Ever wait 20 minutes for a crosstown bus, then have four show up in a row?
Ever been addressed in a surly manner by a station booth clerk, then shunted over to a bank of malfunctioning, credit card-swallowing MetroCard machines?
Ever been accosted by an aggressive subway panhandler, who “really doesn’t want to hurt anyone, but hasn’t eaten in days (but no food, thanks–just cash).”
I have. And so have you.
You know who hasn’t?
MTA officials.
This week, the MTA launches yet another series of public hearings on fare hikes, in what seems to have become an annual event (“Fleece Week?”)
But instead of the MTA board hosting another round of bogus listening tours, I believe there is a much better way for them to learn to budget correctly. They must be mandated to ride the subways and buses with us.
This should become part of the vetting process. Are you willing to get around the city not by limo or taxi, but on the transit system you oversee?
Only when their decisions impact their own day-to-day lives, lateness and stress levels with the MTA board get their priorities straight.
Board members who refuse this stipulation, who think they are too busy or important to ride public transportation, can hit the road back to the upscale suburban communities in which most of them reside.
Whatever you think of Mayor Bloomberg, at least he rides the subway to work each day. That’s why his remarks about the transit system usually ring true–he walks the walk (ok, rides the ride).
But until that glorious day when the city runs it own public transportation, forcing those who make decisions for us to have to live by them is clearly a step in the right direction.
It may be a shock to MTA chairman Jay Walder ($350,000 yearly salary) and his well-compensated board members, but more than a few subway riders already spend between 5% and 10% of their salaries just getting to and from work.
In 2005, the supposedly cash-strapped MTA was ready to hand over valuable property it owned on Manhattan’s west side to the New York Jets for a paltry $300 million–land that was appraised at nearly $1 billion.
Recent revelations of the board ignoring out-of-control overtime pay doesn’t indicate that they’ve gotten their act together when it comes to wasting money.
So before they approach us, hat in hand, aggressively panhandling for yet another fare hike, these gross errors need to be fully accounted for. But first, I’d like to escort MTA board members down the Times Square 1, 2 and 3 platform during a sweltering rush hour, hot, airless, teeming with people and ripe for disaster.
I believe only when the board’s dubious decisions affect them personally will they truly learn what is wasteful, what is vital and what really does hurt us.
Way to go! Love your name & tag line. Good luck.
Once again, articles like this just emphasize the continuing “death of common sense” in this country (as well as NYC). “Fleece Week”….is a nice touch. Thanks for reminding me of yet another reason why I have chosen to get out of the NY metro area.
Your premise that those who govern should experience the the lives of those governed, or that the king should walk a mile in the shoes of his subjects, (in this Emperor Bloomberg should get used to riding the subway everyday), is thought provoking.
Recently, in Iraq, the Joint Chiefs have mandated that all its officers must NOW read, and know a book that was written by an American who has actually lived there, (voluntarily, for years, doing good works), and had learned to understand its people, their pain, their joys and their customs. Now its not exactly the same thing, these Generals are just READING about it. But first hand experience is the best way to learn. It obviously seems like a good management strategy. If the United States Army can do it, why can’t the Transit Authority?
Routinely the 2 train runs on the 5 route and the 5 runs on the 2 route. This has been going on for years. Supposedly because of track work. Does that make sense? Of course not. It is just to confuse NYC visitors…especially those that do not speak English. They are given a set of directions on how to get where they are going and then end up on the wrong side of town when coming from the Bronx. Boo to the transit system.
Yeah!
Cut services and raise prices. This is the new American way. Soon the only people living in NYC will be those making $200K or more.
Oh, Jack, I thought it was already the case that the only folks who lived in NYC made mucho money. When I worked there, I couldn’t afford to live there, too.
This blog is great! A very savvy, witty, and informative New York voice. How do I subscribe to it?
Hi Marcia:
Thanks for your comments.
You can subscribe by going to the bottom right side of my blog, under META, click Entries RSS, then “subscribe now.” Let me know if you have any problem.
Mike Vogel