I went, Sunday afternoon, to Daniel Squadron’s Community Conference* which was held at Borough of Manhattan Community College at the Western foot of Chambers Street. There, several hundred people gathered to schmooze, have their photos taken with elected officials (Squadron, Jerrold Nadler, Anthony Weiner,Scott Stringer, Brian Kavanaugh), eat (good food, great desserts) and attend issue workshops.

Wednesday updates post-jump.

I went to the mass transit-MTA Funding group where 40 activists were deeply divided. Each wanted to save his or her bus or subway live but there was no agreement about the nature of problem and the possible solutions. Many believed that the MTA had invented the crisis and were willing to join State Senator Malcolm Smith in this game of chicken (No transit aid until the end of an endless MTA audit). Some thought transit workers were at fault because they have great salaries and pensions (although none knew what they were) and all had seen guys standing around when they should have been working. Many hated bridge tolls and/or Motor Vehicle registration fees because it harmed their right to drive.  read more »

Thanks to the efforts of mass transportation advocates led on the ground by Transportation Alternatives, Streetsblog, and, nationally by Transportation For America and in Congress by NYC's own Congress Member Jerrold Nadler , the House of Representatives has voted to increase the mass transit portion of the stimulus package by $3 billion (check here for a blow-by-blow of the debate & vote)

Update. So much for Bipartisanship The stimulus package passed the House Tuesday night 244-188. Not one Republican voted for the stimulus, 11 Democrats voted against. The Times added a great map which identifies the 11 Democratic nay-sayers and GOP allies by district. Moveon seeks ad cash to soften GOP Senators' stimulus opposition.  read more »

Location

The MTA ONCE AGAIN wants to hike our fares even as service gets worse. I can't believe how bad the F line has become. It should be the quickest way I can take to pick up my son at day care. It has so many major delays and snags that I have almost given up on it.

ONCE AGAIN, the MTA wants to raise our fares.

When I was in Los Angeles, I noticed that bus fares (I have never taken the tiny subway in LA) were about the same as they were when I left LA more than 10 years ago.

In NYC this will be, I think, the third (?) fare hike since I moved here.

Where does the money go? Does the MTA still illegally keep two sets of books, one to brag about and one to use to convince people they have to pay more, more, more?

Here is the Straphangers Campaign's statement on the proposed fare hike:

Here are some questions that New Yorkers should be asking about a possible fare hike in the months to come:

Do the financial numbers show the MTA facing a serious budget deficit in 2008 and beyond?  read more »