obituary BTR letters & comments
Maxine Sullivan, Engel’s aid, 75 week after week your
less stressful than being
packed in a subway car
like sardines in a can or
stuck on a bus running
late in traffi c.
Larry Penner
LET US HEAR FROM YOU
If you have information regarding alleged abuse
or its cover-up involving these men, CONTACT US.
The NY Child Victims Act may be able to help you!
New York, NY 10019 646-791-7969
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, M BT AY 22-28, 2015 13
How to pay for
ferry service
Dear editor,
Here are some ways
to pay for “Smooth sailing
would improve boro
transit needs” (Editorial
by Alex Mitchell --
April 26)
The Federal Transit
Administration recently
announced the
opportunity to apply
for $30 million in Fiscal
Year 2019 competitive
grant funding for
passenger ferry projects
nationwide. The
Passenger Ferry Grant
Program is authorized
by Congress for projects
that develop and
support ferry service
on many of the nation’s
waterways, including
the purchase, repair,
and modernization of
ferry boats, terminals,
and related facilities
that communities depend
on.
FTA will award competitive
grants to states
and public entities to
purchase, repair, or
modernize ferry boats,
terminals, and related
facilities and equipment,
supporting existing
ferry service and
the establishment of
new passenger ferry
service.
Will Mayor de Blasio
has NYC Department of
Transportation Commissioner
Polly Trottenberg
to submit grant
applications to both the
FTA Passenger Ferry
Program and NYS Department
of Transportation?
There are other annual
FTA grant programs
such as Urban
Area Formula, Capital
Annual Investment and
Congestion Mitigation
Air Quality that could
also be used as funding
sources.
Why not apply for
capital grants from
Washington and Albany
to assist in funding?
NYCDOT does this
and receives millions
annually on behalf of
the Staten Island Ferry.
Albany also provides
State Transportation
Operating Assistance
for transportation systems
such as the Staten
Island Ferry along with
local share against federal
grants.
Ridership on any
transit service generates
yearly federal
transportation formula
capital assistance. Numerous
past private
ferry operators have
come and gone. They
could not fi nancially
survive based upon
farebox revenue alone
without government
subsidy. MTA bus, subway
and commuter rail
along with NYCDOT
Staten Island Ferry is
subsidized by a combination
of City, State and
Federal assistance for
both capital and operating
costs.
All of these proposed
new ferry services will
require similar subsidies
to survive.
Riders could purchase
weekly or monthly
passes for discounted
fares. These could be
supplemented by using
Transit Checks which
will further reduce the
cost per ride.
Riding a ferry can be
Reader offended
by viewpoint
Dear editor,
Is it really possible
that you do not recognize
that by publishing
the unsupported
opinions of an extreme
right wing ideologue
Do you know
THESE MEN?
57 West 57th Street, 3rd Floor
Edward
Pipala
Francis
Stinner
Gennaro
“Jerry” Gentile
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
A beloved leader who
was of service to her
community in so many
ways has passed.
Maxine Sullivan, an
aide to Congressman Elliot
Engel since 2013 and
a Co-op City resident
for 40 years, is being
mourned after her passing
at the age of 74 on
Wednesday, April 24.
She was a member of
the Retirees of Dreiser
Loop, National Council
of Negro Women’s Co-op
City Section, the NAACP
Williamsbridge Section
and JASA, said her niece
Kelli Sullivan.
After 35 years working
with the same company
in the private sector
she joined Engel’s
team in 2013, the niece
said.
“Maxine was incredible,”
said Engel in statement.
“She worked in
my Co-op City offi ce for
many years and her character,
spirit, and love was
unmatched. I will miss
her deeply, as will countless
others whose lives
she touched.”
Her niece recalled
that she liked helping
people from all walks of
life and directing them
to where they could fi nd
assistance.
“She was always smiling,”
said Kelli Sullivan,
adding she was always
deeply involved in community
organizations,
and spent most of her
adult life in Co-op City,
moving there about 40
years ago.
Assemblyman Michael
Benedetto recalled
that Sullivan was a judge
for his annual Co-op City
Scholarship Awards that
awards $500 to graduating
high school seniors.
After founding the
scholarship program,
other elected offi cials
like Engel and Borough
President Ruben Diaz
Jr. joined as partners, as
well as McCall’s Bronxwood
Funeral Home and
Riverbay Corporation,
said Benedetto.
“We have a committee
that interviews all the
kids applying for these
scholarships and Maxine
was the congressman’s
representative on
the committee,” said the
assemblyman. “Maxine
was always a strong addition
to that panel.”
She was a strong advocate
for the Co-op City
community, and served
as an important conduit
of information from the
community to the congressman,
said Benedetto.
Senator Jamaal Bailey
said Sullivan’s passing is
incredibly saddening, and
that she will be missed
and never forgotten.
“Maxine was a dynamic
woman who gave
her heart and soul to her
community,” said Bailey.
“She was always quick
to lend me an encouraging
word and she would
often save me a seat at
events we attended together.”
He said his thoughts
and prayers are with her
family in their time of
need.
The viewing will be
held at McCall’s Bronxwood
Funeral Home at
4035 Bronxwood Avenue
on Friday, May 3 from 4
to 9 p.m.
newspaper is losing its
credibility? With each
published conspiracy
theory, personal attack
or outright falsehood
the Community Action
Committee spokesman
diminishes the
trustworthiness of the
BTR. It would serve
your organization well
to forego the fees paid
by this “association” of
one, and thus maintain
a closer relationship
with truth.
Pasqual Pelosi
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They should be addressed care of this newspaper
to Laura Guerriero, Publisher, the Bronx
Times Reporter, 3604 E. Tremont Ave., Bronx,
NY 10465, or e-mail to bronxtimes@cnglocal.
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Maxine Sullivan is pictured with Congressman Elliot Engel.
Photo courtesy of Congressman Elliot Engel
link