MTA Fiscal Crisis? Cut the Fat!!!

If you haven't heard, the MTA is in a huge fiscal crisis. They announced on Monday that it is even worse than previously projected. $300 million worse. The hole for 2009 is $1.2 billion. But good news, the MTA is looking at every possible way to cut the budget and raise revenues. Look at the graphic from the New York Post, they are even considering selling 370 Jay Street. That way someone else can take care of that building instead of running into the ground at the rider's expense.

Okay, they aren't doing that. And I admit it, maybe I doctored that image a bit. But they SHOULD be looking at every way to cut the budget.

Now, I know, people tell me that the sale of 370 Jay Street is small potatoes. I don't get that attitude. Its tens of millions of dollars that the MTA gets at no cost because the space is vacant. Yes, thats not all of the deficit, but that doesn't mean that you don't look at these things.

And on top of that, after they sell it we all benefit from a suitable station that doesn't insult riders. Cut the budget AND BETTER SERVICE! Also it seems to me that before you start raising fares and asking for taxpayer dollars, people would want assurances that you have cut all the fat. I bet the Governor is going through his budget with a fine tooth comb before he cuts services. He doesn't fire 100 teachers because that $70 million he could add to revenues is small potatoes.

If your kid asked for more allowance wouldn't you want to make sure that they were spending their money wisely?:
"I need more allowance, Dad. I don't have enough to pay for my lunches"
"Oh really, what have you been spending it on?"
"Lets see - clothes for school, books and every week I make a paper airplane out of a twenty dollar bill and fly it out the window".
"Well, why don't you try using that $20 bill to pay for your lunches?"
"But I need more money!"

You see what I'm getting at here?