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So much for the State Legislature moving forward on a plan to introduce $2 tolls on currently free East River and Harlem River bridges—opposition from State Senators (from even within his own Democratic party as well as other Democratic state and city officials) has forced State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith's hand into delaying any sort of decision by demanding an audit of the MTA's finances. Wait, there was no audit of the MTA's finances before a deal would be made?
The Post explains that Smith "[faced] a rebellion from outer-borough Democrats and rock-solid opposition from Republicans," so he asked for the audit "before he would agree to any plan to plug its projected $1.2 billion budget gap with new tolls and a regional payroll tax." And the Daily News points out Smith referred to the MTA's bad accounting past, saying the agency "does not have a history of being forthright in terms of their budget. You know, they kept two books at a time." Burn!
Still, there's worry about what will happen to the financially embattled MTA. The Straphangers' Campaign's Gene Russianoff was disappointed by Smith's change of mind: "It contradicts where he was last week when he talked about taking decisive action. Maybe the MTA can do more in terms of saving and restructuring finances, but they're in a dire need and riders are looking at a fare hike. I don't think that's debatable."
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Yes they should do an audit but the tolls should be implemented. these drivers are polluting our environment and should be penalized. Patterson want to tax itunes but not the drivers? at least 3 to 4 dollars tolls. if they can afford to drive to work then they can afford a toll.
Audits all around in this economy.
Seriously? This is the best idea I have heard all along. Someone needs to bring the finances of the MTA to the light of day.
the audit should have been done years ago but always our corrupted politicians and now in their campaign speak shouting for MTA to open books. pathetic
I believe the MTA has a lot of debt—that's what happens when you buy huge amounts of debt for big capital projects. But I'm a little surprised that there wasn't an audit before all of this.
I think you mean that the MTA has issued huge amounts of debt.
About fucking time they looked into this inept agency's finances.
An audit is welcomed and long overdue, but bringing it up now is a diversionary tactic.
yes these same politicians who mismanaged and drop the ball is now part of the MTA public forums shouting at MTA to open their books. Oliver Koppell, James Vacca, Jackson, etc are a bunch of campaign speakers who vote much differently then than speak to the public. these same council members who gave themselves a 25% pay hike for a part time job that pays over 110k were shouting for the MTA board to take a pay cut. what was sad was the stupid crowd eating up all the council members bull.
If they don't pass the budget, New Yorkers really need to riot in the streets. People should be way more pissed off about the ineptitude of these so-called leaders.
These proposed tolls, including the Verrazano bridge toll, divides the city in a way contrary to the belief this city is one city. Before city and state officials put tolls on the bridges, they should think about the long term implications of dividing a city by toll. Lets remove the toll from the Verazano, make the city one zone, and regulate cars and trucks in totality, accordingly.
And as for the argument that cars are similar to trains; automobiles are part of the American psyche, and fundamental to the power of the middle class. They are the middle class's power of freedom of movement and travel that puts them on par with the capacity of the very rich and powerful. It make us (middle class of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx ) free in the city we love. Further, to attempt to deny free access to OUR city's 'center,' Manhattan, is a denial of our moral and Constitutional right to freedom of travel. To give this freedom up is to give up an important power, a power the city's middle class has cherished since the automobile was invented in America. Forgetaboutit.
feel free by polluting our environment. If they want to feel free then what about cycling or running. Running makes me feel free. I think they are lazy. plop their butts in their car and drive to their office door and plop their butts again and driver back home to plop their butts.
Yes, because everyone is just like you.
Except not severely mentally handicapped.
Right on Valerie! Also, if they can afford car payments, insurance, gas and Manhattan parking, they can shell out two to three bucks for a toll. Lazy, whining bastards!!!
The modern automobile was invented in Germany by Karl Benz, no matter what Obama says.
I can't imagine how many free city-issued parking permits are floating around and how nice it must be to cruise into the city for free and to park wherever, for free. And for those who pay to park or use the street, there is no moral, God-given or constitutional right to drive a car, whatever your class, nor to take up space and resources by driving into the densest part of the country. That is ridiculous. Jump on the train like the rest of us. Or pay a modest fee for the burden you're placing on the city, its residents, and the environment for your visit. The rest of us do.
You're living in the past.
Nobody wants to audit the MTA because its chock full of patronage hires and cronies getting outrageous sums for work they're marginally qualified for. I'll bet my bottom dollar the amount of waste and corruption is staggering.
The MTA's incredible financial chicanery has yet to be fully examined? Even as they came before the public with cries of poverty and asking for billions just to stabilize their operations? Um, yeah, audit the hell out of them. We've already learned about their dealings with other transit systems in the capital markets and how they lost millions. All the "patronage and corruption" in their history probably doesn't add up to a bad month in the capital markets...but you can bet there was plenty of that too.
" And the Daily News points out Smith referred to the MTA's bad accounting past, saying the agency "does not have a history of being forthright in terms of their budget. You know, they kept two books at a time." Burn!"
And that is why the books need to be reviewed. The day when we take the MTA (or any other state agency for that matter) at its word need to be over. I don't want to give any more money to the anonymous men at the MTA without the facts and a fight.
I'll pick up "The Power Broker" tonight to refresh my recollection on why the MTA was set up in the first place.