Editorial: Blame Pols For Slashing Transit Funds
For the longest time, I have opined how arguably the biggest culprit for the MTA’s financial woes are the elected officials who will be the first in line for face time to criticize fare hikes, service cuts, system conditions, etc… yet will be the same individuals who continue to raid the funds or not properly provide any. Today’s New York Daily News contains a scathing editorial blaming elected officials for slashing transit funds:
Already the subways are dirtier, and starting today many will be slower in coming. They’ll also be more crowded – as will many buses – at least on those routes on which service has not been eliminated.
This is an outrage. Its perpetrators are the officials who have held sway in Albany, spending ever more billions of dollars yet never properly attending to the delivery of basic, vital services.
Mass transit is the very lifeblood of New York. It should be among the last of the services chosen for sacrifice in tough times – not the very first.
Yet Gov. Paterson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Democratic Conference chief John Sampson, Senate Republican Minority Leader Dean Skelos and overwhelming majorities in both houses put subway, bus and commuter rail service at the head of the line for chopping.
That New York is in tough times is no excuse.
MTA revenues from dedicated taxes have plummeted in the national economic downturn. Albany worsened the picture in December by siphoning $143 million from that dwindling money flow to cover the state’s expenses.
Click here for the complete editorial.
I won’t say much as my feelings on the issue have been well documented. However I will say that readers should check out the comment responses to the editorial from two individuals who go off on the New York Daily News among others.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Queens Residents Protest New Q15A Bus Route
The service cuts that have kicked in over the last few weeks starting with the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) & Metro-North Railroad have come full circle with the official beginning of new bus & subway routes today. While I’ve examined different facets of these cuts, it is clear to see that one kind has been getting the most press via upset riders. The cuts I am referring to are for buses around NYC which have angered riders so much that they have protested or filed federal lawsuits.
This course of action continued on Sunday as yet another protest was held, this time in Queens. However this was not a typical protest as it was not held outside of any political offices or MTA locations. Instead it was held on a residential street & led to them purposely stalling a bus from being able to operate. Erik Badia, Simone Weichselbaum, & Barry Paddock of the New York Daily News has more:
A protest in Queens trapped one city bus for an hour Sunday as doomsday service cuts left riders and straphangers reeling all over town.
Whitestone residents are steamed the Q15A, a new alternate route of the Q15 bus meant to pick up riders stranded by the elimination of the Q14, has been routed down a residential stretch of 10th Ave. they say is too narrow.
Dozens of angry neighbors joined former City Councilman Tony Avella (D-Queens) to stand in front of one of the Q15A buses, stopping it cold.“We don’t want you here, go away,” one local resident shouted at the driver.
The protesters moved aside after a few minutes, but by then their prediction had come true: The bus faced a vehicle going the other way and the street was too narrow for the vehicles to pass each other.
Plumber Greg Sahakian was behind the wheel of the black Chevrolet pickup truck blocking the bus. Sympathetic to his protesting neighbors, Sahakian refused to back up and let the bus through.
“We’re just trying to keep our neighborhood the way it’s supposed to be,” Sahakian said. “He’s not gonna move, and where am I gonna go?”
A near-hour-long standoff ensued. The three passengers on the bus eventually abandoned it.
Click here for the complete report.
I support the first amendment & the ability of people to have freedom of speech in expressing their feelings & opinions. However I can’t get behind stalling a bus on purpose for an hour. Do they honestly think that a 1 hour standoff is all that it will take to change things? The proper thing to have done would be to hold a peaceful protest along with arranging a meeting with MTA NYC Transit in some capacity to discuss their issues.
Although I do not support the way they went about things, I must say I find it disgusting that the driver of the pickup truck was cuffed. If he was going to be let go without a ticket & charged with no crimes, then explain why he was ever handcuffed. What crime did he commit & were his rights read to him? I don’t want to go down this debate in this entry as it will stray away from the focus of transit but this incident is yet another sign of the state of our country.
Back to the transit issue though as I have to question where was this intensity in fighting for the blockage of this new route before hand? Also are these the same people that would complain about fare hikes, service cuts, etc… yet refuse to call out the elected officials for the huge roles they have in the much maligned transit agency’s budget woes?
I am pretty sure that they are which further illustrates what is wrong with the system in all facets. People want results yet refuse to fight for them or make every group involved accountable for their actions.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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TWU Accuses MTA Of Nixing $35M Offer
I have blogged about the battle between the MTA & Transport Workers Union Local 100 (TWU Local 100) on & off for a few years now. Throughout that time, there would be times of silence in which the two sides kept to themselves. However those occasions are rare as most times they are locked up in a fierce battle with one another. The latter has been the prevailing course of action over the last few months as both sides battle over the MTA’s financial woes vs the jobs & salaries of union members.
During this latest battle, I & the TWU have been very critical of the MTA for choosing to fight this battle in the media versus at the negotiating table. This was especially troubling to me considering the union has said on numerous occasions that it would sit down & discuss terms with the MTA. The two sides have been in discussions but once again, one side runs to the media at the first sign of a problem.
This time, I must call out the TWU for doing just that. It is clear that this is an attempt to paint the MTA in a bad light & gain some sort of public sentiment. The issue stems from the accusation that the transit agency nixed a $35M offer that would cut back on costs & jobs through attrition versus layoffs. Pete Donohue of the New York Daily News has more:
The MTA rejected a union offer of approximately $35 million a year in employee contributions that would have avoided laying off workers, the transit union chief told the Daily News.
The offer would have also staved off some service cuts already in motion, Transport Workers Union Local 100 President John Samuelsen said yesterday.
The union contributions were earmarked for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s participation in a state-approved early retirement program. The money would allow the authority to reduce head count more slowly through attrition – rather than abrupt layoffs.
Hundreds of pink-slipped bus drivers, mechanics and other workers have been told to turn in their uniforms and badges at a NYC Transit facility tomorrow.
Service cuts, including the elimination of dozens of express and local bus routes, have begun. Some routes saw their last runs Friday, and others shut down last night.
“We want the riding public to know this is on Jay Walder, and not on the union,” Samuelsen said, referring to the MTA chairman.
Click here for the complete report.
This one quote alone my Mr. Samuelsen, “We want the riding public to know this is on Jay Walder, and not on the union.” proves my point of hypocrisy by the union. Instead of running to the media & complaining, how about sitting down & continuing negotiations to hammer out a deal beneficial to both sides. However lets focus on the numbers here….
To be quite frank, $35M is a drop in the bucket in terms of what it would do for the MTA’s financial woes. The honest truth is that saving $35M here but not properly cutting costs across the board in other areas leads all roads back to square one, the huge mountain of debt killing the MTA. I once again want to shine the spotlight on commenter “Trainman” who brings up some great points when he said:
The MTA picture today is a disaster. The bottom line is that $35 million a year does not begin to address the structural disconnect between revenues and operating expenses. The MTA needs to STOP its capital plan, which is a disaster, lay off 25% of its white collar so-call workforce, raise bus fares by about 75%, implement zone pricing on subways, and put in place responsible labor costs for the future. The only viable answer that provides a sound mass transit future involves all of these measures.
As I mentioned here, I do feel there is a strong merit to the idea of stopping the Capital Plan as it clearly needs to be reevaluated. I do agree that there needs to be more layoffs in the white-collar positions at the MTA if cutting back on unnecessary positions is a priority. What is good for the workers in the trenches needs to be for white-collar employees as well.
Raising fares by 75% is something I can’t see happening as elected officials would have a field day waging war against that. Considering the amount of service we get in the region compared to other major cities, such a steep increase could still be seen as a good deal if the system was in proper condition in terms of quality with service to match. However that costs money as you all know so one battle at a time. Zone pricing is not happening plain & simple, I would be shocked if that were to ever happen again.
However overall “Trainman” is 100% correct as implementing in some way the solutions he mentioned are the keys to righting this ship along with proper funding from the city, state, & federal government. The MTA & its riders can’t turn this around out of their wallets alone. The agency can do all of the above but if the government does not step up to the plate & do the right thing, nothing else will matter.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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NYDN Editorial: Bus Lane Cameras Are Good
The topic of bus lane cameras has been a very popular one on this blog according to my statistics. So here is another story or more accurately, an editorial from the New York Daily News on why these cameras are a good idea. The writer also opines on the need for the city to make sure enforcement is done right:
One good measure has surfaced in Albany: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the city have gotten the green light to use cameras to slap tickets on drivers who illegally block designated bus lanes.
The concept of “bus rapid transit” has long been a laughable contradiction in terms. Even where specific lanes have been reserved for buses, as on 34th St. in midtown, all manner of motorists have felt free to intrude because violations have borne little risk of punishment.
But cameras – akin to red-light cameras – should change the equation. Hmm, should I park my delivery truck and run inside when that bus coming along with a camera out front or that camera on the lamppost could snap me with a $115 fine? I hope not.
Click here for the complete editorial.
I agree with the writer on how important it is that enforcement be done right along with the teaching of how & why these cameras will be around in the first place. However I still stand by the fact that the legislation that passed is watered down & a proper setup needs to be put in place for it to reach the maximum potential that is needed.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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The Disabled Say MTA’s Cuts Violate The Law
The doomsday is here for many bus & subway routes around the city from cuts in service to the complete elimination of others. NYC bus riders are definitely getting the pinch, especially in some southern Brooklyn communities like Bay Ridge.
While many different types of riders will be inconvenienced by the cuts, one group in particular arguably are getting the worst of it. The group I am referring to are the disabled who feel the cuts approved violate the law. To prove their point, multiple lawsuits are being worked on against the much maligned transit agency. Pete Donohue of the New York Daily News has more:
MTA bus and subway cuts and layoff plans remained on track Friday, but foes of the service slashes were taking their fight to court.
Lawsuits – including one filed Friday in Brooklyn Supreme Court and another being drafted for federal court – could ultimately force the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to restore a significant portion of the cuts, which transit officials maintain are necessary to close budget gaps.
More than 100 bus routes are being eliminated or scaled back. Some ran for the last time Friday, and others make their last runs this weekend.
“What are we supposed to do? Stay in our homes?” asked disabled activist Jean Ryan, who relies on bus service because none of the subway stations in her Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, neighborhood is accessible to wheelchair users.
A lawsuit filed on behalf of Ryan and two other disabled women Friday demanded that the MTA explain why cuts to 11 southern Brooklyn routes don’t violate state law requiring equal treatment for the handicapped.
The judge refused to stop the cuts but set a July 22 hearing date, lawyer Salvatore Strazzullo said.
Click here for the complete report.
These lawsuits should prove to be quite interesting as I can somewhat see both sides to the case. On one hand the MTA needs to cut costs & should look to eliminate redundant or hardly used service. However on the other hand, disabled riders are already at a disadvantage in terms of transportation options.
The subway is not a legitimate option for many due to their condition & the lack of access. So they should have legitimate service available to them. This starts to turn into a battle of putting a price tag on the worth of such trips versus the cost to provide them along with service to non-disabled riders.
I do have a problem with some of the stupidity that is being posted in response to this article. I should not be surprised considering the source of the comments but I can’t help but take issue with some of them. While I can agree that there are too many people in our society that have a sense of entitlement, I feel grouping disabled riders with them is completely misguided.
Most disabled riders did not ask to be that way or to have their lives inconvenienced. They should not be compared to students getting free rides on the back of the MTA & down to the core, the taxpayers. Disabled riders have as much right to quality service as I or anyone else who is not. To feel that such service is an entitlement is complete idiocy.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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