On the evening of Tuesday 21th September 2010, at 6:30 PM, I attended a town Hall Meeting that was held at the Brooklyn Museum. This meeting was organized by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in accordance with the law of the state of New York and was held before the board of directors and other decision making persons that are responsible for the general management of this vital institution. Such meetings are a lawful requirement of the MTA before they can make or take any major decisions or actions that can affect the public. As a member of the commuting public who rely on the MTA to get to and from my destination throughout New York City, I felt it necessary to attend this Town Hall meeting to offer my opinion on the matter.
There were over a hundred people who made presentation at this Town Hall meeting and I was fortunate to be among the conscious public transportation commuter who saw it necessary to ensure that my voices was heard.
Each person was given the duration of three minutes to make the presentation, below is the short three minutes impromptu presentation I made.
Good evening ladies and gentle men, I hope that you are able to understand my rich West Indian accent. It is no secret that the MTA provides a very vital service to the commuting public. It is unfortunate that the MTA have dug itself into a deep financial ditch, it is also unfortunate that the MTA can only find two means of increase their cash flow which are:
1. They put thousands of low and middle income workers out of work, while the people who are making the significant wages that can impact the indebtedness of the MTA remain employed and without wage cut.
2. They increase fare.
These are not creative means of accomplishing the objective that the MTA now faces.
I have a few questions that I will like to ask.
1. After the last increase in fare, did the general ridership increase or decreased?
2. Did the increase in fare positively impacted the MTA profitability or did they experience a decrease in the general income of the MTA?
The MTA is a retailer and they retail the service of transportation like any retail enterprise the MTA need to increase the volume of sales, if they ought to be profitable. The MTA also need to find significant ways in which to reduce its operational cost.
The Challenge
Let me challenge you guys. When I look at the podium I see well intended dignify men and women. With that in mind let us speak about leaving a legacy. I know you all are capable men and women; you need to work to leave a legacy for your children and your grand children. Your children and grand children must be able to boast at school and with their peers that my father or mother, grand father or grand mother was responsible for turning around the MTA without breaking the backs of the poor people, I know you all are capable of coming up with creative means of accomplishing this, it is time to get your creative juices flowing and leave a positive legacy for your children and grand children thank you.
