was 3% or 4% even more. In my opinion, if the budget is voted down, the school budget should be the same as the previous year. Afterall, that was the last approved budget. I mean, imagine walking into your boss's office and asking for a 7% raise. Then you're turned down and you say, "Well since taxes went up and the kids need to pay for tuition, so I'll just take a 4% raise instead, Thanks." Do you think you'd be successful? Of course not! You continue receiving your current salary and have to make do (assuming your boss didn't fire you for acting so crazy).

My main point is that the school budgets need to get back in line with reality. They need to start thinking of the community as a whole not just the children but, the parents as well. Especially during hard times, and declining enrollment. That is the whole point of the free market system. During these times, families are moving to areas with lower costs and lower taxes. As a result, other areas have a declining population and require less services. So, reduce the cost of our schools, lower our school taxes then our community becomes attractive to families again. They move back, they start paying into the system, generating more revenue so that you can regrow the school system again. Only, with a larger population, the additional costs are more easily shared. It seems like basic economics, and I learned that in school with 35 kids in my class.

Restaurant Recommendations

Well, the last couple of columns were kind of heavy so, I thought I would lighten things up with some local restaurant recommendations. My wife and I travel frequently and we appreciate good food when we find it. So, I thought I'd start off with two of our favorites.

Smoke House BBQ Pizza Bar (Formerly "Patsy's")
407 Jericho Turnpike, Syosset, NY
516-802-4125
Web: http://www.dlsmokehouse.com

For us this restaurant has a special meaning. Two weeks before our wedding in 2008, we realized that we needed to plan a rehearsal dinner. Several guests were staying at a nearby hotel and we started driving up Jericho Turnpike for a nice venue. We stopped at a few restaurants that wanted to charge as much as we were paying for our reception, that's not what we had in mind. When Patsy's appeared on the horizon it was a shining destination. We found the managers and staff to be friendly, helpful and the prices were reasonable. Needless to say the rehearsal dinner was a big success and we have returned to dine there on a fairly regular basis.

Recently, they went through a change in decor and an expansion of their menu. Now known as Smoke House BBQ Pizza Bar, thankfully, all the great Italian dishes and pizzas are still very much there. They've added some Barbecue items as well as burgers, sandwiches and a few specialty items. One item I tried was a BBQ Sushi Roll of Buffalo Chicken. An interesting reconstruction of the classic Buffalo Chicken. All the ingredients are there, the chicken (minus the bones), the hot sauce, blue cheese and celery all wrapped in rice and crisp seaweed. It tasted great and I didn't have to worry about messy hands. It's an excellent appetizer!

They still make our favorite salad, the Pear Salad. The salad is prepared with a nice selection of greens, sliced pears, almonds, fresh blue cheese with a healthy drizzling of raspberry vinaigrette dressing. Another delicious dish! It's great to see that even after their makeover, Smoke House kept all the quality and great food that made them such a special place.

Puerto Vallarta
48 Cedar Swamp Rd, Glen Cove, NY
516-277-2900

We recently discovered this little gem. My wife is from Mexico so, when we find authentic food so close to home we celebrate! The restaurant is nicely designed with ample seating on two floors. The sounds of Spanish music and decor work to create a really nice ambiance perfect for any type of party from a family fiesta to a romantic dinner for two.

The menu is filled with authentic Mexican cuisine made and served quickly by a friendly wait staff that is very knowledgeable in what they are serving. I can recommend the Chicken Enchilada Mole. For those not familiar it is chicken meat wrapped in flour tortillas covered with a mole sauce and topped with creme. The mole sauce is actually a spicy type of chocolate but, without the sweetness of sugar. It may be hard to explain but, take it from this Gringo, it is nothing like a Hershey bar, it has a very unique and pleasant taste. The dish is served with some refried beans and a small salad. In terms of price, very reasonable.

Next up on the blog, I'll get back into tech and talk about long distance communication and VoIP!

Glen Cove Ferry a Good Idea?

I’m very happy to live in Glen Cove. It is one of only two cities that are in Long Island. We have three local beaches, about a dozen parks and even our own municipal golf course. I feel very privileged to live in this area despite the hour plus commute to Manhattan.

I agree that commuting to Manhattan is a drag. It’s a big chunk of time that I would rather be somewhere other than sitting on a bus or in a train. Glen Cove is lucky that we have three LIRR train stations in our jurisdiction. Plus, we are not charged for the privilege of parking at any of our stations. That may be because many of our residents drive down to Mineola or Port Washington in order to take express trains.

Recently, an express bus line began operating in Glen Cove, providing transportation between Glen Cove, Manhasset and Manhattan (Downtown and Midtown). Long Island Transit (http://www.longislandtransitny.com/) provides reliable commuter service at a price much less than the MTA. In addition the busses also include free WiFi service on board. This is a really great service at a great price.

Recently, Glen Cove Mayor, Ralph Suozzi broke ground on a Ferry Terminal (Glen Cove Ferry Project). This has been an ongoing dream of administrations since the last ferry service shut down in 2001. The reason for the shutdown was lack of passengers. The reason for the lack of passengers was that the ferry was priced higher than the railroad, limited schedule and only one location to disembark in Manhattan. Meaning it was not convenient at all.

Now the vision of a new ferry that will revitalize downtown is once again being built. Only, in my opinion this project is doomed to the same fate as the last ferry project. I don’t believe that there are enough commuters that want to pay extra for a boat ride into Manhattan on a limited schedule. Even if they manage to add a few cruises to the Connecticut Casinos (or maybe soon, Montauk Casinos?) there is not enough need. But, I do believe there is a way to make the ferry successful to the point that it would revitalize the Glen Cove Waterfront.

What is my idea? Instead of a commuter ferry to Manhattan as the base for this venture, why not make a vehicular ferry to Connecticut? Look at what the ferry service has done to Port Jefferson. My wife and I occasionally travel to New England and gladly pay the fare to skip all the traffic and congestion driving through Queens, the Bronx and Westchester. Plus, it’s a nice break in the road trip. If we had the option to do that from our hometown, we would jump on it.

I would be willing to bet that the ferry would also entice a large number of people making the trek to New England from Queens, Nassau all the way to Western Suffolk, wne the drive to Port Jeff begins to be closer. In think this would drive tourist traffic through Glen Cove. It would bring people waiting for the ferry grabbing something to eat, maybe even doing some shopping on their way up to New England and even on their way back. A service like this might even be able to help subsidize a Manhattan commuter ferry and be able to keep the fares competitive with the RailRoad and Bus.

Well, that’s my idea. What do you think? Let me know with your comments!

Next on the blog: Cool Apps for the Blackberry!