Photo Courtesy of the Office of the Governor
Gov. Kathy Hochul
By Michael V. Cusenza
The Working Families Party, Democratic Socialists of America, Riders Alliance, other advocates and State legislators penned a letter on Friday to Gov. Kathy Hochul urging her to secure the future of New York’s public transit system, threatened with fiscal collapse by the COVID-19 pandemic, in the State budget due March 31.
The pandemic created the worst-ever crisis at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and New York’s congressional delegation secured nearly $15 billion to keep buses and trains running. But federal aid is running out, leaving a multibillion dollar budget deficit. Fare hikes are on the table for 2022. Deep service cuts will follow without new revenue, the progressives said. Meanwhile, as the economy changes, New Yorkers need more transit service and affordable fares, not fiscal austerity, the groups added.
“We, the undersigned, a broad coalition of transit planners, non-profit organizations, economists, and elected leaders, call on you to make service expansions, not service reductions, that can meet
New York’s changing needs and bolster its recovery,” they wrote to the governor. “Austerity in the shape of fare hikes, service cuts, and job losses could not come at a worse time for our state.”
“Public transportation is the backbone of a healthy, safe, and vibrant New York. Decades of underinvestment in our public transit systems have hit working families the hardest,” said Kumar Rao, senior director of Strategy and Policy for the New York Working Families Party. “We have a responsibility—particularly after this devastating health and economic crisis—to expand affordable and accessible public transit services so that our city can work for all New Yorkers.”
“Governor Hochul needs to cancel the fare hike and stop subway and bus cuts that will tank our economy and cost millions of New Yorkers valuable time and money,” said Riders Alliance Policy and Communications Director Danny Pearlstein. “The governor should use the next state budget to restore the MTA to fiscal health and fund expanded transit services that more equitably meet New Yorkers’ growing travel needs.”
In their missive to Hochul, progressive leaders wrote, “For millions of transit riders, the bottom line is that service must be dependable for today’s commuters and tomorrow’s. The essential workers who are bringing New York through the pandemic deserve a system that rises to meet their contributions to our state. As the leader of our state with the power to determine the MTA’s future direction, we urge you to make its growth a top priority. More and better service can breathe new life into a city that has faced such immense challenges in the past 18 months. Frequent and reliable service at all times of the day brings significant quality of life improvements to millions of New Yorkers every day, all while positively defining a backbone of New York’s image. New York can afford it. We can’t afford the alternative.
“At its best, transit policy in New York has brought us creative new funding sources, seasoned global leaders, and an immensely dedicated workforce. We urge you to build on these successes and are encouraged by your willingness to work collaboratively with independent professionals at the MTA to keep doing better for New Yorkers.”
