What does New York want for Hanukkah?

I know what the MTA wants for Hanukkah: a check from Bubbie and Zada for $1.2 billion. However, since Bubbie and Zada no longer have any money for their retirement, they're being a little careful about showering gifts on their grandchildren this year, especially ones with a history of financial mismanagement. So instead, the MTA is asking for $3 fares and $105 monthly metrocards, and they're re-gifting the W and Z trains.

NYTimes.com's City Room blog just referenced the latest in a series of extreme proposals from the MTA--you can read my comment here.

UPDATE: The comment linked has been quoted in the December 24 print edition of The New York Times, page A19, below the fold, next to the photo of the Cuomos.

"A New Future for North American Rail Transportation"

In the intervening months since the last post on this blog, I have joined the team at OnTrackAmerica, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit advocating the institution of a forum for all rail industry stakeholders to collaboratively develop a continental rail system growth plan.

Who's behind all this? Entrepreneur Michael Sussman, president of the for-profit Strategic Rail Finance consultancy. 15 years of experience advising private railroad companies and government agencies has given Sussman a unique perspective into the shortcomings of current rail policy. For more on Michael's plan to unify the rail universe, check out the OTA blog.

Oh, the kicker to this story is that OTA was one of two organizations I'd been invited to join this fall. The other, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, now faces a $1.2 billion (with a "b") budget deficit for 2009.