Hundreds Gather to Oppose Bee-Line Bus Cuts

More than 500 people attended two separate meetings in the Westchester County Center Wednesday to ask officials to reconsider cuts to bus lines that they said will drastically alter their way of life.

Throughout the six hours of meeting time the five person board sat, silent and attentive, while a frustrated and sometimes angry crowd told them that cutting lines would make their daily commute close to impossible.

Over 100 speakers stepped to the podium during the afternoon and evening sessions.

"It would not be a service cut, it would be an amputation for many people of the way they live," said Mamaroneck resident Sue Mizrahi. 

Cuts are proposed to ten lines spread throughout Westchester County. They would affect over 2,600 commuters on a daily basis. Local cuts include cuts to seasonal service from White Plains to Playland. The department estimates this will affect between 20 and 50 customers daily.

The proposed changes would eliminate just under $2.2 million from this year's Bee-Line budget, covering 98 percent of the remaining budget gap. Even with the cuts, the Bee-Line system would be more than $44,000 over budget for this year.

"This is not a pleasant task," said Patricia Chemka, director of planning for the Department of Transportation. "We encourage public transportation, there's just no money."

But Chemka was met with a loud chorus of boos as she explained this to the evening crowd. Objection was loud enough that Westchester County Commissioner of Transportation Lawrence Salley threatened to end the meeting if it did not subside.

Most of the discussion focused on the BxM4C, or 4C line from Yonkers to Manhattan. Twice during the afternoon session the crowd loudly chanted "save the 4C!"

Several concerns were voiced along with varying ideas to save bus lines. Most speakers said that they were willing to pay more in bus fares and would accept fewer bus runs if it would mean saving a route altogether. One speaker proposed that the entire board forfeit their salaries to save a few bus lines. Almost all of those in attendance said that the suggested alternative routes would not be possible for them.

"I don't think any of you have tried these routes," said Hartsdale resident Sherri Bloom. "I would like you to try these routes without your fancy jobs and your fancy benefits and see how you like it."

Many of the speakers also said they were concerned about the safety of taking the New York City subway as an alternative. One man showed the board a photo of his infant son and asked what would happen if his wife was harmed while riding the subway.

During the afternoon session, Chairman of the Westchester Board of Legislators Ken Jenkins appeared to speak. Jenkins provided the board with a handful of ways to cut spending while keeping the majority of the lines operating to some extent.

"Maintaining the service that the 4C provides is essential. Modify it, don't end it," Jenkins said. "As we work our way through our economic environment, this tough economic environment, tough choices will be made, the operative way should be to mend it, don't end it."

Jenkins left to a loud applause.

Several people shared personal stories, explaining to the board that if the lines were cut they would lose their job. One man tearfully asked if his bus to work would be dropped before finding out that his commute would not be affected. Gert Litowitz, a 93-year-old Bronxville woman, said that the changes would add three hours to her commute to volunteer at a homeless shelter in Manhattan.

Salley said after the meeting that although he listened to each and every person who spoke, he has to consider the 110,000 people who use other parts of the Bee-Line system every day.

"They're angry, they're frustrated, they feel in many ways they're going to be inconvenienced and in some cases that is accurate," he said. "But this is not the entire body, the entire body is the Bee-Line bus system."

The Transportation Department will accept written complaints and suggestions until April 30, said Chemka. After that the board will have until June 28 to make any changes to the proposed line cuts.