Do you notice how few politicians have the cajones to raise taxes on people who make half a million or more a year (keep in mind, that means half a million dollars a year INCOME, not net worth), but they will all, with a great show of reluctance, let people who depend on NYC's subways and buses get screwed over every single time?

Our city DEPENDS on good transit more than it depends on anything except maybe effective garbage collection. Yet fare hikes and service cuts are the politically easy thing to do if times get tough. Even though the MTA has proven itself completely unreliable right down to fraudulently keeping two sets of books, they are allowed to continue to function without adequate oversight or punishment for their shady practices.

There has been no effective leadership on either the city or state level making transit a priority. Isn't new subway construction a jobs project? Aren't keeping subway and bus lines running creating jobs as well as helping basic working class and middle class New Yorkers get their asses to work and our kids to school? Yet somehow no one has the guts to stand up for quality transit. They'd rather bailout bank CEOs and pay for lobbying efforts by AIG and Bank of America to prevent fair pay for women.

In response to this lack of leadership and this willingness by our mayor, our City Council, our State Legislature and our Governor to let the MTA mismanage our transit system and keep on screwing working and middle class New Yorkers, Josh Skaller, running for the 39th City Council district, has issued this statement:

As you may know, the MTA Board voted on Wednesday to raise subway and bus fares to $2.50 starting May 31. This decision came after the State Legislature failed to act on the funding proposals of the Ravitch Commission or any other funding alternative.

The board also voted to reduce service on most subway lines, including the F, G, N and R trains. Fewer lines will mean slower commutes and overcrowded trains. In addition, the MTA Board members are pushing to cut all service on three bus routes in our district: the B23, 37 and 75.

This is unacceptable! To keep our city and its economy moving, we need more transit service, not less.

These fare hike and service cuts are not a done deal yet. State officials can still take action and provide funding which will eliminate or reduce the need to raise the fares or cut service. But they need to hear from all of us now!

That's why I and a handful of volunteers handed out thousands of flyers yesterday at subway stations across Brooklyn urging people to make our voices heard in Albany.

The downward economy is affecting all of us. However, it is important to remember that a bulk of the state budget is supported by the New York City tax dollars. So why has the state consistently underfunded our city's transit system since 1995? At this critical time we must demand our fair share.

Contact Majority Leader Malcolm Smith immediately at 212-298-5585
or email him at masmith@senate.state.ny.us

By working together, I believe we can make a difference, prevent further fare hikes, and keep our transit system moving.

My wife points out that the exact bus line cuts they are making unfairly hurts the elderly and handicapped New Yorkers. I would say it also unfairly punishes good citizens who don't clog our streets with yet more cars. Aren't we trying to ENCOURAGE the use of public transit? It is just the wrong thing for our city. I say the politicians need to stop protecting CEO bonuses and Bush tax breaks and start protecting the transit system that millions of average New Yorkers use every single day.