Any word on where any BRTs are proposed?

Larry, maybe go back to your daily rant about the generational ponzi scheme that constitutes our government, as if that is somehow something new in our history.

"JOEL STASHENKO, Associated Press Writer
AP Online 06-15-2000
Nassau Bailout Package OK'd

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- The state Legislature has voted to bail out one of the wealthiest counties in America, approving a measure expected to be signed by Gov. George Pataki.

The Nassau County aid package is designed to get the Long Island county out from under a shortfall of more than $100 million that is projected to grow to more than $300 million by 2003.

The county counts some of the wealthiest residents in New York among the 1.3 million people in its boundaries just east of New York City. Its median annual income of $58,155 is among the highest in the nation."

This is the reason Suozzi is the County Executive -- the Republican machine that made the mess was kicked out.

Nassau County still provides a subsidy towards Long Island Bus. In September they issued their proposed 2009 budget. The contribution towards Long Island Bus was scheduled to be $10.5M. If they end up giving that amount, it would mark the 5th straight year the subsidy was $10.5M. I find it pathetic how the amount hasn't increased even though ridership is up in the same time period.

Kate: Nassua County stopped contributing Long Island Bus years ago, in the last budget crisis. At that time some suburuban counties, notably Rockland, started getting rebates on their portion of the MTA taxes to use on roads, with MTA taxes collected in NYC used to make up the difference.

The Bee-Line is not a part of the MTA network, and is a cost of Westchester. Westchester County executives have long decried the inequity, insisting on a deal like Nassau County gets. Not what NYC gets.

In 1968, the MTA took over both the NYC Transit system, with its deficits, and the Triboro Bridge and Tunnel Authority, with its surpluses. The deal had 2/3 of the TBTA surplus going to NYC transit service in the short run, but was structured in such a way that (due to inflation) it would eventually fall to 50%. Even though 50% is the floor according to the agreement of 1968, the city's share has still fallen below that in some years.

Etc, etc, etc.

"I would also argue that there is a serious equity issue in play here."

The equity issue, from the point of view of those outside the city, is that the relative taxes city residents pay, and what they get for them, do not fully reflect the relative value of different people. A worse deal is better than we deserve as a result.

And there is no reason why bus riders in Nassau and Westchester should see inferior service, especially when many of them are actually from people from Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx heading to jobs.

I would also argue that there is a serious equity issue in play here.

That's only potential. The reality is that NYC would be drained to an even greater extent to fund the bus lines in the suburbs, where the share of operating revenues captured by the fare is much lower. And when the time comes to slash bus service because there isn't enough money, those suburbs will gang up on NYC and ensure the cuts are made here.

Those of us with long and bitter experience understand what "regional thinking" really means.