In the television show “Burn Notice,” one of the recurring thorns in the paw of the main character – coincidentally also named Larry – says “I just get better with age.”
Larry Penner gets more bizarre with age. Welcome again to Larry Penner’s Bizarre Universe. First one of 2024.
Larry Penner has not been in favor of Grand Central Madison from its inception. Mr. Penner has not commented how much of the work was funded by FTA and why if it was such a bad idea FTA would approve it. Another discussion.
Does Larry Penner not understand the fact that train signals are exposed to the brutal elements year-round? Searing heat. Freezing cold. Snow. Salt. Grease. Dirt. Water. Normal wear and tear from being in use 24/7.
Does Larry Penner not understand the fact that metal eventually fatigues and sometimes corrodes? Does he not understand the fact that electrical/electronic systems wear out? He has already discussed in his opinion pieces how the MTA depreciates its fleet. Making an educated guess would depreciation not apply to its signals as well? Isn’t that the purpose of depreciation? To recoup the loss of business property that wears out?
Does Larry Penner honestly believe anything in the real universe – not his bizarre universe – will ever reach 100% reliability? Did Mr. Penner and his workers at FTA finish every project error free and on time 100% of the time? In his opinion pieces Mr. Penner has said when any project is being completed issues come up that were unforeseen. September 29th of this year there was a Noah’s deluge type storm in the area. Does Mr. Penner honestly believe there would be 100% unreliability under these circumstances?
Mr. Penner states there have been a series of safety/reliability issues on the LIRR. He doesn’t mention what they are, of course, so I guess we should just take his word for it.
But even assuming for the sake of argument he is telling the truth – a stretch indeed given how he cites only those facts convenient to his opinion – how exactly is a delay of one hour with no trains in and out of GCM a safety issue? Some commuters didn’t get to where they wanted to go when they wanted to go there. Not good. How exactly is this a safety issue?
And while we’re on the subject of safety, this comes from the man who thinks it’s a good idea to transfer at night from the LIRR in LIC to the subway and wander the desolate Long Island City streets. Or even better yet, transfer to a ferry on the desolate LIC waterfront.
This from a man who is in favor of reopening the Gimbels Corridor/Hilton Passageway closed for (Mr. Penner’s words) “security concerns.” A woman was brutally raped and robbed and the GC/HP will undoubtedly become a magnet for the drug addicts and homeless people to rob and rape again should it ever be reopened.
Let’s also not discuss how since Mr. Penner is in favor of this project the price has magically not risen in the almost ten years since he first posted an opinion piece on it, while every project he is against has a price tag that increases year after year.
Also, if Mr. Penner were to provide statistics as to the on time per centage of the LIRR I might be able to roll with his assertion as to how unreliable the LIRR is.
If Mr. Penner would provide me with some safety statistics (injuries, fatalities per, say, 1,000 trips) even though he doesn’t say how the hour-long delay was a safety issue I might be able to roll with the LIRR being unsafe.
Larry Penner’s Bizarre Universe, Broken Woodside Signals Edition. Stay tuned, folks. Undoubtedly much, much more bizarre to come.
Nat Weiner
Bron