Spitzer blows it again
Even when Eliot Spitzer wins, he still loses -- or rather, we lose.
Sure, he saved the $2.00 fare -- for now. But who cares? Only one out of every seven riders actually pays that -- and most of them are tourists (the rest are the poor, and I'll get to that problem below). Almost all of the rest of us either buy "multitrip" card (those "six-for-five" $10 cards) or buy weekly or monthly cards. And guess what? Those fares are going up!
When the monthly card was introduced, it was $63; now it's going to $81 -- a 28% increase while the "base rate" hasn't risen at all.
What's worse, many people have practically begged the MTA to hold off on fare increases until the next budget is passed, figuring they could put the heat on to get more state funding. Now that the MTA is going ahead, there's little chance of accomplishing that goal.
In short, Governor Spitzer played a quick song for the cameras, but failed to consider how most NY'ers are truly affected. Perhaps he suffers from "rich man's syndrome," or perhaps he was too desperate for anything he could call a "victory." I don't know, and I don't care -- I just wish someone would teach this guy how to get the right things done.
About the poor? There are several alternatives; I've just though of one off the top of my head. It's a special Metrocard for eligible recipients that they can put $2.00 on at a time, but that also gives them the same, or larger, bonuses that the "multitrip" card buyers get. We already provide half-price cards for senior citizens; this is just an extension of that program.
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Eliot Spitzer | MTA | Transportation
other cities have done this to good effect
Submitted by Steve Perez on 12 December 2007 - 12:57pm.
I'd be interested in seeing more about free mass transit.
The problem with free fares
Submitted by Dan Jacoby on 12 December 2007 - 4:03pm.
They have free mass transit in Seattle, and the result is that you can hardly ride the bus in town, because of the huge numbers of homeless people who crowd the buses and (literally) stink up the joint.
I'm surprised that the bus drivers' union hasn't made a stink about it. Or perhaps they have; further research is continuing.
Does the use of buses by the homeless
Submitted by Daniel Millstone on 15 December 2007 - 8:32am.
weigh against free transit or in favor of developing housing? You may have noticed homeless people on subways and buses in NYC and in our public libraries, too.
People without homes also lack bathing and laundry facilities, so they stink more than those of us who can wash in comfort more frequently.
Homeless on the bus
Submitted by Dan Jacoby on 15 December 2007 - 10:02am.
Actually, the fact of our significant homeless population screams out for our approach to change. Right now, we have, at best, a patchwork of "programs" and "shelters" that is incoherent, unorganized, expensive, and ultimately ineffective.
Perhaps making mass transit free, and bringing the plight of homeless people into everyone's daily lives, will inspire the necessary changes in how we help them. If so, then I'm all for it. Unfortunately, the cyincal part of me says it won't happen.
Perhaps No Fare Would Be Fairest Of All
Although not due for release until the spring of 2008, let me suggest (while we are imagining,dreaming) the proposal being fine-tuned by labor arbitrator-mass transit advocate Theodore Kheel: Free mass transit paid for by realigning other taxes, fees and tolls. Save on the costs of collection and make mass transit significantly more attractive. Employers/Employees get lower cost commutes. Shoppers and stores get increased access. Check out this Kheel round up from the Observer .
As to Mr. Spitzer, I have some hopes for his recovery. He is a significant improvement over Mr. Pataki on dozens of issues. The progressive political movement which may be able to help him focus still has room for great growth.