Comments on: State Sen. Velmanette Montgomery Sides With Fare Hike Four

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:08:51 +0000

I would volunteer time, money, and zesty vigor to campaign for a strong (transit loving) contender.
Let’s do it!
When is she up for re-election?

By: David_K

David_K — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:36:53 +0000

Cap’n Transit: Good point. I should have said that James is less than ideal, but that she’d probably vote to toll the bridges.

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:54:40 +0000

You mean forward-thinking as in the only way to get fresh, affordable food for people in the projects is to bulldoze historic buildings for a 400-car parking lot?

By: David_K

David_K — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:27:59 +0000

What about recruiting City Council Member Tish James? She supported congestion pricing, and seems way more forward-thinking than Montgomery.

By: Clarence Eckerson Jr.

Clarence Eckerson Jr. — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:48:25 +0000

Oh I am not running. No way! I don’t want to become one of those people in Albany. That would kill my spirit. But if someone halfway decent wants to….

By: Ian Turner

Ian Turner — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:42:15 +0000

Clarence, not to diminish your enthusiasm for a project that is ultimately necessary for Albany reform, but I would encourage you to ask about Larry Littlefield’s experience running for legislative office before you embark on your own expedition.

By: joe

joe — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:37:25 +0000

FYI — This doesn’t necessarily mean she’s against the Ravitch plan or would vote against it if it came to a vote.

By: vnm

vnm — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:27:20 +0000

If the New York State Senate believes that a forensic audit is needed, why did it wait until now to call for one? Are these people only capable of noticing that the roof leaks when it rains?

Jeffrey, good point. Albany acts only when it has a gun to its head. In this case, the MTA loaded up its revolver last July when it released it’s Doomsday Budget with fare hikes and service cuts. It aimed at Albany’s head in November in releasing an updated (and gloomier) version of the budget. It cocked the safety in December when they approved the budget. And they actually pulled the trigger last week. There is now a bullet flying through the air. Albany still has a chance to dodge the bullet, but why in the hell did they let it get this far?

By: Shemp

Shemp — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:05:55 +0000

Go for it Clarence!

By: Clarence

Clarence — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:06:47 +0000

Who wants to run? Let’s find someone. I mean this issue alone could be a winner, when your elected official doesn’t understand an issue that is going to hurt 80% of those in your district, especially the poor, and you are defending the right to car drivers to get off scott free?! It is truly incredible.

By: Ian Turner

Ian Turner — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:03:43 +0000

It’s easy to get 96% of the vote when there are no other candidates on the ballot.

By: Car Free Nation

Car Free Nation — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:45:47 +0000

Clarence is right. Most people in the district either have no opinion or think poorly of her. But if you run as the only democrat in our district, you’ll typically win 90+% of the vote. I’d imagine that all the votes against her were write-ins.

By: Clarence Eckerson Jr.

Clarence Eckerson Jr. — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:58:16 +0000

It is amazing she is re-elected with so high numbers. Just about everyone I know in my district doesn’t think mega highly of her – or worse yet – doesn’t even know who she is (sad, sad voters). I’ve lived in her district for my entire NYC-life – 18 years and have only seen her turn up at two public events/rallies for bike/ped causes.

She’s ripe to have a Martin Connor-situation happen with the right candidate.

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:51:43 +0000

“If the New York State Senate believes that a forensic audit is needed, why did it wait until now to call for one?”

I had hoped that the Ravitch Report would be such an audit, and pin the blame for the past problem as a way of setting the stage for whatever sacrifices were required. But to do so would involve pointing a finger of blame right at the legislature and interests it carries water for.

By “working with” the legislature Ravitch avoided talking about the past.

They want a forensic audit? The executive summary is right here:

http://www.r8ny.com/blog/larry_littlefield/the_mta_and_the_past.html

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:48:07 +0000

“The TWU only speaks up during good times, when there is a ‘surplus’.”

The same may be said for the advocates of lower fares. Where’s the chicken suit? Just about everyone cashed in at the MTA, yet everyone is acting as if the problem started a year ago and can be “solved.”

Advocates for the transit system AS IT WILL BE IN 20 YEARS are few and far between.

By: fdr

fdr — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:39:15 +0000

Montgomery was re-elected with “more than 96 percent of the votes”? She’s got nothing to worry about. Maybe next time it will only be 90.

By: Jeffrey Hymen

Jeffrey Hymen — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:12:37 +0000

If the New York State Senate believes that a forensic audit is needed, why did it wait until now to call for one? Are these people only capable of noticing that the roof leaks when it rains?

By: Ian Turner

Ian Turner — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:10:01 +0000

Glenn, they’re sitting there cashing those checks. For the TWU to speak up now would only draw attention to the fact that MTA employees get a great deal compared to everyone else. The TWU only speaks up during good times, when there is a “surplus”.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:53:21 +0000

Speaking of the TWU, Where have they been in all this?

TWU, where are you?

Surely finding new and sustainable sources of transit funding is in their long term interest.

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:56:36 +0000

“The Senate Majority plan provides the MTA with more operating capital than the Ravitch plan.”

More money for today.

“It provides for the ongoing future fiscal health of the MTA by requiring a thorough forensic audit.”

If they can find $3 billion a year in hidden money without requiring any sacrifices from the TWU, they can use that money to fund capital spending. Otherwise, let the system collapse. It will happen gradually enough that those in power now will not be blamed or affected.

“Everybody wins.” In Generation Greed.