Gothamist: MTA's Budget Crisis Means More Fare Hikes, Service Cuts

twelveicat

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:40:54 -0500

How about instead of cutting service and raising prices they fire the ones that sit and collect their fat 6-figure salaries for less work than it takes to spit to the third rail? There's an obscene amount of mismanaged funds here. The MTA's top officials spend more time visiting local coffee shops then they do at their desks. Why not fire 500 or so bloated salaried people? Why not when there's a service crew doing track work only send the ones that are actually required to do the work, not their friends as well? What ever happened to working for your pay?

Ph

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:31:48 -0500

The money goes into keeping a 100 year old rail system that has more track miles than any other system in the United States and if I'm not mistaken..ranks up there with track miles world wide for a metro system...afloat. Steel Tracks aren't cheap. Labor to upkeep them every 2 or 5 years isn't cheap. Insurance for the whole system isn't cheap. Power isn't cheap. I'd dare to say the skyrocketing energy costs are a huge part of whats stressing the MTA's coffers. That power doesn't magically generate itself.

Goomba

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:23:57 -0500

Where does all the money go? It is like the MTA is some sorta ponzi scam, but legal cause they are the government.

monsur

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:05:31 -0500

Three years ago it was a surprise budget surplus from the real estate market: http://gothamist.com/2005/09/27/trust_the_mta_with_money_ha.php Instead of reinvesting it into the system, it was to be used to buy more property. Why is the MTA so dependent on real estate?

yttrx

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:33:08 -0500

There is no middle class here, and there hasn't been in some time. I wouldn't mind seeing the SUVs that blow their horns behind garbage trucks at 6am right under my window on 18th street get charged a thousand bucks each for the privilege of even BEING in NYC. 1000 bucks and a punch in the face. That's what it should be.

nivek

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:29:32 -0500

#4 No, because they want to steal as much money as they can from us.

Dan Dickinson

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:16:13 -0500

I don't suppose the MTA has ever considered, I don't know, reducing some of their legendarily huge administrative overhead?

SleepyM

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:47:52 -0500

oops, sorry. Wish we could edit or delete our own posts.

SleepyM

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:39:17 -0500

This is ridiculous. I'd love it if there was a day where no one took the subway or bus in protest. I know it won't happen but imagine the message it would send it if did.

TKaisen

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:20:31 -0500

Color me shocked.