Posted on 05/28/2004 5:11:57 PM PDT by nwrep
BOSTON -- The head of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority quickly rejected a request by the state's congressional delegation to provide free subway service during the Democratic National Convention.
U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy and the state's 10 congressmen -- all Democrats -- made the request in a letter sent Friday to MBTA general manager Michael Mulhern and Boston 2004 president David Passafaro, asking them to make subways free in downtown Boston during the four-day convention in July.
Mulhern said he was "very disappointed" in the request.
"It's indicative of the lack of appreciation or understanding of how significant a financial strain the DNC is placing on the public transport agency," he said.
Mulhern said the MBTA will be saturated with riders during the convention, regardless of whether fares are free. He said the agency is already absorbing a minimum of $5 million in convention costs and would lose another $1 million each day it gave free rides.
"We will make it a successful event," he said, "but in doing so, we're not going to run the agency into financial collapse."
A call for comment to a Boston 2004 spokesman was not immediately returned.
A spokesman for John Kerry's presidential campaign said the presumptive Democratic nominee suggested the free rides on Tuesday and was pleased the congressional delegation supported it. Campaign spokesman Michael Meehan said that though Mulhern rejected the request, "It's still a good idea."
"The city has done it for other big events," Meehan said.
MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said the agency has suspended fares for a few hours during the city's New Year's Eve celebration to encourage people to use public transportation.
Rep. Barney Frank said in a statement that eliminating fares during the convention "makes good sense in dealing with the flow of people. It will benefit not only the people attending the convention but also the citizens who are being inconvenienced during the convention week."
Convention road and transit closings are sure to bring major traffic headaches to the Boston area. North Station, a rail hub under the FleetCenter, will be shut down, and subway trains will not stop there. In addition, several major roads will be closed at different times, including Interstate 93. (AP)
I don't think I'd want to have to explain the arrogance of the MBTA (read: dependant on federal mass transit funds) to my
fellow (D)'s on the House transportation committee.
Here is another example of Democrats trying to minimize the amount of cash that they pay into the public interest. They could easily pay the $1 mill to make things free but they're too greedy, just like they are when it comes to taxes. They all say they want them higher but then take every chance they get to minimize the amount that they pay.
Teddy just can't get the skeleton out of his closet, can he?
Holy Jeeper$ Creeper$ ! The$e idiot DemocRAT$ wanting FREE tran$portation ??Hey, fat teddy ! Why don't you talk to your boy Jean Keri and have him $weet talk TaRAYza into picking up the tab !?!?! Huh ??? You could pitch in a BIG CHUNK your$elf too !! $how your POOR DemocRAT con$tituent$ how GOOD you are for them. Huh ? What do you mean, that'$ a LOT of $$$$$ ??
$ociali$m $tink$ .....
Source of pic
Senator Teddy, wearing his controversial neck brace, leaves St. Vincent's
Church with his wife, Joan, after the funeral Mass for Mary Jo Kopechne.
Thanks for the ping!
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