Commuting to Outer SDNY/EDNY Offices from NYC Forum

[Anonymous User]

For AUSAs or federal public defenders who live in Manhattan or Brooklyn and work in the SDNY offices in White Plains or the EDNY offices in Central Islip, how do they commute? Car? Train? Is the commute doable? What percent of the attorneys who work in those offices live in NYC and what percent live on-site? I guess folks who are currently clerking in those courthouses could provide insight on this issue also. Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous User]

Will be clerking in one of those soon, most other clerks commute from the city. LIRR/MNR is off-peak since you're going in the opposite direction of rush-hour train traffic, so the costs are steep but not as bad as they could be for a year, especially if you get a multi-trip ticket, and you don't need a car (you can walk ~10 mins if it's White Plains or take a bus ~15 mins if it's Central Islip). But I imagine it's different for clerks than for AUSAs in those divisions, since I figure if you're there for a longer haul + are probably mid-career it'd make more sense to settle in the suburbs.

[Anonymous User]

White Plains in SDNY is doable on Metro North and the courthouse is walkable from the train.

The issue you will run into is with Central Islip in EDNY. It's a very long train ride from NYC and you need to wait -- generally quite a while -- for an unreliable Suffolk County bus, or pay $15-25 each way for an Uber. The Central Islip LIRR station simply is not walkable from the courthouse; they're 2.5 miles apart and public transit on Long Island, especially in Suffolk County, is pretty sparse.

Most AUSAs in Central Islip live on Long Island, but plenty of White Plains AUSAs live in NYC. I know in the past that EDNY would make GC rookie AUSAs from Brooklyn handle cases in Central Islip, but would generally put them up in a local hotel next to the courthouse for the night. It's a nightmarish commute from NYC.

[Anonymous User]

White Plains in SDNY is doable on Metro North and the courthouse is walkable from the train.

The issue you will run into is with Central Islip in EDNY. It's a very long train ride from NYC and you need to wait -- generally quite a while -- for an unreliable Suffolk County bus, or pay $15-25 each way for an Uber. The Central Islip LIRR station simply is not walkable from the courthouse; they're 2.5 miles apart and public transit on Long Island, especially in Suffolk County, is pretty sparse.

Most AUSAs in Central Islip live on Long Island, but plenty of White Plains AUSAs live in NYC. I know in the past that EDNY would make GC rookie AUSAs from Brooklyn handle cases in Central Islip, but would generally put them up in a local hotel next to the courthouse for the night. It's a nightmarish commute from NYC.

This is very helpful information. Thank you!