NY1 Broadcasts Pataki Town hall Meeting On Staten Island
Last night, NY One cable news broadcast live Governor Pataki's Staten Island town hall meeting. "Pataki Cuts Crush Transit" buttons and signs were the dominant visuals. While most citizen questions centered on Medicare, home health attendants, and higher education cuts, the last question was "Governor, why is transit aid to Long Island Railroad and Metro North going up $16 million and support for NYC Transit being cut by $86 million -- numbers confirmed by your top aide Lou Thomson? Additionally, why does NYC Transit -- which provides 81% of transit trips in NY State -- only get 67% of state transit aid?" [See MTR 25 for details on distribution of proposed Pataki transit aid]. Governor Pataki responded: "I was not aware of those numbers. I'm committed to keeping NYC transit the finest in the United States. NYC transit just spent 15 years crawling back from a terrible state. I want to ensure it remains of the highest quality." He added that he was committed to forming a new capital plan for the MTA. Transit advocates note that Pataki has slashed the MTA's capital plan and is reducing the New York City's share to only 63% of state transit aid. These cuts will result in less service, dirtier stations, and higher fares.
