The ‘fare ain’t fair’ in New York City

Transit fares have gone up 58 times since 1948

April 21 — The Fare Ain’t Fair campaign held a news conference this morning across from City Hall in lower Manhattan, demanding a rollback in subway and bus fares. Initiated by the December 12th Movement, the campaign advocates a big expansion of the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s “fair fares” program.

The campaign estimates four million New Yorkers would benefit if the program were expanded to include those living below 400% of the miserably low federal poverty limit. It would certainly help one-out-of-three New York City residents who are paying at least half their income on rent. 

Speakers pointed out that the current $2.90 fare is 58 times what it was in 1948, when it was a nickel. Nobody’s wages have risen like that. The fare is scheduled to go up to $3 in August.

People can’t afford the fare, and many are jumping the subway turnstiles out of necessity. Police have flooded the subways hunting for poor people to jail.

Last year, cops shot Darrell Mickles for allegedly skipping the fare and shot two other people as well at the Sutter Avenue station. Over 88% of those arrested for non-payment are Black or Latinx.

The real crime is the Metropolitan Transit Authority paying $2.8 billion every year in tax-free interest to the banks and other bondholders. That’s four times what the MTA claims it’s losing to folks’ self-help at the fare box or turnstile.

As the Fare Ain’t Fair campaign stated, “it’s time the MTA starts TAXING Wall Street rather than BORROWING from them and putting us in more debt. It’s time THEY PAY THE FARE!” 

After the news conference, people testified at a City Council hearing. To get in touch with the Fare Ain’t Fair Campaign, contact fareaintfair@protonmail.com.