XXI: A Special Report on the Transit Strike
We're broadcasting to you live this evening, from my living room in Randolph, NJ, just miles from the site of the transit strike that is crippling the city of New York. The residents of the Big Apple are in a state of panic as a result of the first such strike in 25 years, and this one coming with Festivus just days away. Tonight, by popular demand, I will provide you a first-hand account of the strike that is crippling the nation, er, city, er borough. Same thing.
Ok, popular demand in this case means two people: my good friend Corey Harper, and Mom, who I think sometimes asks questions in a sneaky way so as to get me to move back to Indiana ("so, how is that 90 minute commute treating you?" or "so, transit strike shut the city down huh?" or "so, what do you think of the new legislation that raises NJ taxes to 107%?") Anyway, here, for what it's worth, is your simple friend Jim's take on this whole mess, since I'm sure you are tired of hearing about it on the Manhattan-centric newscasts (yeah, that was directed at you "Matt" and "Katie" if those are your real names; no one outside of Manhattan who is watching your "national" telecast cares that your driver had to navigate through extra traffic on his way down from the Upper West Side).
My unscientific estimate is that roughly 99.85% of New Yorkers fall into one of two camps on this issue: 1) it's so close to Christmas/Festivus//Hannukah/Kwanza/Insert made-up-holiday here that I'll just stay home or 2)the union is off its rocker and they are completely inconveniencing me. My friend Nir (a Democrat) used to say that no one was a Democrat on April 15th - in other words, people may say they are ok with raising taxes but man, please raise someone else's, not mine. Well, the same applies here. The most ardent union supporters were furious this morning because it was taking them three times as long to get to work. Or, they have to walk. The high today was 22, so, bad timing on the part of the union - they are not getting any sympathy in the public relations department locally. Whatever your opinion of unions may be, throw it out the window here. We're talking about New York, not exactly a bastion of conservatism, right? Well, its citizens are pretty anti-union today.
The other details you've probably heard ad nauseum on the news, so I will spare you. As for me, well today was a good day to live in New Jersey. I use the PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson)train, which is jointly owned and operated by the state of NJ and the state of NY. Given its state ownership, this train is not impacted by the strike. The strike is being executed by MTA (Metro Transit Authority) employees; the MTA runs the Subway system which connects the five boroughs of NYC, and it is owned and operated by the City. So, my commute was exactly like it had been every other day. Well except for the 3 hour outbound commute because of an over-turned tractor trailer (felt like I-65, ah home). Anyway, Jersey rules! At least for today.
Thursday I will head with the family in tow to Newark Airport to begin our journey to the Heartland. On that day, Jersey will not rule and I will go back to cursing it. Until then, long live the Third State.
That's all for now. A much more fun update when we get back from our trip!
Ok, popular demand in this case means two people: my good friend Corey Harper, and Mom, who I think sometimes asks questions in a sneaky way so as to get me to move back to Indiana ("so, how is that 90 minute commute treating you?" or "so, transit strike shut the city down huh?" or "so, what do you think of the new legislation that raises NJ taxes to 107%?") Anyway, here, for what it's worth, is your simple friend Jim's take on this whole mess, since I'm sure you are tired of hearing about it on the Manhattan-centric newscasts (yeah, that was directed at you "Matt" and "Katie" if those are your real names; no one outside of Manhattan who is watching your "national" telecast cares that your driver had to navigate through extra traffic on his way down from the Upper West Side).
My unscientific estimate is that roughly 99.85% of New Yorkers fall into one of two camps on this issue: 1) it's so close to Christmas/Festivus//Hannukah/Kwanza/Insert made-up-holiday here that I'll just stay home or 2)the union is off its rocker and they are completely inconveniencing me. My friend Nir (a Democrat) used to say that no one was a Democrat on April 15th - in other words, people may say they are ok with raising taxes but man, please raise someone else's, not mine. Well, the same applies here. The most ardent union supporters were furious this morning because it was taking them three times as long to get to work. Or, they have to walk. The high today was 22, so, bad timing on the part of the union - they are not getting any sympathy in the public relations department locally. Whatever your opinion of unions may be, throw it out the window here. We're talking about New York, not exactly a bastion of conservatism, right? Well, its citizens are pretty anti-union today.
The other details you've probably heard ad nauseum on the news, so I will spare you. As for me, well today was a good day to live in New Jersey. I use the PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson)train, which is jointly owned and operated by the state of NJ and the state of NY. Given its state ownership, this train is not impacted by the strike. The strike is being executed by MTA (Metro Transit Authority) employees; the MTA runs the Subway system which connects the five boroughs of NYC, and it is owned and operated by the City. So, my commute was exactly like it had been every other day. Well except for the 3 hour outbound commute because of an over-turned tractor trailer (felt like I-65, ah home). Anyway, Jersey rules! At least for today.
Thursday I will head with the family in tow to Newark Airport to begin our journey to the Heartland. On that day, Jersey will not rule and I will go back to cursing it. Until then, long live the Third State.
That's all for now. A much more fun update when we get back from our trip!
posted by Watts at 9:13 PM
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