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opinions

A collection of 16 issues

Fare Hike Not Fair, Say Brooklynites – 78 Percent Of Our Readers Give Thumbs Down To Latest Increase, Most Cite Service

Photo by orlibeth [https://instagram.com/p/yE9iXgkY2M/]Following the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s fifth fare hike in eight years [/mta-subway-fare-hike/], which left straphangers digging deeper into their pockets to board the city’s subways and buses beginning this past Sunday, March 22, riders in neighborhoods throughout our coverage area

The Commute: Reinventing The MTA – Part 2 Of 3

THE COMMUTE [/tag/the-commute/]: Last week, we started speaking about reinventing the MTA [/commute-reinventing-mta-part-1-3/], a subject we should have gotten to in 2014. We started criticizing the MTA Reinvention Committee’s report [http://web.mta.info/mta/news/hearings/pdf/MTA_Reinvention_Report_141125.pdf]. One of those criticisms was

Amending Archaic Law Won’t Turn City Into The Big Reefer

Source: Hupu2 via Wikimedia Commons“…Legalize it, yeah yeah, that’s the best thing you can do” – Peter Tosh, “Legalize It,” 1975 BETWEEN THE LINES [/tag/between-the-lines/]:Start spreading the news — the times they are a-changing and New Yorkers will soon be a little less anxious about getting high with

From The Inbox: Are Cops Entrapping Fare Beaters At Sheepshead Bay Subway Station?

Source: Wikimedia CommonsReader Mike N. wrote to point out what he believes is a waste of NYPD resources: catching fare-beaters on the Voorhies Avenue side of the Sheepshead Bay subway station. > Do you know that since the token booth, which became a non-selling booth, was removed from the Shore

Editorial: Deutsch’s “Participatory Governing” Concept No Replacement For Participatory Budgeting

An attendee requested support programs for special needs families. But that’s not what the meeting was for.Councilman Chaim Deutsch has touted his “participatory governing [/council-member-chaim-deutsch-hosts-participatory-governing-meeting-constituents/] ” approach as an alternative to participatory budgeting, but his first attempt – a governing workshop held last week – provided the best argument yet for

Streets Paved With Good Intentions Won’t Solve The Pothole Predicament

Source: _chrisUK/FlickrBETWEEN THE LINES [/tag/between-the-lines/]: Since the snow and ice evaporated, most drivers probably assumed maneuvering along city streets would be trouble-free. But now they have to deal with another aggravating upshot generated by this year’s severe weather — a plague of potholes. They’re not nearly as

Op-Ed: Luxury Buildings Or Honest Government? Andrew Gounardes Calls For Public Financing Of Elections

Andrew Gounardes (Photo by Carol Dronsfield)The following is an opinion article submitted by Andrew Gounardes, a local attorney, vice president of the Bay Ridge Democrats and 2012 candidate for State Senate Last week, the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption released a report detailing an enraging, though not surprising,

Service Diversification On The Brighton Line

Riding the rails could be so very exhausting. “Why Not Use the El?” (1930) Reginald Marsh / Source: Ephemeral New YorkTHE COMMUTE [/tag/the-commute/]: Allan Rosen is on vacation and asked me to fill in this week. My name is John Rozankowski, Ph.D. and I am a long-time community activist

The Need for Better Signage

The Brooklyn Battery, er, we mean Hugh L. Carey Tunnel. Source: Matthew Keyes / FlickrTHE COMMUTE [/tag/the-commute/]: Last May we discussed subway and bus signage [/lets-talk-subway-and-bus-signage/] and DOT parking and street signage [/new-no-parking-signs-are-appearing-in-sheepshead-bay-and-more/]. In 2011, I wrote about confusing airport signage [/it’s-all-about-customer-service/]. Today I will discuss other problems with

Let’s Talk Subway And Bus Signage

Photo by Allan RosenTHE COMMUTE [/tag/the-commute/]: Last week we discussed DOT street and parking signage [/new-no-parking-signs-are-appearing-in-sheepshead-bay-and-more/]. In January we mentioned the lack of clarity of the subway fare signs [/subway-fare-sign-is-unfriendly-to-tourists/] at the station agent booths. What about the rest of the MTA signage? In this area, the MTA scores