The Metropolitan Transit Authority proposed to remove the B37 bus route along the Third Avenue path in Sunset Park, angering senior citizens living within the community as the recession continues to force everyone to cut spending.
Along the Third Avenue are many retirement home complexes that house many senior citizens. Eliminating the B37 bus service, running 6.7 miles from Shore Road in Bay Ridge all the way to Lawrence Street in Brooklyn Heights, could be disastrous for the elderly community and businesses that depend on the bus service.
“I visit my grandchildren using that bus, they can’t do this to us,” said Dong Hay Chiu, 73, a Chinese immigrant grandmother who lives in the Marion Heim Senior Center.
“It doesn’t make any sense to get rid of the bus line, so many of us that live here always use it to get around, most of us can’t drive,” said Dong.
The service cut is part of the MTA’s proposition in their “doomsday plan,” a budgeting effort to deal with a still growing $1.2 billion deficit. Among other ways the MTA planned to reduce costs during the economic crisis are increasing fares and removing the W and Z subway lines.
“I take the B37 because it is safer than the B63 running on Fifth Avenue, it gets too crowded there,” said Joseph Ortiz, 87, as he clutched his walker in front of the local Pappa’s Pizza and Grill.
Business owners are equally upset upon hearing that the bus service is on the chopping block.
“A lot of old folks take the B37, they come to sit, relax and have a chat here,” said Miguel Cruz, owner of the Pizzeria.
“It’ll definitely hurt my business if the B37 wasn’t running anymore, most of them are really fragile and can’t deal with the crowded buses,” said Cruz.
Concerned residents have begun circulating petitions online to keep the bus service intact.
“Either the MTA is overlooking the needs of seniors and the disabled in this community, or they’re completely ignoring them. It’s unacceptable,” said Councilman Vincent Gentile in a statement.