March 2, 2007
Kalikow Makes Things Happen in His Backyard
This could also be titled "Kalikow Doesn't Care As Much About Non-Hamptons People." After receiving a complaint about the Montauk LIRR station, MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow took care of the matter immediately. Corcoran agent and Montauk resident Deanna Banks wrote a letter to Hamptons.com saying that after leaving a message with Kalikow's secretary, the secretary called to say, "Mr. Kalikow said he would make efforts to fix the parking lot." Potholes were filled nine day later, ugly railroad ties are being removed, and a new shelter is being built.
amNew York spoke to Banks, who said, "In the land of millionaires and the 'Who's Who' I would think that we could maintain things better." Um, NYC has millionaires and 'Who's Who' who take the subways, too. Banks doesn't know Kalikow, but has just seen him at the yacht club. Well, la di da.
With very few travelers from Montauk during the winter, the LIRR Commuter Council chair Gerry Brinkmann said the quick work was "highly unusual" - "[Banks's] got a hell of lot more clout that I do and I represent over 100,000 daily riders." And City Council Transportation Committee chair John Liu told amNY, "This is an unfortunate example of the outgoing chairman operating the authority like this personal fiefdom."
We mentioned this to Dan Dickinson who said, "Oh, then we should be dressing up as yacht club members so Kalikow can get to work on the subways" (or something to that effect). Which made us think that was a great idea. Other ideas: Wrapping the subway as a yacht or a sports car. Or maybe we should call up Kalikow's office and pretend to be a crony from the Hamptons, but get him to fix the 2nd Avenue F/V station, because it smells.
Last month, City Comptroller provided a report that show how the MTA doesn't care about NYC.
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Oh no, the potholes are going to mess with the suspension on the Lexus. Dude, can Kalikow explain to me why for (at least) half an hour today, there were no trains stopping at 30 Ave/Grand Ave headed towards Manhattan? Or why the rain screwed up most of the trains today? N/W, 4/5/6, 1, etc. But hey, at least those ugly rail tie eyesores are being moved; I'm sure they really affect people's ability to get to work on time.
Oh no, A station in Mr. Kalikow's area needs repair ! What a joke !! What about the woodside station, Or the rest of the system Mr. Kalikow ?
meanwhile the slightest bit of rain and the entire fucking train system is brought to its knees. this is absurd, he should be fired as should all the mta management. and to think people still blame the union for the mta's shortcomings. it all starts at the top, and these pricks' heads must roll!
It took me over 90 minutes to go from 79th St to 28th Street in Manhattan on a single line (7th Ave). An hour of that was spent waiting for a train to get on. About four trains came in that period, completely packed and only a few people could get on each time. Oh yeah, a 1 train also skipped our stop, and some expresses came by on the 1 track and didn't stop. Eventually I got on a 3 train that was running local.
The service sucked. I could have walked quicker. Wish I'd known.
how many "who's who" people and millionaires do you know that ride the subway? come on.
Kalikow is a primero grade A scumbag. And whatever happened to that mob connection story re: the budget overruns from a year or so ago? It just disappeared so quickly...
Well it is disappointing that the writer had to embelish my story in order to make Mr Kalikow look so bad. It just goes to show you cant believe everything in print!
I have hard feelings that the town I live in as well as Mr kalikow, the Millionare's and the Who's Who as well as town officals can't come up with a better functioning facility. That is why I tried to be proactive in order to make a difference for my community on my own behalf. The greatest assest I do have is that I reside in the same town as Mr Kalikow. It wasn't just him that I turned to in order to make a difference. All I do ask is that Mr. Kalikow, the MTA, the LIRR, the town or city, any organizations connected or even citizens make a proactive difference for the better. Dont you think that you will get further when it is what you say and how you say it, rather than raging, negative, sarcastic comments.
Therefore not knowing who Mr Dickinson is, maybe I dont get his Thirston Howle humor that did not give one positive solution in order to help all of us commuters have a better experience. But hey we can dress up as yacht club members Captain Dan can wear the scramble egg hat with the monkey bars on his shoulders and we all can have a good laugh in order to relieve some of the tension that we seem to be experiencing on the train.
For the record, it was years ago that I worked at the MYC when I knew of Mr. Kalikow. I was explaining how I just passed my Captains test and that I work for people of his calibur that I wasnt afraid of calling him to ask for help. Lets face it at the end of the day dont we all put our pants on the same way. The only difference is that not all of us take the train.
I am trying my best to make a difference I hope you can do the same.
Deanna
Deanna - I'm sorry you didn't understand my humor; to be fair, I'm not sure I understand yours.
One would not usually think that calling Mr. Kalikow's secretary and asking for things to be fixed would cause them to do so, but since you have indicated that it's a worthwhile method, I fully intent on calling his office regularly when I find issues with my local stations. I recommend all readers do the same.
According to the Straphangers, his number is (212) 878-7200.