Councilman Stephen Levin is among 27 council members who have announced their support for Mayor de Blasio’s Fair Fix proposal.
The plan would increase taxes on the city’s wealthiest to raise $800 million annually to fix the crumbling subway and bus system. It would also pay for half-fare MetroCards for 800,000 low-income New Yorkers.
“New Yorkers don’t care about playing politics—they just want a functioning subway system,” Levin said. “To get to and from work on time, without delays and frustration, that’s not too much to ask.”
“New York City has put forth a fair plan: taxing millionaires to benefit millions of subway riders. Everyday residents of our City already disproportionately contribute to funding through tolls and taxes. Let’s push this plan forward and provide New Yorkers the basic services they deserve.”
Fair Fix would need to get through Governor Cuomo’s Albany, which seems unlikely considering the governor is pushing congestion pricing, which the mayor opposes. Let’s not forget that the mayor and governor can’t seem to get along, and are in a constant political fight to top one another.
But with 27 supporters from the City Council, Mayor de Blasio’s plan appears to be picking up momentum.
Time will tell which plan will prevail. Either way, New York City commuters are just hoping that a solution comes soon.