The MTA is meeting today to discuss its $1.2 billion budget gap. While the agency refuses to comment on any specific measures until next month, big fare hikes and service cuts are expected. Today, the Daily News reports that the M8 bus, which travels across the East Village and West Village is eliminated, according to a budget proposal, as well as some express bus routes (the QM22, X25, and X32). One thing that could help the MTA is state intervention, but the state has its own budget crisis. And while some City Council members want to bring back the commuter tax-- Michael Nelson said, "In Brooklynese, basically, we was robbed about nine years ago" (the tax was repealed in 1999)--naturally suburban legislators hate the idea. more ›

Shelly Silver doesn't think the commuter tax (repealed back in 1999) sucks! The Assembly Speaker, who opposed congestion pricing, said he was open to revisiting the tax, given the state of the economy. But, the Daily News reports, "Silver said he wants the GOP-controlled Senate take the lead in resurrecting the commuter tax," which seems unlikely, since Senate Majority Dean Skelos's spokesman said, "The NYC commuter tax was a particularly onerous and unfair tax." (The Sun explains it's a "tax of 45/100ths of 1% on the earned income of people who work in the city but commute from elsewhere.") As for other pols, Senate minority leader Malcolm Smith doesn't like it, Governor Paterson hates it and Mayor Bloombers really hearts it, "I've been screaming about commuter taxes for as long as I've been here." more ›