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.

I think the lack of focus in our small focus group mirrors the lack of focus in our body politic and is responsible for the utterly unthought-out response of the New York State Senate: couple a fare-increase with inadequate taxes for a few months respite. According to the NY Times:

The Senate proposal, which was presented privately to Democratic Senators on Monday afternoon, includes a 4 percent fare increase, half of what Mr. Ravitch had proposed. It would also impose a tax of 25 cents on every $100 of payroll on employers within the 12 counties served by the authority. That is significantly less than the 34 cents that Mr. Ravitch had proposed.

Now, Streetsblog points out -- as though that matters to politicians -- that the Senate's numbers don't add up . Thus our premier transit advocates focus on the four amigos: Senators Kruger, Diaz, Espada and Monserrate . What matters to our weak-minded Senators seems to be their perception that citizen anger is focused on the MTA and not on them. I am afraid they are right.

As I see it, our unfocused focus group represents fairly the lack of political focus. For all of the blog posts, for all of the forums (fora?), all of the hearings -- we have yet to build a serious political consensus. Where are the people who could and should be allies? Where is the Transit Workers Union? Unless and until we can build better, broader coalitions, we'll be doing without mass transit. And the four amigos will drive to Albany. Liz B. take on the internal politics is here and is fine as far as it goes But why -- do you think -- do these four Senators think sabotaging the interests of the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers is in their political interest? Also try the Gotham Gazette's post here

By the way, if you love numbers, you may love the budget figures that the MTA and the State Senate have posted on line I've explored the site and cannot make heads or tails of this stuff. I've decided to trust transit advocate Gene Russsianoff on the issue when he says that the MTA really needs the money. Can you figure anything out from these data sets? Hat tip to the The Gotham Gazette for spreading the word about the site.

Wednesday Updates: Governor Paterson & his MTA Chair rejected the Senate proposal . In this context, what does "reject" mean? (To the same effect see also the Daily News . Jim Dwyer, charmingly, tells this as a tale of our weak leaders , a cheap & easy take in my view. Try also Jimmy Vielkind's Politicker post which gives a good feel for the back-and-forth of Albany posturing.

This is perhaps a place to admit error. I supported Daniel Squadron's opponent in the Democratic Party primary. I was wrong. Mr. Squadron work so far has been exemplary. Did I want him to favor fair, progressive taxation -- he was an original sponsor. Did I want him to favor the Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights? He was an original sponsor. On Primary Day, a friend predicted that I'd eat my words on the subject -- pass the butter.

*My hazy memory suggests that the first community conferences were set up by Franz Leichter, an Upper West Side Assembly Member & Senator.