As New York City hurtles towards its mayoral election, a crucial campaign promise of Zohran Mamdani's, the front-runner, has hit a roadblock. The Democratic nominee had vowed to make all of the city's buses free, but MTA Chair Pat Lieber is now warning that such a move would be financially disastrous.
Lieber estimated that eliminating bus fares would cost the city upwards of $630 million annually, but his own assessment puts the price tag at a staggering $1 billion in coming years. To make matters worse, he believes that free rides could drive up demand for buses and necessitate additional funding to expand service and hire more drivers.
Lieber's remarks have sparked concerns that he may be using his position to influence the outcome of the election, particularly given his ties to both candidates. Governor Kathy Hochul has endorsed Mamdani, while her predecessor Andrew Cuomo had a close relationship with Lieber during his time as governor.
When asked about his comments, Mamdani's campaign remained tight-lipped, but Lieber insisted that he was not trying to sway the election outcome and that the MTA is simply ensuring that the proposal is financially viable. However, his past criticism of a similar pilot program, which had been championed by Mamdani as an assemblymember, suggests that some may see a conflict of interest.
The idea of making all buses free has gained traction among working-class New Yorkers who struggle to afford public transit, citing fare evasion rates that are higher than expected. Lieber's comments, however, have injected a dose of reality into the debate, highlighting the need for a more nuanced solution that addresses the economic causes behind public transportation struggles.
With just six days to go before the election, Mamdani and his opponents must now confront the financial realities of making the city's buses free. Will they be able to find an alternative solution that balances the desire for affordable transit with the need for sustainable funding? Only time will tell.
Lieber estimated that eliminating bus fares would cost the city upwards of $630 million annually, but his own assessment puts the price tag at a staggering $1 billion in coming years. To make matters worse, he believes that free rides could drive up demand for buses and necessitate additional funding to expand service and hire more drivers.
Lieber's remarks have sparked concerns that he may be using his position to influence the outcome of the election, particularly given his ties to both candidates. Governor Kathy Hochul has endorsed Mamdani, while her predecessor Andrew Cuomo had a close relationship with Lieber during his time as governor.
When asked about his comments, Mamdani's campaign remained tight-lipped, but Lieber insisted that he was not trying to sway the election outcome and that the MTA is simply ensuring that the proposal is financially viable. However, his past criticism of a similar pilot program, which had been championed by Mamdani as an assemblymember, suggests that some may see a conflict of interest.
The idea of making all buses free has gained traction among working-class New Yorkers who struggle to afford public transit, citing fare evasion rates that are higher than expected. Lieber's comments, however, have injected a dose of reality into the debate, highlighting the need for a more nuanced solution that addresses the economic causes behind public transportation struggles.
With just six days to go before the election, Mamdani and his opponents must now confront the financial realities of making the city's buses free. Will they be able to find an alternative solution that balances the desire for affordable transit with the need for sustainable funding? Only time will tell.
, a nuanced take on what was initially presented as a straightforward promise by Zohran Mamdani's campaign 
. The $630-1 billion price tag is undoubtedly steep, and Lieber's assessment highlights the importance of considering the economic implications of such a drastic measure 
.
, emphasizing the need for a more thoughtful approach that addresses the root causes of public transportation struggles 
. The working-class New Yorkers who would benefit most from free bus rides must now have their voices heard and concerns taken into account 
.
. Will we see alternative solutions emerge that prioritize the needs of low-income commuters? Only time will tell 
!
. i mean, i get it he's just doing his job, but come on, doesn't he want to make a good impression on the voters? anyway, $1 billion annual estimate is wild 
, can we afford to lose that much? maybe they should look into other options like increasing fares for long-distance routes or implementing a low-income transit pass 
. fingers crossed they can pull this off without losing momentum 
.
. Can't they think outside the box (or in this case, the bus route)? Free buses would bring so many benefits - less stress on commuters, more people using public transport which means less traffic and pollution 
. I'm all for finding ways to make it work. Maybe some kind of subsidy system or tax increase on luxury cars? Something has to give here 
I feel like we need to focus on finding ways to make public transit more affordable, like implementing a more efficient payment system or offering discounted passes for low-income folks. That way, we can make buses free-ish without breaking the bank. 
zohran mamdani's campaign promise was gonna make such a big difference for low-income people in nyc who can barely afford bus fares... $630-1billion sounds crazy high, i get the mta concerns but can't we find another way to fund it? maybe looking into more efficient routes or public-private partnerships?