Are Disgruntled MTA Workers Vandalizing Buses?

The Casey Stengel Bus Depot (wallyg on Flickr)

Over two dozen city buses were vandalized over the past few weeks, and officials believe the work was done by disgruntled current or former employees. Between September 27th and October 4th, vandals filled 29 bus fareboxes with construction foam, which expands and solidifies. Haha, why didn't we think of that? Oh right, because it'll cost the MTA $185,000 to fix and probably give them another excuse to hike fares again.

NYC Transit spokesman Charles Seaton told the Daily News, "This senseless vandalism victimizes both NYC Transit, who must use scarce funding to make repairs, and our customers who can't ride that bus while repairs are being made." A batch of vandalized trains were first found at the Casey Stengel depot near Citi Field. The next monday, 12 more were found in the same condition at LaGuardia depot in East Elmhurst. One source said, "We believe it's inside people doing this."

The Transport Workers Union Local 100 is denying any involvement. Spokesman Jim Gannon said, "Our people wouldn't do this stuff. They know it's a terminable offense, and I'm sure there's a lot of disgruntled riders out there who are upset having the fare hiked." Of course, blame the "disgruntled riders!" They're the ones who want to make the buses run slower!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jaya Saxena in News on October 12, 2010 11:58 AM

Comments [rss]

John L

Who do we believe?

The MTA is always blaming the workers.

The TWU is always defending the workers.

I personally think that outsiders are going into the bus yards and vandalizing them but if they admit this they would probably have to explain why there's minimal security and no cameras and how unsafe our buses really are, so they naturally blame it on their evil workers.

Also this is further proof that we can spend trillions on security and all it takes is for some nut with a duffel bag full timed explosives to wreak havoc on the city.

ilovejapgirls

i say it's more like disgruntled Mets fans

HypocraticOath

What about all the times I get in a crosstown bus in Manhattan and it smells like piss b/c the drivers like to urinate in the rear stairwell?

Fuck these MTA workers.

hotstepper

soooo, are they saying there are no cameras where the MTA stores our buses? good news for our resident bus thieves!

boogpowell

Doesnt the MTA have insurance for damages to their buses. This should all be covered by insurance minus the deductible. So mayb it costs the MTA $20k. There is no way this should cost $185k per bus.

Also, isnt there some kind of safeguard for things like this. Like the bus driver inspects his bus upon leaving it for the night. Then another person working in the bus yard inspects it in the morning before it goes out. So that way if something is messed up they can see the last person who was involved with the bus. If it was in fact vandals then a video camera at the bus depot should have it on tape. Does MTA really not have somethign like this in place and just lets its buses go unaccounted for?

youngpro

"The Transport Workers Union Local 100 is denying any involvement."

of course, of course! one mouthpiece speaks for the tens of THOUSANDS of workers.