Fellow Democrats outflanked Mayor de Blasio from the left Monday, demanding he carve out a $200 million budget subsidy to subsidize transit costs for poor New Yorkers.
Comptroller Scott Stringer and Public Advocate Letitia James both backed the “Fair Fare” proposal, which would cut subway and bus fares in half for New Yorkers living at or below the federal poverty line.
“Without subsidized MetroCards we will only continue to hurt those already struggling the most,” James said at a City Hall rally in support of the measure.
A top city transportation official testified later at a City Council hearing that while the de Blasio supports the subsidy, the city shouldn’t be the one picking up the tab.
“Our position is that this is a cost that really should be covered by the state,” said Eric Beaton, the Transportation Department’s senior director of transit development. “We contribute hundreds of millions of dollars every year to the MTA operations.”
James is open to the MTA picking up part of the bill and chided the agency for not sending reps to the Council hearing.
An MTA spokeswoman said the Council was made aware it couldn’t attend Monday.
The push for the subsidy comes one month before an MTA fare hike is set to go into effect. Under the increase, straphangers will have to shell out $121 for a monthly Metrocard—$4.50 more than the $116.50 fee.
Similar Fair Fare subsidies are already in place in San Francisco and Seattle.
According to the MTA, it spends $625 million annually on subsidies for city residents, including seniors who pay half-fare.
Beaton took a grilling from several lawmakers.
“Busing for school children you’re willing to participate, busing for seniors you’re willing to participate, but for busing for poor people, you’re saying: ‘Not my problem, go to Albany?’” said Councilman David Greenfield (D-Brooklyn).
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