“Iceberg Ahead For City of Glen Cove,” Larry Penner, does not tell the entire story.

While any government inefficiency anywhere should be of concern to all of us, Larry Penner is a resident of Great Neck. Why is he so concerned about the City of Glen Cove?

A quick look at the COGC’s website reveals there is more to the story than Mr. Penner tells. The website states part of the ferry terminal project is the revitalization of the area for commercial and residential purposes.

The website also states a survey conducted in Fall of 2022 revealed it would not be profitable to operate the ferry based on the projected ridership.

The website further states COVID helped delay the project. Isn’t government inefficiency one of Mr. Penner’s pet peeves? The website states many commuters are hybrid commuters.

In condemning any project he is against doesn’t Mr. Penner cite hybrid commuters? Why is he not citing this concern here?

Getting back to the City of Glen Cove. Mr. Penner states “Commuters frequently make decisions based on the frequency of service options, time of trip required to reach the final destination and farebox costs.

If the new Glen Cove ferry service offers far fewer trips to select from, transfers are inconvenient, travel time is too long and the price is not competitive with the Long Island Rail Road, it may be doomed to failure due to poor ridership, just like previous private operators.” This is the question I have.

The Glen Cove ferry is proposed to stop only at Wall Street. Any ferry stopping at the very east side of Wall Street is going to offer limited transportation options. There is the Wall Street station on the 2 and 3 line and further away on the 4 and 5 trains.

There is a bus that runs up and down Water St. That’s it. Fulton St. station is also a long walk, as is Chambers St. with the J and Z line.

Wouldn’t someone at FTA approving a grant understand this?  Doesn’t the individual at FTA approving ferry grants consider this prior to making the grant? Doesn’t he/she consider “the frequency of service options, time of trip required to reach the final destination and farebox costs” prior to awarding the grant? Were all these factors considered?

Isn’t FTA supposed to monitor its grants? Aren’t there supposed to be outside management firms monitoring project progress and isn’t the FTA supposed to monitor both the firms and project progress?

In addition – and I admit I don’t know this – aren’t FTA grants sometimes handed out piecemeal instead of all at once? Isn’t there supposed to be someone at FTA monitoring the progress made with a “down payment?”

Mr. Penner is entitled to his opinion. It may very well be the best thing to do is to get this ship a’sailing. Mr. Penner should not omit facts.  He should state all the facts. Elected officials, transit advocates, watchdog groups, taxpayers, and the riding public deserve nothing less.

Nat Weiner

Bronx