Councilman Cuthbertson and Supervisor Kaiman Blast the MTA On Burdensome Fare Hikes

Huntington, NY - Town of Huntington Councilman Mark Cuthbertson and North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman came together today to protest the proposed 20% Long Island Railroad fair increase by the Metropolitan Transit Authority.  "We are going to make it absolutely clear to the MTA that irresponsible increases in fares are not what Long Island needs or wants and that there is significant community opposition to their plan," remarked Councilman Cuthbertson. 

 For the past two weeks, Councilman Cuthbertson has been out at local train stations in Huntington talking to commuters and signing petitions to stop the MTA increase.  'It is appalling to me,' remarked Councilman Cuthbertson, 'that only one year after the last fare increase- with no tangible additions to the consistency of service or appearance- the residents of Long Island will have to endure another hike.  It is poorly planned and blatantly unfair.'  

'The MTA can no longer balance their irresponsible budgets on the backs of commuters,' added Supervisor Kaiman. 'By raising fares yet again, they are going to alienate more and more commuters thus reducing revenue and, at the same time, undermine the affordability of mass transit.'

On November 9th at 4:00 PM the MTA will hold a public hearing at the Huntington Hilton on the budget crisis. They will also discuss the intended fair increase which they hope will lessen the burden of their financial difficulties.  Councilman Cuthbertson, who criticized the MTA for holding the hearing when commuters would not be able to attend, will be there to present the petitions he collected against the fair hike.