One City. NYC. But Really 5 Cities.

By AEMoreira042281 (all photos) - Own work (all photos), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3919000


Me, "As the above pictures show, the MTA covers a lot of NYS and City services.
The solution to where to find money for all of the MTA's projects are either some of these proposals will never happen, or some will be kicked to a future time when there is money. The MTA just does not have enough money to do any of these project right now. (Except when Gov Cuomo says they do.) They are struggling to build East Side Access, the Second Avenue Subway and reconstructing stations and infrastructure. Now Toll Booth elimination...

The only way any of these projects will happen is for borough presidents to be granted the ability to raise their own taxes, by both the City Council and Mayor to fund transportation and other improvements in their boroughs. The borough presidents do get some money to invest in their boroughs but it really is not a lot if you think of NYC budget is in the billions of dollars and borough presidents only get a few million in discretionary money. I know tax is a bad word. I know no one wants to pay more than they do right now. But, think of all the improvements that could be made if borough presidents had more funding then they are allowed right now. A small tax, 1% or something, sales, residential, or income tax, etc I believe would be acceptable if people in the boroughs saw vast improvements that right now the city and the MTA can't afford. We are one city, NYC. But, we are really five cities and we should act like it."

From article, "How will NYC fund mass transportation needs? (commentary)"

(When it comes to public transportation, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's recent  speech on his proposed $82.1 billion 2016-2017 fiscal year budget sounded great but provided little substance. He failed to give any specifics of how he will come up with $2.5 billion promised to meet the shortfall in the proposed $28 billion 2015-2019 MTA Five Year Capital Plan.

The Mayor is kicking the can down the road. He hasn't given any specific information on how the MTA and NYC will come up with funding to implement transportation projects advocated by many other NYC elected officials, constituents and transit advocates.)