Comments on: Smith questions MTA’s March 25 deadline http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/03/10/smith-questions-mtas-march-25-deadline/ A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:51:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Senate sticks MTA rescue plan on the backburner :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/03/10/smith-questions-mtas-march-25-deadline/#comment-59418 Senate sticks MTA rescue plan on the backburner :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:58:49 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=2405#comment-59418 [...] Smith is so confident in his belief that the MTA’s self-imposed March 25th deadline is a flexible one that he is prepared to blow right past it. As the Assembly supports a modified Ravitch Plan and the [...] [...] Smith is so confident in his belief that the MTA’s self-imposed March 25th deadline is a flexible one that he is prepared to blow right past it. As the Assembly supports a modified Ravitch Plan and the [...]

]]> By: As Senate delays, bad alternate plans emerge :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/03/10/smith-questions-mtas-march-25-deadline/#comment-59252 As Senate delays, bad alternate plans emerge :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:15:33 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=2405#comment-59252 [...] budget, the State Senate remains deadlocked, and Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, as I noted yesterday, is prepared to blow the MTA-imposed March 25 [...] [...] budget, the State Senate remains deadlocked, and Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, as I noted yesterday, is prepared to blow the MTA-imposed March 25 [...]

]]> By: Mr. Queens http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/03/10/smith-questions-mtas-march-25-deadline/#comment-59248 Mr. Queens Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:48:19 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=2405#comment-59248 Good thing Paterson is using 9 billion in stimulus money to build high speed rail to dead cities upstate like Poughkeepsie and Plattsburg instead of fixing what we already have. Good thing Paterson is using 9 billion in stimulus money to build high speed rail to dead cities upstate like Poughkeepsie and Plattsburg instead of fixing what we already have.

]]> By: John Cie http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/03/10/smith-questions-mtas-march-25-deadline/#comment-59240 John Cie Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:04:53 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=2405#comment-59240 The MTA Board's argument is that it would have to approve the fare and toll hikes with some lead time in order to implement them by June. Printing all new fare schedules, and reprogramming the fareboxes and turnstiles and MetroCard/ticket vending machines and E-ZPass readers can't be done overnight. Whether it takes two months or could be done more quickly, well, I don't know. But that's the reason for the deadline. The MTA Board’s argument is that it would have to approve the fare and toll hikes with some lead time in order to implement them by June. Printing all new fare schedules, and reprogramming the fareboxes and turnstiles and MetroCard/ticket vending machines and E-ZPass readers can’t be done overnight. Whether it takes two months or could be done more quickly, well, I don’t know. But that’s the reason for the deadline.

]]> By: Benjamin Kabak http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/03/10/smith-questions-mtas-march-25-deadline/#comment-59236 Benjamin Kabak Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:14:03 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=2405#comment-59236 You're right, Marc. The legislature really has until around mid-June when the MTA would being to implement the hikes and cuts. But I don't think it's a matter of exacting concessions right now. Rather, the State Senate has no idea what plan to enact, and Smith has no idea what he can propose to rally the Democrats to his side. It's a mess of politics right now, and Smith is attempting to leverage the MTA's perhaps artificial deadline into a political chit. I don't like it. You’re right, Marc. The legislature really has until around mid-June when the MTA would being to implement the hikes and cuts. But I don’t think it’s a matter of exacting concessions right now. Rather, the State Senate has no idea what plan to enact, and Smith has no idea what he can propose to rally the Democrats to his side. It’s a mess of politics right now, and Smith is attempting to leverage the MTA’s perhaps artificial deadline into a political chit. I don’t like it.

]]> By: Marc Shepherd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/03/10/smith-questions-mtas-march-25-deadline/#comment-59235 Marc Shepherd Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:00:53 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=2405#comment-59235 I'm sure the MTA will adopt a budget resolution on March 25th. But until the date that toll hikes and service cuts are actually <em>implemented</em>, I'm sure they could be altered if the legislature comes through with a rescue plan. A budget is only a piece of paper; on its own, it accomplishes nothing. I suspect that if a rescue is adopted, it will be much closer to the true drop-dead date. The Senators standing in the way have every incentive to hold out for every last drop of concessions that they can squeeze out of the process. I’m sure the MTA will adopt a budget resolution on March 25th. But until the date that toll hikes and service cuts are actually implemented, I’m sure they could be altered if the legislature comes through with a rescue plan.

A budget is only a piece of paper; on its own, it accomplishes nothing. I suspect that if a rescue is adopted, it will be much closer to the true drop-dead date. The Senators standing in the way have every incentive to hold out for every last drop of concessions that they can squeeze out of the process.

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