Results tagged “ravitchplan”

With a May 1st deadline for Albany to get done in order to save commuters from the entire wrath of proposed MTA fare hikes and service cuts, Governor Paterson is continuing his aggressive push for legislators to take action. Yesterday he spoke in support of former MTA Commissioner Richard Ravitch and his rescue plan. Paterson said, “He brought back a plan that won the approval of every reasonable point of view from different sides. Except in Albany. It’s a different planet. As we like to point out, there is no gravity.”

After Malcolm Smith came forward yesterday with his highly anticipated version of a rescue plan, the Senate Leader turned around today and found just about no one standing behind him—not Governor Paterson, not Assembly Leader Silver and certainly not anyone from the New York newspapers.

Various reports say that State Senate Democrats are dropping the plan to toll East River and Harlem River bridge crossings, which has split their party. The Daily News reports that they "are expected to unveil a watered-down MTA bailout that would keep the city's bridges free but leave less money for transit, sources said Monday night." The NY Times calls the new proposal a "short-term alternative" that still leaves unanswered questions for the MTA.