Local Politicians Hold Press Conference Before Fare Hike Hearing
Yesterday marked the first two public hearings by the MTA regarding their proposed fare hike. However before the hearing in Brooklyn began, some local politicians including the Brooklyn Borough President held a press conference. The press conference was held on the steps of the Borough Hall subway station. Here was the press release issued for the press conference:
n Monday, November 5, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joins Assemblymember Jim Brennan (D-Bklyn), Senator Tom Duane (D, WFP-Manhattan), and Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer to announce new legislation to increase State and City funding of the MTA and to urge the MTA to postpone any fare hikes until there has been a chance for review of other funding options. The MTA’s first public hearing on a fare hike will be held tonight at 6 P.M. at Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Ballroom, 333 Adams Street, Brooklyn.
The new legislation, A.9424/S.6526 and A.9425/S.6510, will increase the State and City funding for the MTA NYC Transit and commuter rail by a total of $684,274,000. These additional operating funds represent a fair and equitable funding option that may make the planned MTA fare hike unnecessary. The legislators and borough presidents urge swift passage of the bills and ask the MTA to delay any action on a fare hike until the State and City have considered these funding options.
The press conference was apart of their plan to spread the word about their opposition to the proposed fare hike. Their plan of action also included helping the NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign in handing out leaflets urging people to attend the public hearings held by the MTA. As far as the press conference is concerned, here is a brief comment made by Manhattan Democratic State Senator Tom Duane: “It’s time for the state to step up and do its fair share in funding our mass transit system with the funding it needs and deserves.”
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Ridiculous Ranting….
I usually try my best to ignore rants from clueless individuals but I could not do so at this time. Yesterday Benjamin Kubak of Second Avenue Sagas posted an entry about an article written in the New York Post in regards about high overtime pay for some MTA employees. My problem is not with him at all but instead some of the clueless readers who posted some ridiculous comments. Lets look at a few of them:
Chris wrote: “And meanwhile, NYPD officer salaries start barely above the poverty line. That really goes to show you where this city’s priorities are.”
Todd wrote: “Ben: I could’ve told you that Micheal Woodhouse and his gang are earning lots of overtime. They’re always really busy ‘holding trains’ and what not. Chris: Amen.”
I am all for one having an opinion but sometimes you have to call out someone on them. I would love to hear what salaries of MTA employees have anything to do with the NYPD. The fact is one has absolutely nothing to do with one another. All because the NYPD salaries are not up to par with their peers should not reflect on what MTA employees earn. So somehow money legitimately earned is the city’s fault? Whatever……
As far as Todd’s comments are concerned, they are beyond ridiculous. Let me guess those dreaded MTA employees held up your commute on purpose just to piss you off because they have nothing better to do! How did you ever figure out their huge secret?
This just tells me what I have always known, society thinks MTA employees are horrible people who deserve to be looked down upon or mistreated. Newsflash! While the MTA has its own share of bad apples, many of their employees are hard working people who do their best to bring you from point A to point B as safely as possible. Instead of looking down upon them as if you are better, be thankful that they are around! If they weren’t around I am sure many of you would be up shit’s creek & this city would fall apart. Did the transit strike of 2005 not show you how important these employees are?
Media such as the New York Post & regular citizens should find something legitimate to complain about instead of spewing ridiculous nonsense. If these employees legitimately worked these overtime shifts, they deserve whatever compensation they are rightfully entitled to! I guess even when you legitimately earned something, there will always be at least one person wanting it taken away!
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Wesley Autrey & His Attorney Drop Dueling Lawsuits
A few months back, everyone’s favorite NYC Subway hero Wesley Autrey sued his attorney Diane L. Kleiman and her business partner Marc Antonio Esposito, of Marco Antonio Productions. Mr. Autrey accused the pair of having him sign an unfair contract that gave them most of any money he earned because of his new fame. Ms. Kleiman in turn sued Mr. Autrey for legal fees and compensation for damage to her reputation.
According to the Associated Press, all parties involved have agreed to an agreement known as a “stipulation”. The stipulation voids any oral or written contracts involving Mr. Autrey, Ms. Kleiman, & Mr. Esposito. State Supreme Court Justice Bernard J. Fried signed off on the stipulation and filed it within the last week.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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D Train Is Below Average, Where Have We Read That One Before??????
205th St. bound D train approaching Bay 50th St. station; Resized photo courtesy of Eye On Transit
With the fear of sounding repetitive, the D train is below average! As you probably figured out, the D train earned a C- overall in its 2007 rider report card. The D’s report card was littered with grades in the C & D range with its lowest being a D for “Station announcements that are easy to hear”. The highest grade earned was a B- which it earned in 2 categories, “Availability of MetroCard Vending Machines” & “Ease of use of subway turnstiles”. Lets breakdown the entire report card:
Top 10 priorities that D train riders’ would like to see improvement on:
01. Reasonable wait times for trains
02. Minimal delays during trips
03. Adequate room on board at rush hour
04. Station announcements that are easy to hear
05. Train announcements that are easy to hear
06. Cleanliness of stations
07. Sense of security on trains
08. Sense of security in stations
09. Cleanliness of subway cars
10. Comfortable temperature in subway cars
Now here is the entire order of D train riders’ priorities:
01. Reasonable wait times for trains
02. Minimal delays during trips
03. Adequate room on board at rush hour
04. Station announcements that are easy to hear
05. Train announcements that are easy to hear
06. Cleanliness of stations
07. Sense of security on trains
08. Sense of security in stations
09. Cleanliness of subway cars
10. Comfortable temperature in subway cars
11. Station announcements that are informative
12. Working elevators and escalators in stations
13. Courtesy and helpfulness of station personnel
14. Train announcements that are informative
15. Lack of scratchitti in subway cars
16. Availability of MetroCard Vending Machines
17. Signs in subway cars that help riders find their way
18. Ease of use of subway turnstiles
19. Signs in stations that help riders find their way
20. Lack of graffiti in subway cars
21. Lack of graffiti in stations
Now here is the graded breakdown of all 21 categories:
Minimal delays during trips C-
Reasonable wait times for trains C-
Adequate room on board at rush hour D+
Sense of security in stations C
Sense of security on trains C-
Working elevators and escalators in stations C
Signs in stations that help riders find their way C+
Signs in subway cars that help riders find their way C
Cleanliness of stations D+
Cleanliness of subway cars C-
Station announcements that are easy to hear D
Station announcements that are informative D+
Train announcements that are easy to hear D+
Train announcements that are informative D+
Lack of graffiti in stations C
Lack of graffiti in subway cars C+
Lack of scratchitti in subway cars C-
Courtesy and helpfulness of station personnel C
Comfortable temperature in subway cars C
Ease of use of subway turnstiles B-
Availability of MetroCard Vending Machines B-
I think that the D riders nailed this report card with deadly precision. I have used the D a lot over the years & always felt it needed a lot of improvement. The biggest issues I always had with the line were the wait times & having adequate room on board at just about any time of the day. To be honest, choice #3 in the priority list could easily be #1 & I am sure many would agree.
Personally I have always found the west side express trains to be inferior to those on the east side. For some reason I always seem to be waiting for way too long for an express train on the west side especially during rush hour. I like many others find it inexcusable when one has to wait for almost or over 10 minutes for a train during the rush hour! It has gotten to the point where I purposely use the local if I can as I feel it will get me to my destination faster. If anything I feel the D should have earned an F in both wait times & having room on board especially during rush hour.
As far as the response is concerned, the MTA only received 4,084 report cards. I am so sick of the lack of passion from riders who want things to change. If you want changes made, do everything in your power to facilitate such actions! I can only hope that the turnout will be better overall for next year’s report cards.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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TWU Wants Strike Penalties Lifted
MTA workers on strike at the Parkchester Station on day 2 of the 2005 transit strike. Resized photo courtesy of Eye On Transit
As I wrote about at the beginning of last month, the Transport Workers Union is continuing its fight to get their strike penalties lifted. The TWU is now down to only a couple of penalties with the biggest issue still being their checkoff power.
According to court papers filed on Halloween, the state attorney general & MTA supported the TWU regaining “due checkoffs” but only on a probationary basis. They want the due checkoffs privilege revoked if the TWU strikes again. Here is a comment from Mayor Bloomberg who sides with the state attorney general & MTA on the stipulation:
What they’ve submitted so far, if you read it very carefully, number one, it’s not the union, it’s the president of the union, and number two, it simply says they acknowledge that they don’t have the right. They don’t say they won’t.”
The issue is a big one to the TWU as they said they have lost over $1 million dollars due to the penalties.
I personally don’t know if they should go for such a stipulation. They would weaken their power if they were to promise not to strike again. They should seriously consider all options before such a proposal. The case is expected to be heard in the Brooklyn Supreme Court later this month.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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