New York, NY – Despite complaints from city officials that they have been forced to shell out millions of dollars in transportation costs, new numbers show that the city has actually saved money during the city-wide school bus strike.
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The Daily News (http://nydn.us/12sDJxy) is reporting that it has recently obtained information showing that the city has saved up to $33 million by withholding payments to bus companies since the Jan. 16 strike began.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 drivers walked off the job in protest of the city’s decision to put private transportation company contracts out to bid without built-it protections for senior employees.
Of the city’s 152,000 kids in need of transportation to and from school—100,000 have been affected by the strike.
City officials claim they have shelled as much as $17 million to date on alternative transportation for kids affected by the strike. MetroCards, taxi vouchers, and mileage reimbursement to parents having to their own vehicles are listed in the payouts.
To date, numbers show that city has withheld $50 million from bus companies for cancelled routes.
As of Tuesday, only 2,996 of the city’s 7,700 bus routes were running.
This is mayor Bloomberg shtik
Its on believable. He Dosnt care.
I half-remember when the toll collectors in Jersey went on strike. The toll roads went to an honor system, and the state made more money than before. The union quickly settled.
Maybe the city should give bus vouchers to private schools.
I love it, lets hope the strike last a long time, or they change the system completely
All this shows is how much money is being wasted. Give each family with school kids eligible for transporation a fixed stipend or tax credit of a few thousand dollars (compared to the $8,000 per kid they spend today) and cap the amount any family can receive to say $10,000 per year so that “large” families don’t game the system. The parents will have to figure out the most cost-effective way to get their kids to school without the city grabbing more of our money in taxes.
It is ridiculous busses need to get back to work. Due to no bus service my block is subject to hundreds of angry parents attempting to pick up or drop off children. Horns blaring for 3 hours a day with no concern for the people that live on this block.
The city may be saving money but wwhat about the hardship of the Parents and those who have to take their chldren or grandchildren to school because of the strike.
The Mayor sits in his lofty office, like a potenetate unaware of the Real School issues (yes I know most of the frum community send their children to Yeshivos) – about the abuse frum teachers are getting in the schools to try to ‘ease’ them out.- the Mayor is not the only one who is at fault – the UNIONS are another – I ask you readers of VIN – WHOSE JOB IS SECURE – DO WE STRIKE NO !
It is no more Bloomberg’s fault than the union, which is the real culprit. Unions are chazeirim. In this case, they are the ones who don’t care about the kids. I understand the hardship, but is the solution just to give them what the unions want?
Also less traffic and less waiting behind the stopped buses
This shows how it’s the unions milking the system. not hardworking parents!
Maybe the unions aren’t doing anybody any favors anymore??
Get rid of the unions and we’ll have a better system!!
Many are suggesting they can do it for less but they are not accounting for transporting special kids that need matrons, small groups and wheelchair lifts.
I for one am loving it! It completly shaves 20-30 minutes from my commute. No busses stopping every 5 feet, no drivers pulled over for passing, no buses blocking off intersections no sudden stops and long delays and no parents taking there sweet time to get their kids on the bus and chatter away.