uptowngirl
uptowngirl

The MTA to cut student Metrocards

The cash strapped MTA in December 2009, approved budget cuts for 2010 which would eliminate free subway and bus rides for the city's nearly 550,000 students who use the city's public transport system to get to school(public schools).(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/16/student-metrocards-in-que_n_394927.html).

The students who use these free and discounted student metrocards largely hail from middle and low income families who are already hurting from the economic recession. The decision to cut these student metrocards has already resulted in much anger(http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/12/13/2009-12-13_a_swipe_at_the_kids_parents_rip_plan_to_ax_student_passes.html) as well as protests coordinated via popular social networks like Facebook(http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=239685206109&ref=search&sid=2912898.3706055524..1).

The MTA has often been described as an overstaffed(who are overpaid) organization what do you think it should do to try and avoid these student metrocard cuts?
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22 Comments

Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
Jerks! It's uncivilized to charge poor kids for going to school!
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
I agree Uraniumfish I wonder what the alternatives are ... congestion pricing as in in place in cities like London and Singapore make motorists pay to bring their cars and trucks into the city?
I really hope they aren't thinking of another massive fare hike though...
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
Tax the hell out of people who can afford to own cars in Manhattan! That will bring in big revenue and maybe even discourage a few people from driving in the city, thereby reducing all the nasty byproducts like pollution and noise. Are we really gonna let them take money from poor little kids?
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
Ahhhh they always seem to do things like this at the worst possible time. They should definitely make some cuts to affect richer people rather than students from less than affluent backgrounds.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
hhusted are you serious????
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
I was told the MTA has enough money. They get funds from Albany, so I am not sure why they had to cut corners like they did.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
I guess they don't want to tap into the surplus they already have, being concerned they may burn through that money pretty quickly.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
Update: MTA to postpone vote on student Metrocards.

Here is the update:

http://www.ny1.com/9-staten-island-news-content/news_beats/transit/
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@hhusted I read that as well bet those students are heaving a sigh of relief for the moment.
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
This is just so so sad to me. The MTA needs to get its life together. All of the money they are putting into technological "advances," but then even consider that cut? Like these kids don't have to deal with enough . . . but, then again, my dad is one of those who had to "walk 12 miles in the snow" and "pick berries over the summer," soooo. . . . .
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@JenMac: The kids of today don't even know what hard work is. My father worked hard to support us. He would get up about 5am and go to work. He often worked overtime and was tired as you know what when he came home. I don't even think these kids have even tasted such hard work.
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
hhusted: how could you possibly know that? You have no idea what these people do or go through?
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
Oh, @hhusted, that's really depressing that the kids aren't out of the woods yet, so to speak, but at least the vote is delayed! I prized my student metrocard growing up - I hope they're preserved for this latest generation of young'uns
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
@hhusted You profess to know what the kids of today go through because you actually have any idea what any of them go through? Exactly how many "kids of today" do you know personally to be able to say things like that?
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
I've known a lot of parents in this city who work two full time jobs in order to support their families. A lot of people in this city work REALLY hard and still barely get by - and I'm sure a lot of kids in this city are fully aware of what hard work looks like.

There may be plenty of silver spoons in the mouths of plenty of young New Yorkers, but there are plenty of working class families around as well.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@Everyone I think the MTA is looking for ways to save the student MetroCards just today Senator Pedro Espada Jr., the Democratic majority leader proposed imposing $2 tolls on the four east river bridges to specifically help preserve the Student MetroCards.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/espada-now-favors-tolls-on-east-river-bridges/
Guess that will tigger off yet another debate.
The MTA has also managed to hold off some of the cuts to the bus services in the Bronx but has decided to eliminate the V subway line and reroute the M line to serve some of the route served by the V train.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
@uptowngirl Well good news that they're at least trying not to be total villains and jerks. I hope it works.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@JenMac: Are you kidding? I've been around them and had to socialize with them. I also had to counsel them. Remember, I do work part time as a counselor and deal with young adults, teenagers, even these so-called millenniums. I know what they tell me and their attitudes. So don't tell me I don't know.

Yes, it is true I do not know all the kids in this city, not having dealt with all of them, but I have dealt with at least between 1/4 and 1/2 of them. Perhaps using the term "kids of today" is a bit harsh. Maybe saying something like "many kids of today," would be a better way of saying it.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@ajadedidealist: I believe that kids should have free Metrocards. It would take a financial burden off the parents.

@BroadwayBK: Your point is well taken. There are families who came from the previous generation who work hard to support their families. They have to, especially with the high cost of living here. I just know I have been around the "Me" generation and have heard their comments about their parents, working hard, etc. Some of these young adults are living in a dream world and one day reality will force them to wake up and smell the coffee. By then they will come to the realization that what their parents have done and are doing is to help make their lives better. While, there are young adults and those in their lower to mid-twenties who don't undervalue what their parents did, and understand what hard work is.
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
Looks like kids won't have to worry after all: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/06/17/2010-06-17_nyc_students_will_get_to_keep_free_metrocards_after_mta_gov_paterson_legislature.html
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
I can't believe it! They actually did the right thing...
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DBlack
DBlack 2yrs+
@BroadwayBK Aaaw-right!
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