LC Meridian

Issue date: 2/1/10 Section: News

Yet again the ritualistic speeches pleading for money begin as another MTA budget cut arises. Year after year the MTA projects large deficits, normally after meetings with top executives. Then the decision is made to raise fares. This time they zeroed in on school metro-cards.

Every morning students get out their school metro-cards, and ride the trains and buses to get to school. Now they face the trouble of their metro cards possibly being taken away from them.

Many students part take in activities after school that demand access to a student metro card, which is good for three fares per day during certain hours. Ariel Medina, a student at High School of Fashion Industries says, "It's not fair, I swipe to get on the train in the morning, and then to go to my art workshops at SVA (School of Visual arts) then I go home. That would be three times paying to get on the train, that's not even counting the Capoeira program I go to twice a week."

Other students have two or more siblings going to school at the same time, which can be very costly. Ariel's sister, Natalie Medina, a freshman at Kennedy High School says, "I don't think its right. My mother spends eighty five dollars every month on a metro card. With my brother, my self and my sister that would be three hundred and forty dollars every month. Unless we all take turns with one unlimited we can't afford it. I'm going to either have to walk to school or not go."

Many students find it difficult to go to school, taking away their only source of transportation, which may contribute to an increase in drop out rates and force young teens to find jobs. Boycotts of the MTA regulations are being planned and students along with parents are doing what they can to stop the budget cuts and force the MTA to revise their plan to prevent further fare increases and loss of services.

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