Senator Malcolm Smith: We Must Fix This MTA Mess Now
Malcolm Smith, Senate Majority Leader (D-NY) joined The John Gambling Show to discuss the newly proposed MTA Bailout Plan: fees on drivers, $1 surcharge on taxi trips, 8% increase for bus and train fares and existing tolls while averting tolls on The East Side Bridges and deep service cuts
Senator Smith said Albany has inherited a mess that has been around for 40 years but it has to be fixed regardless. He wants the public to know that they are doing everything they can to stop and prevent from happening in the future including poor management at the MTA, scandals, budgetary problems. Senator Smith is hopeful that the bill that was created this week will be introduced tomorrow - the key thing will be getting the 32 votes to pass the bill.
Senator Smith added that this is a bill that has to be passed and politics should not be a factor here - this bill has to get done to right the situation. This is not about buying votes, Government has to spread tax dollars around as much as possible. The bottom line is that as the Majority Leader, he is stuck with a huge mess that has to be fixed and it must get done no matter what. This is one of the most complex situations State Government has been faced with and it will be corrected as best as possible in the hopes of preventing further mismanagement at the MTA.
Finally, The Senate Majority Leader said the bill will show that Government is making a commitment to the future about the MTA, this will not be an open statement without action behind it - this plan will take care of the MTA in the short term and this is the future is the challenge that must be met going ahead.
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