Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Gustavo Rivera

Gustavo Rivera: Albany Can Do Better Than an MTA Debt Hike

Transit riders in the 33rd State Senate district may finally have a champion in Albany.

During his campaign to unseat disgraced Fare Hike Four ringleader Pedro Espada, Gustavo Rivera didn't have much to say on the subject of the city's ailing transit system. But it looks like the northwest Bronx rep is finding his voice.

In this floor speech on the Albany plan to raise the MTA debt ceiling without committing to new sources of MTA revenue, Rivera calls out lawmakers for stealing taxpayer dollars intended for transit, and notes that a 2013 fare hike would mark the fourth such hit taken by transit users since 2007.

The great majority of people in my district rely on mass transit every single day. And when we look at what's happened in the last couple of years, where the state has at different times raided the MTA and taken hundreds of millions of dollars that is supposedly dedicated transit funding, and instead uses it for all sorts of other things, what this has led to, as we know, is that the MTA has gone into a spiraling hole of debt.

Emphasizing that a quarter of the state's population gets to work by transit, Rivera goes on to enumerate the massive service cuts endured by city commuters in recent years, from the elimination of bus stops to entire subway lines. While he stops short of suggesting potential new revenue streams, Rivera concludes, "We are not funding the MTA capital plan at the level that we should."

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

New Bill Would Block Apps From Deactivating Workers Without Cause

A Brooklyn Council member wants delivery app companies to be more human and less robot.

July 18, 2025

Friday Video: Is Berlin a Great Biking City?

Have recent moves by anti-bike, pro-car legislators ruined the experience in the capital of a unified Germany? Sort of!

July 18, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Meeker Avenue Bike Lane Is a Failure

The Department of Transportation still hasn't finished a critical bike lane under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway that the agency has been stalling for over four years even after identifying the strip's danger and lack of proper signals.

July 18, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition

Why does Andrew Cuomo drive so recklessly? Plus other news.

July 18, 2025

Fixing Third Ave. Was Once ‘Top of List’ For Eric Adams — But as Mayor He Backed Off

Mayor Adams has delayed a redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue despite once saying safety fixes there should be "at the top of our list."

July 17, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Jerry Nadler Edition

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler faced off with Sean Duffy on Capitol Hill. Plus more news.

July 17, 2025
See all posts