Comments on: The Ravitch Report: Where the papers stand http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/08/the-ravitch-report-where-the-papers-stand/ A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:51:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Secret Conductor http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/08/the-ravitch-report-where-the-papers-stand/#comment-57803 The Secret Conductor Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:10:46 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1775#comment-57803 The only problem with reducing the bloat in the MTA is that it costs money to get rid of the bloat. Nevertheless, I am sure there will be employee cuts/lay-offs and pay cuts and such. I believe it was mentioned for the token booth clerks and station cleaners. Not sure if they will lay off service employees (conductors and train operators and directly related management) but they did mention it. I know of it only because the Union is obviously against it and let the rank and file know about it. So ummm... I have to say that they are thinking about getting rid of some employees too. The only problem with reducing the bloat in the MTA is that it costs money to get rid of the bloat.

Nevertheless, I am sure there will be employee cuts/lay-offs and pay cuts and such. I believe it was mentioned for the token booth clerks and station cleaners.

Not sure if they will lay off service employees (conductors and train operators and directly related management) but they did mention it. I know of it only because the Union is obviously against it and let the rank and file know about it.

So ummm… I have to say that they are thinking about getting rid of some employees too.

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/08/the-ravitch-report-where-the-papers-stand/#comment-57635 Alon Levy Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:01:03 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1775#comment-57635 Well, Upstate, which won't be subject to this tax, has been bleeding even more jobs. The main problem seems to be that business regulations in New York State are based on the situation of New York City, a stable, high-cost, high-income area; Upstate New York on its own would probably go for lower taxes and fewer services, on a par with the Midwest or even the South. Well, Upstate, which won’t be subject to this tax, has been bleeding even more jobs. The main problem seems to be that business regulations in New York State are based on the situation of New York City, a stable, high-cost, high-income area; Upstate New York on its own would probably go for lower taxes and fewer services, on a par with the Midwest or even the South.

]]> By: John http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/08/the-ravitch-report-where-the-papers-stand/#comment-57624 John Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:23:51 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1775#comment-57624 I have to second Marc's comments. I've been using an EZ Pass for five years now and have never had a problem. I've used it in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. I've used it in pickup trucks, sedans, vans, and SUVs. I've held up to the window or left it on the dash and it still works. Once I didn't even want to use it so I put it in the bag they give you so it won't register and it still worked. What this sounds like is a driver who is just upset that he will have to pay a toll. I bet there is a correlation between those who oppose east river tolls and those who benefit from using the east river bridges for free. Their opposition is biased but they will try to say it isn't. I have to second Marc’s comments. I’ve been using an EZ Pass for five years now and have never had a problem. I’ve used it in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. I’ve used it in pickup trucks, sedans, vans, and SUVs. I’ve held up to the window or left it on the dash and it still works. Once I didn’t even want to use it so I put it in the bag they give you so it won’t register and it still worked.

What this sounds like is a driver who is just upset that he will have to pay a toll. I bet there is a correlation between those who oppose east river tolls and those who benefit from using the east river bridges for free. Their opposition is biased but they will try to say it isn’t.

]]> By: Rhywun http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/08/the-ravitch-report-where-the-papers-stand/#comment-57598 Rhywun Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:01:48 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1775#comment-57598 Well, that IS what taxes do. The proposed taxes wouldn't make me leave, but you can bet that it will make others leave. It's been happening for decades. Well, that IS what taxes do. The proposed taxes wouldn’t make me leave, but you can bet that it will make others leave. It’s been happening for decades.

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/08/the-ravitch-report-where-the-papers-stand/#comment-57597 Alon Levy Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:27:47 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1775#comment-57597 The people who say "you're driving business out of NY" oppose any tax increase - even those on sales and income, rather than business. On another note, how's your Council campaign going? The people who say “you’re driving business out of NY” oppose any tax increase – even those on sales and income, rather than business.

On another note, how’s your Council campaign going?

]]> By: Gary http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/08/the-ravitch-report-where-the-papers-stand/#comment-57594 Gary Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:40:36 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1775#comment-57594 Oh, and I meant to say ditto Marc Shepard at 10:29am. Oh, and I meant to say ditto Marc Shepard at 10:29am.

]]> By: Gary http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/08/the-ravitch-report-where-the-papers-stand/#comment-57593 Gary Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:39:55 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1775#comment-57593 "the MTA came begging for money and they were totally lying about their finances?" rhywun, I think what you are referring to had more to do with the two sets of books that the MTA is required to keep . . . capital and operating. Poor reporting on MTA finances leads to a lot of misunderstanding. Don't know what Mr. Eric is talking about, we've had an EZ Pass for 2-3 years now and it has never once had this problem. But the wording of his two posts make my BS detector jump. Lastly, re: the "bad for biz" theme . . . this is why it should just be a payroll tax and not a tax levied on businesses. I understand the PR reasons they went with a "tax on business" but any economist will tell you the levy will be borne by employees either way. At this point in time I think a payroll tax is more politically palatable than trying to BS people that instead there will be a tax on business. It's too easy to demagogue the "you're driving business out of NY" angle. “the MTA came begging for money and they were totally lying about their finances?”

rhywun, I think what you are referring to had more to do with the two sets of books that the MTA is required to keep . . . capital and operating. Poor reporting on MTA finances leads to a lot of misunderstanding.

Don’t know what Mr. Eric is talking about, we’ve had an EZ Pass for 2-3 years now and it has never once had this problem. But the wording of his two posts make my BS detector jump.

Lastly, re: the “bad for biz” theme . . . this is why it should just be a payroll tax and not a tax levied on businesses. I understand the PR reasons they went with a “tax on business” but any economist will tell you the levy will be borne by employees either way. At this point in time I think a payroll tax is more politically palatable than trying to BS people that instead there will be a tax on business. It’s too easy to demagogue the “you’re driving business out of NY” angle.

]]> By: Marc Shepherd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/08/the-ravitch-report-where-the-papers-stand/#comment-57584 Marc Shepherd Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:14:39 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1775#comment-57584 I've been through ezPass tolls more times than I can count, both as a passenger and as a driver, and it practically always works. I don't know what Mr. Eric is doing, but I think it would be pretty big news if the system routinely failed 50% of the time. It is simply not so. I’ve been through ezPass tolls more times than I can count, both as a passenger and as a driver, and it practically always works. I don’t know what Mr. Eric is doing, but I think it would be pretty big news if the system routinely failed 50% of the time. It is simply not so.

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/08/the-ravitch-report-where-the-papers-stand/#comment-57582 Alon Levy Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:33:41 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1775#comment-57582 Actually, restructurings tend to correlate with poor management, not good management. Good managers find ways of making the existing structures work. Actually, restructurings tend to correlate with poor management, not good management. Good managers find ways of making the existing structures work.

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/08/the-ravitch-report-where-the-papers-stand/#comment-57581 Alon Levy Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:32:11 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1775#comment-57581 That's what Ravitch did - his commission was about looking at the financial situation and reporting about whether there are any cost savers or revenue generators that will help the MTA. By not saying anything about cost cutting, he's implicitly saying that the looked at the books and they're correct. That’s what Ravitch did – his commission was about looking at the financial situation and reporting about whether there are any cost savers or revenue generators that will help the MTA. By not saying anything about cost cutting, he’s implicitly saying that the looked at the books and they’re correct.

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