The Fig File: Man, it really was doomsday. The cuts, fare and toll hikes, service elimination and job loss that the M.T.A. was reportedly going to make were all right there clear as day when MTA Chair Lee Sander released their 2009 Budget plan - and they didn’t miss a beat:
Fare and Toll Hikes: A 23 percent proposed fare and toll hike on bridges, buses, trains and tunnels. Now there’s a stocking stuffer!
Elimination: W and Z lines would be eliminated. The G, M and J lines would see service cuts. Some bus lines would even get the boot. I guess I’ll be walking in a winter wonderland for real!
Oh and up to 2,700 jobs could be lost. And Santa ate the cookies and milk - and left me a pink slip.
For the everyday rider, those who get up to a screaming alarm, fight through the elements and depend on that packed rush hour train or bus ride to get to work - this truly was doomsday. Don’t forget the poor bloke who has to shell out an extra 50 cents for his Metrocard and god knows how much exactly for his toll if he decides to drive to work.
Kris Kringle Lee Sander is not.
I will say it again - we need to re-instate the commuter tax. The revenue the city will see from the tax would offset the M.T.A.’s budget woes and provide an over worked system, and it's equally overworked riders with some relief. And City Comptroller Bill Thompson agrees with me. The Comptroller, who would love to become the 109th Mayor of New York, says that “Instead of asking New Yorkers to dig deeper into their pockets to ride the subway or bus, we need creative approaches to address our transit needs.” His solution? Resurrect the Commuter Tax and impose a weight-based registration fee on private and commercial vehicles. What does that mean? A cool $1.8 billion annually for this cash strapped city plus a potential Happy Holiday for you and I. Spokesman for Mr. Thompson Mike Loughran told me the plan has already been submitted to freshly appointed M.T.A. finance chair Richard Ravitch. Man, I know what I am asking for this Christmas, do you?
Inside Studio Four: An Inside Look Into The John Gambling Show: Huckabee Spots Gambling. Former Governor of Arkansas and Presidential Candidate, now TV Host and Author Mike Huckabee was a guest on the John Gambling Show today and made the whole crew smile when he called John Gambling ubiquitous. When John asked why ubiquitous, The Governor said well I see you all over the city - on the back of buses! Mr. Huckabee was referring to our brand new John Gambling Show ads running live on buses around Manhattan. I saw one on my walk to the train after the show - it’s like I never left work!
Odds and Ends: Surfin’ Brooklyn U.S.A. Yes, you can be a beach bum even during one of the coldest November’s I can recall. Head on down to Williamsburg’s Surf Bar; a spot that features sand covered floors (imported from Brighton Beach of course), surf and boogie board adorned walls, old fashioned checkered print table cloths and a funky fish tank. My suggestion is hang ten with a round of Mojitos, a plate of fresh steamed Oysters and finish it off with the best Lobster Roll in town, hands down - all for about 40 bucks for two.
The Brooklyn Surf Bar
139 North 6th Street
Brooklyn NY
11211
718-302-4441
In a previous blog, “A Runners Wife” I spoke about my husband training for the NYC marathon. All I have to say is that the months of training all came together of an amazing race. Race day is a grueling day for runners, and the family. But a miracle happened...
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder testified before the senate judiciary committee and basically shrugged when asked if any other enemy combatant captured overseas had ever been brought to civilian criminal court to face justice. Talk about an incompetent boob, not to mention a disgrace.
Here is a list of wines all from Spain, and menus from restaurants in Brooklyn where a crew of us did a food / wine crawl through Carrol Gardens and Williamsburg recently
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