It may take a few years, if ever, but activists are going to keep pushing for increased taxes on the wealthy even if it means taking a bus to Albany.
A few thousand New Yorkers descended upon the Albany Armory and later the Capitol for a rally and lobby day aimed at pressuring Gov. Hochul to increase taxes on the wealthiest in New York City. Should it come to pass, the revenue generated could help fund parts of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's ambitious agenda, like fast and free buses.
New York City residents see the campaign promise and the tax revenue supporting it as essential in a time of rising prices and stagnant wages.
"I teach at a city wide school," said Nina Bruckenthal, "so some of my students are commuting from the Bronx or Staten Island. ... Beyond just them being teenagers, they're coming up against some real battles with the transit system, both in the affordability as it increases year after year, but also the speed, the operations of it. If we are going to have such a cost burden, people really rely on it to be more consistent than it is."
Gov. Hochul is adamant that she won't support removing bus fares from the MTA or increasing taxes on the wealthy for fear of depriving the transit authority of revenue and spurring out migration, respectively. And raising taxes is usually a nonstarter during an election year, regardless of who is in charge.
State Sen. John Liu (D-Queens) sponsors legislation with Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest that tacks a 2-percent surcharge on income past $1 million for New York City residents.
He said that a failure to get the governor to change her tune on buses and taxes shouldn't be seen as such when there are years to push for Mamdani's agenda in Albany.
"I think the new mayor has a plan for what I agree New Yorkers would like to see, but that doesn't mean that it's all going to be done in one year," Liu said. "So if all of it can be accomplished within a couple of years, or even a few years, then we're still ahead of the game."
More news:
- The demonstrations in Albany featured a few elected officials, but Mamdani was notably absent, along with other leaders. (City & State)
- Rep. Mike Lawler (R-Rockland) shared his take on President Trump's State of the Union address. (State of Politics)
- The MTA is threatening to sue the federal government if it doesn't release Second Avenue Subway funding. (The New York Times)
- The Capital District Transportation Authority rolled out its on-bus "ambassador" program in its effort to reduce fare evasion. (News10)
- The MTA will begin airing ads on the subway, a vision of consumerism so pure it's practically patriotic. (The New York Post)
- Community groups want alternative proposals for the Cross Bronx Expressway repairs as Hochul contemplates a $900-million overhaul. (The New York Times)
- A 15-year-old boy was arrested and charged for a bus stabbing in Westchester County. (The Journal News)
