Water Taxi Adds Haverstraw Ferry Page to Web

New York Water Taxi, the company that is offering the new Haverstraw to Lower Manhattan Ferry Service, which is to begin on September 4, 2007 (the day after Labor Day), has added a dedicated web page for the Haverstraw Route. Visit the site here for more information. New York Water Taxi

Water Taxi Service to Lower Manhattan Delayed

The new Water Taxi Ferry Service from Haverstraw to Lower Manhattan has been delayed from the August 1, 2007 start date until September 4, 2007. The Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef has stated that a federal funding cut of $280,000.00 was to blame for the delayed start of the new ferry service. Commuters that have been excited to start riding the new ferry service will have to wait one more excruciatingly long month.

Hopper’s Haverstraw Icon

In 1925, Edward Hopper, of Nyack, New York, set out to immortalize the “House by the Railroad” on Route 9W in Haverstraw. The canvas and oil masterpiece is on display in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in Midtown Manhattan. Hopper’s signature juxtaposition of light and dark shades created by a glaringly bright sun is evident on this piece. The “Railroad” on the lower portion of the painting is the West Shore Line, still active with freight trains. The “House by the Railroad” still sits prominently on Route 9W just north of the entrance to Main Street in the Village of Haverstraw.

A Setback for Haverstraw from the State Level

The State Assembly, led by Democrat Sheldon Silver, and the State Senate, led by Joseph Bruno has failed to vote on and adopt a congestion pricing plan proposed by the Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg. The plan would have charged commuters entering Manhattan below 86th Street and off the West Side Highway and FDR Drive, up to $8.00 minus any bridge or tunnel tolls spent before entering Manhattan. Because of the political stalemate, New York City and the MTA has lost over $500 million in federal aid to combat traffic and poor air quality. Revenues raised from the congestion pricing plan would have been reinvested back into the MTA for capital improvements and additions to service through subway, regional rail, bus, and ferry. Haverstraw would have greatly benefited from Mr. Bloomberg’s plan, because any walking village near a region transit hub would suddenly become even more valuable, as home buyers and commuters would be even more attracted to mass transit options. The New York State Government has truly failed Haverstraw and the rest of New York’s citizens. Our air quality and quality of life will continue to deteriorate until New York is no longer a desirable place to live. . .