FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM AUGUST 10, 2017 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11
De Blasio and Gianaris back millionaire tax to boost MTA funding
BY ANGELA MATUA
amatua@qns.com / @AngelaMatua
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a plan
on Aug. 7 that would tax the city’s wealthiest
New Yorkers to fund an MTA system
that is plagued with delays and in need of
many repairs.
Th e plan, which is similar to Queens
Senator Michael Gianaris’ Better Trains,
Better Cities legislation, would increase
the city’s highest income tax rate by 0.534
percent to 4.41 percent for individuals
making more than $500,000 and couples
making more than $1 million.
In a press conference to announce the
plan, de Blasio said the tax amounts to
$2,700 more per year and about $7 a
day for the wealthiest New Yorkers. Th is
would aff ect about $32,000 residents or
0.8 percent of the city’s population.
Th e tax is projected to raise $700 million
in 2018 and rise to $820 million a
year by 2022. De Blasio said that Gianaris
and Assemblyman Danny O’Donnell
would include in the legislation language
that would require the MTA to only use
the money for capital projects like signal
improvements, new cars and track maintenance.
Th e dedicated revenue would
also fund Fair Fare.
Th e initiative would allow adults at or
below the poverty line to purchase subway
cards at a reduced price. Th is $250
million program would apply to 800,000
New Yorkers, the mayor said.
Gianaris said he and his colleagues
would be willing to call a special session
to put the bill to a vote and argued this
legislation is needed to provide relief to
working New Yorkers who are fi nding
it diffi cult to get to work or a doctor’s
appointment on time.
“Th e state has been neglecting and
under-funding the MTA for far too long,”
he said. “How on earth can we justify further
punishing the people who are already
suff ering?”
Gianaris told QNS that his constituents
now routinely experience delays that can last
more than two hours. He has spoken to some
of Republican colleagues, who acknowledge
that more funds are needed to improve the
system but do not agree on how to do so.
“Everyone recognizes that we need an
infusion of funds into the MTA to fi x this
ailing system and hopefully the momentum
will continue to grow where we get
something passed,” he said.
Th is new investment will add to an
annual $1.6 billion in city funds for subways
and buses and $2.5 billion in capital
Photo by Edwin J. Torres/Mayoral Photography Offi ce
expenses in 2015 for major repairs.
But Governor Andrew Cuomo, who
controls the MTA, argues that the legislation
may take too long to pass and that
the city should commit to matching state
funding. MTA Chairman Joseph J. Lhota
stated that emergency funding was needed
immediately to address problems.
“Th ere’s no question we need a longterm
funding stream, but emergency
train repairs can’t wait on what the State
Legislature may or may not do next year,”
he told Th e New York Times.
Type. Refresh. Send. Type. Refresh. Send. Type. Refresh. Send.
Refresh. Send. Type. Refresh. Send. Type. Refresh. Send. Type.
Send. Type. Refresh. Send. Type. Refresh. Send. Type. Refresh.
Type. Refresh. Send. Type. PLAY. Send. Type. Refresh. Send.
Refresh. Send. Type. Refresh. Send. Type. Refresh. Send. Type.
Send. Type. Refresh. Send. Type. Refresh. Send. Type. Refresh.
TAKE A BREAK FROM THE EXPECTED.
© 2016 New York Lottery. You must be 18 years or older to purchase a Lottery ticket. Please play responsibly.
For help with problem gambling, call 877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369). nylottery.ny.gov