Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Malcolm Smith

Can Kibbles ‘n Bits Save the MTA?

By Brad Aaron | Apr 24, 2009 | 17 Comments

Photo: The Daily Politics While Majority Leader Malcolm Smith insists he can round up enough votes to pass the latest Senate MTA rescue plan, The Daily Politics reports that Bronx Assemblyman Peter Rivera participated in a rally today outside City Hall in protest of the proposal’s $1 taxi surcharge, a facet of the bill that […]

Senate Dems Release Another MTA Funding Plan Without Tolls

By Ben Fried | Apr 20, 2009 | 23 Comments

Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith has come out with another MTA funding proposal, which again gives commuters who drive across East and Harlem River bridges a free pass. The $1.76 billion it would generate annually for the MTA falls more than $300 million short of the projected revenue from the original Ravitch plan ($2.1 billion). […]

Fare Hike Four Open Door to Suburban Copycats

By Brad Aaron | Apr 1, 2009 | 14 Comments

It seems like only yesterday that the three men emerged from their room with vague talk of an emerging scheme to spare transit riders — temporarily, at least — the pain of fare hikes and service cuts required, minus help from Albany, to keep the MTA afloat. But as the Times reports, a new development […]

Three Men in a Room Spike Bridge Tolls

By Brad Aaron | Mar 31, 2009 | 13 Comments

Photo: The Politicker Breaking news from The Politicker’s Jimmy Vielkind: David Paterson, legislative leaders and top staffers just emerged from a 90-minute meeting on an M.T.A. bailout package and declared that it will not include bridge tolls. "The framework I see is that the Senate has really eliminated what my choice would be, which would […]

Cartoon Doomsday

By Ben Fried | Mar 24, 2009 | 2 Comments

Transit gallows humor from Daily News cartoonist Bill Bramhall. The whole toon is a fitting accompaniment to the paper’s editorial stance on the MTA rescue saga. You can find it on the fourth slide in this gallery.

Where Does the Working Families Party Stand on MTA Rescue?

By Ben Fried | Mar 23, 2009 | 5 Comments

Millions of New York City bus riders are counting on an MTA rescue plan to maintain service and hold fares down. Last week, some of the biggest unions in New York came out in favor of the Ravitch Commission’s MTA rescue plan, including the bridge tolls that a handful of state senators refuse to support. […]

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