OPINION: The democratic approach to the L train
The election is over. Whether your candidate won or lost, the beauty of democracy was at work. The ability to influence our future is what makes our country so special. While I would never try to equate the importance or far-reaching effects of a presidential election to that of our transportation infrastructure, next Tuesday you have an opportunity to voice your opinion on how the upcoming L train closure should be mitigated.
When the announcement of the L train shutdown first hit the news, it was the result of a leak. Rather than a planned announcement by the MTA with accompanying mitigation solutions for the L train’s potential closure, the public was left hypothesizing ways that they could get to work, pick up their children from school, visit their favorite restaurant, or keep their business afloat. This put the creation of innovative ideas in the hands of the public.
Brooklynites and Manhattanites had a blank slate for crafting ways in which they could go about their daily lives without the L train. The solutions have been bold, from a gondola over the East River to dedicated bus lanes on the East River bridges. Now you have the opportunity to voice your opinion as to which mitigation solutions should be pursued. Next Tuesday, Nov. 15, make sure to come take part in democracy at its most local level because if you don’t participate, some of the most creative ideas and views may never be expressed.
