Comments on: Rally for Transit Rescue Today at Union Square

By: Glenn McAnanama

Glenn McAnanama — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:09:36 +0000

It was nice seeing everyone tonight. I helped about 40 folks call their state senator. Nice event – TA, Straphangers, Tri-State, etc. Thanks to everyone for turning out!

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:51:26 +0000

Remember what Generation Greed wants — long term decline not short term sacrifice followed by an eventual recovery.

And there will be organized groups there that extracted extra money in the past that, as dollars move around behind the curtain, ended up as MTA debt.

If asked, I recommend saying that younger generations of residents, who are increasingly choosing transit, should not be forced to sacrifice even more to pay those debts — while drivers, bondholders and those with retirement income get off scot free.

By: Brad Aaron

Brad Aaron — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:39:59 +0000

Great point, rlb. I’d much rather see a Facebook group called “1,000,000 People for a Fully Funded MTA,” or something along those lines.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:25:36 +0000

I agree rlb, but that’s why we need folks like you and others reading S-blog to turn out for this one – to show that this is not just about the MTA, but a broken legislature that is not representing the majority of transit users and instead pandering to the driving minority that they seem to empathize with more.

By: rlb

rlb — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:55:06 +0000

My personal opinion is that couching this as a protest against the fare hikes is really not the right approach. The MTA has a bottom line, and they have few ways to meet it. If they don’t have the money they have to raise fares or lower operating costs. This protest could just come across as more ganging up on the MTA, a company that offers the best transit service in the country at among the lowest prices.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:22:01 +0000

See y’all there.

As much as possible when chanting or talking with the media, please say that you are FOR bridge tolls, FOR the Ravitch/Silver plan, or FOR market rate parking meters, etc.

My simple line is that anyone driving into and out of Manhattan should have to pay at least the cost of a roundtrip on mass transit. That’s only fair. At least parity. Same for any exemptions – like going to a MDs office or something. If you give it to drivers, you should give it to mass transit riders.