NYC Mayoral Election Looms Over MTA Chair's Cold Reception of Free Bus Plan
As New York City voters prepare to cast their ballots in the mayoral election, a contentious issue has emerged over Zohran Mamdani's promise to make all buses free. In a move that could significantly alter the campaign narrative, MTA Chair Pat Fingers fired a shot across Mamdani's bow on Wednesday, stating that the estimated $630 million annual cost of eliminating fares would be far higher than anticipated, with potential demand for increased bus services and staffing.
According to Lieber, the critical factor is not just funding but also ensuring that limited-income individuals are prioritized in any discussion, rather than simply providing financial support to those who frequently ride buses. He expressed concern about the feasibility of implementing a system where riders could access free transportation without an increase in demand for buses, bus drivers, and depot infrastructure.
However, Lieber's comments have reignited concerns that he is favoring one candidate over the other due to his past associations with both Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo. While MTA Chair has maintained that the agency remains impartial, his recent stance on a free-bus pilot program sponsored by Mamdani during his time as assemblyman suggests otherwise.
With only six days left before the election, it is unclear how this development will impact Mamdani's prospects. The cost of eliminating fares has been estimated to increase to $1 billion in coming years if fare evasion rates are not addressed. It remains to be seen whether Mamdani can recover from Lieber's comments and present a viable alternative to his opponents in the mayoral race.
As New York City voters prepare to cast their ballots in the mayoral election, a contentious issue has emerged over Zohran Mamdani's promise to make all buses free. In a move that could significantly alter the campaign narrative, MTA Chair Pat Fingers fired a shot across Mamdani's bow on Wednesday, stating that the estimated $630 million annual cost of eliminating fares would be far higher than anticipated, with potential demand for increased bus services and staffing.
According to Lieber, the critical factor is not just funding but also ensuring that limited-income individuals are prioritized in any discussion, rather than simply providing financial support to those who frequently ride buses. He expressed concern about the feasibility of implementing a system where riders could access free transportation without an increase in demand for buses, bus drivers, and depot infrastructure.
However, Lieber's comments have reignited concerns that he is favoring one candidate over the other due to his past associations with both Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo. While MTA Chair has maintained that the agency remains impartial, his recent stance on a free-bus pilot program sponsored by Mamdani during his time as assemblyman suggests otherwise.
With only six days left before the election, it is unclear how this development will impact Mamdani's prospects. The cost of eliminating fares has been estimated to increase to $1 billion in coming years if fare evasion rates are not addressed. It remains to be seen whether Mamdani can recover from Lieber's comments and present a viable alternative to his opponents in the mayoral race.
! like, is he even trying to support Zohran Mamdani's free bus plan or just trying to sabotage it? and what's up with his comments about prioritizing income levels? shouldn't we be making public transportation more affordable for EVERYONE, not just those who are struggling the most?
. I mean, come on, if MTA Chair thinks that eliminating bus fares is just about throwing money around without thinking about the logistics, then what's the point? And now with these comments from Lieber, it's like they're trying to sabotage Mamdani's campaign on purpose 
. I don't trust Lieber one bit - his past associations with both Mamdani and Cuomo are too suspicious... I'm gonna bet he's playing politics as usual 
. And what's the real plan here? How are we supposed to make this free bus thing work without just throwing more money at it? It's just another example of overpromising and underdelivering in NYC 
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. and now it seems like lieber is kinda shading him because of his past connections? 
what's going on?! i was really rooting for mamdani's plan, i take the bus every day to school 
. can't we just make it work?! 
. But Pat Fingers' comments are totally valid, like if they make all buses free without addressing the staffing and infrastructure issues, it's gonna be super expensive 
. It'd be awesome if they could figure out a system that works for everyone, not just the ones who ride buses all day 
. Pat Fingers just threw him under the bus, literally! 
His numbers on MTA Chair don't lie, and now it seems like Lieber's trying to sabotage his campaign with some shady stuff 
The free-bus plan was already a tricky one... can Mamdani recover from this? 
. I'm not sure what's more shocking - the estimated $630 million annual cost or that MTA Chair Lieber thinks he can just swoop in and change the game 
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! Like, isn't it obvious that a free bus plan would be a total win for the city? And now Lieber's throwing shade, saying it'll cost way more than expected and that it won't even help low-income folks if they can't access it without increased demand... c'mon, dude! It's like he's trying to sabotage Mamdani's campaign