Taking their cue from MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann, WPIX‘s manufactured anger about MTA service cuts has now boiled over. They’ve created a “Project S.O.S. (Support Our Students)” page to “take a stand” against the MTA’s cuts to student Metrocards. Naturally, the page’s “graffiti board” has become a space to baselessly bash the MTA:
This is not about the debt that the MTA has. Whatever happened with the 2 books found last year? Every year is a different issue with this Agency. Why not do the right thing and “CLEAN HOUSE”, get rid of the executives and give this agency a fresh start.
And how come MTA is not making it publicly known that the Taxi and Limousine commission already gives the 50 cents from EACH passenger ride from EACH cab driver…47,000 cab drivers day AND night..you do the math! Shame on disgusting MTA
THe bottom line here is that the MTA needs a complete audit, for the last ten years, by a state run, non-associated auditor. CLEARLY there is major mismanagement at the MTA and something needs to be done.
The MTA should really get a grip and start managing their money better. Stop doing track work! There’s no reason to take away a free service that is helping kids get a good education. That would be like donating to a charity and then requesting your check back. Leave the students alone!
And then there’s the above poll, to which I ask: how do they suggest MTA “find” money?
At least in the poll they give an option that recognizes the crux of the issue is a lack of state funding. Unfortunately, they completely ignore that in their phony outrage on the air.
By the way, if anyone on WPIX’s staff happens to come across this post, I’d like to direct you to my rundown of myths about the MTA’s fiscal crisis so that you can finally provide some balanced reporting.
i wonder if the “average joe” really understands how things work? like the relationship between the state and the mta, how revenues are typically raised for transit (ie its never 100% fare box collection), the third head of this beast – the TWU, all the politics played over the years, how upstate NY has such a sway on nyc transit dollars, etc, etc . . my guess is that they don’t, which isn’t surprising..not everyone is a transit geek.
putting on my “average joe” cap, i just see the transit system as one product called the MTA, not really concerned with the various players. so when i’m frustrated/angry, i’m angry at the finished product regardless of whose fault it is..and when i say “MTA” i include the union, the politicians, the management, the consultants, and so on…everything stinks and riders & taxpayers get screwed time and time again.
True, but shouldn’t it be the responsibility of the media to explain these issues, rather than dumbing it down to “tell the MTA to find the money?” Journalists aren’t supposed to be “average joes.”
agreed…but sadly i have long given up on mainstream media
I am shocked to hear that a CW affiliate is not accurately reporting the news, next thing we’ll hear it is that Gossip Girl is all a lie!!
Hahaha… well done.
Your poll is missing one important option.
Why shouldn’t the school system be paying to transport THEIR students?
[...] over the journalism atrocities practiced by WCBS-TV’s Marcia Kramer, WPIX – who has a track record of drumming up anti-MTA sentiment – quietly ran an “exclusive” story last night about MTA [...]
i wonder if the “average joe” really understands how things work? like the relationship between the state and the mta, how revenues are typically raised for transit (ie its never 100% fare box collection), the third head of this beast – the TWU, all the politics played over the years, how upstate NY has such a sway on nyc transit dollars, etc, etc . . my guess is that they don’t, which isn’t surprising..not everyone is a transit geek.
+1