Mayor Pereira's response to Governor Hochul's recent press conference

I was disappointed to watch Governor Hochul’s recent press conference at the Westbury Train Station (Monday October 3, 2022) standing behind a podium that read “LIRR Third Track Project Complete” when I and my Village’s 20,000 residents can see that the project is far from complete at the Mineola Train Station. I understand that it is campaign season and that there is an election in four weeks, however, words and statements matter. To state that the project is completed is a slap in the face to the residents who have had to put up with the mess and inconvenience of all of the construction and to our constituents who utilize this station everyday who still have to deal with closures, delays and construction obstacles. I have been a supporter of the expansion from the beginning and have asked our residents and commuters to be patient but I cannot idly let these mistruths or exaggerations go without a response.

The governor’s representatives might say that there is a distinction between the “Third Track Project“ and the greater ”LIRR Main Line Expansion Project” but to the layman, that is semantics. The average resident and commuter cannot tell the difference between the two and it is unfair to assume that they would. I would encourage the Governor to come to the Mineola Train Station and the surrounding area to see for herself what our residents have been through and continue to deal with on a daily basis. No community on the main line has been inconvenienced more and for longer than the Village of Mineola.

As a father, educator and Mayor I strive to lead by example and to speak the truth, even when it is not easy to say and the truth is, the project is far from complete. Hopefully soon and without further delay, but we are not there yet.