City Council Makes Half-Priced MetroCards a Top Priority, Defying de Blasio

The City Council is making half-priced MetroCards for the poor a top priority in negotiations for the next budget, which takes effect July 1.

"This is going to be one of the pillars of our negotiation," City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said in his budget response to the mayor Tuesday.

The campaign for half-priced MetroCards for New Yorkers living below the federal poverty level has been going on for over three years. The Community Service Society estimates it would help 800,000 people and would allow them to save roughly $700 a year.

"I understand the City Council wants to achieve something noble," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a separate event Tuesday. "But it's going to be a very straightforward conversation with them about the actual money we have available and how far it will reach."

He said the city was just forced to pay for half of the MTA's $836 million Subway Action Plan, and can't afford another outlay for transit. He suggested a millionaire's tax would be a better way to fund half-priced MetroCardsthen dipping into the general fund—but it would require state approval, and has little support in Albany.

Joan Byron, who works with philanthropies that support low income communities affected by the city's rezoning, pointed out that the mayor began to subsidize water ferries—which generally serve wealthy communities—without creating a new source of revenue.

"It's the gold standard of a progressive transportation policy: fair fares," Byron said. "It's admirable because it enables us to direct resources to the people that need them the most." 

She said half-priced MetroCards will increase the quality of life for those who receive them.

"It gives people a level of mobility to go to the doctors, go shopping at a place where they can get better food at lower prices, take advantage of educational opportunities, cultural opportunities," she added.

The city council and mayor must resolve the issue before passing a budget that's due at the end of June.