by Jacquie Rath and Alix Glasser
The Long Island Rail Road was on a regular schedule, though that still forced commuters who would ordinarily take subways and buses from Penn Station or Flatbush Avenue to take taxis or walk.
"I'm leaving two hours earlier for work and probably arriving home two hours late," said Rockville Centre resident James Scolaro. "I plan on walking 30 blocks from Penn Station. If the strike goes for longer than two days, it'll be a major problem. A lot of people want to go shopping in New York City especially around the holidays. A lot of people will stay home and frequent the local restaurants and bars."
"For one, thing [the strike] is just making it very difficult for people going into Manhattan," said Anne Malingquist who was visiting her daughter in Rockville Centre. "I'm going to be doing a lot of walking once I get to the city."
Vincent Dunn, Rockville Centre resident and a commissioner of the village Housing Authority, commutes to the law firm Chadbourne & Parke in the city. "Living in Rockville Centre has its perks, like trains that still work, " said Dunn. " You have to get around once you're in the city. I've heard stories of people walking 40 to 50 blocks. Within our firm there will be people who just won't make it in. The production level will drop."
Rockville Centre Village Trustee Andrew Karamouzis was supposed to be in Manhattan on Tuesday morning, but put off his trip due to the illegal strike. "I think the rail road will become much more crowded," said Karamouzis. "The bigger inconvenience is when commuters get to the city. Where will they go, and how will they get from point A to point B?"
"I would hope that [the strike] would have a positive effect on local merchants, but at the end of the day I think the overall effect of the strike will be a negative one."
Car-pooling is encouraged by city officials. Vehicles entering Manhattan south of 96th Street between 5 and 11 a.m. must have four passengers, and taxis will operate on a zoned fare schedule.
