Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Subway Crisis Talk Amid Centennial
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 25, 2004
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 25, 2004
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Timing is everything. As New York City will be celebrating 100 years of our beloved subway system, the MTA is talking about its budget crisis - one that involves figures like "Budget deficit of $1 billion each year" and "$20 billion of debt by 2008." It's so bad that five subway watchdogs/economic analysts ( Jon Orcutt, executive director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign; James Parrott, chief economist of the Fiscal Policy Institute; Gene Russianoff, staff attorney of the Straphangers Campaign; Roger Toussaint, president of Local 100 of the Transport Workers Union; and Robert Yaro, president of the Regional Plan Association) signed a letter to Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Pataki, imploring them to "avert a disaster for New York's transit riders and workers" "in the interest of New Yorkrs."
The NY Times points out that the huge financial problems were foreseen and that the blame can be attributed to both NYC mayors and the governor, but Governor Pataki wields the most power when making decisions about the MTA, and we feel one of the worst ones was Chairman E. Virgil Conaway who "adopted a new capital program, without any new sources of aid, that relied more heavily on borrowing than in the past." Really, the article is depressing, but Gothamist strongly urges you to read the article and become familiar with the names of officials involved, because on the election day, perhaps you'll be able to vote for Assembly members and State Senators who have our interests at heart. For a lucid explanation of the fare hike, look at this Straphangers' press release. The Straphangers also have this handy page that explains how you can get involved in telling your elected leaders/MTA officials what you think.
And in happier news, the MTA's reenactment of the first subway ride from City Hall Station will be tomorrow; Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Pataki, and MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow will be present.
Tagged
As
As New York
bloomberg
Chairman Peter Kalikow
city
City hall
City Hall Station
election
election day
fare
fare hike
fiscal policy institute
gene russianoff
gothamist
governor
Governor Pataki
headlines
In New York
mayor
mayor bloomberg
MTA
MTA chairman
MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow
new york
new york city
new york region
new york times
News: NYC
ny times
nyc
peter kalikow
regional plan association
roger toussaint
senators
State Transportation Campaign
straphangers campaign
subway
The New York
the new york times
The Straphangers
transit
Transport
Transport Workers Union
transportation
York Region
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Bronx residents will be exempt from new Medicaid work rule, state officials say
High unemployment entitles borough residents to a waiver from the new requirement, officials said.
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Oct 8, 2026 at 2:02 p.m. ET
MTA chair accuses Andy Byford, who's leading Penn Station rebuild, of going 'full MAGA'
Byford, who ran New York City's transit system from 2018 to 2020, has praised President Donald Trump's leadership in the rebuild of the Midtown train hub.
By
Stephen Nessen
and
Carol Chen
News
MTA chair accuses Andy Byford, who's leading Penn Station rebuild, of going 'full MAGA'
Byford, who ran New York City's transit system from 2018 to 2020, has praised President Donald Trump's leadership in the rebuild of the Midtown train hub.
By
Stephen Nessen
and
Carol Chen
NYC parents want affordable childcare. But they don't all want the same thing.
By
Karen Yi
NY gov race pits old immigration playbook against new outrage over data centers
By
Jimmy Vielkind
Bronx man arrested for allegedly stabbing Queens man to death in a public park
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .