The full Metropolitan Transportation Authority board voted Wednesday to revoke free E-ZPass tags for city employees – a perk which has been offered for decades. The board barely passed the measure, 7-6.
The MTA’s finance committee narrowly approved a plan earlier this week, which requires police, fire, and other agencies to get their own pre-paid E-ZPass accounts, just like other drivers.
For the last 50 years, the MTA has allowed other government agencies to pass through the tolls free of charge.
The MTA is facing a $900 million deficit, and officials say this will generate about $10 million a year. The deficit could also lead to cuts in subway, bus, and commuter rail service.
Meanwhile, a top city official warned on Wednesday that the MTA was putting its relations with City Hall at risk by deciding to make official city vehicles, including fire trucks and police cruisers, pay tolls to cross the authority’s bridges and tunnels.
Despite the warning from the official, Mark Page, the city budget director, the authority’s board decided to go ahead with the new charges by an unusually close vote of 7 to 6. Among those voting against the measure were Mr. Page and the three other mayoral appointees on the board.
The move, which also applies to state and county agencies and even some volunteer fire departments – including Hatzolah – reverses a longstanding policy of giving many public agencies free E-ZPass tags. It is expected to bring the authority an additional $10 million in yearly revenue.
NOTE: Only Hatzolah ambulances have E-ZPass privileges, and not the more than 1000 volunteers.
(Source: NY1 / NY Times)
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10 Responses
They expect a $900 Million deficit and by this ruling they will raise $10 Million if that is true the $10 Million does not even “put a dent” in their expected deficit and should continue the free toll!!
The MTA is a corrupt organization. So this will raise 10mill out of a deficit of 900mill. Not a very big dent. Let’s see them cut their excess spending. Ridership is up for years, yet they can’t seem to ever cover their bills.
Al Gore is calling for civil disobedience on coal plants. I say that we start protesting against people getting paid millions to run a business that are doing lousy jobs, that the taxpayer once again bails out. Then we wonder why we have financial problems.
The unions demanded salaries that are exorbitant for the quality of work performed. If this were a business, those in charge would be fired long ago. Why do we stand idly by and let them take advantage of us.
Amazing lol its reallllllllly sad who in there right mind is in charge of the mta if its run right it can only be a win win buissness crazy !
This story has received alot of coverage over the last few days. What people do not understand is that this is not directed specifically toward Hatzoloh. This is all volunteer fire departments, ambulance services, etc.
Lets not foget, this is the agancy who suddenly “found” a $900+ million surplus which was ‘mistakenly’ unaccounted for in 2005.
Get the drift?
These crooks need to be disbanded ASAP.
Even Bloomberg is afraid of these goons.
now more than ever support your local hatzolah organazation
what were they thinking? this is a matter of life and death? what is wrong with these people? a life means nothing to them, Moshiach must be coming soon.
Nice headline.
Why must you make it seem (from the headline) like Hatzolah was discriminated against. One must wonder if you have worked at the New york Post in the past or perhaps looking for a job there in the future.
Wouldn’t it have been just as accurate (and less misleading) to say “ALL EMERGENCY SERVICES INCLUDING HATZOLAH…….”
matook – it doesn’t make them respond slower if they have to pay for ezpass. either way they have to go through the toll plaza.
to everyone who says “it won’t make a dent” while true, and while they may be crooks, (I have no idea) the same argument can probably be made for any cuts they would make, it’s the cumulative effect we’re looking for.
Elliot Sander..Have you gone mad? Shame on you and your pack of Goons that run the MTA!!