Advocates Take To Bed Stuy To Demand Reliable Public Transit

BED STUY, NY — Advocates gathered in a Bed Stuy subway station Friday to advocate for frequent and reliable public transit as New York legislators negotiate the state budget.

The rally followed the release of the state legislature's budget plan, which organizers said did not include sufficient funding for frequent and reliable public transportation, according to the Brooklyn Paper.

Videos posted by organizer Riders Alliance show a group of advocates and elected officials outside the Utica Avenue subway station Friday holding signs that read "Fix the MTA," "help this woman get to work on time," and "fund 6-minute service."

"Millions of New Yorkers rely on the MTA every day – they're counting on Albany to do the right thing, and fully fund our public transit for frequent service, repairs, and more. I will continue my fight for an MTA that works for everyone, through budget season and beyond," Senator Andrew Gounardes said in a Tweet. Gounardes also spoke at Friday's rally.

The group called on Governor Kathy Hochul to commit to their proposed Six Minute Service plan, a roadmap for lawmakers to deliver riders a maximum six minute wait on- and off-peak hours, according to amNewYork. The proposal would need a $250-$300 investment carved out in the 2023 budget.

When the proposed 2023 budget did not have such an allocation, the advocates took to Bed Stuy, according to Brooklyn Paper, which first reported on Friday's rally. The call to action is particularly urgent considering the state's fiscal year begins on April 1.

"Our state budget gives billions of dollars of economic development projects that don’t work! We have the money, it’s about investing in programs that will have an immediate impact like frequent public transit," Riders Alliance, an organizer of the event, said in a Tweet.

New York State Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, who also spoke at Friday's rally, said he faced a 10 minute delay on one of his three trains to get to the rally.

"Just one delay of that nature can set a New Yorker back in their entire day, many of which are working for employers who will penalize them for that lateness," Mamdani said.