Bronx News Roundup, May 6

Millions of city straphangers can breath a little easier today as the state legislature is expected to pass a much-delayed/anticipated/debated MTA bailout plan, which should reduce fare hikes and avoid much of the service cuts. Basically, subway and bus fares will go rise to $2.25, from $2 and 30-day Metrocards to $89, from $81. The vote was tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m. this morning.

Our friends at the BoogieDowner talked to State Senator Pedro Espada's chief of staff Andrew Yong about a host of issues, including his residency (he supposedly lives in the BD's Bedford Park building, but they've never seen him there), his new (and still non-existent) district office, the aforementioned MTA rescue and his campaign finance violations and outstanding fines. He also clarified a few other positions, which you can read about on the BD's post.

The NY Post writes that Bronx-born judge Sonia Sotomayor, who's on a short list to replace retiring Supreme Court Jusitce David Souter, once said during a panel discussion that she believes judges make policy (not one of their mandates), but that she doesn't advocate for judges doing so. If confirmed, she would be the first Hispanic judge on the Supreme Court.

The Daily News explores shopping options in Mott Haven.

The News reports on the DEP's new plan to use blasting for construction at the Jerome Park Reservoir. We wrote about this here on the blog last Friday and on Monday.

The Bronx Science girls soccer team is destroying the competition this season.

Councilman Talks MTA Rescue Plan on BronxTalk

On Monday night, Queens Councilman John Liu, who's running for City Comptroller and is chairman of the Council's transportation committee, appeared on BronxTalk to discuss the MTA budget crisis and possible solutions that could stave off the pending service cuts and fare hikes.

Basically, he said getting people on board to help out the MTA has been difficult, but that he supported a payroll tax, like the one proposed by Senate Democrats on Monday, to help bridge the budget gap. Unfortunately, a handful of suburban Democratic Senators are refusing to support the bill. Without unanimous support, Senate Democrats, who hold a slim 32-30 majority, will have trouble passing any rescue plan.

Click here to watch the full video.

Hosted by Gary Axelbank and produced by Jane Folloro, BronxTalk can be seen live on Mondays at 9 p.m. on Bronxnet's channel 67. This coming Monday, BronxTalk will feature an interview with new Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Espada and the MTA's New Rescue Plan

Whether he actually lives in the Bronx or not, State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. appears to be residing smack in the middle of the state legislature's efforts to avoid the massive fare hikes and service cuts the MTA approved last month.

While adamantly opposed to any tolls on the East and Harlem river bridges, Espada and other politicians began pushing a new rescue plan, proposed by Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith (Queens) on Monday, that would include a payroll tax.

In a press release, Espada said:

“By not giving in to the MTA’s threats, demands and fear-mongering, we will achieve the democratization of the agency that allows participation by citizens. We will achieve total transparency and accountability of the MTA, and we will achieve all of this without service cuts and a toll, and with a modest fare increase spread over two years.”

But four senators in nearby suburban counties -- Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Craig Johnson, Brian Foley and Suzi Oppenheimer (the new Gang of Four) -- are opposing the payroll tax as a deal-breaker.

One source who declined to give his name said today that he thought Albany leaders had hammered out a "three-way deal," meaning the Governor, Assembly and Senate, on the rescue plan and it was just a matter of time until its announced. We will not hold our breath.

Meanwhile, advocacy groups like the Working Families Party and Transportation Alternatives are publicly pushing Albany lawmakers to get something, anything, done to prevent these cuts and fare hikes and to do it now. Basically, they're saying that politicians are quick to reject plans, but nobody is willing to actually get anything done.

As Dan Levitan of the Working Families Party said today: "No, is not enough."