Comments on: More money for the MTA, but at the expense of NYC businesses http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/08/more-money-for-the-mta-but-at-the-expsense-of-nyc-businesses/ A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:24:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pols decry payroll tax changes as advocates push for money :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/08/more-money-for-the-mta-but-at-the-expsense-of-nyc-businesses/#comment-71951 Pols decry payroll tax changes as advocates push for money :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:17:03 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5032#comment-71951 [...] now. As we know, the same cannot be said of the MTA’s finances, and as Gov. Paterson’s new payroll tax plan percolates through the political bodies of the area, New York City reps are up in arms. [...] [...] now. As we know, the same cannot be said of the MTA’s finances, and as Gov. Paterson’s new payroll tax plan percolates through the political bodies of the area, New York City reps are up in arms. [...]

]]> By: Niccolo Machiavelli http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/08/more-money-for-the-mta-but-at-the-expsense-of-nyc-businesses/#comment-71780 Niccolo Machiavelli Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:13:48 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5032#comment-71780 I propose to fund the MTA by eliminating the use of the words fairness, equitable, parity or any equivalents. These are strictly mathematical allegations of equity. I propose to fund the MTA by eliminating the use of the words fairness, equitable, parity or any equivalents. These are strictly mathematical allegations of equity.

]]> By: DMIJohn http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/08/more-money-for-the-mta-but-at-the-expsense-of-nyc-businesses/#comment-71758 DMIJohn Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:01:22 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5032#comment-71758 I propose congestion pricing as an equitable revenue source. I propose congestion pricing as an equitable revenue source.

]]> By: Aaron http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/08/more-money-for-the-mta-but-at-the-expsense-of-nyc-businesses/#comment-71757 Aaron Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:41:01 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5032#comment-71757 Alright, I'd like to see Upstate pay the full price for their road projects, without burdening car-free City residents. After all, why should City residents pay for Western New York road projects? At least the payroll tax was aimed at NYC's surrounding communities, who plainly benefit from the MTA. I will never understand why rural county roads remain unchallenged as an alleged "public good" but mass transportation in the largest cities in the country is maligned as a form of welfare. Alright, I’d like to see Upstate pay the full price for their road projects, without burdening car-free City residents. After all, why should City residents pay for Western New York road projects? At least the payroll tax was aimed at NYC’s surrounding communities, who plainly benefit from the MTA.

I will never understand why rural county roads remain unchallenged as an alleged “public good” but mass transportation in the largest cities in the country is maligned as a form of welfare.

]]> By: AK http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/08/more-money-for-the-mta-but-at-the-expsense-of-nyc-businesses/#comment-71756 AK Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:49:57 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5032#comment-71756 Obviously we're going to disagree, but I want to know WHY you think New Yorkers, including ones who do not use the system, should pay more. Referencing my earlier remark, should City folk pay less for the upkeep of State Parks/Forests, the vast majority of which are upstate? How about decreasing our share of taxes paid toward road construction and repair because the majority of Manhattanites don't own cars? Listen, I understand that I am a member of our STATE, and as such, my tax dollars will sometimes fund things I will never use/things I disagree with/etc. Why the MTA is different is beyond me... Obviously we’re going to disagree, but I want to know WHY you think New Yorkers, including ones who do not use the system, should pay more. Referencing my earlier remark, should City folk pay less for the upkeep of State Parks/Forests, the vast majority of which are upstate? How about decreasing our share of taxes paid toward road construction and repair because the majority of Manhattanites don’t own cars? Listen, I understand that I am a member of our STATE, and as such, my tax dollars will sometimes fund things I will never use/things I disagree with/etc. Why the MTA is different is beyond me…

]]> By: Marc Shepherd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/08/more-money-for-the-mta-but-at-the-expsense-of-nyc-businesses/#comment-71752 Marc Shepherd Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:38:41 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5032#comment-71752 NYC pays significantly more of the MTA’s budget, <em>and it should</em>. I realize that you would just love to ride more cheaply at upstaters’ expense, but those of us who live in New York should belly up to the bar, and pay fairly for what we get. You claim that that’s “never the way taxation operates,” but the MTA tax was not imposed state-wide. It applied only in the counties where the MTA provides service, so obviously the legislature thought it would be unfair to tax people in (say) Buffalo who couldn’t ride an MTA service even if they wanted to. The latest change that Gov. Paterson has announced simply takes this concept a bit farther in the direction of fairness. This is the way the tax should have been written in the first place. NYC pays significantly more of the MTA’s budget, and it should. I realize that you would just love to ride more cheaply at upstaters’ expense, but those of us who live in New York should belly up to the bar, and pay fairly for what we get.

You claim that that’s “never the way taxation operates,” but the MTA tax was not imposed state-wide. It applied only in the counties where the MTA provides service, so obviously the legislature thought it would be unfair to tax people in (say) Buffalo who couldn’t ride an MTA service even if they wanted to.

The latest change that Gov. Paterson has announced simply takes this concept a bit farther in the direction of fairness. This is the way the tax should have been written in the first place.

]]> By: Bloomberg blasts Paterson’s payroll tax plan :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/08/more-money-for-the-mta-but-at-the-expsense-of-nyc-businesses/#comment-71751 Bloomberg blasts Paterson’s payroll tax plan :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:25:15 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5032#comment-71751 [...] to help cover the MTA’s deficit while assuaging suburban concerns over the payroll tax by shifting more of the tax burden to city-based businesses. Those doing business in the five boroughs would see the tax increase by 60 percent while those [...] [...] to help cover the MTA’s deficit while assuaging suburban concerns over the payroll tax by shifting more of the tax burden to city-based businesses. Those doing business in the five boroughs would see the tax increase by 60 percent while those [...]

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/08/more-money-for-the-mta-but-at-the-expsense-of-nyc-businesses/#comment-71747 Alon Levy Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:20:33 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5032#comment-71747 <blockquote>The payroll tax is unfair for the suburbs given that probably 90% or more of surburban residents in the MTA district have absolutely nothing to do MTA services on a daily basis.</blockquote> Those 90% are living off the money brought in by the other 10% working in Manhattan, so they do benefit from the MTA. They just benefit somewhat less than city residents.

The payroll tax is unfair for the suburbs given that probably 90% or more of surburban residents in the MTA district have absolutely nothing to do MTA services on a daily basis.

Those 90% are living off the money brought in by the other 10% working in Manhattan, so they do benefit from the MTA. They just benefit somewhat less than city residents.

]]> By: AK http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/08/more-money-for-the-mta-but-at-the-expsense-of-nyc-businesses/#comment-71741 AK Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:39:50 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5032#comment-71741 I disagree that the original tax was not equitable re: my comment above. If anything, I would prefer a payroll tax that was applied state-wide, the receipts of which are parceled out amongst the various transit organizations (Niagara Frontier Transit, MTA, etc.) Even with a "flat" payroll tax, NYC pays significantly more of the MTA's budget, on a per capita basis, than the rest of the state due to the NYC income tax, actual user fees, and the taxi surcharge. We would laugh at this, "I'm not benefiting so I don't what to pay" argument if applied to anything else in the state budget. How 'bout the budget for State Parks/Forests that NYC residents, on a per capita basis, enjoy far less than upstate residents? I don't want to pay an equal share in taxes for upkeep, because I don't use them. That's never the way taxation operates (with the limited exceptions noted above for water, sewage (i.e. the "special purpose" districts first described in Salyer Land Co. v. Tulare Water Dist., 410 US 719 (1973)). I disagree that the original tax was not equitable re: my comment above. If anything, I would prefer a payroll tax that was applied state-wide, the receipts of which are parceled out amongst the various transit organizations (Niagara Frontier Transit, MTA, etc.) Even with a “flat” payroll tax, NYC pays significantly more of the MTA’s budget, on a per capita basis, than the rest of the state due to the NYC income tax, actual user fees, and the taxi surcharge. We would laugh at this, “I’m not benefiting so I don’t what to pay” argument if applied to anything else in the state budget. How ’bout the budget for State Parks/Forests that NYC residents, on a per capita basis, enjoy far less than upstate residents? I don’t want to pay an equal share in taxes for upkeep, because I don’t use them. That’s never the way taxation operates (with the limited exceptions noted above for water, sewage (i.e. the “special purpose” districts first described in Salyer Land Co. v. Tulare Water Dist., 410 US 719 (1973)).

]]> By: Streetsblog New York City » Today’s Headlines http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/02/08/more-money-for-the-mta-but-at-the-expsense-of-nyc-businesses/#comment-71739 Streetsblog New York City » Today’s Headlines Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:14:30 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=5032#comment-71739 [...] Wants to Shift Transit Tax Burden From 'Burbs at City's Expense (SAS, WNYC, AMNY, [...] [...] Wants to Shift Transit Tax Burden From 'Burbs at City's Expense (SAS, WNYC, AMNY, [...]

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