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The bad news from the MTA doesn't stop: This time, MTA officials say that lower tax revenues—an "alarming sharp decline" as the NY Times puts it—may mean the MTA has to consider cutting service and raising fares again.
According to revised state documents, the MTA will be getting $200 million less in 2009 than previously expected. The MTA has already instituted "doomsday" fare hikes and service cuts, because the State Senate is still stalling on any plans to help bailout the agency. MTA chief financial officer Gary Dellaverson told the Times the new tax revenue projections "suggests is that the M.T.A. will have to take additional actions in order to balance the budget,” which he "said that could include deeper service cuts or a second fare increase before the year is out, but he refused to give details of what was being considered."
Sources tell the Post that Governor Paterson is trying to tempt Republican Senators with pork barrel projects, "He's going to try to pick off a few of the Republicans to see if he could put them together with other Democrats in order to pass an MTA plan."
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awesome!
just promise me one thing - please don't let go of any of your hard working staff. and do not cut salaries, pensions, or benefits at all. not one dime. that is simply unegotiable.
This is going to backfire on these state legislators that keep playing games when it comes to the MTA. They think everyone will blame the MTA, but instead, public anger is going to be directed at the legislators who keep perpetuating this mess.
i would like to think you are correct, but try reading the comments at nypost or nydailynews, they always blame the mta
But is blaming the legislators really the right way to go? It's like dousing your house in gasoline, lighting a match, and blaming the fire department for not saving your house. The MTA has been headed down this road a long time and bailing them out now would just delay - not avoid - the inevitable.
What is needed from Albany (and you may have been alluding to this point instead of a temporary save) is a long-term plan that reels in out-of-control costs (such as pensions) and finds a way to consistently raise revenue (like a small toll on the East River bridges).
Looks like everyone is kicking themselves over not doing congestion pricing (again, a legislative failure, but not a stop-gap measure that people are up in arms over).
This time around I blame the State Legislature, and State Government, full stop. The assholes failed to pass congestion pricing, then failed to implement tolls on the east river bridges, and then you go all the way back to Pataki substantially choking off funding for the MTA way back when.
Is it just me or does NY state have the most useless government in the history of all governments?
useless and corrupt beyond words.
both dems and reps
It's not just you:
http://tinyurl.com/dmnfa2
Read and prepare to RAAGGGGGEEEEEEEE
yowsa! that's sad reading.
Keep raising taxes and watch more tax paying people and business' flee! Meanwhile the fools who call for those evil "rich" workers (who get scorn for making as little as $200,000k/Yr) to pay more will be stuck footing the bill.
Let's face it, $3 fares are coming. In fact, the days of a 24-hour subway system may be numbered.
i'd pay $3, heck i'd pay $5
if the money was properly managed and the state & businesses kicked in their share.
and if union contracts were drastically redone
and 18-20 hour per day operating hours may not be such a bad thing
i'd pay $3, heck i'd pay $5
Please don't comment on issues that really don't impact you in any insignificant way.
please learn to read, comprehend, and write in English
thank you
please learn to read, comprehend, and write in English
thank you
Says the genius who doesn't know how to capitalize sentences OR use punctuation.
P.S.-- Nothing funnier than someone who was being obtuse in his post accusing someone else of lacking comprehension. Who knows what the hell you were saying in your previous post? Were you being serious or were you being snarky? Hard to tell when a person expresses himself with all the sophistication of a tween who just discovered texting.
The practice of "picking off" some of the opposing party with "pork" is part of the problem!
I only hope that the Democratic Party supports some decent candidates to replace the assholes that are holding the senate hostage. That's right, I'm talking to you Espada.
Oh too bad they are still not doing their jobs,unable to manage budgets and will crush NYC as a whole.
Oh and letting women get raped...
http://www.spielster.com/2009/04/14/feminism-revolt-how-can-nyc-and-the-mta-allow-this-to-happen/
Is there a way the MTA could be snapped in to a "Good" MTA and a "Bad" MTA, as is about to happen to GM? The Good one would just be the operating agency, keeping the status quo, funded by a guaranteed fixed slice of Ye Olde Budgete, and would be untouched by either legislative horseshit or real estate bubbling.
Then the "Baddie" would be the one dealing in service expansions, big capital projects like 2nd Ave and 7 extension. That would be nice to have funding for, but if it's going to be basically funding by lottery, I'd rather have those things halted than current service.
And then we just need to figure out how pay MTA employees based on merit, not seniority, and everything will be fine! I'll just sprinkle this magic pixie dust over here and problem solved!
This city is dying.
I hate this place. Too bad there aren't any jobs elsewhere or I'd move in a heartbeat. I won't be able to afford to get to work as it is, now they want to make it worse. I can't believe this.
Can we get together and start documenting when MTA employees are wasting money?
(slacking off, hitting on women, taking a nap, reading a paper)
enabling rape, etc, etc
i'm surprised that this hasn't already been setup as a photo/video blog
There's an ad on the subway (funny enough) that lists a website for reporting exactly this! Can't remember the site now...anyone?
I saw this on the N last night going home. I secretly chuckled thinking of the heaps of sarcasm gothamist commentators would pile upon it.
From what I remember, you get a choice of phone number or mailing address, but no email or website.
http://mtaig.state.ny.us/ !!
this is the most ridiculous thing i've heard to date. with all the lazy ass mta workers i see sitting around on their fat asses doing nothing while i'm waiting for a train that's overcrowded, late, slow to get to a job i'm hanging on to and praying i don't get laid off while these fat ass union pigs are sitting around with their red & orange vests chewing the fat with each other just taking up precious platform space.....well i've just had it. and not to mention, the mta needs to fire the jack ass financial analysts that blew their forecasts that are going to result in the $2.50 fare. the ink is not even dry on this abortion and they are saying they need more...........pleeze.
I'm not defending the unions, but please, tell me how you're going to get the MTA and the State to stop the stranglehold the unions have on this agency. The MTA has no mite, and Albany has no backbone.
corruption. I see a Federal investigation in my sights.
I for one look forward to these new raises! Nothing will be more fun this summer than watching our already overtaxed prison system crammed with an influx of turnstile jumpers and bus fare beaters.
And let's not forget how cool it'll be to see a spike in fatal accidents as dumb newbs who've never ridden a bike before in heavy traffic or bothered taking a safety course start taking to the streets in order to "save money."
And what about watching the middle class pack up and leave-- just like in the 70s?
These new fare hikes are gonna be the bestest thing ever!
This is what happens when you let people who are 120 miles away work on your budget. Albany has no stake whatsoever on the MTA. They don't have to care because NYC residents don't have the power to vote most of them out. Meanwhile, most of the people upstate are happy that all the whores, bums and other riffraff in Sodom on the Hudson get screwed and will be happy to reelect their state senators.
Wish I weren't too chicken to commute by bike in this town.