Straphangers Protest Student MetroCard Cuts

By
Arun Venugopal
WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

New York, NY —

School parents and elected officials are holding rallies across the city today in protest against the MTA's plan to eliminate free student MetroCards. Council member Gale Brewer was at a demonstration on the Upper West Side and says that in addition to burdening parents with the cost of a regular MetroCard, the measure would affect after school activities as well. "Those MetroCards not only pay to go back and forth to school, but they pay for the tutoring, they pay for the karate, they pay for the soccer. They actually enhance that students' education," Brewer says.

More than half a million students use free or discounted MetroCards. The MTA proposed phasing them out between next year and 2011, in order to help plug a $400 million budget gap. The measure is part of a slate of planned service reductions including the elimination of some subway and bus lines.

The full MTA board votes on the cuts tomorrow.

Be alert for scams. WNYC never asks for nor accepts money for coverage or interviews. Anyone making such a request does not represent WNYC.

Profile Image
Arun Venugopal

WNYC is funded by sponsors and member donations

Top Stories

Your guide to voting in New York's 2026 elections for governor and Congress

A primer on the races for governor, attorney general and the congressional districts that could help determine control of the U.S. House.
Gothamist |

Gina Hinojosa Aims to Make Texas Blue Again. Plus, Reading Is Alive and Well

A Texas Democrat is running neck and neck with the Republican incumbent in the governor’s race. And a staff writer says that news of the demise of books is greatly exaggerated.
The New Yorker Radio Hour |

Claire Valdez on populism and the DSA agenda in Congress

Who’s Running This Place |

The Classroom/Technology Pipeline

Natasha Singer's new book explores how big tech became ensconced in our childrens' classrooms
On the Media |
YOU ARE ONLINE