I guess it's too much to ask for anybody in charge of anything to come up with a plan that isn't simply to charge the people more. That's the easy way out. And that's what the Ravitch Commission did. Where are the leaders with original ideas? Where are the politicians with ingenious concepts? Those in power rely on you to save the day. More precisely, save their day. At your expense. Literally.

Tolls on the free East River and Harlem River bridges, an eight percent increase on subway and bus fares, and new payroll taxes for businesses. Those are just three of the ideas suggested by a State commission created to help the MTA close its massive 1.4 billion-dollar budget deficit.

The long-awaited Ravitch Commission report also suggests cutting administrative costs as a way to reduce service cuts and fare hikes. Governor Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg endorse the recommendations. Do you?

Do you support these ideas as a way to balance the MTA's budget? Should drivers be charged to cross the free City bridges? Should businesses subsidize mass transit? What ideas do you have to cut costs at the MTA?

Send us your thoughts using the link above.

Brooklyn once was a great and vibrant CITY and should never have been incorporated into New York City. Incorporation was...and still is, for many of us...THE GREAT MISTAKE. We have everything we need to be independent, and I hope that if they DARE to implement these tolls and higher fares, we start a secessionist movement. Ask businesses in Manhattan if they can withstand losing business from Brooklynites. So many of us live and work here now, we can be sustaining without Manhattan. We'll just stay on our side of the river!

Phyllis
Park Slope

Start by preventing seven workers from standing around while two or three guys are actually working. I always see people just standing around while other people work. And, start by communicating with riders, in non-condescending ways like asking us to be patient several times every trip, and making train arrivals and ETA's more transparent.

Increase productivity. Service is already a nightmare for many commuters and yet we're constantly asked to be 'patient'. How about doing a better job? The entire system must be re-designed. And, anything different will just be stop-gap. Temporary. Using a band-aid to mend a bullet wound.

I would like to see real solutions. The MTA is not being very productive.

Sean

NO! Drivers have been subsidizing the Subways for years. This was supposed to be repealed but rather continued . This has been a Fraud from the beginning . Let the Ridership pay for what they use . This East River Tolls have been Ruled by the Courts to be UNCONSTITUTIONAL back in the late 1800's /early 1900's "We The People" DEMAND TO SEE THE GROSS RECEIPTS OF NYC . They admitted last week that they received $300 million last year on "Black Friday" for parking tickets alone. It is time the people respond . These CROOKS have been sucking us dry for their COMMUNIST PROGRAMS for decades. Mikie , we are not your slaves . We are not your property. STRIKE - STRIKE - STRIKE . LET US FOLLOW WHAT ICELAND HAS DONE.

Momo
Queens

After more than 6 months preparing for this day Richard Ravitch could have done much better with even more ideas to help the MTA with this budget crunch,and did anyone realize that even with the small increase in paying for metro-cards,new bridge tolls on the east river bridges and revenue coming from businesses-that some ''minor'' service cuts are still on the table! This is unacceptable,any service cuts will no doubt affect some New Yorkers -There should be NO cuts in any service that the MTA currently provides period!!!

Dave in Grasmere

Dear John,

You may remember me as Rick "The Everyman". Now unfortunately due to Wall Street factoids;I have as of Monday; become Rick "The Common-Unemployed man." Even with low pay I was laid off ;due to the horrendous financial, situation that has grown during the Bush administration. So my Job as "Assistant Office Manager" is history, as they are training 6 people to do my job. My first thoughts? No more SUBWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My previous job was in mid-town and I was able to walk to work for 17 years. So I will try to save the $80.00 per month wasted on the Dumb-Ways #6 train.

I will however remain always to the Call as:
Rick The Everyman"
Manhattan (UES)

The way to balance the MTAs budget is to get the TWU to do what the Untied Auto Workers Union is doing - CONCESSIONS -

Chip
Upper East Side

Hi John,

Again they are all out of touch with all of us people in NY. They have a lot of nerve making all of the decisions for us. I thought Bloomberg was supposed to take care of all of our problems, and as for the governor he doesn’t have a clue about anything. Give me a break, again and again they are all out of touch. I have one long headache from all of this.

Maxxiee
Morris Park

The MTA is a load of bull! I have unlimited stories of straight disrespectful, delinquent and obscene acts of service displayed by this company. From train to bus complaints, to personnel wrongdoings the list continues. The MTA needs no bailout, funding anything and need to get their act in order. If the exec's are keeping the cash to themselves then they need to work it out within and not rely on the strength of hard working citizens whom need and depend on their services. From what I have experienced, maybe the MTA needs a better hold on their system and employees.

Camille

This MTA thing is getting sickening, they had a surplus not so long ago, and now this? If anything Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg should fight to keep this essential transportation affordable and bridges should remain as is. During the MTA strike, back then governor Pataki got strident why can't this problem be resolved without chopping people's resources, people need to pay bills and good jobs are scarce. Businesses shouldn't subsidize mass transit. Mass transit got money, they crying broke so we can feel sorry for them. Who's feeling sorry for us?

Anna
Kips Bay

Yes, businesses should subsidize mass transportation...all over the world. Mass transit is the way businesses bring there workers to work.

Although, I believe Business Parks in the middle of nowhere should pay the most, because they create the most soul destroying environments, and make people sit in traffic to get to them. Businesses in the city center should pay the least, because of the density that they are already part of.

We need to create a system of finances that reward density and make sprawl more costly.

Jon
UWS

its mensa mensa on its face, this system is an embarrassment to the empire state and one of the mayor's failures as well as the governors. I would prefer a millionaires tax or a commuter tax. That being said Ravitch is untrustworthy as a former MTA chair. Its also unclear based on journalistic coverage whether employers or employees will pay; cant yu folks learn how to report a story succinctly without obfuscation?

John
Kissena Park

As a MTA employee, it irks me to NO end, especially being a resident of Staten Island, that with ALL the shortfalls the MTA is facing, and the "fare hike" they're considering, why they don't END, the EASTSIDE ACCESS PROJECT!

This project is costing us well OVER 2 billion dollars (besides whatever future costs are added to it, because of delays etc). As a Staten Islander, we have trains that are 30 years old..and you cannot find one car, with enough heat in it, to keep you from staying in some sought of fetal position, to stay warm.

I find this appalling that we (Staten Island Residents) can not even get new cars added to the SIR fleet, or make our ride a just little bit more comfortable. (is Heat and AC too much to ask for our riders? We are NOT LQQKing for leather bound padded seats like the commuter trains on LIRR and Metro North, who seem to get MOST of the funding from the MTA, and what galls me most..is that so much of this funding comes from the Verrazano Bridge.

Maybe you can start a campaign to have laws enacted that give a major portion of the monies collected at bridges, tunnels etc, that these monies are spent on the communities where they're collected.

ELGEE

Totally against tolls and extra payroll taxes, I shall move out from this corrupt city. Raise MTA fares to $ 3.00 I don't care let that putrid MTA loose ridership due to fare increase, do not except others to further subsidies MTA executives bonuses and disproportional salaries. I believe their financial statements are of fraud!

Joseph from Sunnyside

FIRST, WE NEED TO INCREASE THE MTA SURCHARGE ON ALL UTILITY BILLS BY ONE DOLLAR. IF YOU HAVE THREE UTILITIES, THAT WILL BE AN EXTRA THREE DOLLARS PER RESIDENT THAT PAYS UTILITIES. NEXT, REGISTER THOSE BICYCLISTS. CHARGE FIFTY DOLLARS PER YEAR. THEY MUST HAVE INSURANCE AS WELL. ATTACH AN MTA SURCHARGE ON EACH BIKE AS WELL. THERE IS A CAVEAT HOWEVER, THOSE HIT WITH THESE CHARGES MAY DEDUCT THEM FROM THEIR TAXES AS WELL AS THE METRO CARD FEES AT THE END OF THE YEAR. FINALLY, INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF VICE PRESIDENTS FROM TWO HUNDRED TO FIVE HUNDRED, IMMEDIATELY IF NOT SOONER FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

JOE
BAY TERRACE

I am outraged that bercause of the MTA's incompetence they want ALL New Yorkers to pay. I am disabled and use my personal car to go to my doctor's appointments in Manhattan. I do NOT take the subway so I think they should increase fares instead. It's funny how people on fixed incomes always have to shoulder the burden for people that CAN work!

From Luis in Astoria, Queens

I don't support any ideas of the MTA because what ever happens to the fair, it's service is terrible in my opinion. Especially, when we don't know where all the money goes in for and they don't improve the service for the disable people by putting elevators in all strain stations. Take Access-A-Ride for example, it's service each year is worst and now more when American Transit is not running any more until the end of this month. All Newyorkers suffer what the MTA does but more us who are disable. What difference does it make John by talking about the MTA on the show and sending our opinions if the MTA does things their way and they don't care what we think?

Eric, Bronx, NY

I am a senior citizen, living in a Senior building in Queens that enjoys going to visit my family in Spanish Harlem. Sometimes I come home late and DO NOT like the subways. If Mass Transit is in trouble, then Mass Transit should pay for it. I live on Social Security and It's always fixed incomes that are mostly affected. If Governor Paterson wants to be elected to a REAL term, then he musn't implement this or he definitely WILL lose my vote!

from Ivette in Astoria, Queens

Woodside: None of these ideas are acceptable. Once again the poor, working  & middle classes have to pay. Why don't these executives take pay cuts, give up their limos & drivers, get rid of expense accounts? Asking businesses to pay more taxes when the economy is sinking will cause more unemployment.

Rosemary

I believe that the Harlem River tolls are a great idea. I would also suggest:
1) Increasing state taxes on gasoline and car sales to bring in more money
2) Abolishing the Transit Worker's Union to save MTA employees on union dues
3) Creating a performance pay scale for all MTA workers to get more from them
4) Using the abundant upstate hyrdo-electric resources to power the subway
5) Putting more ads in the subway to raise money

Rob
Gramercy

The latest "Talking Points" have been "Bail-Out & Difficult Times"..........The MTA needs to go through a complete and total economic investigation and then perhaps a government take-over.

DMD in Washington Heights

For those who complain about non-MTA users subsidizing the MTA? What about us non-drivers paying road maintenance? Or the childless subsidizing schools?

deb
jackson heights

Lets audit the MTA and see how much money was stolen by the higher ups. If the MTA wants more money. Lets see your books.

David & Anna Glendale

Hi John,

For starters, all MTA employees should also have to pay their full fares when using the system to travel to and from work. That also goes for all other city/state employees who just flash their badges every time they go to/from work; they are just fare beaters numbering in the tens of thousands daily.

Why shouldn't all the other bridges charge tolls, the only bridge connecting Staten Island to the city has charged tolls since 1964 when it first opened.

Regards,
Walter, Oakwood, Staten Island

The transit system is the circulatory system of the city and without it the city would have a stroke. I vote A, B & C, as long as all of the extra funds after expenses are used for system wide advancements & improvements. With that said I don't trust the MTA with our money, to many fringe benefits i.e. free ez-passes and probably other fraud waste and abuse were unaware of. They should be independently audited on a rotating basis by different auditing firms which make their findings public thru the media and online. Also driving is a luxury and the city is clogged with traffic, I would also try pushing for the congestion pricing the Mayor originally proposed below 60th St and the commuter tax on top of the fare hikes, business tax & bridge tolls on already free crossings.

John
Manhattan

I am a 61 year old Manhattan born resident.,,I have this to say about the suppose Tolls on the Free Bridges. Who do these Politicians think they are?...They are going to charge Tolls on out free Bridges...do they realize we own those Bridges, not them..we paid for those Bridges with our tax money, which they use to pay off every other thing, other then keeping the Bridges in good repair..
what Nerve of these Politicians thinking they can sell/give these Bridges to the MTA, who has a proven record of over spending monies received for Big salaries for themselves.

The Governor has forgotten his roots and has become one of the very people we elected him to go against...Gov. Patternson is now one of them. Keep The Free Highway and Free Bridges FREE of Toll Charges.

Jim-Inwood

Let healthy students WALK to school. suggestion

Jane, Corona, NY

i don't know how much $ it may generate or if the MTA controls it.........but how about raising the fare on the STATEN ISLAND FERRY to at least the same as the subway & bus.

it will create some revenue. ANYONE AGREE ?

ANTHONY, SUNNYSIDE

we must bring back the commuter tax ... it was small tax and the people who work in this city use the services and they must pay
**** also how about a tax on all celebrities and sports personalities who enjoy our city or maintain a residence here

adrienne
jackson heights

I think the transit Union needs to make a few concessions. Service is abysmal, conductors and drivers are rude, and much like the airline and automotive unions, the transit union needs to realize that during these times, everyone needs to come to the table with something. Quite frankly, I don't think the transit union merits any increase in pay for at least 10yrs other than adjustments for inflation.

Nick, Astoria NY

We all know that "We The People" will pay for the wrong doings that led to the economical disaster at hand. The problem that I have with the plan is that once in place, it will NEVER go away. Not even after all is paid off! I would be in favor of the plan, if, and only if, the tolls are temporary.

Sam,
Park Slope,
Brooklyn

Dear John,

The problems are solvable by implementing a common sense approach. Here are some suggestions:

There is a need to eliminate MTA HQ. Each of their agencies already have "committees" which can be the Board of Directors. Eliminating MTA HQ would save millions per year.

There also is need to investigate how many BTO's are pocketing toll money from drivers.

Where are the billions in currently collected tolls and other millions in other fees going?

There should be the consolidation of Metro-North and LIRR. With Metro North management running LI. MN is a top notch run system (97% on time rate v. 94% LIRR on time rate).

Other things to keep in mind are: How much $ was wasted just to create the Ravitch Commission? Aren't there experts @ MTA to answer the question?

How come no one investigated and reported the waste of $4MM+ to change the name of the Triborough Bridge?

The tolls on bridges were supposed to be eliminated upon the paying off of the original bonds on them. Nu?

The Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Act of 1968 ("MCAT") needs to be amended to have a Board of Directors of 17 people. Riders to be voted by the public that represent the Counties that MTA served and the State Transportation Commissioners and NYC DOT Commissioner. This would ensure non-political appointees and an common sense approach to running the MTA Agencies.

Many people have discussed about MTA employees paying for their fares. What really should be done is have MTA Bridge & Tunnel Employees pay for their tolls. MTA employees do NOT get any breaks when they ride other MTA agencies. For example, transit workers do not get free ridership on the LIRR. Metro North employees have to pay when riding LIRR.

There are many other ideas I would be pleased to discuss in a face-to-face meeting.

Twixy

the blame goes on the state for poor lack of work for not getting involved when this matter came up before about the fare hike. They want a fare hike but I didn't see no improvements on the Train or Buses. Trains still comes late Buses come late then you have employee's chilling outside doing nothing but smoking and talking on there phones. Bus driver or train conductor see you running and close door on you or in your face. The announcements on the trains or station are crackly Show improvement

RWhit