Rowdy crowds angered by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s plan to raise transit fares and close station booths filled hearings in Manhattan and Brooklyn last week. Hundreds attended each of the events, which featured chants such as "no fare hike!" and "open the books!" and signs that read: "Want Safety? Keep the Booths Open," and "Kids Need Clerks."

No one testified in favor of the fare increases or the closure of station booths.

A selection of sound bites from testimony to MTA board members and leading staff:

NYC City Council Speaker Gifford Miller: "This fare hike is a job-killing tax hike."

State Assemblymember James Brennan: "It makes no sense in this city to propose the smallest increase for drivers (referring to bridge tolls) and the greatest for bus and subway riders."

State Assemblymember Deborah Glick: "Gov. Pataki says no to a commuter tax. This fare hike is a commuter tax!"

City Council member David Yassky "Good, affordable mass transit makes the city liveable and attractive. Let’s not go backwards."

Congressman Jerrold Nadler "Fare backed bonds and state government’s abdication of responsibility for the transit system mean this isn’t just the $2 fare of 2003, it’s many more fare hikes to come…Do the right thing. Do not be a transmission belt. Rebel against Gov. Pataki and denounce the fare increase."

State Senator Liz Krueger: "The decisions we make now will determine if our mass transit systems continues to move forward and meet the needs of New Yorkers, or if it regresses and again becomes perceived as a dangerous and unreliable mode of transportation."

City Council member James Davis "When I was a transit cop, we worked with the clerks. The clerks are the eyes and the ears of the system. They are the eyes and ears of the public. Closing booths will allow crime to rise. The blood will be on the hands of the MTA! The blood will be on the hands of Governor Pataki!"

City Council member Yvette Clarke "This proposal sounds like it was created by someone who drives in from the suburbs."

State Assemblymember Annette Robinson "Once the booths are closed, who are we gonna call – Ghost Busters?"

Gene Russianoff, Straphangers Campaign [to crowd] "Who is the one man who can stop the fare hike and keep the booths open?" Crowd: "Governor Pataki!"

Hearings in the suburbs and city continue for the next two weeks (see Calendar link to left).

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