Twenty-One NYC Reps Back Brodsky’s Student Fare Falsehood
On Friday we noted that Assembly Member Richard Brodsky’s latest anti-transit argument — that "the actual cost of free and discounted student fares is close to zero" — doesn’t hold water. A letter from Brodsky addressed to MTA CEO Jay Walder calls for reinstating student MetroCards, laying blame for the program’s potential elimination at the MTA’s feet while neglecting to mention Albany’s leading role in reducing funds for student transport.
Brodsky’s office sent us a copy of the letter [PDF], which is copied in full below. Among its 24 signatories, the overwhelming majority represent New York City:
Dear Hon. Walder,
We write to you as long-standing advocates for mass transit funding, as those who have regularly supported state funding for the MTA’s capital and operating needs, and as those who represent students and parents across the MTA region. We understand the continuing difficulties caused by the national recession, and the difficult decisions you are making as a consequence. We believe that we share a desire to reform, expand, and improve the MTA, even as new leadership takes over, and as PARA 2009 makes real changes in legal, operational and fiduciary practices at the MTA.
That being said, we write to make sure you understand the depth of our concern about MTA plans to end free and discounted student travel. We cannot criticize any exercise that reviews all MTA expenditures and services in the face of the economic downturn. But we reject any decision by the MTA to end free and discounted student travel as an element of a final package of changes.
We reject that decision because it is not an accurate or intelligent analysis of the MTA’s fisc [sic]. While the MTA asserts it needs $214 million in additional state and city aid to preserve the program, the actual cost of free and discounted student fares is close to zero. We reject the MTA’s assertion that the program must be valued at the ostensible lost revenue, and point out that state and city funding for the program actually exceeds the cost of providing the service.
We reject that decision because it is a dangerous, unfair, and self-defeating political tactic. We understand the use of political tactics in budget controversies. But there are limits, and the decision to put students and families out there as a pawn in the struggle to increase City and State funding crosses a line.
Simply stated, we ask that you immediately withdraw the threat to student fares, that you review the actual cost of the program across the MTA region, that you ensure that all students in the region be treated equally, and that you work with us to develop a fairer, clearer, and more successful negotiating strategy to get the MTA more money. For better of worse, this issue is becoming a defining moment for transit advocates in and out of the Legislature. In the spirit of fairness and cooperation, we ask for a timely response to this letter.
Best wishes,
Richard Brodsky
Michael Benedetto
Michael Benjamin
Jonathan Bing
James Brennan
Marcos Crespo
Jeffrey Dinowitz
Carl Heastie
Andrew Hevesi
Micah Kellner
Rory Lancman
Joseph Lentol
Margaret Markey
Grace Meng
Joan Millman
Audrey Pheffer
Peter Rivera
Linda Rosenthal
Michael Spano
Fred Thiele Jr.
Matthew Titone
Carmen Arroyo
Vivian Cook
Rhoda Jacobs
The only signatories who do not represent New York City districts are Brodsky and Spano, who represent Westchester, and Thiele, who represents Suffolk.