Joby Jacob, Ph.D.

In my previous two posts, I looked at improving bicycling and parks in Council District 23. Today, I'd like to focus on improving the transportation in the district. This is one of the most difficult problems to solve, since the district is completely devoid of subway access. Access to rapid or commuter transit is through a bus/subway transfer, MTA Bus Company express bus service, or the nearby LIRR Bayside and LIRR Queens Village stations. Improve Rapid Transit Throughout the City So The Area Benefits Long Term A candidate might expect some of the population of District 23 to oppose subway expansion to the district - however, part of being a leader is anticipating tomorrow's problems today and taking positions that protects your constituents' interests tomorrow. Recently the Daily News reported that as the population of the NY Metro region has exploded, the stress on transit and commuter railroads has reached a peak . Yet our city has not built a serious upgrade t...

In my last post, I examined ways to make bicycling in District 23 safer and more enjoyable  and I also invited the candidates for District 23 to "steal" these ideas. Today, I'd like to look at what can be done to improve the parks in the district. I have to say, if you live in District 23, you're probably here for the parks or for the schools - or both. District 23 is defined by two large parks: Alley Pond Park and Cunningham Park. I don't know if it’s true, but a representative of a neighboring district once told me that District 23 has the most parkland per resident of any council district in the city. Cunningham Park already has a great (and very effective) advocacy organization— Friends of Cunningham —so I am going to keep my comments limited to the other parks. Improve access to the ‘Upper Alley’: If you live in Glen Oaks or Floral Park and want to walk or ride your bike to the Soccer fields, Adventure Course or Picnic Area of the Upper Alley you ...

I've met two of the candidates in the race, and I look forward to speaking with the others soon. The two I've met with ( Barry  &  Ali ) want to improve cycling in the area. District 23 actually has a lot of cyclists, and interestingly, it seems many use their bicycles for recreation as opposed to travel and for daily errands. Big Capital Projects:  The following projects have the potential to greatly improve the quality of life for District 23 residents. Make Funding the Motor Parkway East Proposal a Priority:  The  Motor Parkway East project  would use government property to connect the 3 miles of greenway in Queens with the massive  40 mile Motor Parkway Trail project in Nassau . This greenway would essentially create an east-west emerald ribbon that connects parks, schools, tourist destinations, and business districts, with will increase the quality of life for everyone in District 23. Right now our ...