Members of the state Assembly called the MTA "disgusting and immoral" for planning to eliminate free student MetroCards as part of a package of transit cuts intended to plug a major budget shortfall. "Simply stated, we ask that you immediately withdraw the threat to student fares," wrote Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester) and 18 other politicians in a letter sent to the MTA board.
The politicians accused the agency of using students as "pawns" in an effort to win more state funds, according to the Daily News. The MTA's plan to make students pay half fares next school year and full fares the following year has been criticized by both students and elected officials. That said, some of the same state politicians who called the MTA's plan "shameful" voted to approve budget cuts that contributed to the agency's monetary woes.
Even with this year's service cuts—which would would eliminate subway and bus lines and cause trains to become more crowded and less frequent—the agency might still be forced to implement more service cuts or raise fares by more than the planned 7.5 percent next year.
