Assemblyman Tom Alfano called the news of the possible closing of the Floral Park and New Hyde Park Long Island Rail Road ticket stations "outrageous and completely unacceptable." The revelation came from LIRR officials who called to give the assemblyman "a heads up" that the ticketing center is slated for closure due to MTA budget cuts in April of 2009.

The closure, according to Alfano, will have devastating consequences to customer service, care and information to railroad passengers.

Alfano called the latest news from the LIRR "another sad chapter in the LIRR's story of disrespect and disregard for Floral Park." The closure of the ticket office will mean that railroad passengers will have to buy their tickets from automated machines outside of the station offices. Schedule posters in display cases outside the station will replace information specialists, a long honored LIRR tradition, Assemblyman Alfano said.

Floral Park Mayor Phil Guarnieri said that reports of Floral Park being one of 20 stations whose ticket booths the MTA/LIRR is proposing to close "defies every convention of common sense and decency."

"If history, as Edward Gibbon noted, 'is little more than the register of crimes, follies and misfortunes of mankind,' then the MTA/LIRR has indelibly earned its place in local affairs," Mayor Guarnieri said.

The mayor, continued, adding, "Floral Park is one of the most heavily utilized stations in the entire system, and to leave it unattended and unsupervised during commuting hours is an unblushing act of carelessness and neglect. It is unconscionable that the consequences of poor planning and reckless budgetary practices have, once again, devolved on the shoulders of local commuters who have already suffered through an unbroken chain of indignities.

"If such a stupefying verdict is ultimately reached, one would be compelled to ask, in the absence of so little to recommend it, if Floral Park was being targeted for retribution as an outspoken critic of the MTA/LIRR. Let us hope malice is not the driving force in this narrative and that the railroad continues to maintain, at this strategic location, the level of service our residents deserve."

Assemblyman Alfano intends on writing to LIRR President Helena Williams and is urging residents in Floral Park to email him at alfanot@assembly.state.ny.us to join his email petition to stop the Floral Park Ticket Station from being cut.

"It's amazing to me that we're cutting the service ended parts of LIRR. Seniors and members of the Floral Park, Bellerose Village and Bellerose Terrace communities as a whole use these agents each and every day. To cut these services is just plain wrong," the assemblyman said. "I think LIRR should start the cutting right in their front office. Just a few months ago, the LIRR came to my Third Track Advisory Board meeting and brought enough equipment, movie projectors, screens, audio and staff for a Universal Studios production. The presentation was laughable and useless to the community. In essence it was a colossal waste of money. Maybe LIRR should start cutting costs there instead of customer service. The Floral Park Station ticket office not only dispenses tickets and information, but it is a critical part of the service end of the station. This station is packed every day and this cut is incredibly shortsighted."