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Groups Gear Up for a Fare Fight Newsday,
October 7, 2002 The transit workers union and rider advocates yesterday urged New Yorkers to fight a potential 50-cent increase in subway and bus fares, saying city commuters already pay too much. "Our message to riders is simple: 'Fight now or pay later,'" said Gene Russianoff, staff attorney for the Straphangers Campaign, which joined Local 100 of the Transport Workers Union in announcing an advertising campaign against the expected fare hike. "We want the riding public to speak out. The public needs to make phone calls, write letters and send faxes," Russianoff said. In an effort to encourage riders to complain, the straphangers and union unveiled two subway posters that warn that "you may be paying $2 for a subway or bus ride." The posters also urge New Yorkers to find out how they can fight the fare increase and demand transit improvements from New York City Transit and its parent, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Straphangers and union officials said they equate any fare increase to a tax that unfairly shifts the burden of maintaining the statewide transit system to city transit riders. City subways and buses move 84 percent of the state's yearly transit riders but receive 63 percent of state aid for transit, Russianoff said. Concern over a post-election fare hike gained momentum in July when Mayor Michael Bloomberg said state and city budget gaps could lead to an increase. The MTA, whose board would have to approve any fare hike, has said there are currently no plans to raise the transit fare in the city. The city contributes $250 million of the $4.8-billion transit budget, but this funding, which includes subsidies to private bus lines in Queens, may be cut, Russianoff added. The last rate hike, in 1997, increased fares to $1.50 from $1.25. Copyright © 2002, Newsday, Inc. _____________________________________________________________________
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