Comments on: MTA readies cuts as politicians say the right thing

By: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog » Blog Archive » » In jail with the MTA Board

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:36:20 +0000

[...] one of the various discussion about the service cuts sure to come out of the MTA’s financial crisis, Dale Hemmerdinger issued what has become my favorite quote of the week. “We are charged,” he [...]

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:43:37 +0000

You don’t like the way the MTA cuts service, so you’re going to take people’s health hostage?

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:42:06 +0000

Well, New York State gets ¢79 in federal spending for every dollar it pays in federal taxes. Idaho gets $1.28.

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:24:06 +0000

Does running the N late nights mean that all of the stations between Dekalb and Canal are going to be closed?

By: Marc Shepherd

Marc Shepherd — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:57:11 +0000

Talk about self serving SOBs, the MTA takes the prize. Maybe they should go to jail for mismanaging the whole transit mess.

I know you’re upset, but can’t you be bothered to learn the facts? There are two main reasons for the current crisis, neither of which is the MTA’s fault. The first is that ex-Gov. Pataki insisted on funding the MTA with debt, which now has to be paid back. The second is that a huge part of the MTA’s income is dependent on real-estate tax revenues, which are way down this year, for reasons I assume I don’t need to explain. Other mistakes include the failure to approve the original congestion pricing proposal, and that the last fare hike was too modest. Those things, too, aren’t the MTA’s fault.

I am not saying the MTA has managed everything perfectly. The fare holiday a couple of Christmases ago was pretty dumb, as this site rightfully pointed out at the time. But most of the reasons for the current problem stem from government decisions outside of the MTA’s control.

By: Gerrit

Gerrit — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:34:18 +0000

Wonderful! Let us rendezvous on the nearest shooting star, making all local stops to Moonbeam Tango(TM) and Filibuster Strawberry (C). “Miramaxwell house of Payne training day of the tentacle” quoth the Dingo Trolley (ENEMIES). Ripples of Jupiter. Mittens of Romney.

By: Dale

Dale — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:25:42 +0000

@Gerrit:

My newlable fibers are wep-sprong’d within the ether. Noopherize your childer ones, for I doth alight upon the imminent starshots towards the future.

By: Proposed Transit Cuts ‘Harsh’ and ‘Severe’ » trainjotting.com

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:25:30 +0000

[...] SecondAvenueSagas is of course all over it like TJ on a Friday bottle of Sam Adams. [...]

By: Gerrit

Gerrit — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:38:41 +0000

Gather round the bard’s knee, villagers, while I sing you the legend of Dale Hemmerdinger. The mighty warrior slew the twin ogres of deficit and infrastructure. Upon his triumph, the nubile transit maidens flung themselves at his feet. All hail Dale… paragon of virtue and immortal among men!

By: Michael S.

Michael S. — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:54:46 +0000

Talk about self serving SOBs, the MTA takes the prize. Maybe they should go to jail for mismanaging the whole transit mess. Budgets are total baloney when it comes to NY City’s finances. There more holes in it than cockroaches in da Bronx. These bums are a gang who act in secret, have no oversight, get away with whatever they want, and somehow live the life of Riley.

This is their revenge for (I think it was Bloomberg’s) trying to take away their free easy pass rides.