Tuesday’s Headlines: Pessimism and Optimism Edition

File photo: Gersh Kuntzman

The big story yesterday was the 15-cent fare hike that came out of the monthly MTA committee day.

All the outlets — NYDN, NY Post, NY Times, amNY, Gothamist — dutifully covered that the base fare will rise to $2.90 by Labor Day — and that straphangers are livid.

But none of the media outlets added a key bit of context: The MTA, which before budget season was predicting a fiscal cliff (as in, “about to go off the …”) is now projecting a budget surplus by 2026, thanks to all that casino revenue that hasn’t materialized yet.

Our own Dave Colon pointed it all out in an epic Twitter thread:

Hell, this is projecting a $62 million SURPLUS in 2026

— Good Idea Dave (@DaveCoIon) May 22, 2023

In other news from one of the slowest Mondays on record:

Like Streetsblog, other outlets covered the news that Attorney General Letitia James would not charge the officers who ran down and killed Ronald Smith on Eastern Parkway on a rainy April night last year. (NYDN, CBS NY)
Now here’s an idea: Body-worn cameras for much-abused traffic enforcement officers. (NYDN)
Please help the family of a Queens seventh grader who was hit by an MTA bus driver. (amNY)
Turns out that the awesome sunset we got all excited about yesterday was due to Canadian wildfires. So global climate change sucks, but at least we’re going down with a beautiful view:

The weekend is over, but beautifully. Photo: Jean Cawley — It’s the sun equivalent of a smog moon. Photo: Jean Cawley

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

It's crowded on that bridge. Photo: Clarence Eckerson Jr.

Queensboro Bridge Bike Numbers Soaring as DOT Stalls Separate Walking Path

By Kevin Duggan | Jun 7, 2023

If you don’t build it, they’ll still come.

The DOT is hoping that moving Fordham Road's bus lane off the curb will mean fewer scenes like this BX9 caught in traffic. Photo: Dave Colon

DOT Nixes Fordham Road Busway Due To ‘Community Concerns’

By Dave Colon | Jun 7, 2023

Fordham Road won't be getting a proposed busway after the Department of Transportation bowed to "community concerns" and opted for the potential changes to the corridor with the least benefit for bus riders.

Amy Cohen has begun her hunger strike for safety in Albany. Photo: Families for Safe Streets

‘Sammy’s Law’ Hunger Strike Begins at State Capitol

By Julianne Cuba | Jun 6, 2023

Two mothers whose children were killed by reckless drivers have begun a hunger strike that they'll continue until Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) brings to the floor a long-stalled bill that would allow New York City to set its own speed limits.

Families for Safe Streets members Amy Cohen and Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio will start a hunger strike today.

Tuesday’s Headlines: Hunger Strike Edition

By Streetsblog Editorial Board | Jun 6, 2023

Two members of Families for Safe Streets will begin a hunger strike at the state Capitol to protest the state legislature's failure to pass a bill to allow New York City to set its own speed limits. Plus other news.

The intersection where Dolma Naadhum, 7, (inset) was killed by a driver on Feb. 17. File image

CB1 Members Demand Universal Daylighting After Drivers Kill Two Kids

By Kevin Duggan | Jun 6, 2023

The city must clear all intersections of parked cars that block visibility, demanded community board members in Astoria.

Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio protested in front of Carl Heastie's office. (The Speaker was not there, but he is in the inset.) Photo: Gersh Kuntzman

Supporters of Sammy’s Law Remain Angry over Assembly Speaker’s Inaction on Speed Limit Reduction

By Gersh Kuntzman | Jun 5, 2023

Members of Families for Safe Streets rallied on Monday outside of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie's office to demand he pass a bill that would allow New York City to set its own speed limits, and expressed confusion as to why the speaker had reportedly stalled the widely supported legislation.