Resident Calls for Cedar Lane Bus Shelter

The following is a letter to the editor submitted by Art Vatsky: 

It's pretty simple really. You have a big commercial street with six bus routes. You have a centrally located Plaza right in the middle of the commercial district and you have more bus riders waiting at that location - day and night - than any other spot. The state is providing free bus shelters. What a great place to put a bus shelter!

Well, in Teaneck, that is not the case. Our town leaders are adamantly opposed to that location. Even when presented with a petition of 84 names of Teaneck citizens, that was not enough. How many names were on a petition to initiate the 4 day work week for our town hall employees? How many names were on a petition to spend nearly $4 million to expand town hall? As best as I recall, there was no public support for these decisions, yet this is what we have.

The Cedar Lane Management Group is said to be opposed to the Plaza shelter but no one has explained why. If there is merit to the objection, let's hear it. If the decision is politically motivated, let's find that out too. In fact, there is a new bus shelter almost directly across Cedar Lane, a bus stop less busy that Chestnut Plaza. So why not at the Plaza?

When government behaves oddly, it needs to be noticed and commented on. That was what happened when Jason Castle - a decorated Iraq War veteran - was disinvited to speak at our Memorial Day Ceremonies. That is what is happening in the negotiations to return to a 5 day work week. I hope Council will review the names on the petition so they will realize how many citizens want the Chestnut Plaza bus shelter.

-- Art Vatsky 

Art Vatsky is a Teaneck resident 

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