Nov 12, 2007 7:50 pm US/Eastern
MTA's MIA: Board Members Skipping Hearings
Straphangers Outraged Over Apparent Blatant Disrespect
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
There's new fuel for commuter outrage over a looming fare hike.
As the MTA board considers a fare increase, it appears some members are skipping those much-hyped public hearings.
CBS 2 HD has found out who's showing up and who's not.
They should be called the MTA's MIAs -- the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's missing in action.
"I think that it just lends support to the public belief that the MTA has a deaf ear to their concerns," said State Sen. Eric Adams, D-Brooklyn.
Added Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign: "I think it's rude. I think it's wrong. I think they should show up at all the meetings."
The outrage is over the decision by many MTA board members, who will vote next month on whether to raise rates for subways, buses, commuter rails and tolls, not to show up at public hearings on the hikes.
Out of 16 voting MTA board members, only half showed up for last Monday's hearings. Wednesday the turnout was even worse, with only six making an appearance, and only seven showed up on Thursday.
Needless to say, everyday New Yorkers look at the board's action as a slap in the face.
"They should be there," said Yesenia Santos of Manhattan.
Said Yolanda Rodriguez of Brooklyn: "I think it's horrible. They want to raise it up but they're not doing what they're supposed to do."
Vanessa Halls said it just shows a complete lack of respect.
"They don't care," Halls said. "If they cared they'd show up."
The MTA says the board members can read transcripts of the hearings.
"If you believe they read the transcripts of the hearings I have a bridge I can sell to you," Russianoff said.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer said he'll make the wayward board members play catch-up.
"I'm not going to justify anybody's not attending," Spitzer said. "I will personally make sure that any board member who votes on this has immersed himself or herself in the factual presentations and diversity of views."
An MTA spokesman defended the board members' attendance, pointing out that there were eight public hearings in the space of a week. After all, he said, board members have lives too.
There are two more public hearings on the fare hike, both tomorrow -- one in the Bronx and one on Staten Island.
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