Making Billions on Migrants

As we all know, human trafficking has become a very profitable business over the years and is now “A BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS”. These migrants are smuggled into the United States illegally by so-called “COYOTES.” These coyotes charge between $ 4,000 to $ 20,000 dollars to enter the United States. Also, there is a ransom charge to leave the holding area run by those coyotes up to $10,000 dollars and up. They use some of those migrants to smuggle drugs, too. Now here is one question we ask: “How many children are being smuggled into America and sold, abused or face death?”

Orlando “Wildman” Perez 

FTA’s Ferry Programs

Here is one way New Jersey Transit, Port Authority, New Jersey Department of Transportation can find additional funding to improve ferry service connections across the Hudson River. This could assist those utilizing various routes between South Amboy and Manhattan, Edgewater Ferry Landing, Hoboken, Lincoln Harbor-Weehawken, Port Imperial-Weehawken, and Liberty Harbor to Manhattan Midtown West 39th Street, Pier 11 Wall Street and Brookfield Place/Battery City Park. 

The United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration announced a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) on July 8th. This is an opportunity to apply for $294.5 million in competitive grant funding is now available for its Ferry Grant Programs. 

FTA’s Ferry Programs, which includes three new competitive programs this year, supports transit agencies modernize and improve passenger ferry service, establish new service, transition to climate-friendly technologies and expand ferry services to rural areas. There is $209 million available under the Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program that provides funding to states to ensure basic essential ferry service is provided to rural areas; (2) $49 million is available under the Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program for electric or low-emitting ferries and associated infrastructure that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using alternative fuels or on-board energy storage systems; and (3) $36.5 million ($3.25 million set aside to support low or zero-emission ferries) that provide funding to support existing ferry service, establish new ferry service, repair and modernize ferry boats, terminals, related facilities and equipment in urbanized areas.  The application period will close on September 6, 2022.Update…

NJ Transit, Port Authority, NJ DOT, South Amboy and NY Waterways should apply for these funds. This is another great example of Washington providing financial assistance to promote public transportation.

Sincerely,

Larry Penner

(Larry Penner is a transportation historian, advocate and writer who previously worked in 31 years for the US Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Office. This included the review, approval, and oversight for billions of dollars in grants to the MTA which funded LIRR, Metro North, NYC Transit, MTA Bus along with NJ Transit, NYC DOT Staten Island Ferry capital projects and programs along with 30 other transit agencies in NJ & NY.)