OMBUDSMAN ALERT: A REQUEST FROM ROCKLAND’s “PRESIDENT” ED DAY TO PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP

BY DR. LOUIS ALPERT

Following the Rockland County Times two Ombudsman Alert columns supporting the construction of the “Gateway Tunnel Project” and this column’s campaign to encourage our elected officials to follow the lead of the bipartisan group of New Jersey State senators urging President-Elect Trump to make this project a priority, local officials have taken up the cause. Rockland County Executive Ed Day told the Ombudsman Alert in a letter dated December 5, “I will get a letter off to the president-elect as suggested”.

One of the great advantages of the Gateway Tunnel Project to Rockland County is that it will enable the creation of a “one-seat ride” directly to Penn Station from Nanuet, Pearl River, and possibly Suffern. Most real estate brokers with whom I shared this information were optimistic that this could positively impact home values in Rockland!

This Ombudsman further addressed members of Senator David Carlucci’s Senior Citizens Advisory Committee on Wednesday, December 7 on this important issue, as well as encouraged our state senator along with all of Rockland’s state delegation to follow Ed Day’s lead in urging President-Elect Trump to make the Gateway Project an infrastructure priority.

In conversations with representatives of both Assemblyman Zebrowski and Assemblywoman Jaffee’s offices, it was made clear that each of these assemblypersons would consider sponsoring a resolution in the New York State Assembly urging President-Elect Trump to make the Gateway Project a reality.

We hope and expect Senator Carlucci will also support such an initiative in the State Senate. Readers please feel free to submit your comments and questions to: editor@rocklandcountytimes.com