Comments on: Transit Takes Another Hit: $104 Million More in MTA Cuts on the Table http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/01/19/transit-takes-another-hit-104-million-more-in-mta-cuts-on-the-table/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Niccolo Machiavelli http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/01/19/transit-takes-another-hit-104-million-more-in-mta-cuts-on-the-table/comment-page-1/#comment-189061 Niccolo Machiavelli Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:12:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=132101#comment-189061 Ian, Not to be too much of a nudge on little things like facts but, Albany doesn't appoint a majority of the MTA Board. The Governor has some appointees, but no where near a majority. And, this Governor has only appointed one guy. Traditionally, when a Governor leaves offices his members resign, but that didn't happen when Pataki left office and you still have to live with his legacy on the Board, but again, no where near a majority. The Mayor has four appointees who all vote the same, that is the most dense center of political gravity on the Board. I think you would find the actual distribution of power on the MTA Board much more interesting than the straw-man version. Ian,
Not to be too much of a nudge on little things like facts but, Albany doesn’t appoint a majority of the MTA Board. The Governor has some appointees, but no where near a majority. And, this Governor has only appointed one guy. Traditionally, when a Governor leaves offices his members resign, but that didn’t happen when Pataki left office and you still have to live with his legacy on the Board, but again, no where near a majority. The Mayor has four appointees who all vote the same, that is the most dense center of political gravity on the Board.

I think you would find the actual distribution of power on the MTA Board much more interesting than the straw-man version.

]]> By: Cap'n Transit http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/01/19/transit-takes-another-hit-104-million-more-in-mta-cuts-on-the-table/comment-page-1/#comment-188391 Cap'n Transit Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:27:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=132101#comment-188391 As long as the State persists in spending taxpayer money to <a href="http://capntransit.blogspot.com/2009/12/no-widening-without-tolls.html" rel="nofollow">maintain and expand highways and bridges without charging to use them</a>, it will need to spend taxpayer money to maintain and expand transit. As long as the State persists in spending taxpayer money to maintain and expand highways and bridges without charging to use them, it will need to spend taxpayer money to maintain and expand transit.

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/01/19/transit-takes-another-hit-104-million-more-in-mta-cuts-on-the-table/comment-page-1/#comment-188381 Larry Littlefield Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:58:02 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=132101#comment-188381 Worst case scenario. Bridge tolls are enacted, but do not make a dent in the financial disaster. Service cuts and fare increases continue and deferred maintenance accelerate. All the money goes to debts and pensions -- rich people who have tax exempt bonds, politically powerful public employee union retirees who have tax exempt pensions. The evildoers, who ran up all the debts that led to this mess, say "I told you so" and blame the "unaccountable MTA." Worst case scenario.

Bridge tolls are enacted, but do not make a dent in the financial disaster.

Service cuts and fare increases continue and deferred maintenance accelerate. All the money goes to debts and pensions — rich people who have tax exempt bonds, politically powerful public employee union retirees who have tax exempt pensions.

The evildoers, who ran up all the debts that led to this mess, say “I told you so” and blame the “unaccountable MTA.”

]]> By: Ian Turner http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/01/19/transit-takes-another-hit-104-million-more-in-mta-cuts-on-the-table/comment-page-1/#comment-188371 Ian Turner Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:24:02 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=132101#comment-188371 Glenn, since the MTA board is appointed by Albany, it seems highly unlikely that they would deliberately and publicly antagonize Albany. All that would get you is a new board of directors. Glenn, since the MTA board is appointed by Albany, it seems highly unlikely that they would deliberately and publicly antagonize Albany. All that would get you is a new board of directors.

]]> By: Glenn McAnanama http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/01/19/transit-takes-another-hit-104-million-more-in-mta-cuts-on-the-table/comment-page-1/#comment-188331 Glenn McAnanama Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:29:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=132101#comment-188331 At what point does the MTA produce a graph for the front page of their website and plastered ads on on subways and buses that shows the decline in City and State Support or the level of overall funding provided by the farebox compared to other cities? I think now would be a good time At what point does the MTA produce a graph for the front page of their website and plastered ads on on subways and buses that shows the decline in City and State Support or the level of overall funding provided by the farebox compared to other cities? I think now would be a good time

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