MTA's Budget 2010 = Absurd

Maybe it's best to revamp the committee that is in charge. Because obviously the current ones can't make or implement any effective decisions. Do they even know how they went into a $300+ million deficit? There are major cuts in service and eliminations of bus and train lines, which if need be, New Yorkers can still handle...barely. I mean the G train can go. It only runs once a month to anywhere, anyway. But what is this bloody nonsense about taking away free Metrocards from students? They're joking. I don't understand or comprehend this. This should not even be an option. Were the repercussions of this even thought out? A majority of public school students come from low-income families and qualify for free lunch. Can they afford to buck out an extra $90 a month for each child that is attending school? Probably not. This will affect students' attendances because they can't afford to take a train/bus to school everyday. And let's face it, there are still many New York City schools that still need to work hard in getting our kids to even read properly. How is that going to happen when another incentive to show up to class is taken away. And if they jump the turnstiles, they'll get arrested! So are we trying to turn our kids into school skipping turnstile jumping petty criminals? Great. I guess money does come first.

UPDATE: As of 3:00 P.M., the MTA has apporved the budget which includes the "no more free rides" for students. The MTA will be holding public hearings on the approved budget before voting again. I'll check into that one.