DOWNTOWN’s board member Elizabeth Velez was named to the board of MTA, along with Janno Lieber as Chair and CEO of the MTA Board.
“We’ve been fortunate to work with both Elizabeth and Janno, a perfect pair to ensure the continued success for MTA, and we are excited to see what the future holds for our public transportation system. We wish them the best in their newly appointed positions,” says DOWNTOWN’s publisher and founder, Grace A. Capobianco.,
Governor Hochul today announced Janno Lieber has been nominated to serve as Chair and CEO of the MTA Board and Elizabeth Velez has been nominated to serve on the MTA Board.
“As Governor, my first duty to New Yorkers is to ensure that those who serve our state are experienced, committed, and ready to tackle the challenges we face,” Governor Hochul said. “Janno is leading the MTA forward with expert management and vision, and Elizabeth will bring a wealth of invaluable knowledge and expertise to our challenges together. These are strong, competent leaders who will help steer the MTA through this critical time. We will continue to make appointments that ensure our transit system delivers for riders.”
“I am honored and grateful to be nominated by Governor Hochul, who has been a supporter from day one of a smart transit system that serves all New Yorkers. I look forward to working with the governor, her team, and our partners in the legislature to ensure that subways, buses, and commuter railroads continue to be an engine fueling the region’s economic recovery,” Janno Lieber said. “Elizabeth Velez has a deep understanding of the value of transportation to New Yorkers, will be an excellent addition to the board and I’m eager to work with her on important issues facing the MTA, including a historic capital program that will modernize and expand the transit network and provide enhanced equity and accessibility to New Yorkers in the years ahead.”
“I am thrilled to be nominated by Governor Hochul to the MTA Board,” Lieber said. “The MTA is a crucial connection point for New Yorkers throughout our city. With the impending influx of infrastructure dollars, the MTA is central to not only improving essential transportation but also to create opportunities both in workforce and procurement that affect our communities.”
Janno Lieber will be nominated to serve as Chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board. He has been Acting Chair and CEO since July 2021.
Janno Lieber photo by MTA
In his role at MTA Construction and Development, Mr. Lieber oversaw the agency’s $55 billion five-year capital program, including State of Good Repair investments in infrastructure and facilities of New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and MTA Bridges and Tunnels. He is responsible for upgrades to signals and other major systems, system expansions, and mega-projects such as East Side Access, the second phase of the Second Avenue Subway, and the Third Track expansion of the Long Island Rail Road mainline. He is also responsible for upgrading and professionalizing the MTA’s project management capacity and for integrating real estate planning and economic development into MTA infrastructure projects.
From 2003 to 2017, Mr. Lieber served as President of World Trade Center Properties LLC, where he was responsible for managing all aspects of the Silverstein organization’s efforts to rebuild the World Trade Center site, including planning, design, and construction issues; business, financing, and legal matters; and public affairs, government, and community relations.
Earlier in his career, he held positions in the administrations of President Bill Clinton and NYC Mayor Ed Koch and worked as an attorney in private practice.
Elizabeth Velez will be nominated to serve on the MTA Board. She is currently the President of the Velez Organization, a second-generation construction firm started in1972 by her father, Andrew Velez.
Elizabeth Velez photo by Velez Organization
To her credit are hundreds of projects which have come to fruition under her direction, including over 600 units of housing made affordable by state and federal grants in the Bronx and Harlem, and over ten billion dollars of significant educational, healthcare, and large-scale projects throughout New York.
She is a Trustee of Boricua College; an accredited private institution serving primarily Latinas through three campuses in New York. She serves on the advisory boards of numerous New York City and New York State agencies, industry non-profits, and groups supporting mentorship and scholarships for youth. She is a member of the Board for Catholic Charities and the New York City Police Foundation. She is currently serving as a Commissioner of the New York City Property Tax Reform Commission. Following Hurricane Maria’s disastrous landfall, Elizabeth was appointed to the NY Stands with Puerto Rico Recovery & Rebuilding Committee, the NY Memorial Commission for Hurricane Maria, and has spearheaded numerous workforce and economic development programs – including a satellite corporate office in Ponce Puerto Rico. On the international front, Ms. Velez is Co-Chair of Iran 180 – an organization that advocates for human rights and the end to Iran’s nuclear threat. She is a contributor to media outlets such as Matter of Fact TV with Soledad O’Brien, Fox News Latino, The New York Daily News, The Wall Street Journal, El Diario, La Prensa, Hispanic Business, ENR, City & State, and Crain’s New York Business, and most recently, DOWNTOWN Magazine.
She is an outspoken advocate for diversity and empowerment of women and a sought-after speaker on women’s leadership and work/family balance issues. In addition to numerous awards and recognition, Ms. Velez was recognized by City & State as one of the “Manhattan Power 50“.
Help us in congratulating both Janno Lieber and Elizabeth Velez.
David Bowie left this dimension four years ago today, after liver cancer ravaged his mortal form. He was just 69 in Earth years, but his music and artistic legacy remain immortal. Ever productive ’til the bitter end, Bowie released Blackstar and the musical Lazarus, just weeks before his death: the mark of a true Capricorn.
This morning, on the anniversary of his passing, an anonymous street artist (or perhaps the Puckish spirit of David Bowie himself?) modified the Crosby Street entrance to the Broadway-Lafayette station.
Blink and you’ll miss it. The artist fashioned the usual BDFM subway letters into a modified “BOWIE 4,” for the four years he’s been gone. Underneath, stick on letters added to the entryway sign read “STATION TO STATION” in shiny futuristic letters, a nod to his 1976 album of that name.
The New York City Transit Authority itself weighed in on Twitter for the EV Grievetweet about the tribute:
Its subtlety is pure genius; it does take a moment to register, but it’s a touching tribute to the Starman. Looming above the station entrance is 285 Lafayette Street, Bowie’s former home.
The title track of Station To Station opens with the sound of passing trains, a nice tribute the sounds roaring below the pavement. Trains featured heavily in David Bowie’s lyrics, and he was known to ride the MTA anonymously, famously pretending to read a Greek newspaper to keep from being detected. Who knows, perhaps you too once sat next to him on the D train.
In 2018 the Broadway-Lafayette station became a virtual Bowie shrine as Spotify sponsored a promotion for the Brooklyn Museum retrospective that showcased the icon’s paintings, costumes, creations, instruments and personal items.
Hats off to you, anonymous street artist, hero/ine “just for one day.”
Five years after Super Storm Sandy, are we better today?
The coastal resiliency storm surge barrier boat tour carried elected officials, scientists and engineers to learn how agencies have responded to the real threat of future storms. The destructive regional impact from Super Storm Sandy on New York and the New Jersey Metropolitan area and Long Island is still felt today.
Professor MalcolmBowman chairman and founder of the New York New Jersey Metropolitan Storm Surge said, we live and work in a city built on an ocean. All these buildings and skyscrapers are built on an ocean. We are surrounded by water. There is a difference in sea level and storm surge, we need a storm surge barrier. When Sandy happened, it was a combination of the storm’s wind, full moon high tide and the lack of defenses. Which caused hundreds of homes to be destroyed. Sandy damaged entire neighborhoods and left many without power. There have been projects and plans put forth to insure that our region is storm resilient, plans with flood gates, and other types of barriers. None have been constructed to date.
Mr. Bowman predicted, “The question is not “if” a catastrophic hurricane or nor’easter will hit New York, but when.” We have to be better prepared said Bowman. There have been steps taken to infrastructure including subways and tunnel entrances, but patchwork and little response is not what is needed, we need bigger solutions.Bill Golden president of the National Institute for Coastal and Harbor Infrastructure stated with great urgency, we are dealing with a regional issue. This is how important a regional system is to the city; take a look at the amount of influential people who attended our conference in 2017 May . Yesterday’s boat tour, we couldn’t accommodate the amount of RSVP’s. We had to cap the invites as we just did not have the room.
We must work regionally to get this system in place, or we move the Statue of Liberty to Bayonne. Millions of tourists visit NYC each year, they come to see New York. The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the many historical landmarks of this great city. What impact would it have on our state, if there were no tourist attractions?
Mr. Golden’s mission for this two hour boat tour aboard Classic Harbor Lines, was to continue to gather support for a much needed proposal to build a set of barriers, including below the Verrazano Narrows to block the ocean from coming into our harbor. A second barrier designed to prevent what happened during Sandy 2012, which caused the Long Island Sound to rush into our east river severely effecting Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens. “if barriers were in place we would have experienced just another windy day”. We are planning for protection into the next century with a regional barrier to hold back the water.
Speaking withGale Brewer Manhattan Borough President-all communities are connected, we do not know when another storm will come. We have to make a change we have to prepare now. I urge you to get out and call your congress person and elected officials, let your voice be heard.
Catherine McVay Hughes former chairwoman for community board 1- “We are here five years after Sandy and there’s no plan in place for Lower Manhattan. There’s still so much more to do!”
The conference focused on the urgent need to investigate the role that a regional system of movable surge barriers could play in creating layered defense, to protect the metropolitan area from storm surges and sea level rise. This system would be designed to work in tandem with planned local barriers and other strategies.This system will protect and maintain Metropolitan NJ-NY-LI as a safe, secure and thriving world center of finance, urban innovation, transportation, science, medicine, history, culture and recreation well into the next century.
For more information go to-https://www.nichiusa.org/
READERS- we urge you to contact your congress people and elected officials. New York, NJ and the metropolitan area will be effected. This is your home!
Chris Diamantopoulos is the rare sort of actor who 10 people would probably recognize from 10 different roles. On Silicon Valley, he has portrayed the recurring ex-billionaire Russ Hanneman. On the U.S. version of Episodes, he was the TV network boss Castor Sotto. On the Amazon Original series Good Girls Revolt he played Evan Phinnaeus “Finn” Woodhouse. And that’s without discussing turns on The Office, Up All Night, Arrested Development or 24.
Prior to finding success within the film and TV worlds, Chris was a regular in the theater world. Chris made his return to Broadway on Mar. 31 by taking on the role of Dr. Pomatter in the hit Waitress. Beyond its wonderful cast — which also includes Tony Award nominee Will Swenson — Waitress is the first Broadway musical in history to have four women in its four top creative team spots, featuring a book by Jessie Nelson, a score by six-time Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, choreography by Lorin Latarro and direction by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus.
Downtown had the pleasure of speaking with Chris via phone about Waitress, his long-standing history with New York and why he keeps coming back to our city. Chris can be followed on Twitter via @ClassicChrisD. More on Waitress can be found at www.waitressthemusical.com.
Wikipedia says that you met your wife [Becki Newton] in a New York City subway station. Is that true?
Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah, we actually met in Times Square. It was in the middle of rush hour, she was walking from the tunnel connecting the A/C/E to the 1/9 and I was walking in that direction. We walked by each other and smiled at each other and I — for some reason that day —had the wherewithal actually do something about that. You know there have been so many times walking through New York, you sort of pass strangers by or something, I never had the balls to do anything about it. But she was just so beautiful, and so, she just seemed so approachable…The worst that can happen is she could scream and run away, but she didn’t, and we’ve been together ever since.
That’s a wonderful New York story, there’s not a lot of those out there. But in terms of projects you’ve worked on, you have done a lot of film work, a lot of TV, you’ve done voiceovers, and you’ve done a lot of theater. How much of your time is usually spent in New York?
CD: Well, you know it’s funny because I moved to New York when I was 20 years old and I was working 100 percent in the theater at the time. I had started having some national tours, Webber’s Music Of The Night and Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, then I landed in New York with Les Miserables…I did a ton of readings and workshops for new musicals. But I’d always sort of had my sort of set my sights on trying my hand at the small and big screen, and I wanted to head out to Los Angeles, so it was very shortly after meeting my wife where I’d expressed to her a little bit of starting to get a little stir crazy in New York. She suggested that we go to L.A. and try it out, so I gave my notice…and we went out to L.A.
It was a tough go for me because my entire life and career were New York-based, all the voiceover work and the theater work could only really happen while I was in New York. So when I went to L.A., the first two years, I let go of all employment and couldn’t get an agent, couldn’t get hired because…musical theater wasn’t what TV and film agents and casting directors wanted to see on a resume…Some offers were coming in for some theater work, but I really wanted to give L.A. a go, and letting all that go and I really thought I’d made a terrible mistake. It wasn’t until the third year that things sort of started to pick up. It was, just so you know, small small little bits…As soon as that happened, New York kind of stopped being a place for me to work for a good decade, and I worked you know exclusively on the West Coast and then you know in Canada or wherever else things were shooting.
But I sort of stepped away from New York for a while, which is why I’m so grateful for this opportunity to come back, because I just love working in New York. I love living in New York. I’m a New Yorker, I still have a New York phone number. When we went out to L.A., even though we built a house there, it was always just like “okay, we’re just here on location, we’re just here temporarily”…We got a little sidetracked with children and whatnot, but we’re still trying to claw our way back to the city.
Had you worked with anyone in the Waitress camp before?
CD: Well, you know I was in L.A., I was working on Silicon Valley, the HBO show that I was doing…My theatrical agent called me and said, “Hey I know you haven’t done theater” — and then at that point it had been 12, 13 years — “so I know it’s been a long time.” Oh, that’s not true, I had done a City Center production of Girl Crazy at the urging of my wife…But other than that, it had been a very long time and he said, “You know there’s this workshop of a new show Diane Paulus is directing,” I’ve been a big fan of her work, and Sara Bareilles wrote the music, and I’ve always been a huge fan of hers, and the musical director, Nadia [DiGiallonardo] is someone that my wife knows. He said it’s just 10 days in New York, any interest in doing it?…My daughter was an infant at the time, so we brought my son and my daughter and we went for 10 days and we had a ball. I did the 10-day workshop, it was very very low pressure, I had a great time, I love the role…It seemed like it was a really great way to come back, to come back again, and then unfortunately my schedule just forbade me from doing the Broadway production…Diane was quite generous…
Then of course another show came up, and it was just too hard to pass up with two kids…I took the other TV gig and it broke my heart because this was really the one that got away and I said, “Oh well, it’s not going to happen.” So when I found out that Sara was going into the company and they started sort of reaching out saying, “Hey, you know we don’t want to reach out if we know what the answer is going to be and if the answer is ‘no.’ We’re just sort of checking to see.” I wasn’t working on a TV show and I ran it by my wife and she was chomping at the bit to come back…So we jumped at the opportunity and I’m really glad I did.
A little bit ago you mentioned Silicon Valley. I think your character Russ Hanneman is a lot of people’s favorite character on the show, but you seem to be the opposite of that guy. Do you often get confused for Russ?
CD: The writers on Silicon Valley, Alec Berg and Mike Judge, are really generous with regard to how they give material to actors…I think one of the reasons is because most of the actors that they work with are stand-up comics. I’m not a stand-up comic, I’ve never been in stand-up comedy, it terrifies me. But I think that what was fortuitous about that for me was that they had a lot of trust with regard to giving me material, or even giving me just some skeletal material and letting me kind of put the flesh on the bones. So I had a lot of fun playing with that character ,and again in television it’s rare to have an opportunity to play a really broad character. It is something I actually seek out because I didn’t get in the business to play myself, I see myself every day, I’d rather be somebody completely diametrically-opposed to who I am.
So I think that it’s a confluence of me having fun with great material, working under great directors and great writers, with great actors on the show that people like…I think more than any role that I’ve done, that seems to be the catcall that I’ll get when I’m walking around the airport with my kids. It’s a really strange thing when my six-year old says, “What did he say?” and “No, no, no, he didn’t say anything.” But it’s really funny too, I had a priest come up to me and say, “Oh I love Russ Hanneman.” You know it’s just such an odd thing, but there’s something about him just being so undeniably and unabashedly-reprehensible. (laughs) He represents…how we are all wishing to be, I guess…
So do you have a favorite restaurant in New York City?
CD: I have a ton, and I’ve got a lot of nice little hole-in-the-wall places, or places you’d never find, but the one that I’m going to tell you about is in such an obvious area, and I almost don’t want to tell people about it because it’s so fucking good. It’s called La Masseria, it’s an Italian place on 48th…The chef there has created basically this prototypical authentic Italian experience, and I’m sure you can find that in hundreds of restaurants in New York. Well I haven’t been able to find, and it’s not often on the menu, they have this dish called Bottarga Spaghetti. Basically it’s the simplest thing — you know what bottarga is?
I don’t. I’ve been there, but what is it?
CD: You’ve got to ask them for it. So bottarga is a block of sun-dried fish roe. It looks kind of like an orange block of parmesan, but it’s actually dried fish. They bring the spaghetti, with a little bit of parsley and a little bit of cracked black pepper and a little bit of olive oil, a little bit garlic and they grate this bottarga onto the spaghetti and it melts in the spaghetti. The idea is you want to pair it with an amazing bottle of a nice big red wine, and you want to take a nice little fork full of that and you want to swish around the wine after you’ve had that bite. It’s incredible, but I love the place…They make me feel like I’m family and I’ve been going there for 12, 13 years since it’s been open.
Aside from all the work, because it seems like you’re always working now, what do you like to do when you’re not working? Do you have any main hobbies?
CD: I’m pretty boring, I mean I’m a homebody. I love cooking, that’s something that I do and my family does, my wife does and my kids are into it now. Cooking kind of calms my mind. I’m also just, again, boringly a big walker, which is why I want to back to New York, because in L.A. there’s not a whole lot of walking unless you’re hiking, which I do. But I just like going wherever the road leads, even though I’d walk the streets thousands of times, finding a street I’ve never seen before…just seeing where the adventure leads. Other than that, I enjoy exercise here and there and, but I’m a relatively-boring guy.
So, finally Chris, any last words for the kids?
CD: For the kids? I would say the best advice I ever got was, “Follow the spark.” Because there’s a spark of curiosity, spark of intrigue. It will lead to something huge, it will take you somewhere. Find you’re curious about something, follow it and look into it — it’s the only way you’ll grow.
Have you ever dropped your cell phone? Odds are that you have, and that drop led to its screen being cracked. Instead of feeling hopeless and clumsy, there is a wonderful alternative out there in the form of Smartbulance. Founded by Ralph Shulberg, Smartbulance is an economical and efficient repair service for smartphones. Customers are offered emergency repairs via pickup and drop-off as Smartbulance services all five New York City boroughs and neighboring Hudson County. And for those dropping off, Smartbulance also provides a bit of spectacle, as its team emphasizes its emergency concept by working out of an ambulance.
Ralph spoke to Downtown about what inspired him to start up the company, which is in the midst of tremendous growth. He opened up about Smartbulance’s new partnership with the MTA; the first kiosk under this collaboration launches in May. For more on all things Smartbulance, please visit www.smartbulance.com.
Before launching Smartbulance, you owned several Sprint stores. When did you first get a cell phone?
Ralph Shulberg: The answer to that question is quite ironic. I opened my first store in 1998 during my Junior year at St. John’s University while working on completing my undergrad degree. My mother had given me all her savings to get started with my first store. I didn’t get my first cell phone until four months after I opened because I was trying to keep costs down.
Out of curiosity, what kind of phone do you own? Or at least use regularly?
Ralph Shulberg: I currently use an iPhone 7. I have been using a 4.7-inch screen since the iPhone 6. The first reason for choosing that model is because of the size, it is extremely important to use the phone with one hand to accomplish a task quickly and move on. The second reason for that model is the operating software, iOS is user-friendly and stable. No wasting time trying to figure things out.
Ralph in action
How does Smartbulance different from the average retail location where someone can get their phone fixed?
Ralph Shulberg: From the consumer point of view — the average retail location:
1. Find a shop, be aware of their hours, and you should make sure that they have your item or part in stock before you go so you don’t waste a trip.
2. Once you have decided to use that shop you must travel to the shop by foot, train, or car. If by train you’re spending money and time to travel. If by car you still spend money and time but now you must look for parking and risk getting a parking ticket.
3. Once you get to the retail location you must give up your phone and either wait a minimum half hour, or if they are backed up you could wait up to three hours to get your phone back. If you don’t wait at the shop now you must leave WITHOUT A PHONE and come back later to pick it up. The entire process can take anywhere from an hour up to four hours of your day, a waste of time for consumer or small business.
Smartbulance offers several options for the consumer…
Curb Side Service
A state of the art Smartbulance repair truck and technician conveniently arrives at your location. Simply bring the unit or units down to the tech and they will perform the repair in the truck in 20 minutes or less per device. Loaner phone available. If you have a Smartbulance repair truck stationed near your office simply walk over and drop off your phone for repair.
Desk Side Service
In the event you cannot come out to a truck we offer desk side service. An experienced technician will come to your office, apartment, neighborhood coffee shop, middle earth, wherever and perform the repair or repairs in 20 minutes or less per device.
Automated Service
Smartbulance 24/7 is a fully automated self-service repair and recharge kiosk. Located in Grand Central – 42nd street Station, in the “S” shuttle passage corridor. Drop off your broken smartphone, get a loaner and pick up a few hours later. Or pick up a portable battery pack charger, available for purchase or rental. We are planning to install these automated kiosks throughout the NYC Subway system and office building lobby’s.
Ralph in action
Does someone need to make an appointment? Or they can just walk up for a repair?
Ralph Shulberg: You can simply walk up to any Smartbulance repair truck and get your smartphone repaired quickly. You can also make an appointment on our website, www.smartbulance.com, and we show up within a two-hour time window that the customer chooses. We are currently servicing New York City’s five boroughs, and Hudson County New Jersey.
Where did the idea for the ambulance come from? Did you have the idea for the vehicle before you had the name?
Ralph Shulberg: Retail stores have been suffering a steep decline in sales and customers due to internet sales taking over. An article published on wired.com by Davey Alba on 4/27/16 stated that the smartphone market will reach saturation by the end of 2016. Market saturation is a huge problem for brick and mortar wireless carrier stores and independent retailers. Sales continue to decline while they struggle to keep up with their expenses leading to an overall decline for that business model.
I identified this trend and timing of the market saturation early in 2012. I developed a transition strategy to downsize my brick and mortar locations down to 2, apply to business school with the end goal of entering the mobile device repair industry when I graduated. I enrolled in Rutgers’ Executive MBA program in 2013. It was during this time when I realized just how busy working professionals are. They are busy with work, family life, and many had decided to go back to school thus reducing their free time even further. My classmates constantly were showing up to class with broken devices with no time to get them repaired. I asked about their IT departments and most of them laughed and explained how inefficient the repair process was for enterprise accounts. By January 2014 I had developed a business plan on how we would use state of the art repair trucks to bring the repair shop to enterprise customers, their employees, and individual customers. So the idea for the trucks came first.
I wanted to create a brand that would outlast the smartphone trend and that would be sustainable for decades to come. The name for Smartbulance came after taking a series of marketing classes during the Rutgers Executive MBA. I learned the criteria for establishing a strong sustainable brand. The name Smartbulance doesn’t necessarily mean emergency service for smartphones. Smartbulance can eventually offer emergency services for Smart Homes, Smart Cars, Smart Drones, Smart Wearables, Smart Appliances, Smart Offices, eventually Smart Cities, and all the Internet of Things. I chose the name Smartbulance because it met all the criteria listed above, the domain name was available along with all the proper social media handles, and I was able to successfully trademark all the relevant corresponding intellectual property.
I graduated with my Executive MBA from Rutgers on May 20th took 10 days off and started Smartbulance on Jun. 1, 2015 by purchasing my first truck. It took 2 weeks to customize and we were on the road and in business by Jun. 15, 2015.
Did you ever try to get actual ambulances? Those are sprinter vans that you customized, right?
Ralph Shulberg: I had spent a lot of effort researching on what was the best option. I had considered using actual ambulances. New ones were too expensive to buy, had unnecessary features, and were not set up the way that would give the customer and the technician the best experience. Used ambulances were extremely beat up and would require a lot of customization and a full mechanical overhaul. That would be a waste of time and resources. The vans were purchased completely bare and completely customized.
I created a mock-up Smartbulance in the back of one of my retail stores based on the measurements of the inside of the truck. Then with the help of my best friend George, I proceeded to make a full blueprint for what the inside of the Smartbulance would look like. I took those blueprints and sourced all the materials from multiple vendors across the county. I showed the shop my blueprints and then delivered all the materials and asked them to put it together. They thought I was crazy, but since I was a paying customer they did exactly what was asked of them and even provided additional feedback to make the first Smartbulance better.
We took the comfort of the technician and the customers interaction with the truck as top priority to create the most efficient and user friendly design for both parties. The trucks are fully insulated to keep the technician comfortable in extreme hot and cold temperatures. The trucks have awnings to project the customer from rain or the sun when they are standing by the walk-up window. The trucks have full lighting and electrical systems, white spot light on the side and back of the trucks to create a warm inviting lit environment during the darker hours of the day. There are many other state of the art features that you’ll have to see for yourself when you call a SmartBulance for your next repair.
Smartbulance will be working with the MTA. How did that relationship come about?
Ralph Shulberg: On Jan. 8, 2016 the governor made a speech to modernize the MTA and bring the MTA into the 21st century to dramatically improve the travel experience for the millions of Yew Yorkers and visitors. (https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/8th-proposal-governor-cuomo-s-2016-agenda-bring-mta-21st-century-dramatically-improve-travel)
In January, I pitched the idea to the MTA as part of the Governors initiative to have these Smartbulance branded 24/7 fully automated self-service repair and recharge rental kiosks throughout the busiest stations in the NYC Subway. After many rounds of presentations and document submissions, the MTA agreed that this will bring high value to their customers, the subway riders. We were granted full approvals, signed the contract and we were given a high-profile location for the pilot deployment. The location for the pilot program is in the Shuttle passage at the 42nd Street Grand Central Station that connects Grand Central to Times Square. There are roughly 700,000 people passing through each month.
How exactly will you be working with the MTA?
Ralph Shulberg: The subway already has a wireless network and WiFi built by Transit Wireless. Mobile usage has skyrocketed in recent years. Mobile phone ticketing is coming to the NYC subway system and is already in play for Metro North and Long Island Rail Road. Soon, you will use your phone instead of metro cards to get to get into the subway.
Once the first kiosk goes live by May 1, 2017, the plan would be to deploy the full-service technology kiosks throughout the NYC Subway, Long Island Railroad, and Metro North. The objective is to support the MTA in keeping the commuter connected to emergency services, their loved ones, work, or whatever is most important to them.
MTA collaboration aside, what is coming up for Smartbulance? More locations? Any proprietary technology?
Ralph Shulberg: We are in negotiations with a couple of high-profile global property management firms — we can’t disclose names until negotiations are complete — focused in Manhattan to install these technology kiosks in the largest commercial buildings in Manhattan as an amenity. The amenity is quickly becoming a necessity. Like this kiosk is the first of its kind, we are working on a new proprietary technology that will enhance the consumer experience for 2025 and beyond. I am just not at liberty to discuss now.
Do you have any major goals for Smartbulance? Like a certain number of locations you want open? Or the brand having a certain reach?
Ralph Shulberg: Our goals are to deploy a national network of fully-automated “Repair, Recharge, Recycle, Replace” kiosks strategically placed in mass transit systems, corporate buildings/plazas, hospitals, universities, and airports all over the U.S. Simultaneously, we will be deploying Smartbulance trucks to service the kiosks, enterprise customers, and individuals nationwide.
Who else works with you on the Smartbulance team?
Ralph Shulberg: Part of our transition strategy was to retain the key members of our Sprint retail chain and convert them into key members of our Smartbulance team. We have all worked together for at least ten years and consider Frank, Juan, Laurence, Ray, and Fernando Jr. to be my second family! Together we have close to 100 years of experience in the wireless industry. I have had the privilege to have guidance from two of my Executive MBA professors at Rutgers, Nacho and Shen. Fellow classmates Jorge, Matt, Josh, Alec, Chris, and Alex have also been a tremendous help.
When not busy with Smartbulance, how do you like to spend your free time?
Ralph Shulberg: Free time is not something I have had a lot of in the last two years building Smartbulance. I am working every waking moment to make this the biggest success in the shortest amount of time. When I do have free time, I enjoy traveling the globe and learning about new people and cultures.
Do you have a favorite restaurant in New York?
Ralph Shulberg: Whatever restaurant my wife wants to go to is my favorite restaurant. I have an amazing, supportive wife Victoria and try to make her happy every chance I get.
Finally, Ralph, any last words for the kids?
Ralph Shulberg: 1) Follow your dreams. 2) Get the best education you can without going into debt. 3) Setbacks will only better prepare you for your next success. 4) Get a good pokerface. 5) Have a strong stomach.
Trip.com is an innovative planning tool that tailors recommendations for places to stay, eat and play to your specific tastes. It also allows you to share your great experiences with people who have the same interests as you; people in your “tribes.”
Trip.com’s TripPicks This Week feature empowers you to discover and take advantage of great events, openings and exhibits throughout the city each week.
Here are some exciting events and sites to check out this week in Downtown New York, courtesy of Trip.com. Visit the Trip.com site or download the app for more upcoming events.
Photo: Kevin Lu @sweatengine/Trip.com
1. Historic Square Parks
Madison Square Park (Flatiron)
Saturday, Dec. 10 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
It might be tiny, but Madison Square Park packs a historic punch! Join the Urban Park Rangers for a tour of this small gem and discover its unique qualities, beyond the home of the original Shake Shack. Registration is required. FREE
Take a ride back in time on the MTA’s vintage train or bus. The “Nostalgia Shoppers’ Special Trains” will run three Sundays in December, but the retro buses operate daily along the 42nd street route. Hopping on one of these vintage beauties is a real Christmas treat. There will also be a New York Transit Museum pop-up store at the 2nd Avenue station stop. $2.75 a ride
To tide you over until (fingers and toes crossed) the next revival, get your Lorelai and Rory fix at the Gilmore Girls Brunch Trivia hosted by Trivia, AD. Cheers to that! FREE
Miracle On 9th Street
4. Miracle on 9th Street
Mace (Lower East Side)
Monday-Friday from 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM; Saturday-Sunday from 4:00 PM to 2:00 AM — through Saturday, Dec. 24
If you like your drinks with spice and mint and your bar decor blinking and sparkling in Christmas kitsch, then hit up Mace bar which is once again Miracle on 9th Street. The Christmas themed pop-up is going totally overboard to serve customers Christmas drinks and lots of holiday cheer.
Bring the whole family to Brookfield Place’s spectacular Winter Garden for a an afternoon of dancing and singing. Three live DJs will spinning beats that will have kids and adults partying it up! and dancing. FREE
You can’t not love the Coen brothers’ masterpiece Fargo! Where else do you see a pregnant cop go bad-ass on vicious killers? But wait, there is more! The screening is FREE and includes post-screening munchies and discussion!
