Desperate Albany Senate Says Any MTA Bailout Bill Will Do

Courtesy Michael Brandon's Flickr.

Yesterday the MTA revealed that its finances are in even worse shape than originally believed, with declining property tax revenue resulting in an additional $621 million budget gap—even after planned fare and toll increases of up to 30% and service cuts go into effect. With those dreaded changes just weeks away, the authority is still hoping the state will pass some sort of bailout package to help avoid the worst of the cuts. Sadly, the MTA's hopes rest on the Albany legislature, where hopes go to die.

Or do they? Malcolm Smith says that at this point, he'll support just about any bailout plan scrawled on a napkin—as long as it can get the minimum 32 votes needed to pass in the Senate. By the way, if you needed to Google "Malcolm Smith" after reading that sentence, you're not alone—only one out of 29 New Yorkers approached by Clybe Haberman on the Upper West Side know who Smith is, either. Speaking to reporters yesterday after a closed-door meeting with Governor Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver about the bailout, the anonymous Senate majority leader said, "It’s not about merit. It’s just about what gets us there with the votes that we need to get it passed."

Smith favors a bailout bill that would raise money with a $1 taxi surcharge, a payroll tax and an automobile tax, while Paterson and Silver both favor rescue plans that would use a combination of new bridge tolls and payroll taxes. But none of the proposals are likely to get the 32 votes in the Senate, because at least four Democrats oppose the payroll taxes, and no Republicans are ready to support the Senate Democrats’ plans. Still, Democratic leaders say they hope (aw, there's that word again!) to hold a vote on Wednesday.

Explaining his opposition to the taxi tax, Paterson told the Post, "The dollar on the taxis, I think, is too much for the taxi drivers. The number of people taking taxis has dwindled. It's very poor for the industry." But didn't the TLC recently trumpet an increase in taxi ridership? According to the Times, Paterson added, "I’m somewhat just offended by that at this point, because as professionals we’ve got to resolve this." And Silver seemed equally willing to support any bill that could get the magic 32 votes, saying, "Does it get some of those Republicans who are now standing on the politics of it to put up or shut up? If it does that, that’s fine."

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By John Del Signore in News on April 28, 2009 9:05 AM

Comments [rss]

Steven

As I said before it's up to the public to stand against Albany and the MTA. Politicians don't give a jack shit about the public. They only care about me, myself and I.

Son of Spam

"It’s not about merit. It’s just about what gets us there with the votes that we need to get it passed."

Unbelievable. I'm not sure what's more appalling, the statement itself, or the fact that he knows he can say something like that and not get called to task for it.

hotstepper

better idea:

give the MTA a dirty overcoat and a cup for some loose change.

WesleySnipesAlot

Hey, wouldn't it be great if the MTA could find a way to run their business on profits instead of magical investments in the world of make believe? then maybe we wouldn't be in this mess!

colonelcasey

This bailout "plan" doesn't even take into account the ever growing deficit for the 2010 year. It's just going to prolong the inevitable to the end of the year when we should see another large fare hike coming down the hill.

Think2wice

What is the Straphanger's Campaign and the Mayor's Office actually doing about all of this. From those two camps I've heard lip service and then nothing but jack shit afterwords.

Brooklynbobby

Both Albany and the MTA have their heads up their asses. It will never change.

Splicer

None of these people care one bit about the millions of people screwed by them and the MTA. I didn't tell the MTA to make shitty investments or to be incompetent -- that's on them. I think a bailout should be forthcoming if and only if the entire MTA board is fired and replaced by competent people. If they screw up, too, then fire them as well until you get people who are not fuck-ups.

And no severance either. People who stink at their jobs don't get severance.

Trilby16

That's a very good point! The present MTA management have already proved they do a spectacularly crappy job of handling money. No reason to throw the same bozos more money to lose and mismanage. Any bailout should require new managers.

Son of Spam

Can it really be described as a "bailout" if the people they're from whom they're asking for the money are the ones that failed to provide them with a stable revenue source in the first place?

endoubleu

And no severance either. People who stink at their jobs don't get severance.

The MTA board doesn't get paid. They're appointed volunteers.