New York is aghast at the job cuts, service slashes and fare increases that have been proposed by the M.T.A. It is just another way to punish the middle and working class, more so as the percentage of what you make is dedicated to transit. An extra 50% hike isn't so bad when you make six figures, but for someone struggling to make the rent, it is a big deal.
For a long time it has always been the public versus the M.T.A., but now in these trying times the transit authority isn't able to count on its ranks to support their decisions.
From The NY Daily News:
Describing the cutback package as "terrible," MTA director of government affairs Hilary Ring urged people at a public forum to express their anger at public hearings in January."Please come," he appealed to the crowd of about 125 at Swinging Sixties Senior Center in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, last night. "The only way it's not going to be implemented is if you express outrage."
"The budget we presented to the board is not the budget we want to see adopted," he said. "We had to make very tough choices. We don't want to make these cuts. We think the state and city should increase their contributions to us."
I agree they should too. The problem is the city and state do not have enough money themselves. Unless the state agrees to raise taxes on the rich, the poor will be paying the highest price during this economic mess. People can rant and rave to the board all they want, but no amount of unbridled passion expressed with yelling at a suit will make money magically appear. The Authority needs to cut the fat in the Administrative office, but it isn't a cure all.
Now if the city and state could make the M.T.A. less reliant on real estate taxes and more so on a straight budget that keeps it afloat, then City Hall and Albany might be making some progress. And of course, bring on the Federal money to make our system meet the needs of a 21st century New York City.
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