Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown
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Friday, March 8, 2019
Vol. 68, No. 10
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
EWSD INTRODUCES PRELIMINARY BUDGET
NEW IDA CEO
PAGES 37-42 and 47-52
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Eng touts LIRR fixes at hearing in Mineola
MINEOLA GOES GREEN
Fields questions from skeptical L.I. state senators, hears union criticism BY JA N E LL E CL AUSEN Long Island Rail Road officials said they were taking measures to improve the system’s capacity and flexibility at a hearing last Friday, where they faced questions from Long Island’s state senators over the agency’s performance and some criticism from union leaders. The hearing in Mineola was the first of a set of hearings planned by six Long Island state senators and the chairs of two state Senate committees, which want to get answers for what many see as the LIRR’s poor performance and come up with solutions. LIRR President Phillip Eng said that as ridership continues to grow, with just shy of 90 million people riding the LIRR last year, the nation’s largest commuter railroad must evolve to increase both its flexibility and capacity. “As Long Island continues to grow, so must our system,” Eng said.
Eng said the LIRR has accelerated modernizing and upgrading the system while making “unprecedented” investments in the railroad, including the third track project that will add almost 10 more miles of track between Floral Park and Hicksville and eliminate seven grade crossings. He said the LIRR has made considerable progress in the LIRR Forward plan, which calls for installing new switches, clearing overgrown vegetation and other improvements. Eng also cited the double track project in Suffolk County, which was completed 15 months ahead of schedule, improvements to Jamaica Station, and the long-delayed East Side Access project, which would enable the LIRR to deliver passengers from the main line to a new station under Grand Central Terminal. “We have demonstrated that we can be good neighbors, get projects done on time and think outside of the box and support our customers,” Eng said. Continued on Page 73
PHOTO BY JED HENDRIXSON
Bagpipers marching in the Irish American Society’s St. Patrick’s Day parade Sunday in Mineola. See more photos on page 63.
Swastika, anti-Semitic slurs found in center BY J E D HENDRIXSON
Searingtown Sunday morning, according to Nassau County police. Shelter Rock Jewish CenA swastika and anti-Semitic words written in black pen ter Director of Education Silvia on a painting were found at the Kogan noticed the scrawling on Shelter Rock Jewish Center in the painting, located in a rarely
used stairwell. The subject of the painting was not disclosed. Kogan declined to comment on the incident. Efforts to reach Rabbi Martin Cohen were unavailing. Continued on Page 74
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