CO-OP City Says: We Want Our Buses Back!

400 Co-Op City residents, most of them seniors, packed the community hall at 177 Dreiser Loop to hear their own elected representatives, public officials, and TWU Local 100 demand full-scale restorations of bus lines cut by the MTA in 2010. Residents like Dorothy Cates (at right, in green suit and cap) want the Bx 26 and Bx 28 lines back in service. Cates says she has a hard time getting to her church, Community Protestant on Gun Hill Road, without those buses. Helen Atkins, President of the Board of Directors of Riverbay Corp, that runs the 50,000-person development, spoke for the crowd when she said that Co-Op City wasn't built with cars in mind -- that mass transit is essential to its functioning. TWU Local 100 Administrative Vice President Angel Giboyeaux, speaking as a Bus Operator with decades of experience, drew applause when he spoke of the consequences of overcrowding on buses. He detailed the scope of the cuts, breaking out each line that was reduced or eliminated. Political Action Director Marvin Holland said that the Union, along with political leaders and residents, are targeting the MTA's July Board of Directors meeting for a resolution of the issue. Most audience members signed Local 100 petitions to restore the bus service, and many wrote down their personal stories of hardships because of the bus cuts. Also lending their strong support were Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and City Councilmembers Jimmy Vacca and Andy King. Sign the petition here.