PALADINO CALL FOR MTA FARE FREEZE, AGENCY OVERHAUL

(BUFFALO, NY) - In the wake of a double-digit percentage increase on bridge and tunnel tolls, gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino said he would freeze fares, audit the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and take control of the runaway agency under the Office of the Governor.

"It's ludicrous to raise the cost of already expensive tolls while the MTA pays 8,000 employees over $100,000 a year," Paladino said. "When I'm elected Governor I will move immediately to freeze fares and reform the MTA so cost cutting is the agency-wide mission, not fare increases."

Paladino gained prominence in his hometown of Buffalo by suing to eliminate tolls on the Niagara section of the New York State Thruway. In September, Paladino called for an elimination of the Verrazano-Narrows bridge toll for all Staten Island residents - a proposal called impossible by insiders, just like removal of the Buffalo tolls.

"Residents of Staten Island and the Rockaways have to pay every time they drive out of their borough," Paladino said. "These New Yorkers bear an unfair disproportionate burden to fund an agency that is not answerable to the people."

"These increased tolls will go nowhere but into the black hole of the MTA - a hole I will fill as governor," Paladino said.

"When I'm elected Governor, I will work to rollback the recently approved toll hikes and freeze lower fares in place," Paladino said. "I will immediately audit the agency then move control of the organization under the Executive Branch for five years, allowing for fundamental reform under my watch."

Read the Paladino-Edwards MTA Reform Agenda here:
http://paladinoforthepeople.com/issuedetail.php?id=22