unndunn

unndunn t1_jdv8un6 wrote

Simply put, because the federal government’s power comes from how it allocates money, not from any document that actually gives it power.

The federal government is responsible for a) foreign relations (including national defense), b) handling interstate disputes (including interstate crimes) and c) implementing a national budget. There are a few other things it does, but those are the big three.

Of course, the last one allows it to say things like “pass this law to let us handle xyz or you get no money for it”, and most of the time, states will pass the law, as long as it’s for fundamental shit like roads, bridges, hospitals, food safety, etc. But for things like prosecuting crimes within a single state (which this is), the feds can’t do shit.

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unndunn t1_jbozxvc wrote

> The new price tag includes interest payments on debt the MTA expects to take out to build the subway extension. The feds reported the previous price tag at $6.9 billion, but the MTA reported the number at $6.3 billion, a figure that did not include debt financing costs.

And they want to use congestion charge revenue to guarantee that debt.

I don't know how anyone can support this with a straight face. Except the car-haters of course, because they’re irrational.

7

unndunn t1_j7q828t wrote

Ever since Zipcar got bought by Avis, it's turned to shit.

I still have a Zipcar membership, but I really only use it for emergencies now.

Apparently Getaround has a car share service using cars they own now. The planned DOT carshare parking space nearest me is assigned to Getaround. I might sign up with them and ditch Zipcar for good.

5

unndunn t1_j7kgjdz wrote

So, essentially, the MTA doesn’t actually know how to build a subway line. And we’re going to make Manhattan drivers, everyday New Yorkers who aren’t using their services or facilities, pay them to go deeper into debt for this. Debt which they will no doubt use to justify ongoing fare hikes.

This also goes a long way to explaining why Andy Byford was forced out.

If you still support congestion pricing after this, you’re a fucking fool.

0

unndunn t1_j659qx0 wrote

It happens all the time for infrastructure projects. You people bitch about houses being removed for a highway, but you’d probably sing a much different tune if the same houses were to be removed for a train line, calling those homeowners NIMBYs for blocking progress. So spare me the fake sympathy for the people who lost their homes.

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unndunn t1_j63zef5 wrote

It's doable, I think. 2-minute ride time on the Shuttle, 2-minute ride time on the 1/2/3 (from Times Sq to Penn Station). That leaves 9 minutes of walking/transfer/waiting time. Bearing in mind the Shuttle departs pretty much every 2-3 minutes, and you can take any 1/2/3 train at Times Square, waiting time is probably shorter than you might think.

I think 13 minutes might be a little optimistic, but not much.

5

unndunn t1_j1m09d1 wrote

Quasi-mandatory tipping culture is stupid, and the only way it goes away is if everyone stops tipping. But we get a regular cadence of these kinds of articles, with people saying “if you don’t tip, you’re an asshole“, so tipping culture continues.

If I’m ordering from an app, I’m already paying delivery and service fees. Why aren’t those being used to pay the delivery people a fair wage? Why do I also have to pay a tip?

Tipping should be a reward for good service, it shouldn’t be a mandatory requirement.

Edit: lol here we go with the “if you don’t tip, you’re an asshole” comments. Why is it never “if the business doesn’t pay appropriate wages, they’re assholes”?

29

unndunn t1_iyntv77 wrote

So what will the excuse be in two years?

"Signal wires were incorrect gauge so they failed in the heat, project pushed back another 3 years and costs increase 45%".

"Ventilation shafts built too thin, project pushed back 20 months, costs increase 60%"

I should build a mad libs site to generate these. Save Janno Lieber some time coming up with these excuses.

9

unndunn t1_ivvw17w wrote

There’s always a half-dozen people who pop up to say “I own a car and I think bikes are great”, as if that somehow refutes anything. Newsflash: I own a car and I want better bike infrastructure as well.

The difference is I don’t look at cars and their owners like they’re some kind of diseased lepers who must be vilified and bled dry, if not exterminated altogether.

4

unndunn t1_ivvml2c wrote

lol, you don’t propose any ideas either. You just bitch and moan using sanctimonious language to criticize car owners for holding back what you deem as progress. Much like all the other “urbanists” whose only idea is “cars = bad”. And the rest of r/NYC laps it up because it’s easy to criticize a class you don’t belong to.

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unndunn t1_ivvjynu wrote

That isn't their position. Their position is that all car drivers in NYC are stupid, ignorant pricks and everything would be so much better if they ditched their cars and started biking everywhere. But not Miser though; it's okay for them to keep their car because they need it for... reasons. As if the people they routinely criticize don't have reasons of their own.

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