Bloomberg: Crime Stat Manipulations are "Tiny"
Palin: "Absurd" Not To Consider 2012 Run
Wall Street Throwing More Money at Republicans
School Already Canceled Tomorrow for Snowpocalypse!
More Bald Eagles Spotted In Harlem!
Photograph by wheelmaker on Flickr
The MTA's board will be voting on the so-called Doomsday budget this morning. Since the MTA faces billion-dollar deficits with no help in sight (aside from the State approving the Ravitch Commission recommendations), the board is expected to pass the plan that includes big fare hikes and drastic service cuts.
CityRoom is at MTA headquarters and describes how many people denounced the budget, noting the steep fare increases for Access-A-Ride (which serves the disabled and elderly) and the inconveniences of service cuts. And some were very angry:
As one man spoke out against the budget plan, he asked, “Where’s Elliot Sander?” He bent over to take off his shoe — apparently in an effort to take off the shoe and, presumably, throw it at Mr. Sander, chief executive of the authority.The actual fare hikes and service cuts wouldn't be finalized until next year.“You made $300,000 last year!” he shouted before the police officers surrounded him. They led him away at handcuffs.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
Prediction: Popemobile-style protection for officials from shoe-throwing critics.
pie throwing is soooo last year... shoe throwing is the new black!
Can someone please explain to me those Access A Ride vans? I understand they are supposed to help the elderly get around town, but I have never seen one with an actual passenger. Not once! Those things must be hella expensive to run and they don't seem to get any use. It seems like a huge waste. Why not consolidate them? Or better yet, why not the various ambulette services around the city do the job. Medicare pays for ambulettes so it wouldn't have to come out some poor old sacred cow's pocket.
Or how about using access-a-ride vans to pick up handicapped passengers instead of equipping every bus with a wheelchair lift?
Everyone knew the MTA was in trouble with their money situations years ago yet nothing was done about it. The MTA budget and money system is broken and what is being done about it? Keep raising those fares year after year.
access a ride is like an ambulette service. they're contracted out by MTA. access a ride is door to door services for people who can't use the subway or bus. if they can't get to the nearest subway or bus stop etc. and they charge the same price as a subway ride. I wouldn't rely on one if you have an important surgery appointment. but for MD visits, which I'm guessing what they're mostly used for, the service would suffice.
It may be time to bust up some of these unions. How is it that HS-educated employees have more job security than most of the college-educated folks in the City facing at-will employment? GED educated people making $30-40,000 and more to sit in booths and NOT do anything. They don't sell tokens or Metrocards, they don't make change. They sit and read magazines until someone bothers them with a question, and then they roll their eyes at you for bothering them. I'm not too worried about reducing station staff. They do nothing.
I forgot, it's door to door service to be used for anything. disabled people use it to get to work, etc.
"How is it that HS-educated employees have more job security than most of the college-educated folks in the City facing at-will employment?"
Cause a college education doesn't necessarily make you smart. Most college-educated folks think they're too good for a union.
r1b2- absolutely right. i witnessed a typical scene on monday when someone came to the booth to buy a metrocard. the mta dude, visibly pissed, was pointing them to the machines on the left since the ones on the right were not accepting bills and the guy had a $20 bill in his hand. well surprise, suprise, the ones on the left were no longer accepting bills (which the customer obviously had figured out previously). the mta dude proceeded to again refer the customer to the machines on the left before informing them finally that he could do nothing.....and why does he have a job again?
FUCK THE MTA
@#10: To support his nosepicking hobby?
Two things. 1, how amazing it is that Sander got faster security detail on that shoe-thrower than the president did.
2, imagine having to call your spouse from jail to say, "honey, I got so mad my MetroCard might go up .50 cents, that I tried to assault a public figure and got arrested. Can you come bail me out?" His $23 monthly unlimited raise just went up to $3000 in lawyers fees to get him probation. Nice work.
Honestly, who throws a shoe? --Austin Powers