East Enders get their chance to stare down MTA bigs
Decry 'job-killing' taxes and planned service cuts to LIRR
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Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter speaks during Monday's public hearing on the MTA's proposed rail service cuts to the North Fork.
"We begin to wonder if the MTA has outlived its usefulness," said county Legislator Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), whose district cover the North Fork. "You have failed as a public agency."
"The MTA is broken and can't be fixed," added Rebecca Molinaro, who was representing state Assemblyman Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor).
At least 55 people registered to speak during Monday night's hearing at the Suffolk County Center in Riverside, which drew a crowd of nearly 200. The main topic at hand: the MTA's proposed rail service cuts to the North Fork.
Representatives from the MTA, including chairman Jay Walder, LIRR president Helena Williams and the Suffolk County representative on the board, Mitch Pally, listened virtually silently for nearly three hours as residents expressed their outrage -- and in many cases personally insulted MTA officials' competence.
Speakers were universally critical of the perceived mistreatment of the entire East End, which many referred to as the MTA's "forgotten stepchild."
The proposal came just months after New York State mandated a payroll tax on all employers in New York City and surrounding counties, including Suffolk, forcing them to pay 34 cents to the MTA for every $100 spent on payroll. That tax is in addition to the $350 million Suffolk County residents already pay in mortgage taxes and other fees to the transit authority annually, local lawmakers have said.
Some critics of the MTA say a Peconic Bay Regional Transit Authority could more effectively coordinate public transportation on the East End -- and do it cheaper, too.
Mr. Thiele, Assemblyman Marc Alessi (D-Wading River) and state Senator Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) have sponsored legislation to put a non-binding referendum on the November ballot in eastern Suffolk County asking voters to consider the creation of a East End transit council.
Many of the speakers, which included mostly politicians, representatives of advocacy groups and owners of small businesses, derided the transit authority for proposing to virtually eliminate Long Island Rail Road service to the North Fork, something they said would stagnate economic development and lead to more congested roads.
One man, Paul Askedall, traveled from Farmingdale and donned a tuxedo to get his point across. "You'd rather have everyone who can afford your train dress like this," he said. He also likened the MTA's attitude toward the East End to that of Clark Gable's character in "Gone With the Wind": "[It's like they are saying], 'Frankly taxpayers, I don't give a damn.'ââ"
Many critics agreed that low ridership on the Greenport line was due not to lack of interest, but to insufficient service. The presiding officer of the county Legislature, William Lindsay (D-Holbrook), noted that the Hampton Jitney is able to thrive precisely because of the MTA's poor East End service.
"I guess [they're] making a pretty good living off a service that you folks are walking away from," he said.
Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter said MTA officials should take the East End train themselves to see how inconvenient the service really is. He noted that if the MTA representatives did take the train to Riverhead that evening, they would have gotten off at the "squalor-infested train station that [they] don't manage" and waited for hours before the meeting began.
"Take your own darn train," he fumed.
The cuts hurt some people on a more personal level than others.
MTA employees protested the elimination of jobs and small-business owners complained of the payroll tax.
Current commuters also showed to air their concerns.
"I cannot afford a taxicab from Ronkonkoma to my house," said one man, who said he lived in Medford.
Monday was the ninth and final hearing on the proposed cuts. MTA officials expect to reach a decision by March 25.
There were originally only eight hearings scheduled, with the easternmost in Carle Place in Nassau County.
The MTA added the Riverside hearing after public opposition.
vchinese@timesreview.com
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1 comments found
MTA - biased in many ways : 3/11/2010
The MTA has cut schedules and service over many years. They have also raised taxes and have raised fares - unequally.
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LIRR fare increases have specifically targeted Suffolk County (Zones 9 - 14 in LIRR speak).
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Since 1974 fares for Eastern Long Island have increased at a greater rate than fares for New York City Riders.
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Zone 1 (NY City) fares will have increased 377% since 1974, while Zone 14 (eastern Long Island) fares have increased 560% ! Why are Long Islanders paying 183% more than NY City commuters ?
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In 1974 a Montauk Fare was 177 % of a Zone 1 (City) fare. Now it will be almost 267%.
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Where have our elected politicians been - asleep at the wheel?
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http://www.lirrcommuters.org/A55D10/home.nsf/79ac00a06b2683fa852567ca007965b7/3b9ad596464fcbf2852573a20058ff46?OpenDocument
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http://www.lirrcommuters.org/
