Community residents and politicians came out to one of New York’s neglected communities – Red Hook – to hear TWU make the case for the restoration of the B77 bus line. The B77 used to provide a quick link to the subway at 4th Avenue and 9th Street (the R, N, F and G trains) for Brooklynites living in the mixed-use industrial/residential neighborhood that was famously cut off from the rest of Brooklyn by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. But then in 2010 former MTA CEO Jay Walder cut the bus line, adding a good 30 minutes to the average commute from Red Hook into Manhattan.
Now TWU Local 100 is adding our voice to restore the bus service – something community residents are organizing around. Division officers and staff, including TAS Division Chair Willie Rivera, Organizer JP Patafio, and Fresh Pond Depot Chair Latonya Crisp-Sauray, Local 100 Education Director Nick Bedell, and Shop Stewards including Bus Operator Nolan Orr were instrumental in the effort.
Also on board for the B77 restoral are City Councilmembers Sara Gonzales (D-Red Hook) and Brad Lander (D-Park Slope), as well as State Senator Velmanette Montgomery (D-Central Brooklyn, pictured with JP and Latonya). All came to the community forum on May 23 and pledged to push the issue of the restoral of the B77 to the MTA’ s front burner. A representative from a local small business association attended as well, showing the concern merchants have that customers will be better able to visit their stores if bus service improves.
As a follow up, a petition drive is being organized throughout Red Hook to obtain 10,000 resident signatures to present to the MTA Board for B77 restoral.
