h. nazan ışık—
2 January 2017—
It was the New Year’s Eve, the place was the new Second Avenue Subway 72nd street station, and the party was the party to remember. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast celebrated the on-time arrival of the Second Avenue Subway with the line’s inaugural ride.
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The 2nd Avenue Subway 72nd station was decorated in colours for the New Year’s party.
Hundreds of people attended the party, including MTA workers, Upper East Side community residents, local merchants -who, I believe, suffered a lot during the construction-, and dignitaries, local elected officials.
The inaugural ride started on a 96th Street-bound Q train at the 72nd street station and stopped at 86th and 96th street stations for brief tours.
It was Governor Cuomo’s night.
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Cuomo was greeting guests.
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And he was greeting more guests…
Brief stops at each station were to allow guests to view the largest public art in each station. I am not sure if anyone really saw, or paid attention to the artwork.
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Stops were really brief, gave elegantly dressed guests just enough time to follow Governor Cuomo, to climb up the stairs and come down with him.
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From top City Council Member Ben Kallos , Representative Carolyn Maloney, in yellow scarf, Governor Cuomo, Governor’s partner Sandra Lee and a guest coming down after viewing an artwork.
Former Mayor David Dinkins, public advocate Letitia James, were there too. Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chirlane McCray also came briefly before heading to Times Square for the New Year’s Eve ball drop.
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Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chirlane McCray at the 2nd Avenue Subway Inaugural New Year’s ride.
After the inaugural ride attendees came back to the 72nd Street station to ring in the New Year with a celebratory countdown and toast.
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Before the countdown, Cuomo gave remarks and thanked everyone who worked on the project: “You know this is really quite a New York story. They talked about the Second Avenue Subway 100 years ago, literally, and then in the ‘40s they knocked down the elevated line that was on Second Avenue and Third Avenue because they were going to build the Second Avenue Subway. They just forgot to build the second avenue subway. […] This Second Avenue Subway line is now going to give the East Side access.”
And he talked about this party idea: “It’s been a long time coming, but it is not just – this is not your grandfather’s subway station. I said to my family, I said “You know how about this for an idea. We have a New Year’s Eve party in the new subway station?” And they gave me that look, like you know, “there’s crazy dad again.” But, I said this is unlike any subway station you’ve ever seen.” And, he was right.
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The 2nd Avenue Subway 72nd station looked like a restaurant with a long table, and bars.
He also talked about the “deadline”: “They said, “Well why did you need to get this done on the deadline?” We needed to get this done on deadline because we’re New York and when we set the deadline; we’re going to get it done. We needed to show people that government works and we can still do big things and great things and we can still get them done.”
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It was already after 23:30, and he was still talking.
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A bar was ready.
I didn’t stay for the countdown to midnight and toast.
Left to get to Central Park, before its small, but so close and intimate firework display started.
Photos © h. nazan ışık / NKENdiKEN All rights reserved.
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