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Timing is everything. As New York City will be celebrating 100 years of our beloved subway system, the MTA is talking about its budget crisis - one that involves figures like "Budget deficit of $1 billion each year" and "$20 billion of debt by 2008." It's so bad that five subway watchdogs/economic analysts ( Jon Orcutt, executive director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign; James Parrott, chief economist of the Fiscal Policy Institute; Gene Russianoff, staff attorney of the Straphangers Campaign; Roger Toussaint, president of Local 100 of the Transport Workers Union; and Robert Yaro, president of the Regional Plan Association) signed a letter to Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Pataki, imploring them to "avert a disaster for New York's transit riders and workers" "in the interest of New Yorkrs."
The NY Times points out that the huge financial problems were foreseen and that the blame can be attributed to both NYC mayors and the governor, but Governor Pataki wields the most power when making decisions about the MTA, and we feel one of the worst ones was Chairman E. Virgil Conaway who "adopted a new capital program, without any new sources of aid, that relied more heavily on borrowing than in the past." Really, the article is depressing, but Gothamist strongly urges you to read the article and become familiar with the names of officials involved, because on the election day, perhaps you'll be able to vote for Assembly members and State Senators who have our interests at heart. For a lucid explanation of the fare hike, look at this Straphangers' press release. The Straphangers also have this handy page that explains how you can get involved in telling your elected leaders/MTA officials what you think.
And in happier news, the MTA's reenactment of the first subway ride from City Hall Station will be tomorrow; Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Pataki, and MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow will be present.
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I was watching the NY1 special comparing the Tokyo and NYC Subway systems. The special brought to light many ways NY can continue to modernize the subway and save money at the same time. Tokyo shuts down its subway after 12-1am? and reopens early morning to save money and do needed repairs. They should do that on a smaller scale here on the lines least used.
I wouldnt recommend a systemwide shutdown since this is a city that never truely sleeps. It sucks leaving a bar or club early to try and catch the last train. I shouldve done my research before visiting Tokyo.
As I have noted several times on this board, the overall issue is generational equity.
The 2000-04 MTA Capital Plan is just one of the ways the State of New York has sold out the future -- your future -- and the children -- perhaps your children someday -- to benefit those cashing in and moving out.
And, of course, the federal debt, social security and Medicare will dwarf even what the state has done. I again encourage you to read through the website for my campaign for New York State Assembly, especially "Unforgivable Policies of the State of New York. Democrat? Republican? I'm neither, because the future trashing policies I object to pass the state legislature by 212 to nothing, or something close.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record here: the MTA is facing a budget crisis? On which set of books?
Here's an idea for saving the MTA: send each and every official who signed off on the phony books to jail. Then appoint an independent counsel to figure out what Pataki knew, and when he knew it.
As long as the MTA is being run as George Pataki's personal patronage fiefdom, nothing is going to improve. Meaning, of course, that nothing is going to improve as long as he's governor.