New York City's Mass Transit

Hi Everyone:

Again, there are things that happen that to me make absolutely no sense. It makes me wonder if people, (in this week's case politicians) even know the term and/or what the meaning of common sense is.

If you or I needed money for whatever reason, we would go to a bank and apply for a loan. Except for the financial mess that the banks are in now, (i.e.: sub-prime mortgage fiasco), banks should verify your income and savings etc. Then a determination is made as to the amount of money (loan) you will receive.

It is now very apparent that the above is not the way New York State's government works. Here in New York City, we have the largest mass transit system in the country. It is called the MTA, (Mass Transit Authority) and it consists of: 4 rail lines (Hudson, Harlem, Long Island and Connecticut), a subway system and a bus system. I am not totally sure of the exact number of daily riders, but it is in the millions per day. A few months ago the MTA stated that there was going to be a deficit in their upcoming fiscal year and that fares would have to go up 25%. The 25% fare increase would go into effect unless either the federal and/or NY state governments came up with some additional money that would reduce the fare increase. To make a long story short, at the eleventh hour, the NYS government (in their infinite wisdom) did figure out a way to give additional funding to the MTA that will reduce the fare increase to 10% this year.

Where did this extra money come from? Among other tax increases, the NYS government will impose a payroll tax of $.33 per $100.00 of a company's payroll in NYC and in all of the surrounding counties of NYC. In the counties furthest north of NYC, that the MTA serves, the payroll tax will be $.25 per $100.00. Somehow, supposedly, health care facilities and schools will be reimbursed for the payroll tax that they pay out so as to not increase school taxes or health care costs. I wonder where that money will come from, since NYS has it own deficit of billions of dollars? NYS will also impose a surcharge on all taxi-cab rides. There are other new taxes but that is not the issue that I am talking about today. It seems that the MTA has not been audited in over 40 years. 40 YEARS!!!! The MTA has always received government handouts to keep them afloat, but never been audited? That is without a doubt a travesty and an injustice to not only the riders of the MTA but also to the companies whose employees don't even use the system but will have to help fund it. I would bet anything that the MTA has massive amounts of wasteful spending, maybe even some fraud, but no one knows since they have not and will not be audited.

How can the NYS government increase taxes on all these companies and people based solely on what the MTA's head honchos say? In this day and age, can we really believe what a company like the MTA says as truthful? WHERE IS THE COMMON SENSE here people? NYS should have audited the MTA prior to forking over any additional funding and have the MTA prove that they are running a tight ship and are in need of the funding. Am I crazy here or doesn't that just make common sense to audit them. Better yet, the MTA should have offered to open up their books for a thorough examination. I guess I know the answer as to why they didn't want to voluntarily open up their books; most likely there is massive amounts of money being wasted and the MTA doesn't think it is anybody else's business. How wrong they are and how wrong the NYS government is, in not forcing them to be audited.

Think about this.......maybe a course on common sense should be invented that all politicians and CEO's for that matter, should be mandated to take and pass prior to becoming a politician or CEO. Whoa, what a concept. Enough said.

Until next week.

Remember to use common sense, it will make your life that much easier and better.