In the spirit of fair sharing (and fare sharing), Transportation Alternatives (TA) is urging New Yorkers to write our state senators urging them to support the Ravitch plan. Richard Ravitch, former head of the MTA, has proposed requiring tolls on the East River bridges. This would mean that drivers would be asked to pay their fair share to support bridge maintenance. In the short term, the additional revenue would also be used to forestall service cuts to buses and subways and reduce the size of the projected fare increase. Personally, I am tired of footing the bill for drivers -- we pay a much bigger proportion of the real costs of public transit than drivers pay for the real cost of roads -- not to mention the other externalized costs like air quality and safety. Good public transportation is good for drivers as well as those of us who use it, since it reduces congestion. I could go on and on, but it's time for action.
I was out on the street in Park Slope on Saturday with other TA activists and the response from the public was excellent. People were happy to write letters (we provided clipboards, pens, paper, sample letters, and free cookies). Writing a letter only takes a few minutes (really!) and it has much more of an impact than mass email. If you haven't written your letter yet, you can do this from home, but you'll need your own paper, pen, envelope, stamp, and cookies.
How to do it: First, find your state senator's name and address, by going to www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators?OpenForm
and follow instructions to locate your senator and his or her home page. If you can't manage a snail mail letter, send an email to your senator; but if you're overwhelmed by feelings of good citizenship (cookies may help you to sustain these feelings), do it right. Tell your senator what neighborhood you live in and why you want him or her to support the Ravitch plan. Feel free to use my reasons (above). Make sure that you sign your letter and print your name and address as well.
Next, bring some cookies to the neighbors in the next apartment, offer to address their envelopes, and spread the word!
