By: Sierra Ryan | sryan@quensledger.com

In the Ridgewood neighborhood, new Queens Community Board 5 member Ravahn Rodriguez, a
singer and producer is running a new kind of group that’s doing something randomly good for their
neighbors.

The model of ‘Ridgewood Neighbors’ focuses on doing something “good” and spicing it up by having it be “random.” She runs the organization alongside her husband, Brandon Rodriguez and her friend, Jairo Paredes.

This initiative has done wonders for her Ridgewood neighbors. Each month Ridgewood Neighbors plans an event for the community, whether it’s giving away free coffee by the Forest Ave M train stop or having a coat drive for someone in need. Doing something different each month seems to be part of the fun.

Being a member of CB5 allows Rodriguez to meet her neighbors and to learn about the needs of her
community. This way she says she can stay engaged with what’s going on in her neighborhood as well as being a caring presence that can take their concerns seriously. As a board member, Rodriguez hopes to learn from the members that came before her and to contribute to positive change around the neighborhood.

Ridgewood Neighbors was started in August of 2024 and was created as a way to give back to the
neighborhood.

“I think a big part for me was just growing up,” Rodriguez said. “I feel a bit of the New York way is to pass by your neighbors on the street, and this disconnect that I can feel from places that I’m living in. You kind of get up, go to work, mind your business get on the train and go. I felt inspired to just nurture love in the neighborhood.”

Rodriguez, her husband and Paredes live in Ridgewood and noticed the changes happening along with the rise of loneliness. She wanted a way to bridge that gap and be there for her community.

“How do we stand in the gap in a way and how do we show up for people with acts of kindness and acts of love in whatever little ways we can?” She said. “What does that look like? Especially since that is not something we have done before.”

“I am a practicing Christian as well, so Jeremiah 29 is a big influence for me just as is the importance of seeking the welfare of the place that you live, that’s an inspiration for me.” Rodriguez says.

For her it is important to find ways to spread joy in the neighborhood and to meet the needs of those in the community. “Right now, we’re gathering some pants for someone who needs them for work. She doesn’t have appropriate wear for her job. I have two people in the neighborhood who just kindly donated to help her out. To be able to tell someone, hey, this came from two other people who live in the neighborhood just spreads that sort of love.”

Ridgewood Neighbors has shown Rodriguez the power of what a kind gesture can do. People will begin to open up just from being asked their name and being
invited into the conversation.

Rodriguez hopes that people in the neighborhood will see that they can work together to help each other.

“There’s already been beautiful glimpses of that. So that is what I would love to see that is a big aspiration to help facilitate people helping one another. That would be a beautiful thing to see.”

By: MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

After more than three decades of service, the iconic MetroCard will be phased out by the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), with the final day for sales and
distribution set for December 31, 2025. The MTA’s transition to its contactless tap-and-
go payment system, OMNY, will mark the end of the swipe system that has been a staple
of New York City’s public transit system since 1994.

 

The move is part of a broader effort to modernize the MTA’s fare collection system,
reduce operational costs, and make the riding experience more convenient for customers.
The OMNY system, which stands for One Metro New York, allows riders to use
smartphones, contactless credit and debit cards, or OMNY-specific cards to pay their fare
directly at the turnstiles or on buses, eliminating the need for physical MetroCards.

In announcing the change, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber explained that it was time
for the transit system to fully embrace the future. OMNY, which was first introduced in
2019, has already become the preferred payment method for many New York City
commuters. With approximately 65% of subway and bus riders now using OMNY, the
transition to a cashless, digital fare system is well underway. This percentage includes
85% of full-fare customers and 55% of reduced-fare customers, and that number is
expected to rise rapidly as MetroCard sales come to an end.

While MetroCards have been synonymous with New York City transit for over three
decades, the shift to OMNY represents a step forward in the MTA’s modernization
efforts. The tap-and-go system simplifies fare payment by allowing riders to use their
mobile phones or contactless cards, removing the need to carry and reload a MetroCard.
The OMNY system also includes a fare-capping feature, which automatically ensures that
riders get the best value for their travel. Once a rider’s weekly fare hits $34 for full-fare
customers or $17 for reduced-fare customers, they can continue to travel for free for the
rest of the week, providing a significant benefit for frequent riders.

The fare-capping feature is expected to save riders millions of dollars annually. In fact,
the MTA reports that nearly 1 million riders each month reach the fare cap, with
customers saving more than $8 million per month in free trips. This is particularly
advantageous for tourists, occasional riders, and local commuters who no longer need to
purchase weekly or monthly cards in advance. Unlike the MetroCard system, which
required customers to prepay for multiple trips in order to receive discounts, the OMNY
system ensures that users pay only for the rides they take and never forfeit unused
balances.

For those who prefer to use a physical card, OMNY cards can be purchased for $1 and
loaded with funds at a variety of locations, including subway stations, online, and at retail
partner locations throughout the city. By the fall of 2025, OMNY vending machines will
be available at all 472 subway stations, making it easier for commuters to obtain and load
their cards. Retailers will no longer sell MetroCards after the fall of 2025, as all
customers will be directed toward the new OMNY payment system.

MetroCards will remain valid for travel through 2026, but the MTA is urging riders to
transition to OMNY as soon as possible to avoid any disruption to their daily commute.
Any remaining balances on MetroCards will be eligible for transfer or reimbursement for
up to two years after the MetroCard’s expiration date. Riders can transfer funds from
their MetroCards to OMNY cards at Mobile Sales Van locations, Customer Service
Centers (CSCs) in subway stations, or at designated locations in Lower Manhattan.

Over the years, more than 400 limited-edition MetroCards have captured iconic moments
in New York City’s history, from pop culture to sports, including designs honoring
Notorious B.I.G., David Bowie, and the New York Yankees. These collectible cards have
been a staple of the city’s transit experience since 1994, but as the MTA transitions fully
to the contactless OMNY system, these nostalgic pieces of New York memorabilia will
be phased out. The shift to OMNY, a modern, flexible payment system, marks the end of
an era, as the city moves toward a seamless, tap-and-go future.

For customers who have concerns about transitioning from MetroCards to OMNY, the
MTA has emphasized that the change will be gradual, and riders will have ample time to
adjust. While MetroCards will no longer be available for sale after December 31, 2025,
the MTA has assured customers that the physical cards will still be accepted on the transit
system for an extended period. Additionally, the MTA has made it clear that they will
continue to offer support for those who need assistance transferring balances from their
MetroCards to OMNY accounts.

The MTA is also exploring ways to further enhance the OMNY system’s capabilities in
the future. The introduction of contactless payment opens up new possibilities for
discounted fares, promotions, and even loyalty programs, similar to those found in the
airline industry. OMNY’s digital infrastructure also supports future fare compliance initiatives, making it easier for the MTA to implement technology-based systems for
checking proof of payment.

From a cost-saving perspective, the MTA expects to save at least $20 million annually by
eliminating the sale and distribution of MetroCards. The savings will come from reduced
production costs, fewer vending machine repairs, and less cash collection and handling.
This aligns with the MTA’s broader goal of modernizing its operations and improving
service efficiency.

The MTA also highlighted that the transition to OMNY is expected to provide greater
equity and accessibility for riders. The OMNY system has been made available to all fare
categories, including reduced-fare customers, Fair Fares participants, Access-a-Ride
users, and students. The goal is to ensure that all New Yorkers can benefit from the
convenience and affordability of the tap-and-go system.

Looking ahead, the full implementation of OMNY across all subway and bus lines is
expected to be completed by June 2026. The MTA is confident that this transition will
pave the way for a more efficient, cost-effective, and user-friendly transit experience for
millions of New Yorkers.

By: MOHAMED FARGHALY | mfarghaly@queensledger.com

More than two decades after its founding in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the
Muslim Community Network (MCN) as an organization continues to serve as a
critical voice in redefining Muslim identity in the United States. Based in New York
City, MCN is dedicated to bridging communities through education, advocacy, and
leadership development.

“The organization is 22 years old. It was started post-9/11, and its mission is to
redefine and shape the narrative around being Muslim in America through three
core pillars: community education, leadership development and advocacy,” said
Husein Yatabarry, executive director of MCN.

From diversity education in New York City schools to food security drives during
Ramadan, MCN’s impact spans neighborhoods and generations. “We fed about 2,000
people during the month of Ramadan,” Yatabarry said, highlighting the group’s
outreach during times of need.

Though headquartered in New York, MCN’s work resonates nationally, especially
amid a political climate that has stirred concerns about Islamophobia and
immigrant rights.

“The immigration issue has been the biggest key,” Yatabarry said. “We often talk
about how the immigration debacle affects Latin communities, but we oftentimes
forget West African communities, South Asian communities, and communities from
North Africa and the Middle East. All those communities happen to be majority
Muslim.”

Yatabarry warned of a resurgence in Islamophobic rhetoric, pointing to “talks of a
second Muslim ban” and the profiling of Muslim students on college campuses.
“Muslims are often a staple for many of the issues,” he said. “Even in media, the first thing pundits usually say [after a violent incident] is, ‘Is it some kind of Islamist
terrorist attack?’”

To counter misinformation and bias, MCN focuses heavily on public education. “We
do outreach to schools to see what schools have large groups of Muslims and offer a
series of workshops on understanding Muslim diversity, deep diving into
Islamophobia and how to connect with Muslim students and families,” Yatabarry
said. “If students continue to go through the K-12 experience and don’t know
anything about Muslims, they’re often just subject to what they’ve heard in media.”

MCN does not operate as a membership organization. Instead, it builds networks
across mosques, shelters, schools, and government agencies. “We’re more like a
community outreach organization,” Yatabarry explained. “We have partnerships
with different mosques and community groups, and when they need community
workshops — whether it’s financial literacy, Know Your Rights, or hate crime
prevention — they reach out to us.”

Misconceptions about Muslims remain a central challenge. “A lot of it is just about
the violence that people attribute to Muslims as a group, even though it’s a religion
that’s built on peace,” said Yatabarry. He stressed the need to highlight the
contributions of the estimated 750,000 to one million Muslims in New York City,
including the 100,000 Muslim students in the public education system and roughly
10% of the city’s healthcare workforce.

He also emphasized the religious and ethnic diversity within the Muslim
community: “It’s not just an Arab religion. It’s a worldwide religion that a quarter of
the whole globe practices… You have this cultural diversity within the religion
itself.”

For Yatabarry, MCN’s mission is deeply personal. “I grew up in the Bronx. I was a
child of the public education system in New York City,” he said. “There was a time
period where you almost kind of wanted to hide your identity and bottle up in a
shell… Having a religion that’s the minority in any school that you go to, where it’s
not talked about — it’s hard to really feel included.”

In an era where diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are facing increasing
political backlash, Yatabarry sees MCN as a necessary counterweight. “Nonprofits
like ours are to be a counterbalance. Like, no — you have to lean in and be more
inclusive in a city like New York City, where you have a city that’s built on
immigrants.”

One of his most memorable moments with MCN came during a roundtable event last
summer. “We held a stakeholders roundtable with nonprofits from all over the city…
specifically discussing the topic of hate in all fashions — Islamophobia, anti-
Semitism, anti-Black violence, anti-immigrant violence — and how we could work
together as a coalition,” he said. “That social cohesion piece… it’s going to connect us
more, and we’re going to be stronger as a New York community for it.”

When asked how the public — Muslim and non-Muslim alike — can support MCN’s
work, Yatabarry’s message was clear: stay informed and think critically. “If you look
at a tweet or a TikTok video saying something harmful and disparaging and you take
that on face value without doing the proper research, then you may continue to
spread that hateful message,” he said. “You should fact-check it… That just goes for
anyone — elected officials, nonprofits, the government.”

As MCN looks ahead, its mission remains rooted in a belief that inclusion,
understanding, and education are the keys to a stronger, more just society.